Elk Grove Village, IL

Heating and cooling adjustments on a forced air furnace - Winter and Summer Settings

Warm air rises; cooler air sinks. Keep this principle in mind, and you’ll realize why opening the correct air returns in winter and summer will provide better air distribution-which, in turn, allows more even temperatures in your home.

When you use a forced air furnace for summer cooling, you should open the high returns. This allows the furnace to take warmer air from the top of the room back to the air conditioning cooling coil in the furnace. In the winter, open the low returns to collect cold air at the floor.

For a two-story home, you may also need to adjust the supply air for winter and summer. In the winter, warm air rises to the second floor, so less heating is required there.

In the summer, warm air still rises, and a hot attic adds even more heat, so you need greater cooling (air flow) to the second floor than to the first floor.

The best way to control air flow is to adjust the small dampers in the heating/cooling duct system in the basement. Often, these dampers are found where round supply duct runs connect t o the main (rectangular) ducts. Look for small (¼-inch) threaded rods and wing nuts. You can adjust the damper by turning the screwdriver slot on the small rod. When the slot is parallel (going the same way) to the duct, the damper is fully open. You don’t need to adjust the wing nut, which simply locks the rod into place.

Heating ducts vary. Some systems have levers indicating the direction of the damper. Some rectangular ducts have dampers and levers.

To adjust air flow for summer cooling, start by fully opening all second floor dampers. Next, partially close dampers to first floor rooms that are getting lots of cold air. You will find that closing the damper to 50% or turning the shaft to 45 degrees will only partially slow the air flow. Often, even if you fully close the damper, there will still be air flow because the dampers fit very loosely in the ducts.

Closing first floor dampers will direct air to the second floor. Mark your damper settings for summer and winter once you have found the correct balance.

Remember to clean the furnace filter, too, because a plugged filter can also restrict air flow.

Older homes were not built for cooling - the supply and return ducts to the second floor may not be adequate so adjustments may not solve the problem. A quick fix may be to run the fan furnace continuously.

I just moved into a new home recently and I had a 'mini melt down' on the 2nd floor. It was just too hot all the time! Went on the internet to find these settings which used to be marked right on my old furnace! Guess what - no marks, no nothing on the new furnace, so my guess work began. It actually took me quite a bit of work and research to find these directions so hope you can make use of them in your home.

Happy heating AND cooling!

Appeal data for Elk Grove Township is due Nov. 18th, 2009. Please make sure all your data is submitted in a timely manner.

October 2, 2009 – Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan announced today that residential property owners in Elk Grove Township were mailed notices reflecting a reduction in the assessed values of their properties. The impact of these reductions will be seen in second-installment tax bills payable in the fall of 2010.

"The situation we are facing in the real estate market is extraordinary, and the downturn has had an impact on home values," Houlihan explained. "After analysis of market sales and foreclosure data, we determined that Elk Grove Township homeowners should not have to wait until their properties are reassessed next in 2011 for the downturn to be reflected in their assessments."

Normally, properties are reassessed and receive notices every three years. The north suburbs are not scheduled to be reassessed again until 2010; the south and west suburbs will be reassessed next in 2011. This year, the City of Chicago will be reassessed.

Due to this first-ever downward market adjustment, residential properties in each suburban township will receive adjustments of their assessed values. A 7% decrease will be applied to the assessed values of all residential properties located in Elk Grove Township.

The deadline to file appeals for properties located in Elk Grove Township is November 3, 2009 (now extended to November 18th).

These market reductions come as the Assessor’s Office is implementing the 10/25 Ordinance, a measure passed by the County Board last year which was designed to simplify assessment levels. Homes will now be assessed at 10% of market value. Commercial and industrial properties will be assessed at 25% of market value. All Cook County property owners will receive notices telling them of the changes in assessment levels this year.

"If Elk Grove Township taxpayers want to appeal their proposed assessments, we encourage them to do so online," Houlihan said. "Our newly redesigned Web site is easy to navigate, contains a wealth of information, and makes it easier than ever to appeal a proposed assessment."

Cook County Appeal Forms

The 3 Things about Location ~

What’s the most asked question that I receive from people about real estate? What’s the #1 tip that I could pass along?

Well there’s actually 3 things that are enmeshed together – location, price and condition. All 3 actually make your home either sell or be rejected by prospective buyers.

So a real estate mantra in case you don't know it is:

Location, location, location!

There's that 3 again but there is a reason that it is used over and over. Nobody listens!

