Laying poolside is the quintessential way to spend a scorching summer day. It’s easy to imagine the fun that comes with owning a pool—floating in a tube on Caribbean blue waters, family poolside volleyball, romantic moonlit dips—without considering the responsibility that comes with it. The truth is, owning a pool requires regular upkeep and maintenance: weekly...
By Cosette Jarrett Although the idea of cutting the cord on expensive cable or satellite TV costs sounds amazingly liberating, the unfortunate truth is that this would mean losing access to some of your favorite shows and channels. Even if you could find most of your shows on Netflix, could you really stand to wait several additional months to find out what’s happening...
Congratulations: you’re still in time for some spring cleaning! Was that a groan? Come on! There’s still weeks left before the end of the season, which means you can still to get your act together and whip your house into shape. Spring cleaning is a hassle, you say? Yeah, it is. If all you’re going to do is dust and scrape, store and organize, then for sure,...
Editor's Note: This post was originally published on May 16, 2017. Housecall continues to share this piece due to ongoing requests and reader interest. By Rob Caiello With summer weather still impacting much of the country, it’s important to continue thinking about ways to save on utility bills and energy costs before you’re shocked by a big bill this September....
By Casea Peterson If you're a nature lover, then you probably want to live somewhere where mother nature is knocking at your door. Of course, there is an allure to the high-rise skylines of big cities and all of the perks that come with them, but for some folks, it's not the bright lights that entice them but the endless opportunities that await them in the wild. Many...
By Sarah Brown Ah, spring. A time of renewal. A time to put out the old and bring in the new. Many people have spring cleaning rituals they go through each year, tidying up their homes and cycling out old stuff that doesn’t get used. Why not do the same for your bills? Spring cleaning your bills can be as simple as turning the thermostat up a few degrees to save...
By Katie Laird Want to let light in, while keeping your nosy neighbors out? Special types of light-filtering window treatments enable you to illuminate your home with natural light, while preventing others from viewing your personal space. Ultimately, these window shades may prove to be exceedingly valuable, particularly for homeowners who are searching for high-quality...
Proper watering nourishes lawns, just as proper hydration nourishes our bodies. Yet too many of us are failing at both. We’re not going to lecture you about drinking more water—we’ll leave that to your doctor or significant other. But we are going to give you a lesson about correctly watering your lawn. Here are five lawn-watering mistakes that you’re likely...
A person’s home is their castle, but sometimes that castle isn’t big enough to accommodate all its occupants. Maybe you’ve got a new baby on the way or an older parent is moving in with you. Maybe you need a workshop to keep up with your hobbies. Whatever the reason, it’s normal to outgrow your space. When it happens, you’ve got two choices—move to a...
Reasons I want to become a homeowner: To gain independence and "Legitimate Adult" status Be eligible to participate in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” To be free to build hidden rooms and secret passages Do you remember Dexter’s lab? The inconspicuous one, accessible only through the bookshelf in his bedroom? That was cool. via GIPHY Now, I’m not...
