House & Home: January 07, 2023

Cover home presented by Daniel Encell

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

Do you have a story to share with our News-Press readers? Let us get to know you! We would like to publish it in the Weekend edition House & Home publication.

COntents

11 On Gardening: Cherry Cordials now and debuting for your garden in 2023........................................ 12 Real Estate Q&A: How can I avoid problems if my sister buys me out of property we co-own?

14 The house we are trying to buy was appraised at less than the purchase price. Now what?

&HOUSE HOME Publishing LLC

newspress.com

Wendy McCaw

Co-Publisher Arthur Von Wiesenberger

To appear in House & Home, Contact our staff at realestate@newspress.com

House & Home is a product of the Classified Advertising Department of the Santa Barbara News-Press. newspress.com newspress.com is a local virtual community network providing information about Santa Barbara, in addition to the online Association of the Santa Barbara News-Press.

©2023 Santa Barbara News-Press

All rights are reserved on material produced by the News-Press, including stories, photos, graphics, maps and advertising. News-Press material is the property of Ampersand Publishing, LLC. Reproduction or nonpersonal usage for any purpose without written permission of the News-Press is expressly prohibited. Other material, including news service stories, comics, syndicated features and columns may be protected by separate copyrights and trademarks. Their presentation by the News-Press is with permission limited to one-time publication and does not permit other use without written release by the original rights holder.

Views expressed in the articles of House & Home are the views of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Santa Barabara News-Press.

How to decorate your kitchen counter With Style

Giving your kitchen a new look can be easy, quick and cheap.

By Hunter Boyce

If you have chosen the kitchen for your next big redesign project, there are a number of stylish ways to spruce up the heart of your home. And it doesn’t have to be another unending time waster or money pit project. Giving your kitchen a new look can be easy, quick and cheap. Most importantly, when it’s all said and done, it is going to look great.

Brenda Thomspon of HouseLift Design told The Spruce that removing clutter can have an incredible effect on your space.

“Because kitchens are one of the most functional spaces in a home, we like to style counters with items that will actually be used — like cutting boards, cookbooks, wooden spoons, and hand towels — so that we’re not adding unnecessary pieces, just enhancing what would already be there,” she told the outlet.

“Using natural materials like wood and greenery helps to keep the space from feeling cluttered. We love plants and fresh herbs in small pots!”

Better Homes & Gardens agreed that using natural elements and keeping things minimal and uncluttered is a great approach. The outlet also reported that you can make a statement piece out of any collections you have in the kitchen.

Unique cookbooks, cutting boards, wooden spoons and platters can all make for interested displays and conversation pieces, while still earning their spots in the space by being usable cooking tools. This can also be a great way to establish a theme in your kitchen space.

According to HGTV, lighting is a wonderful way to upgrade your kitchen’s look without taking up any of its precious countertop space.

Good lighting can add warmth and style to your space, especially recessed lighting. Accent lighting can help brighten up the darker corners of your space, making working in the kitchen much easier.

Better lighting can also allow you to make the most out of any collections you have added to your counter space, ensuring you have the best looking kitchen around.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Photo courtesy Chernetskaya/Dreamstime/TNS

A note from the SBAOR President

By Todd Shea President of the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS®

Start the Year in a Good Headspace

Happy New Year, Santa Barbara! As we move into 2023 with anticipation and eyes wide open, ready to take on anything and everything as a community, I want us to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of 2022. Looking back through your camera roll for the last year is a fun exercise to realize all the amazing things you did and went through in 2022. Pause to look around, to be grateful for each other and where we live in this thriving and beautiful community. This helps put things into perspective as we look forward to tackling this year together as many parts to a whole.

