Under Water?

I got my water bill yesterday – WOW – it really goes up in the summer time! I suppose it could be because my pool leaks…no, not really, we fixed that problem last summer!  I attribute it to my underground sprinkler system – and the puddles of water I noticed in my beds this week.  I bet you thought this post would be about Short Sales!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nationwide more than 7 billion gallons of water a day go to landscape irrigation. Aside from that being a lot of water, as much as half of it is wasted because it falls on sidewalks or evaporates into the air before it reaches the ground. Luckily, a few simple changes can help you save a precious resource and lower your bills. HouseLogic recommends that homeowners think of the acronym DIRTS (drip irrigation, recapture, timers and sensors) in order to remember steps to take for saving water and money while still maintaining a great-looking yard:

1. Drip irrigation systems are long, thin plastic tubes with small fittings that release water, allowing you to send water only where you need it. A new drip system costs around $200 for a whole yard, or you can convert your existing in-ground sprinkler system. The cost is well worth it: Going from sprinklers to drip irrigation can cut lawn water use by up to 50 percent.
2. Recapturing rainwater allows you to irrigate at no cost. To harvest rainwater, place a simple plastic or wooden drum, with a spigot near the bottom where you can attach your hose, underneath a downspout. A 60-gallon barrel costs only $75 to $150, and one inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof provides 600 gallons of runoff.
3. Putting your irrigation system on a timer will keep water waste to a minimum and can also help you comply with any local watering restrictions. Timer kits range from the simple to more sophisticated ones with sensors that adjust the water flow based on how much rain has fallen.

Basking Ridge Market info:

It’s been relatively quiet in my world of Basking Ridge real estate this past week – two stalled negotiations, but one property in attorney review and a closing scheduled for this week.  As for our town, there were eleven new listings since August 1 – three condos, a town house, six colonials and an expanded ranch listed from $229,900 to $2.6m.  A more important stat, 14 properties went under contract – six townhouses, a condo, six colonials and a cape cod listed from $224,000 to $1.39m.  I also noticed at least two properties go into attorney review.  So, despite the economy…. there ARE buyers out there!

I went on a listing appointment last Friday and I have two more this week – attention buyers: there are going to be some really nice homes on the market this fall!  Be the first to know about them by signing up for listing alerts from Basking Ridge real estate.

Let me know if you need help figuring out how to find those buyers or if you are thinking about making a move here in town; I can help assess the value of your home in today’s market.  I’m happy to talk with you about Basking Ridge Real Estate!