your home
Supplement of the
Community Advocate October 11, 2019
2 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019
Because your kitchen isn’t just about making food, it’s about making time. CSB’s Home Equity Line of Credit featuring fixed rate conversions*
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%
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%
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*Maximum 80% LTV product. Home Equity Line of Credit Introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 1.99% good for first 6 months upon opening. Thereafter, the rate, including the rate on any existing account balance will convert to the applicable variable rate. Equity Lines of Credit are variable rates subject to increase after consummation, adjusting monthly to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Prime Rate minus .25% with a maximum APR rate of 18.00% with a floor of 4.00%. WSJ Prime Rate currently 5.00% as of 10/1/19. An early termination fee applies for equity lines of credit closed within 24 months of opening the line of credit. Maximum Loan to Value 80%. Appraisal may be required at applicants' expense. Offer applies to 1-4 family, owner-occupied primary residences only. Condominiums must be Fannie Mae approved. Not available for homes currently for sale or intended to be sold within 6 months of closing. Property homeowner's insurance is required. Fees for opening the account range from $0 to $880. A fixed rate conversion option is available. Borrowers may elect to convert an outstanding balance to a fixed rate at any time during the draw period (first 10 years of the term). There is a $50 fee for every conversion. Other restrictions may apply. All loans are subject to credit approval.
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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
Rooms with a View your local source for design and more
PHOTO/LAUREN SCHIFFMAN
Kate LaCount, founder and owner, Rooms with a View
By Lauren Schiffman Contributing Writer Westborough - As founder and owner of Westboroughbased Rooms with a View, Kate LaCount shares in the excitement of her clients’ home remodeling and renovation projects. In addition to leading the business’ design work, she also manages renovation projects, estimates project costs and works closely with renovation and trade
professionals to determine each project’s material and labor needs. Largely self-taught with some “architectural drawing, design and business management courses early on,” LaCount has long held an interest in home decor. Her career began in her home, where she designed and fabricated window treatments. LaCount then established and managed a flooring department at a local home center. There,
her interest in home design and its construction began to develop. That eventually led her to hone her expertise in design and estimating, eventually leading her to open her own retail tile and home decor shop in 2000. Today, Rooms with a View offers clients such services as interior/exterior home and commercial design consultation; design, budget planning project management and trade coordination for bath and
your home
kitchen renovation projects; specifying tile and home finishes; and coordinating installation services. When working on a home renovation, clients may choose from tile, stone, wood and vinyl flooring; and glass enclosures, countertops, plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware. LaCount ’s trade partners also can secure bathroom and kitchen cabinetry and custom woodwork for projects like built-ins or fireplace mantels. The variety of products come “from all over the world,” said LaCount. “Most of our ‘international’ offerings are resourced through local distributors with whom we have long standing relationships.” Other products come from specialty manufacturers, like Mediterra Tile and Arto tile, the latter of which offers handmade ceramic and concrete tile. Finally, LaCount and her daughter, who is also part of the team, work together to identify other products they know will meet their client needs as well as their budgets. LaCount encourages potential clients to visit the Westborough showroom at 45 East Main Street to see
• Friday, October 11, 2019 • 3
the products for themselves. “Browsing is encouraged,” she says, “but for personalized design assistance,” she suggests making an appointment. What can clients expect when they choose Rooms with a View for a project? First, an interactive meeting helps both the client and Rooms with a View team to articulate their ideas, interests, needs and expectations. “Our ‘team’ approach offers all the needs related to a design and build project without the typical mark up... I have a flat fee structure for planning, budget and construction phases, which is transparent. Well-established relationships amongst our dedicated and like-minded team make it easy for us to deliver our projects on time and on budget,” LaCount said. She added that project timelines are established and executed efficiently and effectively, which is “critically important” to the Rooms with a View team. The Rooms with a View showroom is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visit www.roomswav.com or call 508-870-2211.
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4 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019
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A
ll summer long you’ve enjoyed outdoor living. But now it’s time to close the umbrella, put away the cushions and move the furniture indoors. Before you pack up your patio for the season, make sure it’s ready for storage and in good shape for next year.
“One of the biggest mistakes people make with outdoor furniture is thinking they can withstand anything,” said decorator and interior planner Hope Morris, who is a sales manager at PatioLiving, an online patio furniture retailer.
