Ever since the introduction of Airbnb in 2008, homeowners don’t have to be serial landlords or own second homes to earn rental income. If you have an in-law apartment or a spare bedroom, you can put those extra square feet to work. Preparing your home to rent will require effort on your part, but the extra income may well be worth it. Read more

It’s tempting to hire a contractor that you see working in your neighborhood. I recently noticed a company’s truck at three different houses near me and casually asked the supervisor if they trim trees or do concrete work. Right away, the “tree guy” gave me a bid of $800 to prune a large Japanese maple, and within minutes he offered a $100 discount because I was in their service area. The next day, their “concrete guy” made an estimate for $12,000 with no mention of permits or a written contract. Read more

With spring in full swing and summer on the horizon, it’s a good time to survey your home and property and undertake some seasonal maintenance tasks. Here are some things to consider: Read more

I was looking up at some cobwebs in the ceiling corners of my living room and they’re always a good reminder that it’s time for a deep clean. Many of us get motivated to do spring cleaning when the flowers start blooming, the days warm up and the sunlight lasts longer. In fact, one survey found that more than 70% of us do some form of spring cleaning every year. So, take our quiz to see how prepared you are for the job at hand. Good luck! Read more

Do you have questions about an upcoming mold removal/repair project or mold removal in general? Below, we answer some commonly asked questions about mold abatement. Read more

Water is an essential aspect of a properly functioning home, but when it’s not contained within the plumbing system, it can become a source of damage. This is especially common in bathrooms, where even unseen or ostensibly minor leaks can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of destruction. However, this type of water damage can often be easily prevented—all you need is a little time and a handful of materials. Read on to learn how to waterproof your bathroom. Read more

Most homes contain one or more tile surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom and/or living area. A common misconception about tile is that once it’s installed, the only maintenance required is cleaning. However, there’s an important additional step to maintaining stone, porcelain and ceramic tile surfaces: recurrent resealing. Read more