Exterior replacement projects (doors, windows, etc.) continue to recoup the most dollars at resale, which makes them attractive to homeowners looking to improve curb appeal. Replacements are also among the least expensive projects to complete. Entry door replacements (steel), which recoup nearly 129 percent of their costs at resale, returned the most on investment. Other high-ranking cost-vs.-value projects were siding replacements, attic bedrooms and deck additions.

     Projects that recouped the least were home-office remodels, sunrooms, upscale master suites, upscale garage additions and upscale bathroom additions.

     For project data for the 80 U.S. cities surveyed, visit Remodeling magazine’s Web site at http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx.

     A Service Magic survey also finds that after a brief slowdown in 2009, homeowners are moving forward with their remodeling plans, with a focus on improving the most important areas in their home like bathrooms and kitchens, as well as smaller-scale projects, like countertops. More homeowners also are adding home theaters and computer rooms to personalize their homes for the long-term. While kitchen and bathroom remodels remain popular, fewer owners are tackling larger projects, such as home additions and remodels of multiple rooms.

The new law also provides a tax credit of $6,500 to existing homeowners who have owned and lived in their current residence at least five consecutive years. For all qualifying purchases in 2010, buyers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 tax return. 

Under the new law, credit is not available if the purchase price of a home is more than $800,000. Also buyers must be at least 18 years old on the date of home purchase, and dependents are not eligible to claim the credit. For more information about whether the tax credit can benefit you, visit the IRS Website or consult with a qualified tax professional.

After completing the 10-question form, return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you fail to return your census form, a census taker will follow up to arrange a personal interview to collect your information.

The census data is used to determine the number of seats each state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. It also helps to determine how $400 billion in federal funding will be allocated every year for infrastructure and services, such as hospitals, schools, emergency services, roads and bridges, and job training centers. For businesses, census data is critical to help them make strategically and fiscally sound decisions that spur economic growth.

Key Dates for 2010 Census 

March 2010 – Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.

April 1, 2010 – Census Day

May – July 2010 – Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire.

December 2010 – By law, the Census Bureau delivers population counts to the President for apportionment.

March 2011 – By law, the Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states. 

To ensure your community receives the services it needs, everyone needs to be counted.

    During the winter months, window treatments can affect the temperature in your home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, pairing close-fitting drapes with a cornice can reduce airflow around windows by up to 25 percent. If you mount your shades or blinds inside your window casting, you’ll also be able to minimize drafts, and be ensured a cozy, warm winter.

    Keep in mind that color and pattern are key when deciding what window treatment to use. Lighter colors will make a smaller room appear larger, while darker colors tend to shrink a room. Mix it up by playing with different textured shades such as rattan or bamboo.

    Shades and curtains made from lighter fabrics allow more light to filter into the room. But depending on your taste, a heavier fabric can look more elegant, while a longer drapery will look more formal. To ensure you have enough fabric for overlapping, buy an amount of fabric two to four times the width of the window.

    The cost for window treatments varies almost as much as the options themselves. You could spend anywhere from $16 for a light, sheer shade, to $400 for wood shutters.

    Source control. The most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. For example, areas that contain asbestos can be sealed off or enclosed, and gas stoves can be adjusted to decrease their emissions.

    Improved ventilation. Heating and cooling systems don’t usually bring fresh air into your home. To increase the amount of outdoor air that comes inside, open windows and doors, operate window or attic fans when the weather permits, or run a window air conditioner with the vent control open. And save pollutant-emitting activities like painting, sanding, soldering or welding for outside.

    Air cleaners. There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, from relatively inexpensive tabletop models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others are much less so. In general, air cleaners are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.

    For a simpler solution, try a plant. Although it has not been scientifically proven, there is some evidence that household plants can help remove significant quantities of pollutants from the air in your home. But be careful: overwatering plants can be detrimental to your home’s air quality — damp soil can promote the growth of microorganisms.

    The first step in drawing a line between work and play is with your computer. It might be tempting to use the family computer for business, but that increases the chances that someone might accidentally delete an important file. A dedicated business-only computer will help you avoid that danger. You also might need to have professionals install additional electrical, phone or cable outlets to accommodate your various office equipment (phone, computer, fax, etc.).

    Experts suggest that you divide your new office into three sections: the work center, the reference center and the supply center. The work center includes your desk, computer and things you use on a regular basis. The reference center includes dictionaries, books, binders, etc. Consider placing a small filing cabinet or installing shelves behind your desk for easy access. Finally, the supply center of your workspace holds all your office supplies. To save money on storage solutions, consider using shoeboxes for holding note cards and other small items, for example, or jars for keeping pens and pencils.

