With crisp fall days and the end of Daylight Savings Time upon us we’re spending more and more time inside our homes. Here are a few suggestions for WINTERIZING your home. Whether you live in one of Jamaica Plain’s painted ladies, a condo in Roslindale or single family home in West Roxbury, a few changes can go a long way to keeping you comfortable this winter!

Gutters and downspouts. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and free of leaves, twigs or dirt as backed up gutters can cause leaks inside your home.

Circuit breakers and Smoke / CO detectors. Circuit breakers are mechanical switches and need to be moved regularly so they perform when you need them. This is a good time to make sure that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries.

Chimney cleaning. The cold weather usually reminds us to order our firewood for the season. It is also a good time to remember to have our chimney inspected and cleaned so the fire is confined to the fireplace.

Energy audits. For Massachusetts residents, MassSave is an energy savings program for homeowners and renters. MassSave offers information about free home energy assessments, energy saving products and tips, and information on loans, rebates and other incentives for home improvements.

MassSave is a partnership between the Massachusetts gas and electric utility companies and local sellers and installers of home energy conservation products. www.masssave.com

Heating systems. Have your boiler serviced now, before heating season goes into full swing, and make sure your service contract indicates a 24-hour emergency service. You want to make sure someone will actually come out at 11 pm on a Friday night, which it seems is the only time that boilers decide to break down. Change your filters, bleed the radiators if you have them, and while you’re at it, you might think about simulating the heating pipes and your hot water heater in your basement.

Insulating. With the many energy tax credits available, there’s even more incentive to look at ways to reduced energy (and costs). Expandable foam or caulk is a great (and easy) way to close the gaps and to help keep you toasty. Check your windows too. Weather stripping is easy to apply to older windows, keeping out the cold and wind.

Garden hose turnoff. Don’t forget to turn off the water to your garden house, eliminating the mess of a frozen and cracked pipe later this winter.

Best wishes for a great fall! As always, we appreciate your thinking of us when you or your family and friends are considering buying or selling real estate in Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, West Roxbury or anywhere in Greater Boston. We are always happy to hear from you!

Ellen and Janis

The Jamaica Plain Artists Ball, an annual benefit for the JP Centre/South Main Streets, provides neighbors and friends with an opportunity to get together to celebrate an evening of mystery and magic. The ball is held at Eliot Hall, home of The Footlight Club, America’s oldest community theater  Join us on Saturday October 13th at 8 pm for an evening of music, a silent art auction, live auction and wonderful fare from the Jamaica Plain community. Last year over 250 guests arrived dressed in amazing costumes.

JP Centre / South Main Streets is dedicated to building community, supporting local merchants, increasing foot traffic and promoting the artistic heritage of JP.

When searching for a new home, buyers often create a short-list of high-value items like an updated kitchen, modern bathrooms, off-street parking, access to good schools, green space and public transportation. While each of these items is important, one aspect of the home search process is occasionally overlooked. Your new place is a home for the entire family – including your pets. By conducting a pet friendly home search, you’ll be sure to find a place that meets the needs of the entire family.

• Consider city and town regulations. While cats and dogs are welcome in most areas, cities and towns may regulate more exotic pets or limited the type and number of pets within city limits. In Boston, dog owners must obtain a license for their pet each year.
• Review home owner association (HOA) documents. Each HOA is different so it’s important to know the organization’s pet policy. Your realtor can help you review HOA documents to ensure a good fit and to make sure it’s “pet friendly” and there are no limitations to the number, size, weight of pets.
• Evaluate pet friendly features during showings. Does the home have enough yard space for your dog to run? Is there adequate space for a dog bed in a warm and friendly part of the house? Does the location of your unit allow for easy entry and exit during walks? Are there too many stairs if you dog is elderly?
• Assess the neighborhood for pet friendliness. While finding a pet friendly home is important, being the only pet in the neighborhood may be isolating. Check for signs that your new home is in a pet friendly part of town. Do you see people walking dogs at night? Is there a dog park within walking distance of your new home? Are pet supply stores and grooming facilities nearby?

We’re fortunate to have many options in JP, Roslindale and West Roxbury. Peter’s Hill in Roslindale and Millennium Park in West Roxbury are great places to walk your dogs. Polka Dog Bakery on South Street in JP and Pet Cabaret in Roslindale are great places for pet supplies and treats. There’s a new doggie day care, Luxe Pet Resort, on the VFW parkway in West Roxbury. And, Brookline Grooming and Continental Shoppe in West Roxbury are great for grooming your pet. But there’s more to a dog’s life than grooming and treats. Dog walkers like Cheryl Walks Dogs  can keep your pet in shape and acclimated to your new neighborhood.

Owning a home is a wonderful experience for the entire family – including your pets. By keeping pet needs visible during your search, you’ll be sure to find a home that the entire family can enjoy for years to come.

Ellen, Janis and Sophie