At this time, there are so many distractions and expectations from peers and social media that the chances for negative self-talk are higher than ever. It’s amazing how warped thoughts can get when you don’t take the time to allow yourself space to create positivity and balance. In this negative headspace, your reactions to those around you create a ripple effect outward into the community. Focusing on Real Estate, we are so fortunate to be in this profession in this area. Our friendly competition is the envy of other associations across the state and nation. When traveling to California Association of Realtors (CAR) and National Association of Realtors (NAR) events, I am proud to represent SBAOR alongside industry icons in Bob Hart, Staci Caplan, Diana Bull, and our amazing Board of Directors. Our Region 11 is not only vocal, but it also creates ideas and solutions looked at on the highest political platforms and is well respected at both the California state and National levels.

Imagine Santa Barbara Community and Realtors if we all approached the day in a positive headspace and with that mindset towards others. Trust me, I understand there is always an opportunity for conflict, and I welcome those opportunities. That is where we grow. Our patience and responses with others would change, and that now positive ripple effect would spread throughout the beautiful community and neighborhoods we live in.

There are many great daily morning routines out there to start the day. Mine consists of 3 things. The goal is to start the day off positively and healthily to foster this mindset in taking on the day. Of course, there are days that these don’t happen. I use an app called Streaks on my iPhone to keep me accountable. And some may say this is a waste of time or does not change anything. But I challenge you to try it, lean into it, and then continue if it starts your day off more positively and creates space to interact with people and challenges during your day.

First is my hot start, consisting of push-ups and sit-ups. This starts the day in a healthy way, is easy to do, and wakes me up. Nothing crazy, just some reps to get going.

Daily Affirmations next, creating positive talk and affirming who I am, what is important to me, what I want to be, how I want to interact with people, and where I want to go.

Example of Daily Affirmations:

I will take action; every small step I take today will build on each other, create the life I want, and do the small things all day today. I am 1% better every day.

I am grateful for the opportunity to help others accomplish their dreams through real estate, coaching, mentorship, being a teammate, and friendship.

I am stepping into the best year of my life! Enjoy the journey, and be proud of what you have accomplished.

Finishing with a 10-minute meditation. I use the app Headspace, but there are many others or do your own 10 minutes of breathing and positive thoughts around these daily affirmations.

Then, of course, a good cup of coffee, and I am ready to go! Enjoy Santa Barbara, and here’s to a positive 2023!

With Gratitude, Todd

Shea

HOA Homefront Finding Peace In Your HOA

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.

Peace within HOAs is a wonderful wish indeed and greatly needed. HOA lawsuits deepen division, are costly, and rarely resolve the root problem.

Successful lawsuits do not bring HOAs peace or improve their governance. Peace and goodwill happen when volunteers bring commitment and a healthy serviceoriented attitude. If a board is bad, elect a new board, because a judge cannot force a board (or a homeowner) to change. A judge only decides who wins the battle, not the war. So, lawsuits should be the very last resort after all other measures have failed.

Here are six ways to help spread peace and goodwill throughout the year.

Check Member Attitude: Do you refer to the HOA as “they”? Because the association is you. Are you informed, and participating on committees or working groups? Do you take the time to become informed before announcing your opinions on board decisions?

Being part of a common interest community means that by purchase one joins a group of owners. This involves exchanging some independence for the shared benefits of HOA living.

Check Director Attitude: Is your attitude of service or one of control? Members are not employees or stockholders — they are neighbors. An understanding that one is a volunteer serving the community is less likely to foster conflict. Do you listen or simply tolerate other points of view? Have you developed an environment in which directors can vote against the majority without being perceived as disloyal? Teamwork is not necessarily unanimity.

Check Your Actions: Before “going legal,” consider these questions.

Have you talked? Sometimes sending a board representative to discuss a problem can resolve problems before they get out of hand.

Is a lawyer letter really necessary? When attorneys join the discussion it escalates its intensity and it is harder to de-escalate. Before asking the HOA attorney to send off that “nasty-gram,” consider sending a letter from the board or manager requesting cooperation.

Check Your Assumptions: Avoid assuming your neighbor is a bad person — they simply might not understand their responsibilities as a co-owner in the community. HOA members often fight because they do not know their rights and responsibilities. Try giving people a chance to be reasonable — they might be.

