Be Mindful About Your Relationship With Energy Think about it. Energy is the only product we buy on a daily basis without knowing how much it costs until a month later, says Cliff Majersik, executive director of the Institute for Market Transformation, a research and policy-making nonprofit focused on improving buildings’ energy efficiency. With other […]
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When you’re parched, you grab a glass of water. When your yard feels the same way, it’s not quite so self-sufficient. It needs your help. But you hate watering. Such a waste of time when you could be working, or at the gym, or grilling a healthy meal. (OK, OK, binge-watching the latest Netflix hit
Yard Tips So You’ll Never Have to Water Again Read More »
What Deductions Should I Itemize? Loan costs and fees Mortgage interest Property taxes Private mortgage insurance Not everyone who buys a home will end up itemizing and owing less in taxes, says Anna Berry Royack, an accountant who sees many first-time home buyer tax returns at her Liberty Tax office in Catonsville, Md. To find
Will My Taxes Look Different Now That I’m a Homeowner? Read More »
Think Function First Interior designer Eddie Ross, a trained chef and designer who’s worked with HGTV and Food Network, is renovating his 1921 Colonial. With his catering background, function is top of mind for him when hunting down new (to him) kitchen pieces. “A kitchen is like a lab for food prep,” he says. To work for your kitchen,
How to Shop for a Retro Kitchen — and Not Get Stuck with Junk Read More »
#1 Laminate for Countertops Don’t worry — laminate won’t make your kitchen look like great-grandma’s lime-green tabletop. And it won’t stain like hers either. This affordable and heat-, stain-, and water-resistant material has undergone quite a makeover. “The old stereotypes about the way it used to look aren’t really as true anymore,” says Ebony Stephenson,
9 Gorgeous Kitchen Materials That Are Practically Indestructible Read More »
This checklist gives you carte blanche (well, almost) when viewing potential homes. Ah, house hunting. It may technically be shopping, but it can feel more like breaking and entering. Even though you know the seller wants you there, does anyone really want you traipsing through their bedroom? Or looking through their closet? Or digging around in their
6 Ways to Totally Snoop the House You Want to Buy Read More »
To help ensure you get a good return on your kitchen remodel, follow these seven tips: #1 Plan, Plan, Plan Planning your kitchen remodel should take more time than the actual construction. If you plan well, the amount of time you’re inconvenienced by construction mayhem will be minimized. Plus, you’re more likely to stay on budget.
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If you upgraded one or more of the following systems last year, you may be eligible to take a tax credit — up to $500 — on your return. Biomass stoves Heating, ventilation, air conditioning Insulation Roofs (metal and asphalt) Water heaters (non-solar) Windows, doors, and skylights Advanced main air-circulating fans (the blower motor that
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You’ve asked friends to recommend great contractors, picked your favorite, checked references — and maybe even conducted an online background check on his business. So you know you’ve found a top-notch guy for your home improvement project. But remember that his bottom line is getting you to sign a contract, and he’s not going to
5 Secrets Your Contractor Doesn’t Want You to Know Read More »
Writing Off Rental Home Expenses Many rental home expenses are tax deductible. Save receipts and any other documentation, and take the deductions on Schedule E. Figure you’ll spend four hours a week, on average, maintaining a rental property, including recordkeeping. In general, you can claim the deductions for the year in which you pay for these
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