Home Improvement Articles - Page 3

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.

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.

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.

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!

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…

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…

Neighbors may not have rights when it comes to your fence, but good neighbors will work to keep the neighbor involved. Different parts of the country have different laws regarding rights to your neighbor's yard to work on your fence. You should talk with your neighbors before changing anything they…

The Bathroom Idea Book by Andrew Wormer. The bathroom is a quiet, comfortable, private place within the home, so it's no surprise that modern Americans, stressed out from demanding jobs and a hectic pace, spend more time in their bathrooms than ever. Which means that it's also no surprise that…

When you're a new real estate agent and you're selling a fixer-upper, you may need to work with your client to adjust the listing price. While your client may want a certain listing price, what ultimately matters is what comparable homes are selling for in the same area. Research listing price…

A reverse mortgage can allow you to tap the equity in your home without having to sell it or take on another loan. Reverse mortgages or HECMs are commonly used by older Americans in retirement. A reverse mortgage can supplement other retirement income from investments and Social Security.

When selling a home, you have to consider whether to do home improvements or repairs. That decision will play into whether you want to sell your home in "mint" or "as is" condition. Mint means ready to move in, while as is means it needs some home improvement or home repair. Obviously, mint…

While Florida mops up after Hurricane Dennis, and with Hurricane Emily on the way, here's a look at how you can protect yourself when cleaning up and rehabbing your home after a natural disaster such as a flood. After a natural disaster that creates flood damage, the demand for qualified contractors…

Thinking about renovating your home? Here's a must-read book on home renovation by Alan Heavens.

When you're selling your home you'll want the outside to look as good as the inside. Outside of the home you'll want to enhance curb appeal by improving landscaping. How can you enhance your home's curb appeal? Learn tips on how to put your home's best foot forward so you can sell your home.

When you buy a home that's had home improvements made without building permits, it's up to you to rectify that with your local government. In many cases, the local government will allow you to buy the building permits after the fact and consider the work in compliance with the building code. If you…

Before you list your home for sale, it's a good idea to get a pre-listing home inspection. A pre-listing home inspection will alert you to items that may need repair in and around your home. Getting a pre-listing inspection will reduce the surprises that could appear during a home inspection…

Own a Chicago Bungalow? Homeowners can get bungalows certified -- for free -- by the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association. Then they qualify for a number of grants for home improvement and home repair.

At the 2005 International Housewares Show in Chicago, Kitchen Aid displayed mixers in every color of the rainbow. Other products you could find at the show included cleaners that would not streak and a book to help you with redecorating or home design. Learn about the 2005 International Housewares…