Home Tips of the Month

Home Tips of the Month From Bonny Lamb

Mass. Law has changed its regulations regarding smoke detectors, so in order to keep you and your family as safe as possible… Any battery-operated smoke detectors that no longer work or are older than 10 years must be replaced with detectors with 10-year batteries. The batteries are non-removable and non-replaceable. The locations of the detectors remain the same, go online, call your local fire department, or call me for placement. However, please don't assume that the batteries will last 10 years; they might not even work for one day, as I discovered a few weeks ago after buying several of the Kidde brand at Home Depot for a smoke inspection at one of my listings. Please test the batteries regularly; they won't warn you that they're getting old by "chirping."

Another change: Manufacturers are replacing ionic batteries with photoelectric, great for us agents who had to know the differences in the rules for smoke inspections. Photoelectric batteries have been required/preferred within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom because they were less sensitive to kitchen smoke and bathroom steam, causes for some occupants of a house or apartment to dismantle the detectors and be unprotected. The hope/intent now is that with all detectors photoelectric, no one will disconnect them. The detectors need to be on the ceiling, not the wall.

Salt is important but too much, not. Drink orange juice, rich in potassium, to help regulate sodium intake.

White vinegar has so many uses and it's "green." Buy it by the gallon–it's inexpensive. I pour it into a shallow bowl in the kitchen to absorb cooking odors, sometimes also using the microwave vent – it works. There are many more useful and surprising ways to use vinegar.

Check them out here.

For home tips on just about everything, Click here.

Another reminder about English ivy, an invasive species, which strangles and kills trees. It's our local kudzu, all too evident in Cambridge, Belmont and Somerville, taking over gardens and climbing trees. At the beginning of the climb, the roots can be pulled from the trees; once securely attached to the tree or wedged within the interstices of the trunk, the roots of the plant need to be sawed to destroy it.

Very best,

Bonny Lamb

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Home Tips of the Month

Home Tips of the Month
from Bonny Lamb

As summer winds down and locally grown foods are in abundance, do keep in mind that strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples have a good chance of being contaminated by pesticides, according to “Nutrition Action.”

The good news is that “Nutrition Action” lists watermelon, which we all/almost all love, as a “heavyweight in the nutrient department.” Watermelon, basil leaves and feta cheese make a quick and fun-eating salad.

Because we agents continuously see houses

without carbon monoxide detectors, here’s a reminder regarding placement: within 10 feet of any bedroom; at least 1 detector for each 1,200 square feet of space on “living” floors without bedrooms; the Cambridge Fire Dept. considers an unfinished basement habitable space, so a detector in the basement is needed, too. (If your properly placed and properly installed smoke detectors are combination smoke/co, the detectors are required to emit an audio alarm.) CO detectors can be plug-in; need to have battery backup; and don’t need to be affixed to the ceiling like smoke detectors.

The City of Cambridge no longer permits the removal of trees on private property without City approval. Effective March, 2019, an amended City Ordinance restricts removal of “significant trees” on private property. “Significant trees” have a diameter of 8 inches or more (measured 4 feet above ground). Removal of any significant private property tree requires a permit from the City.

Another reminder about English ivy, an invasive species, which strangles and kills trees. It’s our local kudzu, all too evident in Cambridge, Belmont and Somerville, taking over gardens and climbing trees. At the beginning of the climb, the roots can be pulled from the trees; once securely attached to the tree or wedged within the interstices of the trunk, the roots of the plant need to be sawed to destroy it.

Off-Market Listings

224 & 226 Lexington Avenue

Cambridge 02138

These dazzling duplexes, gut renovated, exude quality throughout. Meticulously and thoughtfully designed, the L-shaped living areas are delightfully expansive, the BRs are generously sized; the interior is light-flooded with good window privacy and pleasant views. Sliders lead to the private patios and yard space. These beauties are not cookie-cutter.

226 Lexington Avenue, First floor and lower
level: 7 rooms, 4 BRs; media/family/flex room; 3 full baths; 1 pkg; private outdoor space; 2,150 sf. $1,475,000.