“Each season, patio furniture stands up against UV rays and extreme temperatures, not to mention bad weather and often pets.” Read on for expert tips on protecting your patio furniture:
Experts from the home improvement store Lowe’s advise monthly cleaning and maintenance for patio furniture to help it look great and last a long time. They say soap and water work for most patio pieces and suggest a low-setting pressure washer for deep cleaning. It’s important to keep the cushions tidy and dry to prevent must and mold. While outdoor furniture can be made from a variety of materials including wrought iron, wood, wicker, aluminum, steel, fabric or resin, the Lowe’s experts said resin is the hassle-free option that requires little maintenance. Serious mildew can be removed with one cup of bleach, two cups of detergent and a gallon of water. Use gloves and eye protection while cleaning. Keep it clean throughout the season and especially before putting it in storage. “Dusting the dirt off and cleaning your furniture with a mild dish soap and warm water is something you should get in the habit of doing to keep the grime off your furnishings,” said Morris.
Shield it
Protect the furniture from the elements to keep it in good shape. “Add a few cushions to your furniture,” suggested Nathan Ripley, director of Maid Just Right, a house cleaning and maid service. “This simple measure will make your chairs and seating furniture more comfortable but will also protect them from the sun. This will prevent the paint from drying and cracking, as well as the material being damaged or sun bleached.” For more protection, inPatio | 5
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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019 • 5
Pesky pipe problems Keep your plumbing safe from freezing
T
wo winters ago, Tim and Alice finished saving up and took their dream vacation. They left the cold weather behind and spent two weeks sunning in the Caribbean. They came home refreshed and were thrilled to see their driveway had been plowed by the contractor they’d hired. They didn’t have a care in the world - until they opened their front door
The entire downstairs in their beautiful two-story home was ankle-deep in water thanks to a burst pipe. After four months, the repairs were complete, but they can’t replace many of the water-damaged mementos they lost. It was a harsh lesson to learn. Tim and Alice spoke with plumbers and with their insurance company to find out how to keep their pipes from freezing and bursting again. Here are some of the tips they were given: When you are leaving your home for any extended period
of time during the winter, it is OK to turn your thermostat down, but be careful about choosing a cold temperature setting. Even though water freezes at 32 F, that’s way too low for your home thermostat. Your home is bound to have drafty corners, where the temperature may actually dip lower than in the rest of the house. Even in under-sink cabinets, pipes are often behind closed cabinet doors, where heat may not penetrate. If the cabinet is on an exterior wall, you have a prime setup for frozen pipes. Keep all interior doors open
Prepped patio Patio | from page 4
stall a sunscreen to block out the sun and rain. Morris recommends using covers to protect your furniture when it’s not in use. “There are a variety of covers out there that are UVresistant and waterproof that will help protect your lovely seating or table from the elements,” she said. Lowe’s experts recommend consumers invest in a water-resistant cover that has UV protection. The goal is to shield the chairs, table, umbrella and other patio gear from dust, dirt, pollen, sap and water, in a variety of temperatures.
Refresh it
Add a coating of protective finish, if needed. “Regularly applying weatherproofing products is one of the best ways to protect patio furniture. You’ll want to double check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure the product works well with your furniture before using,” said Morris.
Still she warned: “Don’t apply just any UV protection or water-proofing product to your furniture,” advising consumers to research weatherproofing products to see which ones work for your furniture. Alternatively, you can touch up paint the furniture at the start of the next season.
Store it
Store the furniture in your garage, shed or basement during the off-season and even in season, when it’s not in use. By keeping the patio furniture indoors, you’ll extend the set’s color and shine, as well as prevent rust or rot. Note that wood sets are especially important to keep inside. That’s because the wood can warp or rot when it gets damp or wet. Metal sets are prone to rust if conditions are too damp. Consider running a dehumidifier to keep extra moisture out of your storage area. With a little prep in the fall, enjoying those beautiful summer days outside will be a breeze!
so that the air will circulate throughout your home. If water inside the pipe freezes, pressure will build up and may cause the pipe to burst. It is generally considered safe to lower your thermostat to the mid-50s to compensate for some of the colder spots. Be sure to patch, plug or cover potential leaks, such as under your front door and around window frames. Cover attic fan gables, but remember to uncover them immediately upon your return. Adjust the temperature setting on automatic whole-house fans so they won’t accidentally cycle on. Remember to close all of your windows (and lock them for security). Leave your under-sink cabinet doors open so that heat can circulate around those pipes as well. Don’t forget to insulate outdoor and basement water sources. Wrap pipe insulation materials (found at your local hardware or home goods store)
around any exposed pipes. If you can see it, wrap it. If you are going to leave your house empty for an extended period of time, such as the entire winter, you might be tempted to turn off your heat altogether (it is still recommended to leave your thermostat set at low). If we cannot talk you out of it, at least take some modest precautions: Make sure all of your pipes are insulated. Leave your faucets open just enough to drip slowly; the dripping water will help keep pressure from building up in the line. Be sure that all of your dripping faucet sink drains are clear and uncluttered to avoid water buildup overflowing the sink’s rims. When you return home, if the water from your faucets won’t flow or the toilet does not refill after flushing, there’s a good chance you have frozen pipes. If you find that your pipes are frozen - and hope-
fully not burst - you can slowly rewarm the pipes using a blow dryer or towels soaked in warm water. Another option is to wrap an electric heating pad around the pipe (but do not leave this unsupervised). Make sure your faucets are open and then heat the exposed pipes slowly. Keeping the faucets open as the ice thaws will allow water to flow rather than building up pressure. Refrain from using an open flame to thaw the pipes; aside from the obvious fire risk, an open flame may thaw the ice too rapidly, causing pressure to build up. Call a licensed plumber if trying to thaw the pipes yourself isn’t doing the job. If the pipes have already burst, call your plumber immediately, turn off the whole house’s water supply to prevent more water buildup and turn off your electricity to prevent any short circuits caused by water touching live wires.
