Keith Parrett | Realty World Pigati and Russell Realtors | (925) 580-4650 1060 Eastridge Dr, Napa, CA Berryessa Highlands home with incredible views! 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $139,900 Year Built 2005 Sq Footage 1,920 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors Unspecified Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 10,890 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Beautiful Berryessa Highlands home with incredible views. This 3/2 is very well maintained with a deck, separate garage and lots of extras. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - Family room - Living room - Dining room - Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Stove/Oven - Laundry area – inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Contact info: Keith Parrett Realty World Pigati and Russell Realtors 0714500 (925) 580-4650 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Feb 9, 2012, 10:06am PST

]]> http://keithparrett.com/2012/02/09/1060-eastridge-dr-napa-ca-beautiful-berryessa-highlands-home-with-incredible-views/feed/ 0 http://keithparrett.com/2012/01/19/if-you-or-any-one-you-know-have-been-on-the-fence-regarding-a-short-sale-please-read-this/ http://keithparrett.com/2012/01/19/if-you-or-any-one-you-know-have-been-on-the-fence-regarding-a-short-sale-please-read-this/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:04:29 +0000 Keith Parrett http://kparrett.blogs.rwnetwork.com/?p=379 Have a Great day,

In the saving energy fight, your hot water heater (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/water-heaters/water-heater-maintenance/) is a born loser. That’s because most U.S. houses sport a conventional storage-type water heater. That 50-gallon tank in the basement wants to keep water hot and ready whenever you want it. But as the water sits, it naturally cools down, a process known as “standby heat loss.” When the water cools, the burner or heating element kicks on to warm it up again, in a constantly repeating cycle.

According to the Department of Energy, water heating accounts for 14% to 25% of your household’s total energy costs–more than $300 per year. Trim those hot water costs with these 5 smart tips for saving energy.

Saving Energy Tip #1: Wrap your heater in a blanket

Your water heater (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/water-heaters/water-heaters-repair-or-replace/) needs a blanket in the winter to stay warm, especially if it lives in an unheated space. A fiberglass insulating blanket can cut heat loss by 25% to 40% and save 4% to 9% on the average water-heating bill of $308, says the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Insulating blankets are easy to install and inexpensive ($30). When dressing your tank for saving energy, be careful not to block the thermostat on an electric water heater or the air inlet and exhaust on a gas unit.

Many newer units already contain insulating foam, making a blanket unnecessary and even hazardous; it can block critical components. Check with your manufacturer.

Saving Energy Tip #2: Install low-flow fixtures

One sure way to cut hot water costs is to use less of it.

The ACEEE says a family of four uses 700 gallons of hot water per week. Install low-flow shower heads (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/saving-water/low-flow-shower-head-features/) and faucet aerators ($10 to $20 each) and cut hot water consumption by 25% to 60%, typically $200 off the average U.S. household water bill of $475, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Also, make sure you use the “economy” setting on your dishwasher (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/appliance-buying-guide-dishwashers/), and break the pre-washing habit. Modern dishwashers can handle a dirty dish. Scrape what’s left of dinner into the trash and then load.

Saving Energy Tip #3: Take your water heater’s temperature

 Your water heater probably came from the factory with its temperature set high. For every 10 degrees you turn it down, you’ll save 3% to 5% on your bill. A setting at 120 to 140 degrees is hot enough. Just don’t go below 120 degrees, which could lead to bacteria growth inside the tank.

If the thermostat on your water heater doesn’t have a numbered gauge, put it midway between the “low” and “medium” marks. Wait a day, and then measure the tap temperature with a cooking thermometer. Keep adjusting until you hit your target temperature.

Saving Energy Tip #4: Drain the sediment

Tanks naturally build up sediment, which reduces efficiency and makes saving energy a challenge.
Draining the tank and saving energy is relatively easy. Turn off the water and power to the unit (set the burner on a gas unit to “pilot”). Connect a garden hose to the spigot at the base of the tank. With the other end of the hose pointed at your floor drain, carefully lift the tank’s pressure-relief valve and turn on the spigot; water should begin to flow.

While most manufacturers recommend draining the tank (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/appliance-maintenance-water-heaters/) once or twice a year, you don’t have to drain it completely; in fact, the Department of Energy recommends draining less water more often-just a quart every three months.

Saving Energy Tip #5: Insulate exposed hot-water pipes

 Like blanketing the tank, wrapping insulation around hot-water pipes reduces standby losses. Water arrives at the tap 2 to 4 degrees warmer, which means you won’t have to wait as long for it to heat up, thus saving energy, water, and money.

