Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems

A septic system is one of those thing that costs some money and energy to maintain. But, if you do not maintain it, it will cost you a whole heck of a lot more money and headaches. To help you out with what to do to make sure your septic system costs you the least amount of money and headaches, here is the EPA’s “Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems”…

(Click here if you do not see the embedded document below)

Homeowners Guide to Septic Systems -

First Time Home Buyer Federal Tax Credit Extended…and Expanded

The government has extended the first-time home buyer federal tax credit as well as expanded to include many existing home owners. First-time home buyers now have until April 30, 2010 to sign a contract and qualify for a tax credit up to $8,000. And starting November 7, many existing home owners may qualify for a tax credit of up to $6,500.

For more information, check out this flyer provided by the Virginia Association of REALTORS(R):

Information on extended and expanded first time home buyer federal tax credit -

You can also get more information on the extended first-time home buyer tax credit by clicking here.

10 Ways to Avoid Problems and Save Money This Winter

The leaves and temperatures are falling, which means it’s time to get your home ready for winter. By taking a little time and energy to do these 10 simple things, you will avoid many potential headaches and save money this winter.

1) Get your head in the gutter - Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters. You can do this be hand, by scraper or spatula or by hiring someone. And once you’ve removed the leaves and debris, give them a good rinse with a hose. This will allow that winter’s rain and melting snow to drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house. As you’re hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house’s foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.

2) Block leaks - One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out, experts say. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group.

First, find the leaks… On a windy day, walk around inside your home holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas - recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.

Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots. Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home’s outer walls, where cold air often enters.

Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing.

3) Size does matter - You may need to add some insulation to the existing insulation in your attic. Insulation costs a little money, but you get your money back quick. No matter where you live, most say that you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.

And you don’t have to worry so much about R-values. An easy way to check if you have enough insulation is to go into your attic and look for the ceiling joists. If you can see them, you don’t have enough insulation because ceiling joists are 10 or 11 inches at most.

Tip: If you’re layering insulation atop other insulation, don’t use the kind that has “kraft face” finish (i.e., a paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier and can cause moisture problems in the insulation.

4) Let it burn - Turn your furnace on now to make sure it’s even working, before the really cold weather gets here. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn - simply open the windows to dissipate it. But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional.

Throughout the winter you should change the furnace filters regularly (check them monthly). A dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case. Toss out the dirty fiberglass filters; reusable electrostatic or electronic filters can be washed.

Tip: It’s a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually. Costs will often run about $100-$125.

5) Check your ducts - A home with central heating can lose up to 60 percent of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That’s a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house.

Ducts aren’t always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn’t stand up to the job over time).

Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.

6) Windows - Most newer homes comes with double-pane thermal-insulated windows. If you have single-pane windows, you may want to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. If you don’t have storm windows, and your windows are leaky or drafty, you may want to seriously consider updating to a more efficient window.

Yes, windows are pricey. So budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit. Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that’s affixed to a window’s interior with double-stick tape. A hair dryer is then used to shrink-wrap the sheeting onto the window. (It can be removed in the spring.) It’s not the prettiest thing in the world and is only temporary, but it’s inexpensive (about $4 a window) and it’s extremely effective.

7) Have a chimney? - Ideally, spring is the time to think about your chimney, because chimney sweeps are swamped in the fall/early winter. That said, don’t put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace. A common myth is that a chimney needs to be swept every year. That’s not true. But a chimney should at least be inspected before use each year. You’d be surprised at what you’ll find in your chimney - everything from tennis balls to birds.

Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney (most certified chimney sweeps include a Level 1 service with a sweep).

Woodstoves are a different beast, however. They should be swept more than once a year. A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, anywhere that it’s found. If it’s ash, then it’s primarily lye — the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it’s very acidic. It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot.

Tip: Buy a protective cap for your chimney, with a screen. It’s probably the single easiest protection because it keeps out foreign objects (birds, tennis balls) as well as rain that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace’s walls. And forget about what it looks like - buy it for the durability.

Another tip: To keep out cold air, keep your chimney’s damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use. And for the same reason, woodstove owners should have glass doors on their stoves, and keep them closed when the stove isn’t in use.

Go backwards - By reversing the direction of your fan(s) from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here’s how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise.)

9) Bleed and wrap pipes - A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before the first freeze. Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained. (If you’ve ever had a burst pipe, you know just how much of a pain in the ___ it is and how expensive it is to fix)

Next, go looking for other pipes that aren’t insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces — pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you’re really worried about a pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat.

