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By: John Riha Your home’s interior lights want to help you have fun, feel better, and save energy.
Will you let them? It used to be we’d walk into a room and flip on the light switch, maybe slide the dimmer up or down a bit to change the brightness. But that’s so old school. Instead, press a tab marked “Cooking” on a wall-mounted panel to let all kitchen task lights come up to full brightness while lights in the family room dim so the kids can play video games. Or hit the button marked “Romance,” and the lights throughout the house go out while the lights in the bedroom ebb to a soft glow that turns a sultry blue. Household technology is undergoing a transformation that’ll make lighting more integral to our everyday lives. Not only will we see better, but we’ll use light to alter our moods, protect our well-being, safeguard our houses, and save bunches of energy. “Home lighting today is about lifestyle enhancements,” says Paul Nagel, chief product development officer at Savi Controls, a designer and manufacturer of commercial audiovisual control and automation products in Sandy, Utah. “We want to know how to control light to create environments we’re comfortable in, and have energy efficiency while we do it.” Lighting Our Homes With a Purpose Today’s progressive lighting schemes aren’t about turning lights on and off; they’re about being partners in your lifestyle. The concept is simple: Imagine all your home’s light fixtures as a single system that can be programmed into a variety of zones. Each zone is dedicated to particular task or mood and can be controlled by wall switches, a master wall panel, or a smartphone app. So in addition to “Cooking” and “Romance” zones, you might have buttons for:
Easing the Fear of Lighting Technology Do your eyes glaze over at the thought of yet another layer of high tech added to your everyday life? Fear not: In the hands of a pro, zone lighting systems are relatively easy to install. Home automation companies and lighting contractors can retrofit your house with a single-zone system in half a day or, with more time, install a whole-house system. You’ll get an easy-to-understand central control unit that “talks” with new switches, light fixtures, and bulbs that are specially made to receive wireless signals. You decide on your zones, and once everything’s set up, the light throughout your house will change intensity and color on command. DIYers Can Zone Out, Too Relatively low-cost mini-systems are coming to market that’ll let you install your own zones, even if your geekability quotient is near zero. Philips Hue smart light starter kits feature smart LED bulbs, the Hue Bridge, and a variety of smart accessories to help you easily set up a smart lighting system. Screw in your light bulbs, plug the Hue Bridge into your Wi-Fi router, and download the Hue app. Add your lights to your system and you’re ready to go. The system works with either Bluetooth or the Bridge. No Dim Bulbs Here Other DIY smart bulbs are on the market. They’re made to replace any screw-in type of lightbulb. All you need is a free app you download to your phone so you can dim lights, change colors, and turn individual lights on and off. (FYI: Smart bulbs also work via conventional on/off wall switches; you’re not locked into controlling them with an app.) ilumi bulbs come in different strengths. You can download the ilumi app, connect the bulbs with your iOS or Android device via Bluetooth, and enjoy smart lighting throughout your home with no hub or bridge. You’ll need to have your smartphone within range of ilumi bulbs (meaning within 100 feet) so that your phone’s Bluetooth network, with its short-range capability, can talk to them. LIFX has created smart lights that do more than illuminate, according to its owner, Buddy Technologies. LIFX Clean can be scheduled to emit high energy visible wavelengths that can eliminate bacteria in your home. And LIFX Nightvision can be set to emit infrared wavelengths that boost your security camera’s ability to see in the dark. Using Light to Alter Moods and Stay Healthy If you’re feeling blue, it may be the light. Light can affect our moods and, ultimately, our health. Just ask anyone with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression characterized by low energy and poor concentration. MedlinePlus estimates that 10 million Americans have SAD. The therapy is exposure to more daylight or to artificial lights that mimic the properties of natural light. The health- and mood-altering properties of light haven’t been lost on lighting manufacturers, who’ve come up with a variety of new home lighting products that claim to have health benefits. Although clinical proof can be hard to come by, the products are intriguing. Dynamic lights vary between warm white (2600K) and cool light (5600K) so that the natural rhythms of daylight are reproduced indoors. That helps keep you happy during the depths of winter. Several manufacturers make dynamic lightbulbs, also called full-spectrum bulbs. The Withings Sleep Tracking Mat can be installed with a one-time setup under the mattress, and the pad is compatible with most mattresses. The mat tracks sleep metrics including duration and onset; deep, light, and REM phases; continuous and average heart-rate; and snoring duration. On top of that, you can control lights and temperature by getting into and out of bed. LEDs — The Energy-Sipping Superstar of Home Lighting LED (light-emitting diode) lights are now the standard in home lighting. In fact, other types of lights, like incandescent and fluorescent, are no longer being manufactured. LED benefits include:
