If you are considering a home remodeling or renovation project, now could be a good time to start the process. Financing is at historic lows, home values are steady or rising, and fall is a perfect time to plan for a spring project start. Many Chicagoans – especially those on the North Shore – opt […]
A house is more than four walls and roof. From the electricity to the plumbing to all the creature comforts—a home is a complex piece of machinery worthy of some intelligent design. So forget the smart phone (okay, at least just put it down for a second) and start thinking about a smart home! Here […]
Whether you’re planning to sell your home or stay put, we all want our home to look great. There are a few projects (both big and small) that can really snazzy things up. Let’s start with the big: A new entry door can really make a big impact as to how your home looks from […]
Time to tackle those home improvement projects.
Winter is just around the corner, which means higher gas and electric bills is also quickly approaching. Even though most gas users pay an average of $160 a month, there are a few things you can do to help lower your heating costs as the temperature drops. 1. Calculator and Lower Energy Use. Nicor Gas […]
It’s summer outdoor entertainment season and people want their homes to look spic and span for outdoor parties. Here are some tips to make your house gleam before hosting an occasion outside. 1. Clean! Jeff Hester of Skokie’s Hester Painting and Decorating suggests attaching a low-pressure power washer to your garden hose to clean off […]
It’s a good news/bad news deal in the spring. While it’s the perfect time to get projects done—everyone else is trying to book contractors and get their house painted, decks cleaned and gutters cleared—at the same time. According to Roger Castino, owner of Castino Painting and Home Services, spring is by far the busiest time […]
Homeowners have come to accept the fact that hiring a painting contractor often brings surprises—and sometimes not the good kind. “The timeline can last weeks longer than originally agreed upon; the price can escalate faster than the blink of an eye; and the finished quality can leave much to be desired. But this isn’t how […]
Broken bones, deep wounds requiring stitches, near asphyxiation, these horrible traumas can happen from playing sports. But if you’ve ever tripped over the Ripstick, cut your hand on an errant hockey skate or nearly fainted from the stench of sweat-infused, mold-breeding football equipment, you know that injuries can occur without ever putting on the pads. […]
