Tag: home improvement

Save Big By Going Green At Home

Posted in Kiplinger'sTagged , , ,

here has never been a better time to make your home more energy efficient. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law last year, is a game changer for homeowners looking to make green home improvements and save money on utility bills. “It’s a monumental piece of tax legislation” that’s packed with tax credits and deductions, says Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt. 

At the same time, the new law has “a lot for homeowners to parse through, and there are a lot of nuances for what qualifies and what doesn’t qualify for a tax break,” Steber says. 

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Bored on a winter weekend? Try one of these cold-weather DIY projects.

Posted in The Washington PostTagged , , ,

There are only so many binge-worthy shows on Netflix. So, on a gloomy winter weekend, when you’ve run out of entertainment, why not take advantage of the time indoors to spruce up your home?

We asked home-improvement afficionados for their favorite cold-weather projects to arrive at this list of nine DIY jobs that you can tackle in just a day or two. As a bonus, a few may even help you cut down your utility bills.

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The Best Places to Buy Tile for Every Budget

Posted in Good HousekeepingTagged , , ,

New tile can instantly transform a bathroom floor, kitchen backsplash or exterior wall, and there’s no shortage of options. Indeed, tile comes in countless shapes, sizes, materials and colors. Ceramic, porcelain, cement, granite and glass are just a few tile materials on the market today. Each tile has a unique aesthetic: Subway tile, for example, lends itself well to a kitchen, while rock pebble tile gives a bathroom a spa-like atmosphere.

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5 Home Improvement Projects That Are Easy and Affordable

Posted in Money magazineTagged , ,

There’s a good chance you’ve recently rolled up your sleeves and taken on a home improvement yourself.

Eight out of 10 homeowners have tackled at least one DIY project since the start of the pandemic, an Angi survey found. Furthermore, spending for home improvements and repairs is expected to peak this year, according to a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. In 2019, the most recent year JCHS has data for, homeowners spent an average of $3,300 on improvements and $820 on maintenance.

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10 important maintenance tasks that experts say many homeowners miss

Posted in The Washington PostTagged , ,

If you pride yourself on keeping your home in tiptop shape, you’re the kind of homeowner who takes the necessary steps to keep your house running like a well-oiled machine — or at least you think you’re taking all of the right steps. The hard truth, though, is that many people overlook a number of important home maintenance tasks.

“There is so much many homeowners just don’t know to do,” says Melissa Mitchell, director of operations at GrayWolf Residential Services, a preventive home maintenance company based in Beachwood, Ohio.

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Demolition Daze: 7 Ways to Botch Renovating a Home

Posted in Realtor.comTagged , ,

“Renovating my house was a piece of cake,” said no one ever. Indeed, even seemingly simple projects, like installing a screen door, staining hardwood floors, or refacing kitchen cabinets, can surprise homeowners with unexpected challenges and ever-escalating costs. And the problems multiply if you make certain all-too-common mistakes.

We’re not trying to discourage you from renovating your house, but if you’re planning to give your house a face-lift, be sure to avoid these seven renovation fumbles.

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10 tools every new homeowner should own — and 3 they shouldn’t

Posted in The Washington PostTagged , , , ,

Ah, the joys — and burdens — of toolboxbecoming a homeowner.

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but after you’ve completed the purchase and moved in, you’re responsible for maintenance. In other words, you no longer have a landlord to fix that running toilet or leaky faucet.

The upside? Having a few essentials in your toolbox can help you make some common repairs yourself. Being your own jack-of-all-trades can also help you save money, as repair people typically charge about $60 to $65 an hour, according to HomeAdvisor. But you don’t want to cheap out on tools, home improvement expert Bob Vila says.

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