Home Ownership

Home ownership is one of the most rewarding responsibilities of a person’s life. That’s why it’s so important to consistently add value and keep up with regular maintenance. Whether you’re a new owner, keeping up with your current home, or looking to sell, prioritizing tasks can be daunting. We aim to help figure out what is most impactful to your home with expert advice. We cover all types of DIY and contracted projects. Check out the articles below for a wide range of answers to common homeowner questions!

Home Exterior

Recent Home Ownership Articles:

 
House Exterior

Winter Lawn Care: 4 Steps to Protect Your Turf

By Lisa Kaplan Gordon who is an avid gardener, a member of the Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association, and a builder of luxury homes in McLean, Va. She’s been a Homes editor for Gannett News Service and has reviewed home improvement products for AOL Cold weather on the way means winter lawn care for your backyard. Although spring lawn care gets all the attention, fall lawn care is the make-it or break-it season for grass. “I’m already thinking about next year,” sa... [Read More]
House Exterior

 
mopping the floor

Your Home Puts on About 40 Pounds per Year

Forty pounds of dust, that is! Now, there's nothing you can do to completely eliminate dust as clothing fibers, pet dander, dead skin cells, and items we track in from outdoors add to the problem daily. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), dust bunnies aren't just unsightly and sometimes allergenic; they contain toxic chemicals. Why? First, products inside your house "shed" chemicals over time--furniture, electronics, shoes, plastics, fabrics, and food, among other things. A... [Read More]
mopping the floor

 
Wood flooring

Erase Ugly Scratches from Your Wood Floors

By Jane Hoback: Jane is a veteran business writer who has written for the Rocky Mountain News, Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, and ColoradoBIZ Magazine. Repair wood floors and scratches that make rooms look worn out. We’ll show you easy ways to put the luster back into your floors. Dogs chase kids, pans drop, chairs scrape, and soon you must repair wood floors and erase scratches that make a mess of your red oak or Brazilian cherry. A professional floor refinisher will ch... [Read More]
Wood flooring

 
Build a home on my land

What do you call ‘home’?

No matter your answer, each of us longs to come home to a place where we know we belong. A place where we comfortably fit into the fabric of our surroundings--where we can truly be ourselves. What is it about a house that makes you call it home? Once you decide on a plan, you have chosen your house; personalizing the house--through product selections, decorating, and possibly modifications to the home plan--makes it your home. "What's the difference?" you might ask. By definition, a hou... [Read More]
Build a home on my land

 
Vintage Light fixture

Choosing Light Bulbs Based on Your Fixtures

By Karin Beuerlein who has covered home improvement and green living topics for HGTV.com and  FineLiving.com. She has also written for dozens of national and regional publications in more than a decade of freelancing.   In the brave new world of light bulb choices, let your fixture be your guide. Light bulb shopping used to be as simple as turning on a light switch. Today, it means weighing priorities for cost, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. Since you’re proba... [Read More]
Vintage Light fixture

 
Cleaning a sink

How to Kill and Prevent Bathroom Mold

By Deborah R. Huso who is a Virginia-based writer who built her sustainable home. She's written on home design, construction, landscaping, & real estate for A Garden Life, The Washington Examiner, Green Builder, and The Progressive Farmer, where she is contributing editor. Visit her at www.drhuso.com. Got bathroom mold on your ceiling? Here’s how to get rid of it and prevent future infestations, too. If you’ve never experienced bathroom mold, perhaps you aren’t looking deep en... [Read More]
Cleaning a sink

 
increasing stacks of coins with sprouts growing out the tops

Take Back Your Energy Bills — Energy-Efficiency Measures that Work for You

By Christina Hoffmann who has been an editor in the housing field for two decades -- most recently as content manager for HouseLogic. She’s given her 100-year-old frame home the attention it deserves: new kitchen, siding, HVAC, windows, and doors. She's betting the roof is next. Follow Christina on Twitter. You know that 10 or 20 pounds that you just can’t seem to lose? You do the right thing — eat kale or log time on the StairMaster — but the weight clings. You feel powerless. ... [Read More]
increasing stacks of coins with sprouts growing out the tops

 
Kitchen

Kitchen Countertop Triage: First Aid for Scratches

By Jane Hoback: Jane is a veteran business writer who has written for the Rocky Mountain News, Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, and ColoradoBIZ Magazine. You can repair kitchen counter mishaps with only a little time and money. Big boo-boos, however, will need professional help. 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 mishap... [Read More]
Kitchen

 
Washer and Dryer

How to Buy a Dryer

By Deirdre Sullivan is an NYC-based writer who's obsessed with maximizing every inch of her urban dwelling. She's a former fashionista who has worked for Lucky Magazine and InStyle. She recently traded her high heels and Fashion Week pass for a drill and bandsaw. Follow Deirdre on Pinterest. New features and whiz-bang options complicate buying a new clothes dryer. Here’s what you need to know to make a smart, budget-minded decision: Thanks to game-changing technologies and spanking new ener... [Read More]
Washer and Dryer

 
House Exterior

Season-by-Season Lawn Maintenance Calendar

By Douglas Trattner who has covered home improvement for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He lives in a 1925 Colonial. Start your lawn care by following our season-by-season lawn maintenance calendar. Get a barefoot-worthy lawn and ensure your home has curb appeal. Early Spring Like so many maintenance jobs, everything goes smoother -- and you’ll get better results -- with proper preparation. Early spring is the time to get ready for lawn-growing and mowin... [Read More]
House Exterior