Home Improvement
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Standards for legal basement bedroomsMay 21, 2023 7:00 am - Q: As a Realtor, I sell a lot of older homes, some of which have portions of basements that were converted to bedrooms. In many of these, the rooms do not comply as lega...
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Contractors often blindly remove asbestosMay 14, 2023 6:00 am - Q: In one of your columns, you stressed the importance of testing for asbestos before removing some types of building materials in older homes. In particular, you mentio...
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Home inspector ignores known fire hazardMay 07, 2023 6:00 am - Q: When I bought my house, the home inspector reported no problems with the main electrical panel. After moving in, my insurance company requested a photograph of the pa...
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Growth, change and liability in inspection businessApr 30, 2023 6:00 am - Q: As an insurance agent for more than 40 years, I've watched with interest the rapid growth of the home inspection business. Back in the 1980s, I didn't know what home ...
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No excuse for ground-level roof inspectionsApr 23, 2023 7:00 am - Q: I've got two complaints against home inspectors. The last two inspectors I hired inspected the roofs from the ground only, and neither reported any defects. That's pr...
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Income tax credit may pay for home upgradesApr 23, 2023 6:00 am - Homeowners who suffered from cold air-leak through failing windows and doors this past winter should consider replacing them this calendar year because a federal governm...
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Cleaning and improving your garageApr 23, 2023 1:00 am - Got a garage that's become an eyesore inside and out? You are not alone: 36% of Americans polled say their garages are so cluttered they can no longer park vehicles with...
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How to know it's time to splurge on replacement windowsApr 22, 2023 7:00 am - Is it feeling drafty in your house? Noticing higher energy bills? Getting more difficult to open and close your windows? These are telltale signs it may be time to repla...
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Aging-in-place features can keep you at home longerApr 22, 2023 6:00 am - Middle-age isn't too soon to start thinking about where and how you want to live as you get older. If you're like most Americans, the place you want to be long-term is a...
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A power washer isn't always the answer to clean home's exteriorApr 21, 2023 7:00 am - Every homeowner knows the value and importance of spring cleaning rooms and other interiors within your home. But it's equally vital to apply that spick-and-span vibe to...