Driveway sealing is the best way to prolong the life of your asphalt and save you money.

We recommend sealing your driveway every other year to squeeze every bit of use that you can out of the expensive blacktop.

 This project is an easy one to do, and will attract a do-it-yourselfer looking to save money.  But estimate the costs involved.  It is often less expensive and less time-consuming to pay a company to seal your driveway than to do it yourself!  Consider the following:

1)   Commercial sealers buy bulk blacktop, and so they pay considerably less that you would pay for buckets that you bring home in your trunk.

2)  Commercial sealers can spread the cost of equipment like a spreading broom and driveway cleaning tools over many jobs because they are reusable tools.  (You buy one broom for every driveway job you do, they buy one for every hundred!  Their equipment cost is 1/100th of yours!)

3)  Commercial sealers have experienced teams to do the job.  Many hands make light, and quick work.  What could take you a weekend may take them only an hour.

4)  Commercial sealers take the mess with them, you take it into your house.  Consider the cost of replacing the rug you dripped blacktop onto!

  So get a couple of estimates to check it out, but we have found that you usually save time and money by hiring this job out, making commercial sealers a win-win.  (You will also avoid the sore back, caloused hands, and sunburn!)

CNN recently ran this article on small upgrades that you can make on your house that might increase your value…

 http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0701/gallery.renovations/

Buying a house is a huge decision and the moving season in life is always a stressful one. However, it is important to act prudently to make sure you don’t make these big nine mistakes many homebuyers make.

1. Not planning for repairs

   Part of the cost of owning a home is the cost of maintenance and repairs. When trying to decide how much home you can afford, consider all of the maintenance that will need to be done. You can expect appliances to fail, roofs to wear out, driveways to corrode, windows to break, etc. Since you’re not renting anymore, all of those repair costs fall on you. While a home inspection cannot predict the future, it can tell you what items are in need of repair at the time of the inspection, so you can know what you’re getting into.

2. Borrowing too much
   
   While your banker may tell you to borrow all they’ll let you borrow, you may want to reconsider taking that advice. The borrower is the slave to the lender, and any debt you take on is a considerable obligation. While a mortgage is unavoidable for most, a bit of modesty makes it possible for people to pay off a house and live without that debt. (And maybe even save some money to help your kids get houses without debt?)

   We often hear that it is worth it to go into tremendous debt for a house because the value of real estate will grow. While that is often the case, there is no guarantee of the future. Real estate markets can crash, neighborhoods can deteriorate, and if you stretched your borrowing power to get in, you could take a huge loss if you tried to get out.

   While a debt-free lifestyle is a dream for many, it is possible for it to become a reality.

3. Adjustable Rate Mortgages
   
   Mortgages with adjustable rates can be a good deal if interest rates are high. When rates go down, your payment will automatically go down. But if rates are low, when rates go up your payments will too. The problem is that nobody has a crystal ball. We don’t know what rates will do. So why not lock in a fixed rate, and if rates plummet you can refinance later. (A.R.M.s are not always a bad decision, especially if you plan on staying in town for just a few years, but get good counsel and don’t rush in!)

4. Rushing In
   
   The purchase of a home is a major investment, the biggest investment most of us will ever make. It’s better to live in an apartment for a few months than to rush in to a house just so you can get one. Take the time necessary to figure out the finances, study the neighborhoods, and get a good home inspection so you can know what you’re getting into and so you can act with confidence.

5. Expecting too much growth
   
   A law of real-estate is that a homeowner always thinks his house is worth more than it is. You hear the stories of peoples’ homes skyrocketing in value and you assume that that’s what’s happening to your value. Not necessarily. In Rochester, while values go up in general, the move up slowly and plateau often. Don’t expect to flip a house for a great profit in a couple of years (unless you got a great deal to begin with.)

6. Over-upgrading

   People will often buy a home and borrow extra money to upgrade the things they didn’t like: the kitchen, the master bathroom, the basement. But beware: unless you do most of the labor yourself, your investment in your house rarely returns what you put into it (in the immediate term.) Unless you plan on staying at that house for a number of years, you are likely to lose money on most upgrades.

