February, 2025

Tip

I recently learned that as a homeowner, when in contract with a property management company, you may be eligible for a discount on your home insurance. With a property manager, you have someone over seeing the property’s condition while away and the risk for major damage is reduced significantly. Though I’m unsure of the discount rate, it may be worth looking into. If you end up talking to your provider and need anything from me, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help.

Maintenance

Decks. Maybe the least used space at your property, but not the least valuable. A recent client asked if I could salt their deck in order to melt the snow/ice. I’m all for shoveling, but I strongly avoid putting an ice melt of any kind on your deck. Whether pressure treated, trex, or IPE, not a good idea. Though you can get some stone friendly and salt free ice melts, I advise against any on your deck. Here are some costs that I’m currently carrying in estimates…

Ipe 5/4x6	$7.95	LF
Garapa 5/4x6	$4.05	LF
Deck fasteners	$2.00	SF
Deck Install Labor	$18.00	SF

Note that the Brazilian hardwoods are by the linear foot. Not square foot. And that’s material only. That $16 per sf is more than most interior flooring these days. Not worth the risk if you’re hardly using the deck for the winter. And the risk is high. Though you might not notice the effects of the ice melt at first, as the chemicals sit on the wood and go uncleaned or dissolved, they will most definitely eat away with time. 

Community

I’m sure you’ve all heard of Matunuck Oyster Bar. Ranked one of the best seafood restaurants in the U.S., it’s set a new bar for dining in South County. But I’m willing to bet that you’ve never heard of Jim’s Dock Restaurant, right down the road. I grew up on and under these docks. Swimming, crabbing and chasing Jenna up and down the beach. This is not high end dining. This is BYOB, sit back and boat watch. The live music travels across the channel from George’s in Galilee and the Block Island Ferry sounds off every hour. Sitting in the middle of Jerusalem, in my opinion, this is as good as it gets. Best on the menu? Clam cakes, everything after that, not worth bragging about. But it’s not the food that will bring you back, it’s the 1 of 1 location. Bringing the kids? They’ll run off to the pier and keep busy exploring. All while you soak in the truest RI scenery there is. Family owned for the last 50 years, Jim’s is a “hole in the (dock)” type restaurant that may make for one of the best evenings of your 2025 summer. Who knows, you may catch me there building a crab aquarium with the kids.