What are those things on that roof and why are they there? Those little spikes are there to break up sheets of ice and snow that will be falling off the roof this season. If the ice comes down in one, solid sheet, it is heavy and can damage property and hurt people. It is
Winter. Yes, the days are short now. Soon we'll see (and be shoveling) snow. Will we see white stuff like last year, or the year before? I get asked questions about snow removal, as a real estate agent. Since they are legal questions, I depend on Attorney Richard Vetstein for accurate legal answers to general
This was the “Thanksgiving of the mouse.” Two out of three of the households we visited had uninvited squatters of the rodent variety. I ended up being the hero this week. My niece, who is a tall, strong woman turns into a ten-year-old at the thought of a mouse. Well, not entirely. The day before
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
All houses built before 1975 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 the whole unit. Here’s the thought behind
One of my pet peeves about houses for sale is that many of them are unpleasant because they are dirty. Houses collect hold odor in the heat of the summer and in the dead of the winter. Sellers, ventilate. Sellers, clean your homes. Sellers, don’t cover it with perfume! It’s little wonder why some places
Part I: Building the home music studio that won’t drive your neighbors crazy Email from M.R., a long-time reader: I'm a landlord in Somerville (I have two 2-family houses), I'm a long-time reader of the Globe RE blog, and finally, I'm a basement drummer. I've spent a few weekends' worth of time sound-proofing the basement
Seller’s Statement of Property Condition is a standard form. As a buyer, you may see this 8-page form at an open house. It’ll be on the table with a big “DO NOT REMOVE” written across the top. If you like a house and are considering making an offer, you should be reviewing this paperwork before
How well do exclusive buyer’s agents do, in the face of a tough seller’s market? Here are results for the hardest seller’s market we have faced, ever! Our report card for the first half of 2016: Total amount under original asking negotiated by -$213,500 Total amount negotiated after inspections: -$19,000 Total paid over asking price
In single-family houses, the air conditioner compressor can be a problem for you or for your neighbors, depending on where you place it. If it is your machine, your windows will be closed when it is running, so it has to vibrate a lot before it will get on most people’s nerves. Where houses are