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Plan to Renovate
Essential topics you must consider before a single nail is pounded into place.
Book: DIY Kitchens Stunning Kitchens on Shoestring Budget
Learn DIY kitchen remodeling on a budget from a great new book from Better Homes and Gardens.
Best Home Improvement Guides
Confession: As a home improvement writer, I make liberal use of home improvement guides. It's necessary: the world of home remodeling is just too big for me to know everything.
So, I have developed a library of the best home improvement guides, and this is to your benefit. I have encountered some real gems--and real stinkers--along the...
Collected Home Renovation Tips
Enter the world of secret and not-so-secret secrets in the Home Renovation Dossier.
Lowe's or Home Depot
Which is better? Lowes or The Home Depot?
Home Remodeling Ideas:
Find out great home remodeling ideas you can use for your own house.
Find a Contractor with Auction-Based Model
A new service called Project Turtle aims to break the hammerlock that ServiceMagic, Angie's List, etc. have on "find a contractor" web searches. But can it help you find a contractor or not?
Home Renovation Planning
Before taking on a home renovation project--big or small--consider these questions.
Can I call my local building permit office anonymously?
Can I call my local building permit office and ask a question anonymously? Will my building permit office penalize me if they find out who I am?
Kris Jensen-Van Heste
Kris Jensen-Van Heste
How Do You Organize the Renovation Process?
When renovating your house, what comes first? Then second, then third, and so on? While not set in stone, the process of renovating does have a few key concepts.
Remodeling Contractor Licenses
Does it matter if a remodeling contractor is licensed? Yes, but less than you may think.
Do You Need a Permit for That Renovation Project?
It's often difficult to know when you need a permit. Check out these general guidelines.
Assessing the Resale Value of Your Renovations
Could care less about resale value because you plan on keeping your house forever? Think again.
Do it Yourself or Hire a Pro?
Not sure if you should take on a project by yourself or hire a professional?
Chart: Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro? My Recommendations
Installing a toilet: do it yourself or hire someone? Check out this chart for my recommendations on this and other renovation projects.
Change Orders
What are change orders when dealing with construction or home remodeling?
$1500 Home Remodeling Tax Credit
$1500 Obama Home Remodeling Tax Credit
Sears Home Improvement - Readers Experiences
Sears Home Improvement: readers tell us their experiences about Sears Home Improvement (Sears Home Services).
Do Not Remodel Your Home
Do Not Remodel Your Home
Home Remodeling Regrets
Home Remodeling Regrets
Online Contractor Referrals: Scam or Honest?
How do these online contractor referrals work for consumers? Are they scams?
Room Plan Software
Room plan software helps you put together a design for a room (vs. for a whole house) and find out how all of the components should fit together.
Building Permit Costs: The Hidden Factor in Determining Home Remodeling Costs
Building Permit Costs
Can You Give Me a Quick Guide to EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule?
RRP Rule - Renovation Repair and Painting Rule - Quick Reference Guide
Sears Home Improvement
A personal account and review of Sears Home Improvement.
Review: In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats
Book review of Michael Litchfield's "In-laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats: Your guide to turning one house into two homes"
Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World
Review of the book Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World by Ross Chapin
No Place Like Home: Tips & techniques for real family-friendly home design
Review of No Place Like Home: Tips & techniques for real family-friendly home design by Stephen Saint-Onge.
Asbestos Test Cost
What is the typical asbestos test cost? The answer might surprise you.
Asbestos Building Materials
Here's a list of asbestos building materials often found in the home.
Ranch House Style: Jet-Age Home Designs Invigorated For Today's Homeowner
Ranch House Style--a guide to designing and remodeling a ranch house style home.
Is Do It Yourself Asbestos Removal Legal?
A reader sent in a question about the legality of DIY asbestos removal within your own house.
Cut Out the Contractor By Hiring From a Day Laborer Center
You can hire a day laborer for your remodeling project, without going down to the local 7-11. Find out how you can help yourself and others by hiring a day laborer.
The Customer Service Desk
Here is the place to complain or praise any home improvement company.
Home Reviews Central
Consumer reviews of remodeling companies, products, and services.
ServiceMagic Reviews - Complaints and Praise
Consumer reviews of online contractor-matching company ServiceMagic.
IKEA Kitchen Planner: Tepid Offering From Otherwise Remarkable Company
A review of the IKEA online 3D kitchen planner.
Remodel Tips for House Flipping
A few remodel tips for house flipping.
Veneer Stone Manufacturers and Suppliers
A list of Veneer Stone Manufacturers and Suppliers, such as Eldorado Stone and Cultured Stone, Inc. and many more.
Staying Put - Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want, by Duo Dickinson
Review of the book Staying Put - Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want, by Duo Dickinson
Review of Long Fence and Home
A review of Long Fence and Home, a Washington DC Metro-based remodeling company that does windows, siding, insulation, gutters, and more.
Reader Reviews - Long Fence and Home Reviews
Reader reviews of Long Fence and Home, from Beltsville, Maryland.See submissions
Bloc-it™ Painters Tape Review
A review of Bloc-it painters tape.
Asbestos Abatement Supplies
Review of a company selling asbestos abatement supplies as a kit.
Mid Century Modern Remodel Ideas
Learn a few of the elements of a mid century modern home remodel and how to re-create them for your own swinging pad.
