What is the fair market value of my home?

These are two very common questions when people are considering selling a home. Talk to any real estate agent, and the first thing they’ll tell you about calculating home value is that location is a big factor, but not the only factor. After the big real estate crash many people are asking themselves, What is the fair market value of my home?

Most of us understand there are more factors involved in calculating home value than just granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. We also know that there are online sources like HouseValues.com that can assist with determining house values by address. HouseValues.com is one of the best ways to calculate the market value of your house because it doesn’t just use algorithms and general housing data. HouseValues.com has a local real estate expert in your area to determine the real fair market value of your home. It’s okay if you are just checking out the value of your home and aren’t actually ready to sell your house. Asking an agent to help with calculating your home value is very common in today’s economy. Many people are wondering, Could we sell our home if we had to or wanted to?

Whether you are trying to calculate the value of your home because you are thinking of selling or just out of curiosity, here are five factors to consider.

Five Factors that Help Determine the Market Value of Your Home

Home Location

Location is the key influence for calculating the value of your home. Besides the proximity of the home to a major metropolitan area or a breathtaking view, these are a few more location factors that can increase home value:

• Proximity to schools, parks and points of interest

Homes within reasonable walkability to schools or parks will strongly influence buyers with small children. However, homes that boarder school or park property lines may suffer in home value due to unwanted traffic, parking limitations and the likelihood of youth mischief.

• Neighborhood with increasing desirability

Where is new growth heading in town? Will there be any new business areas, grocery stores, or libraries in the future?

• Proximity to infrastructure

Is the house surrounded by other houses? Apartment complexes? Other buildings? The best possible situation for your home is to be situated between two other houses and located along a road without yellow traffic lines.

Homebuyer Demographics

After you buy a house, the market value of your home is affected by who else is likely to purchase the property. If the property is a perfect starter home for pre-family newlyweds, and the main homebuyers in town are senior-citizens, the fair market value of your home might be lower than you think.

Older buyers typically look for one story homes without stairs, whereas families with small children often desire homes with a front yard away from a busy street and multiple bathtubs.

Home Storage Space

The more closets, garages and laundry rooms a house has, the higher the fair market value of your home. Most homebuyers look for a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, as well as closets in high traffic areas like front entryways, bathrooms and other bedrooms.

The two-door garage is the most common size for most homes, yet three-car garages are becoming more and more common.

As for the laundry room, the washer and dryer units should be located together in a common access space without creating an eyesore.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the most active area of a home. Typically, the following features add value to the kitchen:

• Granite countertops
• Stainless steel appliances
• Gas stovetops
• Convection ovens and microwaves
• Ice machines
• Cable television access ports

Also, the proximity of the kitchen to the dining room and family room will impact the usability of the house and thus is a factor in calculating the value of your home.

Home Layout and Size

Homebuyers typically look for homes with three to five bedrooms with an average of one shower per every two bedrooms. Split bedroom plans with bedrooms on opposite sides of the house are a popular trend with modern homes. Also, many real estate professionals love to use the phrase light and bright to highlight homes with lots of natural lighting.

As for size, most residential neighborhoods will have a slight variation in square-footage and number of rooms, but they all should be within a standard deviation of one another. If resale value of your home is a big concern, it’s in your best interest to not buy the largest home in the neighborhood. When calculating the market value of your home, real estate professionals measure the homes in the surrounding area against yours, and if most of the nearby properties are smaller than yours, it can act as an anchor to drag down your fair market value.

Pre-approval is one of the most important steps in the home buying process. You should apply for a loan and receive approval from a lender before searching for a home.

Here are some reasons why being approved at the beginning of the home buying process is so important:

1. Pre-approval for a home loan will determine your price range. Based on your down payment and that pre-approved mortgage amount, you’ll know what you can afford before you start looking. This saves you time and allows you to focus on houses that you can actually purchase.

2. Pre-approval strengthens your offer and negotiating position. Home sellers tend to accept an offer from a buyer who is pre-approved for a home loan over someone whose financial picture is still in question.

3. Pre-approval often cuts days or even weeks when you close. The lender has already analyzed your credit and approved you for a mortgage.

What is the difference between being pre-approved and pre-qualified?
There is actually a big difference between buyers who are ôpre-qualifiedö and those who are pre-approved. Lenders pre-qualify buyers and determine how much they can borrow based only on information the buyer has provided. The buyer still must fill out a loan application and go through the lender’s approval process. If you are pre-approved, lenders have already done a credit check and verified employment and deposit. Pre-approval is a commitment to lend you a predetermined amount. The only piece missing is the lender’s appraisal of the home to confirm its value.

