Tips & Advice

Are You Overimproving for Your Neighborhood?

We all love those house-flipping shows – we shout our opinions on what the homeowners should update and weep when we see the final reveal. It’s an innate human instinct to want to make things better. And when it comes to selling your own home, it’s often a good instinct to follow. But while it

Roommate Relations: Making Smart Use of Shared Spaces

Renting a home with other people can be stressful. But with careful planning and clear communication, living with others doesn’t have to lead to passive aggressive Post-it notes and arguments. Whether you’re living with your sibling, your bestie, or your significant other, here are some tips for making smart use of those shared spaces. Closets

Vertical Gardening

For apartment dwellers, full-fledged gardening is often out of the question, and floor space is usually at a premium. But if you’re hankering to bring the outdoors inside, there’s an easy solution: vertical gardens. From macrame planters to recycled pallets, you can turn plenty of household items into a vertical garden for your home. But

Keeping Pets Safe Around Plants

Gardens are wonderful places for pets. They provide entertainment, room to exercise and cool shade in the afternoon. However, many of the most common and seemingly innocuous garden plants are also poisonous to your furry friends. The apples and oranges we humans enjoy, almost all flowering bulbs, and some of the most popular houseplants all

How Much Does It Cost to Move?

Making the decision to move can be an exciting time, whether you’re moving across town or across the country. But it can also be a milestone surrounded by uncertainty: am I making the right decision? How will my kids adjust to a new school? Will I like my new neighborhood? According to the US Census,

How to Paint the Exterior of Your Home (the Easy Way)

With the cost to paint a house’s exterior averaging about $2,500 nationally, homeowners longing for a new look may be considering their DIY options. You don’t need to be particularly handy to make your home’s exterior look like new. All you need is some spare time between now and summer. You can wash your house

How to Set a Home Renovation Budget

Ready for a kitchen renovation? Anxious for a bathroom remodel? The easy part is knowing your goal for home remodeling – whether you’re trying to keep up with your growing family, add office space, or increase your home’s value. But figuring out how to plan a home renovation that doesn’t break the bank can be tricky.

5 Home Renovation Choices That Can Cut Your Remodeling Budget

Planning a home remodel is exciting, especially when your loan or line of credit is approved. That earmarked money feels limitless in the beginning as you set your sights on fancy flooring, upscale appliances, and elaborate fixtures. Unfortunately, that fantasy only lasts as long as your first major purchase. The cost of materials and labor

Quiz: Should You Renovate Your Home or Sell?

Most homeowners have that one thing about their home that they wish were different. “My house would be perfect if it just had one more bathroom.” “I love my house – except for the kitchen layout.” “If I had more storage space, I could live here forever.” For some owners, their home’s fatal flaw exists

Easy Updates to Help Your Home Sell

When it comes to selling your house, it’s a lot easier to catch the big repairs than to see the small details. But buyers notice it all, and even one squeaky door can signal issues to them. Here are a few last-minute, easy tweaks that make a big difference. Clean/replace blinds ($5-15) Dirty blinds are