By Erin Loechner I'm a hardwood floors gal all the way. I love the rich colors and patterns that come from natural wood, and there's just something about a good game of sock hockey in the kitchen that gets me every time. Yet I'll admit --- it's sometimes tricky to clean hardwood floors. After all, how do you reach ... Continue Reading »

After changes to their lifestyle, Bea Johnson and her family can fit their yearly waste into a quart-size jar. Continue Reading »

try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-100117").style.display="none";}catch(e){}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-133558").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Springtime is upon us, and you know what that means. Well, yeah, all that spring cleaning, but now's a great ... Continue Reading »

If you want to sell your home fast, then the first impression you give a buyer needs to be a good one. Continue Reading »

By Mary Boone Wildfires in the West, flooding and landslides in Alaska and hard-hitting Superstorm Sandy were just a few of the major natural disasters that hit the United States last year. In all, 112 federal disaster declarations were issued in 2012. For those living in an area where a federal disaster has been ... Continue Reading »

As the housing recovery that began last year continues to gain steam into 2013, selling your home may become less of a headache. But you can be sure of one thing: You're always likely to make the process easier if you use smart marketing tactics. Some of them are givens: De-clutter your home for open houses, ... Continue Reading »

By Lisa Kaplan Gordon It's a new year, and an ambitious resolution that always falls on our list (of resolutions that inevitably get broken) is a home makeover. What a daunting task, it seems! But there are easy home fixes that won't take you more than 15 minutes to do, and they'll have your place looking fresh ... Continue Reading »

By Deirdre Sullivan The holiday season has a naughty impact on the environment: We accumulate 25 percent more waste this time of year, and much of that can't be recycled. Fortunately, our nice ideas make sure that Christmas is more eco-friendly. 1. Christmas tree alternatives Although cut trees are more ... Continue Reading »

By Brendon Desimone Real estate buyers and sellers often come close to making a deal -- but something stands in their way. Multiple offers and counters fly back and forth over the course of several weeks. Maybe the buyer and seller are just a few thousand dollars apart on price. There could be one sticking point that ... Continue Reading »

Just because you keep your own apartment smoke-free doesn't mean that you're not still breathing in secondhand smoke from your neighbor. Cigarette smoke can easily seep into next-door apartments in multi-unit buildings, and millions of Americans are affected by this every day, according to a new study. But is there anything ... Continue Reading »

Black ice is a scary sounding term, and for good reason: It leads to car accidents, injuries, and a fear of walking outside in the winter. But are you responsible to clear this invisible menace if it's on your property? If someone gets injured slipping in front of your house or on your property, the short answer is: You are ... Continue Reading »

Got cold feet? There are contingencies by which you can end a contract to buy a home. Continue Reading »

We asked around to get some of the most ridiculous holiday horror stories from homeowners who just couldn't catch a break, and we rounded up seven of our favorites. Continue Reading »

The hard work isn't over when your offer on a home has been accepted. In fact, it's only beginning. Continue Reading »

By Lisa Kaplan Gordon Take the hassle out of putting away Christmas lights and decorations with these easy storage tips. Bonus: unpacking next year will be a snap! Tangle-Free Lights Cardboard organizer: Cut 1-inch slits in the sides of a rectangular piece of cardboard, and wind string Christmas lights around, ... Continue Reading »