Karen Pelkey
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Existing-home sales start 2016 at a six-month high
Existing-home sales start 2016 at a six-month high: While existing-home sales started the year off at the highest annual rate in six months, a lack of housing supply continues to hamper growth. Spring less than a month away, and total housing inventory is 2.2% lower than a year ago (1.86 million).
Spring energy saving tips for your Maple Grove Home
Plug electronics into a power strip.
Plugging electronics into a power strip provides a convenient ‘turn-on/turn-off’ point, so you can be sure your products are only on when you are using them. It is estimated that stand-by power accounts for more than $11 billion in annual U.S. energy costs.
Use your ceiling fan.
Use a ceiling fan so you can turn down your air-conditioner. This way you can lower your energy bill and still stay comfortable. Just be sure to turn it off when you leave the room. Ceiling fans cool people, not the room. ENERGY STAR® certified ceiling fans with lights are 60 percent more efficient and can save $165 in energy costs over the fan’s 10-year lifetime.
Install a programmable thermostat.
This small but useful item is worth every penny. You can set the home temperature back 7-8 degrees when you’re sleeping or away to save energy. With proper use, programmable thermostats can save about every year in energy costs. Xcel Energy now offers a $50 instant rebate on select models of smart thermostats. Visit xcelenergystore.com to learn more.
Opt for high-efficiency faucets and shower heads.
Faucets that use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute can reduce a sink’s water flow by 30 percent or more from the standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute without sacrificing performance. Also, if you have a 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) shower head, a 7-minute shower will use less water than a full bath.
Change your furnace filter.
The average home spends more than $2,000 per year on utility bills, nearly half going to heating and cooling. Check your air filter every month, especially during heavy use months. If the filter looks dirty, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter slows down air flow and makes your system work harder to keep you comfortable.
Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors.
Check for signs of air leakage around windows and doors. Then use caulk and weather-stripping to stop the leaks. Homeowners typically save up to $200 a year in heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation.
Sign up for Saver’s Switch®.
It’s free – all you do is sign up and you’ll receive 15% off of your June through September electric energy charges just for participating. A small device is attached outside of your house near your central AC unit that cycles it off for 10-minute intervals during the hottest days. Your furnace fan stays on, circulating cooled air; and the difference is just a degree or two...but it helps everyone on those days when the need is greatest. You get the discount no matter whether your AC unit is ever cycled off. If you’re in the market for a new cooling system, Xcel Energy provides rebates for higher efficiency AC models to help offset the cost.
Install LED lighting.
LED lighting provides bright, while using 85 percent less energy and lasting up to 25 years. Replace bulbs in your home, one at a time. Which lamp do you use most? Which room are you in the most? Start with that bulb or room and build from there. Xcel Energy partners with retailers to offer discounts on energy efficient bulbs. Visit xcelenergy.com/lightingdeals for participating retailers.
Choose ENERGY STAR appliances.
A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses less energy than a 60-watt light bulb. ENERGY STAR dishwashers and clothes washers use a third of the energy and water and require one-third of the soap. By the way, Xcel Energy will recycle your secondary fridge that’s chugging away in your basement. We’ll give you $35 for it, and haul it away for you, too.
Hire an expert.
For $60 ($200 value), you can get a Standard Home Energy Audit, which includes a visit from a contracted energy expert who will identify energy efficiency opportunities and help you develop a plan of action. The audit includes a review of the attic, insulation, doors, windows, furnace, appliances and more. The expert will identify problems such as drafty windows, insufficient insulation, humidity problems, inefficient appliances, poor ventilation, or inefficient heating and cooling systems. You could also choose the Infrared Home Energy Audit for only $100; you’d get all of the above plus an infrared scan of your home so you can see where your conditioned air is escaping. If you plan to implement several energy efficient upgrades, consider the Home Performance with Energy Star program to earn even more in rebate dollars.
To find these and other great energy and water saving tips, visit www.energystar.gov.
To learn more about Xcel Energy’s rebates and energy efficiency programs, please visitwww.xcelenergy.com.
Karen Pelkey
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Radon in Maple Grove Homes
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) provides information on radon and how to protect your family's health. MDH also recommends that every Minnesota home be tested for radon.
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What is radon?
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from the earth. When inhaled, it gives off radioactive particles that can damage the cells that line the lung.
Long term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer. In fact, over 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year are from radon, making it a serious health concern for all Minnesotans.
