Home Ownership Archives

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!

Must Read Articles About Home Ownership :

What's it Worth to You? How to Add Value to Your Home

It doesn't matter if you're about to say goodbye or you're just settling in for the long-haul: your home means something to you. That's why it's worth adding enjoyment value to your home as well as potential upgrades for a higher resale price at the end of it. Whether you want to spruce up your home to make the most of it or add to an imminent resale price, try these simple tips to create more value from your property.

A Maintained Home is a Happy Home: The Top Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know

When it comes to home maintenance, you should abide by the one to four percent rule. This rule states you should spend between one and four percent of your home’s value each year on repairs and maintenance. You may wonder what type of repairs you should focus on to keep your home well maintained. This can vary based on the house, it’s age and other factors, and there are some general guidelines you can use. Regardless of if you build or buy, keeping your home properly maintained is a must.

Remarkable Health Benefits of Being Organized

Of course, too many things lying around has clear health hazards, such as tripping over toys in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, clutter causes many internal problems which – although less obvious than the Lego maze strewn across your family room floor – are quite impactful on your life. Read on to learn five reasons why getting organized is vital to your overall well-being.

Evaluate Your House for a Deck

In the summertime when the living is easy, there’s nothing quite like a deck for cooking out, entertaining, or simply relaxing. In addition to boosting outdoor living space, a deck can be an asset when you sell your home. Planning a successful deck requires careful consideration of your site, your budget, and the features you should — or shouldn’t — include. Here are some planning priorities to bear in mind.

Recent Home Ownership Articles:

What’s It Worth to You? How to Add Value to Your Home

Knowing how to add value to your home isn’t about making huge changes. Small improvements here and there can add to your enjoyment in your home until it’s time to sell – whether that’s next year or next decade. It doesn’t matter if you’re about to say goodbye or you’re just settling in for the long-haul: your home means something to you. That’s why it’s worth adding enjoyment value to your home as well as potential upgrades for a higher resale price at the end of it. Whether y... [Read More]

A Maintained Home is a Happy Home: The Top Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know

When it comes to home maintenance, you should abide by the one to four percent rule. This rule states you should spend between one and four percent of your home’s value each year on repairs and maintenance. You may wonder what type of repairs you should focus on to keep your home well maintained. This can vary based on the house, its age, and other factors, and there are some general guidelines you can use. Below we've included some helpful and actionable home maintenance tips to keep y... [Read More]

How to Host an Easy and Special Summer Party

Get ready to celebrate summer in the comfort of your home! Entertaining is as essential to summer as popsicles, trips to the beach, and firefly-filled nights. In a busy world, it’s important to take time to slow down and reconnect, and there’s no better place than your backyard. Outdoor parties take planning and prep work, but the payoff is priceless: happy memories. To ease the stress of hosting, try these entertaining ideas and party tips for a summer gathering that’s fun for everyone, ... [Read More]

Remarkable Health Benefits of Being Organized

Getting Control of Your Stuff Is Good for Your Health, and Science Can Prove It Frankly, clutter makes us feel crappy. That’s why, every year, after the ball drops, oodles of us vow this year we will get organized. But, as days, weeks and months pass and we resume our daily routines, the determination to declutter tends to diminish. Perhaps your inner neat freak merely needs an incentive to jump-start the organizing process: Science shows excess clutter is bad for your health. Of course, ... [Read More]

Valentine’s Day Ideas That Prove All You Need Is Home

Valentine's Day dates out on the town can be exciting, but dealing with overcrowded venues and overpriced menus, not so much. If you love a low-key February 14, you’re not alone. According to Bing, 53% of people prefer to stay home for Valentine’s Day, and the desire to celebrate at home increases as people get older. Concerned staying in on Cupid's holiday will be boring? No need to worry. Celebrations don’t have to be extravagant to make loved ones feel special. In fact, the most memorab... [Read More]

10 Ways to Save on Energy Costs This Winter

Reduce Your Heating Bills Without Sacrificing Comfort Winter weather is here! January and February tend to be the coldest months of the year. If your ill-prepared house causes you to consume more than conserve this winter, you'll most likely see shocking utility bills in your mailbox. What if you could avoid spending too much to stay warm all winter long? Little changes add up and can help keep more of your hard-earned money in your wallet. So before you crank up your thermostat—and heati... [Read More]

How to Deal with and Prevent Frozen Pipes

You wake up early on a cold winter's morning and reach for the kitchen faucet, but there’s no water. Now what? Frozen pipes are no joke. Low temperatures can cause your pipes to freeze and possibly burst, resulting in expensive water damage to your home. In this article you will learn: Why pipe freezing is a problem How to prevent pipes from freezing How to thaw frozen pipes Why Frozen Pipes Are a Problem Not having any water until the pipe thaws is an inconvenience,... [Read More]

5 Steps to Take When You Want to Get Organized

Are your countertops covered in piles of papers? Does the thought of opening your closets make you nervous? You’re not alone. Most of us have a lot more “stuff” in our homes than we need, use, or even want. All too often, our possessions end up owning us rather than the other way around. We hope this post will encourage you to stick to a plan that will lead you to a clutter-free home. But, before you can succeed, it’s smart to understand why so many others often fail to achieve their life-... [Read More]

Evaluate Your House for a Deck

Dave Toht has written or edited over 60 books on home repair and remodeling for The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset, and Reader’s Digest. He's a former contractor with decades of hands-on experience. Here’s how to plan a new deck that suits your property, meets your budget, and offers the best return on your investment. In the summertime when the living is easy, there's nothing quite like a deck for cooking out, entertaining, or simply relaxing. In addi... [Read More]