What do you do when the bank-owned house next door is a vacant and blighted mess? If you're these San Diego residents, you remove the garbage piled out front and take it to its rightful owner: the bank itself. The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, a homeowner advocacy group, gathered dirty rugs,... Continue Reading »
Aug 13th 2010 9:17PM
When John Ullman wanted to sell his Portland, Ore. home 20 years ago, he knew he was going to have trouble selling it through conventional channels. "My wife was a potter, and we had a kiln in the backyard," he recalled. "By anyone's standards, that's a liability." By anyone's standards except another potter. So rather... Continue Reading »
Jul 25th 2010 5:48PM
Do you have money to burn? According to Jim Thomas of American Home Shield warranty company, not performing regular maintenance on your home is like burning money. He says "So many homeowners neglect basic maintenance like having their A/C and heating units serviced yearly, replacing air filters, and even painting, that... Continue Reading »
Dec 17th 2009 1:00PM
In 21st-century New York, you can ask someone if she's having a threesome or using Botox, but it feels oddly off-limits to inquire about the dollar amounts being given to the super. One brave neighbor in my building recently weighed in on the subject, offering a view I used to subscribe to for several years: Take the... Continue Reading »
