July 2022 | Jeff Howard's Las Vegas Area Real Estate blog

What the Heck is a SEER Rating?

If you are considering a new HVAC unit (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) you’ll need a way to see beyond all the hype and tell just how efficient different units are. That’s where SEER ratings come in. With the cost of cooling and heating your home throughout the year, homeowners want to have the most efficient units that they can afford. Asking for recommendations for a specific unit can bring about a wide range of different answers.

An HVAC unit’s SEER rating is one of the most important factors to consider when trying to decide on a model. Most likely if you don’t know what a SEER rating is or how it’s used, the acronym can seem mysterious. To help, here’s a basic rundown of what SEER ratings are, how they level the playing field so to speak, and where you can turn to get more information.

Latin descent, blue collar air conditioner repairman working at residential home. He prepares to begin work by gathering appropriate tools and referring to digital tablet.

SEER Ratings Explained

SEER is one of the details provided on those big yellow “EnergyGuide” stickers that you’ll see on things like air conditioners, heaters, and HVAC units and it stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio”. It’s the ratio that takes the output of the unit over the course of an average season and divides it by the average energy estimated to be used during that same season. The ratio provides you with an idea of how cost-effective it will be to run the unit, since the ratio sums up how much energy it will take to keep your living space comfortable for an entire season.

It’s important to note that the rating represents the unit’s maximum potential efficiency; your actual experience may (and likely will be) at least somewhat less than that potential based on weather conditions and other factors such as routine maintenance. With that in mind, the SEER rating provides a basis for comparing different options and finding the best solution for your home.

Using a SEER Rating

The smallest SEER rating you can legally install in the US as of today is 13 SEER, and 14-15 is more common (and you can go as high as 21). Higher SEER units use less energy to create the output that the unit achieved. This translates to a significant reduction in cost for you. If you are upgrading from a unit that is maybe 10 to 15 years old, you might save as much as 20 to 40 percent on your energy bills because of the higher efficiency of modern units. Using the SEER rating as a guide will help you to maximize that savings.

Also, SEER ratings can help you to compare models from different manufacturers to find the one that provides the best value for you. A unit that’s more expensive up front because it has a notably higher SEER rating than cheaper models may save you money in the long run.

While there are typically limits to how much your budget can handle, using the SEER rating should help you to find the most efficient option from among multiple models and vendors that otherwise seem very similar.

Choosing the Right HVAC Unit

If you still aren’t sure just which HVAC unit you need, don’t be afraid to interview a few professionals. Get in touch with pros that specialize in HVAC sales and installation, as they’ll not only know how to find the most efficient unit within your budget, they’ll know what type of unit is best for the area you live in. Best of all, they’ll be able to deliver and install the unit for you to make sure that everything is done correctly. This is not what I would consider a DIY project!

If you need a recommendation for which local HVAC company to use – CALL me Jeff Howard, your realtor for life. I have companies that have been checked out and I am happy to recommend.

Do you have a need for commercial/industrial/retail buildings or land? Are you ready to buy or sell a home? Do you want a guaranteed cash offer? We can help you with all of that… just call us at 702 SELL NOW or click on this link to my website http://www.702SellNow.com

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Transforming a Bathroom in a Single Weekend

These four quick DIY tasks can have dramatic results with the addition of a few accessories.

When thinking about remodeling your home, focus on the kitchen and bathrooms if you want the most bang for your buck. It can indeed cost a small fortune to renovate both of these spaces; however, you can find less expensive ways to refresh them.

Remodeling your boring bathroom may be easier than you think with a few simple DIY tasks and adding some new accessories. Here are tips and tricks for refreshing a bathroom in as little as a weekend—no contractors needed.

Paint

One way to bring a new look to the space is to paint the walls or vanity a fresh new color. It is typically better to stick with neutral colors for the bathroom. Nice soothing colors like a soft blue or green are relaxing and can be a great accent color for around a tub area.

Update Your Mirror

It may be time to give that plain builder-grade mirror an overhaul. If you want to use the same mirror, you can get a custom frame to evoke more personality. There are the DIY frame kits from MirrorMate (this link is external) that have you measure your mirror, then choose from a variety of frame styles. The frame kit arrives at your door and you can assemble it in minutes.

Modernize the Hardware

Older hardware, from faucets to drawer pulls, can make a bathroom appear outdated. Switch out your current hardware for something more modern. Mixed metals are trending right now; we’re seeing black with brass and brass with chrome.

Shop the internet for variety of manufacturers and a vast selection.

