Joseph Burris and John Nash 's Blog Posts

Jan 07, 2021Your water heater is an important part of your home, especially if you have a family. Between cooking, cleaning, doing dishes, washing clothes, washing hands, and all the other things

Jan 04, 2021The way your home is decorated says a lot about you, your family, and your lifestyle. Not only does choosing the right colors set the mood in a place, putting those colors in the right

Dec 31, 2020As smart devices become more common, it’s no surprise to find homeowners who have opted to upgrade to smart thermostats or replace some of their lights with smart LED bulbs. While

Dec 17, 2020Everything has its season, and for paint, winter is that time. Year after year, paint companies release their chosen Color(s) of the Year, which are meant to be reflections on trends

Dec 28, 2020When the weather outside is frightful, a fire can be so delightful. That’s what the song says, anyway. But loads of homeowners tend to agree with the sentiment, so surely they can

Dec 21, 2020Your thermostat plays an important role in keeping your home comfortable throughout the year. After all, the thermostat is the central hub for controlling the temperature you want to

Dec 07, 2020Keeping your family and your home safe is an important responsibility. There are a number of devices that you can buy to help accomplish this, with some of the most common being smoke

Dec 10, 2020Oh, baby, it’s cold outside… and inside, too, if you’re standing close to a drafty window, door, or mysterious source of outside air. Persistent drafts are funny.

Dec 03, 2020Roasting chestnuts over an open fire is a delightful holiday season tradition, but unless your flue has been inspected and cleaned, it’s not a very good idea. After all, a far less

Oct 19, 2020When rates are low, it can seem like the ideal time to refinance your mortgage. After all, who doesn’t like a lower interest rate? There are lots of good reasons to refinance your

Sep 14, 2020Smart homes are increasingly popular, and there are a wide range of smart home devices on the consumer market these days. These devices can give you greater control over your home, and

Sep 17, 2020When it comes time to sell your home, you obviously want it looking its best so that prospective buyers will fall in love with it. This may lead to you consider touching up or remodeling

Sep 21, 2020Remodeling can be serious business, especially if you’ve got several pet projects on your list and a limited budget with which to work. It can be tempting to go straight to the

Sep 24, 2020Fall is a little bit like a reverse spring. Everything is starting to wind down as winter approaches, and for a lot of gardeners, that’s a sad time. It doesn’t have to be,

Sep 28, 2020Erosion can be a big problem for homeowners, even if you don’t live in an area that sees frequent flooding or other causes of large-scale erosion. As soil erodes from around your

Oct 01, 2020As fall approaches, a lot of people are looking for ways to prep their yards for both winter and the coming spring. One great way to do this is to plant trees on your property that will

Oct 05, 2020According to the Brookings Institute, about 42 million Americans (one in eight) have a student loan, totaling about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. Only 30 percent of Bachelor

Oct 12, 2020Good lighting is important in many places in the home. When you’re working in the kitchen, though, having sufficient lighting to see what you’re doing is vital. Poor lighting

Oct 08, 2020Growing and tending a garden through the spring and summer can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding of human experiences. The harvest in the early fall is simply sublime. But

Oct 15, 2020Buying a house can be incredibly exciting and terrifying at the same time, especially if it’s your first or second home. For a lot of buyers today, the idea of getting a killer

Sep 24, 2020Fall is a little bit like a reverse spring. Everything is starting to wind down as winter approaches, and for a lot of gardeners, that’s a sad time. It doesn’t have to be,

Jul 16, 2020 Your home’s a looker, so why aren’t you doing all you can to point all the attention at its best features? Maybe you’re afraid that drawing so much attention to

Jul 23, 2020 There’s nothing like a glass of cool lemonade on a hot summer day, unless of course the reason it’s so hot is that your air conditioner needs to be replaced. In that

Jul 20, 2020 If eyes are the windows to the soul, then surely windows are the eyes of your house, right? Something like that, anyway. When it comes time to replace those windows, it’s

Jul 27, 2020 Moving day, just imagine it: The sun is shining, the weather is just perfect, and you’re about to close one chapter and open a brand new one. There’s so much

Aug 03, 2020 Smart home devices are increasingly popular these days. With automation assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant making device control easy, many homeowners are looking for the

Aug 10, 2020 There was a time when metal roofing was largely reserved for use on shop buildings or certain businesses. These days, however, you’ll see metal roofs on almost any sort of

Aug 13, 2020 Buying a home is a big deal, especially for those who have had credit problems in the past. The most common way to buy a home is with a mortgage loan, which requires both a credit

Aug 06, 2020 If you have an older home, there’s a decent chance that somewhere in the house you have at least one large, bulky wall-mounted mirror. While not all older homes will feature

Aug 17, 2020 A home is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where you escape the chaos of everyday life. But sometimes those sacred spaces get pretty chaotic almost on their own. Maybe it&rsquo

Aug 24, 2020 In uncertain times, it can be easy to sit back and worry your time away hoping things will work out eventually. Although worrying will absolutely give you something to do, it won

Aug 20, 2020 There are a lot of reasons that you might want a shed on your property. Maybe you just want some extra storage space. Maybe you need a place to put your mower and gardening tools

