Painting is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to change the look of your home. Getting started and knowing what to do is usually the hardest part but the following tips these tips will help to make your painting projects easier. These instructions and suggestions can save you time and effort while helping you end up with a better-looking paint job. PREPARE THE SURFACE Clean the surface to be painted. Fill in any cracks or holes with putty before starting the painting job. Caulk all joints, cracks and seams in the surface before painting. Check around the window panes for loose or missing putty. Replace the putty in these areas before starting the painting job. Use drop cloths to cover floors, furniture, etc. PAINTING POINTERS Thoroughly mix the paint. Pour off, into another container, any thin portion of the paint that is floating on top. Use a paddle to stir the paste settled in the bottom of the can. Pouring the paint back and forth from one container to another will help thoroughly mix the paint. Line your roller tray with a plastic tray liner or aluminum foil it will save you a lot of clean up time in the end. Always use the flat side of the brush when you’re painting corners. CLEANING UP Cleaning the brushes carefully after each painting job is done and then wrapping and storing them for future use. Fold wax paper around the brush and seal it with a rubber band. Clean rollers in the same basic way as paintbrushes. Take time to clean them thoroughly. Wash latex paints out of a brush with clear warm water. Following the quick and simple tips will have you with a whole new look and a clean and easy paint job.]]>
Land – 768 Old Bass River Rd Dennis, MA 02638 now has a new price of $99,000!
Only General Commercial 1 lot available along Old Bass River Rd in Dennis Village. The site is located on heavily travelled, Old Bass River Rd at the corner of Paddock path. The site has street frontage on 2 public ways and abuts a single family residence on the north. A sand pit is across Paddock Path. The site slopes up from Old Bass River Road, and has rolling topography toward the center of the property. It is densely wooded. Close Dennis Highlands golf course,bike path and short drive to Bay Beaches & village. This property features 0.65 Acres, and is currently available for $99,000. For complete details click here.]]>
How to Stay Safe Using a Portable Generator
When the power goes out many people turn to portable generators for electricity. Portable generators are a great asset to have but they can also pose serious safety hazards if not used properly. Here are some tips on how to stay safe when operating a portable generator: Always read and observe the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation. Use heavy duty, outdoor rated extension cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load. If you are hard-wiring the generator to your home only use a qualified electrician to connect the generator to the house wiring. Make sure the electrician also installs a manual transfer switch to prevent a backfeed and prevent damage to your generator, wiring and appliances when power is restored. Only operate a generator outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.]]>
How to Sell Your Home When You Have Kids
Selling your home can be stressful enough but add messy kids to the mix and you have a challenge on your hands. But it can be easy to sell your home when you have kids if you do some small things to remedy clutter:
Tips for securing a mortgage to purchase a home on Cape Cod
Click to view mortgage advice from Realtor.com Remember for all of your Cape Cod Real Estate needs to Call Foran Realty!]]>
How to Make the Perfect Hard Boiled Egg
There is a science to making the perfect hard boiled egg. Whether it is for Easter or egg salad, or a protein packed breakfast a hard boiled egg makes a great meal. 1. Put the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan, covered by an inch of cold water. 2. Gently bring the eggs to a boil will help keep them from cracking. 3. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water to keep the egg whites from running out of any eggs that happen to crack while cooking, 4. Add a half teaspoon of salt to help both with the preventing of cracking and making the eggs easier to peel. 5. When the water starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat for a few seconds. 6. Remove the pan from the heat. 7. Cover the pan and let sit for 12 minutes. 8. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place them into a bowl of ice water. 9. Eat within 5 days. 10. Enjoy!]]>
More Properties Sold in Dennis, MA , and Harwich, MA
Dennis, MA :
This Single-Family in Dennis, MA recently sold for $245,000.
This is a Colonial style home and features 6 total rooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath, 3 bedrooms, 0.46 acres, and was sold by
Office – Peter McDowell Associates
Here are some other properties available in Dennis,MA you may like:
Dennis$215,000Dennis
$179,900Dennis
$259,900Dennis
$309,000
This Condo in Harwich, MA recently sold for $137,000.
