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Have you ever had that experience when you got one of your monthly bills; water, electricity, etc. you open it, and the amount is way more than you expected? It’s shocking and a little discouraging! You wonder what in the world went wrong, and why is this basic necessity eating up so much of my paycheck, and is there anything I can do to lower this fee?

Today, we are going to be looking at a few areas in your home that you can make more efficient, and this in turn can drastically lower your energy or other monthly bills. Many of us haven’t taken the time to really consider what is costing us so much on these bills, and a few quick fixes, or home modifications can make a big difference. This not only helps to protect your checkbook, but creating an energy efficient home also helps the environment, and your entire community as a whole. Let’s get going!

Most of us use thousands of gallons of water every single month. Unfortunately, in a place like San Antonio water can become very rare. Sometimes we go months without significant rainfall to replenish our lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you are always using water in the most efficient way possible.

This first one is rather obvious, but I think it’s definitely worth throwing out there. You should regularly check for leaks. This doesn’t just mean checking under your sink to make sure all the pipes and connectors are firmly together. A slow dripping leak from an inconspicuous location can get very expensive and waste tons of water.
Only water your lawn when it needs to be watered, and during water efficient times of the day (or night). Even before water restrictions are passed be aware of when you are watering your lawn. Doing so in the middle of a hot Texas day isn’t the best idea. Early mornings or late nights are the best times and will facilitate the largest amount of water being absorbed by the ground before it gets evaporated. Also, if you have an automatic system make sure you check this frequently so the programming doesn’t get messed up and you end up watering way more frequently than you realized.
Installing low flow showerheads is another easy way to decrease the amount of water you use when you shower.
Make sure you only run your dishwasher when it’s full; and fill up your sinks to wash your dishes instead of letting the water just run.

Some of these things may not seem like a big deal, but when you add their effects together it can be very dramatic.

Now let’s look briefly at a few ways you can reduce the amount of electricity you use:

Turn off lights and other electric items when they aren’t in use. When you leave for work in the morning run around your house and make sure those lights and fans are all turned off.
Use power strips and actually unplug items from the wall when they aren’t in use. Some televisions, computers, and other appliances continue to use small amounts of energy even when they are turned off. Unplugging them completely from the wall makes sure this isn’t happening.
Update and maintain your appliances. Companies are constantly striving to make products that are more energy efficient. Updating, and at the very least maintaining your appliances ensures that they are running at the highest level of efficiency.
In San Antonio a large cost of your energy bill is because of your air conditioner. Many of us are running these almost 24/7 in the hotter summer months. Doing things like putting curtains on your windows, installing more fans, adding insulation to your attic, and making sure there aren’t any gaps around your doors and windows can help you not run your AC quite as much and still keep you cool. Also remember to have your system serviced and maintained regularly. Change your air filters regularly; remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

It wouldn’t be hard to write a book about being energy efficient, but if you at least do the things detailed above it will reduce your costs and most definitely save you money. As you browse homes or rentals make sure you are considering what their energy costs will be, and whether you are comfortable with these charges. It’s something most people don’t think about, but considering these things now will make sure you aren’t surprised later on down the road.

Another school year is underway here in San Antonio, which means it’s also time to be thinking about where you live and the impact it has on your children, and how it will affect their performance this school year.

San Antonio is a wonderful city to be growing up in and going to school in; some of the best schools in San Antonio are located in our North Side Independent School District, Northeast Independent School District, and Alamo Heights Independent School District. All are consistently ranked high in academics as well as providing lots of opportunities to kids to be involved in sports, and many other extra-curricular activities.

Which brings us to the question; should you buy or rent a home this school year? Obviously, you most likely won’t want to move right in the middle of a school year so finding something now to quickly get into, or beginning your search to move over the holiday or spring break is definitely a good idea. That being said, I want to make a case that you will benefit your child and family by purchasing a home this school year. There are a number of reasons why this is a very good thing to do now; let’s look at a few:

Four Reasons why home ownership directly affects your child’s academics:

1. Home ownership gives you a base of operation in a way that renting or living in an apartment never will. When you actually own your home you will have something that you are in control of. You’ll be able to make it the center of your family life. You’ll have greater privacy and the ability to customize without worrying about a landlord. Home ownership sets an example of responsibility and self-discipline that is important for your children to see as they go forward in school and in life.

2. Home ownership increases your children’s self esteem. Studies by the National Association of REALTORS® and others have shown that home ownership increases your children’s self esteem. When your child is constantly moving they are unable to become grounded in a comfortable routine. This adds yet another level of stress to their day to day lives, which can cause many negative effects including reduced self esteem. Having a permanent place to call home removes this challenge and therefore helps contribute to a high level of self confidence.

3. Home ownership raises your child’s test scores. Another by-product of home ownership is it contributes to higher test scores. Whether that is related to simply having a better place to study, getting more undisturbed nights rest or feeling safe, this is something every parent wants to see their child achieve.

4. Home ownership strengthens communities. Home owners are the building blocks of our neighborhoods which are the building blocks of our schools. Having more homeowners and fewer renters in neighborhoods brings about more stability for our children by helping them create stronger, more sustainable friendships with the people who live near them.

So there you have four of the top reasons why buying a home in San Antonio this school year will benefit you and your child.

Still not convinced? Check out this nationally broadcast commercial produced by the National Association of REALTORS® that talks about why owning a home will make this school year your child’s best yet.

Ready to start looking? Check out our featured properties below or select from three of the top districts in San Antonio and browse some of the available listings in these great areas.