Ledger & Nest Home Notes

How to Plan a Renovation Budget Before the New Year
The budget is the part most of us skip, and it's the part that keeps a project from getting stressful. Here's a simple, step-by-step way to build one before the new year. Read more...
How to Winterize Your Home: A Beginner's Checklist
Get your house ready for real cold without the stress. Here's a plain, step-by-step winterizing checklist, from pipes and furnace filters to drafts and an outage kit, plus which jobs belong to a pro. Read more...
How to Fix Drafty Windows and Doors: Supplies to Look For
Feel a chill near the window even with the heat on? Here's how to find the drafts, which cheap supplies to look for, and when the problem is big enough to call a pro. Read more...
Best Tools for a First-Time DIY Bathroom Refresh
A bathroom refresh is one of the best first projects in a new home. Here are the tools for caulk, grout, paint, and hardware, and the jobs to hand to a licensed pro. Read more...
Essential Tool Kit for First-Time Homeowners
You don't need a garage full of gear. Here's a practical starter tool kit for your first home, in the order I'd buy things, plus what to look for so you don't overspend. Read more...
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners
Your first fall in a new house doesn't have to feel like a pop quiz. Here's a plain, doable checklist for outside and inside the house, plus which jobs belong to a pro. Read more...