Ken's Real Estate Blog

Borrowing Against Equity - What We Said In 2005

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:24:00 GMT

This is a warning about the lure and dangers of borrowing against home equity. We wrote this in May of 2005. In re-reading this today, I could not help but wonder at how prophetic we were. I am including this as kind of a statement about the fact that...(read more)

The Dishwasher Air Gap Story

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:58:00 GMT

This article appeared in our September, 2009 newsletter. This brings us to the present. Articles will be posted from now on as they are published in the newsletters. This is going to be news to a number of people but that little chrome tower to the side...(read more)

Ken's Cabinet Restoration Tricks

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:52:00 GMT

This article is from the January, 2008 Ken’s Korner. I have been wanting to do this subject for some time but did not have the space. This is my chance. A common home maintenance problem is keeping those beautiful stained wood cabinets looking good,...(read more)

Close The Door On Termites

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:01:00 GMT

This is the follow-up article on termites from Kens’ Korner posted last week. This article appeared in the September, 2008 newsletter. As promised in our last newsletter, this is where we talk about closing termite routes to your house. As you may...(read more)

Termites & Dirty Stucco

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:29:00 GMT

This article first appeared in Ken’s Korner in April, 2008. I will publish the follow-up article next week. So what do termites have to do with dirty stucco you ask? Actually a lot. We are talking about subterranean termites here. They nest and...(read more)

Crush That Leak!

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:12:00 GMT

This Ken’s Korner article appeared in the May, 2006 newsletter. One problem that all homeowners will face one time or another is a leaky faucet or valve. That dripping of drops whether fast or slow can be annoying beyond belief. Not to mention a...(read more)

The Case Of The Hairy Wheels

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:34:00 GMT

This article appeared in the January, 2008 Ken’s Korner. Do you have a sliding glass door that is hard to slide open or shut? Ours was that way until recently. Do you have a dog or cat? Here's a little story about that. Two glass workmen had...(read more)

Where's The Lino?

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:12:00 GMT

This article appeared in the July, 2004 issue of the newsletter. Looking at our tired vinyl floor in the kitchen the other day I couldn’t help but think back to my childhood, (we’re talking early 50’s here), when we had linoleum kitchen...(read more)

Ken's Wall Anchor Trick

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:50:00 GMT

This Ken’s Korner article appeared in out July, 2007 newsletter. Here's a quick tip. It's about those handy little plastic wall anchors. You know the little tubular plastic pieces that fit into a hole in your interior wall. Once in the wall,...(read more)

Goof Plates & Topping Mud

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:40:00 GMT

This Ken’s Korner article appeared in the March, 2006 newsletter. One of our home sellers had a little dilemma recently. There was a buyer who wanted to purchase the house but was turned off by little holes in the walls around some of the electrical...(read more)

Don't Cut That Chord

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:39:00 GMT

This article appeared in the May, 2005 Ken’s Korner. I still get questions about this all the time. In pursuing that great American pastime of finding room for storing our stuff, it is common for people to create spaces in their attics and stick...(read more)

Garage Door Opener Breakthrough

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:21:00 GMT

This article appeared in the August, 2003 newsletter. The info is still current. We love our garage door openers! Rain, shine, dark of night, that door will open right up for us without our having to get out of the car or pulling a back muscle. For decades,...(read more)

Fence Post Tricks

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:14:00 GMT

This article appeared in Ken’s Korner of our newsletter in May of 2003. This is one of my favorites. Though I am no longer working as a remodeling contractor, I still do work on my own house. The list is endless! Because of this, and because I am...(read more)

Damp Day Paint Tale

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:25:00 GMT

This little quickie was in the November, 2002 Ken’s Korner of our newsletter. It is hot and dry right now but will change by November. Reading this now might be helpful for those projects on coold foggy days.

The recent change in weather reminded me of something I knew but disremembered at the wrong time. (My Grand Daddy used to say “disremembered.” I always liked it). I am trying to get another coat of paint on our patio cover before the rains get serious. It is being done a little at a time when an hour or two of opportunity presents itself. Recently the hour presented itself just before dark on a nice day. So paint was applied until too dark to see. It felt good to know that some more progress had been made.

The next morning while having that first cup of coffee, I opened the window blinds to see big white drips of watery paint raining down on the patio and the hot tub! Suddenly, I remembered what I had disremembered before! Latex paint depends on evaporation to dry. Even though it had been the end of a nice day when the paint was applied, as soon as it got dark the temperature dropped and the dew started to form. The paint never had a chance to dry. By morning, the fog and dew were so heavy, it was dripping the wet paint all over. It is not a good idea to paint too late in the day at this time of year. I remember now.

Oh yes, I also remember Goof Off. Made for folks like me. It is wonderful at cleaning dried latex paint drips and goofs. It will remove the paint without damaging finished wood etc.. Get it wherever paint is sold. It is on my to do list for this weekend.

Appliance Disposal Problems Solved!

Libby & Ken Guthrie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:23:00 GMT

This article was first run in Ken’s Korner in the November, 2002 newsletter. I updated a few details. The info is still current and useful.

Have you ever had the joy of installing a brand new up to date appliance ruined by the hassle of getting rid of the old one? Getting that new washer and dryer hooked up is great. But the dirty, grunting task of moving them to the curb only to be ignored by the trash collector is the pits. Then loading them up and taking them to the dump is even worse. And really, really worse is if the dump won’t take them or charges a fortune to let you drop them off!

During this process, did the thought ever come to you that “gee, it sure is a shame someone can’t use some of the good parts off of these things instead of it all ending up buried in the landfill.”

We have great news for you! You don’t ever have to go through the appliance dumping blues again! We have discovered Jaco Environmental, a company that will come to your house and pick up those old appliances and recycle them! There is a small fee though that varies with type of appliance. We recently had them pick up our old washer and dryer and I was overjoyed to pay $20.00 for both of them! They will pick up refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, trash compactors, washers, dryers, ranges, air conditioners, water heaters and televisions. They pick up throughout the Bay Area Monday through Saturday. Some utility companies also provide rebates if your old refrigerator or freezer is recycled by Jaco.

For detailed information and to schedule a pick-up to www.jacoenvironmental.com.