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6 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019
Do what you can Home heating solutions on a budget
S
eeing your electric bills spike in the colder months can be enough to make you want to forgo using your heater and just wear a coat indoors. Luckily, there are many heating systems to choose from these days to help get you more bang for your buck.
According to the Green Energy Efficient Homes website, the most efficient way to heat your home is to make sure your house is as well-insulated and air-sealed as possible (to prevent the heat from escaping) and to use as efficient, cheap and low-carbon an energy source as possible. Solar heating is the most efficient and affordable home heating system on the market today.
Not only is solar heating cheapest in terms of installation and operation, but it also has no operating costs. The energy is free, except when there’s a lack of sunlight or when very cold temperatures require you to supplement some other source of heat. Sam Syed, owner of Green Energy EPC, a solar energy company, said you can heat a house with solar using a solar
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air heating system or a solar radiant floor heating system, the latter being the more efficient of the two. In a radiant floor heating system, hot air from solar air heating collectors is pumped into the pipe system in the floor to heat the house. Solar electric systems, also called photovoltaic systems, involve solar panels and produce electricity during the day. They are generally installed on one’s roof. “A sufficiently sized solar photovoltaic system can completely eliminate the electric bill,” said Syed. “Keep in mind that even if you put a large solar electric system on the house that will produce all the electricity you need, there will be a minimum electric bill you will receive every month. Think of it as a basic connection charge to the utility grid.” Syed points out that the federal government is currently giving financial tax credits to people who install certain types of solar electric systems. With these benefits, a solar electric system will pay for itself within four to five years.
“After that, people will have a free system and free energy for many, many years.” When it comes to conventional heating options, the cheapest is natural gas, followed by oil and then electric. Marla Mock, vice president of operations at the heating and air conditioning company Aire Serv, said natural gas is fast-acting - a gas furnace produces maximum heat as soon as the burners start running - and is less expensive to operate than electricity. “If you live in a cold climate and run your heater a lot during the winter, a gas furnace can save you money over the long run,” said Mock. However, Mock notes that gas furnaces’ installation is more complicated (due to their venting requirements), so they require a larger upfront investment than electric furnaces. Gas furnaces also have shorter lifespans. “You can expect a gas furnace to last 10 to 20 years, which is about half as long as an electric unit,” Mock said. A pro of electric furnaces, Mock said, is that they can be installed quickly and just about anywhere, as they don’t need to vent to the exterior. But their cons include slower heating - an electric furnace must spend time powering up the heating element before it
can start to warm your home, so you have to wait longer for the effects of turning up the thermostat to kick in - and an electric furnace has a higher lifetime cost than a gas furnace operating under the same conditions. “The biggest flaw with electric furnaces is that, while some boast near 100-percent efficiency, the higher cost of electricity makes electric heat more expensive than gas heat,” she said. Other heating options include eco-efficient geothermal heating systems, which use the same kind of compressor that extracts heat from a refrigerator. Geothermal systems can be a great way to save on heating costs, but their installation costs can be high. Electric space heaters which are affordable, starting at around $20 - work well to heat a single room quickly and are generally quite energyefficient. And then there’s the good old-fashioned woodburning fireplace, which can be very low-cost, especially if you have access to free or cheap firewood. Mock suggests you insulate your home by laying rugs or carpets to prevent heat loss through the floor, installing doorjambs to seal the space under your doors or hanging thermal curtains. Syed recommends using good insulation - R30 - in the ceilings and attics and R19 or R11 insulation in the walls. He also recommends installing energy-efficient windows, replacing single-pane windows with double-pane ones, replacing drafty doors and windows and installing darkcolor roof material to absorb the sun’s heat into the house. Another cost-effective tip from Mock: Heat your home by using humidifiers with controls to reset the humidity level based on outside air temperature. This combination will keep frost from forming; the requested humidity level will be lowered as outside temperatures fall and be restored to normal during less severe weather. Mock recommends a normal humidity level of 35-45 percent, but as temperatures dip into the single digits, it should be set closer to 20 percent. Another tip: Set your inside temperature to 68 F, “a comfortable temperature if you dress for the season,” saving you “about 8 percent compared to keeping the thermostat at 72 degrees,” Mock said.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
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8 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019 TWO COOL SHOPS ONE GREAT PLACE
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Gary@MoveWithGary.com
68 Tower St., Hudson | 978-212-5935
struggle when asked at a party, “What do you do?” While the question is often aimed at determining socioeconomic status, many people don’t have a positive perspective on “REALTOR®.” Heck, it starts with the title REALTOR® being all in caps like it’s being shouted, and is always supposed to have the trademark symbol.
