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Housing Chatter delivers the news you need to know about current events in the housing market in simple terms. We have no political or institutional affiliations so you can be confident that our content and commentary is unbiased. Housing Chatter is brought to you by your professional Realtor®.
25 October 2012
6 Tips for Decorating Your First Home
Moving into your first house is a liberating, landmark life passage. After you've freed yourself of your college futon and your roommate's attempt at fine art, it's time to come up with a plan for turning your empty shell of a house into an inviting home. Here are some suggestions for pulling it off: 1. Clean house at the old place. Even before you make an ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By Laura McDonald, American Society of Interior Designers
How To Eliminate Pet Dander
The Benefits of Owning Pets Pet Dander Dog Pets can add an incredible amount of joy and companionship to the lives of the humans they live with. Studies show that more than 70% of all American homes own a pet. Not only do they make great friends, but it has also been proven that they can improve our ability to relax. Petting a cat or dog has been shown to ... Read More »
About.comBed Bugs: Should Bed Bugs Worry You?
Once thought to be eradicated from North America, the legendary little pests known as bed bugs have been making an unwelcome comeback in hotels and homes. Lest you think bed bugs are relegated to fleabag motels, they have been spotted in the posher locales as well. What Are Bed Bugs? Bed bugs are the common name for Cimex lectularius, a reddish-brown, oval- ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By Charlyn Keating Chisholm, About.com Guide
Painting Your Countertops for a New Look
Whether you're the type who anxiously waits for Sherwin Williams and Pantone to release the latest palettes each year or are merely tired of the '70s hue that dominates your vanity top, painting over a laminate counter is a relatively inexpensive and simple way to change up the color in your bathroom. Just plan carefully, from the paint selection at the star ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By Rose Kennedy
How to Make a Haunted House in Your Front Yard
When the little goblins and ghouls come knocking at your front door and asking "Trick or treat?", double their thrills and fun by turning your front yard into a haunted house! This article will help you to design a haunted house front yard that will make your house the highlight of the street. Edit Steps 1 Plan what you need and where it'll go. ... Read More »
eHow HomeHow to Paint your Home with Warm Fall Colors
Things You'll Need Paint swatches Paint samples Instructions 1 Get color swatches from paint stores. Take the swatches home and hold them up to your floors, woodwork and furniture to see how they go together. There aren't any hard and fast rules about choosing colors, but bear in mind that colors will generally look darker and mor ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By Anna Roberts, eHow Contributor
Fun Autumn projects
Your lawn is filling up with leaves faster that you can rake them away. Before you bundle them up and leave them at the curb, let the kids pick a few and craft a little creativity with these fabulous projects. Decorating with leaves can be so much more than piling them into a garbage bag that looks like a pumpkin and plopping it on your front porch. Here ar ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By: Jessica Watson
Simple Ways to get your house ready for Fall
The hot days of summer are over, and you are ready to warm up your home's wardrobe without having to redecorate. Try these fall pieces that will transform the look and feel of your home for the season. You are just starting to pull out the warm sweaters and trade in your flip-flops for jeans. Now you need to get your home ready for fall as well. With a few n ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By: Jessica Watson
Greening Your Home This Fall to Save on Heating
Summer’s coming to a close, and as the air starts to cool and the leaves begin to change color, it’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the fall and winter. Home heating bills can be a real drain on your wallet; luckily, there are ways you can go green and save money at the same time. Air Seal and Insulate: According to the United States Departm ... Read More »
The Daily GreenInspector Bobs Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
a man and woman install storm windows Incense, grape Kool-Aid, and a roll of dollar bills: The makings of a kinky bachelorette party? No, sorry, guess again. Those are on the shortlist of things you'll need to do a quick home checkup this fall that's likely to save you a roomful of money, not to mention make your home safer and more energy efficient. Bob ... Read More »
Editors Note:
Jeff Yeager is the author of The Cheapskate Next Door and The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com. Connect with Jeff Yeager on Twitter and Facebook.
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How to Decide Which Plants Get Water During a Drought
Drought and community-imposed restrictions that limit the amount of water you can use for landscaping and gardening may force you to make tough decisions about which plants to save and which to sacrifice. Your choices should depend on your priorities and the purpose your plantings serve, says Sandra Dark, author of Weatherproofing Your Landscaping. “Drough ... Read More »
Editors Note:
Lisa Kaplan Gordon is a HouseLogic contributor and builder of luxury homes in McLean, Va. She’s been a Homes editor for Gannett News Service and has reviewed home improvement products for AOL.
Home Ideas 15 Best Autumn Decorating Tips and Ideas 15 Best Autumn Decorating Tips and Ideas
The return of cooler temperatures, fall colors, and nature changing before our eyes is all the evidence we need that autumn is officially here. Adding autumn touches of décor to your home will help you transition into the new season with excitement of the passing of the year. From the exterior to the interior of your home, fall décor colors can be rich and ... Read More »
Cultivate.comThe Latest Kitchen Countertop Trends
Countertops choices have extended a long way beyond the basic Formica and laminates of several decades ago. Now, homeowners can select from a dizzying array of diverse surface materials, from wood to natural stone to stainless steel. The best countertop for your kitchen depends on the look, feel, and finish that will fit into your overall aesthetic. The c ... Read More »
Editors Note:
Text by: Jennifer Gilmer, CKD
How to Kill Fleas In a Home Naturally
Fleas are annoying, irritating and itchy parasites that invade your home by entering on your pets. Fleas not only infest your dogs and cats (or other furry or feathered pets), but they even jump onto humans, biting you and feeding on your blood just as they do your pets. It can be difficult to rid your home of fleas once they begin to multiply. Chemical pest ... Read More »
Mom.me10 Worst Germ Hot Spots
You may scrub your toilet and countertops until they shine, but these scary new bacteria breeding grounds require just as much attention. Germs (the catchall name for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms) are everywhere—at home, in the office, even in your car. Luckily, about 99% of them can't harm us. But the other 1% can be annoying, uncomfortable, ... Read More »
Editors Note:
By Alyssa Shaffer, Prevention
Energy Saving Tips
ENERGY PLANNING Have an occasional family meeting to discuss ways you can save energy at home. Use this list as a guide to energy saving tips and assign someone to monitor energy use between meetings. Make a game out of saving energy by paying small rewards for coming up with new energy saving tips in the home. Keep track of your utility bil ... Read More »
Crunchy BettyThe Best Homemade Bathroom Cleaner Ever
Yay! Just what you always wanted! A reason to clean the bathroom. It’s your favorite thing to do. And even though you’ve probably cleaned it twice already today, you’re itching to do it again. What? You haven’t cleaned your bathroom today? This week? This month? Really? Well, here’s a reason to. Right here. Right now. And it’s fun. I promise. (Except for ... Read More »
Home AdvisorBedroom Furniture for Looks and Function
Few additions to your bedroom define the space more than the bedroom furniture set you purchase. Bedroom furniture is something that, when chosen wisely, gives your bedroom character and compliments your personality and tastes. Of course, choosing the right furniture can also make a huge difference when it comes to maximizing space usage and storage, so it' ... Read More »
Editors Note:
by Matt Goering
A Place in the Sunroom
Are you looking for the perfect place for leisure and relaxation? Do you enjoy the outdoors? If this is the case, then it sounds like a sunroom would be an excellent addition to your home. Sunrooms are a great way to bring the outdoors inside without the interference of the weather and bugs. They add a feeling of openness and provide a great place to unwind ... Read More »
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