This property features 5 total rooms, 2 full baths, 2 bedrooms, and was sold by
Office – Peter McDowell Associates
Here are some other properties available in Harwich,MA you may like:
Harwich$239,000Harwich
$209,500Harwich
$219,000Harwich
$229,000
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How to Afford a New Addition to the Family
Having a baby can be a very expensive venture. A 2012 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says raising a child from birth through age 17 will cost a typical middle-income family a whopping $235,000. That is a lot of money so it is important to plan for your financial future, prepare for your new baby and protect your growing family. Here are some tips to get you and your family on the right track: 1. Purchase life insurance. You will need life insurance to protect your family. It is not as expensive as you think and you will get better rates when you’re young. Talk to your life insurance company about what amount of insurance you will need to protect your family. 2. Start planning for college. It may seems years away but you need to start college planning right away. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2011-12 school year was $8,244 for a public college and $28,500 for a private one, 3. Update your will. If you have a will you will need to update it and appoint a guardian for your child. If you do not gave a will now is the time to get one. 4. Prepare your baby budget. Babies are expensive, from diapers to child care you will need to look at how your baby will affect everyday expenses. Go to the store and price out diapers and other baby items, consider if you will be living on one income or paying for child care, this will help you figure out if you need to cut spending to afford your new baby. 5. Use a flexible spending account. If your employer offers a flexible spending account, you may be able to use it to pay up to $5,000 in child-care expenses a year. You can also use flexible spending account for health care costs. Money in a flexible spending account is exempt from income taxes. While having a baby is expensive it is also exciting. It may also be a time when you are considering a housing change.]]>
The Benefits of Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are an inexpensive way to help with the heating and cooling of your home. You can find many that cost under $100 and they have little ongoing cost. And for those of you who like DIY projects, this one will take you a couple of hours to upgrade an existing light fixture. While ceiling fans don’t drastically lower the temperature in a room, they do help to reduce it slightly as well as produce a light breeze which makes you feel cooler. The result? Less use of the air conditioner that results in 3-8% savings on cooling costs. Remember that in the summer months, your fan’s blades should be moving counter clockwise. In the winter months, ceiling fans can take on a whole new role. When you reverse the fan’s blades to rotate clockwise, you cause the air to circulate without causing that chilly breeze. This allows for better circulation of the warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling. It’s often best to have the fan speed set to low in the winter to avoid too much air movement and the effects of a breeze. Lastly, and maybe the most important, is the decision on which fan to purchase. There are few things to keep in mind when you are out shopping for a ceiling fan. 1. The size of the room – ceiling fans come in all sizes and choosing one that is meant for your home’s room dimension is key. It’s recommended that you choose a 40-42 inch blade span for a room 70-100 sq feet and a 42-48 inch for 100-140 sq feet. A room that’s bigger may need two small fans to be effective. 2. The location of the installation – for rooms with lower ceilings, a flush mount ceiling fan will work best, while rooms with high ceilings will need a down rod so that the fan is in the right place. You also want to make sure for areas such as an enclosed porch, that you check out the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) rating to ensure the fan has either a damp or wet rating. 3. Finally, you want to pick a fan that fits your decor and life style. Fans come in all sorts of styles and can have features from various lighting to remote controls. Changing a current light fixture in your home to a ceiling fan can saving you hundreds over the life of the fan. Especially with Energy Star rated ceiling fans available, savings can add up quick.]]>
Home Repairs Do Not Have to Be Difficult
No matter how sturdy a home is, sooner or later maintenance will be required. When this happens, you will have the choice to do some of this maintenance work yourself, or you could opt to utilize a home repair service to do it for you. This largely depends on how much experience you have in repairing things in your home. For example, hanging a picture on the wall does not take too much knowledge and expertise, as all you would need is a good drill and a little bit of know-how. On the other hand, if you need some major plumbing repairs, then you are better off finding a reputable plumber to do the job for you. When it comes to painting, it really does depend on whether you have some experience and know-how, and how much you enjoy doing it. For some people, painting can be extremely therapeutic. They will gladly paint every room in their home without any fuss. For others, painting a wall can seem like an extremely messy job, and in most cases, it will be a job badly done. In a situation like this, you are better off using a professional painter. One of the best ways to find a good quality home repair service is by going on the internet, as this allows you to quickly find a specialized repair service within your area with just a few clicks of your mouse. In addition, you are also able to do a little research on the repair service beforehand. If you would like a local referral I keep a list of professionals. Please call or email me for more information.]]>