Aug 27, 2020 One of the best things about owning your own home is how much you can do to make it your own. Although big jobs like laying tile and building decks might be more than you’re

Aug 31, 2020 As a part of maintaining good social distance, many people are limiting who they bring into their homes. But this can lead to a bit of anxiety when you need to bring in some extra

Sep 03, 2020 When you think of your home, the last thing you probably imagine is that it can breathe. Well, maybe not literally breathe, but it does have a way of moving air in and out, whether

 May 4, 2020 David WeinsteinWith social distancing being an important part of life at the moment and so many parts of the economy suffering the effects of state lockdowns, some are worried

 May 7, 2020 Rob MorelliIt goes without saying that no one expected 2020 to turn out the way that it has. The last several weeks have been especially difficult, with businesses shutting

 May 14, 2020 Rob MorelliThere has been a lot of focus in recent weeks on “essential” workers in our economy. In most places, this includes at least portions of the

 May 18, 2020 David WeinsteinWhile everyone is home trying to stay healthy, there are a lot of people who have taken to trying to do things around the house on their own. This has helped

 May 11, 2020 David WeinsteinThere are a lot of people tackling DIY projects at the moment. Some of these are necessary projects that people are doing themselves to avoid bringing

 May 26, 2020 David WeinsteinThroughout the years, the construction industry, and the trends that it follows, have changed significantly. While some key elements in construction tend to

 May 21, 2020 Rob MorelliEven if you absolutely love your house and the area you live in, sometimes you’ll find that you just don’t have enough room for your family and all

 May 28, 2020 Rob MorelliWhether you love mowing the lawn or hate it, it’s a job that needs to be done. As with most things, though, there’s a difference between doing it and

 June 1, 2020 David WeinsteinIt’s well known that the housing market is heavily influenced by the economy — especially local economies. When the economy is strong, people have

 June 4, 2020 Rob MorelliVirtual home tours and showings are increasingly popular in real estate. They allow prospective home buyers to view the property on their own time, reducing

 June 8, 2020 David WeinsteinAs spring turns to summer, more and more focus is shifting to outdoor activities and enjoying the wonderful summer weather. Unfortunately, not all of the

 June 11, 2020 Rob MorelliWhen you own your own home, there are a lot of small repairs and similar tasks that you’ll have to do at some point. You may also want to tackle some DIY

 June 15, 2020 David WeinsteinWhen it first hit the market, the Ring doorbell system seemed like a great way to keep your home safe. Not only do the cameras on the doorbell let you see who

 June 18, 2020 Rob MorelliOne of the biggest problems that many homeowners face is finding enough room to store all of their things. Some seek to solve this problem by adding a shed or

 June 23, 2020 David WeinsteinSmart homes and smart home tech are becoming increasingly popular these days. Various smart home devices, sensors and more can add new functions to a home,

 June 25, 2020 Rob MorelliBuying a lake house can be a great investment, regardless of whether you intend to use it as a vacation property or a year-round residence. With that said, you

 June 29, 2020 David WeinsteinPlay is important for kids. It’s especially important for kids to have active play as a part of their routines, since it builds imagination, physical

 July 2, 2020 Rob MorelliRefinancing a mortgage is a powerful tool that can help you to save money on your home payments. Refinancing your mortgage takes advantage of your positive payment

 July 6, 2020 David WeinsteinIn recent years, a number of consumer devices have offered Internet-enabled features and other forms of connectivity. Not only does this allow for updates to

 July 9, 2020 Rob MorelliWhen it comes time to list your home, you’ll want to come up with a list of small repairs and other tweaks that you can do to try and get the most out of

 May 4, 2020 David WeinsteinWith social distancing being an important part of life at the moment and so many parts of the economy suffering the effects of state lockdowns, some are worried

 April 23, 2020 Rob MorelliSocial isolation can be difficult, especially if you’re not used to it. It sounds easy on the surface: Just stay home! If you’re cut off from the

 March 20, 2020 John NashWithout mincing words, times are scary. People are afraid, and beyond that there is a significant amount of uncertainty about what is to come. In times like these,

 March 26, 2020 John NashThings are pretty scary at the moment. When you turn on the news, read a paper or just scroll through your social media feed, most likely you’re seeing one

 March 30, 2020 John NashWorking from home can be a challenge, especially when you’re not used to it. There are a lot of distractions that can interfere with your work, sometimes

 April 2, 2020 John NashWith the current state of the world, people are spending more time at home than ever. This provides for some great opportunities to bond as a family, and also gives

 April 6, 2020 John NashWhile everyone’s staying at home, a lot of people are hesitant to bring in outsiders for things like painting or smaller construction projects. This could be

 April 9, 2020 John NashThe world we live in is significantly different than the world we knew just a year ago. Around the world, people face self-isolation and quarantine as we attempt to

 April 13, 2020 John NashOne of the best things that we can do right now to protect both ourselves and our friends and neighbors is to stay home. Unfortunately, there are only so many

 April 20, 2020 John NashEven though everything seems to have ground to a halt, it’s important to think about things a bit further down the line. This not only helps you to prepare

