The Wonders of Masking Tape

Recently I showed a house in the Hartford area where the homeowner had a strong affection for masking tape. Throughout the home we saw its various uses; acting as an insulating material to seal gaps between a door and its frame, serving as a water barrier to caulk around a bathroom vanity, replacing glue to hold together a broken piece of wood covering the water meter, and stitching together tears in a porch screen. Overall,

Furry Little Critters

Our neighborhoods are full of wildlife. Some of our furry friends are cuter than others.     Some like to use your home as their own personal playground.     Some even want to move in with you!     The best way to prevent the critters from moving in is to keep the all the gaps and openings buttoned up nice and tight. But there are other alternatives.    

Old Paint in the Basement

Most homes that I show to my buyers have a corner of the basement with cans of old paint. Amy and I probably have more than most in our own home, just in case we need to touch up any one of the rainbow of colors that adorn our walls. We also have a couple of cans containing colors that are no longer in use. While homeowners may feel comfortable stockpiling reserves, they can become

Our Tree Dilemma

Kyle and I live on a small piece of property. 0.16 acres to be exact (according to the City of Hartford). On the 0.16 acres we have our house, a small driveway, a shed, some gardens and shrubs, a weeping cherry tree, a medium-sized maple tree, and 4 very large maple trees. We’ve got a lot going on for our tiny plot. I must admit, we have a love/hate relationship with our 4 very large

Solar Power for Connecticut

Last evening I attended a seminar on residential solar systems presented by Alteris Renewables, a firm that specializes in integration and installation of renewable energy systems. This particular talk was focused on photovoltaic solar systems and the associated Connecticut state assistance program. The earth receives huge amounts of energy every year in the form of sunlight. Photovoltaic solar systems are able to capture some of that energy and convert it directly into electricity. Homeowners can