How long should a pre-approval for home loan take?
If you are dealing with an experienced mortgage representative who uses an automated approval system, it should only take a few minutes to get a pre-approval. However, if your lender is not using the most up-to-date automated systems, pre-approval for a home loan could take a few days. The automated system takes all of your income, debt and asset information and enters it into their computer. The pre-approval process is usually pretty fast as long as the loan officer is certified to use the DU underwriting system (automated underwriting). The final loan approval comes once you have an actual property and then the lender re-verifies all of the property, income, debt and asset information.

What happens if I change jobs after getting pre-approval for a home loan? Do I have to go through the process again?
Unfortunately, the answer is usually yes. Your pre-approval is good as long as none of the information provided to the lender changes. You will need to notify the company that pre-approved you that your employment status has changed. They will have to enter your new income data. The good news is that if you took a new job that pays more, you might be able to afford a larger house.

What happens if I decide to work for myself after getting pre-approval for a home loan?
There will be complications when going from W-2 employee to 1099 or Schedule C income. You will probably need a two-year history of self-employment to qualify with that income. In this instance, you might want to ask your lender about undocumented home loans.

When it comes to investing in land/real estate or stocks, there is no one size fits all. Although both vehicles have proven over the long run to provide excellent returns when handled properly, each person will have their own unique goals, risk tolerance, and capital that they are willing to spend. The key is to not rush things. If you don’t have the capital to invest, then wait until the time is right. Most people fail at investing when they do it before they should. The late night infomercial talking about day trading or investing in real estate should be considered too good to be true!

Additionally, this is where a financial planning specialist may offer useful insights. You may have heard the advice to not put your eggs all in one basket. Therefore, it may even be beneficial to consider pursuing both forms of investments to better leverage your profits. So our goal is to offer an overview of both sides of the coin in order for you to start forming your own opinion. Take the time to create mock portfolios or mock real estate investments to begin learning how to invest. All in all, it is important that you proactively take your financial future into your own hands and only pursue the path that you feel will be the best for you and your family.

Benefits of Investing in Land or Real Estate

Many very successful people started out their investing careers in real estate. Plus regardless of what happens in the economy, it is factual that people will always need a place to live. Homes very rarely decrease in value when they are well maintained and purchased correctly. Purchasing a home correctly means not overpaying, not buying with emotions, and knowing a market’s potential upside. In addition, land can be an extremely lucrative investment since the world’s population continues to increase, and as a result the demand for land used by residential, commercial and retail entities is always on the rise. Here is a famous quote from Mark Twain that applies to land, “Don’t wait to buy land, buy land and wait!”

With real estate you are offered something that is tangible and can be easier to calculate your due diligence. In other words, after reviewing the property specs with appraisers, brokers, and inspectors, you have a fairly good idea of what you are getting into.

Downside of Real Estate Investments

First of all, there is typically a lot more time and energy invested in managing your investments. Whether you are renting your property out to tenants or keeping your lots clean and free of debris and coding violations, this is something you will be much more actively involved in. Next, real estate always has some sort of cost involved. Regardless of what you decide to do with your properties, you will still be responsible for taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs/maintenance and possible a host of other expenses. The most critical piece is knowing you can end up overspending. Most real estate investors who lose their shirt on their first deal never invest again. Don’t be that guy!

Finally, you have to have the proper investment strategy in place. Although real estate has historically been a strong hedge against inflation, you always need to consider your own local trends so you can properly leverage your investments to realize a strong ROI. Real estate is highly localized and knowing the market inside and out will position you well into the future.

Benefits of Investing in Stocks

Unlike real estate, this is an investment that can be essentially placed on autopilot. Aside from keeping an eye on your portfolio for rises and dips, you can leave the management and operation of each entity up to the professional staff. You own a piece of each company without having to work for it. Even with the Great Depression and other scares that we have witnessed over the last century, stocks have historically proven to be the best return on investment for those who hold on through the tough times and invest their returns properly. Stocks also provide some margin for error. If someone buys 10 shares of a bad stock the downside risk is much less than purchasing the wrong home in a bad neighborhood.

