By Nicholas Brown Buying a home that needs a little TLC is a great way to develop an investment quickly, but there are varying degrees of “TLC” that you should consider. First, let’s draw a line to differentiate a quick fixer upper and a total rehab. A fixer upper is a home that is structurally sound and only needs some cosmetic changes to bring it up in value....
As more people become aware of their carbon footprint, many are looking for home interior alternatives that allow them to live consciously while still creating a beautiful home. With the growing number of products that are making use of byproducts or recycled materials, you won’t have to sacrifice appearance or comfort for an eco-friendly home. In fact, you’ll...
By Anita Alvarez The excitement of a revamped home holds nothing over the reality of living through a remodel. Nevermind the sawdust and the disruption to your normal routine, or dreaming of a future with a well-insulated and newly designed interior. Try living without a kitchen or bathroom for an extended period of time. Before you move ahead with your remodel, decide...
A home is a major investment and it’s one that stands to appreciate if you continue to invest your money wisely. Avoiding these five critical mistakes will help you turn your home into your greatest asset instead of your greatest expense. 1) Don’t sell too soon. Generally speaking, it takes at least three to five years to gain home equity. That said, it’s best...
With never-ending news stories about the poor air quality in cities and depressing gray pictures of smoggy skylines, it’s no wonder that most Americans assume that their indoor air quality is better than the quality outdoors. However, the quality of indoor air is, on average, two to five times worse than that of outdoor air, and in fact, the EPA rates indoor...
By Tim Anderson and Harry Chandler Purchasing a vacation home is a great way to ensure that you always have a place to escape, without worrying about crammed hotel rooms and the inconvenience of living out of a suitcase for a week. When you own a vacation home, you can pack and leave at your convenience, because you always have a home away from home ready for you...
By Anita Alvarez A light-up cauldron made out of spray foam insulation, by flickr user sputnikdeb. The fall season brings with it memorable events and tasty treats. Freshly harvested local apples, pumpkin treats galore and Halloween festivities are just a few. Getting creative with your Halloween parties and local trick or treat night means coming up with ingenious...
Contributed by Terri Engels When people think of crime-ridden locales, it may be images of bustling city backdrops that dance in their heads – the kind of area where you wake up to the sounds of sirens instead of the call of a rooster. While it’s true that bigger cities have a more tangible element of crime, it must be noted that rural areas have their own unique...
It’s our favorite time of year again —Halloween! Bring on the haunted houses, creepy costumes and goodies galore. Halloween also means it’s time for Zillow’s annual roundup of the best cities in the U.S. to take your little creatures trick or treating. Zillow’s research team has been data crunching around the clock to nail down the winners, introducing...
Contributed by Anita Alvarez Foundation issues, mold problems, water damage – these are just a few home problems that can bring the strongest homeowner to his knees. While painting a room, replacing a broken light fixture and even minor electrical repair jobs may be within your purview, some jobs should be left to the pros. Foundation issues Perhaps the most dreaded...