Where does radon come from?
The soil. Radon is produced from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. Uranium breaks down to radium. As radium disintegrates it turns into radioactive gas...radon. As a gas, radon moves up through the soil and into the air you breathe.
How dangerous is radon?
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer (after tobacco) in smokers. Thankfully, this risk should be entirely preventable through awareness and testing.
Where is your greatest exposure to radon?
While radon is present everywhere, and there is no known, safe level, your greatest exposure is where it can concentrate-indoors. And where you spend most time-at home. Your home can have radon whether it be old or new, well-sealed or drafty, and with or without a basement.
How serious a problem is radon in Minnesota?
High radon exist in every state in the US. In Minnesota, 2 in 5 homes has radon levels that pose a significant health risk, and nearly 80% of counties are rated high radon zones. Some factors that further contribute to Minnesota's high radon levels include:
- Minnesota's geology produces an ongoing supply of radon.
- Minnesota's climate affects how our homes are built and operate.
How does radon enter a home?
Since radon is produced from soil, it is present nearly everywhere. Because soil is porous radon gas is able to move up through the dirt and rocks and into the air we breathe. If allowed to accumulate, radon becomes a health concern.
Two components that affect how much radon will accumulate in a home are pathways and air pressure. These components will differ from home to home.
- Pathways are routes the gas uses to enter your home and found anywhere there is an opening between the home and the soil.
- Air pressure between your home's interior and the exterior soil is what helps to draw radon gas into the home via pathways.
Radon's Pathways into your home
Cracks in concrete slabs -Spaces behind brick veneer walls that rest on uncapped hollow-block foundations-Pores and cracks in concrete block-Floor-wall joints-Exposed soil, as in a sump or crawl space-Weeping (drain) tile, if drained to an open sump-Mortar joints-Loose fitting pipe penetrations tops of block wall-Building materials: brick, concrete, rockAir pressures in your home
Minnesota homes commonly operate under a negative air pressure, especially during the heating season. What this means is that the air pressure inside your home is typically lower then the surrounding air and soil, and this creates a vacuum that pulls soil gases, such as radon, into the home via pathways. Even if the ground around the house is frozen or soaked by rain, the gravel and disturbed ground underneath the house remains warm and permeable, attracting radon gas from the surrounding soil.
Other factors also contribute to air pressure changes in a home, including:
 Stack Effect |  Down Wind Effect |  Vacuum Effect |
| As warm air rises to the upper portions of a home, it is displaced by cooler, denser outside air. Some of that displaced air comes from the soil. | Strong winds can create a vacuum as they blow over the top of the home. | Combustion appliances like furnaces, hot water heaters and fireplaces, as well as exhaust fans and vents, can remove a considerable amount of air from a home. When air is exhausted, outside air enters the home to replace it. Some of this replacement air comes from the underlying soil. |
What happens after radon gets into the home?
Radon levels are often highest at the entry point-typically in the lower part of a building. As radon gas moves upward, diffusion, natural air movements and mechanical equipment (such as forced-air ventilation system) distribute the radon through the home. Radon gas becomes more diluted in the upper levels of the home because there is more fresh air for it to mix with.
Greater dilution and less house vacuum effect occur when the house is more open to the outdoors, as during the non-heating season. This generally results in lower indoor radon levels in the summer compared to the winter.
Understanding how radon moves through the home environment helps to explain why timing and location are important factors to consider when conducting a radon test.
Three ways to protect you and your family:
- Test your home - obtain a test kit
- Reduce your exposure - reduce radon gas by taking action to reduce radon entry into your home
- Protect your loved ones - tell your family and friends to test so they are not exposed to a deadly gas in their homes.
Karen Pelkey
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Making an offer on your Maple Grove home
Once
you have found the Maple Grove home you want, we will write a purchase agreement. While
much of the
agreement
is standard, there are a few areas that you can negotiate:- The Price
What
you offer on a property depends on a number of factors, including its condition,
length of
time on
the market, buyer activity, and the urgency of the seller. While some buyers
want to make a
very
low offer, just to see if the seller will accept, this often isn't a smart
choice, because the seller
may be
insulted and decide not to negotiate at all.
- The Move-in Date
If you
can be flexible on the possession date, the seller will be more apt to choose
your offers over others.
- Additional Property
Often
the seller plans on leaving major appliances in the home, however, which items stay
or go is
often a
matter of negotiation.
