Becoming a Home Maintenance Pro: Tips for Homeowners By Dixie Somers Many homeowners don't think about home maintenance until something breaks, but that's not the best way to take care of your home. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been settled for years, it’s never too late to cultivate some home maintenance habits. Here are three tips to help you protect your investment and keep your property in good shape for years to come: Create and Follow a Home Maintenance Schedu

You can’t go wrong with these kitchen upgrades. You may have heard that investing in upgrading your kitchen may yield a return when it comes time to sell. Here are three easy updates you can make that may boost the value of your home: 1) Give your cabinets a facelift. Instead of gutting your cabinets and starting from scratch, keep everything but the cabinet doors. New cabinet faces are an inexpensive way to give your kitchen an updated look. Go for a classic Shaker finish fo

Do You Have Home Improvement Envy? You’re Not Alone​ Have you found yourself longingly peering into the yard next door to check out their new water feature only to start drawing up the blueprints for your own a week later? If you answered yes, turns out you’re just one of the many who experience jealousy—and a little competitive drive—over others’ home improvement projects. In fact, a recent survey from The Home Depot conducted by Wakefield Research not only revealed what

...Start Saving! Replace traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescents Opt for desk or reading lamps to avoid unnecessarily lighting an entire room Raise the thermostat on your air conditioner by 10 percent when you leave for the day. Use an ice tray. Automatic ice makers increase a refrigerator's energy consumption by 14-20 percent. Clean the coils on your refrigerator. If you need a recommendation for local professionals who can increase your home's energy efficiency, w

Owning a home has great financial benefits, yet many continue to rent! Today, let’s look at the financial reasons why owning a home of your own has been a part of the American Dream for as long as America has existed. Realtor.com recently reported that: “Buying remains the more attractive option in the long term – that remains the American dream, and it’s true in many markets where renting has become really the shortsighted option… as people get more savings in their pockets,

Your step-by-step guide to regular home maintenance. Regular maintenance is an important contributor to the value of your home. The following steps will help you create an actionable maintenance calendar, so you feel confident your home is being cared for and kept in the best condition possible. 1. Make a list of what needs regular maintenance. Walk through the house and yard and jot it all down on a list. Write down small things like weeding the garden beds and big things li

Have you fallen out of love with your home? Here are six ways to rekindle the romance: 1. Play musical chairs Rearrange the furniture. 2. Let it grow Potted plants add appeal with little maintenance. 3. Less is more Ditching clutter relieves stress. 4. Do a deep clean Scrub those baseboards, and clean those windows. 5. Make a list Decide what needs improving and prioritize your projects. 6. Give a room a mini-makeover Add new hardware to your cabinets, or pick up

Cleaning out and reorganizing your garage space

The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 17.4% less expensive in Honolulu (HI), all the way up to 53.2% less expensive in Miami & West Palm Beach (FL), and 37.7% nationwide! Other interesting findings in the report include: Interest rates have