Up to $500 for Doing Home "Work"

The energy-efficient home upgrades tax credit is scheduled to expire on December 31st this year.  If you need to make improvements to your home, this could be an incentive to do it before the end of the year.  If you have already made qualifying improvements without realizing the tax credit is available, it may seem like a holiday gift you weren't expecting.

The equipment must be installed to qualify for the credit which can put you under a time crunch.  Heating and cooling systems, insulation, windows, doors, skylights, water heaters and home weatherization may qualify.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit has been available for purchases since January 1, 2011.  The tax credit is 10% of up to $5,000 of qualifying improvements which would make a maximum of $500 tax credit.

The cumulative maximum amount of tax credit that can be claimed by a taxpayer in the different years this law has been in effect is $500.  If it has been claimed in previous years, the taxpayer is not eligible for this credit for additional new purchases.

You will also benefit when you sell your house. Home buyers are becoming more and more conscious about energy efficiency and the cost of home heating and cooling. Having HVAC systems, etc. updated before the home inspection will save you money and stress and make the selling process go a lot more smoothly. Why not do it now and get the maximum benefit? I updated my heat and a/c last year and in addition to the tax credit, my monthly gas and electric bill are substantially lower. And, it's toasty warm in the winter and cool and comfortable in the summer.

For more information, see energy.gov and always talk to your tax professional about your personal taxes before making any assumptions.
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By the way, winter is the best time to move. Buyers and sellers both have less competition and you'll be way ahead of the game if interest rates go up (and sooner or later, they will!) Check out homes on the market or request a free home valuation report to find out what your house in Wayland, Sudbury, Maynard, Stow, Lincoln, Concord, or west of Boston may sell for this winter.

Pingates

Breathe Easy

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.

Changing filters is always on my "to do" list for preparing your home for sale.here's nothing worse than have a great home inspection only to have the inspector find a dirty filter. It raises red flags that maybe the house hasn't been all that well maintained after all. Who needs that kind of aggravation? Inexpensive and easy maintenance items go a long way toward a smooth sale.