For example, many condominium owners do not know exclusive use areas are still common area and subject to HOA controls. It isn’t their fault that nobody told them otherwise. Good boards, managers, and lawyers should start by informing violators before assuming they don’t care, because maybe they just don’t know.

Learn Internal Dispute Resolution (“IDR”). HOAs must have “IDR” policies, in which board representatives meet with homeowners to try to resolve disputes. If everyone really tries and understands their responsibilities, that should resolve most disputes.

Become Educated: Encourage your neighbors to do the same. The Community Associations Institute (CAI) provides seminars in your area on a regular basis, and membership costs little more than a magazine subscription. To start, download its “Rights and Responsibilities” publication from www.caionline.org.

Submit column questions to kelly@roattorneys.com. Past columns at www.HOAHomefront.com. All rights reserved®.

Kelly G. Richardson CCAL is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice.

I wish you peace – Peace in your homes AND in your communities.

How to decorate with confidence, according to an interior design pro

By Hunter Boyce

As the housing market continues to take a hit from rising mortgage rates, many homeowners are taking down their “for sale” signs and rethinking how they can beef up their home values. Meanwhile, the holiday season is here — meaning many more homeowners are making preparations for hosting family gatherings.

In other words, it’s a good time to try interior design.

For those new to the craft, interior design may feel somewhat intimidating, but it doesn’t have to.

Studio 11 Design founder Kellie Sirna is here to alleviate all of those first-time designer woes so you can decorate with confidence this year.

For many, the first step to interior design is cursory research on the internet — a spectrum of everchanging design trends and decorating tips. Don’t get bogged down by all the trends.

building your design confidence, especially if you’re working alone, I recommend starting with a personal space that is more private and will mainly be utilized by you. In doing this, you take out the pressure of having to create something that friends, family and whomever enters has to love or be wowed. You can instead use this room, from a design perspective, to test out different aesthetics or accessories to see what feels true to you.

Finding your interior design style will likely take some experimenting. Photo courtesy Dreamstime/TNS

“The internet can definitely appear like a very wide and deep rabbit hole when it comes to the litany of design trends out there today,” Sirna said. One of the key ways to avoid falling into this seemingly never-ending well is to focus on what you like and what appeals to you naturally.

“When you start from what you know, you can go anywhere. It’s when we try to start from a place that isn’t truly authentic to us that makes it challenging to forge ahead. That thought may feel a bit grand when applied to design, but it holds true. When you acknowledge what your true preferences are, you’ve already started to funnel out things that can distract or shift that vision.”

Finding your interior design style will likely take some experimenting. To make the most out of your experiments and build your design confidence, first focus on a few select living spaces.

“Two answers for two very different reasons come to mind,” the Studio 11 Design founder said when asked about which living spaces beginners should experiment with. “The first is when

“I recommend starting small and with something personal. Rather than taking on too much or redoing the entire house, perhaps start with your personal office, or even the laundry or mudroom. The latter may sound insignificant, but these are spaces you routinely use, yet they lack the grandness and expectation of a kitchen or a living room.”

Experimenting in interior design doesn’t have to break the bank. There are a number of ways you can take design risks without risking your savings.

“A truly inexpensive way to take a risk without endangering the bank account is to experiment with changing up room layouts, swapping furniture and accessories between rooms and redefining a room’s purpose, swapping it with another,” Sirna said. “Each of these depends upon a home’s existing layout, furnishings and accessories, but none of them require a huge investment in terms of new pieces. Instead you’re simply working with what you have, reorganizing it to create a new experience.”

If you are willing to open up your wallet, contacting a professional can go a long way to helping you find your style.

“I recommend tapping a design professional if you have the budget,” she said. “Not because you’re looking for someone to tell you what to do, but because he or she is immersed in this world and likely aware of different brands, artists and creators that you may not necessarily be. This will drastically open the door design-wise. Additionally, a professional can help ensure a cohesive design scheme. It can be easy to lose perspective when designing a home or room so having an expert to provide a point of balance is key.”