LEDs can be made small — really small. In fact, some lights are no bigger than the point of a pencil. That’s changing how we illuminate our homes. For example, hundreds of tiny LEDs can be embedded in sheets of drywall to create walls and ceilings that glow. Mixing Light and Home Automation Lighting solutions can be standalone projects, but they’re often paired with other home automation features to create a holistic home environment that’s controlled by a single wall panel and app. For example, press that “Relax” button on your scheme choices, and as the lights dim, you’re surrounded by the soothing sounds of jazz. Lights are essential components of home security systems, too, teaming up with video cameras, alarms, and motion sensors to keep your house safe, whether or not you’re there. Another advantage of automated energy management systems is that they combine smart thermostats, Energy Star appliances, and lighting schemes to trim energy costs across the board, and that’s a future we can all live with. By: Amy Howell Hirt Create a peaceful home with these best practices for eliminating stress.
Your home should be your refuge. It should clear away the day’s distractions and help you feel organized, focused, and calm. Oooooom. So why does it feel less like a yoga studio and more like the middle of a five-lane intersection? Maybe a different perspective on your habits and routines is all you need to fix it. That’s what a couple of psychologists — and anxiety experts, to boot — say. Here, they share some stress-nixing habits that can make your home a source of solace. Consider this your prescription for a totally chill home. #1 Regularly Ditch What Annoys You A few times a year, look over everything sitting out in your home. If it doesn’t serve a present-day purpose or make you feel good, it’s got to go. Keeping things around out of guilt — the Pilates mat you haven’t touched in months or the handmade quilt from Grandma that isn’t quite your style — only crowds the eye and brings on stress, says Perri L. Zinberg, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles. #2 Use a Drop Zone Every Time You Walk in the Door Avoid the distress of searching for your keys (OMG, again?) by designating a bowl or cubby for items like sunglasses, your wallet, or your phone that you frequently need to grab on the way out the door. Oh, and use it. On the way in. Every single time. #3 Delegate the Chores Everyone Hates No one has ever reached nirvana while being their household’s chore martyr. Distribute chores among family members and rotate them weekly so no one feels stuck with the same task. If it’s an option, schedule a housekeeper to stop by once a month. It could be way more therapeutic than you expect. “Having a house cleaner of some sort has saved a lot of marriages, because [a home’s cleanliness] is one of the major things people fight over,” Zinberg says. #4 Fill Your Home With the Sounds You Love Tune out the literal (and mental) noise of the day by turning on whatever music or sounds make you happy or calm. A playlist that speaks to you can motivate you to sit back and enjoy your home’s peace or fire you up to do a deep clean, which satisfies both your body and soul. #5 Enjoy the Silence, Too A TV or radio droning on in the background keeps your brain buzzing. “Make sure there are times when there’s no noise in the house,” says Amy Wood, Psy.D., a psychologist in Portland, Maine. “It’s very soothing and healing and meditative.” Create a set time — during dinner prep or right before bed, perhaps — for pure, luxurious quiet. Ahhh. . . . #6 Put Out-of-Season Items Out of Sight Twice a year — or quarterly, if you’re a true clotheshorse — put out-of-season clothing and bedding into storage. You won’t believe how luxurious it feels to effortlessly browse through your clothing options with more elbow room in the closet. If you’re short on storage space, get a few under-bed containers or inexpensive vacuum-seal bags. #7 Make Your Bed Turns out your mom was right. Sorry. Research has found people who adopt this habit are happier overall. And it’s much more pleasant to slip into a neatly made bed at the end of a long day, Zinberg says. #8 Take Tech Time-Outs Daily You can’t unwind if you never unplug. Find an outlet near the door and create a charging station where you can drop your phone, laptop, and tablet when you get home. You can even set your phone to airplane mode for a set period of time every day, Zinberg suggests. And while