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Home Improvement Projects That Will Pay Off
Judging by the TV commercials, most home improvements are a blast. You waltz into a store, throw a bunch of new faucets and buckets of paint in your shopping cart, without sweating about the cost, then transform your dingy kitchen into something out of, well, a TV commercial.
Frequently, those TV spots are spot-on. It is fun to have a new kitchen or to show off your newly installed hardwood floors to your friends and family. But it’s all too easy to forget about home improvements that will only get you a polite nod when showing them off – and yet if you ignore them, they could cost you serious money. Read more...

Delightfully Frightful Halloween Decor on a DIY Budget
jackolanterns

 

Decorating your home for Halloween doesn’t have to be scary (unless, of course, you want it to be).

 

Some home owners go all out in a manner more often reserved for Christmas. David Gugel, for instance, takes Halloween decor to stop-and-gape levels. It’s no surprise to learn that he once designed retail window displays for Disney. About.com featured before-and-after photos of his otherwise typical suburban home transformed into a wild October frightfest. If you’re like us, there’s never enough time to pursue all the wild home styles that people create.  Read more....

 

Autumn Maintenance Tips
Regularly clean gutters and downspouts. Make sure all drainage areas are unblocked by leaves and debris. Consider installing gutter guards to make the job a lot easier.
Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Use chalk to fill the holes or completely replace the wood.  Read more...
  

 

9 Steps for Solving Unseasonably Wet Basements
This question is coming up all of the time this year. 2013 is a little unique and if the home that you have owned for years, or have just purchased, has moisture in the basement; you may just be experiencing the strange end to the past winter. We have had lots of rain and freeze thaw conditions that have overcome basement protection in many MN homes. You are likely discovering that basement protection that has worked for many years has simply been overwhelmed by seasonal conditions. Read more...

Controlling Moisture Outside the Home
These days, homes are at a greater risk of water damage than ever before. Heavier precipitation and less predictable weather patterns increase the chance of unwanted water entering our homes. Click here to read more..

 Repelling Mice!
It's that time of year when preparing for winter is on the top of everyone's list- mice are no different!  Did you know that strategically placed mint will send them looking for a new place to live?  Mice are repulsed by the smell of peppermint and spearmint. Some experts even report that they are allergic to the scent. Use a small amount of concentrated peppermint or spearmint oil sprinkled on cotton balls to keep the mice from entering your home. Strategically place the cotton balls in areas that mice prefer, such as under cabinets, behind stoves and refrigerators and in corners. Mice have a keen sense of smell, so it only takes a few drops to send them scurrying in the other direction. Beware that the mice will reappear when the smell dissipates, so make sure to refresh the cotton balls periodically to keep your home mouse-free.   Read more...
 



 The Emotional Toll of Clutter
Vida Ghaffari makes her living in the public eye.  The hard-working actress has appeared in a number of TV shows and independent films, including 2012's Cross My Heart, and also has made a name for herself as a television entertainment reporter.  Until recently, though, the camera-friendly celebrity was hiding something behind the scenes.  A lot of things, actually:  Her Southern California home was packed full of tchotchkes, as well as clothes, accessories and shoes that she rarely wore.  Read more....