Summer Magic Started in April for Home Sellers

By Gino Blefari, President & CEO, Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

When is the best time of year to list a house for sale?

It's a question asked as often as when is best to buy.

Historically, summer has been the fastest season for home sellers. That was also the case in 2013, as many sellers across the country experienced higher sale prices and shorter time on market.

Now that summer is coming to a close, we can look back on the season and make some observations – perhaps even pinpoint at which point of the summer is most optimal to hang the for-sale sign. Data released last week from realtor.com found that homes that were listed in April benefitted most with shorter days on market and higher sale prices.

The reason April was pinpointed as the sweet spot is because as summer progressed, more sellers put their homes on the market, spiking inventory a bit and slowing down the market slightly. It's a simple matter of supply and demand.

Summer's "Life Hacks"

We like most of these ideas. We think you might like a few of them too. However, about #2: Really? A great big bottle of shampoo at the beach. We think that's a dead giveaway that something's in that bottle besides shampoo.

 



July Newsletter Hot of the Presses

We have a monthly newsletter that we are no longer printing and snail mailing. It’s all electronic, all the time. Here’s our July issue that we hope you enjoy.

http://teampatereau.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/over-the-fence-july-2013.pdf

Energy Tips for Summer Cooling to Save Money and Reduce Pollution

There's lots of talk around here about the heat lately. Here's another post with helpful tips on how to stay cool. Enjoy, and stay cool!

The average home spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. Increased energy production to run cooling systems not only raises costs, it also can contribute to pollution that adversely affects the quality of the air we breathe.

Which Way Should Your Ceiling Fan Turn in Summer?

The Cool Way!

Make sure your ceiling fans rotate in the correct direction to cool you in summer.

We’re having a heat wave; so make sure your ceiling fans are spinning in the right direction to move air around the room.

Most fans are reversible: One direction pushes air down, creating a nice summer breeze; the other direction sucks air up, helping you distribute heat in winter. There's normally a switch on the motor to change the fan's direction.

Is your fan turning in the right direction for summer?

Stand beneath the running fan, and if you feel a cooling breeze, it’s turning correctly. If not, change directions, usually by flicking a switch on the fan’s base. Typically, it's counterclockwise or left for summer and clockwise for winter, but the best method is to follow the steps above.

Funny note: We read on Yahoo! that one clever person used bubbles to see which direction his fan was blowing.

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon for HouseLogic

It's hot this week-end. Want Summer comfort but hate the AC? Maybe, like many homes in this area, you don't have AC in your house. Follow these tips, and you’ll keep your house cool without frosty air conditioning.

Block that Sun!
When sunlight enters your house, it turns into heat. You’ll keep your house cooler if you reduce solar heat gain by keeping sunlight out.

Close the drapes: Line them with light-colored fabric that reflects the sun, and close them during the hottest part of the day. Let them pillow onto the floor to block air movement.

Add awnings: Install them on south- and west-facing windows to reduce solar heat gain by up to 77%, says the U.S. Department of Energy. Make your own by tacking up sheets outside your windows and draping the ends over a railing or lawn chair.