The location of your home makes a 'price' difference to buyers from the town that it's in, the street that it's on and the school district the kids will be attending.

Obviously different towns have different socio-economic benefits for living there. Maybe you need the train to go to work? Maybe you've grown up in the city and want your kids to run around and play soccer in the best park district - all these reasons encompass location.

So this portion of the series really will ask you to take a step back and look at your home with a critical buyers eye. Do you have a good location?

Is it safe? Is it quiet? Is it in the middle of the subdivision across from a park? Walking distance to schools? Close to expressway access or public transportation? Golf Course view? Wooded view?

After answering these questions if you find yourself saying:

'No the jet noise doesn't bother me at all - what did you say again?'

'No the berm is not a problem for me because now you can't see the garbage dump (aka the recreation ski hill and mini-mountain range) from here!'

That's a location issue that effects your price. If you take 2 similar homes and put them side by side as a buyer will do, which home would you choose? Come on, be honest?

Each location issue will pose a difference in the price. Buyers will either except or reject your location based on your price just like they would consider other features like a basement or number of bedrooms.


Be sure your home is set at a competitive price based on your location. Remember that ‘3’ and say it one more time - location, location, location!

Lyn Sims (847)230-7324

RE/MAX Suburban

Selling Advice on Price
Selling Advice on Condition

I proudly serve and sell real estate in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in the communities of Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Elk Grove Village, Roselle, Palatine, Medinah, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact me immediately.

All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Lyn Sims makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from it’s display or use.

Home Selling Advice on Location ©2009 Lyn Sims - RealEstateConsumerInfo.com - RealEstateBuyMe.com

Elk Grove Village Real Estate

Dennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends. Below, at the end of the page you will find Elk Grove Village real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of November 6, 2009.

To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Elk Grove Village, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page=search&selected=qck&mode=N&acc=32722&s=active

Dennis Toomey

RE/MAX Territory

847-338-0180

http://www.housebyzip.com/

dtoomey@remax.net

Elk Grove Village Real Estate Market Conditions

Market Statistics CriteriaStatus: Active, Back on Market, Contingent, New, Price Change, Re-activated, Temp Off Market, Pending, Closed, Expired Property Type: Detached Single, Attached Single Area: Elk Grove Village Months Back: 12 Months

Active Listings

Detached Single

Bedrooms # Active Avg. LP Avg. MT All 162 $305,211 246 2 or Less 2 $274,950 360 3 104 $281,623 216 4 48 $341,614 293 5 or More 8 $401,000 328

Attached Single

Bedrooms # Active Avg. LP Avg. MT All 223 $170,078 206 2 or Less 197 $161,244 206 3 26 $237,015 208

Off-Market Listings

Detached Single

Bedrooms # Sold % Sold Avg OLP Avg LP (Sold) Avg SP SP:LP Ratio SP:OLP Ratio Avg MT (Sold) Avg LP (Unsold) % Expd All 117 72% $321,585 $298,096 $280,886 94% 87% 150 $321,585 25% 2 or Less 0 0% $265,667 $265,667 67% 3 72 74% $286,551 $265,761 $252,941 95% 88% 149 $289,356 25% 4 39 71% $354,676 $332,954 $312,319 94% 88% 147 $342,069 22% 5 or More 6 75% $526,900 $459,533 $411,917 90% 78% 188 $644,450 25%

Attached Single

Bedrooms # Sold % Sold Avg OLP Avg LP (Sold) Avg SP SP:LP Ratio SP:OLP Ratio Avg MT (Sold) Avg LP (Unsold) % Expd All 105 60% $191,923 $179,171 $167,994 94% 88% 196 $181,145 37% 2 or Less 86 57% $183,615 $170,392 $160,113 94% 87% 201 $178,939 40% 3 19 79% $229,525 $218,905 $203,668 93% 89% 172 $210,260 17%

265 Greensboro Ct. Unit 265, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

1 Bedrooms/ 1 Bathroom MLS#07369972 $157,500

Unique one bedrm townhome w/ magnificent location on the golf course! You'll love having your own private entrance & 1 car att garage. New stove, wash/dryer in '07. New furnace & A/C in '05. Neutral decor. You can't beat the location - literally just a few minutes to 53/90/290 & Woodfield Mall. This is a great value, check it out today!

Click on the link below for more details and pictures:

http://www.realestate4uonline.com/s=active&MLS=IL07369972

RE/MAX Territory 847-956-2800