We've never built a home before. Help us not look or act like n00bs! [more inside]
posted by Aleen on Dec 21, 2009 - 14 answers

Please tell me about the coziest, softest, and most comfortable things in your home. [more inside]
posted by lalex on Dec 3, 2009 - 65 answers

How do I determine why vent is not sending heat & A/C to one bedroom? [more inside]
posted by glenngulia on Nov 30, 2009 - 7 answers

What should I do with a (relatively) giant back yard? [more inside]
posted by zompus on Oct 13, 2009 - 21 answers

Help me sell my house! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 1, 2009 - 15 answers

How does property line encroachment work when the two properties were owned by the same person? [more inside]
posted by zippy on Sep 28, 2009 - 12 answers

If you don't have a linen closet, where do you keep your towels and sheets? [more inside]
posted by pinky on Aug 30, 2009 - 34 answers

I've got some doubts about our current SoCal real estate agent. At first, there didn't seem to be a problem. But recent events have made me wonder if we're wasting his time. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 8, 2009 - 15 answers

Old house hacks wanted! Please suggest some cheap ways to improve life in a crappy college house. [more inside]
posted by ecmendenhall on Jul 30, 2009 - 19 answers

We are looking at buying my wife's grandmother's home from her before she goes into a senior living facility. What sort of implications could arise for her if we can all come to an agrement on us purchasing the home? Would the house still be considered an asset of hers if it was sold to us at less than fair-market-value? [more inside]
posted by ganzhimself on Jul 29, 2009 - 8 answers

What are some interior fixtures unique to houses in different parts of the world? [more inside]
posted by atrazine on Jul 27, 2009 - 33 answers

Why do I feel so weird about owning this home? [more inside]
posted by gocubbies on Jul 8, 2009 - 53 answers

Can I plant a cedar hedge -- with the cedars lying down? [more inside]
posted by liquado on Jul 8, 2009 - 4 answers

We picked out a house and our offer was accepted. Now what? [more inside]
posted by tryniti on Jun 12, 2009 - 11 answers

What flag can I fly on the flag pole that came with my house that has the same symbolic value of say the American or Texas flag, but isn't subject to the same code of treatment (ie taken inside when it's raining, etc)? [more inside]
posted by eli_d on May 11, 2009 - 30 answers

Why aren't life skills taught in schools? [more inside]
posted by sixcolors on Apr 13, 2009 - 39 answers

Buying a house soon: is it better to pay down my credit card partially, or pay off a small personal loan? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 3, 2009 - 5 answers

I'm looking for a box shelf - one foot by one foot square - that's wall mounted. Black brown wood. I've been looking the length of google but clearly I'm not doing it right. Help. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Mar 3, 2009 - 5 answers

What do you wish you had done to your new house before you moved in? [more inside]
posted by robocop is bleeding on Feb 18, 2009 - 52 answers

I want to improve my house cleaning skills... improve my speed, efficiency, thoroughness, etc. And use the best cleaning products for the task. [more inside]
posted by valannc on Feb 12, 2009 - 23 answers

What are the best ways to find and compare mortgage refi rates and fees? (web sites, or?) [more inside]
posted by msalt on Jan 17, 2009 - 10 answers

What are these thin wood beams in m attic and why are they there? [more inside]
posted by bingwah on Jan 10, 2009 - 12 answers

How much does it actually cost to commission an architect to design an "interesting" home? [more inside]
posted by electric_counterpoint on Dec 31, 2008 - 10 answers

Is it insane to buy a house in this market? [more inside]
posted by OmieWise on Dec 30, 2008 - 17 answers

Home Exchange Websites? [more inside]
posted by silsurf on Dec 30, 2008 - 1 answer

My husband and I just bought our first house and moved in a couple of days ago. I am feeling completely overwhelmed and I am crying every night, just thinking about all the things we have to do now that we never had to do before (mowing lawn, cleaning gutters, etc., etc.). I am also shocked at all the money we are having to spend, and it kills me to see our savings dwindle. Is all this normal? Can I expect these feelings to pass? I just can't help thinking that we are not ready for a house, and that this was all a terrible, costly mistake. Has anyone else felt this way and gotten over it?
posted by feathermeat on Nov 3, 2008 - 49 answers

Is it better to buy a house or rent a place, considering the current economy? [more inside]
posted by photomusic86 on Oct 19, 2008 - 17 answers

What can I do about my doorbell? [more inside]
posted by gleuschk on Oct 11, 2008 - 9 answers

