The charms of living in an older home can be many – history, style, craftsmanship, quirks. But there's no denying that living in such a home has its challenges. Maintenance can be tricky and expensive, especially if certain systems and features have been neglected over the years. Let's take a look at some common situations found in many older homes: Energy inefficiency is probably the number-one issue with older homes. Most older homes were constructed with single-pane windows; if th ... Full Article...

HOUSEWATCH MAINTENANCE Basement Insulation Rating      Keep your home temperature comfortable and save energy costs by ensuring that you have the right insulation for your house. The two most common types of insulation are fiberglass and mineral wool (rock wool), which comes in batts or continuous rolls (blankets). Both these materials have an R-Value of approximately 3.0 to 3.8.

  Update: Facebook app for iPhone The Facebook team has been hard at work and finally had something to say via Twitter. The new app is “pretty much done” and all they are working on now is translating the app into the various languages needed. Joe Hewitt, a Facebook developer and the one responsible for the tweet said that the translating process could take a bit of time coupled with Apple’s joke for an approval process and we could easily be waiting several more weeks. Eve ... Full Article...

      10 (reversible) Home Improvement Projects By Dana Dratch Caught the gardening or home improvement bug but you live in a rental? Relax, owners aren’t the only ones who can put a personal stamp on their homes. There are plenty of (reversible) projects you can tackle to customize your apartment or rental house without getting tossed out or forfeiting your security deposit. 1. Add some color. Most apartments will let you paint. So give rooms a shot of color. Some ideas: Paint one wall ... Full Article...

  5 Secrets To Buying The Best House For Your Money! 1. Get "Pre-Approved" - Not "Pre-Qualified!" Do you want to get the best property you can for the least amount of money? Then make sure you are in the strongest negotiating position possible. Price is only one element in the negotiations, and not necessarily the most important one. Often other terms, such as the strength of the buyer or the length of escrow, are critical to a seller. In years past, I always recommended that buyers get "p ... Full Article...