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Design Recipes:

Adding a bench to your space

By Cathy Hobbs

Looking for extra seating for a living space or to add a finishing touch to a bedroom? Why not consider adding a bench? Benches can provide both function and aesthetics to nearly any space. From custom upholstery to millwork and those of different sizes, shapes and fabrics, benches can serve as the ideal accompaniment to nearly any room of the home.

A hand crafted bench adds an element of grandeur to this home entry.

Photo courtesy Handout/TNS

Looking for opportunities to incorporate a bench into your space? Here are some do’s and don’ts.

DO’S

Do use a bench in an entry area. A bench can provide both function as well as an aesthetic design element to highlight an entry area.

Do consider adding a bench as an additional seating element in a social area, such as a living or family room. Benches can especially work well in areas in which the desire is to not obscure or obstruct a view.

Do consider a pair of benches areas where flexibility or having modular elements is a consideration.

DON’TS

Don’t place benches in areas where they can obstruct room flow, windows or doorways.

Don’t compete with current furnishings. Choose a bench in a material or finish that is complementary to existing décor.

Don’t ignore the opportunity to create custom sized or produced benches to provide seating opportunities for odd sized or shaped areas or spaces.

((above left)

A bench helps to both frame this living space and provide additional seating.

Photos courtesy Handout/TNS

((above right)

This handy bench is a nice catch all when in a hurry.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime

((left)

A matching color bench adds a finishing touch of elegance to this bedroom.

Photo courtesy Dreamstime

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. ©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Real Estate Q&A

By Gary M. Singer

How can I avoid problems if my sister buys me out of property we co-own?

QuestionI own a vacation home with my sister we inherited years ago. Recently she approached me about buying out my half of the house. We get along well, and I rarely use the property, while she practically lives there, so this seems fair. But I do not want to cause any problems because of the transfer. How can we protect against this turning out bad?

– Raou.

Answer

Understanding the deal differently than the other because of too many assumptions and poor communication. It is usually agreed to verbally and sealed with a handshake.

Unfortunately, memories fade, and misunderstandings occur.

I often tell clients,”If they can say it‚ they can sign it.” People are reluctant to enter a written contract when dealing with people they are close to. However, this is one of the times that a detailed document will provide the most benefit by avoiding misunderstandings and disputes that stem from them.

Other than favorable terms, you should treat this transaction like you would if selling the property to a pleasant stranger. Have a detailed written agreement drafted and use a professional to prepare the deed and other closing documents and handle your transaction’s details.

Just because your family owned the property for years, do not assume it is problem free. Unfortunately, just because you do not know about a problem does not mean problems do not exist.

You may want a professional home inspection to identify any material issues.

You should also consider purchasing a title insurance policy to protect against unknown ownership issues.

These problems might not be discovered until your sister tries to sell the property years later.

The easily solvable problem found now can become a giant hurdle a decade from now.

Question

We were looking to buy a home and stopped when the interest rates rose, making the homes we looked at unaffordable. Now that the prices have softened a bit, we found a home that fit our new budget and went under contract. Now our lender told us that the house appraised about $15,000 less than the purchase price. What happens now?

– Diane

Answer

After you apply for a mortgage loan, the home you are buying will be appraised by your new lender to make sure it is worth what you are paying for it.

Lenders do this to ensure your new loan is adequately collateralized and the value will be there if they need to enforce their mortgage by foreclosing. Your lender will choose a licensed real estate appraiser to determine what the home is worth in the current market.

To do this, the appraiser will visit the property to see its condition and look at other factors, such as the size of the house and how much comparable homes in the area recently sold for.

Because your lender will give great weight to the value determined by the appraiser, it is hard to get them to re-evaluate the value if you think the appraiser made a mistake.

Most purchase contracts allow you to cancel the deal and get your deposit back when the property does not appraise for the purchase price.

