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I found this on YouTube, it was NOT created or done by me, and is informational only.  Feel free to visit his website and learn more.

Quick Checklist On Selling A Property

When we have sold property in the past, this is the process of selling it when it is not listed with a realtor, and selling it forsale by owner.

First, of course you need an offer received from Realtor or buyer.

You will need the counter offer form if you want to counter. Then when offer is accepted by both parties, you need a purchase and sell agreement.

On this agreement you will disclose any issues related to your house, problems in the past, items remaining such as refrigerator or other etc.

You will ask for earnest money at that time, which goes to the title company, along with the signed purchase and sell agreement, signed by both you and the buyer.

A closing date will be determined by you and the buyer both. I would definitely show documents to a real estate attorney to go over everything, I have never used one though. It is an extra cost, but probably safer.

After you give the forms and money to title company you are ready to close on the decided date. They take out fees etc.

Thats about it, its pretty simple.

Information on Energy Efficient Tax Credits

To recieve the tax credit, you must have purchase and install qualifying energy-efficient property in your main home in the years 2006, 2007, and 2009. You must purchase new energy-efficient equipment, and the equipment is expected to remain installed for at least five years. The energy credit is not available for improvements made during the year 2008,  “Tax credits for these residential products, which had expired at the end of 2007, will now be available for improvements made during 2009. However, improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit.” (this is from the EnergyStar Website)

Home improvements that could qualify as tax credits:

Exterior doors and windows, storm windows, skylights, metal roofs, insulation, central air conditioning and heating, geothermal heat pumps, hot water boilers, advanced main air circulating fans, biomass fuel stoves with a thermal efficiency rating of 75% or more, and asphalt roofs with cooling granules.

The Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit

You can receive a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price of qualified energy-efficient products. “To qualify, a component must meet or exceed the criteria established by the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (including supplements) and must be installed in the taxpayer’s main home in the United States.” (stated from the IRS)

The tax credit for home improvement purchases is limited to $500. The $500 limit applies to the total credit you can claim for all years combined. A maximum of $200 of your $500 total limit can be used for purchasing windows.
The Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit

This tax credit provides a non-refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 for installing solar panels or fuel cell power plants in your home.

Check with your accountant to see if you qualify.

Solar Panels and Fuel Cell Power Plants (Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit) You can install “solar panels, solar water heating equipment, or a fuel cell power plant to their homes in the United States. In general, a qualified fuel cell power plant converts a fuel into electricity using electrochemical means, has an electricity –only generation efficiency of more than 30 percent and generates at least 0.5 kilowatts of electricity. Taxpayers are allowed one credit equal to 30 percent of the qualified investment in a solar panel up to a maximum credit of $2,000, and another equivalent credit for investing in a solar water heating system. No part of either system can be used to heat a pool or hot tub.”

This tax credit is available for wind and geothermal-powered systems as well,  recently added by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. Wind energy equipment will produce a tax credit worth 30% of the cost of the equipment, with a maximum credit of $4,000. Geothermal heat pumps qualify for a credit worth 30% of the cost, with a maximum credit of $2,000.

$2,000 for qualified photovoltaic property costs,  $2,000 for qualified solar water heating property costs, and $500 for each half kilowatt of capacity of qualified fuel cell property for which qualified fuel cell property costs are paid.

In addition, “A credit limit for residential energy property costs for all tax years of $50 for any advanced main air circulating fan; $150 for any qualified natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or hot water boiler; and $300 for any item of energy efficient building property.” (Stated from the IRS)

The Federal guidelines can be found on  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.

Welcome to AskMyContractor.com

Hi! Welcome to AskMyContracter.com !!

Thanks for visiting! My name is Lane, and I buy, fix, and sell houses. My contractor and I were thinking how we could help out with people in a pinch, and maybe wanting to fix up their house or investment property on their own. This web page is designed to give information and opinions on fixing up, repairing, tearing down, or any questions you can think or related to home repairs and building. Answers will be from my own experience fixing up houses, but mainly from my contractor, Shaun. He has worked with me in my company for 3 years now, and has been a licensed contractor for over 12 years. I find him extremely knowledgeable, competent, very patient (required when dealing with me), professional, and a person given to doing things right. Not only doing it right, but how it should be done to the best of his ability. He does not cut corners where some contractors do. I will post some comments and pictures regarding the houses we have worked on, what was needed to be done to them, and the final product. I am uploading my favorite house that we had worked on in the past, I will go into what we did on it later, but you can see the before and after on this house, it was a fun one!

So, ask away, we will be happy to help. Remember, this is advise and knowledge from us both, it is always wise to hire a licensed contractor if required by law. Always check on permits needed for any repairs done to your house. There is no harm in asking for help, so please seek professional advice and experience if you are not comfortable doing it yourself. Trust me, I asked plenty of times for help. I am planning on giving information regarding different terminology that may be confusing or even unknown related to house repairs from roof to foundation. I would also like to incorporate some advice on what to look out for when hiring a contractor etc. So, send us your questions, we are ready to help you out!