The rich patina of wood floors adds beauty and elegance to any home. Older homes were once routinely constructed with hardwood floors, but that practice was abandoned in the 1950s, when new technologies made wall-to-wall carpeting available. Builders were able to build more homes faster, for the post-war baby boom, and save money on labor. But today, many homeowners prefer hardwoods to carpet. Hardwoods help give the impression that your home...

Before you pour your savings into a new kitchen and a rainforest shower for the master, think about whether or not you’ll be able to recoup your investment when it comes time to sell.   If you have equity in your home, you can make improvements, but don’t go over the limit of what other buyers can spend for a home similar to yours in your neighborhood.   While it’s tempting to make your home more beautiful, you have...

Tax season can make most of us cringe. But, if you’re a homeowner, make certain you meet with experts to see how you may benefit at tax time by owning a home.   Minimizing your tax liability is always the goal. Start first by getting all your paperwork together. Hopefully you’ve kept good, clean records of everything pertaining to your home. Remodeling projects can often be deducted, so go through your files and search for the...

Every seller has a common goal in mind: sell the home quickly and for the most money. Yet when it comes time to sell the home not every seller will be prepared.   Many forget or don’t know how to remove road blocks that can stall the sales process or kill it completely. If you’re getting ready to list your home for sale, pay close attention. What you do before you list it can help or hurt the process.   Remove or limit the...

A year ago, few of us ever heard of a “Derecho”; now, faced with fallen trees, damaged property and even a few deaths, Derecho – meaning super-strong windstorm – is a household word. One we really never want to hear -or see – again. Who is responsible if your neightor’s tree falls on your property? The general rule is that unless the neighbor knew – or should have known – that his tree was unsafe...