BostonZest

He's Testing Groundwater Levels

We came upon Christian Simonelli, the Boston Groundwater Trust's Technical & Recharge Coordinator, measuring the groundwater level in a Beacon Street test well. He admitted he's been receiving some curious looks in recent days so we decided to tell everyone what he's doing. If you notice him at work, you'll see that he is identified as a Boston Groundwater Trust worker.

Wells are monitored in areas of Boston where groundwater levels may endanger the integrity of building foundations. How that happens is a long story but you can read all about it under the FAQ here.

Here's a map of the wells around the city. You can find the ones near your home or a property you are preparing to purchase. Then, you can keep track of the levels of groundwater. 

Here's a real estate shopping tip. In Boston, you should ask about the groundwater implications of any building as a part of your due diligence. Replacing or reinforcing the pilings that hold up a building is a very expensive project and you will want to know if it has already been done or if it is likely to be done during your ownership.

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Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

How to Use Your Observational Skills in a Boston Real Estate Search

This week, we met a very nice couple out on the hunt for a Boston condo. I hope they were out walking around after this week's snow storm. Observing how promptly and how well a building deals with snow removal can be an indicator of the management's concern for good maintenance.

If the owners of one of the buildings you're considering have someone get out early and often to shovel a wide path and de-ice their sidewalk, it's likely they have a responsible attitude towards complying with city codes and maintaining the property.

You don't want to face icy stairs when you leave your home. Nor, do you want to own part of a building that is the bane of the neighborhood and reported to the city on Citizens Connect after every storm. 

You could use this map to delete a scofflaw property from your list. Download the Citizens Connect App and look at all of the reports for the area you're considering.

How Does the Garden Grow?

In the warmer months, you should take a look at the condition of the fencing, stairway, and garden in front of a property. Of course, not all Boston properties have front yards or gardens. But, many condo associations add a bit of color with a potted plant or wreath on the door.

However, if the spring real estate market is on and a pot of dead Christmas decorations is still in place, proceed with caution.

Check All Public Views

In some neighborhoods, public alleys let you check the rear of a property. Not all buildings will have a beautiful rear view like the one above. But, a nicely maintained rear facade is another sign of attention to detail and good neighborliness. And, in some cases, the alley will be the view from your home.

Stop, Look, Sniff, and Listen

Once you have a short list of finalists, visit each property a few times on different days and hours. Will the smell of garlic from a nearby restaurant keep your windows closed? Will the sounds of a playgound disturb your peaceful enjoyment? Will parties from a building full of students next door disrupt your sleep?

In addtion to all the financial checks and due dilligence you should be doing before you buy a Boston condominium, use all your senses to scan the sights, sounds, and smells that might impact your property value or make you want to move a year from now. 

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Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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North End's Newest Property: The Utility Building

Right on Salem Street, I came across the newest North End property. Since micro apartments are an up-and-coming trend in urban settings, this little Utility Building is hitting the market at just the right moment.

Located right next to Polcari's Coffee it is part of the North End Trompe-l'œil movement. 

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

 Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny Cherubino  

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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Finding a Boston Rental with a Dog

This week, a well-researched piece, No Fair for Fido: It’s ‘Challenging’ to Find an Apartment in Boston If You Own a Dog, by Lisa DeCanio over on BosInno.com, reminded us that this is a topic we haven't covered in a while.

"That is Otis! He's a silly Cockapoo. Great dog," says Lisa. He's a special dog in her life!

When you click over to Lisa's article, be sure to read the comments, because they contain both experience and wisdom.

We wrote about this topic for vacation rentals, but you might be able to adapt some of the tips in our piece to the wider rental market.

Vacation Rentals: Getting Around "No Pets"

If you rent or when you bought your home, how did you deal with the pet issue? Please share your experience, tips, and advice with the rest of our Sunday Dog readers. 

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

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Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: Otis's photo courtesy of Lisa DeCanio 

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

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Vacation Rentals: Getting Around "No Pets"

If you're planning on a vacation rental and just can't imagine leaving your pet behind, we can help.

It'll take a little effort and time, but making get-away plans that include the "entire" family might be easier than you think.

 

 
 Maggie Mae with her pup tent

Scan vacation rental classifieds, and you'd think that "No Pets" is automatically added to every ad. How do those of us who want to take the whole family on our family vacation find a rental home? Simple, we do our homework and answer the objections of the home owners one by one.

For our family, a vacation must include the ocean, but the following suggestions will work for woodland hideaways, mountain cabins, ski resort chalets, or lakeside retreats. Qualifying to rent a special home in a special place begins long before you call a realtor or answer an ad.

First, get some references 
Stay at a "pet-friendly" inn or bed & breakfast. Assuming all goes well, ask the owner to be a reference for your dog. For many years, we stayed at an apartment complex on the Cape that kept a "report card" on each visiting pet. They served as our reference when we vacationed elsewhere. 

Ready to commit to a vacation lease? 
Make a few calls until you find a sympathetic real estate agent. I've had best results with agents who love dogs. When I interview them, I ask about their pets. If all else fails, call a local veterinary hospital and ask whether they can recommend a rental agency.

Working with a rental agent
In the current economy, you may be able to score a pet-friendly rental for an upcoming vacation if you start now. Normally, I suggest starting your search as early as possible. In the slow season, agents have the time to negotiate special arrangements. For a popular resort, call six to eight months in advance. 

