Articles filed under Home Improvement
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Should home's foundation vents be closed?
Jan 29, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: I'm confused about foundation vents and whether to open or close them in winter. Some articles say you should keep them open to minimize moisture condensation under a building. Others warn that foundation vents allow moist air to enter crawl spaces.
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Know the scope and limits of home inspection
Jan 22, 2023 7:00 AM - Q: What exactly are home inspectors required to inspect, and what are they not required to inspect? It seems some inspectors include decks, pools and spas, while others do not.
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Quick and easy ways to give your kitchen a new lookJan 20, 2023 7:00 AM - Installing under-cabinet lighting beneath your kitchen cabinets is an inexpensive way to give this room a new look.
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Permit peril: Will new owners have to restore converted garage bedroom to original use?
Jan 14, 2023 7:00 AM - New homeowners received noticed that their garage was converted to a bedroom without a building permit by the previous owners. The new owners failed to require an "as-built" permit. Will they have to tear out the conversion?
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Home inspections in a hot market
Jan 1, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: In a past article, you wrote: "It is the height of professional irresponsibility for any real estate agent to advise a client against having a home inspection." In most cases, I would agree with your advice. But in a hot market, purchase offers that call for a home inspection are often rejected by sellers.
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Buyer complains about home inspector
Dec 25, 2022 7:00 AM - Q: We hired a home inspector to check out our house before we bought it. His report indicated no problems, but after closing the deal we discovered many problems: The pool heater did not work: $2,900. The clothes washer had bad bearings: $450. The kitchen sink leaked: $250.
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Why transitional design is so popular in kitchens todayDec 23, 2022 6:46 AM - You and your partner yearn for a remodeled kitchen. Problem is, you prefer a sleek modern look while your significant other insists on a more elaborate, classical approach. Fortunately, there's room for compromise in the form of a transitional kitchen.
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How to find a qualified home inspector
Dec 11, 2022 6:00 AM - The guidelines for finding qualified home inspectors do not guarantee professional competence. To illustrate this, let's consider the six criteria most often cited as essential factors in selecting a qualified inspector.
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Tool library keeps ratcheting up interestDec 7, 2022 10:05 AM - With about 450 members sharing nearly 1,200 tools, things have gone well for the Mundelein Tool Library since it debuted about 18 months ago. "We think it's a great public service," a member of the nonprofit's board says.
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Agent complains about home inspectors
Dec 13, 2022 4:24 PM - Q. For all your endorsements of home inspections, I find the inspection industry to be out of control and run amok! Two reports on the same house have different lists of defects. Some reports are so nit-picky, they seem contrived to justify the inspection fee.
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