Hoover, AL

Last year we had a terrible water shortage and people were doing all kinds of creative things just to be able to water their plants. Now that the drought has passed, are we back to old habits?

Well, if you have noticed it didn't rain much in September and October is not much better! But the bigger picture is what are we doing to conserve water and energy in an effort to help the environment?

My hot water heater is in the attic and the master bedroom shower is on the first floor. I know I used to fill up a bucket of water while I was waiting for the hot water to get to the shower. We've thought about moving the hot water heater but it just isn't practical. I stopped filling the bucket - that means 2 buckets of water per day are going down the drain -wasted. I think I need to find that old bucket.

Did you know that 40% of the water used in a home goes right down the toilet? They came out with low flush toilets a few years ago, but all the "hard matter" didn't go down the drain so you ended up flushing more than once and it didn't really save anything. There is a toilet out now called a dual flusher. Dual-flush toilets which are used extensively in Austrailia let you choose whether you need a big or little flush. This simple choice can save 6000 gallons of water per year for a family of 4 (according to the EPA and Sterling). They cost a little more, but not much.

You can also get low flow shower and sink faucets to save additional water. Regular shower heads also have a valve inside to help regulate the water.

We can all do little things to cut down on water use. This helps save us money AND helps the environment as well.

Fall has arrived in Birmingham and the weather is perfect. Today was a beautiful, sunny day with temperatures in the low 80's and almost no humidity. I decided to enjoy the Bluff Park Annual Art Show in Hoover. This art show is always held on the first Saturday of October and promises to be one of the area's best outdoor events. I was not disappointed! Over 120 artists from all over the country gathered to exhibit their talents. There were photographers, painters, jewelry makers, woodworkers, and sculptures from as far away as Michigan and many from the southeast including Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Local artists also had great representation. The art show is presented by the Bluff Park Art Association which consists of volunteers who are interested in the arts and giving back to the community. The funds earned from this one-day event helps keep the arts alive in Hoover. Cash prizes ranging from $3,500 to $100 were awarded to over 35 recipients. Princeton Hoover Baptist Medical Center donated several awards. The $3,500 Princeton Hoover Purchase Award for the Bluff Park Art Association Permanent Collection went to Nevin Newton of Hoover for his intricate wood sculpture. The Permanent Collection consists of almost 100 pieces of two-and-three dimensional art. These comprise a rotating display in local schools, libraries and universities. Since I know Nevin personally, I want to say congratulations for a job well done!

I've written before about saving up to buy a house in Hoover, Alabama. The down payment on FHA loans went up from 3% to 3.5% on October 1st, so for an FHA at least, you have to save a little more to get into that home. This means that if you want to buy a $100,000 house, you will need $3500 for your down payment.

There are many ways to save for that house. One idea is to save your loose change. You can get a big jar and at the end of the day, just empty your pockets. You can use the money to go to Atlantic City - or save for that down payment. Keep the jar on your dresser and you can watch it grow. Another way is to use a piggy bank. I had one years ago where once you put the money in, you couldn't get it out unless you broke the pig. I gave one to my friend in high school. It was huge and she could hardly lift it because it was so heavy.

This may not sound like much of a plan, but check out this story - a man bought a car using loose change he had saved. Not some old beat up car either. He bought a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup NEW.

So if he could buy a New car, that down payment doesn't seem so out of reach!

Start saving TODAY. When you're ready to buy a house, let me know. I'd love to hear how YOU got YOUR Down Payment to Buy A Home.

The other day I was showing a house and my client and I walked out onto this wonderful deck that overlooked a nice wooded back yard. A cool breeze was blowing and we were talking about how great it would be to sit out on the deck and eat dinner. We were talking about the bar-be-cue and how much we loved to grill out.

When we turned to go back into the house we notice a big circle on the chimney approximately 3' in diameter about 4' off the ground. Upon closer examination, it was melted vinyl. I had experienced the same thing about 5 years ago on a house made from EIFS construction, where the grill had melted the siding on the house.

According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), nearly 80 percent of households own some sort of an outdoor bar-be-cue appliance and nearly 60 percent use them year round. I know here in Hoover, Alabama we use the grill for summer picnics, regularly during football season and even on those rare occasions when it snows. But firing up a grill with an open flame presents a clear and present fire danger, especially in confined spaces.

The U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Data Center estimates that barbecuing accounts for more than 6,000 fires, 170 injuries, a half dozen fatalities and $35 million in property loss each year. Wow!

There are some simple rules to follow - like don't get too close to the building, make sure you have plenty of ventilation, don't grill under an overhang, don't move the grill while you are cooking, keep children away from the grill, etc. If you would like to read more about grilling safety, check out my July Newsletter (I know it's not July anymore, but the tips still apply).

Many homeowners these days are installing outdoor kitchens. The gas and charcoal grills are built in to a stationary counter top. The outdoor kitchen also includes a sink, refrigerator (mostly a minifridge), and sometimes an ice maker.

If you would like to find a New Home that has a perfect place for a grill and that back yard bar-be-cue, you can look for homes on my website at www.ToniBird.com/search.asp? Call me and we can go looking together!