Google, Siri, and Alexa can be helpful tools, artificial intelligence can distract from relaxation, bonding, and learning time with family, Wood points out. So, include them in the nightly blackout. #9 Dim the Lights Every Night Turning down the lights sends a visual cue to your brain that it’s time to chillax. So install dimmers on your bedroom and family room outlets and make sure your bulbs emit relaxing warm light (around 2,700K) rather than cool light, which tends to energize instead of chill. Every night, perhaps after dinner, take a second to dim your home into evening mode. #10 Make Time and Space for Your Hobby Hobbies aren’t an indulgence: They’re a necessity for good mental health. “You must make room for the things that feed your soul,” Zinberg says. This can be as simple as assigning a chair as your reading nook or outfitting the corner of a room for crafting, Wood suggests. That makes it much easier to nestle into the thing that gives you respite. #11 Pause Before You Purchase Get in the habit of pausing — for 24 hours — before you hit “buy” on a new item for your home. Consider how that new dresser or rug could affect your overall stress level. Will you go mad trying to keep it clean? Is it so flimsy you’ll be buying a new one next year? If so, it’s not worth the anxiety, no matter the low, low price. Zinberg recommends buying old, well-built furniture and having it refinished. “It costs about the same as the pressed-board stuff, which you have to put together yourself and doesn’t last as well over time,” she says. And, it should be said, you deserve high-quality things. By: HouseLogic Sign that paperwork. Write those checks. Get those keys!
The closing. It all comes down to this. The grand finale. Once you have the keys, the house is yours. (Cue: Air horn sound!) Nice work getting this far. You’re almost a homeowner! Let’s run through some questions you may have as you cross the finish line. What Does “Closing” Mean? The close or settlement is when you sign the final ownership and insurance paperwork and get the keys to your new home. The closing process technically begins when you’ve signed a purchase and sale agreement. That agreement should specify a closing date. From the signing date to the closing date typically takes four to six weeks. During this time, purchasing funds are held in escrow, where your money is safe until the deal is officially done. What’s a Closing Disclosure? Lenders must provide borrowers with a closing disclosure, or CD, at least three days before settlement. This form is a statement of your final loan terms and closing costs. You have three days to review the CD. compare it to the loan estimate you received shortly after you applied for the loan. If you need a refresher on loan estimates, you can view a sample version here. The point of this formal review process is to ensure there are no surprises at the closing table. If there’s a significant discrepancy between the loan estimate and the CD, notify your lender and title company immediately. Depending on what the underlying issue is, the closing has to stop and a new closing disclosure must be sent out with a new three-day review period. The LE includes a couple of items that can’t change by the time you get the CD — namely interest rate and lender fees. Some items can change by only 10% (fees paid to local government to record the mortgage might be one). Others can change without limit, like prepaid interest, because it can’t be predicted at the start of the loan process. When Will the Final Walk-Through Happen? Most real estate sale contracts allow the buyer to walk through the home within 24 hours of settlement to check the property’s condition. During this final inspection, which usually takes about an hour, you and your agent will make sure any repair work the seller agreed to make has been completed. During the walk-through, you’ll also double-check that everything in the house is in good working order. Be sure to:
If anything is amiss, your agent will contact the listing agent and, in most cases, negotiate to get the seller to compensate you at closing — typically in the form of a personal check — for the costs of fixing the problems yourself. Worst-case scenario: You have to delay closing to resolve problems. If that unlikely event happens, your agent will help you address the issue. Who’s Invited to the Closing? Certain people will be there. Who, exactly, depends on your state. Typically, you’ll be joined by:
Nonetheless, as the home buyer, you’ll have to sign what might seem like a mountain of paperwork — including the deed of trust, promissory note (promising the lender you’ll pay back the loan), and other documents. That cramp in your wrist will be worth it once everything is done. How Much Will I Pay for Closing Costs? If you’ve heard people vent frustration with the process of buying a home, you’ve likely heard complaints about unexpected costs at closing. Let’s unpack what you should expect so you’re not surprised, too. Closing costs can vary widely by location and your home’s purchase price. Costs are split between you and the seller, but as the buyer, you’ll cover the lion’s share. You can generally expect your closing costs to be 3% to 4% of the home’s sales price. So, on a $300,000 home, you can pay anywhere from $9,000 to $12,000 in closing costs. (Meanwhile, the seller typically pays closing costs of 1% to 3% of the sales price.) You can try to predict closing costs with calculators like Nerdwallet’s, which lets you plug in your mortgage details to get a rough estimate of what your costs will be. Closing fees often include (but are not limited to):
