Online Features
Home Improvement
Button-up your home for winter
As the leaves turn and fall to the ground, it's time to start thinking about "buttoning up" your home for winter to keep you and your family healthy and comfortable, your belongings safe and high energy costs at bay.
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Boomers: Shifting household needs create home design opportunities
Boomers expect to stay in their homes and live independently into their later years, but in the midst of change that is occurring in their households, it's easy for them to lose focus on planning for their own future housing needs. By following the principles of universal design - what's good for people of all ages, size...
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Year-round backyard safety tips for families
Your backyard is a space where you enjoy quality time with your family - from running around with your kids in the fall leaves to playing catch with your furry friend in the snow. It's a place to escape, but remember accidents can happen anywhere at any time, and just like you childproof your house, you need to ensure y...
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Add curb appeal to your home with new exterior trim
When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal means everything. According to the National Association of Realtors, curb appeal sells 49 percent of all homes. And nothing makes a worse initial impression than exterior trim that is peeling, cracked, rotted or falling apart. Replacing old or damaged exterior trim is a gre...
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Boost your home's curb appeal for a quicker sale
Selling a home in today's market requires a bit of marketing, some sweat and elbow grease, and a touch of luck. But even in a competitive selling market, it is possible to turn the sign in your front yard from "For Sale" to "Sold" so you can move on to your next residence.
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Eco-friendly tips to protect homes from pesky bugs
Cool weather signals homeowners to finalize outdoor chores and cozy up for the long winter ahead. It also signals pesky insects to head indoors seeking food sources and warm, safe places to hibernate. What can the smart homeowner do?
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Upgrade your pest control this fall
Where do bugs enter your home? The short answer: all over. Sometimes they crawl or fly in when windows or doors are open. They also slip in through cracks in walls or foundations, holes in window screens or crevices in the home that let in cables, wires and pipes. Most commonly though, they'll drop right onto your roof a...
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DIY with the right footwear
Construction workers don't wear high-heels - and not just because of the questionable fashion statement that might make. Professional builders know how important it is to protect their feet on the job, and you should do the same when undertaking your do-it-yourself home improvement and maintenance projects.
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Rodent control guide for homeowners
When rodents come to mind, it's usually not beavers, woodchucks or prairie dogs. While there are hundreds of different kinds of rodents, the most common we encounter in our homes are rats and mice, called commensal rodents, or those found living in close contact with humans.
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Home renovations before the holidays
Fall is a great time to tackle some of those home improvement projects. Now that the summer vacations are over and children are back in school, you're ready to make your home all comfy and cozy before the deep freeze and holiday guests arrive.
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Tips and tricks for a bigger-looking bath
Do you wish you had a bigger bathroom? Whether you're hoping to update the guest bath or the master suite, you can create a larger-looking bath without actually expanding your space. With a thorough cleaning and some space-expanding illusions, you'll be relaxed and rejuvenated in your new "bigger" bath in no time.
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By David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - The foreman of an Arizona jury that deadlocked over whether Jodi Arias should be put to death for murdering her ex-boyfriend believes she was mentally abused, but said on Friday that had not been enough to excuse her crime. Arias, a former waitress from California, was found guilty this month of murdering Travis Alexander, whose body was found slumped in the shower of his Phoenix-area home in June 2008. He had been stabbed 27 times, had his throat slashed and been shot in the face. ...
By Joanne von Alroth SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives on Friday voted overwhelmingly to allow residents to carry concealed guns, taking the state one step closer to joining all others in allowing some form of carrying guns in public. Illinois is the only state in the nation to ban most people from carrying a concealed gun outside the home. Lawmakers acted on Friday after a federal appeals court in January struck down the ban, saying it violated the right to bear arms enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. ...