“I sling houses,” is a phrase I stole from another agent. It’s disarming, and frankly it trivializes the role. To make it easy, here is what I do:
together and know their goals, roles and responsibilities. And we make sure they get paid… so the next time we call they answer the phone. It is only right.
Project manage:
Help with transitions:
Buying or selling a house requires a large cast of characters all pulling on the same rope. Loan officers, attorneys, photographers, drone pilots, inspectors, electricians, plumbers, painters, carpet, movers, fire departments, public works (water and sewer bills), etc., etc., etc. All need to come
A change of abode is often driven by a life transition. New job, new baby, a spouse, a death, a divorce, a need to downsize. We see people at their best and worst. We are there for tears of joy and sadness. We never know when someone might be happy or sad or both (both when they sell the home and realize it’s not their home anymore).
Negotiate:
A lot of what we do is negotiation. Yes, the big things, like the price and, just as importantly, the terms. We also negotiate dates, inspection items, extensions, etc.
Deal with emergencies:
Peace of mind… is our
policy.
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WESTBOROUGH
AUBURN
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We recently had a home inspector flood one of our listings. Yup, he left two faucets running with the drain stopper in and walked away. A mistake, with two floors of water. While the inspector sad ly fled the scene, we called ServPro and made sure the property was protected. ServPro arrived with two trucks and three men and went about their work. The owner was about an hour away, and did not return. “I trust you, Gary, you will do the right things for me,” the owner said. I didn’t call and ask permission; I took care of the issue.
508-832-0404
MoveWithGary (dot com) is my domain name (I stole it from Move With Arthur). I don’t run a moving company… and when staging a house often get called upon to move stuff around. The stager has the vision, I have the aging back.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019 • 9
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A change of abode is often driven by a life transition. New job, new baby, a spouse, a death, a divorce, a need to downsize. We see people at their best and worst. We are there for tears of joy and sadness.
Stay current:
We need to stay up on laws/regulations and meet a continuing education requirement to maintain our license. We need to know what’s going on in the neighborhoods we service. We talk with other professionals.
Develop business:
Our business is largely referral based. We need to attend networking meetings and give back to the community. It can’t all be one way. We need to be available. These articles in the Community Advocate are written by me – they don’t come from a service. Last year we sold 34 houses…so we need to develop transactions at a similar pace. Honestly, I’d rather develop relationships and trust the transactions will follow. We try to help people, not slam people into houses.
Work weekends:
Yu p, w e w o r k m o s t weekends between showing houses and doing open houses. My last vacation was
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interrupted by a closing (a joyous occasion) and a house inspection got tacked on.
Drink coffee:
You might see us having coffee at LalaJava or Red Barn. It’s probably because we are between appointments and are working late and a little caffeine boost is a help. So what do I do? I help people make the right move. I Serving all ofAnd New England! listen. I advise. sometimes I cry, too. If you need advice on selling your home or buying a new one, give us a call. We’re also going to be exhibiting at the Southborough Heritage Day on Columbus Day. Kelley is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™ (CLHMS) and awardwinning Realtor. He invites you to follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ MoveWithGary/ www.MoveWithGary.com Gary@MoveWithGary.com 508-733-6005
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Visit any branch or call us! BankMainStreet.com | 508-481-8300 * APR= Annual percentage rate. Currently at 3.99%, introductory rate (fixed) for the first 12 months. Followed by adjustable rate WSJ Prime (5.00%) minus 0.25% thereafter, currently at 4.75%. Minimum line amount is $10,000, maximum line is $1,500,000. $10,000 required draw at closing. Equity Lines of Credit have a floor rate of 4.00%, maximum rate of 18%. HELOC’s are variable rates subject to increase after consummation, adjusting monthly to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Prime Rate minus 0.25%. Maximum LTV is 80%. An early termination fee of $500 applies when a home equity line of credit closes within 3 years or property is sold within 1st year of account opening. Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC | Member DIF
10 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019
Gently used, good quality furniture and household goods By Bonnie Adams Managing Editor Discover Princeton, Central Mass’ Best Kept Secret!
