Switching to a Programmable Thermostat Can Trim Roughly Eight Percent Off a Typical Heating and Cooling Bill, Federal Energy Data Shows, Yet Millions of Homeowners Still Never Bother to Program Theirs

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gray Nest thermostat displaying at 63

Switching to a programmable or smart thermostat trims about 8% off a typical heating and cooling bill, or roughly $50 a year, according to ENERGY STAR’s smart thermostat data. For the average American household, heating and cooling already eat up nearly half of the annual energy bill (more than $900 a year, per ENERGY STAR’s … Read more

Replacing a Driveway With Pavers Now Costs an Average of Twelve Thousand Dollars, Fresh Contractor Pricing Shows, With Natural Stone Options Running as High as Thirty Five Dollars a Square Foot

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blue and white single cab pickup truck parked near green tree during daytime

Twelve thousand dollars is the average cost to replace a driveway with pavers, according to Angi’s 2026 contractor pricing data, though the per-square-foot rate swings from $10 to as high as $30 depending on the material chosen. Concrete pavers sit at the affordable end, running $10 to $18 per square foot, while natural stone options … Read more

Skipping a Simple Annual Water Heater Flush Is Quietly Cutting Years Off Its Lifespan, Plumbers Say, and Replacing the Unit Early Can Cost Homeowners Thousands More Than the Maintenance Ever Would

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Black and white image of a kitchen sink filled with dishes and cutlery by the window.

A water heater flush costs around $160 on average, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data, with most jobs falling between $110 and $200. Skip that maintenance for a few years running, and the sediment buildup inside the tank can shave years off the unit’s working life, pushing homeowners toward a replacement that costs $881 to … Read more

Homes With Too Little Attic Insulation Are Bleeding Heat and Money All Winter Long, Contractor Data Shows, and Upgrading It Now Is One of the Fastest Ways to Cut a Heating Bill

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A person in a blue shirt installing electrical wiring in pink fiberglass wall insulation

Attic insulation now runs about $2,100 on average, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data, with most jobs falling between $1,700 and $2,500 depending on attic size and material. Priced per square foot, that works out to roughly $1 to $3 installed. The payoff shows up on the heating bill fast: homeowners who properly seal air … Read more

One Ten Dollar Roll of Weatherstripping Can Cut a Home’s Heating and Cooling Costs by Up to Twenty Percent, Federal Energy Data Shows, Yet Most Homeowners Have Never Once Checked Their Own Doors and Windows for Gaps

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Crop anonymous man in work clothes reaching out hand to wooden window during repair works in light room in daytime

A roll of weatherstripping costs about $10 at any hardware store, and according to Angi’s 2026 cost data, sealing gaps around doors and windows with it can cut a home’s annual energy bills by up to 20%, a figure Angi attributes to U.S. Department of Energy research on air leakage. Yet most homeowners have never … Read more

Installing a Typical Rooftop Solar System Now Costs More Than Thirty One Thousand Dollars Before Any Incentives Kick In, Fresh Industry Data Shows, and Installer Labor Eats Up Nearly Half of Every Bill

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Solar panels on a red tile roof

Thirty-one thousand, one hundred thirty-five dollars. That’s what a typical 12-kilowatt rooftop solar system costs before a single tax credit or rebate touches the bill, according to EnergySage’s 2026 solar cost data, with most homeowners landing somewhere between $27,526 and $33,869 depending on roof complexity, panel brand, and local permitting fees. Averaged across the system’s … Read more

Remodeling an Average Bathroom Now Costs Homeowners More Than Twelve Thousand Dollars, Fresh Cost Data Shows, and a Full Gut Renovation Can Run Well Past Eighty Thousand Dollars

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a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and bathtub

Twelve thousand, one hundred forty-seven dollars is the new national average for a bathroom remodel, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data, though the actual range swings wildly from $2,500 for a cosmetic refresh to $30,000 for a project that touches plumbing, electrical, and layout all at once. Translated to a per-square-foot rate, most homeowners are … Read more

Finishing an Unfinished Basement Now Costs an Average of Thirty Two Thousand Dollars, Fresh Pricing Data Shows, and the Bill Can Nearly Double for Anyone Wanting a Bathroom Down There

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an empty room with a washer and dryer

Thirty-two thousand dollars is the average price tag on finishing an unfinished basement, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data, with per-square-foot pricing landing between $7 and $23 depending on how far the project goes. A basic 1,000-square-foot basement runs $7,000 to $23,000; push to 2,000 square feet and the range roughly doubles to $14,000 to … Read more

Homeowners Are Spending an Average of Thirty Five Hundred Dollars on Landscaping This Year, and a Well Maintained Lawn Alone Can Return More Than Double Its Cost When the House Finally Sells

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brown wooden table and chairs

Homeowners are spending an average of $3,515 on landscaping this year, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data, with standard projects running $4.50 to $12 per square foot depending on scope. That number balloons fast for anything ambitious: a full backyard renovation with hardscaping, planting beds, and irrigation can run $15,000 to $50,000. But the detail … Read more

More Than Two Thirds of Condos Sold Below Their Asking Price This Past February, the Worst Stretch in Five Years, as Soaring HOA Fees and Insurance Costs Scare Buyers Away

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brown 4-layer bricked building

More than two-thirds of condos sold below their asking price this past February, the worst stretch for condo sellers in five years, according to Redfin’s latest housing market analysis. Sellers accepted a discount on 68.4% of condo sales, up from 63.3% a year earlier, as surging HOA fees and insurance costs push buyers toward other … Read more