An energy audit is an inspection of your home’s heating and cooling system, insulation, windows and doors, appliances, water heaters, and any other equipment associated with the specific systems. The purpose is to identify areas that are losing heat or cooled air, decreasing efficiency, or causing higher utility bills. These problems can be corrected by making repairs, replacements, or improvements to these parts of your home. This will improve comfort as well as increase the overall efficiency of your house. Most importantly it will decrease how much you spend each month on utilities!
There are three types of audits:
1) A “whole-house” audit looks at all major systems in your home.
2) A “limited home audit” focuses on one specific system, like your furnace or air conditioning.
3) An “energy cost budgeting” inspection takes a look at how much energy you use in your home and helps you find ways to save money.
Typically, an energy auditor will visit your home, conduct their inspections with the help of follow-up questions they may ask you when they’re back at their office. The data gathered by the auditor is used to prepare an assessment report that lists findings and recommendations for improvements. You might also receive advice on how to operate equipment more efficiently–for example, setting the thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter; turning off lights when you exit a room; washing clothes in cold water; and upgrading insulation, windows, doors, or other parts of your home.
If you would like to hire an energy auditor to assess the energy efficiency levels of your home, here are some tips:
– Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations.
– Identify several auditors by asking about their training and experience in performing audits on homes similar in age and size to yours.
– Be sure that the auditor is certified by a recognized organization such as the Building Performance Institute (BPI) or Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).
– Be wary of low bids from inexperienced firms with little equipment. The cost should be a secondary consideration if a firm isn’t qualified or lacks the necessary tools. At the same time, don’t be overcharged by experienced firms with higher bids.
– Get it in writing that the auditor will give you a copy of the assessment report.
– Don’t forget to get your home energy score! The highest graded homes are given an Energy Star label which can help increase your property value. Check out the Home Energy Score website to learn more about this service and also see if your home qualifies for an Energy Star designation or certificate for participating in this program.
Remodeling your home is a major life event and it can be overwhelming, but we got you covered. Home remodeling projects around the house can add value and function to your home or even just refresh an older space to give it new life. If you are considering undertaking a big project, make sure you get the advice of professionals who know what they are doing. There are many aspects of home renovation that homeowners need not understand themselves, but should instead hire someone else to take care of. Be aware that there are plenty of horror stories out there about terrible contractors who either took people’s money and ran or didn’t finish their work properly resulting in additional costs to fix their mistakes.
Before you start planning your home remodeling, be sure to write down all of the tasks you want accomplished and make a list of how much it’s going to cost you – this is your budget. It’s important to stay within the boundaries of your budget when undertaking any home renovation project. Set up an appointment with a contractor who can help turn your vision into reality. You don’t have to do everything yourself if that is not in the realm of possibility for you financially or physically.
Homeowners should understand that they are responsible for permitting in most localities to ensure compliance with building codes. Make sure you find out where permits are needed before construction begins on any major work. This also applies when adding to the home. Some municipalities will look upon an expansion of your home with a jaundiced eye if proper permits haven’t been acquired.
Once the work begins, it will be important to stay on top of all aspects of the project. You should make sure that you are around while any construction is being completed, whether it’s plumbing or electrical, to monitor progress and ensure that deadlines are met. Even though building codes exist for safety reasons, some contractors may not be aware of them and might cut corners without thinking about the consequences – this could lead to faulty wiring or even worse issues like water damage which could end up costing you more money down the road than if they had done things correctly in the first place! The contractor must provide you with a time frame of when the project will be done and how much it will cost for their services before they begin, but you should expect to stay involved in day-to-day progress.
Don’t just hire someone because they have “good prices”. Make sure that you feel comfortable with them even if it’s just over the phone. Find out about their qualifications, insurance information, references…You can find out anything you need to know about your contractor by doing your research! Your contractor should also give you an idea of what is included in his or her fee so there are no surprises down the road.
It is important not to underestimate the importance of hiring a contractor who has a good reputation and experience. If you need home remodeling in Marlborough MA, make sure to hire a designer or contractor who has been in business for a while. It would also be helpful if they have a lot of positive feedback from other clients.
In selecting designers or contractors, you must get someone who can finish the project on time and within your budget range. It would also be best if they are flexible when it comes to changes especially during the middle of the project since things may not always go as planned along the way. You do not just simply pick anyone because they are the cheapest option.
You must consider the materials that are used because they should be durable and long-lasting to prevent you from having to do additional home remodeling in Marlborough MA. A good designer or contractor should be able to offer you options for all materials, fixtures, cabinets, floors, exterior features, lighting, and so on so you will have the freedom of choosing the best option available.
Keep in mind that even if they can provide you with all these options, your choice should also depend on your budget. You don’t want to end up losing all your savings just to finish a project that is too expensive because it doesn’t fit into your budget. Keep track of how much money you are spending during each stage of construction otherwise, there might be disagreements later on.
When you are planning home remodeling in Marlborough MA, make sure to consider the budget you set aside for your project because you might not have enough money left to get everything done, especially if things are more expensive than what you have expected. Make sure that they provide a plan before hiring them so there will be no misunderstandings or surprises at the end of the job.
GA Building & Remodeling offers a warranty on all our workmanship when it comes to bathroom remodeling in Marlborough, MA.
GA Building & Remodeling offers a warranty on all our workmanship when it comes to bathroom remodeling in Marlborough, MA. Homeowners should only hire companies who offer warranties on their labor and materials because this is the best way to ensure that if something goes wrong down the road, you’ll be able to get professional help in your time of need without having to pay more or put up with shoddy craftsmanship. Nail down an exact price quote for each phase of the remodel so you know what you’re getting into financially before starting construction. You also want to ask about any special offers or discounts that might save you some money as well.
It’s important to ask for a very specific quote over the phone, and then double-check to make sure those numbers line up when you go in for your free consultation. Remember: if it sounds like something is too good to be true, it probably is. You want a quote that’s detailed enough so that there aren’t any hidden fees down the road, but not so strict and technical that things start sounding like jargon.
You should also bear in mind – Home Remodeling Marlborough MA can be an extensive project especially if you’re trying to do several renovations at once such as roofing and siding! It can get expensive quickly if parts of your house are suddenly in disrepair, so make sure to keep this in mind for the future.
Homeowners should only hire companies who offer warranties on their labor and materials because this is the best way to ensure that if something goes wrong down the road, you’ll be able to get professional help in your time of need without having to pay more or put up with shoddy craftsmanship. Remember: if it sounds like something is too good to be true, it probably is.