 April 16, 2020 John NashAs self-isolation and social distancing stretches on, you may find yourself a bit bored just staying at home. Since there’s a big difference between choosing

April 23, 2020 Joseph Burris  Sometimes it’s easy to make a mountain out of a molehill. Other times, like when your driveway is starting to show some wear, you might instead try to

 April 11, 2020 Joseph BurrisOne of the best parts of owning your own home is that you can do pretty much whatever you want when it comes to hanging things on the wall. No landlord will charge

 April 15, 2020 Saro CutriSpring is a time of beginnings. You get a chance to start over, to try something new and to get your air conditioner ready for the hot summer to come. It might

 March 5, 2020 Joseph BurrisHave you heard of Marie Kondo? Even if you can’t quite place the name, there’s a good chance that you’ve run across some reference to figuring

 March 2, 2020 Joseph BurrisAs the last winds of winter blow and the days become longer, it’s time to start thinking about the spring. In addition to cleaning up around the house,

 March 9, 2020 Joseph BurrisA pantry is a great thing to have. Not only does it store all your dry goods in one place, but you can also use your pantry to better organize your kitchen.

 March 16, 2020 Joseph BurrisWallpaper has been around for thousands of years in one form or another, with wallpaper-like wall coverings being used in China in 200 B.C. Modern style

March 17, 2020 Joseph BurrisWhen it comes to home improvements, there are few things that are requested more often than kitchen islands. Having a kitchen island can totally change the way that

 March 12, 2020 Joseph BurrisThere has been a significant amount of concern raised recently about COVID-19, a relatively recently discovered disease caused by a type of virus known as a

It all started with a shelf.You just bought your home and, though it needed a little surface work, you were pretty proud of it. It was yours, to do with as you wanted. So the first thing you did was

Joseph BurrisOf all the things that you can do to get your home ready for the market, there’s nothing as effective or inexpensive as decluttering. Not only does it allow you to really showcase

 August 13, 2018 Joseph BurrisYour new home has an amazingly huge closet, but a startling lack of places to hang stuff. Sure, you could pile all your extra clothing, shoes and accessories

 January 30, 2020 Joseph BurrisHome remodels offer an opportunity to change the look and feel of your home. This can be great if you live in an older home with outdated fixtures and other

January 27, 2020 Joseph BurrisThere are a number of reasons that you might need to hire a professional to do work around your home. Maybe you want to make repairs, add a porch, redo your

 January 23, 2020 Joseph BurrisWhen a lot of people think of buying a home, they picture it as a part of settling down and building a family. There’s a pretty good reason for this;

  January 16, 2020 Joseph BurrisWhen you think of wallpaper, you likely picture rolls of material that are plastered or glued in place. Once the wallpaper is up on the walls, that

 January 13, 2020 Joseph BurrisInsulation is an essential part of your home. Not only does it help keep the home warm during the winter, but it also plays an important part in keeping you

 December 30, 2019 John NashDepending on the condition of the house, renovation can be a major expense. However, this can also present real estate investors with significant opportunities.

 January 6, 2020 John NashMost of the time, if you think about taking out a loan to purchase real estate, you’re likely picturing a single-family home. Depending on your needs and

 November 25, 2019 John NashAs you make payments against your mortgage, you build equity in your home. This equity can be used to secure future loans, making it easier to refinance your

 December 2, 2019 John NashYou’ve likely heard the phrase “if you’re cold, they’re cold” in relation to pets. Unfortunately, the same reasoning can also apply

 December 9, 2019 John NashWhile the roof is one of the most important parts of your home, it’s also one of the most neglected. The average homeowner gives little thought to the

 December 12, 2019 John NashHome solar may be the energy solution of the future, offering clean, reliable energy without having to depend on power companies and their high energy rates.

 December 16, 2019 John NashWhen the weather is cooler than cool, it can turn ice cold. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of ice on and around your home. There are few things that can

 December 19, 2019 John NashWhen you’re shopping for a new home, it’s not uncommon to face a little bit of sticker shock when it comes to price. This often leads to buyers

 December 23, 2019 John NashA nice deep pile carpet can look great in your home, but if you have a lot of foot traffic then it’s just asking for trouble. Not only will you have to

 December 26, 2019 John NashIt might seem like kind of an odd concept, but there are a number of companies that let you rent your home décor these days. Companies like Feather and

 January 2, 2020 John NashAs Robert Frost (somewhat facetiously) said, “Good fences make good neighbors.” While many people have much better relationships with their neighbors

 September 9, 2019 David WeinsteinWhile they aren’t quite dominating the automotive market just yet, electric vehicles are definitely seeing a rise in popularity. More and more

 September 23, 2019 John NashSelling your home isn’t always easy. While there’s always a buyer out there somewhere, connecting with that buyer and agreeing on a price sometimes

 October 2, 2019 John NashPeriodic home maintenance is essential, both to keep your house looking its best and to prevent problems that could worsen over time. One of the best times to

 October 7, 2019 John NashBy now, you’ve likely seen the ads, gotten the emails and maybe even hung up on a few robocalls going on and on about the benefits of a home warranty. Are

