Erika Skorstad
EditorErika Skorstad is an editor for USA TODAY Homefront. She covers topics ranging from home warranties to lawn care. Previously, Erika edited content about venture capital, marketing and cloud computing. She has a BS in professional writing with a minor in interactive narrative. Her fiction has been published in Marathon Literary Review, Levitate Literary Magazine and the Burlington Writers Workshop Cold Lake Anthology. Outside of work, Erika enjoys reading psychological thrillers, doing yoga, going on nature walks and spending time with her sassy black cat, Cassie. She lives in Washington.
Recent Stories
An appliance extended warranty is an extension of the manufacturer’s warranty typically included with a new appliance. It covers manufacturing defects and similar issues with common home and kitchen appliances, such as clothes washers and cooktops. However, it only covers a single appliance. Home warranties are a good option if you want appliance protection for…
Liberty Home Guard’s (LHG’s) comprehensive coverage plans and competitive pricing make it our top choice among Utah home warranty providers. We also recommend looking at 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty for its reasonable pricing and its upgrade that increases coverage limits for appliances and home systems. Utah’s cold, snowy winters and dry, arid summers can quickly…
In most cases, the roof makes up a substantial portion of a home’s exterior. Whether you’re buying, building or renovating a home, the roof style you choose greatly influences its aesthetic. Additionally, factors such as the local climate can affect the performance of different types of roofs and impact how long a roof will last.…
American Home Shield (AHS) is the best home warranty company for rental properties due to its generous payouts for major systems and appliances that could break down. According to our November 2023 survey of 1,000 homeowners who bought a home warranty within the past three years, respondents filed their most recent claims for broken home…
Flickering, dimming or blinking lights are annoying and can disrupt your everyday routine, especially if they’re persistent. Sometimes, you can resolve the issue by simply changing a light bulb or tightening a socket. Sometimes, however, the situation is dangerous and requires the expertise of an electrician who can address an overloaded circuit, voltage fluctuations or…
A home’s windows play a big part in its look, comfort and efficiency. Like many parts of a home, windows also have a finite life span and will eventually require replacement. Signs you need to replace your windows include visible damage, operation problems, drafts and noise. Heat gain and loss through windows is responsible for…
Despite the significant energy cost savings they offer, solar panels come with sizable price tags. Understanding your solar payback period can help you decide whether solar panels are worth it for your home. While the purchase cost or bill savings alone are insufficient metrics to gauge a system’s worth, your solar panel payback period is…
Liberty Home Guard’s comprehensive coverage plans, reliable customer service and affordability make it our choice for the top home warranty provider for military veterans. We also like 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty for price and customer service and American Home Shield for its depth of coverage plans offered across all price ranges. Liberty Home Guard, which…
When you need to buy new windows, the cost adds up quickly. One way to save money is to tackle installation yourself. While replacing a full-frame window may be best left to the pros, installing vinyl pocket windows is a job you can DIY with a basic skill set and a handful of tools. The…
We recommend Liberty Home Guard (LHG) as the best home warranty for your condominium because it provides generous appliance and system protection alongside a wide range of optional add-ons. Another strong option is 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, which offers affordable coverage. As with owning a traditional home, you’re responsible for maintaining and repairing your condo’s…
We chose Liberty Home Guard (LHG) as the best home warranty for Tennessee residents because of its well-rounded coverage plans and budget-friendly prices. Another solid pick is 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty — it features low service call fees and an add-on that increases coverage limits, should you need more protection. The Volunteer State has varied…
Based on our hands-on testing of the LeafFilter micro-mesh system and extensive research of LeafGuard — including customer review analysis, discussion with representatives and reading its warranty — we chose LeafFilter ahead of LeafGuard as the best gutter guard for most homeowners. Meet the expert Mike Miller is an editor and gutter guard tester for…
We chose American Home Shield (AHS) as the best home warranty company in North Carolina because it provides generous heating and cooling system coverage limits. However, it charges a higher premium for the extra protection. Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is another top pick of ours. It pairs fair prices with solid HVAC coverage and is…
While high-efficiency furnaces can save you a great deal of money in the long run, they’re not perfect and have the potential to leak water. This may occur for several reasons, but often, it has to do with the condensate drain line, heat exchanger or filter. It may also result from another system attached to…
A single-hung, double-pane aluminum window ranges from $270 to $769 per window according to data we analyzed from RSMeans, a construction cost database. The price of a dual-pane window fluctuates dramatically depending on factors such as window style, frame material and size. In addition, the window brand, type of installation and where you live also…
A solar power system is one of the best upgrades you can make to your home for energy efficiency. And yet, the upfront expense of solar panels can discourage many from making the switch. Fortunately, most solar companies offer several solar panel financing options, including loans, leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Solar leases and…
A rain chain is essentially a gutter downspout alternative. Typically, it’s used with rain gutters in place of the traditional downspout, or at the lowest point of a roofline if the structure lacks a gutter system. Rain chains — or kusari-doi, which translates to “chain gutter” in Japanese — are a series of decorative links…
A lush lawn can be a point of pride, but maintaining always-green grass comes with its fair share of challenges, especially if you live in an area with moderate heat, high humidity and lots of shade. One unusual disease that favors these conditions is lawn rust, or grass rust. Grass rust is a fungal disease…
When adding or replacing windows for your home, the window frame material you select can determine the aesthetic, cost and maintenance requirements. Many homeowners pit aluminum against vinyl windows when deciding on a material. Aluminum windows’ modern look can boost curb appeal, and they can withstand tough weather. Vinyl windows are great for budget-conscious shoppers…
The average foundation repair cost ranges from $2,200 to $11,000 nationwide, with the median cost at $3,250 when considering all foundation repairs and issues, according to Tim Tracy, director of sales training for Groundworks, a Virginia-based foundation and water management solutions company. Minor foundation repairs cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, whereas…