Save Money on Your Energy Bill

Get Serious About Saving on Your Energy Bills!

Cut Your Utility Bills!

I did after receiving my January electric bill of $244.  We have a home of approximately 3,000 square feet served by Mid Carolina Electric Cooperative.  We do have a "Good Cents" rate that provides a monthly discount.  We were able to get this when we built our home about 8 years ago with certain energy efficiency upgrades.  First, I retrieved my past electric bills since January 2007 to build a spreadsheet to track past costs and future bills.  If you don't have these, your electric provider may be able to provide this information. 

Average Utility Bill Breakdown

For 2010, my average electric bill was $205.17.  This has increased about 7.9% per year over the previous 3 years.  The KWH usage increased only 1.6% per year over 3 years.   As consumers, we can't control the rates for electric KWH and/or gas rates, BUT, we can control how much energy we use and this impacts our energy bills!

Since receiving the January bill, I made some changes:  changing out more (almost all now) incandescent bulbs to CFLs; insulating interior outside wall electrical outlet and switch plate covers, and limiting or not using our basement heat pump system by using a space heater.   I also turn off my computer monitor at night and in the morning when leaving for work.  I even bought a Kill-A-Watt monitor to do some energy usage testing.

Since these changes, my two last electric bills have shown significant improvements:

Average February bill 2007- 2010: $183.75

February bill 2011: $175.00 (savings of 4.8%)

Average March bill 2007 - 2010: $150.00

March bill 2011: $87.00 (savings of 42.0%)

You can get serious too about energy savings!  For more information:
101 Easy Ways to Save Energy & Money

Home Energy Savings Guide

Watch & Learn Videos (including Kill-A-Watt monitor)

Energy Saving Gear:

Duck Brand 1285359 Socket Sealers Variety Pack, 18 Outlet Sealers and 6 Switch Plates, White

P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor

Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Heater with Remote Control

GE 13-Watt Energy SmartTM - 8 Pack - 60 watt replacement


Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214

Columbia, SC Realtor - Mel Coker

Real Estate Professionalism is Important!

Mel Coker IS a Realtor!

Believe it or not, some real estate agents selling real estate are NOT Realtors!  When a person gets a real estate license in South Carolina, they are only a real estate sales agent.  An agent then MUST join (i.e. pay dues) the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to legally be called a Realtor as this is a federally trademarked name.  Some agents are just too "cheap" to join the one organization for professional real estate agents.  Of course, a Realtor must agree to abide by a professional Code of Ethics too.   The NAR looks after the interests of Professional Realtors AND home buyers and home sellers.  I view membership in NAR as an essential business requirement of selling real estate.

I would suggest all persons buying or selling real estate fully understand the professional background of anyone considered for real estate representation.  Unfortunately, there are scrupulous people in Greater Columbia portraying and marketing themselves as Realtors and they are not!  Anyone can verify this at http://www.realtor.com/  (click on "Find Realtors")

Ongoing real estate education is often evidenced by Realtor professional designations.
Generally, in residential real estate, the top professional real estate designations are: CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO and SRES.



Click on Above Image to enlarge & read

 Interesting Stats... (as of 3/22/11)
Over 1,000 real estate sales agents in Columbia area
793 Realtors
67 have ABR designation
66 have GRI designation
52 have CRS designation
30 have e-PRO designation
14 have SRES designation
1 has all of the above designations:
Mel Coker

Mel Coker is also a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and the high technology group of Realtors, Cyberstars.



Mel Coker - A Professional Columbia SC Realtor


When you're ready to BUY or SELL in Greater Columbia, contact Mel Coker
(803) 223-6214
CLICK: Columbia Real Estate
  

1st Day of Spring: Lake Murray Boating Season Begins

Lake Murray from Irmo Side of Dam

Lake Murray:
South Carolina's Beautiful Lake

Warmer weather is bringing out the boaters at Lake Murray!   For complete Lake Murray information, please be sure to visit Mel Coker's Lake Murray information websites:
Lake Murray
Lake Murray Blog
YouTube Lake Murray Video

My website and blog cover topics such as: fishing, events, boating safety, Lake Murray history, lake levels, the purple martins of Lake Murray and much more.

