Home Improvement Articles and Videos - Page 5

Home improvement scams can be any homeowner's nightmare. Researching contractors on the internet and through references is the best way to avoid problems on home improvement projects.

A homeowner wants to know how to calculate the cost basis on a home he received through a quit claim deed that has appreciated greatly in value. When it comes to calculating cost basis, you can include anything that was a structural fix. Also included in the cost basis are costs of the purchase and…

How do you divide the expenses related to home improvement and repair of an investment property inheritance? An inheritance becomes more complex when the deceased person did not maintain her share of the investment property. How can the other investment property owner be fairly reimbursed prior to…

Happy Memorial Day! Join the Ilyce Glink Show for another take of her interview with Sergio Palleroni, sustainable design expert and architect as they take your calls on how to reduce your environmental footprint.

Maintenance-free is a concept that sounds good, but doesn't quite pan out when it comes to most single family homes. All homes age and need ongoing maintenance and attention in order to stay in good shape. But, in the late 1980s, developers began to introduce the concept of a maintenance-free…

Will a new tub or shower increase the value of your home? Some readers of Ilyce's column prefer having a bathtub, regardless of how it affects a home's value. Some people want a bathtub no matter what. Does having a bathtub affect a home value?

Will a new tub or a shower increase the value of your home? Read here to find out what readers of Ilyce's newspaper column think. Many readers think having a shower will increase the value of a home, regardless of whether there's also a bathtub. Including a shower in your home design may increase…

Small home improvement details like new bedding, new towels and rugs can go a long way toward helping sell your house. Changes like this, plus decluttering your personal items, will help buyers make the decision to buy your house.

When you own a home covered with synthetic stucco you may decide to install a water barrier system. Some water barrier systems work, but many fail, and you should ensure that your system is in working order. A synthetic stucco-certified home inspector can look at the exterior of the home to find…

Can a french drain cause an odor to be trapped in your home? Ilyce explains how a french drain works and that it shouldn't cause an odor in the home. Ilyce suggests visiting the home improvement store to find out more about trapped odors and where they might be coming from in the home.

There are some amazing deals to be had if you're looking for a back-to-school computer for yourself of your child.

In this morning's paper, Office Depot (www.officedepot.com) is offering an HP Pavilion Desktop Computer with Intel Celeron D 352 Processor, monitor and all in one printer for -- $99!

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A contractor writes Ilyce to ask about his obligations to an unhappy home owner. He installed, and repaired a deck for them. They would now like him to start over on the project. Ilyce explains where the contractor stands in these negotiations.

I may post once or twice from Colorado, but for the most part, I'll be taking in the mountain air, hiking, biking and doing non-technical things.

Wherever you are, enjoy your week.

I've left a new Ilyce Glink show for this week. This Sunday, David Rubinger from Equifax answers all of our questions…

When you're buying a home you may look at older vintage homes that need repair. These vintage homes may be fixer-uppers but it take the right kind of home buyer to renovate them. For people who appreciate vintage homes, it may be a shock to see a vintage exterior with completely modern interior.

I went to see a $15.5 million house for sale last night in a fancy San Francisco neighborhood. The owner had taken a very nice house, bumped up the third floor roof, and redid the home in a very nice style. There is a wine cellar (natch!), and a lovely master bathroom with a closet to die for. The…

Before you get a contractor to work on your property you should get a lien waiver. Lien waivers ensure that if your contractor or a sub-contractor does not get paid for the home improvement or home repair work that they do, your home won't be in danger. When a contractor puts a lien on a home, it…

In neighborhoods all across America we are seeing old homes being torn down and replaced with new construction. Lane Epstein, an architect and vice president of Baker Construction Group, shares how to decide if an older home is appropriate for renovation or tear down.

One of the most important things to do before selling your home is fixing all the items that are broken. Leaving items broken and listing a home is one of the biggest makes homeowners make when preparing to sell a home. Selling your home is much easier when everything is in perfect working order!

For disabled veterans who are returning home, and need remodeling done to their homes to accommodate their disabilities, help is on the way.

Serving Those Who Serve is a subsidiary of Rebuilding Together (www.rebuildingtogether.org). This year, Rebuilding Together will marshall the forces of 225,000…

When undertaking home improvement projects like replacing flooring, the price you pay can depend on how the house is laid out. Sometimes there is more waste when a room is smaller, increasing the cost. To get a fairly decent estimate, try to add up the room sizes and then figure out how much…

Improving your home takes a lot of time and money. Ilyce helps a reader take advantage of the tax benefits of a home equity loan and suggests ways to save on taxes when selling a home.

What is an energy audit and why should I have one? Homeowners who hire a credentialed energy specialist to conduct an energy audit can expect to pay as much as $500. If you follow the recommendations, you can expect to save between 25 to 50 percent or more on your energy bill, although the audit…

When you're selling your home you want to do as much as you can to make a buyer want it. One great way to make your home ready for selling is to stage it. Barb Schwarz, author of Home Staging: The Winning Way To Sell Your House For More Money discusses staging tricks for how to best put your house…

As I was on the show this morning, I found myself getting pretty annoyed with the whole ENERGY STAR program. If you really want to save money on your energy bills, you may need to do an energy audit from an inspector with the right credentials. I had one done a few weeks ago and while I wasn't…

Many new gadgets for the kitchen and home made their debut at the 2006 International Housewares Show in Chicago. Some of the kitchen gadgets featured retro colors and innovative design. In addition, the housewares show featured new lighting and cleaning tools for the kitchen and the rest of the…