Additionally, it typically doesn’t take a huge upfront investment to get involved in the market, and this is very beneficial for those who don’t have a lot of cash on hand. As long as you choose the right companies, earnings will continue to increase. Selling your stocks is also infinitely easier than listing a property or land for sale as well.

Downside of Stocks

On the other hand, the greatest benefits of stocks can sometimes be the most detrimental weaknesses. For example, though you do not need to actively invest sweat into each company, you are also leaving your finances in the hands of a management team that dictates how things operate. Therefore, if business takes a nosedive so do your stocks. Some will recover while others may crash and burn. Also, this can be a very emotional game. Especially for those who are getting closer to retirement, the couple scares that we have witnessed in the last decade caused many people to pull out at huge losses to retire with much less than expected.

Finally, stocks can be a lot more unpredictable, especially if you are jumping on the bandwagon of rising trends or promising starter companies. Though some may end up being a homerun, you are always listening to the speculations of gurus or your own gut feeling. Alternatively, real estate can typically be more accurately measured. Most people are able to become an “insider” through due diligence in a specific neighborhood or sub-area.

In conclusion, it is important that you take the time to assess the investment opportunities that are available to you before making any decisions. It is important to look out for your financial future and well being, and we’re here to support you along the way.

If you need more information about how you can get started investing in real estate or land, and want to discover the options available in our local area, take the time to contact The Hightower Team today. We look forward to doing business with you!

Due to the mortgage crisis that our country has faced over the last several years, there are continually more and more foreclosed home for sale everywhere you turn. Of course, this can be very tempting for Home Buyers as people can sometimes get properties at a deep discount. However, if you are considering purchasing a Denver foreclosed home for your next purchase, then there are some common pitfalls that you will need to avoid along the way to protect yourself. Remember, foreclosure inventory is very localized in the Denver Metro Area and across the nation. So keep that in mind when making offers or trying to find a bargain.

1. Avoid Making Emotional Offers: When you are planning to make and offer on a foreclosed home, you need to be extremely confident with the home’s current condition, its true market value, and the repairs needed to restore the home. Too many buyers will think that they found a slamming deal and fear that they will lose the home to another bidder. So instead of taking the time to truly do their homework and complete the proper inspections and analysis, they end up locking up a property for more than it’s actually worth. Purchasing real estate is a game of emotions. If you let them take control you end up learning an expensive lesson!
   

2. Estimate Neighborhood Values: Consider what other comparable properties are selling for and talk to a real estate agents who have a working knowledge of the area. In fact, it’s a wise decision to thoroughly review these questions and any other recommendations your Realtor may make. Also, request a competitive market analysis on any property you are seriously considering. 3-6 Sold comps in the area should be sufficient, or a full analysis including 3 active and 3 sold comps may be recommended depending on your home buying experience. Below are 5 questions you should ask yourself before making a purchase.

   Is this neighborhood a desirable location and how are crime rates?

   What schools would be available for my kids or future buyers?

   Were there any other foreclosures or investor sales that could negatively affect the future value of my home?

   How long do I plan on living there and how could that affect things?

   What type of appreciation should I expect?

3. Get Preapproved: Before you start looking at homes, you should get preapproved on a mortgage in order to know exactly what you can afford. Sadly, many buyers can miss out on some phenomenal deals or spend hours of wasted time because they avoid this step. Show banks that you are a serious buyer and have your financing in place!
   

4. Get Professional Help: Not only should you seek the expertise and of an experienced Realtor, but you may also need guidance from a real estate attorney or financial consultant as well. Each professional can ensure that you are making the right choices throughout the process and can protect you from any issues you may come across along the way.

Remember that there is a lot more than meets the eye when you are trying to buy a foreclosed home. Negotiating with the banks, filling out paperwork properly, and undergoing all the necessary inspections can be a very detailed and tedious process.

Therefore, we encourage you to give The Hightower Team a call to get started. We have years of bank owned experience assisting both banks and individual clients when buying or selling foreclosed homes. Discover how we can help you to make a smart and profitable investment when buying a Denver foreclosed home!

The mortgage settlement process, often referred to as the mortgage closing, can sometimes seem confusing and a little overwhelming. Whether you are buying a new home or refinancing an existing home, there are various fees to be paid and steps to go through. Two steps that are often confused by homebuyers are the home appraisal versus home inspection.

Remember the Difference: Home Appraisal versus Home Inspection

One easy way to remember the difference between an appraisal versus a home inspection is that a home inspection is for your protection. A home inspector will not estimate the value of your home.

