Expanding your living space beyond the walls of your home can give you additional room and help you connect with the world around you. Here are some great ways you can decorate your outdoor spaces to make them inviting places to spend time. A conversation space: Covered spaces make a great outdoor conversation area. Use… Read More
Home Improvement
Now trending… do it yourself home repairs.
It’s not uncommon for a homeowner to spend $1,500 for a refrigerator and $800-$1,000 on an electric range. And many are spending $600-$800 on a dishwasher, while front-load washers are pushing $1,000. Overall, these appliances are full of computer-assisted technology and more prone to problems. Over the past few years, as the average house call… Read More
And our “Thursday Thanks” goes to Home Depot!
I’ve always been a pretty big fan of Home Depot. We used to live 40 minutes from the closest Home Depot so I was thrilled when we moved to our current home and there it was, right around the corner. But I read something recently that made me much more than a fan… “like” has… Read More
5 Smart Things To Do Before Summer Guests Arrive
Hosting family and friends is one of the best parts of having a vacation home or living in a vacation spot, but having extra people staying in your home can put a strain on your home’s systems and appliances. Check out these five ways to help avoid disaster. 1. Run your oven through its self-cleaning… Read More
Tax Break Rewards Homeowners Who Make Home Energy Improvements
If you installed energy-efficient home improvements in 2014, you may be eligible for a $500 tax credit. Among the home improvements that might qualify for the tax credit: Doors Windows Insulation HVAC systems Water Heaters Roofs Skylights Biomass stoves Tax credits are valuable because they offset the tax you owe, dollar for dollar. For example,… Read More
Avoiding home insurance claims will keep your rates down.
Filing a claim can raise your homeowners insurance premiums. In some cases insurance companies can refuse to renew your policy. Use this To-Do list to make simple changes around your home that reduce your risk for some of the most common home hazards like fires, falls and water damage. Trim trees away from the house… Read More
New coating protects decks and outdoor surfaces better
If you’d rather salvage your old wooden deck rather than spring for the cost of a new one, you may want to consider trying one of the new super-thick 100 percent acrylic latex deck coatings designed specifically to restore, as well as refinish, weather-beaten wood. Recently introduced as a means of rescuing endangered surfaces of… Read More