While neighborhood amenities, location and affordability are important, the experts at Movers.com say buyers also should consider other factors, such as safety, property values, cost of living and public transportation.

Before moving across the country to an unfamiliar location that could be unsafe, potential homebuyers should research the area’s crime statistics or call the local police department for detailed information. Property values, cost of living and budgetary concerns will also influence neighborhood choices. 

If you depend on public transportation, find out what services are available, whether there are bus stops or train stations in the neighborhood you are considering, and whether their schedules will meet your travel needs.

To learn more about prospective neighborhoods, check out sites such as City-data.com, NeighborhoodScout.com, Citytowninfo.com and Bestplaces.net, which contain information about schools, crime rates, demographics, amenities and employment.

• Clean your gutters. Backed-up gutters can wreak havoc on siding and cause flooding. Scoop out leaves and debris with a trowel or hire professionals to do it.
• Check your roof. Wintry weather may have damaged the surface, and the first big rainstorm, left unchecked, could cause significant problems. Replace shingles as needed.
• If your fireplace got a workout during the winter months, give it a clean sweep. Call in the experts to inspect and clean creosote buildup.

Summer

• Walk around your house to check for unsealed spots where squirrels or mice could sneak in. Look carefully for termites or ants, too. Inside, check your attic and make sure egress points are sealed tightly.
• Get ready for the warm season by giving any outdoor equipment (pools, swing sets, etc.) a thorough, top-to-bottom cleaning.

Fall

• Ensure your furnace is in prime shape for the cold months ahead, and change all the air filters in your home.
• Make sure your house is adequately sealed. Apply weather stripping (such as tape, felt, foam or vinyl tubing) around doors or windows.
• Trim branches near your home or roof to prevent damage when wintry weather hits.

Winter

• Drain and insulate outdoor pipes to prevent freezing.
• Check for damaged sidewalk, driveway or stairs, and repair them before the first snow to avoid dangerous mishaps.

    For starters, make sure furniture is doing double duty. Invest in ottomans with hidden storage to stash remote controls and blankets and a coffee table with drawers or a bottom shelf to hold magazines. Consider putting a chest in the foyer to store sports equipment and shoes or installing coat hooks on the wall to free up more hall closet space.

    Boxes and jars are your best friends when it comes to organizing your odds and ends. Group like items together — such as old letters, cards or photos — and store in colorful boxes. Label the outside of the box so you know what’s inside, and use the same trick to organize shoes.

    Think tall. Choose vertical, not horizontal, bookshelves to conserve space, and display framed photos or artwork on the upper shelves where access isn’t as important. Put frequently used items, such as recipe books, CDs or DVDs, on bottom shelves.

    Make better use of the space under your bed with clear bins for storing extra linens or off-season clothing (put clothes in vacuum- sealed bags to conserve even more space). If your bed doesn’t have much space underneath, consider putting it on risers.

    In the kitchen, hang pots on an overhead rack rather than stowing them in cupboards, and put frequently used utensils like spatulas and whisks in an easily accessible vase on the counter.

To start, financial planners suggest you gather a year’s worth of bills and loan payments to create a complete picture of your expenses. Make a list and assign each to a category, such as groceries, utilities, mortgage, auto and entertainment. Be sure to note when your spending increases throughout the year, such as around holidays or annual vacations.  

 Next, determine fixed and variable expenses. Fixed expenses have little to no change each month, such as mortgage, car payments or cable bills. Variable expenses change monthly—groceries, gas or personal expenses such as morning coffee runs.   

Once you’ve sorted your expenses and calculated a monthly average, figure out your monthly income by checking your pay stubs and other sources of revenue. Ideally, your expenses should not be greater than your income. Your ultimate goal is to create a “zero-dollar budget” to see exactly where each dollar of your income goes. The money left over      should be put into a savings account or used to pay down credit card debts.   

When you’re through with this exercise, look for ways to build an emergency fund. Consider putting aside enough for three to six months’ living expenses. If this number is too daunting, set a goal for smaller amounts, like  $1,000 to $3,000.

Don’t go overboard on holiday decorations. Large decorations can make your home seem smaller and they can distract buyers. If you choose to decorate, opt for fewer and smaller items with a general winter theme.

Hire a reliable real estate agent. Ask family and friends to recommend a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) REALTOR® who will work hard for you and be available during the holidays.

