Real Estate
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Why it's wise to upgrade downstairsJul 23, 2017 6:00 am - Feeling pressed for space? The solution might be right under your feet. Finished basements are a low-cost way to add resale value to your home at a fraction of what it c...
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Tired of mulching? The pros have a different ideaJul 23, 2017 6:00 am - Sedges are grasslike plants best described as green and tufty. They may be the dullest-looking perennials in the landscape. They are also the hottest. Leading garden des...
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In the compost pile, green and brown make black goldJul 23, 2017 6:00 am - We have a saying at our house: "The compost pile is just another mouth to feed." After all, our garden thrives on compost, and thus we thrive on it, too. That pile is an...
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These stunning plants all have one thing in common: A taste for bloodJul 23, 2017 6:00 am - Somewhere along the evolutionary timeline of bog-dwelling angiosperms, the plants gathered together and decided they wouldn't take it any longer. No more would insects s...
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Moisture is likely cause of scaling concreteJul 23, 2017 6:00 am - Q. I have a ranch home with a full basement in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. The home was built in the mid 1950s. Over the past several years, I have noticed, just b...
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Don't trash these garbage cansJul 22, 2017 6:00 am - At its most basic level, a trash can "has to work," says Julie Carlson, founder and editor-in-chief of Remodelista. But that doesn't mean it can't please the eye. When C...
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Doors add to the personality of a houseJul 22, 2017 6:00 am - The front door of a home gives visitors their first impression of not only the home, but also the owner. The way it looks gives one a glimpse of the owner's personality....
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Gift from parents not without consequencesJul 22, 2017 6:00 am - Q. My aged parents are about to put their house in my name. What are the tax implications for me, other than annual property taxes? Is this considered a gift that I have...
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Assessment for sidewalk work required owner voteJul 22, 2017 6:00 am - Q. Our condominium property does not include many sidewalks. The board would like to install additional sidewalks this year; however, this is not a budgeted expenditure....
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How I was scammed! Don't let it happen to youJul 22, 2017 6:00 am - About two weeks ago, I received an email advertisement on a topic in which I had an interest - enough to watch a video touting the contents of a book on the subject. Aft...