Typically
you will not be present at the offer presentation; your REALTOR will present it to the
listing agent and/or seller.
The Maple Grove seller
will then do one of the following:
• Accept the offer
• Reject the offer
• Counter the offer with
changes
By far
the most common is the counter offer. In these cases,as a REALTOR my experience and
negotiating skills become powerful in representing the buyer's best interests.
When a
counter offer is presented, you and your agent will work together to review each specific
area of the counter offer, making sure to keep your goals in
mind and ensuring that you negotiate the best possible price and terms on your
behalf.
Karen Pelkey
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Fall is the right time for home maintenance in Minneapolis
- Gutters
Clean and repair your
gutters early in the fall. Once cleaned and repaired, consider adding a layer
of waterproof mesh over your gutters to keep leaves out.
Clogged gutters can allow overflowing water to damage walls,
spark a rodent infestation and erode your landscaping. The water can
leak through your foundation and cause a flood in your basement.
A minor flood could cost $500 to $1,500 to repair, if you
catch the problem quickly. If you don’t, there could be mold, damage to the
sheet rock and ruined installation to repair as well, pushing the cost up to
$10,000 or more.
- Shingle
Professional repairs on a 10-by-10-foot roof cost an average
of $630. Save yourself money and make the small repairs now.
Burst pipes are a costly problem. A non-urgent call to a
plumber can cost up to $250, while an emergency pipe repair can cost up to
$600. Repairing the damage from the resulting flood could costs thousands more.
In cold climates, you need to winterize your pipes to
protect your home. Outdoors, shut the water off to any spigots and drain any
remaining water by briefly turning on the spigot. Indoors, locate any exposed
pipes that may get cold in the winter.
- Windows
Gaps in your window or door frames let in cold air, causing
your furnace to work overtime.
Start by running your hand over windows and doors. If you
feel a draft, apply weather stripping around the frame to create a tighter
feel. Sealing up leaks can reduce your utilities bills by up to 10%.
- Call the Chimney Sweep
Your fireplace should be inspected and cleaned once a year,
even if you don’t use it much. While a professional may charge up to $350, it
is worth the cost.
The most minor potential problem is that the lining of the
chimney could crack, costing $2,000 to $4,500 to repair. At worst, the chimney
could force carbon monoxide into your Minneapolis home or cause a fire.
- Turn on the Furnace
Before the cold sets in, fire up your heater
After your home starts to warm up, walk from room to room.
If you notice cold spots, loud screeching sounds or strange smells, you may
have a heating problem. (Remember to replace the filter regularly)
If the furnace stops working, repairs could cost $325 to
$475. And if you wait until the busy season, technicians may raise their
prices.
A weekend of work before the weather turns will help you get ready for winter and avoid any surprises and big repair bills.
Karen Pelkey
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
Thursday, October 8, 2015
1500 Carroll Avenue, Saint Paul, MN Presented by Karen Pelkey.
Karen Pelkey
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
Monday, October 5, 2015
Final walk through on the home you purchased in Minneapolis
You hired a REALTOR, you found the perfect home. You
negotiated a good price. You got through all the inspections and appraisal. You
get the financing approved. You have been notified that it’s clear to close.
You think you are ready to close…not just yet. You have the
final walk through.
Recently I had a client ask “Why do you do a final walk through?”.”
What are we looking for?”
The final walk through can be done a day or two day before
close or typically it is done the day of closing. It’s an important final step
because it allows the buyer to inspect the condition of home before taking
possession from the seller.
Here are a few tips for things to do for this walk through:
.
- Check for any damage to the walls of doors. Some nicks may happen as the seller moves out their property but holes in the walls is not acceptable.
- Turn on the water faucets in the kitchen and baths. Is there hot water?
- Turn on the furnace and air.
- Flip on and off the light switches in all the rooms.
- Make sure all the sellers’ personal property has been removed.
- Check for debris or trash left in the home.
- Open and close the garage door.
- Turn on all of the appliances
- Do all the doors close and/or lock properly.
- Do a walk around the outside of the home and yard.
Remember the final walk through is an important step before
closing on your Minneapolis home.
If anything is found to be wrong will the home’s condition the
buyer and seller could negotiate repair or the seller would need to make them
before closing .
REALTOR® Keller Williams Classic Realty Northwest
612-414-2888
If you are looking to buy or sell in the Minneapolis Metro, let me be your expert!
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