1. A tankless task
If you're like most homeowners, you probably don't care how your water gets heated, so long as it's hot when you turn on the shower. Fair enough. But your water heater deserves closer attention, especially if it's more than a decade old. That's when conventional storage-tank water heaters tend to fail, leaving you with a wet mess.
You can replace your water heater with another storage-tank model for between $500 and $1,500 installed. Better yet, spend between $1,500 and $2,500, including installation, on a gas tankless water heater. It takes up half the space, lasts twice as long, and will save the typical homeowner about $115 a year on water-heating costs. Buy one in 2010 to take advantage of a federal energy tax credit that'll reimburse you for 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500.
2. Think pink
A few rolls of that familiar pink fiberglass insulation could save you a lot of green. In cold climates like the Northeast, getting an attic up to recommended insulation levels could lower energy bills by $600 a year. Blown-in cellulose or fiberglass insulation can work equally well, depending on your attic. Consult a qualified contractor.
Figure you'll pay a contractor between $1,000 and $2,500 to insulate your attic. Costs vary based on square footage, attic accessibility, where you live, and insulation type. Add insulation in 2010 and qualify for a federal energy tax credit worth up to $1,500. The tax credit excludes installation, so ask your contractor to separate materials cost and labor cost on your invoice.
Mark Fuller is a leading real estate professional specializing in Luxury Homes In Houston Texas.
3. No pane, no gain
Replacement windows offer a lot to homeowners: energy efficiency, aesthetic appeal, low maintenance, and high resale value. Unfortunately, those benefits come with a steep price tag. High-efficiency replacement windows that qualify for a federal energy tax credit cost between $500 and $1,000 apiece installed, so you're looking at spending $10,000 or more to outfit a typical home.
Budget-minded homeowners can get similar energy savings – 15 percent to 40 percent off heating and cooling bills--at a much lower price by opting instead for tax-credit-eligible storm windows Storm windows, which work in conjunction with existing windows to lower energy consumption, cost between $100 and $300 each installed. Adding storm windows to a typical house takes a day or two, vs. two to three days for replacement windows.
4. Give your garage a facelift
Homes with prominent garages can benefit greatly from a curb-appeal standpoint from the addition of new garage. Standard doors usually come in wood or steel. It costs between $550 and $1,650, including installation, for a single door. A double door runs between $800 and $2,500. Custom garage doors cost more, as do heavy-duty aluminum doors.
Act fast. Certain garage doors installed in your principal residence during 2010 may be eligible for a federal energy tax credit of as much as $1,500. The door must meet efficiency standards and the garage must be insulated. The tax credit applies to 30 percent of the cost of the garage door, excluding installation charges.
5. Emergency power to the people
A hurricane sweeps in, the lights go out, and you're left with no air conditioning until the utility company can fix downed power lines. Estimated wait time for repairs: two days. What's a resourceful homeowner to do? Crank up the portable generator, that's what.
Portable generators cost between $500 for a 3-kilowatt model to $2,000 for a 10-kilowatt model. Larger units should be able to power a heater, some lights, the refrigerator, and a few other essentials for as long as you can keep the generator supplied with gasoline. A pricier alternative is a permanent standby generator) that's hard-wired to your home's electric grid. Standby generators start at around $4,000 to $5,000, though prices can escalate quickly.
Mark can be reached by clicking on this link and viewing the Fuller Team website for Luxury Homes in Houston Texas.