Things Every Closet Needs To Stay Organized
Organizing your closet is among those tasks that remains wedged on people’s to-do lists for years. Well, there’s no time like the present to tame this monster, right?
Category: For Homeowners
Things First-time Homebuyers Need After Moving In—and Always Forget
First-time homebuyers are no doubt excited when they move in, and eager to furnish their new digs with all the essentials. But here’s the rub: While they may be thrilled to buy the perfect coffee table and ottomans—and those things are certainly nice to have—they may not be exactly necessary.
In the excitement of setting up your first house, it’s all too easy to overlook a few items that will truly come in handy.
Curious about what you might be missing? Behold these eight surprising must-haves to add to your cart, plus some advice on picking the best of the bunch.
Is My Home in a Flood Zone?
A home’s risk of flooding—from hurricanes or a huge downpour—is probably not the first thing you’d think to check. Ideally, you want to size up this potential and take precautions if necessary well before you might end up underwater!
Most homes in high-risk flood zones are near a body of water. For instance, the Gulf Coast is one of the U.S. regions most vulnerable to hurricanes that cause flooding. Yet more than 20% of flood-related home insurance claims happen in non-flood zones, so no one should assume they’re safe.
And due to climate changes, flooding may also become more common. According to Popular Science, “Nearly 15 million American properties are at substantial risk of flooding in the next 30 years, and more than three million are almost certain to be underwater at some point in that time.”
So how can you find out if your home is in a flood zone—and if it is, how can you assess the size of this risk and what protections can you put in place? Whether you own a home or are looking to buy, here’s how to figure that out.
How To Add Value to Your Home Without Draining Your Savings Account
You might find that now is not the right time to buy a new home. Instead, it might be time to love the one you already own.
Need a little help feeling good about staying put for the time being? Then perhaps, it’s time for a remodel project to turn your house into the home you’ve always dreamed about.
Before you run away screaming at the thought of renovating, read on.
A remodel could increase the overall value of your home, which would be beneficial if you consider selling in the future. (And maybe a home face-lift will make you want to stay put.)
It’s possible to embark on a home remodel project without draining your bank account. Here’s how.
What Is Knob and Tube Wiring, and Is It Hiding in Your Home?
What is knob and tube wiring? While it might sound like a bad 1990s indie band, it’s actually an outdated electrical system that’s still found in many old homes in the United States.
Often abbreviated as K&T, this early standard—widespread in residences built from the 1880s to the 1930s—is often considered a hazard today, depending on how it was installed.
So if a home you’re hoping to buy has it, you’ll want to have it examined closely and possibly replaced. Why?
Here’s everything you never knew you needed to know about ye olde knob and tube.
Get Rid of Musty Closet Odors
HERE’S everything you need to know about cleaning out your musty closet—and preventing the smell from ever creeping back in.
Budget-Friendly Ways To Update Your Bedroom
The bedroom is a private retreat that should evoke a sense of calm—but getting to this sweet spot can take some work. Renovating your bedroom might be the solution, but a small budget or the fact that you rent might get in the way.
Still, you don’t have to settle for a hot mess in the boudoir. With some savvy updates and even DIY fixes, your resting place can be the haven you’ve always dreamed of and deserved.
Is My Home in a Flood Zone?
Ahome’s risk of flooding—from hurricanes or a huge downpour—is probably not the first thing you’d think to check. However, the fact is that many U.S. homes lie within flood zones, and as the recent Yellowstone flooding illustrates all too clearly, many homeowners aren’t properly aware of the risks, or prepared to take them on.
Ideally, you want to size up this potential and take precautions if necessary well before you might end up underwater!
Most homes in high-risk flood zones are near a body of water. For instance, the Gulf Coast is one of the U.S. regions most vulnerable to hurricanes that cause flooding. Yet more than 20% of flood-related home insurance claims happen in non-flood zones, so no one should assume they’re safe.
6 Summer Maintenance Tasks That Could Save You Money
In between barbecues and beach days, you still need to stay on top of maintenance around the home. Otherwise you might find yourself with big problems down the line—and big repair costs.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
After the mad dash by homebuyers to purchase larger places to live in at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some experts are making a case for more efficiently designed, smaller homes.
With the pandemic seemingly waning, mortgage rates and home prices rising, and builders struggling to get anything up in the face of supply chain shortages, there’s a convincing argument to be made that home shoppers should consider seeking smaller houses.
A new book by Sheri Koones, “Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average,” posits that functionality is more important than square footage.