David Myers
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Owner's trash bins are 'fair game' for scavengersJul 24, 2015 12:00 am - Putting your trash cans out on garbage pickup day almost always leaves the discarded items open to a variety of prying eyes. Q. Two men in a beat-up old truck drive down...
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Buyer's sales contract sometimes can be assigned to a third partyJul 17, 2015 12:00 am - Buyers can transfer their contractual right to buy a house that they no longer want to purchase, provided certain conditions are met. Q. I signed a contract to purchase ...
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Wood, vinyl flooring create special concernsJul 09, 2015 11:00 pm - Wood floors are subject to dry rot, while vinyl sometimes can give off invisible but toxic gases. Q. We just found out that we have some wood-rot damage to our living-ro...
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Now is the best time to buy pots, tools and other household itemsJul 03, 2015 12:00 am - The start of summer brings good deals on kitchen items, tools, some types of furniture and even new carpeting. Q. I haven't seen your column yet on the best household-re...
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Musty smells often scare off buyersJun 26, 2015 12:00 am - Musty or dank smells, often found in the basement, could be a sign of potentially health-threatening mold or mildew problems. Q. We have been looking at several homes to...
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Homeowners can earn tax deduction by donating household goodsJun 19, 2015 12:00 am - Large remodeling projects can generate lots of older household items and building materials that many charities are happy to accept. Q. We have a couple of sinks, doors ...
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New 'IKEA Therapy' concept aims to help bickering couples resolve their woesJun 12, 2015 12:00 am - A California marriage counselor says a big do-it-yourself project can help to improve a pair's rocky relationship. Q. Do you know anything about something called "IKEA a...
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Remodeling projects raise new insurance issues for homeownersJun 05, 2015 12:00 am - Editor's note: David Myers is on vacation. This column repeats some previously published questions from readers and his responses that are still relevant today. A homeow...
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Savvy home buyers purchase two types of title insuranceJun 02, 2015 1:00 am - Most borrowers can't get a mortgage if they don't pay for a lender's title insurance policy that protects the bank against possible losses. Getting the same protection f...
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Federal 'gift tax' rarely levied on down-payment help from parentsMay 29, 2015 12:00 am - Relatively few parents have to pay gift taxes on the cash they give to help their offspring purchase a house. Q. I am planning to buy my first home this summer, and my p...