Kerry Veach

Upgrading your Northwest Florida home to be more “green” doesn’t have to take a lot of time, or money.  In fact, there are several relatively quick and inexpensive fixes that you can do yourself.  Here’s a short list of minor modifications that you can do in a single weekend.

• Replace Your Shower head

This should take you about 15 minutes, and cost $10-$60 per showerhead.  When you’re shower head shopping, make sure you look for the WasterSense label, which could save over 2300 gallons a year!

• Replace Your Faucet Aerator

Overlooked and under appreciated, this small metal piece can save you big bucks.  By purchasing a low-flow aerator, you’ll maintain adequate water pressure, but use less than half as much water.  In fact, this simple upgrade could conserve about 500 gallons of water a year!  A single aerator should cost about $2-10 and take five minutes to install.

• Water Efficient Toilet

This one is for the handier individual who is on a first-name basis with the employees at the local Home Depot.  Again, look for the WaterSense label and save an average of $90/year on your water bill.

• Florescent Light Bulbs

There’s a good chance you’ve already switched from standard bulbs to compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs, but just in case, I’m including it on the list.  Energy Star bulbs use 75% less electricity and can last 10 times longer!

• Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat usually has only a few wires involved, but if you’re unsure, call a professional.  The job should take about 30 minutes, but the thermostat could cost anywhere from $25-250, depending on which one you get.  This upgrade is an automatic way to reduce/increase heating and cooling throughout the day, adding up to about $180/year in savings.

• Stop Chimney Drafts

Did you know that even with the damper closed, you’re probably losing air through your chimney flue?  Plugging the flue with a chimney balloon, such as the Draftstopper, will cost you about $55 and 15 minutes.

• Drain Sediment from the Water Heater

After a while, minerals and tiny rocks build up in the bottom of your tank.  To ensure that your water heater is working properly and lasts as long as possible, attach a hose to the bottom faucet and drain the water into a bucket or outside.  Do this until the water begins running clear and sediment free (about 15 minutes).  Here’s a tip:  If your water heater sounds like a coffee pot, it’s time to drain.

• Replace Hoses

This applies to the washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator ice maker and water dispenser, etc.  Check the hoses once a year for cracking, rusting, bulging, fraying, and leaking.

• Add Insulating Window Treatments

Thermal window coverings more than double the insulating value of a double paned, low-emittance window.

Now that your home is more energy efficient, you can sit back and save money.  While you’re at it, contact Kerry Veach if you or anyone you know is interested in buying or selling real estate in Northwest Florida.

I was thinking the other day about when I first retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as an Engineer after serving more than twenty years. Many people don’t realize that the US Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service in the history of the United States.

We can all be proud of the men and women serving in this branch of our military. They enforce our Maritime Laws, protect our coast and coastal environment, operate ports and waterways, provide port security, and they are ever ready to defend our maritime borders and conduct safety and rescue for those in trouble.

I started out in the Coast Guard as an enlisted man, subject to more rules and regulations than I ever knew existed. I was daily confronted with new and more challenging disciplines, and since Coast Guard training is taught by professionals who are experienced and have the best possible skills—I learned from them to be a model to others as I went along.

My USCG training proved to be extremely valuable when I launched my real estate career. I won’t say it wasn’t daunting at first, because it was. But as I went along, I relied on my background of discipline and willingness to learn. I consistently applied the things I was told about the Real Estate business by those who were already professional Realtors®, and I found that it didn’t take long before things began to happen for me.

I first became familiar with serious responsibility in the military—and I have honed those skills as I developed my Real Estate career. The best advice I can ever offer to anyone entering the field of real estate is to be prepared to listen, to do – and then to go back and listen some more. Let what you learn from the veterans be the fuel you need to propel yourself ahead, and always be on purpose.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Panama City Beach or Destin, the Veach Team is prepared to help you find the Florida home of your dreams. Contact us today, and let us show you why “Life is a Beach” here in beautiful Destin! And don’t forget to “LIKE” us on Facebook – we’d love to talk with you.