East Bay Realty Pro Blog

Yesterday, I had the battery backup on my alarm system replaced. This is an item I don’t spend any time thinking about. When I received a letter from my alarm company advising I change out the battery, my initial reaction was that this was a sales ploy. If the alarm works, then the backup battery [...]

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Last May, Senate Bill 183 (Lownethal) was signed into law. It mandates carbon monoxide detectors in all homes that have a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage, one and two-family units and townhouses, and other “dwelling units” such as “factory-built homes, condominiums, motels, hotels, dormitories” and apartment houses.
On January 1, 2011, sellers will need to [...]

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Years ago, my wife and I had serious issues with our sewer line and had to totally replace it. One of our considerations at the time was to use the latest, trenchless technology. We ended up using traditional methods because a section of our pipes went through concrete and this does not work with trenchless.
I [...]

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Microwaving sponges instead of throwing them away because they contain bacteria and are no longer pristine? Spraying a dry mop with wood cleaner to pick up dust bunnies from your hardwood floors? Creating a home-made disinfectant? These are some ideas from a short San Francisco Chronicle article, “Germ Warfare on the Home Front.”
Also see my [...]

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Two years ago, my wife, Sonia, brought home a packet of Pimiento de Padrón seeds from The Spanish Table in Berkeley, my first experience with planting anything from seed. I guess I did something wrong because only two seedlings made it. From those first peppers, we were able to save lots of seeds. With (some) [...]

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Want an eco-friendly way to clean countertops? Use half a lemon to scrub and create a paste from lemon juice and soda.
How about a green disinfectant? One spray bottle filled with three per cent hydrogen peroxide and another filled with distilled white vinegar will do the trick. Spray either one first and wipe, then do [...]

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Acacia melanoxylon, also known as Australian or Tasmanian Blackwood, is a common tree in the East Bay. Arborists consider it a noxious weed because of its invasive nature. Formerly used to line streets in cities and towns, its use has diminished because it can damage pavement and underground pipes, such as sewer lines.
The Blackwood Acacia’s [...]

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Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, which make them an economical and environmentally friendly choice.
There are a few things to remember about them:

As they contain a small amount of mercury, be careful to dispose of them properly in special recycling centers.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are intended to be left [...]

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My wife and I love our granite counters, so I was interested to read that this stone may be losing some of its popularity. Various alternatives, such as “CaesarStone,” “Silestone” and other, engineered-quartz products, as well as soapstone, a non-porous natural stone, are on the upswing.
Additional options include concrete and glass, as well as more [...]

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In Oakland, water rationing has been lifted and we have been fortunate to have had heavy, early October rains. Some think our water troubles are over. They aren’t. We all need to conserve because population is outstripping our resources.
Having low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators is the best way to save water in your home. [...]

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