The benefits of regularly changing the heating and air-conditioning filters are obvious to homeowners; the real challenge is creating a system to make sure it gets done.

A reasonable schedule would be to replace it with a new one-inch pleated filter every 60-90 days. Households with shedding pets should consider replacing them every month. Some people change their filters every month when they pay their electric bills. A simple system would be to set a recurring appointment on your calendar like Outlook or Google.

Filters trap dust, mold and bacteria which can directly affect the air quality and play havoc with your allergies. When a filter is dirty, it prevents proper airflow and allows dust, dirt and allergens to blow through your home. Changing your filter regularly helps to avoid maintenance, improves equipment life and produces increased energy savings.

When shopping for filters, it’s understandable to look for the best bargain but the cheapest price may not be the best choice. When purchasing, recognize that HEPA-rated and HEPA-type filters are not the same thing. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. A HEPA filter meets or exceeds standards for efficiency set by the U.S. Department of Energy. Most HVAC contractors recommend HEPA filters.

Some filters need to be changed monthly and other types have manufacturer recommendations of every three months. An alternative to disposable filters are the permanent, washable types. These will cost more initially but because you can clean them and re-use them, eventually, you’ll recapture the cost and realize savings.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

2015 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule for Acadiana & Surrounding Areas

Mardi Gras is coming early this year on Feb. 17th! Mardi Gras which is French for “Fat Tuesday” refers to the practice of the last day of indulging in rich foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. In Acadiana, traditions associated with Mardi Gras include balls, Krewes, wearing masks, costumes, catching chickens and cooking them in a gumbo, kingcake, carnival rides; but, parades have to be one of the most popular! Here is a list of Parades in Acadiana and the surrounding areas. If you would like a parade added to our list, please contact us and we will be glad to add it.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Have you been thinking about a career change and owning your own business? Do you enjoy working with people, would love to help others achieve their real estate dreams, and want a flexible schedule? Have you ever considered a career in real estate?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, join us tonight at noon  (Jan. 21) for a free real estate career seminar at our Keller Williams office in Lafayette. There, you’ll learn about the requirements for starting a business in real estate and what we offer to our associates at Keller Williams Realty.

Starting a business in real estate, as a Realtor, is fairly simple, quick, and inexpensive compared to the costs of starting other types of businesses. Truth is, real estate is probably one of the lowest cost start up there is. Obtaining your license and paying the initial fees for the first year will run you about $1500. Maintaining your license afterwards with all the mandated fees will costs you around $1500 per year. What other kind of business can you start and run for this kind of money? And when it comes to income, the sky is the limit; you can build it as small or as large as you envision it. Really.

Keller Williams is looking to hire and train a select group of motivated Realtors. If you are looking to build a career in real estate, or looking to take your existing career to the next level, there is no better place to do so than the #1 Real Estate Brokerage in North America. At Keller Williams, our mission is to build careers worth having, businesses worth owning, and lives worth living. We can teach you the ins and outs of building a successful real estate business, and we offer the tools of the trade that will get you there. No experience necessary; We will train you!

For more information, visit my redcareers website here on contact me via email with your questions.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

How much is a one carat diamond worth? Anyone who has shopped for one knows that the price could have a significantly wide range of value. It’s been said that purchasers should consider the color, cut, clarity and carat size to compare stones but when it gets down to decision time, buyers still want to know “how much is it worth?”

Real estate valuation can be equally as confusing to the public. There are three commonly used tools that today’s home buyers rely on to make decisions but they vary significantly in the methods used to make the determination as well as the possible final consideration.

Appraisals are an opinion or estimate of value based on specific guidelines made by individuals who are licensed and possibly certified. Buyers and sellers may be reluctant to engage an appraiser because there is a fee of several hundred dollars that must be paid in advance even if no sale is ever consummated.

A Broker’s Price Opinion (BPO) as defined by the National Association of REALTORS® is an “estimate of the probable selling price of a property.” The Dodd-Frank Act describes a BPO as “an estimate…that details the probably selling price of a particular piece of real estate property and provides a varying level of detail about the property’s condition, market, and neighborhood, and information on comparable sales, but does not include an automated valuation model.”

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is a commonly used tool of salespeople to provide information to buyers and sellers to facilitate a sale. In most cases, it would be difficult to distinguish a CMA from a BPO because the steps considered are essentially the same and practitioners commonly use the terms interchangeably.

Another method called Automated Value Model (AVM) use software to search available data on the Internet to arrive at an approximation of value. Zestimates found on the Zillow site use this method. AVM’s may not consider all the market activity such as MLS sales and active listings. They can’t make adjustments based on human experience and market knowledge.

For what it’s worth, a buyer or seller might want to acquire as much current and factual information as possible from a trusted real estate professional familiar with the market before making a decision on the largest single asset most people acquire.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

A well-planned garage or yard sale can make room in your home, get rid of unused items and make some money but it needs some planning to be successful.

• Start early to research and plan
• Promotion is key
• Display items attractively
• Price items right
• Organize checkout

Saturdays are generally the best day but there may be some exceptions. Experienced garage-salers believe that a well-planned one-day event will do as well as a multi-day event. Serious purchasers will look for the “new” sale and most people don’t come back multiple days.

Advertise in local newspapers and free online classified sites like craigslist. If several families are going together for the sale, mention that in the ad; it will be a big draw. Mention your bigger-ticket items like furniture, equipment and baby items.

Garage sale signs can be purchased or made at Staples, Fedex Office or Kwik Signs. Signs need large lettering so they’re easy to read while people are driving. Most important info: Garage or Yard Sale, address, date and time. Directional signs are also important. Balloons and streamers to attract attention to the signs are very helpful.

Consider using the service Square so that you can take credit cards. The cost is 2.75% per swipe and can be done on your smartphone or iPad. You’ll need to sign up at least two weeks in advance to receive your reader.

Unless you’re having an estate sale, keep your home locked. You don’t want people wandering through your home while you’re outside. If you start to accumulate a lot of money, take some of it inside. Don’t discuss how much money you’ve made during the sale or how successful it has been.

People will want to bargain; it’s the nature of the game. Consider this strategy: less negotiations early in the sale and possibly, more toward the end of the sale.

Originally Posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News