How to Hire a Good Interior Designer What is interior design? As the name implies, it's all about designing a living area – such as a bathroom or basement – while taking into account yourneeds, tastes, and budget, as well as the characteristics of the space itself.If you've ever sketched out an idea for a renovation – to add a wall, install hardwood floors, or paint – then you've done interi ...

Simplifying Your Home Life Let's face it. Life can get complicated, complex and stressful very easily. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to simplify your life, especially at home. Here are some tips from the experts: • Don't be ruled by the TV guide. Instead, select what you want to see and then record those shows. That way, you can watch them anytime. • Prepare some meals in advance that ...

Removing stains from rugs and carpeting Something has just spilled on your favourite rug or carpet. There's a stain forming. You're worried. Will you be able to remove it? Will the stain set and stay forever? Luckily, there's a good chance you can completely lift just about any kind of stain – if you follow a few guidelines. The first rule of stain removal is: act fast. The fresher the s ...

Inexspensive ways to reduce your energy bill You could get upgraded insulation installed in all the walls of your home, or buy a new high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner. These improvements would certainly reduce your energy costs – but they each require a significant investment. What if you don't have the budget? There are a lot of  a big difference in your heating or cooling bill ...

Do you know the basics of home security? Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: Keep all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide a key outside in an obvious place, like under the mat. Yet, almost a million and a half properties get burglarized in North America each year. So how can you prevent that from happening to your home? Her ...

How to decide if you should replace your windows One of the most prominent features of any home is the windows. When they are well maintained they have a positive impact on the impression people (such as potential buyers) will have of your property. The opposite occurs, of course, when your windows look old and worn. So does that mean you should replace your windows? That depends on a nu ...

Selecting a reputable renovator Have you seen the television show where the host – an experienced contractor – comes to a home to fix a bad renovation? Episodes typically feature leaking bathroom showers, fallen decks, creaky flooring, and other examples of shoddy workmanship. For the homeowners, it’s a nightmare. That’s why it’s so important to select a reputable renovator – one who has ...

Packing your home shopping toolkitIdeally, the first property you see when shopping for a new home will be the one you fall in love with and buy. But let’s face it. You’ll probably end up seeing several homes before reaching the decision to make an offer on one. When you’re viewing homes, you want to make sure that the experience is enjoyable (rather than stressful) and that you get all ...

How do you determine what you need to do?Say you’re a homeowner wanting to sell your two-storey, detached home. You sit down and make a list of things that need to get done to make your property as attractive as possible to buyers. You consider the backyard. “Hmm,” you think. “Doesn’t our deck need a new finish and our flowerbed need new edging stones?” Then you think about the basemen ...

Stay or Move? How to decide? Do you sometimes review the real estate ads in your local paper? Do you drive by an open house sign and feel the urge to stop and check it out? Those are common indications that, at least on some level, you’re thinking about the possibility of making a move. But how do you decide if you should actually move? The first step is to consider whether there are ...