7 Home Maintenance Problems That Could Cost You Big Bucks

U.S News  By Lars Peterson

Owning a home sometimes feels like owning a never-ending to-do list: Fix this, replace that. When does it end? For responsible homeowners, it never does. But overlooking the small stuff can add up to big repair bills later.

With winter finally subsiding, spend some time and a little money giving your home a checkup. It could save you from spending much more down the road.

1. Inspect Kitchen and Bathroom Caulk.

The caulking in kitchens and bathrooms keeps water from seeping into the crevices and crannies around sinks and tubs. Once the water gets in, mold proliferates (especially in damp areas around showers and tubs). Worse, infiltrating water could lead to wood rot in the structural framing beneath. Recaulking old or mildewed caulking is a basic home repair, requiring only a few tools and inexpensive materials. Replacing rotten flooring, joists and wall studs is a…

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Consumers Using Debt to Make Home Improvements

Making Your Home Beautiful on the Cheap

A yearly home owner survey conducted by Harris Poll for LightStream, SunTrust Financial institution's on the internet borrowing division, discovered that 57 percent of home owners plan to invest money on house renovation this year.As Todd Nelson, LightStream company development officer, told MarketWatch today:Consumers are significantly putting cash back right into their houses. ... This is good for the economic situation and also the home-improvement sector overall.But exactly what's good information for financial institutions isn't necessarily excellent information for consumers.In the LightStream questionnaire, the percent of home owners who state intending renovation tasks for this year is up simply 1 percent from in 2012-- but the portion who prepare to pay for their residence renovations with loans and credit lines is up disproportionately:

59 percent of respondents plan to pay for home-improvement projects with savings. …
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Kitchen Improvements That Will Make Your Home Sell Better

Remodeling Tips to Help Sell Your Home Fast

There are any number of things you can do to and with your kitchen. Some remodels will make your house more valuable should you choose to sell it, some will make things a lot more pleasant just living there, and some, well, just should not be done. So which ones are the “right” ones, the ones that will end up paying off in the end? Read on for some ideas.

 

You may have heard that kitchen and bathroom home improvements are the ones that will give you the greatest return on your investment, and that is correct. But you have to be smart about it. If the project makes the workflow of the kitchen better and it puts the prep counter near the stove, then it will be a worthwhile investment.

 

On the other hand, if you are simply replacing an old Formica counter with a fancy granite version but the kitchen remains awkwardly set up and you don’t have any room to set out the small appliances you use…

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