What Should I Bring? (Other than Champagne?) At the closing you should have:
What Is Title Insurance, and Why Do I Need It? Every lender requires borrowers to purchase title insurance — a policy that protects you and the lender from outside claims of ownership of the property. Wait, you may be asking, some random person could show up and claim they own the house? Sounds crazy, but it happens. Let’s say a previous owner didn’t pay all of their property taxes. Because those taxes remain against the property, the taxing entity could potentially take your home if you don’t have a “clean” title. Title insurance also protects you from ownership claims over liens, fraudulent claims from previous owners, clerical problems in courthouse documents, or forged signatures. The title company will perform a comprehensive search of deeds, wills, trusts, and public records to trace the property’s history and verify that you’re becoming the rightful sole owner of the property. Typically, lenders have a preferred title company they work with, but ultimately the buyer decides which title company to use. Your agent could offer a few referrals. Title insurance comes in two forms:
What If There are Last-Minute Issues? Should I Panic? For your loan to be approved, it has to go through underwriting. The underwriter’s job is to validate all of your financials — confirming that your income, credit, and debt haven’t changed since you were pre-approved for the loan. The underwriter will also review the property’s characteristics and appraisal. If everything checks out, your mortgage will be approved. If something goes wrong during underwriting though, you’ll have to address the problem before you can close on the home. Let’s say your credit score dropped because you recently purchased a car with an auto loan, or maxed out your credit cards. This isn’t necessarily dire, but you may need to delay closing as you work with your lender to take steps to raise your score. (Also, for that reason, it’s a good idea to hold off on big purchases, avoid overusing a credit line, and doing really anything that could result in a credit inquiry until after the closing.) OK — Can I Celebrate Now? If you’ve made it through close — YES! Once you’ve climbed that mountain of paperwork and have those keys in your hands, you now officially, finally own a home. Congratulations! You put in a lot of hard work, including building relationships with your agent, your lender, and other experts along the way. Now it’s time to start investing in other relationships. Like with your new neighbors Episode 313 AskJasonGelios Show By: Amy Howell Hirt Adopt a few of these home tips to find a bit more cash each month.
Your house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. With all that on the line, it’s easy to assume the costs of keeping it up just are what they are. But wait. There are plenty of expenses that are simply a waste. Here’s how to save money each month without putting a dime of home value at risk. #1 Clean Your Lightbulbs What? Who does that? Well, smart people (those who know shrewd, easy ways to save money). A dirty bulb emits 30% less light than a clean one. Dust off both the bulb and fixture, and you might be able to cut back on the number or brightness of lights in each room without noticing any difference. #2 Keep Your Fridge Full Solid items snuggled together retain the cold better than air and help keep one another cold — requiring less energy overall. Leaving town for awhile and fridge is empty? Fill voids in the fridge or freezer with water bottles. #3 Switch Your Bulbs to LEDs The average light-emitting diode, LED, light bulb used five hours a day can save $10 to $20 in energy costs vs. an incandescent bulb. If you replace just five of your most-used incandescent bulbs, your savings will add up. And LEDs last 15 to 20 times longer than incandescents, so you won’t have to replace them nearly as often. #4 Use Power Strips Here’s how to save money — a lot of it — on bills. Appliances like coffee makers, TVs, and computers continue to suck power even when they’re off, which can add 20% to your monthly utility bill and increase the average household’s annual electric bill by $100 to $200. And did you know the AC adapter for your laptop keeps drawing power even if the laptop isn’t plugged in? Stop this slow money burn by connecting them to an easy-to-switch-off power strip. #5 Use a Toaster Oven When Possible Toaster ovens use roughly one-third the electricity used by a full-size electric oven. #6 Set Your Water Heater to 120 Degrees Hot water heaters often come with a factory setting that’s higher than you need. You’ll cool your water heating costs by 3% to 5% every time you lower the temperature setting by 10 degrees. #7 Insulate Your Water Heater For about $30, an insulating jacket or blanket can shave 7% to 16% off your water heating costs for the year. