Just Listed ~ $78,400

CHECK IT OUT! 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath half duplex condo that boasts open living room, good-sized kitchen & breakfast bar, Master Suite with double closets & private bath. Lower level is exposed & ready to finish in to a rec room or a 4th bedroom. Deck walks down to a nice yard. 2 car garage with kennel set up. No monthly condo fee. Bank of America Prequalification required on all offers. Please allow 2-3 business days for seller response.

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]]> http://hometeam4u.net/just-listedcheck-it-out-great-12-duplex-with-yard-328-sturges-st-columbus-wi-53925/feed/ 0 http://hometeam4u.net/just-sold-917-919-moorland-road-madison-wi-53713/ http://hometeam4u.net/just-sold-917-919-moorland-road-madison-wi-53713/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:09:55 +0000 jenmatt http://hometeam4u.net/?p=3131 917-919 Moorland Road, Madison, WI  53713

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Great rental opportunity. This 2 unit property is in a great rental location, and has tons of income potential. The property has a huge private back yard and plenty of square footage in each unit with multiple bathrooms in each. Each unit has a full basement with plenty of space for storage and a rec room. This property will need repairs (mainly cosmetic), and is priced accordingly.

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Wiring problems claim the No. 1 spot for good reason: They can lead to fires and electrocution.

Danger signs: Circuit breakers that trip frequently, lights that dim when you turn on the vacuum or outlets that are loose, hot, or accept only two-prong plugs.

How to check: Spend $300 to $500 for a licensed electrician to open up your main panel to look for trouble and to tighten any loose connections. He’ll also spot-check switches, outlets and light fixtures to ensure that the wiring is in safe working order.

Replacement cost: $4,000 to $10,000 to rewire the house.

Prolong its life: Flip every circuit breaker off and on again once a year to prevent corrosion. Add new circuits ($100 to $500 each) to take the heaviest electrical loads, like window air conditioners, off the old wires.

Structural problems downstairs mean shifting and cracking upstairs — at the very least — so there’s little point in doing other repairs until you’ve fixed the building’s foundation.

Danger signs: Bowed or split beams, rotted posts, piles of sawdust (evidence of wood-boring insects), tiny mud trails (indications of termites), or large cracks in the masonry foundation — especially if the cracks are horizontal, which tends to indicate a bigger problem.

How to check: A contractor will usually take a look free of charge. If he recommends significant repairs, hire a home inspection engineer (find one at nabie.org) to investigate ($350 to $500).

Replacement cost: Major foundation work can cost $3,500 to $8,000; new posts or beams could run $1,200 to $2,500.

Prolong its life: Water is the cause of cracked concrete, rotten timbers and wood-eating pests. So keep your basement dry by making sure the landscape slopes away from the house and maintaining the next two items on the list: the roof and gutters.

Water leaking into your home from above can lead to a host of pricey problems: rot, insects, electrical shorts and mold.

Danger signs: Dampness or stains on ceilings; curling, missing, or broken shingles; smooth spots where the granules have worn away; green algae growth.

How to check: Have a roofer inspect your home. This is typically free, but the pro, of course, is looking for business.

Replacement cost: $5,000 to $15,000

Prolong its life: Prune tree limbs so they’re at least 10 feet from the roof to keep squirrels away and to let moisture evaporate quickly after storms. If shingles blow off, replace them immediately, and repair small leaks promptly.

Your gutters are just as important as the roof. The only reason they’re lower on this list is that if you replace gutters first, they’re likely to get damaged when you reroof later. So if you need a roof too, it’s better to wait — or do both projects at the same time.

Danger signs: Dented or disconnected gutters, pooled water around your home’s foundation, or basement flooding near the downspouts.

How to check: Head outside during a rainstorm and watch the gutters in action, says Caitlin Corkins, stewardship manager for Historic New England, which maintains dozens of historic properties. “The best time to see clogs and overflows is when the system is working,” she says.

Replacement cost: $1,500 to $3,000

Prolong its life: Hire a gutter company to clean, check, and repair your gutters ($100 to $200) at least once a year — two or three times if you’re in a wooded area. And have someone clear the eaves of deep snow to prevent icing, which can split open gutters or rip them right off the house.

Without a weather-tight seal, water can infiltrate the siding, causing rot and attracting wood-damaging insects. Still, leaks from a vertical surface generally aren’t as quick or lethal as ones from a roof and gutter.

Danger signs: Paint that’s peeling, cracking or blistering

Replacement cost: $4,000 to $10,000; make sure the painters replace loose putty around the window glass and caulking gaps around molding.

