Maintenance & Repairs
Upkeep, vendors, and keeping a home in shape.
Supplemental Property Tax Bills After Buying: What to Know
Supplemental tax bills arrive 3-12 months after closing and cover the gap between the seller's old assessed value and your new purchase price.
Sump Pump Battery Backup: Why Finished Basements Need One
A sump pump battery backup keeps water moving out of your basement during the exact moment you're most likely to need it — a power outage in a storm.
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist: Beat the Heat, Save $$
A 90°F attic can push your AC to run 40% longer, so a mid-June checklist catches the five summer problems that cost the most later.
State HOA Complaint & Ombudsman Programs: Where to Turn
At least 15 states run an HOA ombudsman or complaint office, and Florida's regulator alone logged over 3,000 HOA complaints in 2023.
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners (2025)
A spring home maintenance checklist covering roof, foundation, HVAC filters, and safety devices, with the 10 tasks that catch $500+ problems before summer.
Spring Cleaning for Home Systems, Not Just Closets (2025)
A 30-minute spring check of your furnace filter, gutters, and outlets can catch $500+ repairs before summer heat and storms make them worse.
Special Assessments & Mello-Roos Taxes — Are They Deductible?
Most Mello-Roos and HOA special assessments aren't deductible because the IRS treats them as payment for a specific improvement, not a general tax.
Source-of-Income Laws 2026: Can You Say No to Section 8?
As of 2026, at least 22 states plus Washington D.C. legally ban landlords from rejecting tenants solely for using a Section 8 voucher.
Solar Panels on a Rental: Can Landlords Claim the Tax Credit?
Landlords generally cannot claim the 30% residential solar tax credit on a rental unless they also live there, but a separate business credit may apply.
Smart Home Security on a Budget: Where to Start ($150 Setup)
A basic smart security setup covering a front door, back door, and two motion points costs $120 to $180 and takes about an hour to install.
Smart Home Basics for Non-Techy Homeowners: 4 Easy Starts
A smart thermostat, a video doorbell, and a couple of smart plugs cover 90% of what most homeowners actually want from a smart home.
Signs Your Well Is Running Dry (and What to Do First)
A well running dry usually shows air spurts, sand in the water, or a pump cycling nonstop weeks before it fails completely.
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