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January Housing Market Tips: Energy Savings, Staging Your Home

Picture of Jackie Crawford-Ross

How staging your home increases the sale price and energy saving tips. 

Happy New Year!  January is here, and we're diving headfirst into the excitement of fresh starts. Let’s start the year off strong and make strides towards the awesome accomplishments that await us in the new year. As always, if there's anything I can assist with, send me a message, I'm always here to be a resource!

What's new?

This month I'm looking forward to reconnecting with old friends! The Holiday Season was wonderful family time (I hope the same for you), but now it’s time to catch up with girlfriends!

On a professional front, I am preparing for a listing filled January! It appears many people are ready to start their next homeownership adventure. Maybe you are feeling the same way?

What's happening around town? Massachusetts will be embracing January with a handful of local events and happenings. Keep reading for more information below!

Do THIS to sell your home for 20% more

Staging. Here's why:

Staging goes beyond mere aesthetics. It's about creating an experience that allows buyers to envision their lives unfolding within the walls of your home. In a market where first impressions are everything, a well-staged home stands out, inviting and compelling.

Data from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals reveals that staged homes not only sell three to 30 times faster than non-staged ones, but they also fetch higher prices – often 20% more than expected.

And the best part? The investment in staging usually costs less than the first price drop you might have to make if your home lingers on the market. It's a smart, strategic move with proven results.

5 Ways to cut down your energy bill

I've got your personal cheat sheet with five strategies to conserve energy and elbow those extra costs out of your monthly bill:

 Consider time-of-use rates

Learn about your utility's time-of-use rates, which vary depending on the time of day. Strategically plan your energy use to save money. You can find these rates on your energy bill or the utility's website.

Leverage smart home plugs and thermostats

Combat standby power consumption (up to 10% of your energy use) with smart switches for appliances and programmable thermostats. Schedule when they turn on and off efficiently.

Adjust the water heater temperature

The U.S. Department of Energy says lowering your water heater temperature by 20 degrees can save 4% - 22% annually.

Efficient water heating

Water heating is the second-largest home expense, averaging $400 - $600 yearly. Consider a $150 water heater smart controller to heat water only when needed (potentially saving 10% - 30%) and insulate your water heater to cut heat loss (saving 7% - 16%).

Monitor specific energy usage

Make sense of rising bills by tracking energy usage and setting custom alerts. Knowing where your energy goes is the first step to making meaningful changes.

 

 

January Home Maintenance Checklist

  • Check weather stripping and insulation.

  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

  • Replace AC filters.

  • Deep clean the oven.

  • Inspect holiday decor & lights for damage.

  • Wipe down the stove hood.

  • Take down the holiday decorations.

  • Cull out closets & donate clothing.

 

 

Have questions about real estate?DSC_2031-Edit-1

Whether you're interested in purchasing your first home, moving up, downsizing, or investing, my team and I are here to be a resource to you.

Let's find you a new home. And it all starts here. Tell us a bit about your situation – buying, selling, and so forth – and one of our team members will be back in touch to discuss the details directly.
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