My AC Is Not Blowing Cold Air | How I fixed my AC for $15

My AC wasn't blowing out cold air and it was going to take weeks for someone to come out and take a look at it. One guy I called could come out sooner, but it was going to be $185 for a rush fee and that was just to look at it, not to fix it. Even though I was desperate, I wasn't that desperate. We decided to wait until our normal HVAC crew could come. But as the days went along, I grew a lil cranky. It was the hottest of hottest days in Colorado Springs! 90 degrees outside, 82 degrees inside. I'm sure I sound like a diva right now, but the heat just makes me cranky. I decided to take matters into my own hands and watched some good old YouTube videos to help me figure it out. The first video said to...

Replace the air filter

The filter was actually pretty dirty. I went to the home improvement store down the street and picked up a filter for $12. However, that was not the culprit. However, I'm glad I did it because I needed to anyway. Time just flies so quickly so we just forget to replace it. Went upstairs to turn on the AC and it still did not work. At this point I'm annoyed because I did what the video told me to do and the video didn't say - "If that doesn't work, do this." So that's when I decided I should create my own video without the step-by-step how-to since there's so many content creators that do a much better job at those videos. I'm a REALTOR®, not a handyman. The next video had me...

Check the thermostat

We have a new thermostat. It's actually a NEST thermostat and we love it. It's brand new so I didn't explore this route. But if you have an older one, I'd just make sure the wires are still good, replace the batteries or replace if needed. Just do a quick check to mark that off the list of reasons why your AC is not working. I was also told to go ahead and...

Clean the AC unit

But first, turn off the power completely. When I walked outside to look at my AC unit I noticed cotton seeds covering it all over. When the fan is blowing, it's sucking in air from outside, but if the unit is covered in seeds or dirt or other crap, it's not able to suck in the air and often times the fan stops. I took the lid off and cleaned it pretty good. I swept off all the seeds with a broom. Then used the shop vac to vacuum out the inside. Then I rinsed the sides of the AC unit with a water hose. I went back into the house to turn on the AC and guess what! It still didn't work. It got up to 82 degrees.

Replacing the ac capacitor

My last and final attempt to fix my AC was to buy a capacitor. I heard that word a few times in the Google, but I didn't know it was something I could do on my own. No one really sells these around town, so I ordered it on Amazon. It was about $15. This is the part that I don't advise doing on your own. It's pretty intimidating and I normally don't play with electricity. Even if you turn off the power, the capacitor tends to hold a charge and it kinda feels like those zaps from the "want a piece of gum" trick from back in the day? Know what I'm talking about? You have to get the exact one with the right size and UF's +/-, whatever that means. But, you should watch the video to get the full experience. The video will also contain the link I watched in the description that saved the day. I'm in a great mood so that should clue in how it all ended.

Thanks for reading!

IRIS BURTON

BROKER ASSOCIATE | RE/MAX® INTEGRITY

Colorado Springs, CO REALTOR®

www.irisburton.com

irisburton@remax.net

719.231.9290

Save Time and Effort by Selling with an Agent

Save Time and Effort by Selling with an Agent

Selling a house is a time-consuming process – especially if you decide to do it on your own, known as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). From conducting market research to reviewing legal documents, handling negotiations, and more, it’s an involved and highly detailed process that requires a lot of expertise to navigate effectively. That’s one of the reasons why the percentage of people selling their own house has declined from 19% to 8% (See graph below):To help you understand just how much time and effort it takes to sell on your own, here’s a look at a few of the things you need to think about before putting that “For Sale” sign up in your yard. 1. Making a Good First Impression While it may sound simple, there are a lot of proven best practices to consider when prepping a house for sale.

• Do you need to take down your personal art?

• What’s the right amount of landscaping to boost your curb appeal?

• What wall colors are most appealing to buyers?

If you do this work on your own, you may invest capital and many hours into the wrong things. Your time is money – don’t waste it. An agent can help steer you in the right direction based on current market conditions to save you time and effort. Since we’re in a hot sellers' market, you don’t want to delay listing your house by focusing on things that won’t change your bottom line. These market conditions may not last, so lean on an agent to capitalize on today's low inventory while you can.