Typically, home appraisals are for lenders; home inspections are for buyers.

What is a Home Appraisal?

A home appraisal is a document that provides an estimate of a property’s price, otherwise known as its market value. Your home will serve as collateral for the mortgage, so a lender will require an independent appraisal on the property prior to the approval of your mortgage loan application. This is to ensure that the mortgage loan amount is not more than the value of the home and lot you want to purchase or refinance. Most lenders will loan you no more than 95 percent of the appraised value of the home or purchase price, whichever is less.

The person who conducts the home appraisal is called an appraiser. This person will consider several factors in developing the home appraisal, including location, square footage, recent sales of similar properties, and construction quality to estimate the property’s market value.

There is a fee associated with getting a home appraisal. Some lenders and brokers will include the appraisal fee in the loan application fee; you can ask the lender for a copy of the appraisal. If you are refinancing and have a recent appraisal of the property, some lenders may waive the requirement for a new appraisal. If you are in this situation, you could save a few hundred dollars by using the existing appraisal.

FHA Loans Appraisal

Many mortgages are insured by the federal government through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA.) The FHA requires lenders to get an FHA loans appraisal on properties prior to loan approval. According to the FHA, they require appraisals for three reasons:

• To estimate the market value of the property.
• To make sure that the property meets FHA minimum property requirements/standards for health and safety.
• To make sure that the property is marketable.

An FHA loan appraisal document will indicate property defects that are easily noticeable and found not in compliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s minimum property standards. These defects may not be the same as those items noted in the home inspection report. The estimated cost of a property appraisal is $263 to $444, with a nationwide median cost of $292.

What is a Home Inspection?

There are two types of home inspections, those required by the lender and home inspections initiated by the buyer.

A Lender’s Home Inspection

A lender, especially one that offers Veteran’s Affairs (VA) or FHA-insured mortgages, may require a home inspection and an analysis by an engineer or consultant to check for things like water damage, termite damage, and the structural condition of the home. In rural areas, lenders may want a test of the septic system (if applicable) and a water test to make sure the well and water system will maintain an adequate supply of water for the house. These water tests usually will check for water quantity, not quality. The health department of the local city government may require a water quality test as well, but this might be done outside of the mortgage settlement process and require a separate payment. Keep in mind that a lender’s inspection is for the benefit of the lender, not you. You may want to ask for a buyer’s home inspection to make sure the property is in good condition. The cost of a lender’s home inspection will likely be between $300 and $500.

A Buyer’s Home Inspection

Often, a buyer will make the purchase offer of a home contingent on the results of a home inspection. You will have to pay for this inspection. The cost varies by region, but spending hundreds of dollars could save you thousands.

When you make a purchase offer, sometimes called a binder, contingent on the results of a home inspection, it allows you to cancel closing on the deal if an inspector finds problems with the home or property. If deficiencies are found with the home, you may want to renegotiate for a reduced price or require the seller to make repairs to the home. If you are getting a VA or FHA loan, you will need a certificate from a qualified inspector stating that the home is free from pests such as termites and rodents. In this case, you can also make your purchase offer contingent on pest inspection results.

Similar to the lender’s home inspection, an inspector should examine the home for structural soundness, water damage, and pests. In addition to these basic home inspection criteria, you may want to have the home inspection include an examination of the condition of the roof and the plumbing and electrical systems. It is also wise to have the home tested for environmental hazards that may not be visible to the casual observer. This may include testing for radon gas emissions, water quality, asbestos, lead-based paint and other toxic materials. If you are making your purchase offer contingent on the results for environmental hazards, make sure this is stated clearly in the conditions of your offer.

Remember, the easiest way to know the difference between an appraisal versus a home inspection is that an inspection is for your protection!

Sources

http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/settlement/default.htm

If you are purchasing a home or car, negotiating the transaction takes a certain skill set. Over time most people are able to create a negotiating technique that works for them. In this series of videos below you’ll learn about the 7 general rules of negotiating in a home purchase. These rules should be tailored to your personality and will help you get the deal you are looking for. This applies to both individuals and real estate agents, and can by applied to most transactions that require negotiating. Remember, negotiating is an art. Don’t be discouraged if you struggle with some of these rules the first time you apply them.

These are:

1. Never Put Your Best Offer First
2. Develop a good relationship with the cooperating agent
3. Know when to walk away
4. Gauge what the seller wants
5. Have a working knowledge of your market
6. Get A Home Inspection
7. Ask For it!