224 Lexington Avenue, Second and third floors: 6 rooms, 3 BRs, flex room; 3 full baths; 1 pkg; private outdoor space; 1,812 sf. $1,425,000.

UNDER AGREEMENT

Coming Soon Listing
September 11

22-24 Traymore Street

Cambridge 02140

Dynamite location in sought-after Agassiz neighborhood, a delightful, cozy enclave with its own newspaper. This 2-unit house, newly painted and with a surprisingly large fenced yard, is near Harvard, the shops and restaurants on Mass. Ave., and provides a choice of the Harvard or Porter Square T’s. Each apartment has an open floor plan, high ceilings, abundant windows and wonderful natural light. The first floor apartment has open living room/dining room/white kitchen; 1 bedroom; a full bath; was recently painted; has a lead compliant certificate; w/d in basement. The second floor of the upper apartment has open living room/dining room/kitchen; full bath with washer/dryer; 1 bedroom; and a front porch. Third floor has 3 bedrooms, one with exposed brick, a full bath with newly replaced fixtures and flooring; and a fire escape. This special home has a variety of uses: a rental property; live in one apartment and rent the other; or turn the house into a fine single-family home. 1 parking space. $1,750,000

Enjoy the remaining summer!

Very best,

Bonny

Bonny Lamb

Vice President

1073 Mass Ave, Cambridge 02138

m: 617.803.8080
bonny.lamb@compass.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.

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Home Tips of the Month

It’s hard to believe how few homeowners have annual pest inspections. Pest inspections are inexpensive, especially when one considers the cost of repairs from termites, carpenter ants, etc. Carpenter ants love wet wood; we have a lot of rain in the Boston area; your house is a magnet for carpenter ants. Termites live in the ground and “visit” your house and garage via sand tubes, which are very hard to see. If you live in a wood frame house, your house could be “attacked” by carpenter bees. When you plan your annual home maintenance, do add a pest inspection to your list.

I haven’t done this before but I wanted to share with you the names of a few people/companies whose service, work, products have been outstanding in my interactions with them:

Gibbons Electric – Stephen is the owner.

781-648-7771

Bloom – shades, blinds, plantation shutters

694 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown

Alex Carpia Flooring – for installation of engineered wood (can’t use traditional wood on concrete floors)

617-606-8108

Daniel Tringale – wood flooring installation

781-861-7343

Nam Floors – he’s a magician at repairing wood flooring

617-861-5607

Hub Leather and Repairs – they revive your leather furniture and repair any areas where the leather has flaked

617-489-0315

If/when you call any of these, please use my name. I don’t get any compensation, but you’ll get better/quicker service. Contractors appreciate broker referrals.

Please remove English ivy from your trees (and garden) and pass the word along to your friends, family, and neighbors. English ivy is an invasive species, strangling and killing our beautiful trees. Besides being lovely to look and an awesome product of Nature, the leaves help to purify the air.

Best,

Bonny

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Home Tips of the Month

When the inside of your microwave is messy with stuck-on food, spray it with Fantastik; put the microwave on High for 1 minute; and wipe it clean with a wet sponge or cloth. Oh so easy!

Through trial and error, I think I have found the best way to make a cut lemon last. The most important part is to cut a wedge or slice to suit your needs (don’t make a slit in the lemon and squeeze some juice and put the lemon back in the refrigerator). To store the cut lemon, just put it, as is, in the vegetable crisper until you want to use it again. If there is a long time between uses, you might need to slice a thin section off the surface; but the lemon could last for weeks with this procedure. It doesn’t work with limes.

If you look around your house and would like to divest of some items for a simpler, less cluttered lifestyle, I’d be glad to email you my list of sources for selling or donating your artwork, furnishings, books, clothing. The list also includes sources for people to haul your junk.

When putting flowers in a vase, cut the bottom of the stems on the diagonal; remove any leaves below the water line; have warm water at an upper level in the vase and continue to add as the water evaporates. Your flowers should last longer.

Please remove English ivy from your trees (and garden) and pass the word along to your friends, family, and neighbors. English ivy is an invasive species, strangling and killing our beautiful trees. Besides being lovely to look as an awesome product of Nature, the leaves help to purify the air.

Happy Spring!

Very best,