Home Finances
How to Maximize Comfort with a Thermostat
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey discuss improvements to thermostats and how they contribute to comfort in a home
How to Install a DIY Security System to Keep a Home Secure
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey installs a DIY security system.
Are You Ever Too Old to Get a Mortgage?
If you’re buying or refinancing, the answer may surprise you
How Thermostat Setbacks Can Save You Money
Learn from plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey how using thermostat setbacks can help you save money.
How To Understand and Perform a Whole-House Energy Audit
Performing a whole-house energy audit can lead to significant savings on your utility bills and increased comfort in your home. Read how to perform an audit in our step-by-step guide.
Cash-Saving Renovation Tips from Mr. Money Mustache
Thirtysomething retiree reveals his secrets to keeping renovation costs low
6 Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill This Summer
Easy ways to cut your energy bill so you can stay cool and still have money left over.
How the Pros Cut Costs on Projects
38 insider tips for a better-looking, better-functioning home
28 Small Steps to Big Savings
Make bank with these nifty, thrifty around-the-house tips
Look What You Found During Your Renovations
From a homemade mousetrap to a fading Civil War tintype, the oddities readers have discovered in and around their homes surprised even us
Before You Sell: Fix It or Leave It?
What to fix and leave to maximize your home's appeal before you put it on the market and start shopping it to buyers.
30 Little Resolutions That Will Save You Big
Nothing beats a New Year's resolution that puts more money in your pocket
Upgrades That Slash Energy Costs
Once drafty and underinsulated, a New England house gets a state-of-the-art efficiency makeover
How to Review and Update Your Homeowner's Insurance
Reassess your homeowner's policy on an annual basis with these five steps
How to Prep Your House to Sell
This Old House host Kevin O'Connor discusses how to make your home market-ready with real estate expert Robert Schwartz
15 Secrets No Real Estate Broker Will Tell You
Buying or selling a home is an exciting, complex process. Here are some tips and tricks to make your experience the best it can be.
How to Perform a Home Energy Audit
Spot the leaks, gaps, and cold spots around your home with some simple pieces of equipment
10 Ways to Beat the Heat
Staying cool this summer doesn't necessarily mean you have to pay a fortune to keep the air conditioning running day and night
How To Do Your Own Home Inspection
Before you call in the engineer, you can give the house you want to buy the once-over with this advice from TOH's Two-Minute Expert.
How to Know Whether to Repair or Replace
Everything breaks, eventually. TOH helps you decide if it's worth your time—and money—to bust out the tool kit for a quick fix or start shopping for something new
A Guide to Appliance Insurance: What You Need To Know
Appliance insurance can cover the cost of repairing or replacing old appliances and systems. Read this guide to learn exactly what you're getting, and whether it's worth your investment.
How Eight Homeowners Save Over $12,275 on Energy
How do they do it? By putting power-saving technologies to work inside their homes. You can do the same
How to Build a Fireproof Home Using ICF Blocks
Learn how insulated concrete forms—combined with fire-resistant exterior and interior materials—make for one safe home.
54 Simple Ways To Go Green
Here are some low-cost steps to take around the house to reduce your carbon footprint and lower your monthly bills.
If You Dig Up Artifacts During a Remodel
Your old house reveals new charms when you uncover the personal possessions—and with them, the stories—of the people who lived there before you
Clean Heat: All About Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves are gaining popularity, and for good reason. These heating units are cleaner, greener, and cheaper than many alternatives.
Father Knows Best
Not every new homeowner can get America's top contractor to stop by and offer advice. All the more reason to pay attention to what Kate Silva learned from her dad.
21 Ways to Save On Your Remodel
We canvassed dozens of industry pros to catalog ways you can wrestle your renovation costs back down to earth.
Should You Buy That Fixer-Upper?
Found a fixer-upper but not sure if you should take the plunge? Check out our guide to figure out if it's worth the investment.
Looking for Trouble
For buyers (and some sellers), a thorough house inspection is a must. Here's what you need to know.
What to Look for Before the Home Inspector Arrives
Before you sign a contract and pay a professional to inspect a house, there are a few things you should be on the lookout for yourself
Renovations That Give You the Best Return on Investment (ROI)
Want to spruce up your home? Don't just do it for you - do it for the tremendous value-add it can have for your home's resale value.