Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

  How to get rid of squirrels in your garden While people swear by adding cayenne pepper to the soil or hanging up shiny CDs nearby to scare them away, the truth is that getting rid of squirrels is a trial-and-error process—what spooks one might be ignored by another. And while some suggest that  dogs and cats  can scare away squirrels, that’s not a reliable method. “It depends on your pet and how active they are when it comes to hunting,” says  Jamie Nichols , manager of Arrow Exterminators, in Atlanta. “Generally, having pets doesn’t make a huge impact on keeping squirrels away, due to their aerial nature—but leaving pet food out  will  attract them.” So keep the food bowls inside. The best way to keep squirrels out of a garden is to create a physical barrier such as wire mesh with quarter-inch squares arcing over and around your plants. You don’t want to cover up those pretty planters, you say? You just have to keep try...

Mice and rats When the cats are away (and sometimes even if they aren’t), the rodents will come out to play in your house. And it isn’t uncommon for them to sneak in through broken pipes, or even through the toilet. “Mice are a bit like cats in that their bodies seem to be nearly liquid,” says  Ed Spicer , CEO of  Pest Strategies . “This allows them to squeeze through almost any hole larger than a dime.” And a small crack in one of your sewer pipes might just be enough. “Rats are a bit more likely to enter your home in style—and by ‘style,’ I mean coming in through the toilet,” Spicer says. While this might sound too creepy to be true, he assures us it’s very possible: “Rats are totally at home in sewer pipes and can swim for up to three days at a time.” But before running to slam shut every toilet bowl cover in the house, know this: You can avoid playing whack-a-mole in your bathroom this winter by installing a  multiflap . This one-way valve allows everything to go down...

  Building out Expanding horizontally can be less expensive than building up, says  Dan Bawden  at  Legal Eagle Contractors  based in Houston. On average, it costs between $150 to $200 per square foot to expand your home’s footprint outward, according to Bawden. Just consider your yard and the way you use it before charging ahead. You may be losing valuable outdoor space. Or the ability to install a pool or a deck someday. What you can and can’t do depends on your lot size and buildable area. So crunch the numbers before you start an addition. Cost breakdown:  A 400-square-foot family room built as an expansion on your ground floor will cost about $60,000 to $80,000, according to Bawden. And remember when it comes to extending your home, include an extra $1,500 to $5,000 for excavation of the ground and a new foundation. Building up Prices can start as high as  $300 and can jump to $500 per square foot  when you build an entire second or third flo...

  1. Your dream home will have everything you want With historically low inventory, the so-called perfect home—if and when it does come on the market—has so many buyers lined up that, even if it started at a “great price,” it will most likely go into a bidding war. So that means it won’t be perfect after all, right? Having an open mind is key: It’s understandable that you want to avoid a gut renovation or a long commute to work, but a willingness to make cosmetic changes or drive even 10 minutes farther than planned will substantially help your cause. 2. There’s time to find a mortgage after you find the house While house hunting can be fun, finding a mortgage feels more like a chore. Still, if you save the financing step until  after  you’ve found the perfect home, there’s nary a chance the home will still be available by the time your loan paperwork comes through. “Your first call when even thinking about  maybe  purchasing should be your bank,” says  Had...

Could you be sabotaging your home sale? Here are four questions to ask yourself to see if you’re too emotionally attached to a home—and what to do about it if the answers are yes. Are you putting off preparing the home for sale? Not moving forward with getting your home  ready for an open house  is a huge red flag. Sellers may have to go through several rounds of getting rid of stuff, painting, and making repairs. “You want to give your client the best marketing approach, so you give them a to-do list: spring clean, declutter, and lightly stage,” says Maramonte. “When you meet with resistance, that’s a sign.” If you’re selling a home that’s been in a family for generations due to a death, it brings an additional challenge. “After years of someone living in a home, there’s often too much furniture, old stuff, and clutter,” says Maramonte. Sellers can get bogged down in sifting through memories and minutiae. Are you too emotionally attached? When selling a home after a divorce o...

  Pros: It benefits your health and property According to  Heal thline , spending time in a hot tub can help improve your cardiovascular health, and may lead to a better night’s sleep. It can even help burn calories. It’s great for end-of-day relaxation. Unlike a swimming pool, you can use a hot tub all year long. A more practical pro? A hot tub might just turn a buyer’s head if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market. “A hot tub may not raise your home’s market value,” says  Marina Vaamonde , founder and commercial real estate investor at  PropertyCashin . “But its ability to generate interest is a plus. And it can potentially help to sell your home faster.” Con: It isn’t cheap “You can expect to invest $5,000 to $10,000 in a tub, depending on the model, manufacturer, and warranty,” says  Gregg Cantor , president and CEO of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel in San Diego. These costs are for above-ground jetted hot tubs. If you’re looking for some...

1.  Cedar Mill by Pratt & Lambert Cedar Mill by Pratt & Lambert (Pratt & Lambert) Cedar Mill  evokes images of a crisp, cool forest—and while it’s perfect for autumn, it’s also an ideal muted green to enhance the natural light and beauty of your kitchen year-round. “This is one of my favorite choices among trending colors,” says designer  Marco Bizzley , of  House Grail . “Basically, it’s an olive green color with a muted gray tone.” 2.  Pelt by Farrow & Ball Pelt by Farrow & Ball (Maine Home + Design) Looking to get a little darker in your home’s hub this season? Then you’re going to love the idea of adding some plum accents—on the walls, cabinets, or even the ceiling—for a more dramatic look. “This warm purple shade is homely yet sophisticated and feels perfect for the fall season,” says  Anton Giuroiu , CEO of  Architecture Lab . “Whether your kitchen fixtures are white or natural wood, they will look stunning against a backdrop ...