 October 14, 2019 John NashPainting your home is a great way to express yourself and let your personality shine through in your living space. The colors you choose for your rooms can

 October 17, 2019 John NashIt can’t be overstated just how beneficial bees are to our ecosystem. Bees pollinate an astonishing 80 percent of the world’s plants, including

 October 21, 2019 John NashAre you in the market for some new cabinets? While it might seem like a good idea at first, replacing your cabinets might end up being more of a hassle than you

 October 24, 2019 John NashIn our modern always-connected world, it seems like we’re always having packages dropped off from one re-tailer or another. If you receive packages

 October 28, 2019 John NashIf you haven’t heard of Mischief Night, it’s possible that you’ve lived in an area where it’s not really celebrated. It’s also

 October 31, 2019 John NashOwning a home can be expensive, though the benefits of home ownership typically outweigh the cost. Occasionally, changes to the law at either the state or

 November 4, 2019 John NashThe holiday season is one of the most-traveled periods of the entire year. People drive and fly across the country or around the world to visit friends and loved

 November 11, 2019 John NashVeterans sacrifice a lot for this country. To help honor these sacrifices, special programs were put in place to aid vets in getting and keeping a home.

 November 14, 2019 John NashShopping for a home can be exciting. Unfortunately, sometimes we can get too caught up in the excitement and end up ignoring signs that the house we’re

 November 18, 2019 John NashThough there are a number of stereotypes surrounding Millennials, they actually make up a fairly significant part of the economy. More importantly, their

 November 21, 2019 John NashThanksgiving is on its way, and for most of us, that means turkey. In recent years, fried turkey has grown significantly in popularity; this has led to a lot

Mortgage insurance can be a pain, though in many cases it’s a necessary evil. Without mortgage insurance you may not be able to qualify for certain loan programs, including loans serviced

You bought your house because of the beautiful yard, the unbelievable hearth in the den, the two generous bathrooms and, of course, the enormous basement. You had big plans for that basement —

You’re a homeowner now, you can kiss bland uniformity goodbye the moment you turn your apartment keys over to your now former landlord. The world is your canvas — at least, that part of

Another month, another rent payment that’s helping your landlord pay off the house or apartment where you’re living. Another month, another rent day spent pondering just how much equity

Now that it’s officially winter, it’s definitely time to be thinking about how you’re going to heat your home this year. Some parts of the country are just now starting to feel the

So, you’ve closed on your house and it’s time to figure out what the next step is. Don’t load up the moving van just yet — this is the perfect time to do a real deep clean on

Shorter days and chilly nights can mean only one thing: it’s time to fire up the fireplace. Before you get too far ahead of yourself, let’s talk about fire safety. It’s boring,

Icicles hanging from power lines, trees and other people’s homes can be absolutely gorgeous, but when those delicate frozen water daggers are hanging from yours, it may make your stomach do a

Standing under the giant gold umbrella of foliage that covered your majestic shade tree this fall was like wandering into a painting, but now that the leaves have all fallen and the stately guardian

There’s nothing quite as solemn as watching the garden and landscape start to wind down for a long winter’s rest. It’s part of the never-ending cycle of nature — and

A House is a Complicated Organism, There’s Lots to KnowIt’s true that there’s a lot to know about your house, but much of that information comes with time and experience. Other

When Mike and June spotted the two-story Victorian home nestled on its quiet, tree-lined street, it was love at first sight. Walking up the front steps felt just like coming home to a place they

James could hardly contain himself when he spotted the stucco Spanish Revival house, its terra cotta roof striking a high contrast against the stark white structure. The brick walkway undulated

Mike and June, the new couple in the big Victorian house, decided they weren’t going to let their first night in their new home go by like it was nothing. Buying a house was a huge milestone

Selling your home isn’t always easy. While there’s always a buyer out there somewhere, connecting with that buyer and agreeing on a price sometimes takes a little effort. There are a lot

Advancing technology has played a large part in improving home security in recent years. This is due, in part, to the rising popularity of the Internet of Things, or IoT; these “Things”

When it comes to selling your house, it’s important to get everything as close to perfect as possible before showing off the house. Not only will this let potential home buyers see the

 August 19, 2019 John NashA mortgage is one of the biggest single debts you’re likely to willingly take on. As such, being able to properly manage your mortgage is very important.

 September 23, 2019 John NashSelling your home isn’t always easy. While there’s always a buyer out there somewhere, connecting with that buyer and agreeing on a price sometimes

 September 19, 2019 John NashIf you’re worried about whether you can get a loan on your own, having a co-borrower can take a lot of the stress off. Because there are two people

If you’re worried about whether you can get a loan on your own, having a co-borrower can take a lot of the stress off. Because there are two people applying for the loan, the lender has a lot

There are a lot of different options available when it comes to heating your home. Some of them, you’re likely really familiar with, while others are newer options that you may not have heard

Remodeling your home is a major project. Most people don’t realize just HOW major of a project it is until they’re deep into it, however. If you aren’t careful, a remodel can cover

While they aren’t quite dominating the automotive market just yet, electric vehicles are definitely seeing a rise in popularity. More and more consumers are embracing the vehicles as a stylish

