Mitchell Talbot

Don’t let the details of moving overwhelm you. Here’s a handy checklist to keep you from making expensive errors.

Four Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Selling a home and moving is expensive. No need to further add to your expenses by making costly mistakes. Here’s a handy checklist to keep you from incurring extra costs. Talk to your bank. Let a representative know you’re moving and make sure you’ve canceled any automatic payments on your ol...

No central air conditioning? No problem. Here’s the latest on an old standby: the window unit.

How to Buy a Window Air Conditioner If you find yourself living in a house or apartment without central air conditioning, it’s time to go shopping for a window unit. Here’s what to look for and how to properly maintain it. It’s a matter of BTUs. Shopping for a window air conditioner isn’t complicated. The main thing to look fo...

Does your bathroom need a redo? Relax and soak up the latest in spa-like pampering.

The Latest and Greatest in Bathtub Design Bathtubs may have taken a temporary backseat to luxurious showers in home style trends, but the latest tubs offer plenty of advances in design and technology of their own. And don’t forget, in a home with multiple bathrooms, at least one should offer a tub -- if only for the kids and the family do...

Home foundation issues are a nightmare. Here’s how to decide whether those cracks are a cosmetic issue or a real problem.

Foundation Problems: When to Worry It’s the house repair every homeowner fears: foundation problems. Before you panic, here’s how to tell whether those scary looking cracks are “no big deal” or a sign of real trouble. No worries. If you are living in a new construction home, expect minor settling that causes small cracks here...

Is a swing set worth squabbling over when selling your home? Don’t let sweet memories stop a deal.

Don’t Let a Swing Set Sink the Sale of a Home When you put your home up for sale, what are your options regarding the basketball hoop, swing set or playhouse you installed for the kids? While homeowners may be especially sentimental when it comes to their children, it’s important to remember that not even a beloved swingset is worth losing a ...

DIY disasters. Know your limits and leave the big jobs to the professionals.

When to Hire a Pro to Avoid DIY Disasters Do-it-yourselfers, empowered by YouTube videos and well-produced cable TV shows, have no doubt saved themselves serious money by tackling home-improvement projects. But some jobs are better left to the professionals. A good rule of thumb: If you don’t own most of the necessary equipment or you nee...

Backyard pools and trampolines can be tons of fun. But don’t forget to consider these liabilities and insurance costs.

Pools and Trampolines: Beware of the Risks Sure, pools and trampolines are fun. But homeowners who choose to put them in their backyards also face greater responsibility and a much larger homeowners insurance bill. It’s best to weigh the pros and cons before making such a purchase. Swimming pools. The insurance covering damage to an in-gro...

Not all roads are created equal. Living on a private street can be costly. Find out why here.

Knowing the Difference Between Public and Private Streets Most roads are public thoroughfares. But that’s not always the case, so it’s smart for potential home buyers to ask about street ownership and maintenance.

After the buyer’s inspection, what items should be repaired and what should be left to the buyer? Here’s a guide.

Home Repairs: How to Negotiate to Close a Deal Home repair issues that show up on an inspection report are up for negotiation. It’s up to the buyers and sellers to hammer out an agreement on who pays for what. Here’s a guide. The inspector is your friend. Sellers often dread the inspection report, fearing it may reveal a major issue that cou...

The unthinkable has happened: A storm has badly damaged your home. Here’s how to navigate the storm’s aftermath.

When a Storm Damages Your Home If your home is significantly damaged by a storm, you will likely feel overwhelmed and confused just when you are faced with making several major repair decisions. Take a deep breath and let us walk you through the mess.