Posts with tag 'homeowners'

I never would have expected that in my life I would think so much about floors. At some point, something ignited within me that now causes me to examine the floors inside practically every building I enter and compare them against the floors in my own home. Most of my floors are pine, and I like them well enough, but I am jealous of beautiful old maple boards. Pine is a softwood, so they scratch and scuff easily, though it doesn't bother me too much. I try to find the silver linings, like how they pop and creak in places when I walk on them—I honestly love that they have that rustic charm. They certainly aren't perfect; nails pop out in places and the boards are further apart than I'd like, allowing for dirt and dog hair to get into all of the seams (but of course not far enough apart for the vacuum to fit into!) Still, they've held up fairly well over the years and make sense in my little house.

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I am in my declutter era—that goes for my house, mind, email inbox, and Facebook friend list. It is so easy to just become surrounded by stuff, even when you're trying to be intentional about doing the exact opposite. Recently, I cleaned out a kitchen drawer that had become a graveyard for plastic grocery bags. Some had receipts in them from almost 10 years ago! The truth is, I hadn't added to that plastic bag stockpile for some time—since the local food co-op stopped offering them and reusable bags have become the norm—but I also never got rid of them either, for fear of being wasteful. It took all of 10 minutes to take them out of the drawer and Google a place nearby to recycle them. I couldn't believe how much lighter I felt after that, and that is what kicked off this decluttering journey.

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I recently met some folks who moved to the area a few years ago, and were telling me about how they took part in a townwide survey-type project regarding well water testing. I don't know all of the details, but it sounded like they were invited to participate in a free testing as part of a research project regarding well water in their area. It sounded fairly simple; they had to collect some samples, send them off, and wait for the results to come back in a few weeks. 

One of my favorite parts of my house is that it has its own well and the water straight out of the tap tastes so good. I've never given much thought beyond how good it tastes, and never wondered why. But after talking to these people about their well water testing project, it got me thinking: I have never had my well water tested in the twelve years I've lived in my house. I know for sure when I bought it, there was some sort of disclosure regarding the well water testing and that the results didn't show anything abnormal, but I can't recall when that testing actually took place prior to me purchasing my house.

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Living in a state with distinct seasons, it's sometimes difficult to choose which time of year we like best because each has its high points. However, the lure of summertime swimming, barbecuing, vacationing, and basking under sunny skies makes the summer months, hands-down, the top favorite for many people.   

"Those long and lazy summer days have a definite appeal, but to enjoy them to their fullest, plan to tackle any home maintenance chores early on," Andy Smith, Broker/Owner of Badger Peabody & Smith Realty, said. "Sunny but cooler days in early summer are prime times to get outside and take care of sprucing up your property. Regular maintenance is important to keep your home and property looking good, especially if you plan on selling your home in the next few years. And tackling small problems before they escalate will save you time and money."

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Mountain homes face unique environmental challenges due to their location, elevation, and exposure to extreme weather conditions. At Badger Peabody & Smith Realty, our real estate agents understand the importance of energy efficiency in New Hampshire mountain properties and can help you identify homes with eco-friendly features or advise on upgrades that will enhance your property's sustainability and value.

• Insulation Improvements for Mountain Climates
  In mountain regions where temperatures fluctuate dramatically, proper insulation is essential for maintaining comfort and reducing energy consumption. Consider upgrading to high-performance insulation in attics, walls, and crawl spaces with appropriate R-values for New Hampshire's climate zone. Focus on sealing air leaks around windows, doors, and foundations that allow precious heat to escape during harsh winter months and cool air to escape during warmer periods.

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