Ron Rothenberg, homeowner and exclusive buyer's agent, has a love-hate relationship with hot water heaters. He's ready to break up with his conventional direct-fired water heater. This is one of the reasons why: Apres le water heater, le deluge by Ron Rothenberg (edited from 2010 post) Conventional water heaters have always bothered me. Why would
As of December 1, this year, all houses built before 1975 will need to be equipped with 10-year smoke detectors. Current law requires that smoke detectors be replaced every 10 years, but most people don’t do it. The new rule, detectors will have sealed 10-year batteries. When the battery squeaks, it is time to replace
Ron Rothenberg 4Buyers Real Estate I’ve had a new energy-saving device for over a year, and I love it, and it has more than paid for itself a few times over, and it only cost me $20.00 at the Mass Save store website. It’s an Evolve showerhead, and it saves energy and solves the problem
I'll even tell you where to put 'em. Ron Rothenberg 4 Buyers Real Estate Open Houses, how I hate them, for so many reasons. Rona has detailed so many reasons why Open Houses don’t benefit sellers. I think they’re the worst possible way for a buyer to look at house. They’re geared towards
Let my clients go! (and see your house!) Ron Rothenberg 4 Buyers Real Estate “Do they really want to sell this house?” asks my buyer, when I finally arrive with the keys. We’ve been trying to look at this condo for two days. Yesterday, the broker said her assistant would leave the
Follow in my steps Ron Rothenberg 4 Buyers Real Estate “Walking is man’s best medicine” – Hippocrates, 3rd Century B.C. When I was 11, a friend’s mother bought me a stopwatch. I timed everything. I timed baseball games, I timed radio newscasts, I timed how long it took me to pee. How
Sic Transit Gloria Paper Checks Ron Rothenberg 4 Buyers Real Estate Few industries have defended their attachment to paper as ferociously as real estate law. But the reign of paper may be ending, as digital contract signatures become more the norm than the exception. One piece of paper that hasn't gone away
And who couldn't use some of that? by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate I love rebates. I even love filling out rebate forms. I especially love receiving checks and gift cards. Right now, I’ve got a $715 gift card burning a hole in my pocket. I got it from the gas company
Apres le water heater, le deluge by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate Conventional water heaters have always bothered me. Why would anyone install an appliance that is guaranteed to fill your basement with water the moment its warranty expires? The age of the conventional water heater may be ending. I'm happy to see
Friends, Broker, Homesellers: lend me your house. by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate Usually the buyers I work for have a bit of time. If we can't see a house one day, we'll see it the next, though frequently we just move on and never see the houses that were unavailable on the first