But if you still want the house, you have two options.

First, you can try to get the seller to reduce the price to match the property, — appraised value. Many sellers will compromise since other potential buyers will have the same issue, and a buyer under contract for closing in the near future is often better than the delay and effort of putting the property back on the market.

If the seller will not budge on the price and you can do so, you can pay the difference out of your pocket. In this case, your lender will lower the loan amount to match the appraisal, and you will pay the difference at closing.

Since you are paying more than the home is worth on the market, make sure the new property is worth it.

Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. He practices real estate, business litigation and contract law from his office in Sunrise, Fla. He is the chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is a co-host of the weekly radio show Legal News and Review. He frequently consults on general real estate matters and trends in Florida with various companies across the nation.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The house we are trying to buy was appraised at less than the purchase price. Now what?

SUNDAY’S OPEN

Goleta South

GOLETA SOUTH

4/3

3/2

Zia Group | eXp Realty California Jonathan Gilkeson 805-335-4749 # 01898328

Zia Group | eXp Realty California Phillip Savas 805-708-9242 # 02113928

965 Via Fruteria One story Hope Ranch estate where contemporary meets nostalgia from the 1960s. Featuring ocean and mountain views with walls & doors made of glass.

1-4 $5,475,000

GOLETA

Plumber:

Matching bathroom accessories can enhance your decorating skills

By Ed Del Grande

Question:

Hi Ed: I plan to design/decorate our new bathroom myself and really want a well-coordinated look. What tips can you give me when it comes to the plumbing fixtures to help me achieve a uniformed look throughout the entire bathroom?

– Sue

Answer:

I’m not a professional designer, just a plumber who has worked in a lot of nice bathrooms. So all I can suggest are some decorating ideas from my experiences.

If you have a little extra in your budget, consulting a professional is always a good idea. If not, I do have a nice bathroom design tip.

Years back, plumbing manufacturers started to produce suite fixtures. Suite fixtures are a group of plumbing fixtures like toilets, sinks, shower valves and faucets that are designed to perfectly match each other. So it was easy to get the big stuff right.

But nowadays, some manufacturers include many new accessories with bathroom suite collections. Accessories like medicine cabinets, towel bars, hooks, shelving, grab bars, shower rods, toilet paper holders, lighting and even soap dispensers are more of the suite accessories available with some fixture lines.

Bottom line: If you go with a bathroom suite collection, you can end up with a pretty sweet bathroom.

Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com.

©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

SOUTH

6777 Sweetwater Way Enjoy this tranquil oasis in the premier Storke Ranch neighborhood.

4/3

12-2 $1,300,000

Zia Group | eXp Realty California Todd Shea 805-453-7730 # 02028163

HOPE RANCH

965 Via Fruteria One story Hope Ranch estate where contemporary meets nostalgia from the 1960s. Featuring ocean views, glass walls and a horse corral.

3/3.5

1-4 $5,475,000 Coastal Properties Martha McNair 707-480-6769 # 01860909

On Gardening:

Cherry Cordials now and debuting for your garden in 2023

By Norman Winter

If you are like the Winter Family, Cherry Cordials are hanging around your house now and until New Year’s. There is just something about that bite that releases a sweet ecstasy of flavor. As you look at those Cherry Cordials, whether at home or on the store shelf, let it be a reminder to you that the hottest new begonia for 2023 is Surefire Cherry Cordial.

Surefire Cherry Cordial begonia will make its debut in 2023 bringing the award-winning series to four colors. Photos courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

If you are like the Winter Family, Cherry Cordials are hanging around your house now and until New Year’s. There is just something about that bite that releases a sweet ecstasy of flavor. As you look at those Cherry Cordials, whether at home or on the store shelf, let it be a reminder to you that the hottest new begonia for 2023 is Surefire Cherry Cordial.

