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, … Read More
Photographing House Contents Before the Emergency
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 … Read More
Replacing Cheap Kitchen Cabinets
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. … Read More
Richmond American Profits Over Quality
Building a new house is exciting and challenging. With a production builder like Richmond American, you have little control once the contract is signed. You can monitor progress and leverage the contract to get desired changes but you have virtually no control over the quality of the building materials or workmanship. After four months, Richmond … Read More
Picking Furniture Companies You Can Trust
With a new house you’re likely to buy some new furniture. Living in a new place means finding new, reliable furniture companies. Here’s what I learned working with three different furniture companies in central Florida. Product quality and customer service differ significantly and there’s one company you definitely want to avoid. While I’m very comfortable … Read More
Remodeling Projects: Their Cost & Value
When planning big remodeling projects, it pays to research how much the improvements should be worth when you sell your home. Here’s a quick index to the survey that can help you evaluate the “cost vs value” of the most common home renovations. Remodeling.com’s “cost vs value” surveys began in 2002 with 15 remodeling projects. … Read More
Types of Landscaping for Curb Appeal
Buying a new house is a huge investment. After moving into your new home, you’ll spend more on furniture, flooring, window treatments and maybe a remodeling project. While we spend most of our time at home indoors, you also need to look at the types of landscaping you need for curb appeal and a comfortable … Read More
New House Painting Done Right?
Painting is probably the most common DIY project a homeowner tackles. Painting an entire house is an entirely different endeavor. In Arizona where ceilings went as high as 16 feet (above), we decided to hire professional painters. House painting is even more challenging with a new house so you’re glad that the builder is responsible … Read More
New Construction Punchlist Tells a Story
Everyone who buys a new construction home needs to understand the role of the punchlist! If you don’t find problems and make the builder correct them before you close on your new home, you’re going to waste money due to poor construction and/or materials. You’ll spend money on higher utility bills, repairs due to faulty … Read More
Bathroom Shower Tile Done Wrong!
When you build a house, one of the most exciting things is picking your finishes. Your big choices are cabinets and counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms, flooring, lighting, paint colors and tile for your shower/bathtub surround. Given that I love a long, hot shower in the morning, I happily paid for my dream … Read More
