Should You Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioning Unit? The Practical Homeowner’s Guide

Repair or ReplaceShould you repair or replace your broken air conditioner? It seems straightforward enough, right? If the cost of repair is significantly less than replacement, save some money and go with the repair.

Unfortunately, the solution isn’t always so cut and dry. Let’s say you’re dealing with a broken air conditioner that could cost you a couple hundred dollars to repair. While replacement would be somewhere in the ballpark or $4,000.

It’s tempting to save a few thousand dollars in the short term and schedule the repair. Maybe a few months later your compressor wears out and you drop a few hundred bucks. Yet again to get that replaced. Then the motor goes out a few months later. You see the point.  Read More

7 Things to Prepare Before You Host an Outdoor BBQ

Host an Outdoor BBQ

Summer is definitely the time to get outside and bring friends and family together. It is a time for hiking, boating, golfing and so much more. This time of year gets us outside grilling away for healthier eating. We wanted to help you get prepared in case you decide to invite family and friends over to celebrate summer with you. These seven tips will help you prepare before you host an outdoor BBQ. Being prepared for any fun in your backyard might find you throwing a couple of BBQ parties.   Read More

The Best Types of Furniture For Your Patio

furniture for your patioHaving a patio is perhaps one of the more rewarding aspects of being a home owner. When you build a patio, you will have an area that will serve as an extension of your home. It is also a place where you can dine with your family, entertain visitors or just plain relax with a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other. And all this you can do in the open air, as you enjoy the morning sun or the cool night breeze.

To fully enjoy your patio, you need to outfit it with furniture that would complement it best. Do this right, and your patio will become the most popular spot in your entire home. So what are the best types of furniture for your patio? Read More

Millennials Managing your First Big Investment … A New Home

a new homeYou finally saved enough money for the down payment on a house. And you finally qualified for a mortgage.  You researched and home shopped to find the right first home. You made an offer. And finally, you closed on your first big investment …  a new home! Congratulations!

Now you are starting a 3 to 7 year cycle of owning and managing your first home. Where do you start?  How do you maximize the value and minimize the ongoing expenses? What do you need to do to maintain this asset? How do you manage the improvements you make to the house? How do you avoid falling into the “money pit” trap where your house financially consumes you?  Read More

DIY or Not: How to Interview a Contractor

Interview a Contractor

Many of us have the ability to make adjustments, repairs and enhancements to our homes. Many simple tasks are easy to update like replacing a light switch cover. However, other types of tasks may require more skills that you may or may not have. If you feel that electrical work is not in your skill set, it is a good idea to hire a contractor. Although you have the skills, you do not have the time to perform the task. This is another reason you may need to hire a contractor to help you. Read More