If the kitchen is the ‘stomach’ of the house, then the living room is definitely the heart of the house. We do everything in it- welcome visitors with a bottle of wine, pull out a book on a lazy Sunday, take a nap on cool Saturday and a host of other activities are carried out … Read more
If you just purchased your first starter home or an investment property and plan to eventually sell it, maintaining the home for resale is essential. If you’re not part of a Homeowners’ Association program, you’ll need to take care of all of the maintenance yourself, but it will pay off in the long run. As … Read more
Weeping tile may sound like a sad state but, the truth is, you want your weeping tile to weep. Weeping tile is an integral part of your home’s structure and is important in ensuring that your basement stays dry and your foundation maintains a crack-free form. Once you know what weeping tile is, where to … Read more
When you’re in the business of property management, there’s always something in need of repair. Busted plumbing, bad electrical, improper heating or air conditioning. All of these things can escalate if you don’t have a knowledgeable maintenance guy on-call or on-site to address the issue immediately. Left untreated, a leaky pipe can turn into a … Read more
If you own a rental property, it’s important that you make big upgrades once or twice per year. The only way you’re going to make money as a rental property owner is if you have tenants constantly occupying the place. But if your property is run-down or has notable deficiencies, you might have a more … Read more
Your home is probably the most important investment you have, and you know that all of its parts and systems have to be maintained on a regular basis to keep things humming. But while you’re up-to-date on what your house needs, have you given enough thought to keeping the landscape that frames it in top … Read more
Owning big-ticket items like a house and car is a decision not to be taken lightly, mainly because the responsibility of ownership doesn’t end with that initial purchase. When we buy something expensive, we expect it to last for a long time and are not necessarily thinking about future costs associated with repair, replacement and … Read more
Well-functioning bathrooms achieve a lot. When they run well and look good, they increase the value of our homes, they keep us safe from things like mold, and they allow us to feel refreshed and at home in our houses. Sometimes, though, our bathrooms themselves are in need of a refresh. As those who own … Read more
The cooler months of the year are certainly full of their own distinct charms, but for homeowners they also bring a distinct set of challenges. The precipitation levels increase, cold winds blow, and temperatures drop. Keeping our homes in good working order and ensuring they remain bright and warm doesn’t happen accidentally. Instead, it’s a … Read more
According to the U.S. Department of Energy half of what Americans spend on energy goes towards heating and cooling their homes, which means it is the single costliest energy expense for most families. The majority of us — and especially those who live in northern regions of the country — know that fall and winter … Read more
