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Homeowners aren’t the only ones who engage in spring cleaning. Traveling home repair crews look forward to it, too. Their goal is to clean out your wallet. The scams usually involve a worker in a truck or van and several accomplices, often the worker’s own children. The accomplices will […]

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Here’s some advice for anyone thinking about accepting an unsolicited offer for a free or low-cost chimney cleaning. Don’t do it. Do not say yes. Do not think you’re getting a bargain. Do not, under any circumstances, think you have nothing to lose but the $40 or $50 you pay for the chimney cleaning.
As long […]

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Jobs are scarce, money is short and the average consumer is struggling to control anger and fear. In the words of former Talking Head David Byrne:”You may ask yourself–well…how did I get here?”

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Nothing is so lovely as a tree—or so likely to cause disputes between otherwise happy neighbors. “My neighbor’s trees hang over my yard, fence and house. I cut them back, but then he throws the clippings back on my side,” Michael Johnson of New York City explained. “Who’s really responsible?”
Experts say few homeowners understand the […]

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When a storm knocks down a tree, homeowners tend to ask the same question: Who is responsible for the damage to my house/car/patio furniture? Carollee Cabot, an insurance specialist at the Rollins Agency Inc. in suburban New York City, said storm damage is typically covered by homeowners’ insurance policies. However, the specifics of coverage vary.

Some […]

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