Posts with tag DIY

So, you're pulling up the old, dingy carpet in your living room when -- whoopsies! -- you accidentally damage the floor. What do you do? Well, duh, you patch it up, right? That's not the memo Matthew Cole got. "I thought, what a lot of wasted area," Cole, 35, recalled of the time in 2003 when he was ripping up the... Continue Reading »

By Scott Gamm Sending your kids off to college is a bittersweet moment: You're excited that they're about to embark on a great journey, but you're sad to see them leave the house. While they'll be home for the major holidays and during the summer, your household undoubtedly changes as you're now considered an "empty... Continue Reading »

Homeowner Holly Bridges says that she was excited to commission contractor Danny Jones to build her family a swimming pool in the backyard of her Carrollton, Texas, property this year. Though it was only February, the teacher says that she was eager to get the pool built before her son's birthday party in June -- plenty... Continue Reading »

When Brandon Gardiner, 22, and his dad (both pictured above) wanted to put an in-ground pool in the back of their Stafford, Va., home in 2007, some of the contracting companies they turned to quoted estimates between $25,000 and $35,000. They ended up getting the project done for about $6,000 – by doing it... Continue Reading »

By Adam Verwymeren Man caves -- the last bastion of peace for the modern man. A refuge from a domestic empire of throw pillows, stemware and floral arrangements. After a long, hard day's work, there's nothing better than crawling down into the cave to flip on the game and throw back a few cold ones. Of course, man caves... Continue Reading »

By Adam Verwymeren Big city life comes with certain advantages, but the big money required for a spacious home isn't one of them. If you're a cramped city dweller who always seems to be running out of room, here are some innovative solutions to make your place seem more spacious. Hunting for Extra Storage Space You... Continue Reading »

Love letters, flowers and jewelry would make a lot of women swoon, but Nick Bylsma wanted to do something extraordinary for his wife, Melissa, on their second wedding anniversary. So when she went away with her family one weekend last year, he told her that he'd be spending the time working. And that wasn't exactly a... Continue Reading »

By Scott Gamm NEW YORK -- We tend to spend the most time out in our yard during the summer. Maintaining a well-kept yard is undoubtedly a major undertaking and a huge cost. You don't need to be a professional landscaper to spruce up your yard -- nor do you need to break the bank. From power washing your deck to raising... Continue Reading »

An unfinished basement tends to be the area of the house that is the most difficult to renovate. After all, no one wants to spend time in a room with cement floors, dim lighting or musty odors, and renovating a basement to mirror your living room is undoubtedly a major expense. So MainStreet asked the design pros to weigh... Continue Reading »

By Scott Gamm NEW YORK -- Even though mortgage rates are at historically low levels, it's the rental market in many areas across the U.S. that is really heating up. Obtaining a mortgage is undoubtedly a strenuous process on the heels of tightened credit standards. Add to that the fact that many Americans simply can't... Continue Reading »

By Scott Gamm NEW YORK -- If you have moved recently, preparing the home to suit your tastes and fixing minor damages is undoubtedly a stressful and expensive process. And after shelling out money for a down payment, you may not have enough cash left for a major gut-renovation. Consult AOL Real Estate's Home Improvement... Continue Reading »

A minimalist curb-appeal landscaping plan can revitalize any yard that's not in serious trouble. You'll have bright color, lush greens and a well-manicured yard that says, "I'm easy and neat." It turns out, sellers don't need landscaping skills or a fat wallet to win on curb appeal. Here are some quick and simple... Continue Reading »

By Lisa Frederick We're all for empowering homeowners to take on their own house improvements. You save money, gain confidence and get the satisfaction of custom tailoring your home with your own hands. But when it comes to certain tasks -- plumbing, for instance -- we draw the line. Although these 10 jobs might be... Continue Reading »

Humorist Fran Lebowitz once wrote, "The outdoors is what you have to go through to get from the apartment into the taxi." But she's an exception. When considering a new property, nearly every homebuyer considers the outdoors in some way as a requirement for a property they're considering. If the buyer is looking for a... Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON -- If you've been putting off repairing a peeling windowsill, or you're thinking of knocking out a wall, listen up: Check how old your house is. You may need to take steps to protect your kids from dangerous lead. The risk of lead-based paint from older homes is back in the news, as the government considers... Continue Reading »