This post, written by Aaron Brandt, comes to us from our partner site QuickenLoans.com.
In order to survive, we need water. However, the water we drink could actually harm us. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tap water can contain contamination from natural chemicals and minerals, viruses, bacteria, parasites, pesticides and even sewage overflow. That [...]

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This post is written by John Allasio and comes to us from our partner site QuickenLoans.com.
Right now is the most popular time for people to buy a home, and if you’re looking to sell or refinance your home, one of the things you’ll have to deal with is the appraisal. If your appraisal doesn’t go [...]

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This guest post is from William Cowie, who has contributed to Get Rich Slowly and other personal finance blogs. He also blogs about investing and offers a free Investing Basics course on Bite the Bullet Investing.
Everywhere you look, the story’s the same: the value of your house is going up. The National Association of Realtors [...]

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This post is written by Krissy Schwab and comes from our partner site QuickenLoans.com.
At one point you’ve probably driven through a neighborhood and seen a house covered with solar panels on the roof. This type of home, known as an active solar home, simply has the addition of solar panels to the already existing structure.
However, some people are [...]

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The typical washer-dryer combo unit lasts about eight years. The one in my home was in its 14th year, and living on borrowed time when it finally expired last year.
Its demise meant a large unexpected expense I hadn’t counted on. I bit the bullet and called the same appliance retailer I’d bought my last combo [...]

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This is a guest post from Jessica Ward.
Many of our readers have used Freecycle, Craigslist, and thrift shops for day-to-day needs, but have you ever employed these techniques on a DIY home-improvement project?
This summer, I replaced two floors in my house with Brazilian cherry laminate flooring, as well as moldings in both rooms, by employing [...]

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Those warm breezes blowing in your window make you think about spring cleaning, don’t they? If the outdoors world is smelling fresh, you want your house to smell fresh, too! But there’s no need to run out and buy the costly cleaning supplies and equipment you see on the TV ads.
Here are six ways to [...]

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When you think of the basics of a civilized family existence, a decent home is foundational. Doesn’t grace at your table frequently end with thanks for “the roof over our heads”? But not all home repair jobs are equally vital. The roof? Yes, you need a good roof. But, if you’re facing financial difficulties, a [...]

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When we got married, our first apartment was a very tight fit. It was a small, one-bedroom apartment with an awkward layout. Our living room had to be creatively arranged to accommodate a small couch, a television, and a chair for any guests that might drop by. There were also no locks on any of [...]

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My husband and I bought a washer and dryer a little over a week ago. We knew that we’d eventually have to make the purchase, as we’ve been making do with a set that we bought awhile ago on Craigslist for $150. This time around, we followed our own advice on making big purchases and [...]

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