By Kara Masterson The process of buying a new home is stressful, even if you've already done it before. Looking at properties, researching areas, processing paperwork, etc., can all take a toll on your schedule and daily life. With all this going on, the last thing you should have to worry about is saving money when it actually comes time to buy the property. Use...
When the temperature’s still in the 90s, it’s tough to think about winter, but soon, millions of people will be shutting the door on summer and their seasonal homes. HouseSetter has some tips to help you do that thoroughly, and make sure things don’t go awry when the mercury slides below zero: Unplug appliances and electronics and turn off nonessential utilities. Adjust...
A solar power system is appealing to a lot of homeowners for obvious reasons. Environmentally friendly, lowered electricity costs and a more energy efficient home, solar panels have a lot of pluses to them. But, although they have become more affordable in recent years, solar panel systems remain a considerable expense for the average homeowner. If you are considering...
By Marlena Stoddard Downsizing your home can provide you and your loved ones with some amazing benefits over the years. In addition to lower energy bills, keeping a smaller home clean and tidy takes just a fraction of the time. If you are planning on moving to a smaller place in the near future, then read ahead for some tips that will make the transition as smooth...
Buying a piece of land can be a very satisfying feeling. After all, we are not so very far removed from the days of the Wild West land races when families would compete in a race to put down their stake to claim land. But today, the process of buying land has become far more complicated. If you are buying rural country property, the complications increase again....
By Meghan Belnap It's not unusual to go into a garage and wonder how it became a toxic waste dump. Let's face it, the most convenient thing to do is cram anything and everything in there when there's no room for it in the house. Let's get that garage straight. Organization will make it less cluttered and more presentable. Secondly, you avoid potential accidents when...
By Kara Masterson Buyers are so hyper-focused on the home that they often cast aside surroundings. "Surroundings" do not equal trees, fences or landscape. The home's surroundings are the houses around the home and the residents occupying them. Surroundings also include the neighborhood, the passersby and the city. Surroundings are the home's location and it bears...
Owning your own home is an important and some would say essential part of the American dream. However, once you've invested the time and hard work to save up enough to be able to finally afford your dream home, you might find that you are faced with a lot of difficult choices about the real estate where you could potentially spend the rest of your life. One of the...
By Anita Alvarez It’s almost time. Sigh. Summer is drawing to a close, like it or not. Before the leaves fall and the wind turns chilly, it’s a good idea to do some seasonal maintenance on your home. Here are some things to add to your fall “honey-do” list. Have your furnace inspected. It’s smart to have your heating system serviced before you actually...
Maintaining a home, especially an older one, can be expensive—in fact, experts say homeowners should be prepared to spend roughly 1 percent of their home’s value every year on maintenance. The good news is, you can save on maintenance by completing simple tasks yourself. According to the experts at Underwriters, Inc. these include: Cleaning the Gutters – To...
