Anyone with determination can split kindling for a wood stove or fireplace, and yes that includes women. In fact this article was prompted by a woman recently widowed, who asked for advice on preparing for winter. She has a wood stove and there is some wood cut but no kindling as her husband generated the kindling from his woodworking.

The question made me realize some questions, or rather answers to questions, need to be specifically geared for women … although most of our library at HomeTips4Women.com is useful to women and men. It was rather fun researching this answer as it involved talking to several women, including one woman builder. Please share your ideas too for similar Q&As (just leave a comment below) as we will all benefit. READ MORE

The value of any home improvement is what the homeowner is willing to invest and how much value the ultimate home buyer will pay for that improvement. Home improvements are, and always will be, a balancing act between immediate value to improve the current homeowner’s quality of life and ultimate resale value.

While each homeowner has different values, there are general standards for any community, and within that community, for homes within a price range. Houses exceeding a certain size are expected to have a two-car garage. Homes with 3 bedrooms are expected to have a deck. These features are what home appraisers use to develop price projections, i.e. they will subtract or add value (dollars) when a home lacks a garage or includes a fireplace.

For perspective, let’s first look at what happened in 2008 in the stock market. Your car’s value after 5 years of ownership is another interesting comparison. READ MORE

Our third day for the pumpkin treasure hunt on this website. Portsmouth NH does a great job of welcoming tourists to New Hampshire’s 18 miles of seacoast, between Massachusetts and Maine. We have a new tradition of pumpkin scarecrows scattered around town. Today’s clue … “Where can you find out about local Halloween activities?” READ MORE

There are fire extinguishers made for the home. When you buy one, make sure to get familiar with how to use it as there isn’t enough time to learn when there’s a fire. You should only try to put out small fires before they get out of control, but only after you’ve gotten everyone safely out of the house.

October is fire prevention month. Local fire departments do a great job of visiting schools and talking to students about fire prevention … and fire safety. Each year there is a new theme, and this year the theme is “Stay Fire Smart, Don’t Get Burned”.

Burns are painful and easily avoided if we all follow basic safety guidelines. Burn prevention isn’t difficult, and most things you might say are obvious. A quick scan of these simple safety guidelines for you and your family members, will simply make it easier to remember the rules when needed. READ MORE