For tips on homeownership, there’s no better panel of experts than our readers—many of them have owned several homes over decades. So I asked them to send in their best advice for new homeowners. Here are some of my favorites.
Live in It Before You Remodel
Don’t try to make your home perfect right away. Live in it and let ideas come and go. You will eventually find the right one, and you won’t waste money on something that isn't necessary.
LINDA LANDSVERK
Keep Track of Improvements
Immediately start a home improvement file. Take photos of all projects that are done to improve your home and keep the receipts with those photos. If possible, go paperless in case of a major disaster.
CAROLYN AND PAUL BROSSOIT
Pad Your Budget
Most renovations will run over budget and cost more than you think. The final project costs presented on renovation TV shows just aren’t reality.
CHRIS JANOSA
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7 Bicycle Maintenance Tips
Keep your bike in tiptop shape and ride safe!
SETTING FENCE POSTS WITH EXPANDING FOAM
Any fence builder knows you need strong posts for a strong fence, and that means backfilling the postholes with a dense, hard material other than dirt.
PEBBLE MOSAIC STEPPING STONES
COLLECT SOME RIVER ROCK AND MAKE YOUR OWN UNIQUE STEPPINGSTONE PATH
EARTH-FRIENDLY WEED KILLERS
HEALTHIER CHOICES FOR HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DIY! HYDROPONIC GARDEN
FRESH VEGETABLES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
GROW MINI VEGETABLES
GROW A GARDEN IN A TINY SPACE!
BUILD A VERTICAL GARDEN
TIME TO GROW UP!
MODERN WATER FOUNTAINS
A SPLASH OF PEACE FOR YOUR PATIO
9 ALTERNATIVE USES FOR SAWDUST
Every fully stocked wood shop has a table saw. You can usually find a pile of sawdust under it, even if it's used only occasionally. If a shop has a belt sander or band saw, there's probably another pile of finer sawdust under that. Even people without stationary tools have sawdust accumulation on their workbenches.
INSULATE WITH FOAM
IT'S A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO FIBERGLASS
