Summertime, and you can fry an egg on the street! Last week’s heat wave led to this most-asked question: “Do you have air conditioning?” In the house, with no air conditioner I ‘fessed up to people, this year, that I did not grow up with air conditioning. I did not get one until years after
Summertime is when Massachusetts heads outdoors. Sometimes, this leads to tragedy. A fire in Arlington reminded me that smoking on the porch is not a foolproof way to keep your house safe from fire. Smoking can set a house on fire Smoking is a major cause of fire in residences in Massachusetts. It’s not so
Improvements. Which ones pay off at resale? As a buyer's agent, I get asked that all the time. Surprised? Once our clients become homeowners, they start thinking like sellers. Some improvements pay back at a high rate at resale. Some only pay back in your enjoyment of the place (although they may help you sell
It is baby squirrel season. Sometime this winter, squirrels find romance in attics and other indoor spaces. Babies start moving around in April or May. So, if you are hearing squirrels now, likely you have a family of squatters. What to do? Seriously, hire someone! We know a few good people in the Boston area.
Here is an idea that should cross the pond. February is the time to think about creating nesting places for local birds. In England, the British Trust for Ornithology has been running a National Nest Box Week since 1997. The organization encourages people to create nesting places for local birds. Their habitats are being threatened by
Happy New Year. Today, I am nerding-out on you about hot water tanks. The basics of hot water: Direct-fire tanks are typical in Massachusetts. These are the gas or electric tanks that run a flame under a tank of water. When you open your faucet, you use some of that 30- or 40- or 50-
Here at 4 Buyers Real Estate, the year 2020 will go down in history as the year when our summer, fall, and winter buyers chose to buy because they hate where they are living now. In normal times, purchases feel more optional. This year, they had a special urgency. After the lockdown in the spring,
If you are thinking about how to spend money for gifts this “holiday season,” consider yourself lucky. There are large numbers of people in America who have no discretionary income for gift giving this year. What do you buy? All year long, what you spend on is what you use. You choose where to
What does your house need from you as winter approaches? Before the first frosty night, do these things: Close and lock all your windows. They seal better when they are locked. Turn off your outdoor spigot. If you don’t, it might freeze and break. It’s easy. Find the shut off in your basement. Turn it
Creating a Pod During this pandemic, extended families of blood or affinity are forming. The term “pod” is being used to describe small groups of households who are sharing tasks like shopping and childcare. Modern pods are usually neighbors or parents of school-chums. Being in a pod involves a good deal of trust that the