Spring and summer are traditionally seen as the best times to sell your house. Research has actually shown that homes sold during the first half of May tend to sell faster and sell for a higher

Inspections are an important part of the home-selling process. The home inspector will locate any potential problems with the property, making sure that all involved know what’s wrong and what

You’ve got more options than ever when mattress shopping these days with no shortage of brick-and-mortar and online-only retailers to choose from. Here are the factors you should consider when

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create

Unfortunately, our homes don’t always grow with us. What may have initially worked fine for a single person, a young couple’s starter home, or a family with a newborn can quickly become

As we head into the fall season with winter around the corner, now is the time of year when it’s especially important to make sure your home is properly sealed. Air leaks can make it difficult

Hardwood floors are highly desirable for most homeowners, but they come with their share of challenges when it comes to cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. After a few months or years of heavy use

When you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, so a pricing

What Are the Hot [City] Home Décor Trends?Just like fashion designs and hair styles, home décor trends are constantly changing and evolving. Each new season brings a new must-have

A lot of DIY projects involve paint. Unfortunately, the majority of them don’t use the exact amount of paint that comes in the cans you buy. This leaves you with extra paint that you don&rsquo

Real estate can be a tricky business. You put your home on the market, people make offers and there’s a lot of back-and-forth to make sure that everyone gets what they believe is the best.

Adding an outdoor fireplace can be a great way to liven up your backyard or patio area. Not only do outdoor fireplaces provide a unique visual aesthetic, they can also serve a functional purpose.

It seems like everything is getting smart these days. First the phones were smart, then the thermostats. Now you can buy smart lighting, smart locks, smart cameras and even smart little sensors that

Having brick siding installed on your house gives it a classic look. Unfortunately, a lot of people view brick as an install-it-and-forget-it option and allow that look to deteriorate over time.

 June 24, 2019 John NashAir filtration is an important part of your home’s ventilation system. Without an air filter in place, dust and other airborne particles would be distributed

 August 1, 2019 John NashIf you have plants popping up in your yard that you didn’t plant, your first instinct may be that it’s a weed. You very well might be right; after all,

 July 29, 2019 John NashCracks in the foundation of your house can be signs of a problem. This doesn’t mean that you should automatically worry if you see a few small cracks,.

 July 25, 2019 John NashSeptic tanks are common in rural areas, though depending on where you live, you might have a septic system, even close to town. So long as things are going,

 July 22, 2019 John NashA burst water pipe is no laughing matter. Depending on the size of the damaged area, a large pipe can lose a gallon or more per second. Even smaller pipes can cause

 July 18, 2019 John NashAn in-ground pool can be a great way to relax around the house, enjoying the water on a hot summer day. There are a few potential issues with in-ground pools that

 July 15, 2019 John NashSeveral of the biggest fire hazards in your home all live in your kitchen. The oven, the stovetop, your toaster… when you think of all of the heat sources

 July 11, 2019 John NashThere are few things that homeowners dread more than mold in the house. You’ve likely heard horror stories about people living with mold infestations that

 July 8, 2019 John NashIf you own a rental property, you know how important it is to have the right tenant. Good renters will take care of the property as though it were their own, leaving

 July 1, 2019 John NashHome automation is increasingly common these days as the number of consumer-focused smart devices continues to increase. Though automation covers everything from

 June 27, 2019 John NashKeeping your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter can be expensive. Add in the cost of regular maintenance to your heating and air systems and it’s

 June 20, 2019 John NashWhether you’re hanging a picture or mounting a television, anything that goes on your wall needs something to anchor it in place. If there’s a stud in

 June 17, 2019 John NashRobotics and automation have changed the way that a number of things work in the home. You may not realize that you can automate tasks outside of the home as well.

 June 13, 2019 John NashSometimes it’s easy to make a mountain out of a molehill. Other times, like when your driveway is starting to show some wear, you might instead try to make a

Being a homeowner means more than just cleaning, decorating and maintaining your house. It’s also your responsibility to take care of whatever land is yours. For a lot of people, this means

Summer’s almost upon us. That means more ice cream, fewer snowball fights and, of course, the battle to keep your house cool as the heat bears down. As it turns out, you don’t have to

Humans have been enclosing things in fences since there were fences and things to enclose. It’s natural that you’d want to build one eventually. After all, with a good fence you could

Is your landscaping full of weeds? Are you finding yourself driving by neighbors’ homes, envying their perfect, weed-free plantings? If so, you may be in need of some easy-care landscaping.

