January 2008 Newsletter from dannylipford.com

Happy New Year!

This is the time of year to make resolutions. So why not resolve to make a few small improvements to your home in 2008?

My personal favorites are the ones that take just a little time but save you a lot of money, like caulking around your windows and doors, installing a set-back thermostat or fixing that drippy faucet or the toilet that perpetually runs. And safety is always a good resolution, so replace the batteries in your smoke alarm and have your fireplace/chimney inspected and cleaned.

None of these projects are difficult and you can do most of them yourself in a day. And then maybe that will inspire you to do even more ambitious projects.

Here's to your best home!

With housing in a slump, more homeowners are improving their current homes with simple DIY projects or major remodels. Whatever your project, chances are we've got it covered in our extensive library of articles and videos at www.dannylipford.com

• A Homeowner's Guide to Caulk

  Who knew there was so much to know about this simple home product?

• Insulation R-Value

  To keep away the winter chill, make sure you have enough insulation in your home.

• Hanging Pictures Right the First Time

  With the right hardware and know-how, you can approach your next picture hanging project with confidence.

• Painting Trim (video)

  After the walls have been rolled and the paint has dried, it’s time to tackle the trim.

• Carbon Monoxide (video)

  Here’s some tips to safeguard your family from carbon monoxide in this segment from The Weather Channel.

Don't Try This at Home

Last month’s Fire Safety Contest yielded some cautionary tales from visitors to our website. Here’s an excerpt:

“Last year in our development, 2 homeowners caused fires to their homes by removing hot embers from their wood burning stoves and depositing them outside. One left them on the deck and they burned thru the container and burned down 1/2 the house, and the other dumped them on the lawn and caught his siding on fire. Please douse embers with water before leaving them unattended.”
Ann
High Bridge, New Jersey

Decked Out

What home projects have the best rate of return when you sell your home? The November 2007 issue of Remodeling magazine has made its picks and the following projects top the list:

Project	Cost Recouped
Deck addition (wood)	85.4%
Siding Replacement	83.2%
Minor Kitchen Remodel	83.0%
Window Replacement (wood and vinyl)	81.2% and 79.3%
Bathroom Remodel	78.3%

Blue is Green

Adding insulation is one of the smartest things a homeowner can do. And now there are a growing number of environmentally friendly insulation products that are made from recycled blue jeans, soybeans and newspaper. You can see more green ideas in our Today’s Homeowner® show “Going Green” which premieres the week of February 11th.

TODAY'S HOMEOWNER and the TODAY'S HOMEOWNER logo are registered Trademarks owned by Time4 Media, Inc. Used under license.