Reducing Electric Bills (repost)
It’s as easy as flicking a switch on your fuse box that controls the water heater-some households have been doing this for quite a few months now, and saving about $60/month on electric bills. Simply turn on the water heater 1 hr before you plan on taking a shower (or right before you go to bed for morning showerers) and then shut it off when you’re through. A water heater can hold enough hot water to last for multiple showers and can stay hot for more than 16 hrs. Similarly, when going on vacations or weekend getaways, just turn it off altogether.
This is a great (and very easy) way to save money on your electric bill and the environment at the same time. Home Depot even sells devices that can be hooked onto the water heater to do this automatically for you.
Goto http://www.homedepot.com/
Then search for model # WH40D89
If you don’t want to go through the task of flipping on and flipping off the heater – another way of saving on electricity costs during the summer is to lower your hot water thermostat to medium heat (or 120 degrees). Your boiler will use less energy, and less heat will escape from the device into the building.
To further save money on water heating and house cooling install low-flow showerheads. These can reduce water consumption by 25 to 60 percent, (provided you use an aerating or a low-flow model).
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Conservation | Energy | Education | Con Edison | Home Improvement | New York | Small Time Landlord
My coworkers warn me to cut the water to the washing machine as well when you leave for an extended period of time–if you’ve got old connections on the back and they break, you’ll come home from vacation and still need your swimming trunks.
Funny you mention coming come & needing swimming trunks — I’m working on a post now about how the really heavy rains have resulted in a basement “kiddie pool.” More on this tomorrow tho.
Great shows by the way — more wacky horn!
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Tips for Being a Successful Landlord
In today’s apartment rental market there are several things that are “must do’s†for becoming a successful landlord. The reason you’re playing the real estate rental game is to have the check in your mailbox on the first of the month, right? Here are a few tips that can help you to achieve this with as little aggravation and frustration possible.
First and foremost is finding the right tenant to rent your apartment, house or other rental. This is the most important ingredient in the recipe. Checking the prospective tenant’s credit history to make sure they are paying their bills is one of the best ways you can screen. A tenant that pays their bills on time most likely will send you their rent on time. Establish a clear system on collecting rent, handling complaints from the tenant and how you will contact them if you need to gain access to the apartment.
Secondly, get all the important terms of the tenancy in writing. You have the option to have a basic rental agreement or draw up a formal lease. Whichever you decide, the important thing is to document the terms that you and the tenant agreed to. Clarify who is paying the utilities, the rental price and any other agreements made between you and your tenant.
It’s a good idea to stay on top of the repair and maintenance needs of your property. When you are notified of something that is broken or not working, repair it as soon as possible to prevent further damages. You may also lawfully enable the tenant to withhold rent, sue for injuries caused by defective conditions or move out without notice.
On a similar topic make sure you are carrying enough property and liability insurance to cover yourself in any situation. A well designed insurance program can protect your rental property from losses caused by everything from fire and storms to burglary, vandalism, and personal injury lawsuits.
I hope that this has been helpful to you. Just remember, as long as you follow these simple tips you will be on your way to a happy and fulfilling landlord future. Best of luck!
The author of this piece, Eric Goldstein, is associated All Spaces in All Places, has been dedicated to the real estate rental market for over 8 years.