2. Pricing It Right Real estate professionals have mission-critical information on what sells and how to maximize your profit. They’re experienced when it comes to looking at recent comparable homes that have sold in your area and understanding what price is right for your neighborhood. They use that data to price your house appropriately, maximizing your return. In a FSBO, you’re operating without this expertise, so you’ll have to do your own homework on how to set a price that’s appropriate for your area and the condition of your home. Even with your own research, you may not find the most up-to-date information and could risk setting a price that’s inaccurate or unrealistic. If you price your house too high, you could turn buyers away before they’re even in the front door, or run into problems when it comes time for the appraisal.

3. Maximizing Your Buyer Pool (and Profit) Contrary to popular belief, FSBOs may actually net less profit than sellers who use an agent. One of the factors that can drive profit up is effective exposure. Simply put, real estate professionals can get your house in front of more buyers via their social media followers, agency resources, and proven sales strategies. The more buyers that view a home, the more likely a bidding war becomes. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average house for sale today gets 5 offers. Using an agent to boost your exposure may help boost your sale price too.

4. Navigating Negotiations When it comes to selling your house as a FSBO, you’ll have to handle all of the negotiations. Here are just a few of the people you’ll work with:

• The buyer, who wants the best deal possible

• The buyer’s agent, who will use their expertise to advocate for the buyer

• The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find concerns with the house

• The appraiser, who assesses the property’s value to protect the lender

As part of their training, agents are taught how to negotiate every aspect of the real estate transaction and how to mediate potential snags that may pop up. When appraisals come in low and in countless other situations, they know what levers to pull, how to address the buyer and seller emotions that come with it, and when to ask for second opinions. Navigating all of this on your own takes time –a lot of it.

5. Juggling Legal Documentation Speaking of time, consider how much free time you have to review the fine print. Just in terms of documentation, more disclosures and regulations are now mandatory. That means the stack of legal documents you need to handle as the seller is growing. It can be hard to know and truly understand all the terms and requirements. Instead of going at it alone, use an agent as your shield and advisor to help you avoid potential legal missteps.

Bottom Line Selling your house on your own is a lot of responsibility. It’s time consuming and requires an immense amount of effort and expertise. Before you decide to sell your house yourself, let’s discuss your options so we can make sure you get the most out of the sale.

Mortgage Forbearance

What is mortgage forbearance?

Forbearance is when your mortgage servicer or lender allows you to pause or reduce your mortgage payments for a limited time while you build back your finances. According to the CARES act, Most homeowners can temporarily pause or reduce their mortgage payments if they’re struggling financially.

For most loans, There will be no additional fees, penalties, or additional interest (beyond scheduled amounts) added to your account, and you do not need to submit additional documentation to qualify. You can simply tell your servicer that you have a pandemic-related financial hardship.

Common misconceptions about mortgage forbearance

It really chaps my a** when I hear other real estate professionals talk about forbearance and providing false information. So, I did some research myself. I called around to see what lenders were doing in regards to the CARES forbearance act.

Each loan is different. You need to contact your specific lender or mortgage provider, servicer, and ask them what they offer.

Must be a federally backed mortgage. You need to have a federally backed mortgage and you must have experienced financial hardship because of the word that rhymes with brovid wineteen.

If you meet all the criteria, you may be able to push off your loans anywhere from 3 months to 18 months in some cases if eligible. But, consider 12 months to be your max.

Is Mortgage forbearance a good idea?

I mean it really depends. If you are experiencing hardship and have nowhere else to turn, it could be. It’s definitely something you must discuss with a financial advisor or a mortgage counselor. (linked in description)

It will push your loan out further and it will take you longer to pay off. However, please talk to your lender, financial planner, or mortgage counselor to get advice.

This would be a great time to pause and tell you that I’m not your representation in any way - unless I am. But chances are I’m not yet, but hopefully could be your real estate agent after hooking you up with all this awesome information.

But either way I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you to “like” this video and in exchange I will show you a picture of my … city. I live in Colorado Springs, CO. Isn’t it cool? This is the Olympic Museum downtown Colorado Springs, and I’m always posting pictures on Instagram so here’s my shameless plug to please follow me there. So you have two tasks. Like this video and follow me on Instagram. Link in description.

Now back to forbearance.

Who do I call?

Take a look at your mortgage statement. It’s the statement that you get each month that triggers you pulling out your checkbook or clicking the “make a payment” button online. There should be a phone number you can call to talk to a real person.