Johnson County Connect Newsletter - How to Save on Your Home, West Nile Virus, Real Estate Stats

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View this email in your browser Energy Star Recommends setting your Thermostat no lower that 78 degrees I'm sure you were like me when you heard the Energy Star (a program run by the U.S. Environmental Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy) recommendation of setting your thermostat at a minimum of 78 degrees while your are home and bumping it up to 85 degrees when you are not home, right? They even recommended setting the thermostat at 82 degrees at night. Sure you can save some money if you follow their recommendation, but who in Kansas can survive and be comfortable with these temperatures inside the house? I have had a few clients conduct an energy audit on their home and found some simple tasks they can do to save money on the utility bills. The 15 most common recommendations were: Wash clothes in cold water Replace older light bulbs with LED's Turn your water heater down Upgrade appliances with appliances with an Energy Star label Install motion sensors on your exterior light fixtures Schedule yearly HVAC cleanings and change out the filter every other month Unplug electronics when not in use Clean out the dryer ductwork Install dimmer switches Keep the fridge and freezer full Install ceiling fans in all rooms Turn off heat dry on your dishwasher Plug and caulk air leaks Make sure attic is properly ventilated and insulated Replace old leaky windows Looking for a professional energy audit? Contact Zaarly and get started. In this issue: Energy Audit What's Happening Home Improvement Idea Did You Know ??? Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist New Listings this past week Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist Another Health Warning Interest Rates are Falling! Real Estate Snapshots What is Your Home Worth? Discover More About Your City Interest Rates are Falling! What's Happening . . . Aug. 23 - Grand Opening at the Lawn Aug. 23 - 29th Annual Roots Festival Aug. 23 - Light Up The Lawn - Pawnshop Troubadours Aug. 24 - Olathe Farmers' Market Aug. 24 - Overland Park Farmers' Market Aug. 24 - KC Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers Aug. 24 - 2019 Olathe Charities 5K Aug. 24 - JCPRDU Kids Triathlon Aug. 24 - Sunflower and Peach Festival Aug. 24 - Auntie Jo's Second Annual Family Carnival Aug. 24 - Olathe Charities 5K and Fun Run Aug. 24 - Outdoor Vintage Market Aug. 25 - 17th Annual Head for the Cure 5K What another Kansas Health Warning? Last week I reported about the Blue-Green algae problem in some of the area lakes. This week it is the West Nile Virus. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Northeast Kansas remains high risk for the West Nile Virus. Remember the three D's when it comes to the West Nile Virus. Dress - where long sleeves and pants Deet - wear mosquito repellant that has DEET as the main ingredient Drain - frequently drain anything that can hold water. Mosquitos don't need much water to lay their eggs. Home Improvement Idea Install a Programmable Thermostat Keeping up with the theme of saving money, replace your thermostat with a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats help regulate the temperature of your home while saving you money.The new thermostat, like a Nest thermostat, will be mercury free and much more energy efficient. You can purchase a programmable thermostat at most hardware and home improvement stores. Did You Know ??? According to the 2015 census, 580,159 people call Johnson County home? Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist Check for plumbing leaks Replace any worn faucet washers Inspect all electrical cords, wall plates and plugs for damage and wear Check alarm systems (smoke and carbon monoxide) and make sure they are operating properly Make sure all GFCI plugs are functioning properly Replace HVAC filters Make sure attic is properly ventilated Clean dryer vent duct Walk around the home and inspect for critter intrusion Need help with maintenance items around the home? I have a list of contractors that can help. Let's talk . . .(913) 712-9313. Search JOCO Homes For Sale Search New Homes For Sale Interest Rates are Falling! Mortgage rates have continued to drop from last week. With rates dropping, lenders have been quoting below 3.5% rates on mortgage loans. With the volatility in the world markets, don't expect mortgage rates to stay low forever. Thinking of moving or refincining, take advantage of the low rates. Need help finding the best loan program or rate? Let's talk . . . (913) 712-9313. JOCO Real Estate Snapshots To view a Johnson County Real Estate Snapshot including more stats and view listings for sale, go to: JOCO Real Estate Snapshots. Start today and automatically register to win a "Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que Gift Card". Reports are for the past 30 days. Click her to view over 75 area real estate reports. STAY INFORMED! Our Real Estate Market Snapshot provides you with relevant, up-to-date market statistics... View Active, Pending, & SOLD homes for sale Average Days on the Market Median Sold Prices and Trends Number of Homes for Sale Easy TO READ report format, viewable via mobile, tables, or home computer Start today and automatically register to win a "Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que Gift Card" Did you know that the recent real estate activity has affected the value of your home? Wouldn't you like to know how? Instantly find out the value of your home . . . Discover More About Your City Baldwin City Basehor Bonner Springs Bucyrus De Soto Edgerton Edwardsville Eudora Gardner Kansas City, KS Lacygne Lake Quivira Lansing Lawrence Leavenworth Leawood Lenexa Linn Valley Linwood Louisburg Mission Mission Hills Olathe Osawatomie Ottawa Overland Park Paola Pomona Prairie Village Rantoul Roeland Park Shawnee Spring Hill Stilwell Tonganoxie Wellsville Westwood Westwood Hills Have a question? Let's talk . . . Copyright © 2019 Dowell Family Team of ReeceNichols - Cedar Creek, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 11172 S Lone Elm Rd Olathe, KS 66061