Yelena Alpert

A lack of affordable housing can make it harder for prospective homebuyers to purchase a home. Halfway through 2024, tight economic conditions persist, forcing struggling Americans to reconsider their homeownership budgets and moving timelines. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau found that 42% of people who moved in 2022 did so for housing-related reasons, and…

Understanding the components of your roofing system can help you catch issues and mitigate repair costs. “Your roof protects the most important asset you have — your home and family,” said John Hering, operations manager for Emmons Roofing & Siding in Williamstown, New Jersey.  Some parts of the roof are more self-explanatory than others. You…

Moving to a different neighborhood or city can feel liberating — until you start the actual moving process. Packing, setting up utilities and choosing a moving company can take some of the excitement out of a new beginning. Moving stress is real. USA TODAY Homefront teamed up with three experts for advice on how to…

Researching reliable moving companies is a smart first step for anyone moving into a new home. The last thing you want is to get caught in a moving scam.  In 2024, U.S. consumers have paid a median amount of $647 per moving scam, a $314 increase from last year, according to the Better Business Bureau…

The average life span of a well-maintained gas furnace is between 15 to 20 years, depending depend upon several conditions. “Factors such as the quality of the installation, frequency of routine maintenance and usage patterns can influence this life span,” said Asif Bux, HVAC and plumbing expert at Comfort Union in Calgary, Alberta. New furnaces…

Beyond Tennessee’s natural beauty — the state is home to the country’s largest underground lake and more than 11,000 caves and caverns — it is known for its reasonable cost of living. As the second most affordable state in the U.S., Tennessee cities are an alluring option compared to notoriously expensive coastal cities.  Coupled with…

Don’t let pesky weeds ruin your garden feng shui or crowd out your tomatoes or herbs. Instead, put together a plan to stop weeds in their tracks. Professional lawn care services can handle weeds for you and will typically cost $25 to $200 for an herbicide treatment, according to our March 2024 lawn expert interview…

Discovering that insects have claimed a room as their own can be incredibly disconcerting. To eradicate an infestation, a pest control company may recommend a bug bomb as a relatively quick and easy solution. “Bug bombs are effective for a wide range of pests, like fleas, cockroaches, and spiders,” said John Target of Target Pest…

You may know that adding solar panels can help lower energy bills, but whether or not solar panels can increase home value depends on your system and when and how it was installed. Homes with solar panels — installed in the past five years — could make for a great selling point. “If panels are…

Plants likely grow in your garden — with or without your help. But creating a garden design that balances annuals and perennials with your lawn takes work. “The design is the blueprint for the project and can make all the difference between a mediocre installation versus a spectacular one,” said Joe Raboine, vice president of…

Home prices and mortgage rates aren’t the only culprits contributing to the high cost of housing. Home maintenance costs present their own obstacles for homeowners, who report their expensive home appliances break down sooner than expected. Ninety-six percent of homeowners have repaired or replaced a major appliance, such as a dishwasher or HVAC system, in…

Summer is the season for the reemergence of bugs — not just the American cicada — but all types of indoor and outdoor bugs. You’ll spot silverfish, carpenter ants, ticks and spiders. With so many insects, you may be wondering where bugs go in the winter.  It turns out the answer is a little complicated,…

Organizing and having a yard sale should be the No. 1 step in moving, even before researching the best moving companies. If you want to have a yard sale that’s a success, start by treating it like a boutique in your backyard — complete with refreshments and good deals. Whether you’re decluttering before you pack…

An air conditioner that is not cooling in the dead of summer is a homeowner’s nightmare. Precisely why your air conditioner is not cooling can be due to a range of problems.  “Most typical issues during the summer are a result of dirty air filters,” said Marco Radocaj, owner of Balance HVAC in Vero Beach,…

Roof flashing is an element of your roof that protects it against leaks and helps you mitigate roof replacement costs. It is typically made of aluminum, steel or copper roofing materials. “The piece of metal surrounds roof penetrations or areas prone to water flow, such as roof valleys, [which are] slopes in the roof,” said…

A DIY move can save you money on moving costs, but it can also be a pain in the back — quite literally. While decluttering and knowing how to pack up your house are pretty straightforward tasks, loading up the moving truck can be a hefty project. This is where hiring movers may be worth…

Unwelcome creatures can carry diseases, pose a health risk and may cause structural damage to your home. Sure, you can run for bug spray, stomp on a roach or put out mouse traps, but DIY methods are not always effective for a real infestation. Pest control is worth it if DIY methods are out of…

Buying a house is a big investment, and home maintenance costs linger long after closing. The research team at USA TODAY Homefront found that the typical homeowner spends almost $6,000 on maintenance and repairs each year. Of the 2,000 homeowners surveyed in May 2024, the majority (54%) spent more than planned on home maintenance, and…

The surge in travel post-pandemic benefited short-term vacation rentals significantly. Thanks to local hosts opening doors to their properties, short-term rentals listed on Airbnb, Vrbo and Vacasa offer memorable experiences that replicate a flexible and convenient home-away-from-home stay. Investing in a short-term rental can quickly go from having a family getaway spot to profitable income…

Consider hydroseeding if you want a lush, grassy foundation in a jiffy. Hydroseeding is a technique that can produce faster results than overseeding — you might start to see signs of new grass in a matter of days. “Hydroseeding is the spray of a mixture of seed, moisture and adhesive that can prevent erosion,” explained…