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Call for a private showing of any of these homes! Just one hour from Boston by commuter rail, Princeton is ideal for those seeking land, views, fresh air, and a wonderful community for year-round or weekend enjoyment. With approximately 50% of the land protected and strict laws on building sites, the town hopes to remain this way for decades to come. Come see how much more your investment buys in this special locale that features the acclaimed Thomas Prince K-8 School and Mt. Wachusett for year-round hiking, biking and skiing. 20 minutes to Worcester, one hour to Providence, RI and Manchester, NH. Janet Schoeny 978-808-2429
ti n g
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Hudson – Arti and Shekhar Mehta, the owners of the Circle of Life Consignment store, believe that if given a choice, many consumers would purchase gently used, good quality furniture and household goods, over inferior, mass-produced items. As such, in their large store located at 68 Tower S t. in Hudson, they offer an amazing selection of items including chairs, sofas, decorative accessories, collectibles, fine and every day china, stemware, glassware and kitchen items. There is also fine art, prints, area and Oriental rugs. The store is attractively laid out so shoppers can see how it may look in their own home, whether it be a living room, dining room or kitchen. The merchandise is constantly changing so it ’s a great place to put on your list of favorites stores to check out, whether you are looking for something specific or just like to look to see if something captures your fancy. The store accepts consignments from not only private sellers but also a variety of businesses. Sometimes
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• • • • • • • • • •
the items are actually brand new such as when they recently received a shipment of hotel furniture. (Complete consignment guidelines are on their website.) Consigning is a great way to help those who are downsizing, whether it is your own home or a senior citizen who may have decades of things. “It’s a nice thing to know that even though a piece may not fit your lifestyle anymore, it may be the perfect piece for someone else who will see it, buy it and treasure it their home,” Arti said. “ That philosophy also helps keep things out of landfills as well, which is also really important,” she added. “We like to encourage people to re-use things if possible.” And if the item is not 100 percent to your taste or style, but still has “good bones,” the store has services to help you make it truly your own. “ We can help you refresh that piece, by re-upholstering or refinishing it,” Arti said. “We can work with you to help you get the custom piece you want, within your budget.” The Mehtas also own Artéé Fabrics & Home, which
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is located upstairs in the building. The Hudson location is their 17th retail store – their other stores are along the East Coast, including one in Natick and one in Pawtucket, R.I. The store offers fine fabrics and trim, custom furniture, custom windows and beddings, accessories and more. There are thousands of types of fabrics of all types, including cottons, silks, linens, blends, polyesters in solids, plaids and stripes, embroideries, and prints, so that you can have a truly custom piece made for your home. With over 100,000 fabrics and products ready to ship, you can order the exact item you’re looking for and have it shipped directly to your door. The store also has in home design services (for a nominal charge) to help you. Artéé Fabrics & Home and Circle of Life Consignment are located at 68 Tower Street, Hudson. For more information call 978- 2125935 or email consign@ circ leoflifeconsignment. com or hudson@arteefabricsandhome.com, or visit www.circleoflifeconsignment.com or www.arteefabricsandhome.com
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COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
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white, soft gray or light taupe for the interior walls, paired with white ceilings and trim. For exteriors, she suggested white paint with black shutters and a black door. Basic colors can be appealing for buyers so they can envision themselves living in the home. Carmen Smith, home decor blogger and owner of Living Letter Home, loves to show her readers how to “make small changes on a small budget and make a big impact.”
‘I can’t afford a remodel’
• Friday, October 11, 2019 • 11
Paint is her number one tip. She’s painted all of the interior doors in her home and loves the finished look. “We also couldn’t afford a full kitchen gut job, so we just painted our kitchen cabinets to hold us over,” said Smith. She also used coral-colored paint on a lamp in her daughter’s nursery; when the girl grew, Smith repainted the lamp navy. “Paint is the best, budgetfriendly way to transform the feel of an entire room,” she said.
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A coat of paint is cheap and makes a huge difference
R
emodeling multiple rooms in your home could cost over $18,000, but there’s a much more affordable option for a transformation. Painting the interior of a 2,300-square-foot home costs between $966 and $2,727. Both stats come from HomeAdvisor, an online resource for home improvement tips, advice and connections.
“A fresh coat of paint is a low-cost, little-effort way to make a big change to the way you welcome people into your home - inside and out,” said Erika Woelfel, Behr Paint Co.’s vice president, color and creative services.
New look
A new coat of paint can be a fresh start. “When you change with paint, it feels like a completely new room or house,” said Gentry Stafford, vice president of marketing and store development at Spectrum Paint, the largest independent paint dealer in the country. “That’s a lot more appealing to people than having to deal with an entire move.” Not only does paint look great, but it protects the property’s interior walls from wear and tear and shields the exterior from sun, rain, snow and wind.
