Home Improvement
12 articles
Ever since you stepped across the threshold at the first open house, you’ve been in love with your cozy, turn-of-the-20th-century Craftsman. Your spouse loves its sheltered porch; you can’t get enough of the ageless walnut woodwork. You don’t regret buying an older house, but you have no illusions that the place is perfect. Lately, you’ve
Given the hefty upfront costs associated with purchasing a home, most young people begin their independent lives renting an apartment. As they build careers, save money, and start families, many choose to buy a home. On the other end of the age spectrum, homeowners nearing retirement may choose to sell their family homes, downsize, and become renters once
Whether you’re moving, downsizing, or in need of a home refresh, it may be time to say goodbye to your old furniture. And that means figuring out what to do with it. Fortunately, there are plenty of charities and nonprofit organizations that will happily take it off your hands if it’s in good condition. You
The age-old debate over the relative merits of renting or buying a home rages on. It’s doubtful that a definitive settlement is on the horizon. There are simply too many variables at play and too many unique factors affecting individual homeowners’ situations. But one thing is for sure: renting and homeownership both come with their fair share
Planning and pulling off a profitable garage sale doesn’t require a marketing degree or MBA. You’ll earn more and stress less when you follow this straightforward four-step process for garage sale success.
Older homes tend to feature a charm and character you just can’t find in new construction homes. But they also offer their share of problems. If you’re considering buying an older home, read on to learn the problems you might encounter, how to solve them, and why it might be worth doing so.
No matter how well you treat your home appliances, they’re all destined for the scrap heap sooner or later. You can avoid pricey emergency purchases and reduce your final cost by buying at the right times of year and following these money-saving tips.
How’s your appetite for a major home improvement project? What if that project could build equity, significantly boost your property’s value, and generate income? Most home improvement initiatives can’t do that. In fact, the list of home improvement projects that decrease resale value and drain homeowners’ personal savings is far too long. Accessory dwelling unit
Finishing your basement is one of the easiest ways to expand your home’s habitable square footage without expanding its footprint. It’s also one of the more expensive home improvement projects you can undertake. But with these tips, you can DIY much of the project, saving hundreds, if not thousands.
Home utility costs quietly eat into most of our monthly budgets, and using a home energy audit to help reduce your energy usage is great for both your wallet and the environment. Learn how to act on the findings of a home energy audit, how much the fixes could cost, and your potential savings.
Energy costs can really impact household budgets, but a home energy audit can lower your monthly bill. Doing a DIY audit is easy, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. Find out how to do your own home energy audit, how to save on a professional audit, and which you should choose.
Minor efficiency upgrades are a fast, easy, and effective way to save money on utilities. But they don’t permanently improve your home’s ability to retain warm or cool air. Fortunately, these government tax credits and incentives can offset the cost of residential green energy projects.