Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Hiring a handyman is not easy and many people have had unpleasant experiences trying to do so. They don’t show up, they don’t return calls, they say they can do the work, but then do a poor job. In order to avoid this type of disappointment, here’s some advice.

If you’re like me, walking into a hardware store or home center can be dangerous. If I see a tool I don’t have, then I want it. But, in reality, there are tools that I simply don’t need. This is where it really pays to examine the option of renting a tool.

A home warranty is a service contract, that usually lasts for one year, which helps protect homeowners against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement on their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. This annual contract can be a significant savings, especially if you are not particularly handy with home repairs.

Homeowners are always looking for easy, economical ways to reduce their monthly heating and cooling costs. If your home heats up in the summertime the solution may be as simple as a little shade. Rooms with windows that get direct sunlight will heat up quickly in warm weather putting a strain on your cooling system but there are some things you can do to help ease that load.

With energy costs constantly on the rise there are tons of gimmicks out there that say they will save you money. People always want to know what’s for real and what’s not.

People who have recently received a homeowner’s insurance settlement often ask why the amount was lower than they expected. What most don’t realize is that their policy had coverage limits for some of the items lost. For example, a $1000 limit for combined losses of jewelry, furs or related items is not uncommon.

Most people know they should document their home’s contents for insurance reasons but they often ask why or how to do it the right way. If you have a loss due to fire, theft or natural disaster your insurance company will need certain details to complete the claims process.

People who rent their homes often ask whether they need insurance or they simply assume that their landlord’s insurance policy will cover them. If you rent, the fact is that your landlord’s insurance usually only covers the building where you live, but not your personal belongings so Renters Insurance may be a good idea for you.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina left lots of people with questions about the differences between homeowners insurance and flood insurance. Flood insurance is an extra policy, but how do you know if you need flood insurance? The fact is, Flash floods can occur at almost any elevation, even if you are not in a flood zone.

Lots of homeowners have questions about what their insurance actually covers but unfortunately many don’t find the answers until they have damage from a fire or natural disaster. One of the easiest ways to determine what is and isn’t covered is to look at the Declaration Page of your policy. This is basically a miniature summary of your coverage.