While this isn’t an expensive DIY job-6-foot-long, self-sealing sleeves ($2.50) easily slip over pipes-it could take effort, depending on where your hot water pipes are located. Exposed pipes in the basement are an easy target: hard-to-reach pipes in crawl spaces or walls might not be worth the trouble.

Video provided by Today’s Homeowner host Danny Lipford. (http://www.houselogic.com/authors/danny_lipford/)

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Joe Bousquin
Published: November 05, 2010

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.

By: Joe Bousquin

Kitchen remodeling can turn a ho-hum room into your home’s pride and joy. Here are strategies to help your project run smoothly.
Home owners spend more money on kitchen remodeling than on any other home improvement project, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute (http://www.hiri.org). And with good reason. Kitchens are the hub of home life, and a source of pride.

A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen remodels in the $50,000 to $60,000 range recoup about 66% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to recent data from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report (http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2011/costvsvalue/national.aspx).

A minor kitchen remodel of about $20,000 does even better, returning more than 72% of your investment.

To make sure you maximize your return, follow these seven smart kitchen remodeling strategies.

1. Establish priorities

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (http://www.nkba.org) (NKBA) recommends spending at least six months planning your kitchen remodeling project. That way, you won’t be tempted to change your mind during construction, create change orders, and inflate construction costs. Here are planning points to cover:

          •Cooking traffic patterns: A walkway through the kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.

          •Child safety: Avoid sharp, square corners on countertops, and make sure microwave ovens are installed at the proper height-3 inches below the shoulder of the primary user but not more than 54 inches from the floor.

          •Outside access: If you want easy access to entertaining areas, such as a deck or patio, factor a new exterior door into your plans.

A professional designer can simplify your kitchen remodel. Pros help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Expect fees around $50 to $150 per hour, or 5% to 15% of the total cost of the project.

2. Keep the same footprint

No matter the size and scope of your kitchen remodel, you can protect your budget by maintaining the same footprint: Keep the walls, locate new plumbing fixtures (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/kitchens/high-tech-kitchen-faucet-hip-smart-retrofit/) near existing plumbing pipes, and forget bump-outs.

Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction costs, you’ll cut the amount of dust and debris your project generates.

3. Get real about appliances

It’s easy to get carried away during your kitchen remodeling project. A six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/appliance-buying-guide-refrigerators/) may make eye-catching centerpieces, but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle.

High-priced appliances are worth the investment if you’re an exceptional cook. Otherwise, save thousands with trusted brands that receive high marks at consumer review websites, like www.ePinions.com (http://www.ePinions.com) and www.amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com), and resources such as Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org).

4. Light your way

Good kitchen lighting helps you work safely and efficiently.

          •Install task lighting, such as recessed or track lights, over sinks and food prep areas; assign at least two fixtures per task to eliminate shadows. Under-cabinet lights (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/lighting/under-cabinet-lighting-your-kitchen-task-masters/) illuminate cleanup and are great for reading cookbooks. Pendant lights over counters bring the light source close to work surfaces.

          •Ambient lighting includes flush-mounted ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and track lights. Pair dimmer switches with ambient lighting to control intensity and mood.

5. Be quality conscious

Functionality and durability should be top priorities during kitchen remodeling. Resist low-quality bargains, and choose products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.

If you’re planning on moving soon, products with substantial warranties are a selling advantage.

“Individual upgrades don’t necessarily give you a 100% return,” says Frank Gregoire, a real estate appraiser in St. Petersburg, Fla. “But they can give you an edge when it comes time to market your home.”

6. Add storage, not space

Here’s how you can add storage (http://www.houselogic.com/photos/home-improvement/7-storage-solutions-you-didnt-know-you-had/) without bumping out walls:

          •Install cabinets that reach the ceiling: They may cost more–and you might need a stepladder–but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.

          •Hang it up: Mount small shelving units on unused wall areas and inside cabinet doors; hang stock pots and large skillets on a ceiling-mounted rack; and add hooks to the backs of closet doors for aprons, brooms, and mops.

7. Communicate early and often

Establishing a good rapport (http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/contracting/getting-best-work-contractor/) with your project manager or construction team is essential for staying on budget. To keep the sweetness in your project:

          •Drop by the project during work hours: Your presence broadcasts your commitment to quality.

          •Establish a communication routine: Hang a message board on site where you and the project manager can leave daily communiqués. Give your email address and cell phone number to subs and team leaders.

          •Set house rules: Be clear about smoking, boom box noise levels, available bathrooms, and appropriate parking.

Joseph Campbell