Living in the home during the remodel has some obvious advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you can see the progress (or any lack of progress) every day, and you can catch any issues early. On the downside, you have to live through the inconvenience every day until the project is complete. Here are […]
By far one of the most important yet tedious parts of planning a remodel is developing a timeline and a budget. Then comes the really difficult part; actually sticking to either one! When we first started planning our project, I had no idea where to start. I didn’t have a […]
Pink tile. Carpet on the walls. Avocado-colored appliances. What do they all have in common? Home improvement trends that came and, thankfully, went. You can easily date tacky trends back to the decade they were popular, and that’s not a good thing. While trends still occur, modern remodeling focuses on updating your home but keeps an […]
Compare at least 3 contractor bids Comparing contractor bids for your home remodel can be a challenge. Each contractor has a different format for providing estimates, and it can be impossible to compare bids line by line. It is wise to compare at least three proposals. Don’t automatically jump to the lowest quote, especially if two of […]
Water is ten times more likely to damage your home than fire. The damage to your home from a failed washing machine can be as destructive as a hurricane. These steps can help you protect your home from the most common causes of water damage. If you think about water damaging your home, you might […]
Many homeowners undertake renovations in the fall before winter sets in. Market research company IBISWorld estimates that home remodeling is a $52 billion market that grew 3.8 percent between 2009 and 2014. Still, not all home improvements are created equal. Many homeowners assume they’ll recoup their investment in renovations when they sell the property, but […]
‘Tis the season for list making. Of course, there’s the naughty-and-nice list, the endless holiday shopping list and the “this-year-I-will-do-it-New Year’s Resolution (really!) list.” With so many lists to be made, there’s one list that is particularly important — the winter pest-proofing list. Many people mistakenly believe pests should only be dealt with once inside […]
For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat […]
For many people, owning and maintaining a home is one of the most significant investments they ever make. But for individuals and veterans living with disabilities or special needs, or seniors aging in place, the fact that much of the world outside is not built to accommodate their needs magnifies the value of a comfortable home. […]
Homeowners taking on a home improvement or home renovation project receive a lot of promises. The home improvement contracts, change orders, project guarantees and product warranties which consumers must deal with all seem to have one thing in common: the goal of customer satisfaction. But what do all these documents really […]