Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Signs That Your House Has an HVAC Problem You rely on the HVAC system to keep your house at a comfortable temperature year-round. It can be easy to take it for granted until a problem arises, and you come home to a freezing house in the winter or a sweltering house in the summer. Knowing common signs of an HVAC problem and when to call a professional can help you avoid extreme temperatures and astronomical utility bills. Strange Smells You might notice an unusual odor. If you turned on the heat or air conditioning after it had been off for several months, there could be a slight burning smell. That is normal and should disappear within a day. If the odor lingers longer than that, there could be a problem with the system that needs to be diagnosed and repaired by an HVAC technician. If your home has gas heat and you smell rotten eggs, there could be a natural gas leak. Turn off the HVAC

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 10 Laundry Tips to Cut Your Energy Bill Did you know that laundry machines are among the costliest appliances in your home to operate because of their high energy usage? Given that many families clean multiple loads of clothes every week, taking steps to be more efficient in the laundry room might help lower your overall power bill. The U.S. Department of Energy offers the following tips: 1. Use cold water.  Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load’s energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more. Cold-water detergents can be helpful to ensure items get clean, and high-efficiency detergents (indicated by the “HE” symbol) should be used when required by the manufacturer. 2. Wash full loads.  Your washer will use about the same amount of energy no matter the size of the load, so fill it up. 3. Air dry when possible.  Hang laundry outside or on a drying rack to avoid u

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Wood Floor Alternatives Worth a Second Look Wood floors are a top choice for modern homeowners. Proponents believe they offer warmth as well as elegance, but they do require care to maintain their luster and are costly. Fortunately, say flooring exerts, technology makes it easy to achieve the look and feel of wood flooring without the need for special care—and at a far lower cost. Check out the look and feel of these alternatives at local flooring or big box stores. (If you don’t plan to do it yourself, factor in $30 to $45 an hour for professional installation): Bamboo Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly alternative to hardwood that is easy to clean, shrugs off wear and tear, and results in a similar look. Available in vertical, horizontal or strand-woven varieties, it will cost $2 to $5 per square foot. Engineered Wood Designed to handle moisture and wear, engineered wood flooring is

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Adding a Dog to the Family? Here Are Some Expenses to Consider Getting a dog can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Seeing your cute pet’s tail wag when you get home from a long day at work can be a heartwarming experience that makes the responsibilities of dog ownership worthwhile. But don’t forget those responsibilities, including financial ones, when determining whether now is the right time to bring a dog into the mix. New owners can expect to pay $1,400-$2,000 in the first year of having a puppy, and $14,500 over their dog’s lifetime, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA. Here are some costs to consider, according to the ASPCA: Food Don’t underestimate the cost of feeding your dog. Premium brand dry dog food for large dogs costs an average of $400 per year. Taking care to not overfeed your pet will lower the food cos