Every morning when you look out of the window of your breakfast nook into your front yard, you’re met with the same green carpet, devoid of anything remotely interesting or different. It&rsquo

Concrete has been used by humans for thousands of years, with some of the oldest examples of wells and houses made with the stuff dating back to 6500 BC. Although the ingredients have been refined

Owning a house can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, you have a place to sleep and eat and collect weird knick-knacks you bought off of eBay. On the other, you sometimes have to take on projects

Do you know how much your home is worth? No, really, do you?Homeowners and buyers across the country often answer this question by turning to a figure known as a Zestimate, produced by Zillow

Your new house has an awesome outdoor kitchen, or maybe you just had one installed, either way you’re all set to grill outside all summer (and maybe into the fall and winter, too). Have you

One of the greatest myths in the world of real estate is that buying a home that’s in a pre-foreclosure state, or one that has already been foreclosed upon, will get you the very best deal

Everybody likes the idea of a little DIY. Whether that means unclogging your own sink drain or putting in a few shelves in your pantry, there’s a lot of satisfaction that goes along with doing

If the idea of getting up early on Saturday morning to commune with your landscape is an idea that you cherish, but don’t dare pursue because of the high level of maintenance required, you may

More people are choosing to stay in their existing home, expanding into unused space rather than going through the trouble of selling and buying again. If you’re in the same position, it might

When the next bowl of chili explodes all over the inside of the microwave or you finally give in to the inch thick layer of pizza burn off inside your oven, this page of advice for cleaning

Going green is great for the environment, but that’s not the only benefit. When you make green upgrades in your home, it can also lead to some major savings.Solar panels: The upfront cost

Is there a home maintenance project that’s been lingering on your to-do list for too long because you’re dreading the trip to the hardware or craft store? There are some projects you can

CREATE AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR YOUR PETSAn evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a

5 CRITERIA FOR PRICING A HOMEWhen you put your home up for sale, one of the best ways to determine the asking price is to look at comparable sales. There’s rarely a perfect apples-to-apples

We’re well into the fall season and winter is right around the corner. This is the time of year when it’s especially important to make sure your home is properly sealed. Air leaks can

Hardwood floors are highly desirable for most homeowners, but they come with their share of challenges when it comes to cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. After a few months or years of heavy use

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics you

You’ve most likely heard the rule: Save for a 20-percent down payment before you buy a home. The logic behind saving 20 percent is solid, as it shows that you have the financial discipline and

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a

An accent wall can totally transform a room, taking it from boring and drab to bold and exciting. Accent walls create a new focal point for your space, add liveliness and contrast, and are typically

ou’ve got more options than ever when mattress shopping these days with no shortage of brick-and-mortar and online-only retailers to choose from. Here are the factors you should consider when

When you own your home, things are going to break and, unless you want to spend your money on visits from a neighborhood handyman, you’re going to need to fix them yourself. Luckily, you don

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create

Unfortunately, our homes don’t always grow with us. What may have initially worked fine for a single person, a young couple’s starter home, or a family with a newborn can quickly become

Shopping for a house can be stressful, but choosing a loan has the potential to be just as bad. There’s a lot to know, a small window in which to figure it all out and a 30 year commitment to

 May 20, 2019 John NashEverything’s getting smarter these days. Everything. Not only are smart appliances, smart outlets, smart light bulbs and smart TVs gaining traction, smart

 May 23, 2019 John NashAwww, springtime. It’s a great time to go through the closets and find anything you’re not using. But what do you do with all that junk that’s no

 May 9, 2019 John NashPopcorn is great for lots of stuff. You can enjoy a big bucket with family and friends while at the movies, string it on a thread to give Christmas that old-fashioned

 May 6, 2019 John NashWhat’s two stories tall, covered in long green fur and smells like old, wet dogs? For a lot of people, that would be their mental image of an investment house.

 May 3, 2019 John NashThe aqua jeweled waters of the Caribbean pared with lush, jungle-like vegetation that seems to stretch along the beach forever greet you every single summer. It&rsquo

It’s easy to tell yourself that your house is just a building made of walls and ceilings and light fixtures and flooring, but when it comes time to sell, you may start to feel the sting of

It’s officially spring again, everybody and their great aunt Erma are abuzz with cleaning and organizing advice. We’re not sheep at HomeKeepr, but we figured it was important to throw

One of the best parts of owning your own home is that you can do pretty much whatever you want when it comes to hanging things on the wall. No landlord will charge you $5 per hole you poke through

Spring is a time of beginnings. You get a chance to start over, to try something new and to get your air conditioner ready for the hot summer to come. It might not be as romantic as the budding of

With the sunny days of summer just around the corner, it’s hard to not let your thoughts turn to the cool, refreshing blue waters of a backyard pool. Maybe you’ve been considering

“Siri, how much water did I drink today?”“Alexa, what’s on TV tonight?”“Google, turn off the lights!”You know the drill. We’re all starting to talk to

There’s something you should know about your water: it’s not as clean as you might think.In fact, depending on where it comes from, you could be having that skinny half-caf latte with

“What goes up must come down,” so goes the saying. And, to that end, what goes forward must also go in reverse. Turns out the same also applies to mortgages, sort of. Except, instead of

The aqua jeweled waters of the Caribbean pared with lush, jungle-like vegetation that seems to stretch along the beach forever greet you every single summer. It’s amazing, really, and you hope

Whether you’re thinking about buying your first home or you’ve been contemplating an upgrade, you probably already know that there are several different kinds of home mortgages, some

You’ve been a homeowner for a while now and overall, everything’s gone pretty well. Your home is a comforting, safe place that has given more than it has taken — you’re

When the sun is high in the sky and the wind feels like a blow dryer on your face, there’s nothing like the blessed cool blue of your private pool. If you’ve only just recently