Mel Coker
Columbia & Lake Murray Realtor
(803) 388-8011
Columbia, SC Real Estate

Disaster in Japan

Disaster in Japan
The earthquake/tsunami of last week in Japan is a disaster of epic proportions.  The Japanese people need help.  I've made my donations tonight to TWO of the best charitable organizations that I know of that are appropriate for this kind of disaster. 

Over 3,000 listed as dead as of March 15th (will increase significantly)
Over 15,000 unaccounted for
Over 550,000 displaced from homes

I would recommend the following if you choose to assist with a cash donation:

Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse Report - Catastrophe in Japan

American Red Cross

Thank you!

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor
http://www.melcoker.com/

Mel Coker - On RE/MAX YouTube Channel

Mel Coker: on RE/MAX YouTube Channel

I am the first and (currently) only RE/MAX Realtor in the Greater Columbia area to use the NEW RE/MAX YouTube Channel.  It's a great tool that I will utilize for the benefit of Buyers/Relocation Clients and for my listing clients.  Mel Coker is Columbia's exclusive CyberStars Realtor - a group of professional Realtors that embrace technology in selling real estate.

Currently, I have 3 videos posted:  "Meet Mel Coker", "Lake Murray Home for Sale" and "Lake Murray - An Overview".   More video will follow in the future.

Try it...
Go to: www.YouTube.com/remax
Click on the SmartMAP tab
Type in: "Columbia, SC" or "Lexington, SC" or "29212" or similar Columbia area zip and you will find Mel Coker's YouTube video

When you're ready to BUY or SELL in Greater Columbia (Lexington, Lake Murray, Irmo, Chapin, Northeast Columbia), call Mel Coker: (803) 388-8011 or visit my Columbia Real Estate website.




Click for larger image size



Meet Mel Coker - Columbia, SC Realtor

Mel Coker - Columbia, South Carolina Realtor
Watch the video - only 2 minutes, 38 seconds






Columbia's hometown Realtor - I've lived in Columbia all of my life.
Columbia's technology Realtor - multiple websites, blogs, many uses of technology
Columbia's professional Realtor - multiple designations: CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Columbia, SC
803-388-8011

Columbia SC Real Estate

Out of this world REAL ESTATE service in Columbia, South Carolina!

Call or email MEL COKER at RE/MAX Metro Associates
Call:  (803) 388-8011
Click:  Website

Designations/Awards/Memberships:
Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
Cyberstars (exclusive in Columbia, SC)
RE/MAX Hall of Fame






Calling (Scanning) for Mel Coker!



Special Rates: Columbia SC Hotels

A SPECIAL DEAL for HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
from Mel Coker, Columbia's Realtor of Choice

Need a great place to stay while visiting Columbia, SC?   Book your room at one of my highly recommended hotels and ask for the "MEL COKER REAL ESTATE RATE."

I have made arrangements for these special rates with hotel management for these two fine hotels: Wingate by Wyndham and Staybridge Downtown Columbia.  Both hotels have a commitment to provide the highest levels of guest satisfaction.

Wingate by Wyndham - Harbison/Irmo area

Wingate by Wyndham - located in the Irmo/Harbison area
Call (803) 407-6366 or (800) 826-5570
217 Lanneau Court; Columbia 29212

Located off Columbiana Drive between Harbison Boulevard and Lake Murray Boulevard in the Irmo/Harbison area, near Lake Murray and Mel Coker's RE/MAX office.
Current pricing on special rate: (Mel Coker Real Estate Rate) $79 nightly / $50 extended stay
Internet:  Wingate by Wyndham - Harbison



Staybridge Suites - Downtown Columbia

 Staybridge Suites Downtown Columbia
Call (803) 451-5900 or (877) 238-8889
1913 Huger Street; Columbia 29201

An all suite hotel located one mile from the University of South Carolina and just blocks from downtown restaurants, museums and and the popular Vista area.
Current pricing on special rate: (Mel Coker Real Estate Rate) $99 nightly / $79 extended stay
Internet:  Staybridge Suites Downtown Columbia

Naman Hotels has also created a new website for Columbia events: Columbia SC Events

Visiting to buy Columbia, SC real estate?

Contact Mel Coker - Columbia's Internet Technology Realtor

Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011

Internet:  Columbia SC Real Estate