Accessorize

You can update and refresh the bathrooms, especially the guest bathroom by simply replacing your linens and adding new accessories.

To finish off the look, add an air-purifying indoor plant, a natural tray for texture, and a favorite candle to a shelf for an attractive display. You can also find small bottles made of interesting glass to place on a shelf or around the vanity.

You will be so surprised how these little modifications change the entire atmosphere in the bathroom.

And as an extra tip – when shopping for accessories for the bathroom look at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Target and Home Goods for special finds that do not cost a fortune. Also, if you don’t want to go online to find knobs etc. to switch out in your bathroom just go to Ikea, Lowe’s or Home Depot. They also have great selections.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Integrate Architectural Wood Features into Your Space

Wood features in your home can be inviting and cozy, as well as warming up nearly any space. A mixture of other materials from glass to steel can give the perfect recipe for space that is both inviting and architecturally interesting. The following are some tips on how to achieve a perfect balance.

Do’s

Do look for wood species (color and texture) that blend into the overall aesthetic of your home.

Do use wood as a way to make an architectural element or feature wall. If you have a recess in a wall that is ideal to put in a wood built-in to display prize processions and well as a flat-screen TV.

Do allow natural grains to show through, instead of covering or concealing their natural beauty.

Do consider painting wood to bring color into a space.

Do overlook use wood in small ways such as baseboards, trims, or casings.

Do look for materials to pair with wood such as steel and/or glass.

Don’ts

Don’t mix too many different wood species in the same space. You want to use similar colors to enhance the room.

Don’t cover alter or alter fine grains of wood.

Don’t overlook the opportunity to highlight wood through the use of hardware – a few pieces of which can make wood look very special.

Don’t ignore the opportunity to make custom wood pieces with the help of a millworker or carpenter.

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff

Common Reasons Real Estate Closings Get Delayed

The process of buying a home can be one of the most heart-wrenching and nauseating adventures of your life. But once closing is scheduled, that’s it, right? The stomach-in-your-throat feeling should go away and all will be “smooth sailing”?

Well, not always. There are many reasons closings may get delayed. Don’t let this list get you down, but it’s a great bit of knowledge to tuck away in order to be mentally prepared. Try to remember that sometimes delayed closings happen.

Repairs Were Delayed

In this age of short labor and uncertain supply chains, repair delays are inevitable. It happens in ideal times, too. Maybe it happens because a part didn’t come in for that water heater that was on your repair sheet, or there was no one available to fix the siding where someone’s grill got a little overly excited and left a mark.

Sometimes you have no choice but to wait to close, especially if you’re using a loan type that requires the requested repairs be completed prior to closing. But, in other cases, your real estate agent can create an addendum to your contract that allows the closing company to hold the cost of repairs in an escrow account for you, so that they are made on your behalf once the labor and materials are available.

Financing Issues

Many homebuyers, especially first-timers, don’t realize that their financial information will be verified again prior to closing. It has to match, more or less, what it was when you applied. So, same job, same amount of money in the bank, same amount of debt, same everything. Usually that’s possible within the narrow window between loan approval and closing.

Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong, and that second verification reveals a new credit line that’s been opened (for new house stuff, of course), or a change in employment, or some other problem. In these cases, closing will be delayed until those issues can be resolved. Moral of the story? Don’t do anything financially interesting between approval and closing, and all will be well.

Appraisal Was Too Low

In the current real estate atmosphere, with prices changing radically at the drop of a hat in some markets, it’s not unusual to hear of a closing that’s been delayed due to an issue with the appraisal. Of course, the issue isn’t with the appraisal, so much as it is with the market data no longer supporting the seller’s asking price for their home. The appraisal is just numbers on a page, based on what’s already been sold. A too-low appraisal can delay closing, since sometimes a second appraisal will be needed to verify that there were no errors in the first appraisal, or the seller and buyer will have to go back to the table and renegotiate the terms of the contract.

If you have to renegotiate your contract, it’s likely going to be due to your bank’s unwillingness to loan more than the house will appraise for at that moment. In that case, the contract might be reduced to the appraisal price. Sometimes this is possible, sometimes it’s not if the seller owes a fair amount on their house or needs the difference to make their next purchase. There’s not a lot you can do if you can’t come to terms, but most of the time, a good real estate agent will find a way.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it will hopefully better prepare you for what can happen when you’re almost to the “finish line”. Of course, hiring the right agent, to begin with, is really the key to navigating the buying and selling process. I would be happy to interview for the job! (P.S. I have great references www.JeffHoward.reviews)

Choose to have an amazing day….Jeff