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Understanding Your Health Insurance Policy Coverage
Understanding your health insurance policy can be tricky, but knowing the terms of your policy before a medical professional treats you is the key to helping you avoid unexpected and often hefty bills. The staff members at eHealthInsurance.com, a website that helps consumers find health insurance, frequently field questions about health insurance policies. They have [...]
Lowering Your Capital Gains Tax: Home Improvements
Making home improvements can lower your capital gains tax, but that may change in 2013. Q: In 1975, my parents built a four bedroom house on Cape Cod and they put my name on the deed with theirs. My parents died quite some time ago, so I have had the house since then. For most [...]
Should I Use a Home Equity Loan to Remodel?
Using a home equity loan to remodel can be a good decision, especially if you might need cash for future living expenses. Q: I have bought and sold many homes in the past. I made money on all but the last one, on which I lost money big time. I recently bought a little house [...]
Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor? Think Permits and Inspections
When hiring a home improvement contractor, don't forget about the permits and inspections that are required by your city. Q: I read your article on how to hire a contractor and thought it was very good, but two items that were not brought up were permits and inspections. Often, the homeowner doesn't factor in the [...]
What to Do After Fire Damage
If your house is damaged by a fire, the first step is to talk with your insurance company about what will be covered under the policy. Q: I recently inherited my sister’s home that was badly damaged by fire and smoke. I do not want to keep the house. What is the best way for [...]
A New Way to Buy Health Insurance
In a shopping center in South Jersey ringed by retail stores like Best Buy and Barnes & Noble, shoppers can buy a totally different kind of product—health insurance. Insurance companies and brokers across the country are stepping out of offices and business parks and into brick-and-mortar retail stores, setting up inside shopping malls and retail [...]
Fall Home Maintenance—Inside and Out
As fall ushers out summer, this month marks a good time to prepare your home for the chilly air, falling leaves and impending winter months. Summer is too much fun to do home maintenance, and winter’s ice and snow bring too much hassle, but I don’t mind working inside or outside during fall’s crisp days [...]
Eight Ways to Save Money On Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is one of those expenses that goes up every year - unless you shop around for a deal or take advantage of bundling services. When you first took out your auto insurance policy, you probably evaluated your needs, shopped around for the best rate and checked for discounts. But have you done any [...]
Understanding Obamacare
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as its more politically charged name, Obamacare, has been in effect since 2010. But the cornerstone portion of the legislation, the individual mandate, was on shaky ground until the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality this summer. So what does the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mean for you, [...]
DIY Home Repair and Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget
The kitchen is often the heart of any home, and most homeowners are constantly seeking ways to improve the look and functionality of that space. But a full-blown kitchen remodel can be lengthy, disruptive, and expensive. The average kitchen remodel costs $26,000, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. While nice kitchens tend to [...]