Negotiating Rules 1: Never Put Your Best Offer First

This one is easy, ask yourself what is the most I am willing to pay for the home, vehicle, etc. Once you arrive at that price, then offer something below that number. The final price shouldn’t create Buyer’s Remorse, and it should be something you can feel good about. Use Rule #5 to develop your initial offer and this will start the negotiations. In today’s economic climate, nobody pays asking price and everyone is willing to negotiate.

Negotiating Rules 2: Build a Strong Relationship

This is primarily driven by your personality and how you prefer to interact with people. It’s always good to have a friendly approach, but don’t go outside of yourself to do it. Remember this is usually the beginning of the negotiating process, so don’t lose any leverage to simply gain rapport and be sure to note anything important you discuss. The goal should be to build trust and to create a working relationship.

Negotiating Rules 3: Know When to Walk Away!

Depending on the situation it is always a good idea to walk away from the negotiating table to let things cool down and digest the info that has been presented by both sides. Getting too emotionally involved will compromise your ability to negotiate. So know when to walk away! If you tend to get emotionally involved when making a big purchase, then make it a rule to always walk away. This will give you an opportunity to think about things and stick with the original price you are willing to pay.

Negotiating Rules 4: Know What the Seller Wants

If you know what is motivating the Seller, then you are able to deliver what they need. This will vary from deal to deal, but generally speaking it applies to most transactions. Obtaining this information is done when applying rule #2 or during casual conversation. Giving people what they want is the best way to create a smooth and painless transaction. But remember to keep this within reason.

Negotiating Rules 5: Know Your Market

This is very important. You don’t want to simply make low offers without any basis. During any negotiations all momentum is lost if either party is considered “unreasonable”. Carefully investigate the market value of a home, car, or any item you look to purchase. Using the “trade-in” value on a car or the low solds in the neighborhood to begin your negotiation is reasonable. Coming in low without any basis is never a good idea. If you do, don’t be surprised if people question how serious you are about the transaction.

Negotiating Rules 6: Get a Home Inspection

Simply put, this is doing your due diligence. A home or car inspection should help guide you and insure the deal you are putting together is the right one. In good faith all negotiations make certain assumptions on condition, value, etc. If any of those change during an inspection, you have the right to raise those concerns and negotiate a fair resolution. The easiest request is to ask for repairs, or fair compensation for the items found during the inspection. However, if the purchase price has already been discounted for repairs then don’t expect too many additional concessions.

Negotiating Rules 7

The old saying applies “It’s free to ask”. If you do not ask for it you can’t expect to get it. This is a fine balance between asking for everything, and applying rule #5 before making the request. Use as many resources as you can to determine what to ask for. Whether this is your initial offer, or concessions after an inspection, be sure to use all available resources to help arrive at what to ask for. This will help save time and effort for all parties involved, and will insure you do not miss anything.

It’s that time again! Fall is in the air, and its football season. This brings crisp/cool air, beautiful Fall colors, and plenty of enjoyable evenings around the fire. Now that you have had one month of football, it’s time to balance the weekend with certain preparations that will get your home ready for Colorado’s coldest months.

As a homeowner, it’s important that you take certain steps to protect your home. Let’s explore 5 key areas that you ought to review over the upcoming weeks before the snow begins to fly:

1. Routine furnace maintenance: Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment for your furnace. While trying to juggle work obligations, kids, school, chores, and much more, this is one of those areas that can easily be overlooked. Colorado has frigid months in the Winter and juggling furnace maintenance is much easier than having to fix a furnace that goes out. A couple hundred dollars now is much more reasonable than a few thousand later. Keep your furnace in good working condition and make sure you and your family are prepared for colder temperatures.
   

2. Clean off your roof: As the leaves begin to fall, it’s important that you protect your roof from unnecessary moisture. Take the time to clean off any debris that builds up before the winter months and ensure that your roof is patched from any basic wear and tear. This will be especially vital when winter snow begins to accumulate. Also, clear out your gutters and scan the area around your chimney if you have a wood burning fireplace or stove. If you find any places where water could leak in your home, then it may be time to call a professional.
   

3. Prepare Your Pipes: First of all, don’t forget to unscrew any hoses or nozzles attached to the outside faucets. For those who are using underground sprinklers, take the time to push out any remaining water from the Summer by winterizing the entire sprinkler system. If applicable, cleaning your septic system may be beneficial before the temperatures hit freezing. Also, insulating pipes will prevent freezing and/or burst pipes.
   

