Now that the winter holidays are right around the corner in Boston, it’s high time you prepare your home for winter if you haven’t already! As your Boston Real Estate agent, I want the reassurance of knowing Boston homeowners are staying safely warm inside their homes during the cold, blustery days ahead.
Also, when it comes time to put your home on the Boston Real Estate market during the winter season, potential homebuyers will definitely appreciate a warm, cozy home without extraordinary heating bills!
In order to save yourself money and chills this winter, here are a few things you should do to prepare:
• Do a DIY inspection of all your heating gadgets around the house, or call in a professional. This includes making sure the thermostat works properly, changing the furnace filter if necessary, cleaning and dusting around the furnace and cleaning out all the vents in your home. A professional can do more detailed work, so if you haven’t had an inspection in awhile, opt for that.
• Insulate as necessary. Take a trip to the attic and see how cold it feels. Take a look at the insulation on the walls and floor. If your insulation is old, you could easily purchase new insulation from a home improvement store and install it yourself, or you could call in a professional. There are lots of different insulation options, so ask someone at the store what would work best for your needs.
• Prevent cold air from coming through windows or doors. This means weatherstripping around the doors to the outside or to the garage or basement. If cold air is coming from under the door, purchase some draft dodgers to place in front of the door. If cold air is coming through the windows, consider covering them with plastic, made especially for keeping drafts out.
• Clean out the fireplace before using it. Built-up ash and debris from last year is a safety hazard. Clean all the way up into the chimney flue and all around the bottom. Take out old scraps of wood or paper and replace it with fresh wood. Call in a professional if you think it necessary.
• Clean up your exterior. This means raking up leaves that are still in your yard, cleaning out the gutters of leftover debris, draining hoses and storing them inside, filling in cracks in the driveway or walkways, purchasing salt to throw down when it gets icy, and placing a mat by your front entry to prevent snow from ruining your interior.
• Make yourself more comfortable. There are small changes you can make to warm yourself without breaking the bank on heating bills. Add another blanket to your bed and couches, stock up on tea and hot chocolate, dig out your sweaters for extra layering and get moving! The more active you are, the less cold you’ll be.
If you’re able to invest some money into heating technology, consider getting a programmable thermostat. These allow you to program the heat to run at certain temperatures during the day, so when no one is home, you could save some energy. An hour before people come home, you can turn the heat back up.
If your windows or doors are prone to drafts, consider purchasing storm windows and storm doors. These are the best form of insulation and worth the investment, especially if you’re trying to sell.
These tips will get you on your way to winterizing your Boston home and making it cozier for the holiday season ahead! Don’t forget, even during the holidays, the Boston Real Estate market keeps going.
Recent statistics show that homeownership is more affordable now than it’s been in 15 years, and it’s more affordable than renting in most cities. Don’t put off buying a home if that is your dream. I am your Boston Real Estate agent and am ready and willing to help you with your Boston real estate goals at all times! Contact me when you’re ready.
Patti Fine
Phone: 617-642-7585
Email: pf@pattifine.com
Patti Fine Real Estate
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