Mitchell Talbot

A quaint old house may be charming, but environmental dangers may lurk beneath the surface. Here’s how to identify toxic dangers.

Word of Caution: Check Older Homes for Environmental Hazards Homes built before 1990 are considered “older” by today’s standards, and those built before 1920 are considered vintage or “heritage.” Owning an older home brings a whole set of challenges not found with newer homes, one of them being the use of environmentally dangerous building materials...

How do you best prep your home for a looming open house? Take advantage of these 10 tips.

Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Scheduling an Open House Take the guesswork out of getting your home ready with this checklist of the top 10 questions to ask before scheduling an open house.

Need cash for a home repair? Find out how to tap the equity in your house.

Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit: What is the Difference? The equity in your home is an untapped resource for financing such things as remodeling projects or a child’s college education. Is it wise to take a home equity loan or a line of credit, and how do they work? The equity in your home -- the value of your home minus what you owe -- is not liquid. I...

Do you dream about a good night’s sleep? Follow these simple tips to find a great mattress at a price that won’t give you nightmares.

What You Need to Know to Find the Best Mattress The right mattress can make the difference between tossing and turning and getting a great night’s sleep. With so many new options available, selecting the best mattress can be overwhelming. Follow these tips and you’ll be sleeping soundly in no time. Shop around. If you haven’t shopped for a ...

Ever wonder how home loans are bought and sold? Here’s how it works and why it matters to you.

Primary and Secondary Mortgage Markets: What’s the Difference? When you buy a home, your mortgage is sold to you by a banker or broker on the primary mortgage market. When that first lender sells your mortgage to another firm, your mortgage enters the secondary market. Does it make any difference to you as a consumer? Primary mortgage market. When you decide to...

Does the outside of your home dazzle or disappoint? Here’s a handy checklist to complete before the “For Sale” sign goes up.

Six Easy Steps to Creating Curb Appeal When prepping a home for sale, don’t forget the exterior of the house in the rush to revamp the interior. Curb appeal is key. If potential buyers aren’t dazzled by the exterior of a home, they might enter the house with a negative impression -- assuming they go inside at all. Here’s a handy ou...

It’s summertime. Knock out these ten items on every homeowner’s to-do list, then reward yourself with a cool dip in the pool.

Checklist: Summer To-Dos for Homeowners While immersing yourself in summertime activities, it’s important to set aside enough time to take care of home and yard chores. Here are 10 must-do items while summer’s in full swing.

Television armoires are doing a disappearing act. Learn about new TV storage trends dictating home entertainment styles.

Bigger TVs Changing the Look and Feel of Family Rooms As technology has evolved, the once-popular television armoire is disappearing from American homes. What’s new in home entertainment storage and display? Take a look. Consoles. Many consumers are opting to display televisions on top of a cabinet or hang them on a wall. Consoles work well in either...

When shopping for a house, hire a pro. Here’s 7 reasons why you’ll be glad you did.

7 Reasons Why Using a Real Estate Agent Makes Shopping Easier Whether buying a new house or an existing one, buyers typically feel more at ease having a real estate agent working on their behalf. It’s their job to make things go smoothly. Here’s how. Knowledge of builders. Real estate agents don’t just work with resale homes. Agents know the builders in ...

When ants, bats, termites or bed bugs come calling... It pays to know when it’s time to call a professional.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Pest Control When it comes to pest control, prevention is crucial to a homeowner’s peace of mind. But once you’ve had an invasion, it may be time to call in the experts. Pests are inevitable. Crawling in through the smallest openings, ants and other insects are looking for food and water. In the case of rode...