Factor in the circumstances of each room. For example, if you have kids, pets or hightraffic areas, pay close attention to your paint. Do you prefer a matte finish? Glossy? Semi-gloss? Stafford said sheen is typically a consumer’s biggest consideration. “If you want a paint that hides mistakes and is easy to touch up, you’ll want something with a flat sheen,” she said. “If you want something that’s a little more durable, you’ll want eggshell or semigloss sheen, though those will show more imperfections in the finish.” Generally, it’s practical to select an eggshell finish for the walls, semi-gloss for the trim, flat finish for the ceiling and semi-gloss for the front door. Don’t forget to prep the walls and prime them, too, for best results.
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Setting a mood
Before choosing a color, consider how you want the space to feel. A lighter color will create an airy feel, while a darker shade can make a space feel cozy and intimate. If you want a classic color scheme, choose neutrals like light beiges and grays. Use darker colors such as gray, navy and black for accents on doors, kitchen islands, bathroom vanities or the lower half of kitchen cabinets. “Choosing interior and exterior paint color should always reflect your personal taste and style,” said Woelfel. Still, when it comes to choosing an exterior paint, it’s a long-term investment. Look for a high quality, durable exterior paint. “You should choose a color you’ll love for years,” she said.
Smart investment
A fresh coat can also be a selling point. “Paint color is one of the least expensive and most visually effective tools sellers use to engage buyers when selling their home,” said home transition expert Caroline M. Carter, founder and CEO of Done In A Day, Inc. Carter’s color picks include
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12 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019
Keep your home in good health An annual home maintenance checklist
A
s with your health, prevention is better than a cure when it comes to the fall and winter health of your home and avoiding costly catastrophes. Nobody wants the expense, inconvenience or aggravation of a heating system that decides to stop working right when you need it most, on the coldest day of the year. Or, having to deal with a flooded basement because your gutters are clogged - especially since these issues are preventable with some advance preparation.
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The checklist can feel like a chore after you’ve just enjoyed your summertime, but preparing your home now for fall and winter weather is time and money well spent. It will save you hassles and potentially large repair bills. Here’s what you need to pay attention to and prep for your home to stay healthy through the fall and winter months ahead.
Inside
- Check your heating system or HVAC: Check that curtains, furniture and carpet aren’t blocking your home’s heating and A/C vents. Clean filters; vacuum all vents and ducts of dust and fluff. Many prefer to have professionals do this and perform an annual system checkup, also. They will inspect your furnace, change filters, check for leaks and can also check air safety for carbon monoxide. - Set your thermostat. To save money on heating while you’re not home or don’t need the temperature set high, adjust your thermostat to automatically lower during the nighttime and the hours of the day you’re away from home. Just a few degrees’ difference can lower your utility bill. - Prep your water heater: Experts advise that you drain your water heater and remove any gunk and settled debris
from the tank. - Clean humidifiers: It’s also a good idea to replace filters so they’re new and fresh for dryheat season. - Reverse ceiling fans: Once you start using your heat, set the ceiling fan blades in a clockwise direction. “Energy Star says the fan will produce an updraft and push down into the room heated air from the ceiling,” according to the Kiplinger website. - Check safety devices: Put new batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Test them to ensure they’re in working order.
Outside
- Inspect the roof and siding: Make sure leaves and debris are not gathering in roof gullies or between siding strips; repair any loose, missing or damaged siding, tiles or shingles. - Prevent ice dams: In harsh winter areas, icicles hanging from your roof can indicate issues with attic or roofing insulation. Also, if snow melts quickly off your roof, it can mean your home is losing heat. A contractor who specializes in weatherization can help identify air leaks that can cause ice dams to pool on the roof, which, when they melt, can cause significant damage. - Clean the gutters: If gut-
ters are clogged, water can pour down the outside of your house and flood your basement or, at the very least, cause foundation damage. Many people prefer to have a professional gutter cleaning service remove leaves and debris, but with a ladder and leaf blower attachment, you can achieve the same result. Also check rainwater downspouts for obstructions, making sure they drain away from the house. -Winterize your A/C: If you have window air-conditioning units, remove, vacuum, cover and store them in a dry place. If they’re not removable, secure a weatherproof cover on them to prevent drafts and air leaks. If you have central air, do the same to your outdoor unit. - Winterize your windows: This is an opportunity to remove and clean screens, store them for spring, and install storm windows. Remember to check seals, also. - Have your chimney swept: It’s recommended that a professional chimney sweep service removes any debris from your chimney, checks that your damper closes properly to avoid drafts, and cleans all vents to prevent any presence of potentially deadly carbon monoxide. Find a local, certified sweep through the Chimney Safety Institute of America. If you have oil, gas, coal or other wood-burning appliances, inspect those closely to be sure they’re clean and fully functioning. Similarly, if you have an emergency generator, now’s the time to test it. And stock up on some extra gasoline for your snowblower, too, storing away from children and fire sources. - Check irrigation systems, sprinklers and faucets: Drain your irrigation system for the season and check for repairs. If you’re in a snowy climate, mark your sprinkler heads. Turn off outdoor faucets, and remove and store hoses. Hoses and pipes full of frozen water can burst. If you have a pool in a cold climate, close that up for the winter, too. - Store summer furniture: If you clean, wash and store any cushions now, they’ll be fresh for next season and last much longer. - Get your leaf blower and snowblowers ready: Check they’re in good working order now, because who wants to stand in a blowing gale or a frigid winter storm and have them stop working?! Pay attention up front before weather hits. You - and your home - will be happy you did.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
VLP LEATHER AND VINYL REPAIR:
Fix just about anything
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This is a c lear, highstrength leather and vinyl repair product designed to mend small rips, tears and holes in most types of vinyl and leather materials. A repair you make with VLP will become stronger than the vinyl or leather material was before the tear. It is amazing and quite inexpensive. This stuff is super strong and extra sticky, so please do not adhere it to a painted surface or use it in another situation where
• Friday, October 11, 2019 • 13
you plan to remove the tape later. This will pull paint or any other fine finish right off.
