When Abbie Wise and Steph Alexander bought their first home in Tukwila, Washington, in September 2021, they didn’t know what to expect. From the outside, the process seemed opaque and tedious; luckily, they worked with a real estate agent who was also a friend and ex-co-worker, and one whose agency just so happened to specialize … Read more
Charli Penn Executive Lifestyle Director Charli Penn is the Executive Lifestyle Director at Apartment Therapy and an award-winning journalist, editor and Webby-nominated former podcast host who writes in the name and praise of all things good living (and loving!). She thoroughly enjoys photography, 90s R&B, and all things gold accents. When she’s not curled up … Read more
Lauren Wellbank Contributor Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience in the mortgage industry. Her writing has also appeared on HuffPost, Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living, and more. When she’s not writing she can be found spending time with her growing family in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania. … Read more
Shifrah Combiths Contributor With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town … Read more
When it comes time to buy or sell your first home (or even your second), it’s hard to feel confident that you’re prepared for the complicated process of inspections, brokers’ fees, mortgages, and negotiations. And it’s one of the biggest financial commitments most of us will make in our lives. How can we best learn … Read more
The average lifespan of central air conditioners is about 15 to 20 years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But if you live in a city where summers are scorching hot and you don’t want your AC to retire on one of those 100-degree days, you may be curious: What are some telltale signs … Read more
Submitting offer after offer — well above asking price — only to have the buyers go with someone else is heartbreaking and frustrating. In today’s hot real estate market, the whole homebuying process can feel like a colossal waste of time: You take all the necessary steps, follow all of the rules, put your heart … Read more
Heather Bien Contributor Heather Bien is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, HelloGiggles, and more. You’ll often find her making pitstops for roadside antique shops, drooling over original hardwood floors, or perfecting her latte recipe.
When Twanna Scoon bought her house 15 years ago, she was single and in her mid-20s. She planned to live in the 1,800-square-foot home in Maplewood, New Jersey, for five to seven years, then move somewhere new. But, as so often happens, life got in the way and her plans changed. Scoon got married and … Read more
Like the look of shag rugs? Love to wiggle your bare toes in plush wall-to-wall carpet? That’s fine if you plan on staying in your space for the long term. But if you’re looking to sell your home in the immediate future, real estate agents would really rather you have something else underfoot for a … Read more