Your home is a huge investment when you buy it, plus monthly operating costs like utility bills. We help you spend less, get more value & build homeowner equity like a savings account.
You've probably never hung a door or shingled a roof. That’s why problems are scary. We share concepts, terminology so you can make smart decisions about your home ... with confidence!
With Pinterest, Houzz and so many shows about home improvements, it's natural to have a wish list. We share our ideas, your homeowner stories and support you in achieving your dreams.
Lots of people are talking about smart lighting but what does that mean? Wikipedia says “Smart lighting is lighting technology designed for energy efficiency. This may include high efficiency fixtures and automated controls that make adjustments based on conditions such as occupancy or daylight availability.”
It gets more confusing when you search for “smart lighting” [Save More…]
Today's notice that my homeowner insurance would be cancelled due to lack of payment seemed unreal. With so many other bumps in the road, it feels like nothing is going right with this move. The insurance was paid 12 days ago, as part of the closing on my new home. So now it feels like I need a moving checklist to make sure nothing is falling through the cracks!
With more than a dozen moves over the last 40 years, [Save More…]
Do you know how often you write out your home address? Maybe you're smart and carry those cute little address stickers which save you time? What you probably don't understand is how your home address is being tracked and even sold by businesses across the US. Like many aspects of our lives, we take our home address for granted while understanding it's importance.
Even though I've moved 14 times since graduating from college, I never understood the problems [Save More…]
The emphasis on low cost products drives lower quality products. Poor quality means products have to be replaced more often. When you have to replace building materials frequently, they cost more when you include installation costs. Walmart focuses on consumable products, ones that aren't expected to last a long time. They don't sell cheap house windows because …
Houses last 40, 60 or 100 years. Walmart does sell window accessories like screens, shutters, window film, window awnings and window insulation kits.
Sadly many production builders, to save a nickel here and there, [Learn More …]
When you move into a brand new house you want to decorate, organize and protect your home so it sparkles forever. Furniture pads will let you move furniture around, knowing your floors are protected from scratches and gouges. The challenge is finding the best furniture pads for your floors and furniture.
More homeowners worry about their hardwood floors but my experience says it pays to protect all flooring. With wall-t0-wall porcelain tile, I expected my floors to be pretty indestructible … [Learn More …]
Electrical outlets are becoming more critical in our connected world. Home fixtures like lights are getting smarter and everyone in the family has a smart phone. So why aren't we getting smarter about where we put our outlets?
Why let plain white outlets break up tile backsplash?
We see and read about homeowner emergencies all the time. We just never imagine it happening to our house … until one day, it happens. Last week it happened to me when I got a phone call about a flooded house, my brand new house in Florida. While I was in Maine helping my sister, neighbors called the HOA property manager because “water was gushing out the front door and garage”.
When I owned a handyman business, I dealt with these problems all the time. It feels a lot different when it's your house. I'm going to share what I'm learning so you'll be more prepared as one day [Start Dreaming …]
The house was supposed to be done in 120 days. That meant February 1st which slipped to March, April and finally closed on May 3rd. That was the beginning. Then we gutted the house and turned cheap builder cabinets and other features into an upscale house I love. Fortunately I'm a blogger, so I was photographing house contents before the flood happened …
There were a few things to finish. The dishwasher and ice maker needed to be hooked up. There were 6 to 8 boxes left to unpack and [Start Dreaming …]
If the kitchen is the heart of a home, then you expect kitchens in new construction houses to be brilliant. Richmond American's model home kitchen is just that. The price tag for that kitchen is ridiculous. Here's how I replaced cheap kitchen cabinets in my new home, with better cabinets that are beautiful and functional.
Home buyers need to understand that model homes are advertisements like the ones you see in magazines. They include lots of upgrades (think “more money”) to encourage buyers to put down a deposit on their new home.
Looks though, can also be deceiving when you're not familiar with what you're looking at [Start Dreaming …]
