Whether you want to prepare your outdoors for summer entertaining or you’re trying to make a great first impression on home buyers, now is the time to get the outside looking great. From fixing up the deck on the front porch to adding some colorful flowers to the landscaping, there are plenty of elements to make your home look more inviting.
The great Halloween costume showdown of 2011 boils down to two contenders: superheroes and monsters. The popularity of both types of costumes is at an all-time high judging from the results of summer box office returns, TV ratings and costume stores’ inventories.
Criminal experts across the country are baffled as crime rates continue to drop. Shouldn’t they increase during a recession? That’s what makes the drop unsettling – no one can explain the decline. If you’re a homeowner, you may be asking, “Why do I need a security system now?”
With sales of new and existing homes remaining slow nationwide, many homeowners are looking for ways to add value now. Installing stylish interior doors and replacing old exterior trim are two great ways to make your home look even better today and sell it for more later.
You turn the faucet off when brushing your teeth and installed low-flow toilets and showerheads – but your outdated irrigation system could be undermining your efforts to save water. Saving water doesn’t have to be complicated; you can find water efficient choices to accommodate any budget.
One day each year is set aside to honor dad. But, as you remember the times he got up early to take you to ball practice, taught you to ride your bike or came to your apartment to help you fix the leaky plumbing, maybe dads need more than one day to hear, “thank you.” Maybe, just maybe, there are some special things children can do to celebrate dads throughout the year, creating memories for all that will last a lifetime.
Few adventures are as fun and exhilarating as looking for and buying a new house. But if you already own a home that you need to sell, that fun and exhilaration can quickly turn to headaches and panic if you can’t sell as fast as you’d like to. The old real estate agent slogan of “location, location, location” may not apply if your house isn’t ready to sell.
A beautiful bathroom can be uplifting on many levels: it improves your home’s resale value and provides you with a welcoming environment in one of the most-used rooms of your house. If your bathroom has become the room in the house you least want to visit, it may be time to consider some cost-effective upgrades.
Credit scores and credit reports: They’re topics you might not think about until you’re sitting in front of a loan officer, and your credit score will determine if you qualify for a loan, and, if so, what kind of interest rate you’ll receive.
With today’s economy, many Americans are choosing to live in their homes longer. As a result, a growing number of American homeowners are investing in home improvements that they can enjoy themselves.
Online coupons are a great way to save money on everything from big ticket items like flat-screens and vacations to everyday expenses like groceries and baby deals of the day. But with so many coupon sites and so little time you may be looking for the inside scoop on what’s newest, hottest and most useful in the world of online coupons. Here’s a peek at some of the best of the Internet.
While it’s easy to blame seasonal pollen, it may be what’s lurking on the caulk in your bathrooms or kitchens that is causing your family to sniffle and sneeze. Since caulk is placed in moisture-rich areas, it can provide an ideal environment for mold and mildew to accumulate and grow. Mold can cause health issues, including allergic reactions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Unless you just completed a stunning bathroom renovation with a five-figure price tag, there’s probably at least one thing in your bathroom you’d like to change. Whether you’re dealing with a constantly leaky faucet or the whole room just looks drab and out of date, you can find many ways to make your bathroom beautiful again without breaking the bank or investing a huge amount of time.
Warm weather is here and it’s time to start thinking about those home renovation and home improvement projects you put on hold until the weather – or the economy – got better. While many indicators point toward a better economy, many contractors are still feeling the pinch, and are competing fiercely to win business. Here are some steps that can help you ensure you’re choosing the right contractor.
Just because it’s five o’clock doesn’t mean the workday is over. In fact, 84 percent of women and 67 percent of men, on average, do some sort of household activities, such as housework and cooking, every day. With so much time spent in the kitchen, there are certain tools that you just shouldn’t live without: especially those that make work easier, cleanup faster and results more professional.
When adults decide to move, it’s often to pursue an exciting opportunity or discover a new place. But for children, moving can be much harder to understand, as often they’ve only known one place as home. That’s why it’s important to take some steps to make this major transition easier on your kids.
Buying a home is more than numbers, dollars and cents. The pride of owning your own home is an incredible feeling, providing a place for you and your family to come together and build memories. With all the potential pitfalls out there, it’s key to arm yourself with the right tools to help you navigate the intricacies of the home buying process.
Uncle Sam is handing out a few extra breaks to parents and homeowners on their 2011 and 2012 tax returns. Although the filing deadline is months away, some of these tax benefits require forward planning. Others may influence decisions you make now about child care, college and your home.
If you’ve paid attention to any news media over the past few years, you know that the housing market has dropped off. From a seller’s perspective, that makes life a lot harder. But for a buyer, it can mean a wider world of options and opportunities. For those want to become owners rather than renters, it’s vitally important to make smart decisions – as the markets have shown.
Many Americans are trying to get the full value out of their vehicle, evident by the recent findings that the average age of a vehicle on the road has reached over 10 years old, according to an R.L. Polk & Co. study. In order to make sure that their vehicles remain durable, it is important that motorists look for ways to help keep their vehicles running smoothly, longer.
Who would risk the negative impact of defaulting on a mortgage if they didn’t really have to? About 17 percent of Americans who defaulted on their mortgages in the second quarter of 2010 did exactly that. While the percentage of Americans taking this option has steadily declined, the credit risks for strategic defaulters remain unchanged.
Who wouldn’t like an extra set of hands around the house? Or some help with basic everyday activities such as keeping your home comfortable? And if that extra help could also make your home more energy efficient – reducing your utility bills – wouldn’t that be an added bonus?
Accessorizing existing features can be a more cost-effective alternative to making major improvements when your home is on the market. If you’re willing to spend a little money in order to (hopefully) make more money, here are some ideas for enhancing your home’s existing selling points by adding some great accessories.
A glut of applicants applying for each posted position can take the wind out of a job-seeker’s sail. But there are definite steps one can take toward landing a new position. An expert offers four main rules to follow when seeking employment.
Nearly 1 billion people around the world lack access to safe drinking water, and waterborne diseases remain a leading cause of illness and death in the developing world. Non-profit organizations are fighting to combat these startling statistics and help provide clean drinking water to people in need.
Whether you are upgrading a kitchen, adding on a master suite, or gutting a newly purchased structure, you need to reassess your insurance needs both before and after your renovation.
If you’re selling your home, you’ve probably heard about the value of “staging” it. Visually appealing decorative touches and artful arrangement of furnishings can help potential buyers recognize the appeal of your home and picture themselves living there. To strengthen your staging efforts, don’t overlook the positive power of aroma.
Despite a turbulent job market and economy, if you are a recent college graduate, there is much to be optimistic about as you leave campus and head out into the real world. No one ever said life on your own would be easy, but post-graduate financial bliss can be a reality.
Whether your annual earnings range well into six figures or are on the more modest end of national salary averages, you know you’ll probably need credit to buy a home. While you likely know how important credit is to your home-buying plans, you may not be aware of the truth behind some common credit myths.
You know there’s money to be made in the stock market, but when Wall Street insiders can’t get a handle on what’s going to happen next, you may wonder what hope you have of trading successfully. Some stocks can be outright esoteric, and if you don’t understand what you’re buying how are you supposed to understand how that stock might perform? If you’re looking for a trading option that’s easier to understand, commodities investment may be the option for you.
