Badger Peabody & Smith Blog
20
Mini Splits: A Hot Topic
We're in the midst of a heatwave, and it's making it next to impossible to spend any significant amount of time outside, but honestly, I'm struggling to spend time indoors as well. My house is old, and the building where my business is located is old too, and they both rely on window air conditioners to keep them cool this time of year. Although the window air conditioners try their best, when it's this hot outside, by the middle of the day the air inside will feel almost as hot as the air outside, both at my house and at my store. It's brutal, to say the least.
I've been considering having mini-splits installed in my house for quite some time, but each year I put it off; then summer rolls around, and I find myself in an August heatwave agai...
17
Buying a Home on a Private Road: What to Know Before You Close
Private and Class VI roads are a common feature across New Hampshire's rural and mountain communities, and recent legislation has changed how building permits work on them. Before you fall in love with a property tucked down a quiet lane, our real estate agents want you to walk through what that means for you.
Why Private Roads Are So Common in New Hampshire
Many of the state's most desirable properties, particularly in the White Mountains and Lakes Regi...
13
Converting Barns into Living Spaces
If you're looking to preserve a piece of architectural history and repurpose it into a living space, converting an old barn into a home might be just what you need. Across New England, converting an old barn frame into a new residence or secondary home building has been catching on.
While it seems like a simple enough project, there is much more challenge than meets the eye when building a barndominium. If you're up for the task, here's how to get started.
Research Old Barn Frames
You will want to make sure you have a solid understanding of common layouts in historical barn frames so that you can incorporate your new living space details well inside the old framework.
Having thi...
10
Meet the Makers of the Northeast Kingdom and Western Maine
How often have you marveled at the incredible artisan crafts on display in local gift shops and galleries? Support the creative community of the Northeast Kingdom and Western Maine with visits to these fascinating spots that our real estate agents recommend.
Meet Artists of the NEK and Western Maine
Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild - St. Johnsbury, VT
Address: 430 Railroad St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
6
Front Porches
Never did I think that I think I would pay so much attention to front porches, but here I am. Without intention, I find myself scrutinizing every house I drive past with a porch attached. Does it wrap around the whole house? Is it screened-in? How big is it? What's the railing situation? Stairs?
My house had a front porch until it didn't; it was more like a platform than a porch, as it was never intended to be permanent. It had a few steps off the sides, no railings. It served me well, but after a decade or so, it started to fail. Last fall, it began to pull away from the house and took some of the siding off with it. We replaced it with a much smaller porch, more like a landing pad for the stairs leading in and out of the front door. Altho...