Replacing Plumbing Pipes: Costs and Options.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properites in Clifton Park NY. Replacing plumbing can be a costly, time-consuming venture. These alternatives make it doable and affordable. It's relatively easy for your plumber to replace pipes that are already exposed in your basement or crawlspace. Image: Kim Steele/Photodisc/Getty You'll need to closely inspect your plumbing or rely on a licensed plumber to advise you whether it's time for replacing plumbing. Replacing plumbing in a 1,500 sq. ft. home is an expensive proposition that can cost $2,000 to $15,000, depending on the complexity.However, you can mitigate the cost and hassle of a totally replacing plumbing with these strategies: Replace what's exposed For a home with plaster wa... 12/30/2010

Pull-out Shelves: Gliding to a Hardworking Kitchen.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY. Add pull-out shelves to your existing base kitchen cabinets and you'll stay organized, frustration-free, and never lose an item in the back of a cabinet again. Some pull-out shelves include slots for storing baking sheets or pans. Image: ShelfGenie® Glide-OutTM Shelving Solutions Pull-out shelves unleash the storage potential on a typical 24-inch deep, 30-inch wide, lower kitchen cabinet. With standard shelves, you have to stoop down (ouch) and peer into the dark recesses to see what's back there. Mmm, peanut butter-that expired in 2008?Eliminate this Neverland of lost pots and pans-and peanut butter-simply by retrofitting your existing cabinets with pul... 12/30/2010

7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY. Keep the same footprint, add storage, and design adequate lighting so you preserve value and keep costs on track.   If you're contemplating a kitchen remodel, you're also weighing a considerable investment. But a significant portion of the upfront costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen remodels in the $50,000-$60,000 range recoup about 69% of the initial project cost at the home's resale, according to recent data from Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report. To make sure you maximize your return, consider these seven smart kitchen remodeling strategies. 1. Establish your priorities Simple enough? Not so fast. The National... 12/29/2010

High-Tech Kitchen Faucet: A Hip, Smart Retrofit.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY. A high-tech kitchen faucet is an easy upgrade that offers convenience and safety while quenching your grownup thirst for fun. The Karbon articulating kitchen faucet allows you to select a height as well as a direction to spray. Image: Kohler If you're looking for a new kitchen faucet, check out the high-tech wonders. The latest-gen kitchen faucets seem to operate with only a wink and a nod, and are a cool way to upgrade your kitchen without remodeling the whole space. Best of all, they aren't that expensive-you can get some of the latest features for under $200. Can you do this with your kitchen faucet? The contortionists: The trouble with a kitchen faucet ... 12/29/2010

Start a Shared Tool Co-op.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY. Save money and have access to a truly stunning tool collection by starting a neighbor-to-neighbor lending program or a tool library. You might use a neighbor's garage or a donated space from a local business as a storage space for a tool-sharing program. Image: Stewart Cohen/Pam Ostrow/Blend Images/Getty Images The amount you save by borrowing a table saw the two or three times a year you need it, rather than buying one, is so great that neighborhoods around the country have formalized the process with tool-sharing programs. Neighbors organize a process to lend each other specific tools, and establish tool libraries that loan tools to members. The benefits aren't just economic: ... 12/29/2010

When It Pays to Do It Yourself.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY. Doing home-improvement jobs yourself can be a smart way to save money, but choose the right DIY projects or you'll end up paying dearly. Look for maintenance jobs that are relatively easy and need to be done regularly, so you can hone your skills over time. Image: Comstock/Getty Images Why pay someone big bucks to do something you can just as easily do yourself? That's the thinking that has gotten more Americans than ever swinging their own hammers. In a recent Time magazine poll, nearly a quarter of people said they were taking on more home-improvement projects themselves-understandably so, when you consider that it usually means a 50% to 75% discount, since all you pay fo... 12/29/2010

New Kitchen Cabinet Hardware-Low-Cost Ways to Jazz Up Your Style.  Courtesy of Josh Gonzalez of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties in Clifton Park NY. Replace old kitchen cabinet hardware and gain an instant style update that's simple to do and easy on the budget. Get creative with your cabinet hardware, such as these zinc alloy knobs and pulls, for a low-cost kitchen style upgrade. Image: Siro Designs Like putting on a silk tie or diamond earrings, changing kitchen cabinet hardware is an easy way to freshen existing space without a lot of expense. Installing new knobs, pulls, and hinges is a project you can do in a weekend, too, once you've found cool replacements. You'll love the unlimited variety of shapes, sizes, and colors available: Every type of metal finish, colored glass, even ha... 12/29/2010