When it comes to technology, I may not be cutting edge, but I try my very best to adapt to what’s new as quickly as I can. What choice does one have in today’s business world, or social whirl, for that matter? From the first cube-like Macintosh in my home office to my current social-media presence for business, I have always been ready for the next thing. But what’s this I’m hearing about the benefits of an occasional unplugging of one’s digital devices at home? The trend of establishing digital-free zones at home or work is small but growing. The New York Times recently reported that there is really no such thing as effective multi-tasking, and those who think they are good at it are really just distracted.  “Monotasking,” formerly known as “paying attention” or “not procrastinating,” ... 06/08/2016

According to a survey just released by ServiceMaster, it is reported that a whopping 92 percent of homeowners feel unprepared to address home maintenance needs. How could that be, I wondered? With all the DIY resources we have on television and online, and especially if we’re young homeowners, surely we feel more fortified than that with the tasks of maintenance at hand in owning a home. And if we’re not handy ourselves, what about Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor for professional help? But ServiceMaster–the company that includes such well-recognized brands as American Home Shield, Merry Maids and Terminix–has released its findings with some confidence, surprising as they may seem.  Conducted among nearly 2,000 adult homeowners and prospective homeowners, the survey indicates that more than... 05/31/2016

If you find that you have mold in your home and want it removed, you may be in for a surprise by the set of procedures now required to comply with a new law enacted in January by New York State to regulate its remediation. According to two suppliers in the field interviewed for this report, some aspects of the law seem “a little crazy,” and you may get socked with a bill that is two or three times what it cost in the past. Recently I attended a continuing education class devoted to the new law known as the Mold Program or Article 32 and overseen by the NYS Department of Labor to establish licensing requirements and minimum work standards for professionals engaged in mold assessment and remediation.  The presenter, Joe Margherita, owner of Fresh Maintenance, a licensed mold remediation c... 05/23/2016

Recently when I wrote a column dedicated to decorating in red, I received a comment from a reader asking whether my personal devotion to the color was politically motivated, but honestly, the thought never entered my mind. However, I thought that it was certainly a creative association.  When it was suggested by that same reader that I should give equal and unbiased time to the color blue, I thought it only fair, considering that some surveys have identified blue as America’s favorite color and at the same time, the latest polls show that a greater number of Americans identify with the political party that has adopted blue as its color. Interestingly enough, red and blue have not distinguished the two major political parties for as long as we might expect. It wasn’t until the epic, draw... 05/19/2016

In most homes, it is said that the kitchen is the heart of the house. But I’ve been with buyers who seem to place as much importance if not more on the laundry room.  Personally, I remember how surprised I was when I came across one of my first buyers who was definitely more interested in the laundry setup than any other feature in the homes we visited because, as she related, she washed clothes every single day of the week. There’s a personal story I’m fond of telling about one of the ways my soon-to-be wife checked me out as a bachelor. She visited my apartment and when she opened a drawer in my bedroom chest and found that my underwear were less than bright white, she asked, “Don’t you use bleach when you wash them?” Very honestly, I was never big on household chores as a single pers... 05/16/2016

The next time you go to an Realtor’s open house and are asked to show your photo I.D., or if a Realtor refuses to meet you for the first time at a property you’re interested in, insisting that you meet at a real estate office instead, don’t take it personally. She or he is just following safety precautions given either by an office manager, the National Association of Realtors or the local law enforcement agency to guard against any number of open invitations for the possibility of theft, robbery, assault, even abduction or murder.  Indeed, as reported in a recent episode of Dateline NBC, we learned of the abduction and murder of Little Rock Realtor Beverly Carter who agreed to show a vacant house to a couple with whom she had communicated only by phone and email. She knew the neighborh... 05/06/2016

When I was younger, a feeling of near-euphoria would greet me at the first breath of spring as I would anticipate my first days in the garden. Year after year, I could always be assured that I had at least five or six months ahead of me where, whenever stressed, all I had to do was put on my garden gloves to zone out and unwind. In ensuing years, however, that enthusiasm dampened somewhat, first by  “gardener’s knee,” then by a schedule that sometimes had me choosing the easy chair and TV for relaxation in any free time rather than anything more strenuous in the open air. Yet, I still wanted to have my property looking its best, especially now that it’s on the market with an increased schedule of showings. At the same time, I must keep my weekend outdoor maintenance chores to tight time... 04/25/2016

