Homeownership Articles
Sharing articles with clients and customers on all aspects of homeownership, buying and selling.
Remove Stains From Walls Before You Paint
Painting instructions often warn: Remove stains from walls before painting. But they never say how. Any cleaning rookie can wipe off dust and cobwebs. But it takes a cleaning pro to scour grease stains, watermarks, and kids’ crayon and ink wall art.
Kitchen Countertop Triage: First Aid for Scratches
Repair kitchen counters that show a history of wine spills, dropped pans, and unidentified sharp objects, and you’ll maintain the value of your kitchen and home. You can easily hide some counter mishaps, while only professional contractors can solve other surface problems. Here’s a look at counter cures and lost causes.
11 Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100
Wouldn’t it be nice to approach your home’s entrance with a grin instead of a grimace? Take our tips for beating a clear, safe, and stylish path to your front door.
An Unlikely Place to Find Free Seeds for Your Garden
Free seeds and starter plants for your vegetable garden happily live in your refrigerator and pantry. Plant a potato and you’ll harvest a bagful; plant a single horseradish root, and you’ll grow a field of the eye-watering spice.
How to Create the Garage Workshop of Your Dreams
Garages often harbor a not-so-secret second life: heroic home workshop. They’re well-suited to the task, with a tolerance for the noise and dust of do-it-yourself projects. But if a garage workshop isn’t comfortable and convenient to use, you’ll avoid projects rather than enjoy them.
How to Prevent Weeds from Ever Sprouting
When it comes to weeds in your garden, an hour of prevention is better than a season of yanking. Unlike seeds and plants you buy from catalogs and nurseries, indigenous common weeds are naturally suited to the sun, soil, and water conditions of your garden. That’s why it’s so hard to get rid of weeds after they’ve taken root.
Plant These Fun Veggies Your Kids Will Love to Eat
Win the eternal battle between kids and veggies by letting your little ones plant these child-friendly varieties in your garden. The more invested they are in the growing process, the more they’ll want to eat the fruits (and veggies!) of their labor.
How to Keep Your House Cool Without AC
Want summer comfort but hate the AC? Follow these tips, and you’ll keep your house cool without frosty air conditioning.
7 Tips for Buying Your First Home In The U.S.
Nothing says you’re truly an American like owning a home. And just over half of all foreign-born households living in the U.S. own their own home. If you’re ready to join them, try these seven tips for American-style home buying success — the process here may be quite different from what you’re used to
Guide to Buying and Installing a Sprinkler System
An underground irrigation system delivers water to your landscaping at the right time, and in just the right amount, so you don’t water too much or too little. It’s relatively easy to install and makes a good DIY project.
7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling
Homeowners spend more money on kitchen remodeling than on any other home improvement project. And with good reason: Kitchens are the hub of home life and a source of pride.
Insulation Types and Tips
We know that insulating your home isn’t the sexiest home project. But if you’re planning a remodel that includes opening up walls, ceilings, and floors, it’s a great time to upgrade your insulation to get energy savings of up to $300 per year.
How to Keep Your Dog Out of Your Garden
Is your pooch pawing your petunias? Here’s how to keep your dog out of your garden and away from your precious plants.
How to Divide Plants
Make the most of your plants by dividing and transplanting favorites that have outgrown their homes. Follow these dividing and transplanting tips for lush and healthy garden.
Season-by-Season Lawn Maintenance Calendar
Follow our season-by-season lawn maintenance calendar to get a barefoot-worthy lawn and ensure great curb appeal.