Read More

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Picture yourself in this 2 bdrm/2 bath condo w/nothing but trees & privacy surrounding you. Your screened porch offers the beautiful sounds of nature & a view of the conservancy in your backyard. The open floor plan offers a gas fireplace, a private laundry, a master with a huge walk-in closet, a large master & guest bath, wood blinds & 2 underground parking spaces. Just outside your door is the Bike Path, shopping, restaurants, parks and more! Quick commute to anywhere.

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• Turn off the TV, VCR, stereo or radio when not in use.
• Turn off the dehumidifier on dry days when it’s not needed.
• Turn off the humidifier on humid days when it’s not needed.
• Install low-flush toilets to save water. Many communities have water conservation programs that may pay for the new toilets.
• Turning off the water when brushing teeth or shaving.
• Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket or ashtray – it wastes water every time you flush it.
• It takes a lot of energy to make new containers, paper products and packaging. Be diligent in recycling all your newspapers, cans, bottles, plastics, cardboard and other materials.
• Do your consumer research on the Internet and buy as many things as you can on-line. You’ll save time and the small shipping fees are much less than what you’d spend driving around in a vehicle.
• Cancel your printed newspapers and magazines and subscribe to the on-line versions. It takes a lot of energy to make the paper, print and deliver these publications to your door.
• Activate the “sleep” feature of your home office equipment (PC, fax, printer, scanner, monitor) so they automatically power down when not in use.
• Turn off your home office equipment when not in use.
• When buying a home, look at neighborhoods close to work or public transportation to reduce private vehicle use.
• 88 billion plastic bags are used in the U.S each year. This represents 12 million barrels of oil.
• It is estimated that it takes up to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to decompose.
• Recycling plastic bags is a joke! Just throw it away because it takes more energy and costs more to recycle it than to make a new one.
• Do you really need to use individual plastic bags for produce at the grocery store?
• Here’s a couple of small energy saving tips – avoid double-cupping when getting your favorite coffee drink. Also, take your coffee without a lid unless you really need one.
• Bring your own cup to your favorite coffee shop. You’ll save energy, most coffee shops give a discount, plus coffee always tastes better in real cup.
• Household batteries contain hazardous materials and throwing them in the trash is now prohibited in California. Properly dispose of your batteries at the retail centers where you buy them.
• Better yet, purchase a good selection of high-quality rechargeable batteries and a charging unit. You’ll save money in the long run and keep hazardous materials out of our environment.

HEATING AND COOLING

• Space heating and cooling accounts for about 45 percent of your utility bill and offers the greatest opportunity to save on energy costs.
• Adjust the thermostat in small degree changes – your home won’t heat or cool faster by cranking it up.
• If your home is heated electrically and you live in a moderate climate like Southern California, consider installing a heat pump to save 30 to 40 percent on your heating costs.
• Cranking up the thermostat on a heat pump system may turn on the back-up resistance heating strips – adding greatly to your electric bill.
• Installing a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature according to your schedule will pay for itself in less than a year.
• Changing the furnace filter every other month is a good energy saving tip.
• Keep furniture and drapes away from the HVAC air supply and return air ducts to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
• Be sure the air conditioner is fully charged with freon so it operates efficiently.
• When installing a new furnace, check the energy rating and choose a high-efficiency unit for maximum energy savings. It will pay for itself in about 7 years.
• When buying an air conditioner, don’t over-size it. Select the proper size and choose an energy-efficient model.
• If you install your air conditioning compressor in a shady spot, it will work more efficiently.
• Allow plenty of room for air flow around the air conditioning compressor for most efficient operation.
• Bleed air from hot water radiators a couple of times each season to make them work more efficiently.
• Place heat resistant radiator reflectors between the exterior walls and the radiators.
• Major appliances add extra heat to your home and make your air conditioner work harder. Operate them in the morning or evening when it’s cooler outside.
• During the winter, remove window air conditioners and seal the windows with caulk and weather stripping.
• You might also want to cover the central air conditioner with a tarp to keep it clean.
• Ceiling fans are more energy efficient at circulating the air than turning on the main furnace fan.
• Install a whole-house fan in the attic to draw hot air out of the house. Remember to cover and insulate it during the winter to prevent heat loss.
• Closing the doors and shutting the vents in the rooms you don’t use is a smart energy saving idea.
• Add an extra blanket for warmth and turn down the furnace while sleeping.
• Use ventilating fans in your kitchen, bath and utility area prudently. In just one hour of use, they can pull out a houseful of warm air.
• A small UAL approved electric space heater is an efficient way to supplement room heating.

More at: http://www.hribar.com/energy-saving-tips.htm

Just Listed – $$239,500

RURAL LIVING NEAR CITY! Attractive 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch, almost one acre lot, 24×30 pole shed, rural setting. Kitchen with pantry, breakfast bar; family room with wood burning fireplace, big bedrooms, main floor laundry. Deck overlooks generous back yard, country view. Two car attached garage. DeForest schools. Three minutes to city of Madison, City of Sun Prairie.

