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Happy Holidays From First Team Real Estate!


We want to wish you a very happy holiday season from all of us at First Team Real Estate!

Happy Holidays to you! We hope you enjoy this wonderful time of year and make some fantastic memories with your family and friends. We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. We love helping people make their real estate dreams come true, so thank you for working with us.

This may be a busy time of year, but we are always here to help and answer any questions you may have. Give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help you. In case we don’t hear from you soon, have a happy New Year!

These 7 Tips Will Help You Save Money on Utility Bills This Winter


Here are a few choice tips you can use to make your home more energy-efficient this winter.

Winter is coming! If you want to save money on your heating bill when the cold season strikes in full, here are seven tips to help:

1. Hire a professional to do an energy audit. For between $200 and $600, an energy auditor will come to your home to assess the energy-efficiency of your home and provide a checklist of items you may want to fix before the winter starts in full. I’d be happy to refer you to one we know and trust; otherwise, you can find them on www.Homeadvisor.com.
 

2. Seal your walls. Your local hardware store should have a variety of caulks you can use to seal off any cracks in your walls that allow warm air to escape and cold air to seep inside.

3. Seal your light fixtures. Those who have recessed lighting might be surprised to learn about how much air can leak in through those fixtures. You can close off any gaps around your light fixtures simply by using electrical tape.
 

4. Fill in any insulation gaps. Check your attic for gaps in the insulation, as well as around your water faucets; both are prime places for heat to escape if they’re not properly insulated.

Those who have recessed lighting might be surprised to learn about how much air can leak in through those fixtures.

5. Check your heating system. Make sure your pilot light is lighting efficiently, change out your filters, and ensure that airflow through the system isn’t being blocked.
 

6. Insulate your windows. Purchasing double-paned windows will help with the cost and efficiency of heating your home.
 

7. Purchase a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats help set your home’s temperature when you’re sleeping or when you’re out of the house so that you’re not using too much energy when you don’t need it. Many brands have smartphone applications you can use to automate your thermostat. Nest and Smart Learning Nest are some of the more popular brands.

If you have any questions or would like more tips for making your home energy-efficient this winter, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.