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1). Gas Fireplaces vs. Wood-burning Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces have been increasing in popularity of late, especially up here in the Pacific Northwest, where it's often cool and gray. It's hard to beat the ease of flipping on a switch and having an instant fire.

Gas fireplaces are popular in other climates as well. For example, in Arizona, you might want the ambience of flickering flames for a romantic evening at home, but you don't need the heat.

2). The 5 Worst Remodeling Mistakes You Can Make
Just about everybody dreams of turning an okay-but-not-perfect home into a dream home. That's why home improvement stores and do-it-yourself television programs have become so popular in recent years. And there's no reason you shouldn't remodel... as long as you know what you're getting yourself into, so you can avoid the pitfalls that often snag unsuspecting homeowners.

3). Do You Have Termites? Are You Sure?
Termites eat wood, and most houses are made at least partially from wood. This, of course, means that houses and termites shouldn't mix. Sure, try telling them that.

Each year, in the U.S. alone, hundreds of thousands of houses are treated for termite infestations. In thousands more, termites go undetected. Could you be at risk?

These insects thrive in warm areas, but they can survive in more temperate climates as well.

4). Is Your Laundry Room Costing You Money?
The price of energy is going up all the time, and you're probably looking for ways to save on your house bills. As it turns out, your least favorite room may be one of your biggest energy hogs. I'm talking about the laundry room.

Now, you can save all sorts of money if you're willing to stop washing your clothes, but I'm guessing you're not looking to go that route (and all the folks you work with appreciate that).

5). Home Improvements That Pay Off
There are two main reasons people take on home improvement projects: for their own pleasure and in hopes of increasing the resale value of their homes. As long as you spend time and money for the first reason, you'll be okay. It's when you start thinking more about the second reason that you may be in for a disappointment. Even if improvements add value to your home, few recoup the money they cost.

6). Add Luxury to Your Bathroom Without Spending a Fortune
After kitchens, bathrooms are the most commonly remodeled rooms in the house. That makes sense, since for many of us, the bathroom is the only place we can escape for some private time. You can shut out the kids, the pets, and the spouse, at least for a while.

Whether you enjoy reading by candlelight in a scented bath or just like the feel of hot water pounding against achy muscles in the shower, the bathroom can be a little oasis from the hectic activities in your house.

7). How to Get More Space in the Garage
It doesn't seem to matter how big your garage is: you can always fill it up with stuff. Sure, you can hire some professional organizer to come help you clear a path to the car doors, but that costs money. How about I just give you some tips instead? You don't even need to pay me $100 an hour, or whatever it is de-clutter-ganizers are making these days.

8). Benefits of Hardwood Floors
You'd be hard-pressed to find a homeowner who doesn't want hardwood floors. Wall-to-wall carpeting is out, and hardwood floors are in. But are they worth the price? Let's face it: at $8-$10 per square foot (installed), wood flooring is more expensive than carpeting or the increasingly common laminates that offer a similar look.

If you're on the fence and can't decide whether to install hardwood floors (or maybe peel back your old carpeting and refinish the wood underneath), this list may be able to help.

9). How Secure is Your Neighborhood?
Before you go out and spend thousands of dollars on a new home security system, it's a good idea to find out how secure your neighborhood is. Or to put it in blunt terms, find out how many crimes are being committed where you live. This information can have a big impact on what steps you take on the home security front.

This may sound like information you can't get without going door-to-door and interviewing everyone within a four-block radius.

10). 5 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance is one of those things we're glad we have when there's an emergency, but the rest of the time we kind of resent paying. That makes sense, because we already have enough bills stuffing the mailbox every month, thank you very much. Now, there's no way to get coverage for free, but there are some ways you can lower the amount you pay every month for your homeowners insurance.

11). Choosing a Home Security Company
It seems like robberies and break-ins are in the paper or on the news all the time. You're smart to be concerned about your own welfare and that of your family. You also want to protect your house and your belongings. For this reason, you may be considering buying a home security system or a burglar alarm.

There are do-it-yourself systems and there are professionally installed systems.

12). Benefits of Log Homes
Today's log homes can be just as big and luxurious as traditional stick-built homes, and they've got something your neighbor's home doesn't: logs. What kid didn't dream of having a lot home (or maybe a log tree fort) out in the woods somewhere? Well, some adults share that dream.

Whether you like the rustic look or just want to live in a house built from natural materials, a log home may be appealing to you.

13). Your Swimming Pool Could Get You Sued
Installing a backyard swimming pool can make those hot summers a lot more fun and relaxing, but could it get you into a lot of financial trouble too? The short answer is: yes.

If you're not properly insured, and someone gets hurt in your pool, you are inviting law suits. I know what you're thinking: my friends and family are the only ones who use my pool.

14). How to Save Money on Your Energy Bill
Is it just me, or have energy prices just been going up and up lately? Unfortunately, this results in significant increases in our home energy bills.

Fortunately, there are a lot of relatively inexpensive (sometimes free) changes you can make around the home that will save you money. I've put together a list of twelve tips that cover heating and cooling, lighting, appliances, and home electronics.

15). Common Sense Home Security Tips
Is it just me, or do we spend more time worrying about the safety of our computers these days than the safety of our own homes? You've got firewalls and virus protection for your CPU, but have you changed your door locks since you moved into your house? Do you have ladders, tools, and other things lying around your yard that a burglar could use to break.

16). So You Want to Build an Outdoor Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen is a wonderful way to make the backyard a more appealing place to entertain. Why spend your parties stuck inside, preparing food in your regular kitchen, when you can be outside, chatting with your guests, serving drinks, grilling hamburgers, and even making pizzas without ever leaving the part? If you have a backyard swimming pool or spa, an outdoor kitchen is a perfect addition.

17). What Kind of Hardwood Flooring Is Best?
Installing hardwood flooring is a very popular home improvement project. This is particularly true now that more and more people are learning that carpets can hide mildew, mold, pet dander, dust mites, and other tiny particles that can make trouble for allergy sufferers. Hardwood flooring is easy to keep clean, and there is no place for potential allergens to hide.

18). Hardwood Floors vs. Carpets
One of the major home improvements people make is to change or upgrade their floors. Let's face it: a good looking floor can add a lot of value to a home. On the other hand, an old, stained, grubby outdated floor can do a lot to bring down a home's value.

Carpets and hardwoods are among the most popular choices for homeowners. But which is better?

Wall-to-wall carpeting often gets picked because it's a lot less costly to install than brand new hardwood floors.

19). 5 Ways to Save Money Remodeling Your Kitchen
So, you're thinking of remodeling your kitchen. It's a smart move if your motivation is to improve the value of your home. (It's a smart move if you just want a better kitchen for yourself too.) This is because kitchens are the most important room in the house for most prospective home buyers.

If you're currently doing your cooking and food preparation in a room that's dated, dingy, or dilapidated (or all three), it can seriously affect the amount of money people are willing to offer when it's time to sell your home.