Working with pros
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. A contractor with liability insurance protects you. If someone is injured on your property or the contractor damages something, insurance covers it. A contractor without insurance
Room by room
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. Adding a utility sink to a laundry room (or anywhere in your home) seems straightforward until you understand the plumbing involved. A utility sink requires three
Major projects
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. Adding insulation is one of the highest-value energy improvements because it’s relatively inexpensive and saves energy for fifty or more years. Understanding where insulation is
Major projects
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. An electrical panel upgrade is necessary when your home’s electrical capacity is insufficient for current and future needs. It’s also expensive at $3,000
Working with pros
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. You bought a home and during your inspection, you discovered an added bedroom, finished basement, or renovated kitchen that was never permitted. The previous owner did
Doors, windows & flooring
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. Windows come in different types, and the type determines how they operate and how well they function. A double-hung window works differently than a casement window,
New homeowner
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. You received your property tax assessment in the mail and you’re not sure if it’s right. The assessed value seems too high. Or way
Paying for it
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. Your mortgage paperwork is about three inches thick. You signed it at closing with a pen you were handed, and unless something goes wrong, you probably
New homeowner
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. You notice a crack in the basement wall and instantly worry. Is your foundation failing? Is the house sinking into the ground? Do you need to
Energy efficiency
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. Your home’s energy rating is a standardized score comparing your efficiency to similar homes. Different systems exist depending on your location: HERS scores in the
When things go wrong
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. You have outlets that look different from normal outlets. They have test and reset buttons. These are GFCI outlets and they exist to keep you from
Working with pros
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region. A contractor contract is where all the agreements about the project are documented. Vague contracts create disputes. Clear contracts prevent them. You don’t need a