By Dave Twombly When you spend your days going in and out of different properties you often come across interesting things. I imagine this is especially true in an area like Boston where buildings date back to well before the founding of the nation and it's not at all rare to show houses built in
By Dave Twombly When you live on the 3rd floor of a triple decker and have the remarkable ability to perspire at the drop of a hat, air conditioners become your best, and most important, ally. It's with this in mind that in late May of every year I go through the ritual of hauling
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
Follow the green dot til it turns blue, there's your leakby Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate In the old days, meaning before six months ago, I would walk around my house one windy day each autumn with a lit match in one hand and a caulk gun in the other. I'd try
Brighter days ahead for you and meby Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate It's almost Springtime. Today, I noticed some of my daffodils and crocuses are starting to push their way up through the soil and towards the bright sun. The days are brighter, too, I was calculating as I was driving home this sunny
by Dave Twombly, 4 Buyers Real Estate You might be shocked to learn this, but in my line of work I see a lot of houses. Some of them are empty, but most are still being lived in. I've been noticing a trend of late that I find pretty disturbing. Living in New England means
Shade: nature's own (almost free) energy saverby Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate "Awnings can directly affect energy use by simply blocking the sun. heat gain through windows is one of the main reasons why buildings need air conditioners... In some climates you can save 20 to 25% of your cooling energy just by using
will your next toilet keep you flushed with satisfaction?by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate I've been potty-talking lately as I've asked all the plumbers, contractors, home inspectors I meet about toilets. I talked to many neighbors about this topic, too, and found that more interest swirled around this subject than I would have imagined.
When it comes to efficiency, size does matter.by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate The heating systems in most homes I see are much too big for the job they have to do. If you have a boiler that's too large, it will cost you more throughout its shortened life. You’ll throw more up-front money
Want to save energy? Just add water.by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate An often-forgotten energy saver is plain old water, added to your home's air. Humid air will feel warmer on your skin than dryer air, partly because it slows the evaporation of sweat from your skin As they love to remind you repeatedly