One of my friends has some long-term guests staying at his house. From what he tells me, it seems he’s feeling a little “displaced” in his own home. Maybe because his guests are older but it seems they like things - well - amplified: the heat is higher, the tv is louder. He called me [...]
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Comments(0) The Brill Luxus 38 is the reel mower they like at Clean Air Gardening, they call it the “Mercedes” of reel lawnmowers.
You don’t have to yank a cord, spill gas and oil, wait until after 8 a.m. to avoid neighbor complaints/fines for violating the noise ordinance, or sharpen the blades for like a decade. You [...]
Comments(0) Pet food. A couple who owned a junkyard was allowed to write off the cost of cat food they set out to attract wild cats. The feral felines did more than just eat; they also took care of snakes and rats on the property, making the place safer for customers. When the case reached the [...]
Read More..>> Comments(0) What’s In
Home buyers. What goes around comes around. Relegated during the boom years to bidding wars, over-full-price offers and new construction lotteries, buyers rule in 2008, and know it. With swelling inventories, they are looking for newly updated kitchens and baths, pristine conditions, and a perception of value.
Destination bathrooms. The master bath has evolved into [...]
Comments(0) Accounting fees for tax preparation services and IRS audits
Amortization of premium on taxable bonds
Appraisal fees for charitable donations or casualty losses
Appreciation on property donated to a charity
Cellular telephones
Cleaning and laundering services when traveling
Commissions and closing costs on sale of property
Contact lenses, eye glasses and hearing devices
Depreciation of home computers
Employee’s moving expenses
Federal estate tax on income [...]
Comments(0) With everything being about the environment and going green it’s easy to think that it’s something that we cannot do anything about. But the funny thing is that we can all do really simple things that will not only reduce our impact on the environment, but it will even save us money. And it doesn’t [...]
Read More..>>Our stay at Rosario Resort found us in sunny skies and flip-flop weather. Our keelboat sailing course at Orcas Island Sailing was exhausting for me but a piece of cake for my husband who has been sailing since he was a kid. I passed the exam, got my little sticker, and am on the way [...]
Read More..>>18Seconds.org is a very cool website!
Did you know that if every American (not to mention the rest of the planet) swapped just one bulb for an ENERGY STAR labeled CFL bulb, it would collectively save more than $8 billion in energy costs, prevent burning 30 billion pounds of coal, and remove 2 million cars worth [...]
Comments(0) Our government is trying to make it more attractive to buy products that make a difference and they’re giving tax credits for doing so. The Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 2005 encompasses tax credits for
home improvements
cars
solar energy systems
fuel cells
home builders
appliance manufacturers
commercial buildings
Most of these tax credits remain in effect through 2007 so visit the Energy [...]
Read More..>> Comments(0) On March 29th Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a program called “Clean Up Your Act” which will significantly increase fines for landlords and property owners who refuse to repair dilapidated homes, who turn their backyards into junkyards, or let bushes and weeds grow out of control.
The changes to the city’s land use, housing, and weed [...]