Seek motivated buyers. Any person shopping for a home during the holidays must be highly motivated. Target buyers who need to move soon, such as people relocating for jobs, college students and university staff on break, and investors on tax deadlines.

Price the property to sell. No matter what time of year it is, a home that’s priced appropriately for the market will attract buyers.

Pay attention to curb appeal. Maintaining your home’s exterior is just as important in the winter as it is during any other season. Touch up the paint, clean the gutters and spruce up the yard. Also keep buyers’ safety in mind by keeping stairs and walkways clear of snow, ice or leaves.

Use high-quality photos and/or a video tour to market your home on the Web. Homebuyers are likely to start their home search on the Internet, so these tools can help buyers who may not have time to visit your home in person.

Make your home cozy and inviting. When showing your home, crank up the heat, play soft music and offer homemade holiday treats. It will encourage buyers to spend more time in the home, which gives them a chance to admire its best features.

    Select a fresh tree. Needles should be green and attached firmly to the branches, and they should not break if the tree is freshly cut. Don’t place the tree near a heat source, such as a heat vent or fireplace. Keep the tree stand filled with water to keep it moist, and don’t leave the tree up longer than two weeks. When it becomes dry, discard it immediately.

    Inspect holiday lights each year. Check for frayed wires and burned out bulbs before putting the lights on the tree. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Periodically check the wires to make sure they are not warm to the touch. Link no more than three light strands, don’t overload the electrical outlets, and don’t leave lights on unattended.

    Use nonflammable decorations. Keep decorations away from heat vents or fireplaces. Avoid putting wrapping paper in a fireplace, which can throw off dangerous sparks and cause a large fire. Artificial or metallic trees should be flame retardant.

    Avoid using lit candles. But if you do use them, make sure their holders are stable, and place them where they won’t be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning. Don’t go near a Christmas tree with an open flame (candle, match or lighter).

    Most important, install smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly.

    The Emily Post Institute offers the following guidelines for holiday tipping, but also advises consumers to let common sense and the holiday spirit be your guide. If financial circumstances limit what you can give, a handwritten note is always appropriate.

• Babysitter – One evening’s pay, plus a small gift from your child
• Barber/Hair stylist – Cost of one haircut or a gift
• Child’s teacher – Check the school’s policy. If allowed, give a small token gift of appreciation, not cash
• Day care providers – $25 to $70 each, plus a small gift from your child for providers who give direct care to your child(ren)
• Dog walker – One week’s pay or a gift
• Personal fitness trainer – Up to the cost of one session
• Housekeeper/maid service – Up to one week’s pay or a gift
• Doorman – $15 to $80
• Garage attendant – $10 to $30 each
• Letter carriers – Gift up to $20, no cash per U.S. Post Office regulations
• Massage therapist –  Up to one session’s fee or a gift
• Handyman service – $15 to $40

    Tool smart. For almost any shelf-hanging project you will need a pencil, a level, a tape measure, a screwdriver, a drill and a stud finder. It’s also wise to have — and wear — protective safety glasses. 

    Weight watcher. Books weigh more than knickknacks. Be sure to keep this in mind as you purchase shelves; some kinds are sturdier than others. Also consider buying brackets to accommodate extra weight, if needed. 

    Anchors aweigh. Just putting a screw in the wall usually is not enough to properly mount a shelf. In most cases, you will need to use an anchor. There are different kinds of anchors for various wall materials; the kind you use for drywall  is different than the kind you use for concrete walls. Know what your walls are made of before you head to the store. 

    Space station. Make sure you allow enough space above each shelf so there’s no height restriction on what you place on the shelves. 

    Ball game. After you’ve completed hanging your shelf, test it out by placing a tennis ball or a golf ball right in the middle. It should stay perfectly still.

 Source: This Old House, DIY

    Start by doing a “crawl-through” of the room you plan to use, keeping an eye out for sharp edges, electrical cords and uncovered outlets. If you find these hazards, make a note to purchase rubber edges, outlet covers and cord-keeping devices. Push on the furniture, including bookcases, shelves, tables and chairs, to check for stability. Secure items that seem unsteady with straps that you can buy at your local hardware store or by bolting the items to the wall. If the playroom is on a second floor, place kitchen sets and drawing tables away from windows to minimize the risk of a fall. Make sure that the toys are accessible to kids; keep them off high shelves and in open-top fabric or plastic storage bins with lids that snap closed.

    If you’re starting a room from scratch, think about the materials you use to furnish the room. Cork is great for floors because it’s hypoallergenic and can withstand the moisture from the inevitable spills. Cotton fabrics are a good choice because they clean up easily and are better for children with allergies.