The name tells you everything: deep chocolate leaves and vivid red flowers. “Surefire” tells you all you need to know, as the Surefire Red has won over 26 awards across the country, with Surefire Rose packing a big trophy case as well. Both The Garden Guy and son James have been more than surprised at how carefree these are in the landscape. Surefire Begonias are the plants you aren’t watching for insects, diseases and — most shocking to me — I don’t have to babysit for water. Lastly, mine have been returning in the spring in my zone 8a garden.

The Surefire series of begonias will now offer four colors with the addition of Cherry Cordial and White. In the South they are going to reach 2 feet tall and wide. In the North, probably slightly smaller. Whether you have sun, shade or filtered light, this is the begonia for you, boasting self-cleaning flowers and zero maintenance. The most enjoyable aspect will be thinking of all the plant combinations you can do. I’ll admit I have paled in comparison to the son.

My favorite combination planting ever was his partnership of Surefire Red, which has green leaves, with Heart to Heart Bottle Rocket and Snowdrift caladiums, Diamond Snow euphorbia, Color Guard Yucca and Unplugged So Blue salvia. It was like a “holy wow” feast for the eyes. There really is a magical affinity between Heart to Heart caladiums and Surefire Begonias.

In Proven Winners’ online promotional information, they demonstrate the Surefire Cherry Cordial in a mixed container with the new Heart to Heart Scarlet Flame caladium, also making its debut in 2023. Although simple in design, it will take your breath away. Son James used his opportunity with Surefire Cherry Cordial Begonia in a mixed container as the thriller with Superbells Grape Punch calibrachoas and Supertunia Mini Vista White petunias.

The one common thread in all our plantings is they were all planted in soil that drains really well. Some beds have had more organic matter than others, but the performance has been steady with all of them. The drainage has definitely been a factor in those that we let return after winter.

You will want to space your Surefire Begonias 12 to 18 inches apart. To reach their true potential, maintain consistent moisture and feeding throughout the long summer. Not too many plants bloom nonstop for over 200 days, which is a Surefire reason you need to incorporate them into your landscape planting in 2023.

Surefire Cherry Cordial begonia and the new Heart to Heart Scarlet Flame caladium.

Photo courtesy Chris Brown Photography/TNS

Surefire Cherry Cordial begonia, Superbells Grape Punch calibrachoa and Supertunia Mini Vista White sizzle in this mixed container.

Photo courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

Surefire Red with green leaves has won 26 awards and is known for blooming 200 plus days in the south. Here it is combined with Heart to Heart caladiums, Diamond Snow euphorbia, Color Guard yucca and Unplugged So Blue salvia.

Photo courtesy Norman Winter/TNS

Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.

5 ways to save on your heating bill this winter

By Nancy Ngo

The rule of thumb is over an eight-hour period, you’ll save 1% for every 1 degree you set the dial back.

Photo courtesy Mariusz Blach/Dreamstime/TNS

Home heating costs are expected to be at their highest in more than a decade.

As temperatures continue to dip in the weeks ahead, heating bills are predicted to be at their highest in more than a decade.

According to a U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA) report, households using natural gas as the primary heating source are estimated to spend 28% more overall — an average of $930 — this 2022-2023 winter season. Households using electricity are likely to see a 10% increase, or $1,360 total average. Meanwhile, households using heating oil are expected to experience a 27% rise, while propane users could see a 5% climb.

High demand for fossil fuels during hotter-thannormal summers and chillier winters has played a role in the price hikes. So have supply chain issues, inflation, natural disasters and the war in Ukraine.

You might be tempted to add space heaters or light a fire in the fireplace to offset the increases. But Pat Huelman, Cold Climate Housing coordinator with the University of Minnesota Extension, said that can backfire.

“The higher people’s gas bills go up, people ask, ‘What can I do?’ Some people will jump on an electric space heater and think they’re going to save on their gas bill. But if you’re using three times the amount of energy, you will spend more on your electric bill,” he said.

