As houses become more energy efficient, they circulate less air with the outdoors. We used to call that “leaking air”, as if it were a bad thing. But the downside of energy efficient houses is indoor air pollution. Can plants help keep your indoor air cleaner? Yes, they can! As allergy season (hopefully) wains and
You can improve indoor air quality by routinely addressing sources of dust and mold. The more we insulate our houses against winter cold and summer heat, the less air leaks between the house and the great outdoors. Pollen and dust that gets into the house stays there, unless you pay attention to it. Areas that
Real estate must be insured before a lender will close on a mortgage. First time house buyers need to buy homeowner’s insurance before closing on their property and have the policy approved by the lender before closing. If they buy a condo, the condo association has already chosen the insurance and is paying for it
Do you suspect you have mold allergy? Guest blogger Elizabeth Shields writes about mold allergy symptoms and what you can do if you find out that you have a mold issue at home. Mold is a typical issue every homeowner has to deal with from time to time. They’re the slimy black, sometimes greenish, white,
Buying a house is the beginning of a life dream. Selling a house is the end of one. Many home sales are triggered by normal life transitions: Seeking more space, often for positive reasons, such as wanting more room for children. Seeking less space, often for conservation of either maintenance effort or money. Following new
Do you own a house that needs a big change? Do you know what you want to do, but don’t know how to get it done? Are you overwhelmed by the contractors you’ve interviewed? My cool client Holli Bassin met someone who she thought would be an asset to any client who is considering a
A thing of beauty is a joy forever! In honor of Valentine's Day, here is a guide to true love between a house and its buyer. Most people think about beautiful houses as those that have outstanding architecture, or high-end, well-chosen tile or other finishes. That kind of beauty speaks to everyone, at some moment.
Women who leave the workforce From March to June 2020, children were going to school via Zoom in most towns and cities in Massachusetts. Someone had to supervise children doing remote learning. Someone needed to be home, if the children were home. That someone was their mother, more often than not. Women who worked essential
Over the years, some of our clients have needed emergency services for different kinds of house disaster. Fortunately, full-blown fires are rare. Flooding definitely happens to our clients. Disaster: basement flood Most often water in the house is from broken pipes, washing machine overflows or intake line failure, or leaking hot water tanks. Every few
Even in the summer, buyers should think about heating. Why? Because a buyer can’t feel how well the system works once it is shut off for the season. Even when we test it during home inspection, it is not the same as when it is fighting the winds howling outside. This summer, there have been