Source: Consumer Reports

    Air leaks. You might be able to save 5 percent to 30 percent a year on your energy bills by finding and fixing leaks. Start by checking for obvious leaks. Inspect windows and doors. If you can rattle them, chances are there’s an air leak. Caulking or weather stripping is an easy fix. Also check to see if air flows through less-obvious places such as baseboards and electrical outlets. Then head outside the house to inspect all areas where two different building materials meet: where siding and chimneys meet and where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. Plug and caulk any holes you find and seal other cracks with appropriate materials.

    Insulation. Check the attic hatch to see if it is as heavily insulated as the attic, is weather-stripped and closes tightly. In the attic, determine whether openings for items such as pipes,  ductwork and chimneys are sealed. Seal any gaps with an expanding foam caulk or other permanent sealant. Also check to see if you have a vapor barrier under the attic insulation. If not, paint the interior ceilings with vapor barrier paint to reduce the amount of water vapor that could pass through the ceiling.

    Heating and cooling equipment. Check to see if it’s more than 15 years old. If so, you might want to consider switching to a newer model. Also check your ductwork for dirt streaks; these indicate an air leak and will need to be sealed with a duct mastic.

    Lighting. Check the wattage of your lightbulbs. You might be using a 100-watt bulb when you could be using a
60-watt. Consider switching to
compact fluorescent lamps for
lights that are on for hours at a time.

Source: www.energysavers.gov

    Wood stoves made of plate steel or cast iron are best. Use only seasoned wood for fuel, and avoid green wood, artificial logs or trash. Inspect and clean the pipes and chimneys annually, and check monthly for damage and obstructions. Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from the stove.

    Space heaters that feature the Underwriter Laboratory certification are recommended. Use a heater with a thermostat control mechanism that can switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Don’t dry clothes or store objects on top of the heater. Like wood stoves, keep combustibles at least three feet away. Always unplug the device when it is not in use.

    Clean fireplaces frequently to prevent creosote from building up in the chimney. Also inspect the chimneys for obstructions or cracks. Never burn trash, paper or green wood, which can cause heavy creosote buildup. Don’t wear loose-fitting clothes near open flames, and make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.

    Finally, make sure smoke detectors are working properly, and replace batteries every six months.

Barbara Ballinger, architecture coach and columnist for the Style, Staged and Sold blog, says that while vintage features may appeal to some buyers, they could cost you a sale. Here are a few designs that could turn off potential buyers.

·         Excessively bold or dark paint or tile colors, such as deep plum or jet black

·         Walls painted with lacquered or high-gloss finish, faux- and sponge-painted walls, and wallpaper

·         Worn, cracked laminate countertops and backsplashes

·         Outdated bathrooms with small sinks, short toilets, squat bathtubs and tight shower spaces

·         Stained and worn wall-to-wall carpet or worn linoleum

·         Bedrooms decorated with a theme that is incorporated through the carpeting, walls, ceilings, light fixtures and furnishings

·         Too many mirrored walls, ceilings and doors in a single room

·         Ceilings with too many recessed lighting spots

Home security experts at American Lock and Key offer several tips to help you secure access to your home.

·         Don’t hide keys in obvious places, such as under an exterior floor mat or a planter. Most burglars know the most common places to hide keys. If you must hide them, keep keys stored in a secured key box.

·         Keep keys separate from your address, so if they are ever lost or stolen, no one can identify where they belong.

·         Immediately change or re-key the locks when you move to a new home. A locksmith may charge $40 to $100 or more to re-key locks or, if you prefer to do it yourself, re-key kits are available at hardware stores for less than $20.

·         Keep garage doors secure, especially those that connect to the house from inside the garage and doors leading to the garage from outside. Use a padlock to secure the inside of the garage door.

·         Keep windows locked, especially on the home’s lower level where they can be an attractive target for criminals. 

The American Society of Home Inspectors (www.ashi.org) publishes a Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics that outlines what you should expect to be included in your home inspection report. Generally, it will cover the conditions of the following:

·       heating system

·       central air conditioning system  (temperature permitting)

·       interior plumbing and electrical systems

·       roof, attic and visible insulation

·       walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors

·       foundation, basement and structural components

Fees for a home inspection vary geographically and depend  on factors such as the size of the house, its age and optional services such as septic, well or radon testing.

To find a qualified home inspector, ask your agent as well as friends or business acquaintances for recommendations.