And while a wood-burning fire may make you feel more cozy, “fireplaces aren’t going to be a money-sav-

ing strategy in the end — unless it’s high energy-efficient, in which you might get a little benefit out of it,” Huelman said. “You have to think about costs such as getting the wood and running that stove. You have to think about getting the chimney regularly cleaned, which you should do for safety but also costs.”

Try one of these sure-fire, heating-saving tips:

Turn down the thermostat

The rule of thumb is over an eight-hour period, you’ll save 1% for every 1 degree you set the dial back. “Say if you usually have the thermostat at 72 and change it to 68 degrees, that can be a 10 to 12% energy savings. Setting it back in general and certainly at nighttime has the potential to save,” Huelman said.

However, “be cautious because you don’t want to get too carried away. You can’t save enough money to deal with a frozen pipe.”

Use window kits

Putting shrink film on windows to lock in heat and reduce drafts is an oldie, but a goodie. Plus, window kits are fairly affordable, making them an accessible option. But “make sure your furnace is working properly before sealing windows and make sure to have a carbon monoxide detector,” Huelman added. “That’s always important when you seal your house.”

Optimize blinds and curtains

Paying attention to the time of the day when drawing or shutting blinds and curtains is also key. “Let the

sun come in in the daytime; that radiant heat will warm up the inside of your house,” said Jon Ryan, CEO of Burnsville, Minnesota-based Genz-Ryan heating and cooling. “Conversely, at night, close the curtains and put the blinds down. It will provide an extra level of insulation.”

Perform regular maintenance

Ryan said home air filters should be changed on a regular basis year-round — once a month or every two months — even if the product label states you can wait longer to swap it out. “When that air filter gets dirty, it restricts the airflow in the system and makes it work harder,” Ryan said. “When it works harder it’s not very efficient.”

Long-term maintenance

Keeping your furnace well-maintained can help it run efficiently. “If you haven’t had your furnace tuned up, you should do that to make sure it’s operating efficiently,” Ryan said. You don’t want to be wasteful with that expensive gas you’re buying.”

Also, look at what you can do to prevent drafts.

“The area people seal most is insulation in the attic to reduce heat loss to the outdoors, improve comfort and reduce energy use,” said Huelman. If it’s done well by whoever is doing it, they will seal up the air leaks before installing insulation, he said, adding that “it can also be a good defense mechanism against ice dams.”

©2022 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

ARE YOU AN PLUMBER?

Place your ad in the Service Directory in the News-Press Classified Section and let us help you build your business. CALL 805-963-4391 or email: classad@newspress.com

Yard Sale Tips

Before Your Sale

• Prepare to start early. Collectors and antique dealers like to show up early in the morning.

• obtain a permit if required

• Clean up your space. People like clean and neat places.

• Gather lots of shopping bags. Gathering Items

• Test any electrical items to make sure they work.

• Collect your items and sort it by type. (clothing, toys, tools, etc.)

• Take time to clean or repair your items.

• Wash all the clothes so they smell fresh.

WhaT SellS BeST?

• Tools: Guys love it all, any kind.

• Baby items of all kinds, especially clothing.

• Kitchen appliances.

• Clothing: Kids and adult.

What Should You Not Sell?

• Items missing safety parts.

• unused prescription drugs or medications.

• Personal hygiene items.

• halogen floor lamps.

• old baby cribs or playpens, incomplete child safety seats.

adverTISING

• Tell your friends, family or coworkers about your sale. Word travels.

• Place a classified ad in the Santa Barbara NeWS-PreSS!! remember to check the publication’s deadline.

• In your ad, give lots of details. Include the address, day(s), time of your sale. list major items such as “lots of kids clothes.”

SIGNS

• Check your local ordinances.

• list your address and sale date on all signs.

• Post your signs at main intersections, street

• use same colors and writing on your

as people recognize them at a glance.

• Keep a list of where you posted your signs. It will be helpful when it’s time to take them down.

Are you a Caregiver? Handyman? Plumber? Let us help you build your business. Place your ad in the Service Directory. To place your ad CALL (805) 963-4391 or email: classad@ newspress.com