As we get closer to the sweltering Texas summer, many homeowners begin to worry about the costs — all that lawn watering and home cooling doesn’t come free, you know!
Fortunately, summer doesn’t have to mean sky-high bills that match the Texas temperatures. In fact, with a little forethought and some good old hard work, you can actually lower your monthly home costs significantly before the hot season hits.
Want to cut your monthly home costs this summer? Here are a few ways to do it:
- Get more energy efficient. Take steps to make your home more energy efficient. Upgrade your insulation, tint your sun-facing windows and make sure all doors and windows are properly sealed. The more you can keep AC in and the heat out, the better.
- Shop around for your utility providers. If you’re not on a contract (or your contract is nearing its end), shop around for the best rates on electricity, gas, cable, internet and other home utilities. You never know when someone might have a great deal going on. If that sounds daunting, try out Energy Ogre. They do the shopping and contracts for you all for a flat fee.
- Find ways to cut down on your insurance. Home insurers offer a lot of discounts. You can get one for installing a security alarm, for bundling your policy with your car or life insurance, or for many other things. Check with your insurer to see what discounts you qualify for, or consider switching insurance companies if other rates are better.
- Unplug. Did you know that even when you’re not using it, a plugged-in appliance or electronic uses up your electricity? If you’ve got dozens of always-plugged-in items, that can add up to serious usage over the month—and a pretty penny out of your bank account. Take care to unplug anything you’re not using whenever possible.
- Refinance. Have you been in your home a while? Chances are mortgage rates are much lower than when you originally purchased your property, so maybe it’s time to refinance and take advantage of those historically low rates. It could save you hundreds a month!
- Get rid of PMI. If you own at least 20 percent of your home’s total cost, you have the right to cancel your private mortgage insurance, or PMI. This will take a big chunk out of your monthly payment.
For more tips on keeping your home costs affordable, tune in to the Guardian Mortgage Company blog all month long.
