Articles filed under Home & Garden
-
Ringing in the new year with new laws for boardsJan 02, 2025 6:05 pm - With the new year, there are often new laws from Springfield and/or Washington D.C. that affect community associations. Here some that will affect either condominiums, townhouses or homeowner associations.
-
Extension offers winter webinars on proper tree care techniquesJan 02, 2025 1:38 pm - Illinois Extension is offering a Community Tree Care Series to teach proper tree care techniques. The program includes online webinars from January to March covering topics like site selection, tree health, pruning, etc.
-
Houseplant watering, fertilizing slows down in winterDec 31, 2024 7:26 pm - During the winter, most houseplants are not in an active growth phase due to shorter days, reduced humidity and lower temperatures. Generally, houseplants require less water and much less, if any, fertilizer because their growth slows during the winter.
-
Are home inspectors picking your pockets?Dec 30, 2024 6:29 pm - Can buyers and sellers just do their own home inspections and save the extra costs of the inspection, one reader asks. Find out the pitfalls they might fall into.
-
What to know about kitchen cabinet renovationDec 27, 2024 4:15 am - Homeowners who want to give their kitchens a new look and feel without doing a full renovation can consider kitchen cabinet projects. An understanding of kitchen cabinet projects can help homeowners decide if this undertaking is for them.
-
Lawyer passes baton on educating board members, unit ownersDec 25, 2024 6:00 am - After more than 13 years of having the privilege of writing this column, I am passing the baton. Although the column is called “Condo Talk,” it has addressed legal issues concerning the full variety of homeowner associations in Illinois; that is, condominium associations, master associations and common interest community associations.
-
Optimize your organization: Tips to eliminate the clutter and cut down your stressDec 24, 2024 9:35 pm - If clutter has you down, consider these strategies to organize your interior spaces and start the new year with a new outlook.
-
Younger generations swap tradition for self-expression with holiday decorationsDec 24, 2024 4:50 pm - Whether dressed in black, mimicking bare branches or decked out with enough bows for a Taylor Swift concert, the Christmas trees in some U.S. homes this year display an unconventional streak. They beckon visitors to behold the decorator's personality, not a mere symbol of Yuletide cheer.
-
Shake snow from plants; shovel with careDec 23, 2024 6:38 pm - There has not been much snow in the Chicago area yet this year, but when a storm does finally come, carefully shake snow off plants during heavy wet storms to minimize damage.
-
Why disclose old, ungrounded outlets?Dec 23, 2024 6:15 am - Q: As a fellow home inspector, I think you go overboard with electrical issues, such as ungrounded two-prong outlets in old homes.