Selling your home? Easy improvements to attract buyers

Real estate pros often coach their clients on the value of making “curb appeal” improvements to help sell their homes. Outside painting and minor repairs signal that the house has been well cared for. That’s a great marketing tactic, but an even better advantage is offering multiple bathrooms. So if you’re planning to put your house on the market and want to make it stand out, consider going a step further and adding a new bathroom.

Housing market a work in progress

Omaha’s housing market may be showing signs of stability, but two panelists at a housing conference Wednesday indicated that the market isn’t in the clear just yet. An economist from the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City issued a caution that the housing market may yet see an influx of foreclosures.

Dramatically update your kitchen in six hours or less with six projects

With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, why settle for out-of-date features and decor - especially since it is easy to give your kitchen a 180-degree makeover? Try these six simple projects, and in no time at all you’ll have a kitchen where you will want to spend more time.

Break out of your color comfort zone this winter

At first thought, winter might not conjure up words like spicy, bold or sunny. It should, though, at least when it comes to the inside of your home. While it might be gray and dreary outside, infusing color into interior decor is one of the quickest ways to create a cozy, inviting living area. And winter is the ideal time to do it.

Slight decline in land values does not cause concern for Page County farmers

Although the average value of farmland in Iowa declined in 2009 for the first time in a decade, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Field Specialist said that is not necessarily bad news for farmers in Southwest Iowa.

Beware of “Foreclosure Rescue Scams”

Scam-artists are trying to cheat Iowans who are caught up in the nationwide foreclosure crisis. Mortgage foreclosure “rescue” schemes ask you to pay hundreds of dollars up-front for so-called assistance or “rescue” from foreclosure – but they just take your money and do little or nothing to help. The scam puts you in a deeper financial hole, does nothing to save your home, and diverts you from getting real help.

Tips to protect your home from severe weather

When people think of winterizing their homes, most often their heating bills spring to mind - along with insulation and weather stripping. The winter months bring not only high energy bills, but also an increased chance of certain kinds of damage to your home and its contents.

Decking the halls: Holiday ambiance is more than just decorations

The holly boughs on the front porch railing and the evergreen wreath on the door may be visible signs of the holidays, but to really savor the spirit of the season, you need to engage all your senses. Just like a romantic dinner where all your senses are involved – soft music, gentle candlelight, enticing aromas, mouth-watering flavors and the soft touch of holding your sweetheart’s hand – celebrating the holidays also can be a feast for the senses … all season long.

Save money on energy by preparing your heating and cooling system for winter

Getting ready for winter often means changing to warmer clothes and taking stock of mittens and hats. But it’s also a good idea to prepare your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for winter, too - especially if you want to keep energy bills down.

Don’t let your house take a beating this winter

No matter what part of the country you live in, the fall and winter months can be downright abusive on your home. From frozen Minnesotans dropping heaps of water-logged clothing on the floor after digging out of five feet of snow, to tanned Floridians grinding gritty sand into their carpeting, every home takes a beating in the winter.