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
Below are two tales. One is a story about a squirrel and one about a raccoon. Neither should live, rent free, in your home. The squirrel: 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
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-
One of the features that people want more than usual since 2020 is a big bedroom, preferably with an attached bathroom. I have some ideas about why. Bedrooms are multi-tasking in 2020 Home office: When physical school closed last March, students and their parents scrambled for spaces where online work and online school could happen
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
House hunting idea: two households band together and buy a two-family house together. Massachusetts allows owners of two-family and three-family houses to convert them into two or more condos. This is not typical in other parts of the country. There are lots of advantages to buying a two-family house, especially in our high-price condo market.