Home Guru

By Bill Primavera – Does your home have its own name? If not, maybe it’s worth considering. More than once, I’ve heard that attaching a name to a home might actually enhance its value. I first became aware of homes having

By Bill Primavera – As I write this in mid-October, I have a quick question: Do you have a water hose still connected to a spigot outside your home? Other than a fire or tornado, the most damaging event a house

The burgeoning Chinese economy of the last decade, notwithstanding the recent slowdown, has afforded millions of citizens the opportunity to rise above their agrarian poverty. Moving into new government-created, and subsidized, urban centers, they have landed jobs and careers unheard

By Bill Primavera – This has always been my favorite time of year to weed because when I yank those nasty invaders, they all stay weeded and I don’t have to worry about the chore again until next spring. But I

By Bill Primavera – Considering that I once lived in a house located directly over the A train subway line in Brooklyn, I’m probably inured to most noises that would emanate from one’s home. How well I remember the look of

By Bill Primavera – Autumn in the garden and yard can be the most gratifying time of year. Deciduous trees and perennials start to yawn, preparing for a long winter’s sleep, accompanied by that sweet smell that comes from plants releasing

By Bill Primavera – This article might well be titled “The Joys and Agonies of Being a Tree Lover.” The subject of planting trees comes to me each year as we approach autumn because it’s the perfect time to plant deciduous

By Bill Primavera – This week I reprise some musings based on practical and absurd observations made from past columns. For an index of previously published articles, visit www.TheHomeGuru.com.About the common complaint of noise from neighbors. No man is an island,

By Bill Primavera It’s happened to many of us in the real estate business. The “engineering” or house inspection prior to a contract signing can kill the sale of a house. I remember the first time I heard the complaint