10) “Ring the alarm” - This is a great time to check the operation - and change the batteries - on your home’s smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Test them - older ones in particular - with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the “test” button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works (you have a fire extinguisher in your house, right?!).

Also, invest in a carbon-monoxide detector - every home should have at least one.

By doing these 10 things, you’ll save yourself from many potential problems and save some money this winter. Do them now - the really cold temperatures will be here before you know it!

How To Buy Homeowner’s Insurance

Here’s a good video explaining what homeowner’s insurance is and how to get it (if you can’t see the video, click here)…

If you’re a renter, make sure you get renter’s insurance (similar to homeowner’s insurance in that it covers your personal possessions/belongings). It’s inexpensive and worth every penny.

Hat tip to Agent Genius.

1st Annual Dulles Home Fair Offers Free Classes for Consumers

The 1st Annual Dulles Home Fair, presented by the Dulles Area Association of Realtors, will offer free classes to consumers on a variety of real estate related topics. Some of the topics being taught/discussed are:

• Keeping Score: How to Monitor and Fix Your Credit
• Homeownership 101: How to Buy a Home
• County Housing Opportunity Programs
• The Legal Pitfalls of Foreclosures
• Staging your Home for Resale
• The State of the Housing Market
• Finding and Working With a REALTOR®

The classes are free as part the Dulles Home Fair Consumer Day on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Doors open at 9:00am and the event goes until 4:00pm. The Dulles Home Fair is being held at the Embassy Suites Hotel Dulles North, 44610 Waxpool Road, Dulles, VA 20147.

UPDATE: Click here for the schedule of free classes on Consumer Day at the 1st Annual Dulles Home Fair

Are Loudoun Home Prices Where They Should Be?

A question on most people’s mind is, “Will home prices in Loudoun continue to fall?” That’s a great question and one which nobody can answer with complete certainty. But one thing to look at that will help you make an educated guess is whether Loudoun home prices are where they should be. Figuring that out includes taking things into consideration such as average income for the area, cost of living, etc. 

There are several studies and research papers out there that look at home price valuations per region and/or city. One of them is done by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which recently published “House Prices in America: 4th Quarter 2008 Update” (pdf).

Here’s a map of the U.S. showing how home prices compare to where they should be (taken from the WSJ report):

Northern Virginia, including Loudoun County, is “Fairly Valued” meaning that it’s neither over nor undervalued (aka prices are where they should be).

Now, let’s take a closer look at current and past home price valuations for our area. Here’s an excerpt from the report showing the stats for the Washington, DC metro area:

It’s broken down into 6 columns with two data points in each column. From left to right, the columns represent 2004Q4, 2005Q4, 2006Q4, 2007Q4, 2008Q3, 2008Q4. The two data points in each column  represent the average price (in thousands) and the percent above or below where house prices should be. The Washington, DC metro area can be found about halfway down the very left hand side - ”Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV”. If you look all the way to the right, you’ll see that home prices are 2.2 percent below where they should be. 

On a side note, check out how overvalued prices were during the boom market - 25 percent in 2004Q4, 43 percent in 2005Q4 and 30 percent in 2006Q4 (though our local market started its downward spiral in Q3 of 2006). If you’re wondering how people could afford to buy a home when they were so overvalued just look to lenders/banks and their loose lending guidelines and ”creative” financing options.

So are prices really where they should be?

I would have said we’re about where we should be even before I saw this report - we’re seeing prices at 2003, if not earlier pre-boom-market levels.

Could we see prices drop more? If interest rates go up or there’s an immediate flood of foreclosures or the economy collapses, yes. But Loudoun County has already seen values drop 25, 35 even 50+ percent from the peak of the boom market (2006) so, barring anything on a macro-level, I think the worse is over.

7 Housing Tax Laws You’ll Want To Know About

There are several new housing tax laws that went into effect recently that will help some homeowners, but not others. Whether they help or hurt you depends on your specific situation.

Here's a list of the 7 new housing tax laws…

1. Cancellation of debt income
2. First-time home buyer credit
3. PMI deduction
4. Property tax addition to standard deduction
5. Surviving spouse home sale tax deduction
6. Energy-saving home improvements
7. Second-home sale limits

Click here for an explanation of these new housing tax laws and to see how they affect you.

Note: Make sure you speak with a tax accountant to see exactly how these new housing tax laws affect you.

