Tag Archives: home ownership

Winterize Your Home With These 10 Tips

The leaves are changing and temperatures are starting to dip, you know what that means – it’s time to winterize your home! Here are 10 tips to get you on track.

1. There’s nothing worse than waking up to a freezing house on a snowy day. Changing your furnace filters monthly ensures efficiency in the winter when your system is going overtime and regular tune-ups can add years of life to your heating system and help you avoid a mid-winter replacement. Tip: remember that hot air rises, run your fan clockwise to push hot air downward and circulate it around the room.

2. Heat is lost from the exterior of your water heater all the time, in winter this is exacerbated. Insulating your tank with a water heater blanket can cut the cost of running the heater by as much as 10 percent.


3. Are fall leaves clogging up your gutters? Make sure you clean them out before winter. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams that prevent water from draining from the roof, causing water damage to the inside and outside of your home.

4. With all those exposed branches, fall may seem like the best time to trim shrubs and trees. However, experts suggest trimming branches closer to winter, just before that first snowfall. Pay special attention to weak branches that could snap when the snow starts falling.

5. Between furnaces, Christmas trees and chimneys, fires become all too common in the winter season. Change batteries in smoke detectors at least once a year, and invest in carbon monoxide detectors.


6. Avoid costly spring repairs to your sprinkler system by getting it professionally blown out.  In addition, detach garden hoses and drain all outside waterspouts.

7. Drafty or single-pane windows should be upgraded to something more efficient. If that’s not an option, be sure to invest in storm windows or window insulation kits.


8. Sealing up drafts in the home can save you 10-20 percent on your energy bill. Adding caulk around windows and weather stripping around doors is a good place to start. If you’re feeling like taking on a larger project, add more insulation to your attic and around pipes.

9. Patch cracks in the sidewalk and driveway. Cracks in cement and asphalt allow water to seep underneath and freeze, which then expands, lifting portions of the cement and leads to more cracks. Prevent cracks from ever forming by sealing your driveway every year.


10. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, chimneys need to be cleaned each year to prevent soot buildup, leading to harmful smoke and potential fires.

Now that you’re all prepped for winter, it’s time to enjoy the rest of fall. Check out Summit Sotheby’s International Realty’s favorite fall activities in Park City.

Be Prepared to Buy With These 5 Simple Suggestions

Putting an offer on a new place is possibly the most exciting or excruciating part of buying a home– second to getting the keys. But buyers beware, eagerly rushing towards the finish line can leave you stressed and disappointed. Start putting proper principles in place today, to ensure you can own a home in 1-2 years.

1) Start saving. Having money in the bank makes you look great to lenders and when it comes time to make a down payment, you wont feel the pinch. Additionally, experts suggest having three to six months worth of living expense saved before you buy.

2) Get your credit score. Your credit score can seriously impact your ability to get a loan and interest rates. Clear up inaccuracies on your credit report even if it means meeting with a credit repair specialist.  Review the last 5 years and follow up on any inaccuracies. You’d be surprised how many large companies make mistakes.

3) Calculate your home budget. Create a layout of your monthly expenses at a standard of living you can sustain. Experts suggest spending no more than 36 percent of your monthly income on mortgage payments, which could shrink your price range.

4) Find a lender. A lender is your ally in home buying. They can help you understand how much of a home loan your will really qualify for and what kind of mortgage is right for you. Lenders can also help you get preapproved, solidifying your price range and potentially locking in an interest rate.

5) Look w/out the pressure to buy. Looking at potential homes can be motivating and fun but most importantly educational. Make it a productive exercise by noting what you like and don’t like. Visit homes within your price range to build a realistic checklist your wants and needs. Narrow down what you’re looking for by balancing the two elements – What you need now, and What you’ll need long term. 

Finding and financing the home of your dreams will be easier than ever after implementing the five steps we just discussed. If you are further along in the home buying process, check out the current market conditions in Park City and Salt Lake City. View our properties in Park City or Salt Lake City or contact an agent specialized in the neighborhood you are interested in.