Occasionally I share “musings” from past columns that readers have commented on. Sometimes practical, other times absurd, they are observations of home living made along the way. For an index of previously published articles, visit: www.TheHomeGuru.com. St. Joseph Strikes Again: There is much lore attached to burying a St. Joseph statue on the property of a home seeking a buyer, and sometimes the instructions can be quite specific about how it should be buried. The most favored position for the statue is upside down and facing the house. One laughable story online is about the homeowner who buried the statue facing away from the house only to have the house across the street sell, and it wasn’t even on the market! Another is about the homeowner whose house failed to sell and, frustrated... 04/17/2016

Since my marriage, my wife and I have owned three homes and each of them provided for either a two-family or an accessory apartment arrangement, which, especially when we were young, helped keep the wolf from the door. And once moving to Westchester and realizing at a certain point that our taxes had more than doubled since purchasing our home, we could say, well at least the rental income buffered the sticker shock when the tax bill arrived. Making good use of surplus square footage and deriving added income are the reasons most homeowners consider being landlords, but the challenges and responsibilities of being on call 24-7 are not for everyone. From my own experience I have gathered some advice here for anyone considering the purchase of a property that would offer a rental income o... 04/11/2016

Calling all businesses in Yorktown New York and Upper Westchester County New York.The Yorktown Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a membership lunch for perspective  members. The Chamber is hosting its Winter Membership Drive with an informative lunch time speaker, John Tedeger, the Town of Yorktown Director of Planning.  John will be talking about cutting the red tape and helping new business get started in the Town of Yorktown.  This will be a great opportunity for networking and learning about the Town's business friendly environment and how the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce helps.Here is the time, place and how to attend:Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 12 NoonPlace: Little Sorrento, 3565 Crompond Road, Cortlandt Manor, NY Reserve: Call (914) 245-4599 or Email: mprimavera@yorkto... 01/13/2016

For years, from a style perspective, we’ve preferred the clean sleek look of hardwood floors over wall-to-wall carpeting, especially since we figured out that the costs were comparable. And, from a health consideration, we’ve had the perception in the media that hard surface flooring holds advantages over carpeting for allergy and asthma sufferers. But, just recently, I learned from Diane Darby, vice president, marketing and sales at Absolute Flooring in Yorktown Heights, that the opposite is true.Whenever I have a question about any aspect of flooring, Diane always “floors” me, if you’ll pardon the pun, with her encyclopedic knowledge in the business and her exceptional ability to communicate that expertise clearly and concisely. “How did you acquire such wealth of information?” I aske... 07/05/2015

The Yorktown Chamber of Commerce is a business organization with members in the Town of Yorktown NY and other parts of Northern Westchester County NY.The Chamber held a membership drive on June 3rd.  Members and their guests were admitted free to a buffett dinner at the Mohansic Grill at the Mohansic Golf Course.The speaker was Town Supervisor Michael Grace who pledged to continue doing everything to make business owners trive in the town.  He also talk about bringing more business and and thereby lowering the tax burden of everyone.  He receive a round of applause.  You can learn more about the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce by visiting their website here. Information and pictures provided by Grant Schneider, Performance Development Strategies.  Would you like to know how to make your lo... 06/03/2015

OPEN HOUSE, February 14, Saturday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM 1498 Dover Street, Mohegan Lake, NY Get Directions Click Here Description Features Photos Maps & Local Schools Walk Score $ Click for current price 3 BEDROOMS 1 BATHROOMS (1 full) 1152 Square Feet Cozy Split Level Home situated in a quiet neighborhood with a great backyard. Enter this home and you will find a living room with a wall of windows and vaulted ceilings and a nicely sized dining room alongside. Access to the back deck and yard is found through sliders in the dining room. The eat-in kitchen is designed with function in mind and has light maple cabinets. Just a few steps up and you will find the three family bedrooms, all nicely sized and a hall bath easily accessible to all. Descend down a few steps from the main floor into... 02/10/2015

Open House: January 04, Sunday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Schedule a Showing/Request Info Search All Homes For Sale Bedford, NY Homes for Sale Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Free List of Short Sale Homes For Sale Need to Short Sale your Home? Find out how here   Mark Boyland Keller Williams NY Realty 914-234-4444 Questions?Schedule a Showing! MLS#: 4443917   Licensed In:NY Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. 1498 DOVER STREET YORKTOWN, NY Scan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Virtual Tour Print Brochure       Cozy Split Level Home situated in a quiet neighborhood with a great backyard $ Click for current price 3 BEDROOMS 1 BATH... 01/02/2015

