Home Buying Inspection Tip: Well Water Quality Makes a Difference in Home Life.
When we moved in our new home about 12 years ago, which is much nicer than our first, people always asked, "what do you like most about your new home?" They were expecting an answer like the larger...
View ArticleI Have Three Estimates for Paving a new Asphalt Driveway; How Much Should it...
I’m one of the unlucky ones whose blacktop (asphalt) driveways has survived its last winter. The heaving of the driveway is so bad that you have to drive on one side to avoid bottoming-out your car on...
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When removing a fallen tree, ask someone who knows trees, not just cuts them
Sometimes my family likes to travel to to get close to nature. This is a story of how nature took the initiative and got frighteningly close to us.My 10 year old daughter and I had just returned home...
View ArticleFrequent pitfall in hiring a contractor; advice to avoid a nasty surprise at...
Everything’s going great on your new project. The contractor is just about finished with his work. Your new kitchen renovation, addition or windows look wonderful. All is good with the world. Then,...
View ArticleHow to choose a new home heating oil company; compare oil price plans,...
Here in the Northeast, we have a lot of homes which rely on heating oil instead of natural gas for heat. While many of us stay with the same oil company for years, there are sometimes good reasons to...
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Have your renovation project bid reviewed by an expert contractor.
Home improvement is one of those areas where the consumer is at a disadvantage: the contractor knows the value of each element of the project and where the agreement favors him over you; but you, the...
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How to get a squirrel out of your chimney; a DIY project if you can safely...
I was in my home office last week, when I heard a rustling and scratching sound that could only be a bird or squirrel in the chimney. It was right on the flue damper. While it was tempting to ignore...
View ArticleScreen your Contractors – Ask these 5 questions before your project begins
There are five questions you need to ask before you move forward with a prospective contractor on any major home repair or remodeling project. One of our USHOA members did not use our Contractor...
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Fixing A Garage Door That Won't Close – Another WD-40 Success
Our automatic garage door would not close and I was sure that the track had been dented or the bolts had loosened. That seemed to be the only way to explain how the door would begin to close and the...
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Are Angie’s List Big Deals a Good Discount Offer? Are They Worth It?
I recently received an offer from Angie’s List for a “Big Deal,” for a roofing job for only $8,499 (with a stated value of $13,869+). The exact deal offer headline is “$8,499 for a Complete New Roof...
View ArticleScreening Your Contractors and other Home Service Providers
There are many good contractors to choose from for the variety of different home remodeling or repair projects you may face over the course of a year. There, unfortunately, are a few duds as well....
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