When buying a house is it better to have the seller pay the closing costs or to reduce the sale price of the home? [more inside]
posted by jclovebrew on Oct 1, 2008 - 9 answers

How late is too late to negotiate with mortgage broker for fees? And how can I track mortgage interest rates to get a better rate before closing? [more inside]
posted by Amizu on Sep 19, 2008 - 5 answers

I have a rental house that I am selling. It has been listed with a Real Estate agent since Nov 07. Not one offer on it. Some people from my parent's church are interested in buying it, but they want to do it For Sale By Owner -no Real Estate Agents involved. My listing expires on Oct. 11. How long after the listing expires can I sell it on my own? Is there a grace period? Any ideas of how to cancel the listing beforehand? I don't want to lie, but I would rather sell to the church people for obvious reasons (more money for me, better deal for them, etc.). I am in GA.
posted by twistedmetal on Sep 2, 2008 - 23 answers

Every 3,000 miles, I change the motor oil. But what about the house? I need a home repair and maintenance schedule? I'm looking for the best books and online resources that describe optimum home repair schedules and practices. [more inside]
posted by Cool Papa Bell on Aug 18, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me best attack a clogged vent stack. [more inside]
posted by mmascolino on Jul 22, 2008 - 11 answers

How do I move back to New Orleans? Or, in light of the economy here and elsewhere, should I stay in Baton Rouge and suck it up? [more inside]
posted by ultraultraboomerang on Jul 10, 2008 - 7 answers

Air conditioner puts out more water than cool air. Ideas on what two renters can do? [more inside]
posted by Ufez Jones on Jun 29, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me figure out just what the hell is up with our new addition, bugs, and sawdust! [more inside]
posted by littlerobothead on Jun 24, 2008 - 2 answers

House vs. apartment. Are the costs of maintaining a house roughly less, the same as, or more than levies on a comparably sized apartment? [more inside]
posted by lottie on Jun 16, 2008 - 11 answers

Much like my last question posted here four years ago about OS9, I am being flummoxed by hard water. Or more specifically, the level of difficulty wrt installing a water softener. How hard is it? [more inside]
posted by hijinx on Jun 12, 2008 - 5 answers

I am thinking of installing a metal roof. I am in central New England. My present shingled roof has a 3½" to 12 pitch and is rated for up to 30 pounds per square foot. This winter The roof had to be shoveled on a regular basis. I am both worried that with heavy repeated snows my home is at risk for structural damage and I suspect that this 30 PSF rating is not a real world figure. I also have a problem with heavy snow blocking the combustion air for my furnace which is built into the furnace stack. Would a dark colored metal roof with such a shallow pitch be self clearing under heavy snow?
posted by Raybun on Apr 26, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm going to be building a modest split-level home this spring – 1900 sqft – in Madison, WI. Should I expect the cost of materials to be lower or higher than it was to build the exact same house 6 months ago? [more inside]
posted by BirdD0g on Apr 22, 2008 - 10 answers

I'm moving to a new place and need to know what kinds of simple items I can use to furnish my place and keep it looking neat [more inside]
posted by stedman15 on Mar 13, 2008 - 8 answers

What kind of risks should I watch out for bidding in a housing auction? [more inside]
posted by mhh5 on Feb 5, 2008 - 5 answers

Why is my condo still cold?! I've sealed up all the windows... [more inside]
posted by Melismata on Feb 4, 2008 - 17 answers

Family of four, moving to Bay Area, making $115K. Is this crazy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 27, 2008 - 15 answers

Does soundproofing material in a window also keep out the cold? [more inside]
posted by Melismata on Jan 20, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm a woman, divorced, being audited by the IRS, in some credit card debt and have problems with my rental history. Should I sell my home? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 9, 2007 - 14 answers

I need recommendations for a good central vacuum system to install in my house. [more inside]
posted by bondcliff on Sep 18, 2007 - 1 answer

My landlord won't give me my deposit back. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by dead_ on Sep 12, 2007 - 20 answers

My landlord left a letter on my door informing me that there will be a "walk-through" the house this week. What are my rights, and what is some good advice? (I live in New Mexico, USA) [more inside]
posted by nickerbocker on Aug 27, 2007 - 41 answers

Having recently moved to a small flat with little outside space, my free-standing kick-boxing bag is of no use. Even if I had room to hurl myself at it, I'd annoy the neighbours. What sort of equipment can I use to practice Thai boxing and grappling at home? [more inside]
posted by ajp on Jul 3, 2007 - 8 answers