Patios, Decks and Yards – Enjoying Your Outdoor Living Space

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 repairs, do it yourself, fix a hole in my ceiling - Bill Salvatore, Realty Executives East Valley - 602-999-0952

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

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

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