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We are pleased to introduce PBS stars Matt Fox and Shari Hiller as our most recent contributing bloggers! Matt and Shari?have been?respected experts in the home improvement and decorating industries for years. Their first endeavor was the?HGTV hit show, Room by Room, which ran for 14 years and 350 episodes (the longest running decorating show in history). Since then, they have authored instructional?books, written newspaper columns, produced many television specials, and performed at home shows across the country. They are currently back on their air with their show Around the House with Matt and Shari?on PBS and the Create Network. Check out their first article below!
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If you’re anything like me, you may be considering starting a remodeling job around your home. My home was built in the early 1900’s, and could definitely use some modern updates. I figured I would be adding to the value of the house while transforming it into the home of my dreams; I quickly learned that calculating return on investment with remodeling projects isn’t always that black and white, and?some projects don’t recoup their costs as well as others. ?

Before diving into any projects, I?recommend?reading?Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.?Every year, the magazine compares the average cost of popular remodeling projects with the value those projects retain when the house is sold. I was amazed at the cost that some projects did (or didn’t) recoup when the house was sold. (more…)

With spring fast-approaching, many of us can anticipate lots of rain in the forecast. A popular rhyme we learned as children taught us to expect that ?April showers bring May flowers?. But have you ever stopped to consider the potentially ugly side of those April showers? Today we’re talking about mold and mildew, and how your home?could be more susceptible to expensive and unhealthy moisture damage than you may think.
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You may have an energy leak you don’t even know about!??

If heating your home drained your wallet this winter, you’re probably looking for ways to lower your utility bills (especially before you need to pay to cool your home all summer)! Although there are many factors that determine the energy-efficiency of your home, one of them may be a hidden energy leak in your walls that you don’t even know about! If your home has this leak, it’s bleeding energy and costing you money every day!
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