7. Ignoring Radon

   The geology of Western New York is ideal for radon to creep into your basement. But we ignore it because we can’t see it. Radon is a radioactive gas that is known to cause lung cancer. A test that costs less than a hundred dollars can tell you whether radon is an issue in your home. And if it is an issue, the $1500 for a repair is worth it.

8. Avoiding Realtors When buying a home, a realtor usually doesn’t cost you anything directly. Their services can be very valuable. They are trained professionals that can help answer many of your questions and guide you through the complex home-buying process.
9. Not getting an Inspection You probably expected this one on this site! But I’ll make my plug anyways – Home Inspections are worth it. You spend many tens of thousands of dollars on a house, and a home inspection is a relatively small cost to uncover issues that could drain away your investment. While it is not legally necessary to get an inspection, a couple hundred dollars now could save you thousands down the road.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. When carbon monoxide enters your system through your lungs and mixes with your blood, it prevents your blood from bringing oxygen to the cells of your body. For that reason, carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly.

What are the sources of carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is caused by the incomplete combustion of fuels like natural gas, oil, or wood. These are the primary sources of home heat in New York state.

How can I detect carbon monoxide?

You must use a carbon monoxide detector because CO cannot be seen and does not have an odor.

How can I prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?

Keep fresh batteries in a Carbon Monoxide detector on each floor of your house. Never ignore the alarm.

What if my Carbon Monoxide Alarm goes off?

If the alarm goes off and anyone is experiencing flu-like symptoms:

• Immediately evacuate everyone from the home and

• Call 911 from outside the home.

If the alarm goes off, but no one has flu-like symptoms:

• Air out the home by opening doors and windows;

• Turn off all fuel-burning appliances;

• Reset you CO alarm—if elevated levels remain, UL listed alarms will sound again after 6 minutes; and

• Call a qualified Heating Contractor to inspect for sources of CO. Do not operate fuel-burning appliances until they have been inspected.

While it seems that every year heating bills go up, this year you could drop your cost significantly. This list has some cheap ways to reduce your bills, and some expensive. If you won’t be in your current house long, don’t bother with the expensive upgrades (they won’t pay off). But if you plan on staying put, consider making all of these upgrades for long-term savings.

1. Replace those old windows

Your home loses much of its heat through old drafty windows and doors. Though expensive up-front, replacing windows will reduce your heating costs noticeably right away. If you plan on staying at your home for several years, the repairs could pay for themselves.

2. Upgrade to a High-Efficiency Furnace
   If you have a low or mid-efficiency furnace, the heating savings can be significant if you upgrade. The up-front cost is significant, but again, if you plan on staying in your house for a few years it should pay off.
   

3. Turn Down the Heat Every time you Leave the House

You can shrink your heating bill by 10% if you keep your furnace lower during the workday. You can reduce it further by turning the thermostat down at night. If you don’t have the discipline to remember to do it, consider buying a programmable thermostat for $100. (Another advantage of a programmable thermostat is that it can warm the house up just before you wake up or return home from work.)

4. Go Tankless
   Tankless hot water heaters use 30% less energy than traditional water heaters. If you buy a decent one, it will also provide unlimited hot water (the tank can’t get empty). Count on having to live in your house at least 5 years for the tank to cover its up-front costs (though that number can vary).
   

5. Add insulation to your attic

The heat in your house rises, and if there isn’t enough insulation to slow it down, your furnace will work overtime to try to keep it warm outside! Consider rolling out 12 more inches of fiberglass insulation. If you insulate by yourself, be careful not to obstruct the vents under your eaves (the soffit vents).

6. Insulate your rim joists
   What’s a rim joist? It’s a board (possibly 2×8 or 2×10) that sits on top of your foundation wall (the wall that your first floor supports rest on). It runs around the perimeter of your house. Adding roll insulation here (cut it to fill cavities) will pay for itself quickly.
   

7. Seal out those drafts

Replace weather-stripping on doors, caulk around windows, and seal any holes or cracks on perimeter walls. Spray-foam is great, but use it with caution. When it expands, it can crack window frames or dry-wall.

8. Clean or replace your furnace filter

Disposable furnace filters should be changed at least every six months. Every time you change your clocks for daylight savings, change your furnace filter. This will make your furnace more efficient and reduce your energy costs.