Real Estate
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Don't flush money down the toilet - repair leaking seals yourselfJul 23, 2009 11:00 pm - Toilets, although handy, do have some problems. One of the hardest things to deal with is a broken seal at the base. This allows leaking around the base from the bowl, a...
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Wood alternatives for a deck still require some maintenanceJul 23, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I am tried of treating my old decaying wood deck. Also, it gets hot in the sun. I want to replace it with one requiring no maintenance and one that is environmentally...
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Bankruptcy filing can rob ability to get homeowners insuranceJul 23, 2009 11:00 pm - Many insurers will no longer renew a homeowners policy or issue a new one if the customer has recently filed for bankruptcy. Q. We have had the same company provide our ...
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Reforms will have significant impact on association membersJul 23, 2009 11:00 pm - In 2008, I had the honor of serving as the chairman of the Illinois Condominium Advisory Board, which was created by the legislature in 2007 to make recommendations on n...
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Federal agencies push 'green' housing incentivesJul 23, 2009 11:00 pm - WASHINGTON - You're probably familiar with some of the federal government's 2009 incentives for home energy efficiency - heftier tax credits for solar panels, solar wate...
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Tenant grief soars after debut of assigned parkingJul 18, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. I live in a 39-unit apartment complex where parking is becoming a real problem. Our building is older and was built with only a single parking space for each unit. Un...
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Digging deeper for a bigger basementJul 18, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. Can you tell me the way to make a basement higher? In ours you have to bend over to walk. Is it more costly to dig deeper or to lift the house? Whom do I contact who ...
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Mortgage refinance decision should be made independentlyJul 18, 2009 11:00 pm - Some of the most difficult questions I receive from readers concern the relationship between making extra payments and refinancing. I have never been very happy with my ...
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Homebuyer has leeway in making a 'reasonable' offerJul 18, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. In today's market, is an initial offer of 10 to 20 percent below list price considered reasonable and acceptable? A. There's no way I can judge what a particular...
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Villas of Cambridge offers luxury living at right priceJul 16, 2009 11:00 pm - The Arbor series townhouses - smaller and less expensive than the Artisan series - delights first-time buyers and downsizers at Villas of Cambridge where both offer luxu...