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Big remodeling projects aren't the only way to get a worthwhile return on investment or happiness. H omeowners can get payback and joy from several smaller, lower-dollar-value home improvement projects.  Small projects are suited to DIY, which can save you cash.  Recent research shows that 10% of young millennials, between 23 and 31, want a fixer-upper home where they can work on DIY projects.  Of course, kitchen and bathroom makeovers will always have a place in our hearts (if not our wallets). The following five high-performing projects are significantly less expensive options.  #1 Hardwood Flooring Refinish or Replacement Refinishing hardwood floors is one of the top interior remodeling projects that brings the highest return. Remodelers estimate the cost at $3,400, and REALTORS® estimate the value recovered at $5,000, a whopping 147% return.  With hardwood floors, you get a lot of bang for your buck, they’re not that expensive, and people really like them. Postpandemic, homeow

Every home suffers a few negatives, but not every solution requires pricey structural changes.   Paint   is a frugal remodeler’s go-to solution to perk up a problem room. Here’s how to pick paint colors to give any room a facelift: Choosing Paint for a Room That’s Too Small Painting walls white, cream, pastels, or cool colors (tinged with blue or green) creates the illusion of more space by reflecting light.  White or light colors on walls lifts the ceiling, bringing your eyes up, which makes you feel like you’re ina larger room. How to use paint color to make a room seem bigger: Paint trim similar to walls to ensure a seamless appearance that visually expands space.  Use a monochromatic scheme to amplify the dimensions of a room. Select furnishings in the same color. Lack of contrast makes a room seem more spacious. Extend wall color onto the ceiling an additional 6- 12- inches. This will make the room seem taller. Paint vertical or horizontal stripes. Vertical stripes enhance room he

There’s a basic rule of thumb to follow when choosing paint sheens: The higher the sheen, the higher the shine — and the higher the shine, the more durable it will be. Flat paint has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do.  Here’s how to choose the right paint sheen for your painting job: High Gloss The most durable and easiest to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for area that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls. And like a Spandex dress, high gloss shows every bump and roll, so don’t skimp on prep work. Practical application:  kitchens, door, and window trim Durability:  very high Semi-Gloss Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls. Also great for trim work that takes a lot of a

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 Countertops Durable : Quartz countertops are highly durable, made from a mix of stones and stone-like materials bound together with resins. Makers of quartz countertops press the materials and resin into slabs that are solid and nonporous. That means the counters won’t chip or crack with everyday use (like when your little ones are helping you cook).  Stain-resistant : Quartz is highly stain-resistant, thanks to its nonporous surface. But it can be stained by certain substances — like red wine, coffe

This weekend temperatures plunged far below zero in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont as residents hunkered down and tried to stay warm. Mount Washington set a record for coldest wind chill ever recorded at minus 108 degrees!  As a landlord, my phone was non-stop yesterday.  Unfortunately, these record low temps resulted in some frozen pipes at my apartments buildings.     The best way to deal with freezing pipes is to prevent them in the first place.  But if the unthinkable does happen, you’ll have to act fast to minimize the damage and cost of repairs. Why Freezing Pipes Burst Not all freezing pipes burst. But when one does, it’s because water expands when it freezes, adding considerable pressure on unyielding plumbing pipes. That pressure can cause a tiny leak at a joint or crack on a length of pipe, unleashing the full flow of water inside your home. How to Identify Freezing Pipes A water line coated in frost (or bulging like a well-fed python) is a good sign that it’s frozen, but

If you’re a homeowner in a snowy climate, chances are good that you dread shoveling snow in the winter.  B arring a move to a snow-free state or barricading your family inside all winter, there’s no way to avoid the endless task of shoveling snow.  There are, however, ways to make the process much easier. Here are four simple hacks to make the morning after a snowfall much less stressful. #1 Spray Your Shovel with Cooking Oil Snow sticking to your shovel makes an already arduous task even more obnoxious. Avoid it with this hack: Lightly coat your shovel with nonstick cooking oil to make the snow slide right off. No more time wasted removing snow from your snow remover. (You can substitute a spray lubricant like WD-40, but the downside is it’s toxic.) #2 Lay Out a Tarp Before the Snow If you like shortcuts, this technique has your name on it!  The day before an expected snowfall, lay a tarp on your walkway. When the snow finishes falling, just pull out the tarp, and voilà: an instantly