Google Capital Invests $50 Million in Online Real Estate Marketplace

Google Capital has recently invested $50 million in Auction.com, an online real estate marketplace. Google Capital is a capital arm of the search engine giant Google, and it launched in 2013.

Auction.com boasted $7.5 billion in sales last year, mostly in commercial sales. According to an article on CNBC, the investment will involve no product integration. Auction.com is expected to level the playing field for investors of small properties by changing the way real estate can be bought and sold.

It was also recently announced that David Thompson was named chief marketing officer of Google Capital. His duties will include marketing to the company’s business-to-business clients, which make up at least 80% of their business. He also faces the task of marketing to and growing the small percentage of business-to-customer business.

Building A Home: What Steps Are Involved?

While building a new house is an exciting experience, it can be equally stressful. Sometimes you will need to make changes to the plan and then the construction takes longer than expected.

Indeed, the first step in building a house is buying a plot of land.

Getting all permissions

The next step is to submit your building plan and get it approved. If the lot doesn't have access to public water, the plan should include a well. It should also include a septic system if a sewer isn't already in place. Remember that there are fees attached to each one of these permits. In some states you might require permission to clear the lot.

Health inspectors will supervise the work on the septic system and the well. There will be yet another inspection after the well has been dug and the septic system has been installed.

Clearing the lot

You will probably have to cut down a few trees before building the house. This might require a permit.

Laying the foundation

You need to obtain all permits before you start building the foundation. Since the rest of the construction will be built on the foundation, it has to be strong. There may be 1 or 2 inspections during this phase. They are done to ensure that the contractor is building the foundation properly.

Framing

Once the contractor has built the foundation, they will start working on the framing. In some states, roof rafters are considered as part of the framing. However, in some other states, the building laws state that the owner has to hire an engineer to sketch the plans for rafters.

There will be some inspections during this phase too. Once the framing is ready, the contractor will put the sheathing on the roof and the exterior of the home. The windows and the doors will be installed afterwards.

Siding and roofing

The shell of the house should be ready before roofing and siding contractors can begin their work. When it comes to roofing and siding materials, you have got quite a few options. Be sure to hire contractors who specialize in the kind of materials you choose.

Plumbing and electrical work

The plumbing and electric work can start simultaneously. There will be 1 or 2 inspections during this phase.

Interior walls

The next step is to install the interior walls. Drywall (also known as sheet rock or plasterboard) is the most common material used to make interior walls and ceilings. Dry walls need to be hung. Since only a good drywall installer can hide the visible seams between the sheets, hiring an experienced person is imperative.

When the interior walls are in place, the work on the kitchen and the bathrooms can begin. Sinks, cabinets, countertops, and hookups are installed in the kitchen. Bathroom fittings can be expensive or inexpensive depending on the owner's preferences.

Painting and flooring work

Painting is usually done first just to make sure that the paint will not spill on the flooring. Several kinds of flooring are available. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose tile, wood, vinyl or carpet. Your home is almost ready now.

Landscaping

Some builders may also take care of landscaping. If they don’t, you will have to hire a landscaping company.

 

Smart Green Retrofits for Managing Energy Bills

When it comes to energy savings and green home improvements, instead of expecting huge returns, understand the latest bottom line – you can hold against skyrocketing energy costs by going in for some smart retrofits.

In general, energy prices have increased substantially in the last 10 years, especially in certain parts of the country. Even though there was a slight fall in natural gas prices since 2008 and there was stability in electricity prices for a while, there have been upward trends in prices of both since 2011.

According to the estimates of the Energy Information Administration of the US, there will be an average yearly increase of 2.3 per cent of the costs of residential energy right through 2035. If these projections are accurate and your average annual energy bill is $2,200 today, an increase of 2.3% works out to $50 more in the first year if your consumption pattern stays constant. In such a scenario, you’ll have a bill close to $4,000 by the time you get to 2035. Ouch, that’s going to pinch.

Dependable energy saving retrofits

When the sole reason for making retrofits is managing energy bills, look out for projects that offer the maximum returns for your investment.

As a rule of the thumb, try to fight the 2.3% yearly average by going in for green home improvements which reduce your energy usage by 5% or above and require a reasonable initial investment. Remember to find out whether your state government or utility offers tax credits and rebates for such improvements.

Some suggestions:

1. Insulate and seal ductwork running through spaces without heating. Though it may not appear glamorous, doing this in places like the attic and garage can improve heating system efficiency by 20% and you might manage a 5% overall bill reduction. A few hundred dollars of investment will be required for hiring an HVAC pro for the job and labor and material costs.

2. Get a programmable thermostat. If you don’t have one already, getting it and programming it correctly can help you save about 8% on your energy bills on an average.

3. Seal air leaks and add attic insulation. This is one of the soundest energy-saving improvements. By sealing and insulating your home, you can bring down energy bills by almost 10%. Regard upgrading attic insulation and sealing air leaks as a combination job for maximum benefits.

 

The bottom line

Don’t expect huge savings in your energy bills when you opt for green home improvements. It makes better sense to go in for green retrofits that are likely to offset increasing energy prices.