Home Experts: Local News

  • The Essential Guide to Weatherstripping

      Sealing gaps around doors and windows can make your home feel warmer — and save you 10% to 15% on your energy bills. But with so many different types of weatherstripping on hardware-store... Read more..

  • Home building decline may have leveled off

    Alaska's home construction continues to follow national patterns: first up, then down, now maybe up again. ... Read more..

  • Paying January mortgage early could cut tax bill

    A little year-end attention to your mortgage payment could lower your upcoming federal tax bill.... Read more..

  • American Getting Turned on by New Light Bulb Tech

    The demise of the 100-watt incandescent bulb's is slowly sinking in and new light bulb tech is popping up on people's radar. For the first time, a majority of U.S. residents surveyed were aware that the... Read more..

  • 12 Tips for Holiday Home Safety

    As you're sprucing up your home this season, keep an eye out for these common holiday trip-ups, fire hazards and other safety snafus. ... Read more..

  • 10 Tips to Boost your Home's Appraisal

    Lowball appraisals can kill deals. Here are the top ways to keep your home's look, feel and condition as updated and cared-for as possible.... Read more..

  • How to Make Your House Guests Feel Really Welcome (and Comfortable)

    You certainly can’t make your spare room into a room at The Ritz, but there are some things you can do to make it just as comfortable. Find out our picks for the most important ingredients for a welcoming guest room. ... Read more..

  • 15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for the Holidays

    In a few days, a ravaging hoard will descend on your humble dwelling. Is it up for the job? Use our thorough, all-encompassing checklist to prepare for the onslaught of holiday guests—for Thanksgiving and beyond.... Read more..

  • Ultimate Guide to Low-flow Toilets

    How to Choose a Low-flow Toilet Customer satisfaction surveys show that today's low-flow and high efficiency toilets perform far better than the water-wasters (3.5 gallons and more) they've replaced. But... Read more..

  • Winterize your home for long-term payback

    You may not want to think about it, but winter will be here again before you know it. Of course, winter means it's time to turn the heat back on, which can be a strain on your home energy budget. ... Read more..

  • Grey is the New Green

    The idea may send your eyes rolling skyward: Water the grass while you’re taking a shower. Feed the apple trees while you brush your teeth. But for some homeowners, their water is not just going down the drain – it’s being reused for other purposes, like getting pumped directly to the roots of their fruit trees.... Read more..

  • How to Choose Crown Molding

    Crown molding adds character and detail to any room and serves as delineation between the wall and ceiling. Crown molding is available in hundreds of styles and widths. Consider the style of your home, the height of the ceiling and the decorative effect desired before choosing a crown molding.... Read more..

  • How to Fix and Flip a House

    The term "flip" a house essentially means to buy a house for a value price, make improvements and sell at a profit. Flipping became popular during the housing bubble, even sparking reality television shows teaching people how to flip. When the bubble burst in 2008, flipping houses became less lucrative, but you can still make money if you know what you are doing.... Read more..

  • Greening Your Kitchen

    Before remodeling, consider choices such as green-certified cabinets, energy-efficient appliances and countertops made from eco-friendly materials.... Read more..

  • Best Exterior Remodel Ideas

    Homeowners remodel the exteriors of their homes for their own enjoyment or to improve "curb appeal" when preparing to sell a home. Exterior remodels can have a great return upon resale. The Gallup organization estimates that high-quality landscaping alone can boost a home's value by 7 percent to 15 percent. ”Money” magazine claims that homeowners receive a 100 percent to 200 percent recovery rate on landscaping investments when they sell their homes.... Read more..

  • Costly and dangerous home heating and cooling mistakes

    Home heating and cooling systems differ from other appliances A home's heating and air conditioning equipment comes with an efficiency rating. That number represents the most it can do. Unfortunately,... Read more..

  • Something in the Air

    The term air pollution tends to provoke thoughts of exhaust fumes, factory smokestacks and smog. But if you think you and your family are safe from air pollution inside your home, think again. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air quality can be anywhere from two to 10 times more hazardous than outdoor air, which is no small matter, since the average person spends 90 percent of their time indoors – clearly a modest estimate for Alaskans during winter months. ... Read more..

  • HOME SHOWS

    Anchorage Home & Remodeling Show More than 150 companies showcase their products and services at the 51st annual show, sponsored by the Anchorage... Read more..

  • Remodeling or Building?

    Homeowner beware. Many products used to build and beautify homes have an ugly side: They produce toxins that are harmful to indoor air quality.... Read more..

  • $1 billion in new help to flailing homeowners

    Only about 30,000 are expected to get these interest-free loans, which can eventually be forgiven by the Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program.... Read more..

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