Whether you’ve recently purchased a home or are considering renewing the home warranty that came with your home, chances are good that you’ve got questions. Big ones. You’ve

You’re just swinging in your hammock on a sunny summer day when an ad pops up on YouTube for home equity loans. It sounds like a pretty good deal and you have been wanting to put a pool in for

Sure, owning a house is pretty cool, but sometimes you feel like you could do better. Take your hall closet, for example. It’s small, there’s no place to put linens and barely enough

Every summer, you find yourself saying the same thing month after month: “Boy, it’d be nice to have a big deck…” So far, one hasn’t spontaneously manifested in your

When you moved into your new house, the neighbors were so friendly. You almost felt bad about putting up a fence, but you promised your dog he’d have plenty of room to frolick when you finally

You got an amazing deal on your home, in part because the master bathroom was kind of really outdated. The wallpaper says it all — and that pink toilet, oh boy. You are so ready to do

Your new home has an amazingly huge closet, but a startling lack of places to hang stuff. Sure, you could pile all your extra clothing, shoes and accessories in the corner, or move your antique

You found the perfect home. It’s gorgeous, energy efficient, in a great neighborhood and well within your budget. You wonder to yourself, “why is this perfect home still on the market?

Home values are determined through a complicated series of calculations roughly based on the cost of actual construction plus value-adds like proximity to shopping and other conveniences. The prices

Way back in 2012, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was being phased in. One of the most useful — and controversial — results was that old fashioned light bulbs

As summer slowly gives way to fall, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to clean up all the mess that’s accumulated around your house. You know the kind: algae

So there you are, minding your own business while having a shave over the bathroom sink, when you see it. The water. It’s not draining. And your sink is threatening to overflow. You turn off

When you bought the house with the pool, it looked like it was going to be all fun in the sun and splishin’ and-a splashin’, but now that the first signs of fall are appearing (the

You’ve finally done it! You have a house under contract and you’re doing the paperwork to get your mortgage lined up. When your Realtor calls to ask you who you want to use for your home

As a homeowner, or soon to be homeowner, you can get some pretty sweet tax deductions from things related to your home. Some tend to change from year to year, like those for energy-efficient,

Spring is here and that means it’s time to… well, it’s time to appeal your property taxes. Not everyone needs to do this, obviously, but there are plenty of people who should. Do

There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when they just can’t take that color on the wall anymore and they absolutely have to do something about it. If you’ve reached your

Anything in your home that’s attached to the water supply runs the risk of springing a leak. That also includes anything that drains water away. With so much riding on your pipes and

For everyone out there looking at homes right now, there are three little letters that could make or break your purchase decision. They are “H,” “O” and “A.”

It all started with a shelf.You just bought your home and, though it needed a little surface work, you were pretty proud of it. It was yours, to do with as you wanted. So the first thing you did was

You’re all alone at home when you hear it. Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-shhhhhhhh… and it seems to be coming from outside. You look around, very puzzled and a little afraid, then it comes again sh

After a major storm or a freak accident that ends in massive amounts of property damage, you’re probably going to feel two things essentially at once: you’re going to be overwhelmed with

Any time there’s a natural disaster, emergency preparedness is all anyone can think about. But soon after the news coverage fades away, it’s back to the same old grind, with little brain

Whether you’re in the process of buying your first home or you’ve been a homeowner for years, there are few phrases that hit right to the bone like “mortgage insurance.” Why,

There you sit, watching “The Vanilla Ice Project” on the DIY Network when a thought bubble forms over your head. If Vanilla Ice can remodel houses on television, you could probably save

You’ve finally done it! You bought the house of your dreams and closing is just around the corner. Then it occurs to you. Your aged and creaking futon, cement block and raw lumber bookshelves

You didn’t do anything different, but all of a sudden the garbage disposal is smoking and water is backing up in the sink. Is your plumbing possessed? Should you just set the whole house on

For the third time this week, you’ve found yourself cursing the unusability of your kitchen. The drawers come out in all the wrong directions, the cabinets are so shallow that you can barely

In the Internet Age, it seems like almost anything is possible. There are cars that can drive themselves, microwaves that you can talk to and, of course, smart thermostats. For the average,

Just imagine it! Waking up to the sound of sea and surf pounding the sand right outside your very own home. You don’t have to call ahead for reservations, you don’t need to ask anyone

While you’re dreaming about your Starter Home, don’t forget that you’re going to need a Starter Mortgage to pay for it. The mortgage programs offered through the Department of

Land can be a good investment, whether you intend to build a house or business on a particular lot or simply want a place where you can stretch your legs and breathe a bit more deeply. After all,

Joseph BurrisYour garage is a big deal. Even if you totally ignore that your garage doors themselves can take up a significant portion of your home’s street facing surface, there’s all

Joseph BurrisIt’s finally spring! Time to break out the grill and the patio set and spend your evenings cooking out under the stars. Except, you don’t have a patio, you have a backyard

Joseph BurrisThings seem to be getting smarter and smarter these days. From smartphones to smart pressure cookers, anything that can be built with a brain or an internet connection seems to be being

It’s the most important meal of the day, so why are you spending your mornings eating over the sink on your rush to get ready for work? For many homeowners there’s a perfectly cozy and

It’s been a busy year. It almost feels like we completely skipped over spring, summer and fall and found ourselves barreling head first into winter like a kid on an out of control snow sled.

