Plumbing 101 for the Average Homeowner

Armed with the right tools and techniques, you can easily unplug stopped-up drains without having to call in a pro. Read more

Kitchens Sell a House

It’s a tool used by house flippers all across the nation. Stagers know its power. Real estate agents push its importance. What is this not-so-well-kept secret of real estate? A kitchen can sell a house. Read more

5 Ways to Make Your Home Safer

Small preventative measures (such an a ominous sign) can be effective burglary deterrents.
Photo: Flickr | IntangibleArts

For anyone who has seen those World’s Dumbest Criminals clip shows on late-night TV, it may come as no surprise that burglars aren’t always the smartest tools in the shed. But sometimes they don’t even have to be. Read more

What Sells a House

In today’s market many sellers want to know the secret to selling their homes quickly. They want to know ways to hold on to the equity they’ve build over the past decade.

Unfortunately, there is no golden equation that equals the perfect sale. Yet, while there is no “sure thing” in the housing market these days, there are certain factors that affect how quickly and for how much your home sells.

Here are the top ten. Consider how these apply to your own home, how that affects marketing, as well as what aspects of your home you should “play up” to elicit a better response from buyers.

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Walking Tour Shows off Melrose Heights

Here is a neat opportunity…

Sunday, the Historic Columbia Foundation offers a guided walking tour of the historic Melrose Heights neighborhood, recently named one of the “Best Old House Neighborhoods in the Country” by This Old House magazine.

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10 Tips for a Cleaner, Safer Kitchen

The Charlotte Observer looked for the best advice on cleaning the busiest—and maybe dirtiest—room in the house: the kitchen by asking a bunch of germ experts.

The biggest surprise? People with pets are six times more likely to get salmonella-based infections. The culprit is pet bowls, particularly the water bowl. We often dump it in the sink before we start handling food.

Want to sanitize?

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Richland Losing Patience with Boarded-Up Houses

Richland County may start cracking down on unsightly boarded-up houses that some say bring down neighborhood property values. Read more

Paint Offers Inexpensive Way for Homeowners to Freshen and Update their Homes

Individual style, mixed with budget-conscious decorating will drive 2011 paint color trends, according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert at the Paint Quality Institute.

“There’s no escaping the state of the economy, even for homeowners who want to beautify their homes,” says Zimmer. “Rather than diving into large-scale renovation projects, in the coming year, consumers will search for inexpensive ways to freshen and update their homes. Many will conclude that painting is the perfect solution.”
By incorporating a few new paint colors, either as accent walls or throughout a room, homeowners will be able to enhance their living spaces economically with paint, she says. Read more

10 Tips For New Buyers

It is a great time to buy for many would-be homeowners. The market offers historically low interest rates, as well as affordable home prices.

Here are 10 steps that buyers can take to make home dreams a reality!

1. Savings. You may already know how much monthly payment you can support (experts recommend no more than 1/3 your monthly income), but the buying process will also include upfront costs, such as a downpayment and closing costs. Read more