Writer, editor, dog lover
Winter is the season for holiday festivities, ice skating and cozying up in front of a fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa. But if your house is not prepared for the elements, the winter cold can take a toll on your home — and your finances.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your house from snow, ice and freezing temperatures and avoid costly repairs.
Click here to read the full story.
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.
Click here to read the full story.
DIY home projects can save you time and money and can leave you with a sense of accomplishment. But if you stretch yourself beyond your abilities, they can also leave you with a big mess that you end up having to pay a professional to come in and fix. Before you start one, it’s important to know what is feasible and what to expect along the way.
Click here to read the full story.
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.
Click here to read the full story.
If you’ve lived in the same home for a while, you’re not alone.
Homeowners are staying put longer than they did in the past. The typical homeowner now spends about 13 years in their home, up from roughly 10 years a decade ago, according to a Redfin study. Homeownership tenure is especially long in California — Los Angeles homeowners hold onto their homes for a median of 18.1 years, up from 13.6 years in 2012.
Click here to read the full story.
If home remodeling is on your mind, you’re not alone. Two-thirds of homeowners said spending more time at home during the pandemic made them want to do more renovations and repairs, according to a recent study by home loan lender LightStream.
The best renovations will not only boost the enjoyment of your home but will also help raise its market value. Here are four pandemic home improvements to increase value in today’s market.
Click here to read the full story.
Thanks to the seemingly endless glut of home improvement TV shows like “Flip or Flop,” “Masters of Flip,” and “Rehab Addict,” it seems like flipping houses has become America’s favorite pastime.
But for the inexperienced, house flipping can be a dangerous and costly game. Make one wrong move, and that “great investment” can turn into a monumental mistake.
Don’t want your first flip to be a flop? Here are five questions you might never think to ask yourself, but totally should, before you begin flipping houses.
Click here to read the full story.
“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.
Click here to read the full story.
Think you don’t have the time to tackle a home improvement project? Good news: There are a number of easy renovations you can do in one day — without the help (or cost) of a handyman or contractor. Here are four that you can do with just a few basic tools.
Click here to read the full story.
No matter what we’re shopping for, 
few of us like sticking to a budget. But when you’re doing a major home remodeling project, knowing precisely how much money you have to spend and staying within that budget is crucial.
“As contractors, we design our projects to our clients’ budgets,” says J.P. Ward, architect and vice president of business development at Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Md. “Homeowners need to know what their budget is upfront and be realistic about what they can afford.”
Considering a big home renovation? Here’s how to set your priorities, establish a spending limit and stick to your budget.
Click here to read the full story.
Daniel Bortz 