Be prepared to offer a refundable security deposit. Homeowers fear the damage a pet might do to their property. Your offer of money, to cover that possibility, might turn their 'No!" into a "Yes." 

Once you've established a successful relationship with an agency, stick with them. Repeat bookings enable the realtor to say, "I've been dealing with this family for years. They've always brought their dog, and there's never been a problem."

If your dog is crate-trained, plan to bring the crate and explain that the dog will be crated when left alone. We have a portable pup-tent that we use in rental homes and hotels. 

Above all, always be up front about the fact that the pet is there. If you sneak an animal onto a property, there is a very good chance the owner will find out. The locals in many resort communities are very close-knit. It's likely that you would be caught. 

Moving on to other places
If, after visiting one location, you want to rent in another part of the world, start with the brokers you know. Real estate professionals have referral networks and may be able to introduce you to a suitable agent. 

One last thought. Safeguard the property you rent but also protect your pooch. When you arrive at your vacation home, inspect every nook and cranny for dangers. We once began a vacation with a panicked ride to a vet, because our dog discovered a container of rat poison before we did. She spent the day in the hospital, and we learned a valuable lesson.

Coming soon, we'll have tips for traveling to that vacation destination with your dog. 

Here are some great items for traveling dogs. 

Details:
Adapted from Penny's "City Paws" column– a regular feature for The Independent Newspaper Group

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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For A City Move Consider the Options

If the Spring real estate market will mean a move for you, consider all your options when you hire a moving company.

You should be certain that the moving company you choose is a specialist in dealing with the complex issues that surround moves in an urban setting.

Today we'll look at the option of moving items in or out through windows instead of doors.

It's becoming more and more common to see moves simplified by furniture elevators like this one from Gentle Giant Movers. This system avoids the problems presented by winding staircases and narrow hallways, lessens potential damage to common areas and can make for a faster move. This is especially true for a fourth-floor walk up.

Living in the city we observe many moves and we stick my our opinion that Gentle Giant is our favorite mover. We outlined some of our reasons here:
http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/06/gentle-giant-mo.html

Since we like to give options, we've also observed careful work from a couple of other firms that specialize in moving things in and out through windows. 

Titan was the first company we saw using the furniture elevators. They also do rigging and crane work. Here, they are performing a "grand exit!" –moving a grand piano from a Marlborough Street home.

Finally, a tip of our hat to a company with a great name –Death Wish Piano Movers. From what we've observed, they do careful work. Even if you don't have a baby grand to hoist, you may want to visit their site to buy a t-shirt or two with their name and logo.

(Photo credits:  ©2008 Penny Cherubino)

Details:

Gentle Giant Movers

29 Harding Street, Somerville, MA 02143

http://www.gentlegiant.com/

Titan Moving and Storage
32 Rugg Rd, Allston, MA 02134
www.titanmoving.com

Death Wish Piano Movers        

PO Box 380-488 Cambridge, MA 02238-0488
http://www.deathwishpiano.com/

Other Opinions:

Here's the Yelp:
Gentle Giant: http://www.yelp.com/biz/gentle-giant-moving-and-storage-somerville-2
Titan: http://www.yelp.com/biz/titan-brighton
Death Wish: http://www.yelp.com/biz/death-wish-piano-movers-cambridge

Thaw and Freeze Warnings

During the day, the sun melts some of the snow and ice and sends it off the roofs of Boston's buildings. Wind and chill set in and refreeze that water into beautiful icicles like those caught in a tree in this photo.

Pedestrians Beware

Where you see icicles and ice dams you should be looking down to avoid icy sidewalks. Yes, homeowners and businesses are supposed to keep the sidewalks free from ice. You can see the extent that the Newbury Street business shown in the photo below has gone. They've built a Rube Goldberg system of chutes and pails to direct the water coming from its roof. 

Sand Lasts Longer

Other property owners try ice melting products or chipping away the ice as it forms. As someone who walks miles a day in the city, I can tell you that sand is the best thing to use in this situation. It doesn't melt, takes longer to wash away and gives pedestians traction even as ice begins to reform around it.

Ice Damages Buildings

Ice dams and the resulting icicles can be an alert for anyone shopping for real estate. It can be a sign of deferred maintenance and hidden damage. Another reason for the smart real estate shopper to wander around any target neighborhood and make notes about buildings where you see ice dams, icicles, ice running down the outside of downspouts and icy sidewalks.

If you're a condominium owner in the city and see ice on your building you should push your condominium association and property management company to correct the problem.

Expert Advice on Ice Damage from UMASS

Umass has advice on ice dams on it's site.

"Ice dams cause millions of dollars of damage every year. Much of the damage is apparent. Water-stained ceilings, dislodged roof shingles, sagging ice-filled gutters, peeling paint, and damaged plaster are all easily recognized and usually repaired when weather or budgets permit. But other damage is not as obvious and often goes unchecked," says the author, Paul Fisette.

Fisette then outlines possible hidden damage and the steps needed to prevent and correct the problem. A link to the article is in details below.

Details:

Preventing Ice Dams by Paul Fisette

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publications/articles/ice_dams.html

Here are some tools to help with these problems.