How To Reduce Drafts In Your Property

At this time of year, most people – those who live in colder climates, at least – will start to turn on and turn up their heating to keep their homes warmer. However, that is expensive, and it’s getting more and more expensive as the weeks go by, and so you’ll want to try to save as much money as possible. Perhaps you’ll keep the heating lower than you usually would or you only put it on later in the evening.

However, whatever you’re doing to save money and energy, your efforts will be wasted if there are drafts in your property. This means the cold is getting in and you’ll have to turn your heating up a lot higher for it to register at all – you’re wasting a lot of energy and money, neither of which is good. With that in mind, here are some ways to reduce drafts in your home (or your rental property to help your tenants).

Change Your Internal Doors

Even if there isn’t much you can do to stop the cold air getting into your home in a wide sense, there is something you can do to stop it getting into the individual rooms, thereby keeping those rooms warmer and using less energy to do it.

The key is to change your internal doors. By installing new internal doors, you’ll find your room is sealed more tightly, so cold air stays out and warm air stays in. Depending on your budget, you could do this for every door in the house or you might choose to do it for the bedrooms and living area. No matter what your decision, it will make a big difference.

Reseal Windows And External Doors

Of course, if you can prevent the drafts from entering your home in the first place, your new internal doors will make things even cozier, so you should inspect your external doors and all your windows and see if you can feel a draft. To do this, just place your hand by the frames and you should be able to feel something. If you’re not sure, get a lit incense stick or a dollar bill and hold it close to the edge – if the smoke or bill moves, even a little, there is a draft.

Once you know where the drafts are, you can reseal the area using caulk. This should be rubberized caulk as it is longer-lasting, and you can buy it in any hardware store. It’s a simple job to do, but if you want to make sure it’s done right and actually stops the leaks, it could be worth hiring a professional to do it for you.

Use Insulated Window Treatments

Even if you have resealed your windows, you might still find that the area around them is cold – after all, the air outside is cold, and it will make a difference inside. The best way around this is to put up insulated window treatments. These include:

  • Blinds

  • Shades

  • Curtains

Not only will they make the room feel warmer and cozier in the winter, but they will offer a degree of privacy and they will make your room look stylish. Pick a style and design that works with your overall aesthetic, and you can save energy, money, and have a great looking room all at the same time.

How Long Does It Take To Sell A House (Plus Ways To Reduce It)

Buying and selling are common practices in the real estate industry. There’s always someone looking to sell their house, which brings about the buying aspect. People sell houses for various reasons. Some are developers and others want to upgrade their homes, or they have new needs their current houses aren’t meeting.

Factors Affecting The Selling Process

The selling process takes approximately two to three months to sell. However, this period depends on various factors, which are:

  • Your Chosen Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents help buyers get the property they want, and sellers sell their property. The type of agent you get determines how long it’ll take to sell a house. For instance, working with experienced agents like Highcastle Estates can streamline the process and help you secure a faster sale.

Should you hire a reactive agent, expect to sell slower. They’ll wait for issues to happen for them to act. However, a proactive agent like Chatburn and others will take it upon themselves to sell your house faster by eliminating any events that could slow down the process. They’ll get all the documentation before listing your property and screen buyers before accepting their offers, among other practices.


  • Your Chosen Buyer

The type of buyer you get determines how fast you sell your house in terms of their payment. There are different ways a buyer can finance their property-buying. A buyer can pay cash, take a mortgage loan, or adopt a rent-to-own strategy. Cash payment is the fastest way to sell a house—it might even take hours to sell. With mortgages, it depends on the buyer's down payment and the period they have to pay the balance. The longer the period, the longer it’ll take to sell your house.

  • The Asking Price

The asking price refers to the amount you sell your house. In most cases, if the asking price is high, expect to take longer to sell your house. This period extends further if the price exceeds your property’s market value. Buyers want the best deal and value for their money without necessarily spending a fortune.


  • The Condition Of The Property

The condition of your property references its physical appearance. Like in the real world, first impressions matter.

Your house should offer convenience to its buyer. If your house has leaking taps, damaged floors, and peeling-off paint, it won’t offer convenience to the buyer. The buyer has to take more time to settle in since they have to handle repairs. The result is your house taking long to sell; it’ll be unwanted by buyers.

However, if your house has top-notch finishes, is well-maintained, and doesn’t need repairs, you’re likely to sell it faster. It offers convenience in that the buyer only has to arrange the space upon moving.

Reducing The Selling Time

Suppose you aim to sell your house as fast as possible. Here’s how to do it:

  • Hire An Experienced Real Estate Agent

It’s always advisable to leave some tasks to the experts. When selling your house, the expert to work with is a real estate agent. They’re gurus and will help you in various ways to quicken the selling process. They’ll do this by ensuring it’s in good shape and gives a good first impression, listing your property, and helping you arrive at the right asking price. For the right asking price, they’ll appraise your house to get this figure. The aim is to sell within market value.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that only an experienced agent can assist you in reducing the selling period. Therefore, be wary of whom you hire. See their portfolio of clients and their records of success. This insight will help you gauge their capability to sell your house faster.

  • Adopt The Right Marketing Techniques

Marketing works to inform the public about a good or service you’re selling, in this case, a house. Putting up a sale signboard at the front of your house and leaving it at that won’t do you any good. You must tell the public about it, which is where marketing comes in.

Start by identifying your target group. Who are your ideal clients? If it’s a family home, your focus should be on those with families. You should aim at those with high incomes if it's a luxury house.  

With the identification, identify marketing strategies that resonate with your target audience. Which technique will help you reach them faster and get their attention? For luxury clients, you want to advertise on shows that showcase the luxury lifestyle. They're likely to watch such shows, increasing their chances of seeing your house on sale. You can also highlight the property’s features that attract this audience like a gym, swimming pool, or sauna.

All in all, the secret is to customize marketing to your target audience.

Conclusion

Selling a house is a process that can bring about a lot of emotions for the seller. As a seller, you’ll wonder how fast you can sell and how much profit you’ll make. This discussion gives insight into the factors that determine the selling period and tips for reducing it. Therefore, as a seller, consider implementing these tips. You’re likely to have an easy time with the process.