Blog
Why are ladybugs all over my house?
First, recognize the species, are you sure they’re the nice guys? Native ladybugs are orange with 12 black dots on their shells. They don’t bite or swarm inside homes, and endure winters outside. You’ll recognize them by the presence of two white lines that converge behind their heads. There are also Asian lady beetles (or... Read More
What The Flies
Shoo Fly.. Don’t bother me! One fly here… another there.. have you experienced the frustration of what seems like the fly that can’t be killed? The first step in solving the issue is identification. It is easy to confuse house flies with several other fly species, including cluster flies. The different types of flies may... Read More
Zillow’s 2021 Fail
Why Zillow Couldn’t Make Algorithmic House Pricing Work This article was written by Chris Walker and originally published at Wired.com Zillow’s zestimate of home values has become a go-to reference for US homeowners. But when Zillow tried to use its algorithm to buy and sell homes, it badly misread the market. The company’s iBuyer (or “instant buyer”) arm,... Read More
New state housing laws & the future of San Jose housing
New state housing laws & the future of San Jose housing Earlier last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two new state laws that could significantly change the way housing is built in the Bay Area. Senate Bill 9 allows for the development of up to four dwelling units on single-family lots throughout the state of... Read More
Skylights Vs Solar Tubes
Skylights vs. solar tubes: What’s the difference? Want to add natural light to a meh room? Skylights and solar tubes are two options to consider. Let’s see how each one works and which one might be the better fit for your home 🙂 SKYLIGHTS Skylights are windows installed onto your roof, typically made out of plastic... Read More
Conserving Electricity – Tips from PG&E
Conserving Electricity – Tips from PG&E With the cycles of seasons and changes in weather patterns, perhaps your utility bill is giving you sticker shock trying to keep cool. Here are a few tips from PG&E on how you can help conserve energy usage and lower your bill: Avoid using your oven on hot days.... Read More
Housing Bubble… Or Something Else?
This article was originally published by Jeff Ostrowski at Bankrate The U.S. housing market is on fire. Double-digit appreciation is the rule. Giddy sellers are sifting through multiple offers. Frantic buyers are forced to pay more than asking prices — sometimes by $100,000 or more. The real estate party is in full swing. The National Association of... Read More
Tips For Moving
Moving is always a big milestone, whether its across the country or across the street! After experiencing moving quite a few times and helping countless families move too, here are our top tips we’ve picked up over the years: Time to purge… That’s right! Moving is the perfect time to pull everything out and sort... Read More
Gardening Rules 101
This article was originally published by The Mercury News. Even though we’re blessed in California with being able to grow vegetable and flower gardens the year round, there are some seasonal rules. Fortunately, Mother Nature can be as forgiving as she is harsh, but here are some guidelines for growing in each season. SpringMarch, April,... Read More
The Classic (and Totally Avoidable) Mistake People Make When Installing Kitchen Cabinets
Published by Lydia Geisel via Domino.com on December 16, 2020 So you want new kitchen cabinets—are you prepared for all the costs that come with them? On average, it will run you around $5,100 just to have them installed (prices for fully custom cupboards can range from $13,000 to $30,00), according to an estimate... Read More