Virginia Tatseos

Working on a project now where there is evidence of mice.

We all know that mice like to come into houses just to keep warm or to to enjoy the AC. It really doesn't have a lot to do with cleanliness of the home owner. I has to do with having a door way in.

My brother has a cabin up North that's abandoned for several months at a time and the mice like to come in a visit He told me, years ago, to place a bucket of water in a room with a little bleach in it ad a little ramp to get into the water but they can't get out. Apparently the mice can't swim for a long time and they drown and the bleach will keep down the odors.

While working on this project I thought that I would give the bucket a little try. Within hours of the basement being left alone poof we had one little culprit.

My wonderfully talented handyman, after finding the doorway for the mice, built this ramp. They can now walk the ramp down to the bucket without falling.

Now we will set out to fix the doorway and find others.

Enjoy your laugh.

For a long time I've been looking for a Home inspector to join my Staging Team.

Stage-Show-Sell, LLC believes that when a house is staged and looking its best for the market it should also be safe secure and ready to pass the home inspection. That's why we have invited Glenn Loisel to join our team.

Active Rain

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With the pre-list home inspection in hand we can remedy problems before the house hits the market. This saves the home owner money by not having to regnegotiate the offer.

Please welcome him on board.

August garden brings delight. These plants show off a garden real well. Consider adding them to your garden now if you are planning on selling next year. Planning - staging ahead will pay off.
These flowers are in my yard. Click photo to see all of the blooms

August Blooms

Keep your family safe with these easy safety tips

Every year there are many fires related to fire places.

Make sure that your chimney is cleaned each year by a licences contractor.

Keep the fires in the fireplaces small, burning only one or two logs at a time.

Wait for at least 24 hours before removing the ashes and put them in a empty metal can, outside and away from the house and garage.

Clothes dryers are involved in an estimated 15,000 fires each year. A build up of lint, in your clothes dryer not only creates a fire hazard, but also reduces the efficiency of your dryer.

Clean the link filter in the dryer before each use. Every year or two remove the lint from around the drum of the dryer.

Make sure the dryer is plugged into a suitable outlet for it's needs.

Don't operate the dryer without a lint filter.

Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted. Check the flap to make sure it opens when the dryer is on.

Clean out the exhaust pipe with a long duster.

Don't leave the dryer on if you go out.

Make sure there are no combustibles in the area.

Pull the refrigerator out and clean underneath and the back. The dust is combustible.

Following these tips can ensure a safer home for you this winter.

This is the 2nd home we staged in last weeks snow storm.

Again the owner did a absolutely wonderful job getting the house transformed for the 2011 market.

He has a real gift and I hope that he's as successful with these two homes and with homes in the past.