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Spring Cleaning

Giving the House a Good Once Over

For many homeowners springtime brings thoughts of making home improvements and upgrades.  When you are putting together a list of potential projects, think about adding a thorough spring cleaning at the top of that list.  Even the most ardent housekeepers do not get to all the nooks and crannies regularly.  Giving the house a good once over has many benefits.  Dust and allergens settle in upholstery and carpets; deep cleaning those items will improve your home’s air quality.  Freshening up décor such as light fixtures and blinds keep them in good repair and brighten up the house.  Cleaning the inside of closet and pantry spaces will help you to inventory what you have and to purge old, unused items.

An effective spring cleaning will take several days – decide when you can dedicate the time and effort, and then mark it on your calendar.  Scheduling the cleaning alongside your other events and appointments will give it that importance and help you stick to your plan.  Your to-do list will include those bigger tasks that do not make every routine cleaning, such as:

• Baseboards
• Walls and Ceilings – vacuum dust and clean surface grime
• Light fixtures
• Window frames and doorjambs
• Window coverings – take down and clean draperies, curtains, and blinds
• Hardware including door knobs and hinges
• Closets – shoe racks, shelves, and floors
• Pantries – clean shelves and inventory food items
• Cabinets – interiors and doors of kitchen and bath cabinets
• Refrigerator and Stove – remove and clean all parts including crisper drawers, knobs, racks, and burners
• Floors – move large furniture and vacuum or mop all surfaces
• Carpets – have carpets professionally cleaned
• Furniture – wax wooden furniture and have upholstered furniture professionally cleaned

And last but not least, take the opportunity to organize.  During an in-depth spring cleaning you will be going through things that you might not have looked at in a long time, like items shoved under the bed or hidden on the floor of your closet under the hanging clothes.  Begin by sorting through the clutter that is in your way as you are cleaning an area.  Put things into three groups: to be used, to be stored, to be purged (donate or sell items that can be reused).  Set up a storage system that will work for you by keeping the basics of smart storage in mind:

• Group similar items together.  Keep tools in the toolbox, hang dress shirts together.
• Define where things are stored.  Give specific uses to closets, cabinets, and shelves.  Labels storage bins and boxes.
• Be sensible.  Use your space in a way that fits your needs and that you can maintain over time.  If it makes sense to store a frequently used tool kit in the food pantry, then do it!
• Think ahead.  Storage needs change over time as people part with and accumulate things.  Maintain some free space for future needs and regularly clear out old, unused items during the annual spring cleaning.

Energize Your Sacramento Home

. A credit of 30% of the cost, up to $1500, until December 31, 2010

Reports show that consumer spending has been up slightly this year, a hopeful indication of a slowly recovering economy.  But many Sacramento homeowners continue to be cautious, trying to lower costs and keep to a moderate budget.  One of the best investments a Sacramento homeowner can make is to install energy efficient systems that will help reduce utility bills.  However, the upfront costs of replacing a water heater or installing new windows can be considerable.  If you want or need to replace appliances or systems, consider making the upgrades soon to take advantage of the current tax incentives that can offset the costs.

The American Recovery and Investment Act, known as the Stimulus, has extended tax credits for making various energy related investments.  The goal is to encourage Sacramento homeowners to conserve energy by purchasing energy-efficient products or renewable energy systems.  The items that warrant tax credits fall under several categories based on the item and the property type.  Here is an overview of what is included in the tax credit.

A credit of 30% of the cost, up to $1500, until December 31, 2010 on items installed in an existing home (no new construction) that is a primary residence:

• Windows and Doors
• Insulation
• Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems
• Roofs (asphalt and metal)
• Non-solar Water Heaters (natural gas, propane, oil)
• Biomass Stoves

For windows, doors, insulation, and other similar projects that secure the home exterior, the credit is limited to the cost of materials.  If you buy a new HVAC system that meets the energy-efficient guidelines, you can also claim the cost of installation.

A credit of 30% of the cost (no limit) until December 31, 2016 on items installed in an existing or newly constructed home for both primary and secondary residences:

• Solar Energy Systems
• Residential Wind Energy Systems (Turbines)
• Geothermal Heat Pumps

Both labor and materials qualify for the credit.

A credit of 30% of the cost, up to $500 per .5kW of power capacity, until December 31, 2016 on items installed in an existing or newly constructed home that is a primary residence:

• Fuel Cells

The bill also includes new and modified credits for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles and plug-in electric drive conversion kits.  To find a list of hybrids that are eligible, go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml.

There are specific requirements that each item must meet in order to qualify for the credit. Because current standards are higher than they were for earlier tax credits, not all products that carry the EnergyStar label are eligible for the new credits.  Thoroughly research which appliances and products meet the criteria to ensure that you will reap the greatest financial benefit.  For more detailed information check out the IRS website, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206875,00.html.