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Inside this Issue

 Green Homes Attractive to Buyers
   

(ARA) - Home buyers of all income levels are looking for environmentally friendly properties, according to a study taken by the U.S. Green Building Council and McGraw-Hill Construction.

And in the difficult housing market of today, sellers are looking for new ways to attract buyers. Making a home greener with cleaner air quality may just be the answer to getting bids.

Homeowners can use the following tips to make their house more environmentally friendly:

* Buy appliances that use less water and electricity.

Many companies sell appliances like washing machines and dishwashers which use 10 to 15 percent less energy and water than standard models. Read More

 
1 Green Home Attractive to Buyers
1

Tip of the Month:

DYI Dripless Candles
2 Ask Dave
2

From Tamaria’s Kitchen:

She Crab Soup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BUILDING INSPECTOR OF CONNECTICUT

DIY Dripless Candles

All

 Home

 Inspections

$290.00*

 

 All inspections

 include a

FREE

 state licensed

pest inspection

 

*Single family homes under 2,400 hundred square feet.  Offer expires on 12/31/2008


Tired of having candles drip wax on your carpet? Here's how to make any candle dripless and thereby eliminate annoying candle wax messes. You can turn any regular candle into a dripless one that won't make a hardened mess on your carpets or on your fine furniture with just a few cups of warm tap water and plain old table salt. Add a half tablespoon of salt to each two cups of water in a shallow dish or baking pan. Fully submerge the candles and soak them for 24 hours. The next day they'll burn drip-free.

 

  

Ask

Dave

 

 

 

 

 

 

                          

                          Dave Muirhead –  President

                             Building Inspections, Inc

Q. What can I do to protect my home before winter arrives?

A. Plenty! First and foremost, consider the possibility of leaks at all five walls that are the exterior of your home (front, back, sides, and roof).

  

 

1929 East Main Street #108

Torrington, CT  06790

 

1-860-496-4616

 

1-800-255-8383

 

 

www.building-inspections.com

 

Use a hose to check the seals at shingles, windows, doors and other openings. The heat of summer will dry out caulked joints, causing hairline openings that will let in the elements.

Shingles have a tendency to dry out and crack, and may need selective replacement. Winter water will find any roof problems you don't. When checking roof areas, always run water from above. Use caution here: it is possible to force water under shingles with a hose, giving you the impression of a leak where one may not actually exist.

While the hose is out, use it to winterize your gutters and downspouts-- clean them. Overflowing gutters and blocked downspouts resulting from debris buildup defeat the purpose of their existence. Winter rainwater going directly from roof to ground will fall too close to your foundation, and may cause damage that could mean economic disaster. Wet sub areas precipitate foundation shift, resulting in creaking, cracking, and mildewing. Once assured that gutters and downspouts are leak-free and running clear, the next step will be to insure that water carried to ground level is transported at least three feet away from the perimeter of your house.  – Read More
 
 

Green Homes . . . continued

  

 

* Use environmentally friendly flooring.
Cork flooring comes in many different colors which not only helps to maintain a constant air temperature in the room thanks to its natural thermal insulation properties, but also is a renewable resource. This is because only the cork bark is trimmed from the tree and the cork oak trees continue living. In addition, cork has a waxy substance called suberin, which repels bugs, mold, mites and even termites, keeping allergens at bay.

 * Keep inside air from escaping.
Seals around windows and doors can break or be damaged over time and need to be replaced.

 
With just a few changes or upgrades, a house that has been sitting on the market for some time can become a quick sell thanks to its environmentally friendly features.

Ask Dave . . .continued

  

 

Season changes provide a good schedule for cleaning or changing the filters in your central heating and/or cooling system. Clean filters maximize system efficiency and minimize operating costs. Best of all, the best filters money can buy are very inexpensive and take only a minute or two to install (four seasons, four filter changes).

Another wonderful money-saving method of keeping precious heated air in and unwanted cold air out is to purchase and install plate gaskets for electrical switches and plugs. Best results are achieved by concentrating on exterior walls, but this is so inexpensive and simple a task that the extra precaution of doing interior walls as well makes a lot of sense.

When you keep water out and warm air in, your winter will be more comfortable and, chances are, the following summer will be more repair-free than ever before.

 

  

From Tamaria’s Kitchen. . .

SUDOKU

  

SHE CRAB SOUP

 

 

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Why isn't phonetic spelled

 the way it sounds?

  

INGREDIENTS 

·      2 tablespoons butter, divided

·      2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

·      1 cup milk

·      1 1/2 cups half & half cream

·      4 teaspoons finely grated onion

·      3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

·      Salt and white pepper to taste

·      1/4 teaspoon ground mace

·      1/4 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper

·      1 1/2 pounds flaked crab meat

·      3 tablespoons dry sherry

·      1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

In a large, heavy pot over low heat, melt butter; add flour and blend until smooth. Slowly add milk and half & half cream, stirring constantly with a whisk; cook until thickened. Add onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, white pepper, mace and cayenne pepper. Bring just to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, add crabmeat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes (if the soup appears about to boil, remove the pan from the heat for a minute or so, then return). Remove from heat and add sherry, stirring to mix. Let sit for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.  Add parsley as garnish.