Building an energy efficient house today is really important given rising fuel costs, and insulation is a key component to reduce the energy our homes use. Building homes today is more complicated as architects and builders integrate new materials and technology, often driven by green building standards coming from industry leaders and/or government.

Deciding how to insulate a home is incredibly complex. Keep reading to learn who makes the decision, who influences the decision maker and why homeowners need to understand more about the construction industry and how it affects your home, your family and the environment.  READ MORE

We spend so much time in our homes but do we really know what our relationship is with our homes? It’s been my dream to talk with women and learn what they like, or don’t like about their homes and how HomeTips4Women can help them enjoy life at home better.

At BlogHer 2011, I spoke with Shannon Entin from Bloomsbury, NJ. Once we started talking, Shannon took over the conversation and I got to enjoy her story which towards the end included a floorplan drawing (more about this later). Here’s what Shannon had to share about her house … READ MORE

Planning is a key part of maintaining your home, although it’s a lot harder than creating a grocery budget or setting aside money for car maintenance. Most homeowners aren’t familiar with key home components and how often they need to be replaced so we’ve assembled a list to help you plan (2-part series).

A good rule of thumb for a home maintenance budget is 1 to 2% of your home’s value, depending on how well the house has been maintained. Many expenses occur around 20 years in age, so if you haven’t been saving or just bought a 20 year old house, you might need to set aside even more money. READ MORE

Home repairs can be confusing when you’re not familiar with choices in design and material or how much things cost to buy, operate and repair. Today’s consumer economy has driven us to buy and dispose of almost everything we own. Many products are designed to break like the toilets you buy at the box stores with plastic parts, proving you get what you pay for.

Surprised there are no plastic parts to repair these toilets? That a toilet purchased from a plumbing supply house has metal parts and therefore lasts longer? Let’s look at how you can buy smarter and make better decisions about when to repair versus replace items for your home.

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Spring is here so it’s time to get outside and enjoy the longer, warmer days. While it might not be warm enough to sit and read a book, it’s the perfect time to tackle some of your home maintenance chores. Realizing that doesn’t sound like fun and it certainly isn’t sexy, it’s important to understand that ongoing and consistent home maintenance will save you time and money!

Your home is huge financial investment you want to protect. While you might think you’re saving money, you’re not. When you ignore home maintenance chores you’ll spend more money on repairs you could have avoided and/or get less money when you sell your home. This spring home maintenance checklist will help you keep your home in good shape. READ MORE

Home maintenance isn’t the first thing you think about as you plan your summer activities. Summer is for fun things like family barbeques, long weekends and vacation. Why not get all your home maintenance chores done in June, and then you can enjoy your gardening and landscaping (or hire a lawn care service).  Once you’re done, you can relax during long summer evenings and take fun excursions on the weekends..

A number of our summer maintenance tasks address how your house interacts with your landscaping and local critters that live in your neighborhood. The idea is you want to protect your home from damage by insuring that the exterior envelope remains water and airtight. This will also help you save money with lower utility bills. READ MORE

Are you, or would you like to be the handywoman (or handyman) around your home? There’s no reason why you can’t fill this role if you’re willing to commit some time and money.

Like everything you do today, you have to invest time learning and practicing new skills to become proficient. You didn’t go to school knowing how to read. It took years of practice from learning your first 100 words, to reading more complex information and learning how to organize new ideas so you can apply them.

Becoming a handyperson involves learning the basics of how your home is built, investing in quality tools and practicing until you achieve a basic skill set. You’ve got to read this 10 step guide! READ MORE

You don’t need knowledge about your home systems to hire professional help. What you need is communication skills. Finding the right company or professional person to hire isn’t rocket science. Using a referral from someone you know or trust has been the customary wisdom and it’s still good advice. Your local construction material supply house may have recommendations.

You’re looking for professionals who can perform quality work, at a fair price and on a mutually agreed to schedule. Make sure you communicate these requirements to the professionals you interview. Work to create a trustworthy and positive relationship with your trades’ people. Confrontational behavior has no place in your project. The carrot, not the stick is always the best method. READ MORE