Seller's Checklist

APS: Save on Cooling Costs

save on cooling costs for every degree warmer you set the thermostat, you’ll save 2 to 3% on your energy cooling costs -- set the thermostat to 79° and use fans to feel up to 5° cooler

cooling tips tightly caulk around windows, doorframes, sill plates and wherever air might leak through exterior walls, floors or ceilings turn off exhaust fans immediately after use   use your kitchen exhaust fan to remove moisture and heat, but turn it off when you're finished cooking vent the dryer outside your house to reduce heat and moisture inside turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, they add heat to your home keep windows and doors closed when ac is on remove electric outlet covers and insert special insulation underneath to prevent hot or cold air from seeping into your home replace your air filter at least once a month to save energy and increase the life of your cooling and heating system defrost foods in the refrigerator instead of in the microwave to save energy and help keep your home cool put the sun to work for you and dry your clothes outside customers on our time-of-use plans may be able to save significantly by shifting most of their energy use to off-peak hours when rates are lower (monday -friday, 9 pm - 9 am or 7 pm to noon, and all day saturday and sunday) depending on your service plan.   barbecue outdoors to keep the heat out of the kitchen do all your ironing at once to avoid heating the iron multiple times do cooking and other heat-producing chores during cooler parts of the day keep windows shaded to keep out direct sunlight set the thermostat a few degrees higher if you’ll be away from home for several hours

10 Home Improvement Projects You Can Do in a Day

To the uninitiated, home renovations sound daunting and conjure up painful images of burning cash. But don’t let that scare you. Many projects can be done in a day, and if you’re smart about it, says Kerrie Kelly, founder of Kerrie Kelly Home Design Lab, they’ll boost curb appeal without breaking your budget.

“Whether it’s something you leave on a list for a handyman to do or you do it yourself, which is always gratifying,” she says. Here are few of her favorites.

1. Switch the hardware

Sometimes it’s easiest to begin with the front of the house rather than what’s inside, Kelly says, especially if you’re on a tight budget. To that end, changing the front doorknob and lock is a quick update that only takes a few minutes and can complement the style of the house. Add a kick plate for a touch of glam or go gold for a traditional feel.

2. Brighten the lights

Another quick, simple way to brighten your home is by changing the lights in the front yard. Feel free to purchase new ones, or better yet, clean the ones you already have. Your home will look far less spooky at night, and you’ll actually see where you’re walking.

3. Paint the door

If scrubbing bug-infested front yard lights isn’t your thing, put a new coat of paint on your front door to freshen it up. Go for something that complements the house’s exterior or be bold and opt for a pop of color, Kelly says, which will set the right tone.

4. Upgrade your house numbers

House numbers and address plaques are another quick update that can make a big difference. With the proper placement, they can make your house easier to find—not a bad thing when trying to sell—and the right style of numbers can help play up its architecture.

5. Plant a vertical garden

Beautify a blank wall by planting a vertical garden. “It can add architecture to the side or back of a home and be more structural” if you opt for, say, hanging planters, stacked crates, or a lattice, Kelly says. And the plants can be anything, from herbs used for cooking to bright gerbera daisies and vines.

6. Update kitchen or bath fixtures

Nothing modernizes a bathroom or kitchen quite like changing the fixtures. If you’re starting from scratch, you may want to coordinate with the rest of the room, although Kelly says she’s been seeing a lot of mixed metal and mixed wood. “People are more forgiving [of a lack of cohesion], and it seems more livable in our eyes,” she says.

7. Paint a piece of furniture

A fresh coat of paint can make old furniture feel new, Kelly says. Anything from bookcases to shelves to nightstands is an easy project, and if you mess up, so what? Just paint it again. “It’s not such a commitment, which is nice,” she says.

8. Install a fan

Installing a fan doesn’t take more than a few hours and is an inexpensive way to add interest to a room. Just remember to keep it “sleek and simple,” Kelly says, as low-profile fans are the best. “Don’t get too cute with it since it can quickly become dated.”

