We all know how to prepare for storm season — by stocking up on emergency must-haves such as canned goods, batteries, prescriptions, and bottled water. But if you were displaced for a few days or even longer, would you know...
What do you mean it’s me and not you? Those words hurt, no matter who utters them. But they are particularly painful when they come in a “Dear John” letter from your home insurer. These days, a lot more homeowners...
Owning the home of your dreams is about more than just shopping with a real estate agent. Even after you shop through dozens of homes to pick the perfect one, find the right mortgage, get through closing, and move in,...
I haven’t always gotten along with insurance companies. But while their demands may give me heartburn, they might ultimately serve my best interests. When I bought my house, my insurer insisted at the last minute that I get the seller...
Homeowners’ insurance is deceptively simple. It’s the coverage you need in the event of significant damage to your house, yet not all policies, or situations, are equal. For example, the homeowner who is covered for a fire may not be...
Homeowners’ insurance isn’t a fun topic to discuss. We don’t want to think about what could happen to our homes in a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. Denial doesn’t make these tragedies any less likely to occur, but it...
Hurricane Katrina swept away all the old rules about homeowner’s insurance. These days, filing a single small claim, switching insurers to save a few bucks, or assuming your coverage hasn’t changed can expose you to huge financial hardships. But that...
Money — the source of marital discord? Pshaw, says you — so long as your significant other manages money precisely the way you do. Barring that, it’s probably safe to say that the complexities of coupled finances — disparities in...
Achieving perfect credit may seem like a daunting task. But just as a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the path to perfect credit is made up of small tasks that can eventually add up to...
You can hardly click through three cable channels without landing on a home-improvement show. It’s no wonder — Americans spend nearly $300 billion a year on remodeling. Respondents to a survey by word-of-mouth rating and networking service Angie’s List say...
