Your kitchen needs countertops with looks and durability. See if quartz is right for you. The kitchen tends to be the home’s gathering place, so it's only natural you want it to look and feel welcoming. But as the hub of your home, your kitchen needs durable countertops, especially if you have little ones helping with the cooking. Quartz countertops are a trendy choice for kitchens, but before you get in touch with your contractor, it's important to assess the pros and cons and review some alternatives.  What Are the Pros and Cons of Quartz Countertops? Pros of Quartz Kitchen Coun ..read more

Stop sending so much money to your utility company with these simple strategies. Your Mexican beach vacation was great, but, man, those margaritas sure can put on the pounds. It’s been two months, and you’re still carrying around an extra tenner — despite a new running routine and a lot of #&*&@$ kale. So why isn’t your weight dropping? It can be like that with energy bills, too. Almost half (47%) of the respondents surveyed by the Shelton Group, a marketing agency specializing in energy efficiency, claimed they made between one and three energy efficiency improvements to ..read more

Save time and money while adding touches of awesomeness to your yard. We're all about indulging in Starbucks' latest seasonal concoction or this season's "it" bag. (OK, maybe a knockoff version of this season's "it" bag.) Trends are just plain fun — and they keep things interesting. But they also, by definition, are hip today and potentially worthless tomorrow. And that's not exactly a recipe for success when it comes to your home and the first impression it gives. While a green lawn might be a safe bet to keep your home's value intact, let's face it: It's boring.  For a little ..read more

No-water and low-water ideas for a drought-friendly yard. Drought happens everywhere, not just in arid climates. So, how do you get to have a beautiful, lush, low-maintenance yard that doesn't need watering when the temps approach triple digits with no rain in sight?  Take a cue from homeowners in those arid climates. They know how to survive heat waves. And they're experts on drought-resistant plants. You'd be surprised how well some of those low-water plants work in less dry conditions. Here's how to have a yard you need to water less. Plant Hardy, Drought-Tol ..read more

Want summer comfort but hate the AC? Follow these tips on how to keep your house cool without frosty air conditioning. These tips will help you cool a house without AC, which will save energy (and avoid AC wars with your family). How to Cool a Room Without AC When sunlight enters your house, it turns into heat. You’ll keep your house cooler if you reduce solar heat gain by keeping sunlight out. Close the drapes: Line them with light-colored fabric that reflects the sun, and close them during the hottest part of the day. Let them pillow onto the floor to block air ..read more

Homes don’t clean themselves. But these easy-peasy rules (wake and make!) will make you feel like they do. Here's a thing you may have noticed about houses: They don't clean themselves. Which is unfortunate, because if houses cleaned themselves, you could spend less time cleaning yours and more time doing something more fun. A few simple daily habits could make it seem like you've got a self-cleaning house. Rules like . . . #1 Dedicate 20 Minutes a Day Every Day You don't need to set aside 20 hours one day to get things in order. You only need 20 minutes every day. Focus on  ..read more

Don’t open the windows. That spring breeze is no help at all. Once there's even a glimmer of spring, you're ready to throw open your windows and let the breeze blow away the winter funk. Well, you might want to rethink that spring cleaning ritual this year. If you're an allergy sufferer (and who isn't?), that's the last thing you want to do, says Dr. Neeta Ogden, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "It will allow pollen to settle in your home." If you really can't skip that spring breeze, avoid opening windows in the morning, when pollen counts ..read more

Like cleaning your siding — just be sure to start from the bottom and go up. Could it really be summer?! Tackle these five summer maintenance tasks during June's longer days and better weather — and save yourself time and money this winter. #1 Update Outdoor Lighting In June, winter nights are probably the last thing on your mind. But early summer is the perfect time to plan for those "OMG it's only 4:30, and it's already dark " moments by adding or updating landscape lighting. The most energy-efficient, easy-to-install option is solar lighting, but it won't perform as well on dark ..read more

Here’s how to price your home to sell fast. Your home is more than just a bunch of rooms under a roof. It’s the space where you watched your daughter take her first steps, hosted Super Bowl parties, and celebrated holidays. Those memories are priceless. But when sell your house, the warm and fuzzies can't factor into the question: What is the value of my home? You aren’t selling your memories; you’re selling a house. This is where an agent can help. You’re the one who will set your listing price, but your agent has the expertise and local knowledge to advise on how to price your house so ..read more

These 5 timeless ideas work because they’re both fun and functional. Outdoor entertaining spaces aren't always equal when it comes to home value (think about that house with the falling-down above-ground pool with no curb appeal at all). Homes that get them right, though, have patios and backyards that blur inside and outside spaces. And the best thing: These outdoor entertaining space ideas have been working for decades — and adapt to most any house today. Here are five reasons why they work (and why you may want to add to your home). #1 They Function Like Indoor Spaces Th ..read more