BONDO ALL-PURPOSE PUTTY:
This is a homeowner’s best friend. It can fill and repair cracks and dents in dr ywall, metal, concrete, masonry and wood surfaces. Here’s the best thing: 3M Bondo All-Purpose Putty can be sanded and painted within 15 minutes of application, making it a quick fix for a wide range of household repairs. Wow, just wow!
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M
aintenance and home repair are a never-ending reality for just about everyone - homeowners and renters alike. But it doesn’t have to be painful or expensive. The secret to making it easy is to fix stuff as it happens - right away, not next month or some more convenient time in the future.
The best way to ensure you’ll actually perform quick home repairs is to have topnotch repair products on hand - in a handy place you will remember. Check out my collection of favorite home repair products, some of which you may have already. And if you have favorites not listed below, please share in the comments area at Everydaycheapskate.com/ home-and-family/home-repair-products/.
SCRATCH-FIX PENS:
There are lots of choices, but you won’t find a better product than Miller Scratch Fix pens for hiding scratches on furniture, floors, cabinets, doors moldings - and even antiques. It makes scratches, stains and imperfections invisible. It dries in seconds, making multiple coats - if necessary - super simple. It contains waterproof wood stain instead of ink, which means that once dry, even wax
and polish won’t smudge it. Follow the directions exactly for the best result.
WELDBOND ADHESIVE GLUE:
This is amazing for most applications. This adhesive cleans up with water, is nontoxic and nearly odorless, and dries clear while remaining flexible. This is the glue you want if you want your repair to remain invisible. It works on porous and nonporous surfaces. It’s best if you scuff the materials to be glued with something like a nail file. This stuff is great on most plastics, wood, metal, tile, porcelain, fabric - items all of us have around our homes that need to be repaired from time to time. It cures fully in only 24 hours.
ORIGINAL GORILLA GLUE:
This product comes in a number of variations, many of which I can live without. It’s the Original Gorilla Glue that has saved my bacon more
than a few times and occupies a permanent location in my repair products drawer. It will stick anything together and hold it there for dear life, and quite possibly through eternity! However, the repair may remain very visible, so plan your strategy carefully.
CLR:
It stands for Calcium, Lime & Rust - the unsightly household annoyances that this incredible product attacks. Whether you have rust stains in your tub or crusty calcium deposits on your humidifier coils, CLR will come to the rescue. This is an amazing product, one you’ll be happy to have on hand when the need arises, which, if you look under the rim of your toilet bowl, may be right now!
WD-40:
Chances are good you grew up with a familiar blue-andyellow can of WD-40 in your parents’ garage. It’s time to make sure there’s one somewhere in your home or garage. Invented more than 60 years ago, WD-40 is the secret sauce of lubricants and other agents that displace water, repel dirt and prevent corrosion. You can use it around the house to silence squeaky door hinges, remove rust from garden tools, clean a whiteboard and perform a zillion other household miracles.