November 15, 2018 Joseph BurrisThere are a whole boatload of articles on the Internet about the home renovations that offer the best return on your hard-earned cash, but not so many about the

There are a whole boatload of articles on the Internet about the home renovations that offer the best return on your hard-earned cash, but not so many about the ones that are literally just black

  Once upon a time having a security system or even just some video cameras meant that you either lived in a dodgy neighborhood or you had something really awesome to steal. Today, home

Interestingly enough, if you’re looking for images of table saws in any of the places where you get that sort of thing, you’ll see a lot of things that scream “hold my beer!”

Along with the provocative spending and lavish feasts that are hallmarks of the holiday season also comes the cold, the ice and the snow. Like those extra three helpings of stuffing at Aunt Linda

If you find yourself sitting in a strange hallway, waiting for a stranger in a suit to size you up and decide if you’re worthy as your palms sweat and your breath gets just a little bit harder

December 6, 2018 Joseph BurrisYou just found out that you’re being relocated by your job, or maybe you were offered a job that was too good to be true in another state. Either way, you

For a lot of homebuyers, buying their dream home means choosing an older structure that has passed the test of time. These grand places have an undeniable charm about them, with classic styling that

If you’ve been following along, you know that last time around we covered a lot of the important things you should be thinking about when buying an older home. They’re great, but they

Your basic household drain pipe is a fairly simple device. It has one job: to take liquids away to the sewer, where water treatment experts somehow magically turn those contaminated fluids into

The first few years of owning your home mean discovering lots of things about it. Every house is different and some almost seem like they have a personality of their own — which isn’t

December 27, 2018 Joseph BurrisIf you’ve been paying any attention at all to the world of smart homes and home automation, then the fact that smart switches and smart lights exist could

December 31, 2018 Joseph BurrisAs the march into winter gets underway, a lot of people are already starting to plan their spring and summer vacations. Oh, they’ll go somewhere sunny, or

January 3, 2019 Joseph BurrisAll homes have quirks that require special care and consideration, but when it comes to homes with basements, it’s a whole different ball game. Instead of

January 7, 2019 Joseph BurrisIf you currently have a mortgage or are looking at taking one out, you’ve probably come across a concept so notorious, so vile, that it can cause blood

If you’re shopping for a house, or even just considering buying one, there’s one person that you absolutely need on your side: a Realtor. Potential buyers often think they can go it,

January 14, 2019 Joseph BurrisIt’s amazing how much a pet can give you just by simply existing. According to the Centers for Disease Control, owning a pet can help increase your

January 17, 2019 Joseph BurrisWhether you just bought your home or you’ve owned it a while, it can be easy to overlook the windows that open it up to the world, as if they didn’t

 There’s little more frightening than losing your electricity in the middle of a big winter storm or even a spring tornado. Whatever natural disaster is common in your area, you have

January 24, 2019 Joseph BurrisOne of the best parts about living in the future is that we’ve got some of the coolest technology available to help with almost any household task. Forget if

You knew the moment you walked through the perfectly preserved arch-topped doors that this was one very special house. As your real estate agent guided you from room to room, all you could think was

For many people in North America, the weather outside is still pretty frightful, but a fire is so delightful. That is, as long as their flues are in good shape. Homeowners, especially in their first

Joseph BurrisYou’ve been renting for a while now and it feels like the timing is right to make the leap to homeownership. After all, your friends are all buying houses and your job feels

February 7, 2019 Joseph BurrisThe day is not that far away when you’ll hear a tippity tap at the front door and open it to find your friendly neighborhood pizza drone just

February 11, 2019 Joseph BurrisThe word “attic” conjures up images of dark, dusty relic storerooms that just happen to be hidden in plain sight. For plenty of homeowners, their

February 14, 2019 Joseph BurrisOf all the things that civilization has brought us, including sliced bread, hot water may be the very best. It’s certainly up there, without a doubt. So, it

February 11, 2019 Joseph BurrisThe word “attic” conjures up images of dark, dusty relic storerooms that just happen to be hidden in plain sight. For plenty of homeowners, their

o/~ “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose…. even though your windows are closed….” o/~If that sounds disturbingly like your home in the

February 14, 2019 Joseph BurrisOf all the things that civilization has brought us, including sliced bread, hot water may be the very best. It’s certainly up there, without a doubt. So, it

 February 21, 2019 Joseph BurrisIn the first part of this two part blog on weatherstripping, we walked through ways to detect leaks and how to determine if you even need to weatherstrip

It seems that everything is getting smarter these days. You’ve got your basic smartphone, your smart security system, your smart speakers and even smart refrigerators. It should come as no

Joseph BurrisOwning a home means having a place that’s safe and secure to come back to after a long day at work, every day, forever, until you decide it’s time to buy a different home.

https://home.homekeepr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/do-before-listing-home-spring.jpgMarch 12, 2019 Joseph BurrisAs the snow starts to melt, revealing the brightly colored flowers of crocus,