March ’20 About Your Home Issue

Interested in installing a peephole in a door? Home Depot has a step-by-step guide to the project.

How can I find the best mortgage loan? Monty’s Answer: I answered this question several years ago, but it bears repeating. Comparing the cost of mortgage loans is a challenge for most mortgage shoppers. Do this before you look for your home. The most helpful lender may also have the best preapproval letter. Here are 10 facts to help you find the right loan.

We bought our current home a year ago. We realize houses and their systems are always wearing out, but in this house, it feels like the repairs and replacements are inordinate. The latest example is electrical. The electrical panel box was new, but we have had several electrical issues. The home inspector said electrical was satisfactory.

Should you get a home inspection before you buy a house? Definitely. In fact, most real estate agents recommend making your offer to purchase contingent on home inspection, right up there with appraisal and financing approval. If your home inspector gives the property two thumbs up, great! But what if your dream home turns out to be in less than tip-top shape?

Homeowners can be passionate about their washers and dryers. After all, we depend on them to get kids’ clothes, work clothes and bedclothes clean so we can go about the rest of our lives. Which ones are the best? We talked to a designer, a tester for Consumer Reports and the owner of a gadget-testing website, as well as two appliance-repair service owners.

For more than half of a century, Au’s Carpets & Designs in Canton has been, in a sense, a barometer of change in the trends of the flooring industry.