So I’m in Lowes for some project materials and I pass by their appliance section. I need a new coffee maker as my $19.99 Mr. Coffee from Target isn’t getting the caffeine elixir hot enough anymore. I check out their array of coffee makers. I shouldn’t be, but I’m shocked at how many of them are the same plastic pieces of crap, just with varying degrees of unnecessary features.
home improvement
Home Inspection Nightmares
By 9.19.07
There are times when you should do things yourself and times when you would be better off if you hired someone. How can you tell the difference?
What Home Improvements Have The Best Rate Of Return?
By 9.18.07
The home improvement you’ll recoup the most from from is replacing siding with fiber cement, according to the 2006 RemodelingOnline report. They say you can expect to get 88% from your investment.
5 Furniture Shopping Tips
By 9.17.07
Despite the crummy real estate market and generally listing economy, now is a good time to go furniture shopping, apparently. That’s partly because consolidation and increased competition has squeezed out everyone except for discount-happy big box retailers in some cities, and partly because business is down overall this year so everyone is trying to attract more customers with markdowns.
Direct Buy: Pay $5,000 To Save?
By 9.14.07
Consumer Reports investigated wholesale shopping club “Direct Buy.” to see if the deals lived up to the commercials. They were unimpressed.
Adding A Bathroom Can Add 20% To Your Home's Value
By 9.11.07
With the real estate market in the toilet, it’s fitting that the same device can actually help you significantly increase the value of your home. Yes, we’re talking about adding a bathroom to your current dwelling, something CNN Money says can add up to 20 percent more value to your home. Consider adding a bathroom if:
Lowe's Removes Your Carpet, Disappears For A Month
By 8.29.07
Rebecca was sick of her old wall-to-wall carpet and hired Lowe’s to remove the old stuff and install some new laminate flooring and some new carpet as well.
10 Fancypants Kitchen Features You Don't Need
By 7.31.07
Consumer Reports lays the smack down on 10 kitchen features that aren’t worth the money. “Overhyped” and overpriced items include multimedia appliances, professional-grade ranges, “appliance drawers,” steam ovens, and “turbocharged” dishwashers. Thankfully, not even knowing what an “appliance drawer” is, we haven’t wanted one yet. Whew. Consider this your opportunity to expand on CR’s list: What kitchen appliances and features does no one really need? Or which ones suck?
Home Depot Revises Policy After It Sent A Sex Offender To Work In A Single Woman's Home
By 7.18.07
Back in May Boston’s ABC 5 tracked down a convicted sex offender who was working as an unlicensed contractor for Home Depot. Not only was the guy a registered sex offender…he didn’t even refinish cabinets well.
By 7.16.07
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Get a 10%-off Lowe’s coupon. [Lowesmoving.com]
Sting Operation Busts 160 Illegal Contractors In Connecticut
By 6.14.07
According to a statement by the Connecticut Attorney General, 160 unregistered contractors were busted in a sting operation. Neat! From the statement:
When we say that we expect contractors to comply with the law we mean it,” Commissioner Farrell said in announcing the results of the sting operation, which was conducted with cooperation from the Ridgefield, Redding, Stratford, Fairfield, and Trumbull Police Departments, Trumbull building officials, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. “Any person who wants to perform work in Connecticut must follow the State’s legal requirements associated with the job. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. We intend to pursue appropriate penalties and punishment for these contractors.”
Home Depot Sent Registered Sex Offender To Refinish Single Woman's Cabinets
By 5.22.07
“I asked for a kitchen, and I never thought I was going to get a sex offender.”
— Home Depot customer Niki Lebrecque on learning that the home improvement store sent a convicted sex offender with an extensive history of violent attacks to refinish her cabinets.
How To Protect Against Mechanic's Liens
By 5.14.07
Last week we wrote about how if your contractor doesn’t pay his sub-contractors, you can find them coming after the value of your house, a process called a mechanic’s lien.
6 Home Improvement Scams To Watch For
By 4.19.07
• “I want to use your home as a model.”
We’d like to add that whenever you are considering a home improvement project, you should get several estimates and ask for references. Don’t hire some guy who shows up at your door. —MEGHANN MARCO
UPDATE: Lowes Steals Money From Old Lady's House, Threaten To Sue Her For Slander
By 3.27.07
Remember that old lady who hired Lowes contractors to work on her house, only for them to steal $295 in cash hidden in her bedroom? And when she complained, the store manager threatened to sue her for slander? After we ran her story, a Lowes PR rep contacted us to get in touch with the complainant.
Ask Meghann's Dad: The Mystery of the Light Bulbs
By 2.28.07
Meghann’s Dad is a retired commercial construction electrician with 35 years of experience. He’s offered to answer any questions the readers might have about electrical work, DIY, home improvement, life, art and his ’67 Firebird. We’ve had an overwhelming response, so if your question has not yet been answered, don’t fret. We’re working on it!
Ask Meghann's Dad!
By 2.27.07
Meghann’s dad, a commercial construction electrician with 35 years experience, has volunteered to answer any questions the readers might have about home improvement, simple wiring, hiring a sub-contractor, life, art, his 1967 Firebird convertible, or any other topics your strange, evil minds can come up with.
Lowes Steals Money From Old Lady's House, Threatens To Sue Her For Slander
By 2.26.07
Subcontractors working for Lowes stole money hidden in a reader’s elderly mother’s bedroom. When the mother complained, Lowes threatened to sue her for slander.
