Happy New Year!
We hope that you had a wonderful and peaceful holiday season with loving family and/or the best of friends! Once the holidays are over and the craziness has settled, January is a great month to remember some safety and maintenance items for your home. Some of these items are recommended more than once a year, but if you always forget, once is better than zero!
January Home Checklist, Maintenance, and Safety Items
- Test Function and Replace Batteries on Smoke Detectors and CO2 Detectors (If you purchase new 10-year devices, write discreetly with a thin sharpie the date of expiration as the sticker can fade over time).
- Replace Furnace Filters (ideally 2-4 times a year) and consider a Yearly Furnace Service to ensure the functioning of your furnace and its longevity. Many local furnace companies provide this service. Call us if you need help finding one!
- Clean and Sharpen your Garbage Disposal. ArmAndHammer.com has a good simple note on cleaning your disposal with Baking Soda. For sharpening the blades, simply put a cup or two of Ice Cubes down the disposal while running it with water. This can be done monthly. Did you know that it is NOT recommended to put lime peels or eggshells down the disposal? Both of these items can wear down the blades in their own way. Lemon peels are ok but should be cut in small sections.
- Vacuum your Refrigerator Coils to remove all the dust/debris that attaches over time.
- Clean your Dryer Vent. There are highly-rated local services that can do this for you at a reasonable cost. Too much lint can build up and become a fire hazard.
- Replace or Wash your Stove’s Exhaust Hood Filters. If you have washable, removable filters, they are usually quite easy to remove and wash in the sink or dishwasher. For others, locate the model and purchase new replaceable filters.
- Chimney/Fireplace Inspections are VERY important! Whether you use your fireplace often or seldom, a yearly or every-other-year inspection is highly recommended to ensure safe use. The cost of the inspection includes a cleaning and is reasonably priced plus offers peace of mind! We love our Fireplace Inspector. Call if you would like his contact information!
- Install or Check on Functioning Fire Extinguishers! And make sure they are in easy-to-reach locations.
Rates, Rates, Rates
Have your heard? Mortgage Rates have been steadily declining over the last month or so. Freddie Mac on Jan 11, 2024, reported the weekly average, 30-year interest rate, is 6.66%. This average has remained unchanged for the last four weeks. However, it is not expected to decline much further at this time, as the Fed ponders current economic activity. If you are considering a purchase, now may be a good time for loan rates as well as some softening of home pricing.
Market Update
From Doom and Gloom to Chance of Sunny Skies! This month's Bay Area/Marin Report is pretty optimistic, especially when you consider the economic news a number of months ago. Our nation, and the world, remain fragile with many important problems to be solved, but our economy shows strength in weathering the storms so far! If nothing else, read the first two pages!