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions to avoid creating a fire hazard. #8 Wash Clothes in Cold Water Just switching from hot to warm water will cut every load’s energy use in half, and you’ll reap even more savings taking the temp down to cold. And don’t worry: Your clothes will get just as clean from cold water, thanks to the efficiency of today’s detergents (except in the case of sickness, when you’ll want hot water and bleach). #9 Use the Right Dryer Cycle If you’re using a high heat setting for each load, you could be using more energy than you need. Almost all fabrics can be dried with a lower heat setting, such as the permanent press setting. It uses less energy and has the bonus of extending the life of your fabrics. Save the higher heat for items such as sheets and towels. #10 Use Homemade Cleaners Many commercial products rely on baking soda or vinegar for their cleaning power, so why not make your own? Odds are, you likely have a lot of the ingredients sitting in your cabinets or pantry right now. #11 Cut Back on Laundry Detergent Never mind the barely visible measurement lines in the cap: You typically need only a tablespoon of detergent. And, clothes actually get cleaner when you use less, because there’s no soap residue left behind. #12 Ditch Disposable Sweeper and Mop Head Stop throwing money away every time you clean! Refill your Swiffer Sweeper with microfiber cloths. Just cut to size and use them dry for dusting or with a little water and floor cleaner for mopping. Or switch to a microfiber mop with a washable head. #13 Stop Buying Dryer Sheets Another easy swap? Give up your dryer-sheet habit (about $10 for 240 loads) in favor of wool dryer balls (about $11 for four, which can last for up to 1,000 loads each). Of course, depending on your laundry preferences, you can always just go without either. #14 Cut Scouring Pads in Half Most clean-ups don’t require a full one. #15 Don’t Rinse Dishes Two minutes of rinsing with the faucet on full-power will consume five gallons of water — the same amount efficient dishwashers use during an entire cycle. Shocking, right? And it’s an unnecessary step, since most newer models are equipped to remove even stubborn food debris. Just be sure to clean the dishwasher trap regularly to keep your dishwasher running efficiently. #16 Keep a Pitcher of Water in the Fridge You won’t have to waste time and money running the faucet, waiting for it to get cold enough for a refreshing sip. #17 Set a Timer for the Shower The average American takes an eight-minute shower and uses about 16 gallons of water. It’s easy to linger, so set a timer for five minutes. Or try this more entertaining idea: Time your shower to a song or podcast segment. #18 Install Low-Flow Fixtures By installing a just one low-flow showerhead, the average U.S. household can save about 2,700 gallons of water every year and decrease home water consumption by 40% or more. #19 Replace Your Old Water-Hogging Toilet The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that by replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense-labeled models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20% to 60% — nearly 13,000 gallons of water savings per year. (WaterSense-labeled toilets are independently certified to meet criteria for both performance and efficiency, according to the EPA.) They could also save more than $140 per year in water costs. #20 Close Closet Doors Each closet and pantry may hold a paltry amount of square footage, but you’re still heating and cooling it. Add up all the storage space, and you’ve got the equivalent of a small room. Shut the doors to keep the conditioned air out. #21 Program the Thermostat You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back seven degrees to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for eight hours a day. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68 degrees while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep. #22 Don’t Crank the Thermostat Up or Down Too Far A common misconception is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm a space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings, says Energy.gov. In fact, as soon as your house drops below its normal temperature, it will lose energy to the surrounding environment more slowly. Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It won’t cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. #23 Use Fans Year-Round Ceiling fans can reduce your summer cooling costs and even reduce winter heating bills — but only if used correctly. Flip the switch on the base to make the blades rotate counterclockwise for a cooling effect or clockwise to help distribute heat in the winter. And in the warmer months, an attic or whole-house fan can suck hot air out and help distribute cooler air so you can give the AC a little break. #24 Caulk or Weatherstrip Around Doors and Windows Caulk may not have the charisma of something like solar panels, but using it to seal air leaks around doors and windows will deliver immediate savings. You’ll spend $3 to $30 and save 10% to 20% on energy bills. For gaps between moving parts that can’t be caulked, add weatherstripping. #25 Add Insulation By sealing air leaks and installing the right insulation in places like attics, crawl spaces, and basements, homeowners can save an average of 10% on heating and cooling. #26 Plant Shade Trees Block the summer sun to lower cooling costs. Planting one shade tree on the west side and one on the east side of your home can shield your home from the sun during the summer months (but avoid south-side trees, which block winter sun). Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses, according to Energy.gov. Plus, healthy, mature trees add an average 10% to a property’s value, says the Arbor Day Foundation. #27 Use Curtains as Insulation Another way to practice energy-saving passive heating and cooling? Open curtains on sunny windows in the winter and close them in the summer. #28 Cool With a Cross Breeze On a breezy day, open a window on the side of your house that’s receiving the breeze, then open another on the opposite side of the house. Make sure the window on the receiving side is open a little less than the exhaust side to accelerate the breeze. You can also use a fan if there’s no breeze outside. #29 Check Your Mortgage PMI You’ll generally pay between $30 and $70 per month for every $100,000 borrowed, according to Freddie Mac. Keep in mind this amount can vary based on your credit score and your loan-to-value ratio — the amount you borrowed on your mortgage compared to the home’s value. once you’ve built 20% equity in your home, you can ask your lender to cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your monthly payment. If the value of your home appreciates before then, you might be able to cancel sooner. #30 Check Your Home Insurance for Savings Your homeowners insurance should change as your life changes. Installing home security devices — including smoke detectors, burglar and fire alarm systems or dead-bolt locks — could reduce your premiums, says the Insurance Information Institute. Bundling your home and auto coverage could also save money on both policies. To be sure you’re getting the best price, check that any combined price from one insurer is lower than buying the coverage separately from different companies, according to the III. A “Consumer Reports” survey found that of the 21% of consumers who had changed home insurance carriers in the past five years, 62% were motivated by better rates or because their current carrier had raised rates. So, you could save by going with a new company. #31 Borrow Tools Instead of Buying How often are you going to use that expensive demolition hammer once you remove your bathroom tile? Not so much? Rent it from a home-improvement store for a fraction of the cost. Be sure to do the math for each tool and project, though. Sometimes the rental price is high enough to justify buying it. Or join a tool lending library or cooperative to borrow tools for free or much less than retail stores. #32 Cut Back on Paper Towels Households average about $115 per year, or $2.20 per week, on paper towels. Over 10 years that’s $1,150. Instead, try machine-washable cotton shop towels. They clean up messes just as fast and cost a few dollars for five. Save paper towels for messes that need to go straight into the trash, like oil and grease. #33 Stop Buying Plants for Curb Appeal Every Year A pop of color in your landscaping perks up your curb appeal. But instead of wasting household funds on short-lived annuals, invest in perennials that will keep giving for years to come. #34 Water Grass in the Morning to Save on Your Water Bill Turning the sprinkler on at midday is kinda like watering the air — especially when the mercury soars. Lose less to evaporation by watering during cooler hours (but avoid overnight watering, when too-slow evaporation can invite fungus growth). #35 Make Your Yard Drought-Tolerant According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a traditional lawn can use up to 10,000 gallons of water per year, while a xeriscape yard can use as little as 2,500 gallons of water per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This can result in a savings of 7,500 gallons of water per year. |
AuthorJason Gelios is a licensed REALTOR®, Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Author of the books 'Think like a REALTOR®', The Seniors Guide To Buying and Selling a Home: The Next Chapter, and 'Beating The Force Of Average', Creator of The AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show, and an Expert Media Contributor to media outlets across the country. Archives
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