The hot topic nowadays around the globe is “scarcity of power”. As a country moves towards the peak of development, so is the demand of power. Reports show that there are many homes using electricity more than that used by a small industry! It is because, in the modern, digital lifestyle, each and every appliance like television, computers etc demands huge amount of electricity. However we live in a modern world and hence the usage of these power hungry appliances are inevitable.

The fact is that every positive improvement in the society will have a negative impact on natural resources. But in case of power, there are many alternate sources available in nature. Solar energy is a very good substitute for conventional power generation. The reason being, solar energy is clean, has no pollution effects and doesn't use any fossil fuels. The most interesting aspect being solar energy can be generated in home.

How about having your own power station on your roof? It is quite simple and beneficial by using solar power. To start with, solar water heaters can be used in homes instead of old conventional methods, thereby reducing your utility bills and also conserving natural resources like fossil fuels. The solar panels called the photovoltaic cells which can be conveniently placed on the roofs of homes converts sunlight directly into electricity. This electricity obtained by the conversion of sunlight meets all the home's electricity needs. “Hence it acts as your own power station. “Cool power from hot sun”.

A lot of people have tried the usage of solar power at home and found it beneficial and safe. The hot fact is that more than 10,000 homes in United States completely use solar energy to power up their homes. The ill fact is that enough sunlight falls on the Earth's surface every hour to meet the globe's energy demand for an entire year, but the same is not utilized and is wasted.

Still not convinced about the positive effects of solar power in home? By replacing conventional electric water heaters with solar water heaters, one can cut water bills up to 50 percent. And the important fact is, the price of photovoltaic cells, according to the department of energy has fallen by 200 percent in last 30 years. Don’t worry if your solar power unit generates more power than need for you. There are many utility power grids ready to buy the clean power for a higher price.

The bottom-line is, by installing a solar power generating unit in home, the home owner will never have to pay an electricity bill; instead he can become the supplier of clean electricity to the country and “save the Earth from energy crisis”
Real Estate |Kitchen aid mixer |Best Home Loan |Mortgage Advice | Mutual Fund Basics

More year-over-year declines for Marin. Rather surprising considering we were supposed to have "dodged the subprime bullet". At least that's what the Marin IJ once quoted our esteemed local real estate industry as saying.

From the Marin IJ:

Another month of plummeting home sales in Marin included a price drop of nearly 30 percent from November 2007, as discounted foreclosure sales continued to drive the Bay Area market. The median price of a single-family home in Marin last month was $790,000, down from $975,000 last year, MDA DataQuick reported Thursday. In October, the median single-family home price in Marin was $850,000. Realtor Peter Harris in Novato said bank-owned properties and short sales have made up about 85 percent of his business over the past year. ‘Prices are half of what they were,’ Harris said. ‘Condos are selling in the low $100,000s. We haven’t seen this for a long time.’

From DataQuick:

By the way, the graphic for this post is from a May 16, 2007 IJ article. I saved it knowing this day would come.

The Importance of Setting the Scene: Staging a Home for Sale

The booming real estate market of 2006 has reached a cooling off point for most places around the United States, and for some it has gone cold. Now, more than ever, staging a home for sale can be the most important thing a seller can do. By following a few tips from the experts, a seller can increase the value of their house as well as reduce the length of time it is on the market.

Staging a home can mean the difference of thousands of dollars. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development reports that a staged home will for an average of 17 percent higher than an un-staged home. That means a house listed at $250,000 can see an increase of close to $43,000. And those who spent approximately $500 on staging increased their home’s value by an average of $1,715. Since most homeowners have difficulty seeing their house objectively, it may be beneficial to request help from friends, a realtor, or a staging professional.

Preparing the house for a showing can be a time consuming process, and research shows that the longer a house stays on the market the lower the selling price will be. Staging a house can mean the difference between weeks or months on the market. The New York Village Voice reported that the average number of days an un-staged home is on the market is 30.9 versus 13.9 for a staged home.


Increase Curb Appeal: The buyer’s first impression starts here
- Look for chipped paint, especially around the doors and trim, and touch up where needed.
- Always keep the yard mowed and edged.
- Add touches of color with plants and flowers, and keep garden areas manicured.
- Rent a power washer and clean surfaces like brick, siding, sidewalks, and driveways.
- Clear spider webs from entry ways, and make sure there is plenty of light.

Kitchens: The heart of a house
- De-clutter counter tops; find a cabinet to hide appliances and everyday items.
- Keep cabinets organized to make them look as large as possible.
- Remove personal items from the refrigerator, like drawings and pictures.
- Consider updating a few appliances; this can add a lot of value to the home.
- Make sure there is plenty of light.
- Clean all surfaces including grout, sinks, corners, and floors.

Living Rooms: Help the buyer picture their family here
- Consider the flow of the room and arrange furniture in a way that is functional and inviting. If you have too much furniture you may want to consider renting a storage space.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Bring the outside in by adding a plant or fresh flowers.
- Bring attention to wood floors by polishing them, and rent a steam cleaner to make the carpet look as new as possible.

Bathrooms: Clean should be the first thing on the buyers mind
- Clean all surfaces, especially grout.
- De-clutter cabinets making them look as large as possible. Consider buying organizers to hide personal products.
- Replace old faucets and fixtures. This can be a relatively inexpensive way to update the room.
- Always neutralize bathroom smells before a buyer arrives.
- Add coordinating towels and bathmats to detract from dated counter tops and tile.
- Replace light bulbs to brighten the sink area.

Bedrooms: Should be uncluttered and relaxing
- Organize the bedroom by arranging furniture in a way that makes the room seem comfortable and spacious. Remove unnecessary furniture items and store them in a storage unit.
- Make the bed look like it is in a hotel. Linens should be coordinating and clean.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Store unnecessary closet items to make closets appear as large as possible. Make sure closets have plenty of light.
- Consider repainting the room to a neutral tone if the color is bright.

Staging a home may be one of the most important things a seller can do for their home. Following the staging tips above can help ease the stress of selling a home, increase the homes value, and shorten the time on the market.