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On the outset, the numbers can be deceptive, as only one region in the United States experienced a notable decline. And one city in that market saw house values plummet so much, it took the national average with it.

Rising saturation of real estate-owned property sales in the fourth quarter caused home prices in the Midwest to lead the nation in depreciation. Prices in the Midwest fell 4%, marking the first time in seven months the region leads the nation in quarterly losses. The West, South and Northeast were relatively calm, with quarter-over-quarter declines of less than 1%.

Detroit’s ailing housing economy sheparded the Midwest’s descent. Home prices in the Motor City were pummeled in the fourth quarter, plunging 15.5%, more than double the decline in second place Milwaukee.

The quarterly declines pulled down the Midwest’s year-over-year prices 5.2%, further than the 3% yearly fall reported reported in December. The drop in value is partly due to a 1.5% uptick in REO saturation over the past quarter from 29.5% to 31%, Clear Capital said.

Market seasonality and a lift in REO sales as a percentage of total home sales to 25.4% at the end of January from 24.8% at the end of 2011 caused the nation’s home prices to fall 2.6%.

The inventory of foreclosures held by private banks fell throughout 2011. The REO level at the end of the third quarter was down 1.5% from $51.3 billion the previous quarter and 5% lower than $53.1 billion in a year earlier.

“Looking at the latest data through January, home prices remained relatively unchanged with the exception of the Midwest,” said Alex Villacorta, director of research and analytics at Clear Capital.

“Although prices at the national level continue to slide due to pressure from the Midwest, the lower priced segments of several specific markets are bucking the trend and seeing appreciation, suggesting that recoveries could be occurring from the bottom up.”

Birmingham, Ala. took the lead among metropolitan areas in January with 4.3% growth in home prices quarter-over-quarter, bolstered by gains in the market’s low tier segments (homes worth $63,000 and less), distressed asset sale prices and a reduction in REO saturation to 32% from a high of 40% in 2011.

Detroit’s total losses since the peak of the market are a staggering 77%, experiencing a 9.7% increase in REO sales over last quarter to a 51.8%. Although prices are still 10.8% above their lowest point in 2009, the domination of REO sales in Detroit means values will continue to be suppressed.

By Justin T. Hilley

Click for Sold Price!

CHECK IT OUT! Super 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch that boasts an open floor plan, gleaming hardwood floors, nicely updated kitchen & bath with jetted tub. Living room & kitchen have lots of built-ins. Lower level rec room, 2nd bath, office & workroom. Huge 2 car garage & a good-sized deck. House has newer windows & garage has new roof! Bank of America Home Loans Pre-qualification required on all offers. Please allow 2-3 business days for seller response.

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Next in our list of carpet cleaning tips: detergent attracts dirt – the same thing you’re trying to get rid of. Steam cleaning doesn’t have this issue – that’s why we recommend hot water extraction. If you’re going to use detergent, be sure to rinse well.

One area that most people get wrong, and here is one of the most important carpet cleaning tips – when trying to clean carpets themselves is blotting the stain with a cloth. Most people use a cloth or paper towels, blotting the stained area, hoping the stain will be removed by applying just enough pressure. The problem is, you’re not actually cleaning the stain. Do yourself a favor – take the time, and worst case, use a shop-vac and rinse, wash and repeat. The more often you do this, the cleaner your carpet will be.

One of the best carpet cleaning tips: put an area rug down by the front and back door. An even better idea is having one on the inside and outside of your door, and ask them to remove their shoes. This means less dirt is tracked all throughout the house – resulting in not only less vacuuming for you, but, less dirt in your carpets in those well used areas. Carpets that see a lot of traffic become more easily damaged – resulting in a carpet that stains more easily.

• Shovel early and often. Newly fallen snow is lighter than heavily packed or partially melted snow. Before you begin shoveling, warm up your muscles for 10 minutes with light exercise.
• Push the snow instead of lifting it. Keep the shovel close to your body. Space your hands on the shovel. It increases your leverage.
• If you must lift the snow, lift it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist. Scoop small amounts of snow into the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine.
• Do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side. This action requires a twisting motion that stresses your back.
• See what you are shoveling. Do not let a hat or scarf block your vision. Watch out for ice patches and uneven surfaces. Avoid falls by wearing shoes/boots that have slip-resistant soles.
• Use a shovel that feels comfortable for your height and strength. Avoid a shovel that is too heavy or too long.
• Pace yourself. Shoveling snow is an aerobic activity, comparable to weightlifting. Take frequent breaks and replenish fluids to prevent dehydration, which affects muscles.
• Check with your doctor. If you have a medical condition or do not exercise regularly, talk with your doctor before shoveling. If necessary, hire someone to remove the snow.