4. Basic Crack Repair & Landscape: For those who have minor sidewalk or concrete damage, now may be a good time to fill some of those areas with something like Quikrete to avoid further damage. With Colorado’s temperature swings, water beneath concrete can cause a lot of damage. Sealing cracks will help keep water and moisture out, especially once snow hits. Also, make sure to clear out the areas around your house where leaves have fallen, and cut back any other trees or shrubbery for the Winter.
   

5. Insulation & Energy Efficiency: This can be a huge money waster! For those who are rarely at home and constantly on the run, you may want to consider investing in a programmable thermostat. This can save you hundreds of dollars alone by cutting back on unnecessary energy costs. Especially with the rise in most utilities costs, this should certainly be considered. Also, are there areas around your windows, doors or elsewhere that may be allowing cold air to enter your home? If so, consider having these places sealed or maybe investing in some new materials. Depending on how long you plan to live at your current residence, the cost could certainly be justified.

There are 100′s of tips that we could cover, but these 5 seem to have the most impact. This coupled with our 6 Easy Tips to Cut Back on Utility Cost will help save both time and money.  Hopefully you have found these tips to be helpful and informative. Please visit us again soon, as we update our website with other useful tips on a regular basis. Don’t hesitate to Contact The Hightower Team for all of you real estate needs!

With rising utility costs and today’s overall living expenses, most people in Colorado look for creative ways to reduce their monthly bills. One major area that has significant impact on our bottom line is heating, cooling and electric bills. Generally speaking, Colorado’s Winter create the highest utility bills, with Summer’s warmest months close behind. Take a moment to review these helpful tips to help save money each month, while doing your part to help save the environment!

No matter where you live, it is important to take strides whenever possible to help alleviate this financial burden. Below is a checklist of 6 items for you to review and determine where you can start cutting back expenses and improving your home’s efficiency:

1. Maintain your furnace and air conditioning units: This is one area that homeowners tend to disregard. Just like conducting routine repairs on your car, it is just important to keep up with these units as well. And it’s only necessary once per year! In fact, the amount of money you save in the long run by avoiding significant maintenance hassles makes this step well worth it. Additionally, you will maintain a higher efficiency rating and experience cleaner air too.
2. Standby power: Did you know that many items around your house such as your TV, entertainment system, Wii, computer, microwave, etc. are constantly drawing electricity even when they are not powered on? In fact, these types of electronics typically account for approximately 10% of your total energy consumption! By having certain items plugged into a power cord that can be switched off when not in use may have a significant impact and reduce your monthly electric bill.
3. Consider investing in a programmable thermostat: Installing one of these can be fairly inexpensive and is extremely useful for families that are always on the go! Most units can be installed on your own and purchased at Walmart, Home Depot or Ace Hardware. Simply program your thermostat to fluctuate a few degrees during key times of the day, and when your are not home. Make this small investment and watch the savings start to add up!
4. Decrease your water heater’s temperature: By switching the temperature down to the lowest setting can impact your energy bills from 5-10%. You will still have plenty of hot water and can enjoy some extra cost savings as well.
5.  Change you appliance settings: Many dishwashers, washers, and dryers have advanced settings that increase your utility bill. Consider turning off those extra bells and whistles such as the heated dry, automatic sensor settings, or wrinkle shield. Also, you can wash with cold water and only do larger loads when necessary. Instead of scheduling laundry each week, wash your clothes when you have a large enough load. Also, fill you dishwasher until it is full before washing. If you are having issues with getting your dishes clean, consider changing detergents. Most of the time advanced dishwasher settings don’t get better results, it’s simply the detergent.
6.  Dimmer switches and motion detectors: Another tip is to replace your current fixtures or switches with these energy efficient alternatives. You will be able to consume far less energy and your family will only use light when necessary. Even if you do not install these items, get in the habit of shutting off the lights in any room that is not occupied.

By following these 6 simple tips, you will begin to save more money and consume fewer resources. This is a win-win for You and the Environment! There are so many other ways you can improve energy efficiency as well, so we encourage you to take the time to research what may be beneficial for you. Be sure to bookmark our web page and check in regularly for free real estate related tips. Also, please don’t hesitate to call on us…we are your Denver Real Estate consultants! The Hightower Team thanks you for stopping by.