If you’re new to the world of homeownership, you may be feeling overwhelmed at the dizzying array of regular and seasonal maintenance tasks that are now on your to-do list — changing out the furnace filters, raking leaves, unclogging drains, blowing out the sprinklers, cleaning the gutters. But if you’re short on time or money … Read more
The feature that has the most dramatic effect on a home’s curb appeal isn’t the big tree in the yard or the plantings flanking the walkway. It’s the front door — the first thing guests see upon arrival, and the first impression most people get of a property. So if your front door is a … Read more
When you’re not physically in your kitchen, there’s a good chance it’s still in view. The ubiquity of open floor plans has given many people a seamless transition from the cooking space to the living space. And even if that’s not the case for you (galley kitchen cooks, unite!), your kitchen likely plays a huge … Read more
Sarah Magnuson Contributor Sarah Magnuson is a Chicago-based, Rockford, Illinois-born and bred writer and comedian. She has bachelor’s degrees in English and Sociology and a master’s degree in Public Service Management. When she’s not interviewing real estate experts or sharing her thoughts on laundry chutes (major proponent), Sarah can be found producing sketch comedy shows … Read more
Real estate listing photos can make or break a first impression for homebuyers. While home staging is one way to woo them, it’s not always necessary in creating a great gallery. In fact, sometimes less is more when it comes to capturing a space looking its best. Just like the fashion adage says, leaving one … Read more
Sometimes, you want to make your home feel cozy and intimate. But other times, especially if you’re working with limited square footage, ”cozy and intimate” really just means… cramped. Unless you’re willing to throw down for a major renovation, there’s no way to snap your fingers and actually make your home bigger. But there are … Read more
You’ve finally found the home that you see yourself living in for many decades to come. Congrats! Before you start ordering new furniture, though, there’s another thing you need to do first: Plant a tree. This key landscape feature is something you’ll be able to watch grow as you grow into your home alongside it. … Read more
Love it or hate, fake fruit has long been a part of the home-staging game. Fans of the trend say a bowl brimming with zesty-looking lemons or limes has aspirational appeal in a neatly organized kitchen, and adds a pop of color on those white counters. But… what about fake steak? Or sushi? Or glazed … Read more
Eva Simpson and her husband bought their first home — a 1920s unit on the Atlanta BeltLine — amid the great homebuying frenzy of 2021. While they weren’t exactly jazzed about buying during such a chaotic time (the bidding wars were brutal, according to their friends who’d been trying to buy), they went with an … Read more
In the wake of the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, condo and apartment dwellers across the country may have developed new worries about the safety of their own buildings. When the 12-story building partially crumbled, 98 people lost their lives. The exact cause of the … Read more