Capital Home and Garden Show Starts Tomorrow

The Capitol Home and Garden Show starts tomorrow (Thursday, 2/26) and goes through Sunday, 3/1. It's a great place to check out and compare all the local and national vendors in attendance, get remodeling ideas, check out prices and see what's new in the home and garden world.

The event is being held at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. Dates and times are Thursday 5:00pm to 9:30pm; Friday 10:00am to 9:30pm; Saturday 10:00am to 9:30pm; and Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm. Tickets are $12 at the door or you can save $3 by buying them online.

I'll be at the Virginia Homeowner's Alliance booth (booth 1051) on Friday from 3pm to 6pm and on Saturday from 1pm to 5pm - stop by and say hello if you're there during those times.

And if you're in the market for granite, marble or Miele appliances, be sure to check out Dominion Granite and Marble (booth 2015) - the owners of the company, Eric and Austin, are good friends of mine and their company does incredible work.

Click here for the booth number of each vendor/exhibitor at the Capital Home and Garden Show.

Virginia Homeowner’s Alliance - Local Information Affecting Homeowners, Collective Voice to Lawmakers

From a release the Virginia Association of REALTORS distributed last week:

For most people, their home is the most important and valuable investment they will make in their entire lifetime. And, buying and owning a home is about so much more than just designs, floor plans, and locations. The Virginia Homeowners Alliance (VHA) is a new organization residing on www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com which provides
Virginians with a free online one-stop-shop for improving the value of their home and keeping up with local government decisions that affect their home, their community and their quality of life.

The Virginia Homeowners Alliance Web site makes it easy for homeowners to stay informed and get involved with what’s going on in the local community that affects the value of their home. Smart homeowners understand that their property value and quality of life are also determined by the quality of local schools and transportation, zoning for commercial and other residential development, local real estate tax rates and an endless array of other factors affecting the real estate market.

In addition, www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com offers helpful resources like home maintenance tips, lawn care pointers, energy-saving ideas, local school report cards and SOL information, and much more.

As we are facing the most serious housing crunch and recession in years, being a knowledgeable homeowner is more important than ever.  This is why the Virginia Homeowners Alliance recently hosted a webcast featuring a panel of experts who discussed current housing conditions in Virginia and answered questions from homeowners across the Commonwealth. Visit www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com today to view the program and find out more information about VHA.

The Virginia Homeowners Alliance is a free resource available to all Virginia homeowners. VHA an organization associated with the Virginia Association of REALTORS and the local associations of REALTORS around the state.

The Virginia Homeowners Alliance is a great resource for every homeowner in Virginia because it provides you with information on things that affect your property, your rights and your pocket book. It's also good because it brings together the collective voice of homeowners in Virginia when it comes to bringing housing issues to our local, state and federal lawmakers. 

If you haven't signed up yet, it takes less than a minute and it's free. Just tell them Danilo Bogdanovic sent you.

Virginia Homeowners Alliance Launch Event January 12

The Virginia Homeowners Alliance is inviting Virginia's homeowners to an official Web-based launch event, "The Housing and Mortgage Crisis in Virginia" on Monday, January 12 at 11:00 a.m. 

This event is being broadcast live at www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com. They have assembled several economic and housing experts to participate in a lively roundtable discussion. The panel will answer questions from homeowners and provide valuable insight and analysis to assist them as they weather this economic downturn. 

Here's some more information about the Virginia Homeowners Alliance:

What is the Virginia Homeowners Alliance?

• The Virginia Homeowners Alliance (VHA) is an exciting new Web site provided by Virginia's REALTORS® to better inform homeowners and help them protect their homes
• It's not an organization with boring meetings and a bunch of bureaucracy. It's an organization composed of a free, one-stop online shop (www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com) for improving the value of your home and keeping up with local issues that affect your community and your quality of life
• By joining VHA, you can stay informed of all the latest news relating to real estate taxes, property assessments, residential and commercial developments, transportation, school construction and a host of other issues affecting your home, family, and neighborhood

What other features can you find on www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com?

• Easily contact local government bodies including your city council, board of supervisors, school board, planning commission, and housing authority to name a few
• Lawn care and other valuable home maintenance tips
• Local school report cards
• Energy saving pointers
• "Kids' Room" where children and parents can access practice SOL tests

How do you join the Virginia Homeowners Alliance?

• Visit www.VAHomeownersAlliance.com and register as a new member. Membership is completely FREE

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