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14 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
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• Friday, October 11, 2019
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he comforts of home are worth every penny. But when you can save those pennies, it’s a real bonus. You can ensure those savings - and feel comfortable no matter the weather - by using a programmable thermostat. You can program it to respond to your family’s personal schedule, to keep the house running economically while no one’s home and to have your home temperature just as you like it when you walk through the door at the end of a long day. Some programmable thermostats feature seven-day schedules so you can set a different pattern for each day of the week. Others have a fivetwo schedule: one setting for during the workweek and one for the weekend. There’s also the option of five-one-one, for more versatility on the weekends. The most basic “clock thermostat” usually permits two programmed settings per day. Digital thermostats allow for more settings instead of just one hot and one cold. And all programmable thermostats offer temporary overrides. Smart thermostats offer even greater control, such as through smartphone apps, which can receive energy usage reports; learned responses to your home schedule, which help make efficient temperature changes as needed; voice controls; Wi-Fi adaptability; humidity sensors; and easy one-touch screen controls. Imagine you have a last-minute change to your schedule. You can notify your thermostat using an app on your
smartphone. Or, if the night is just a tad too chilly and you really don’t want to come out from under the blankets, all you have to do is tell your thermostat to make an adjustment. And smart thermostats will often offer more complex scheduling adaptations for your family’s unique needs. According to the Department of Energy (as cited by Jennifer Noonan on Bob Vila’s home improvement website), “You can save as much as 1 percent on your winter heating bill for every degree you turn your thermostat down for an eight-hour period, and a programmable thermostat can automate those savings for you.” The biggest savings are normally found in moderate climates. It’s best to keep your home at the energy-saving temperature for a minimum of eight hours at a time, such as overnight or when no one is home. If you have multi-zone heating/cooling, you will need to program multiple thermostats for specific areas in your home.
Try to keep your programmed energy-saving temperatures compatible with the outside weather; this will help you avoid heat/cooling loss and heat or cool your home with less energy when the program demands the “at-home” temperature setting. Heat/cooling loss through transference increases as the difference between inside and outside temperatures increases. When you are shopping for a programmable thermostat, check for these important features and consider how they may serve your needs: 1. Make sure the thermostat you choose is compatible with the heating/cooling system you have in place. Most programmable thermostats are inefficient with heat pumps in their heating mode. Electric baseboard heating systems require line-voltage programmable thermostats, which are manufactured only by a few companies. 2. Have a fairly accurate account of your family’s home schedule so that you have a realistic idea of how many programmed settings you will need or if a smartphone app would be the most helpful. Select the thermostat schedule and means of programming that work best for your household. 3. Consider who will most often be doing the programming or using the setback features. Digital thermostats offer many options for programming, overrides, and daylight saving time adjustments, but they are usually complicated to program. By contrast, electromechanical thermostats are usually controlled by sliding bars and are very easy to program. 4. Plan where your thermostat(s) will be located. Make sure that your thermostat won’t be blocked by furniture or in the path of a draft; this will make the thermostat less responsive to the house’s overall temperature and may easily over- or underheat the rooms you use most often. It should be positioned in the natural home air currents, not in direct sunlight or over a heat or cooling vent. Also check whether your thermostat runs on AC or DC power. 5. If your chosen thermostat will respond to voice commands, either through a smart-home device or a smartphone app, be sure that it has reliable voice recognition so no one else can inadvertently or maliciously change your settings.
COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
your home
• Friday, October 11, 2019 • 15
Fall Sale!
Protect your patio plants create a spot for plants during cold spells
Q
: We live in an apartment and are five stories up. We have a balcony with several potted shrubs in large pots. We don’t have room for them indoors. The weather started getting cold and windy, so we moved the pots against the wall. We built a plastic wall on the outside of the pots to stop the wind and help trap some of the apartment heat. It seemed like a good idea, but we checked on the plants, and they look horrible. There is mold growing on the leaves, and the branches look dried up. What did we do wrong? How do we protect plants in such an exposed location?
A
: You had the right idea. Putting the pots against the wall will help moderate the temperature and block the wind a bit. I don’t know which plants you have, but it sounds like they still had their leaves on them when you built your little greenhouse. The greenhouse is the problem. Like any greenhouse, it trapped the heat from sunlight and warmed the plants way too much. The plants then used up all the water in the pots, and that
is what killed the branches. The leaves fell off, and decay organisms started composting the leaves. If the plant varieties you have are capable of surviving planted in the ground in your area, then we only need to protect the root systems, as roots are much less tolerant of cold than branches. The top of the plants would be exposed to very cold air and survive with no extra help. The roots would be planted in and protected by the soil. Next time, after they are against the wall, wrap the
pots in insulating material, and then wrap them in plastic to keep the insulation dry. Lay insulation across the top of the pots, around the trunks and under the branches. This will keep the roots warmer and the tops exposed to the cold. Oh, one more thing: Water the plants before wrapping them, and check to see whether the soil is still damp once a month through the winter. If your plants should not be planted in the ground and only need to be protected from a short cold spell for a few days, then you need to provide the greenhouse with some ventilation. A window flap of sorts that you can open during the day and close at night will help prevent the overheating that you experienced with the first greenhouse. If you think the greenhouse will get too cold at night, you can place plastic milk jugs filled with hot water inside. They will lose their heat overnight and warm up the plants.
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16 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE •
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• Friday, October 11, 2019
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