Fixing Water Issues His neighbor's water freezes on the driveway but he won't fix the downspout and the HOA won't get involved. Q: I live in a townhouse cluster governed by a homeowners association (HOA) and a master community association. I have been having an issue with a neighbor’s downspout. I’ve noticed a large amount [...]
Multi-Generational Living: Is This a Good Idea? Q: I read your article on multi-generational living and found it incredibly interesting. My family and I are planning a similar multigenerational living arrangement by adding onto my parents’ house. We are located in Colorado and hoping to find both a financial advisor and a real estate attorney [...]
Unpermitted work not disclosed by the seller. Now what do we do? Q: My husband and I have appreciated the many articles from you in our local paper. In addition, we had recently bought your book, “100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask.” We gave it to our two young adult sons. The book [...]
How do you find a good contractor? Q: My husband and I have found it impossible to find a contractor to build a small family room and deck off the back of our Chicago home over the last four years. While it is a modest project, there are structural issues and some unusual elements, including [...]
Is there a bird nest in your dryer vent? How can you prevent a bird from nesting in your dryer vent? Q: I live in an adult condominium community. There are sparrows that have built a bird nest in the dryer vents. The vents have four louvers. It is very easy for the birds to [...]
Top 5 DIY home improvement projects during COVID-19. In 2020, these are the five most popular DIY home improvement projects homeowners took on during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety percent of homeowners have tried their hand at DIY home improvement projects since the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S. in 2020, and 64 percent of them [...]
5 easy home improvement projects you can do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simple DIY home improvement projects that homeowners can start on now. The past four months have felt like four years. Most of us have spent more time at home than ever before, and are quite sick of our four walls, floor and ceiling. [...]
Top 5 home remodeling trends 2020. Take a closer look at remodeling activity and the projects and features homeowners are trending towards. What are the top home remodeling trends? The annual Houzz & Home Study, the largest survey of residential remodeling, building and decorating activity, answers that question, and more. Not surprisingly, given the strength [...]
COVID-19 pandemic update: home improvement projects impacted by coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted home improvement projects. New insights from Houzz reveal how coronavirus is changing home renovation. The COVID-19 pandemic put much of our daily lives at a standstill. Everything from buying, selling and home improvement projects has stalled. We stopped going out for [...]
What do you need a permit for? Home improvement projects you need permits for, how to get them and what could happen if you get the work done without one. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the snow is finally melting — and it’s the perfect time to start planning your next home [...]