  Schedule a Showing/Request Info Search All Homes For Sale Bedford, NY Homes for Sale Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Free List of Short Sale Homes For Sale Need to Short Sale your Home? Find out how here   Mark Boyland Keller Williams NY Realty 914-234-4444 Questions?Schedule a Showing! MLS#: 4443917   Licensed In:NY Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. 1498 DOVER STREET YORKTOWN, NY Scan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Virtual Tour Print Brochure       Cozy Split Level Home situated in a quiet neighborhood with a great backyard $ Click for current price 3 BEDROOMS 1 BATHROOMS ( 1 full ) 1152 Square Feet Cozy Split Leve... 12/17/2014

  Schedule a Showing/Request Info Search All Homes For Sale Bedford, NY Homes for Sale Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Free List of Short Sale Homes For Sale Need to Short Sale your Home? Find out how here   Mark Boyland Keller Williams NY Realty 914-234-4444 Questions?Schedule a Showing! MLS#: 4429490   Licensed In:NY Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. 424 JILL COURT YORKTOWN, NY Scan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Virtual Tour Print Brochure       Home Blends Stately, Casual for Perfect Comfort $ Click for current price 3 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS ( 2 full, 1 half ) 1503 Square Feet This Raised Ranch is set in a quiet cul... 11/20/2014

Open House: September 27, Saturday 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Schedule a Showing/Request Info Search All Homes For Sale Bedford, NY Homes for Sale Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale Free List of Short Sale Homes For Sale Need to Short Sale your Home? Find out how here   Mark Boyland Keller Williams NY Realty 914-234-4444 Questions?Schedule a Showing! MLS#: 4429490   Licensed In:NY Information valid for the date of this posting only. Please contact us for the most current information and status of this property. 424 JILL COURT YORKTOWN, NY Scan with your smartphone & take me with you. Description Photos Maps & Local Schools Virtual Tour Print Brochure JUST LISTED     This Raised Ranch is set in a quiet cul-de-sac $ Click for current price 3 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS ( 2 full, 1 hal... 09/26/2014

Just as my wife and I were congratulating ourselves for having created the most beautiful kitchen ever, eschewing white appliances for brushed steel and polished black, complemented by warm wood and state-of-the-art surfaces, we heard the bad news that the new, new thing is the “White Ice” kitchen. What’s that, you say? Right, white is back in, but it’s the “new” white introduced by Whirlpool in its White Ice Collection of free-standing and built-in appliances. So what is White Ice anyway, over and above just plain white? Like ice, it's simply a gleaming, almost mirrored surface that pops rather than recedes as with the usual sort of smooth or cobbled surface. An appliance in White Ice indeed looks icy, luminous and reflective. It demands to be looked at. The first piece I read on the n... 08/24/2013

Flooring Articles - Part 28 Here's the 28th installment of my flooring posts.  It's a helpful way to find my higher quality educational posts as well as giving these articles a bit more google juice.   High end vinyl flooring | Luxury vinyl in Westchester This is a great option if you need a waterproof solution.  Most are surprised at how real it looks and feels.   What types of carpets are best for cats? For all you my customers with cats.   What is laminate flooring? There seems to be a lot of cunfusion on what laminate is and what it is not.   Carpet pad with a moisture barrier This should come in handy for anyone considening carpet for their basement   How long does it take to install hardwood flooring? This info should be helpful for anyone looking to install hardwood flooring, esp... 03/21/2013

Pergo is a BRAND NAME of Laminate Flooring. It is similar to how Kleenex is a brand of tissues or Band-Aid is brand of adhesive bandages. Lots of people misuse the terms in all 3 of these examples.   There are many brands of laminate flooring, including Pergo, Armstrong and Shaw. Pergo is well known since they invented the category in the mid 70's and began importing to the US in 1994. They also sell their brand at Home Depot which is where many consumers first come in contact with it.  So, what is laminate flooring? Well laminate is made to look real, but it’s actually fake. It’s a multilayered synthetic hard surface product made with recycled hardwood. On top, it has a clear melamine wear layer with aluminum oxide which gives it scratch protection – making it resistant to dogs, kids,... 08/19/2012