9. Change the cabinet hardware

“Changing the actual cabinet hardware can make a huge difference,” says Kelly, who recommends going with nickel for a more modern look. “It can dress up the cabinet.” Clear knobs are another option for a timeless and elegant feel, plus, they match nearly everything.

10. Add light dimmers

These days, homeowners are adding light-control dimmers and switches for the energy efficiency, not just the drama, Kelly says. “[Dimmers] are very affordable and create mood and ambiance,” plus you can use them with the lights that you already have. For a dramatic look, they work great in the dining room and bedroom.

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Arizona Breakfast Week is Coming!

Don't hit the snooze button! This Valley-wide affair offers breakfast lovers a wealth of dining opportunities and the chance to get outside their own neighborhood and try something new. From sizzling Southwestern and soothing comfort foods, to five-star dining and international fare – it’s all on the table during Arizona Breakfast Weekend. So prepare your taste buds and dig in! http://www.arizonabreakfastweekend.com/

Save on Cooling Costs

Cooling accounts for 40% of the energy consumption in the average Arizona home. In summer energy demand can be higher with weather responsible for up to 70% of your electric bill. Reap the benefits of lower cooling bills with these cooling tips. For every degree warmer you set the thermostat, you’ll save 2 to 3% on your energy cooling costs -- set the thermostat to 79° and use fans to feel up to 5° cooler To see the list of cooling tips visit APS.com.

NAR: Buyers are coming back in force

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, JULY 02, 2015 Home buyer demand is strong, recent sales reports have confirmed. Existing-home sales in May soared to the highest mark since 2009 as new-home sales climbed to a seven-year high. What's more, the demand is likely to stay strong: Pending contracts to buy existing homes reached a nine-year high while housing permits -- signs of future building -- also surged to a nine-year high. Read more from Yun's full economic and housing forecast at the Economists' Outlook blog. "Buyers are coming back in force," writes Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of REALTORS®, at NAR's Economists' Outlook blog. "One factor for the recent surge could have been due to the rising mortgage rates. As nearly always happens, the initial phase of rising rates nudges people to make their decision now rather than wait until later when the rates could be higher." First-time buyers also are having a notable presence on the market, making up 32 percent of all purchases compared to 27 percent one year ago. Yun points to the lower fees on FHA mortgages as helping to draw out more first-time buyers. Still, while buyers are emerging, sellers remain constrained. Inventory levels of homes for-sale remain low by historical standards. Yun notes that places like Denver and Seattle -- where job growth is strong -- for-sale inventories are less than a one-month supply. Yun says inventories will remain low until homebuilders build more. Homebuilders typically build 1.5 million new homes annually. But since 2009, homebuilding has been constrained, averaging about half of that, and only in 2014 did it finally reach the 1 million mark again. Yun predicts homebuilding will gradually pick up in the coming years, but likely won't return to the 1.5 million mark until 2017. "This rising trend will steadily relieve the housing shortage," he notes. But until then, the consequences of a housing shortage will be stronger than normal home price growth. "Home price gains are beating wage-income growths by at least three or four times in most markets," Yun writes. "Few things in the world could be more frustrating and demoralizing than for renters to start a savings program but only to witness home prices and down payment requirements blowing by past them." Housing affordability is dropping as home prices rise too fast and mortgage rates increase too. But Yun predicts that existing and new home sales to continue to rise. He forecasts there will be 5.8 million home sales in 2015, up 7 percent from last year. The sales total will still be 25 percent below a decade ago during the housing bubble, Yun notes. "For the industry, the business revenue will be rising by 14 percent in 2015," Yun forecasts. "The revenue growth in 2016 will be additional 7 to 10 percent." Source: "Economic and Forecast Update (July 1, 2015)," National Association of REALTORS® Economists' Outlook Blog (July 1, 2015)