If you’re struggling to find homeowners insurance in a fire-prone area, consider looking into surplus line carriers, private carriers, or your state’s plan. 

Finding homeowners insurance in fire-prone areas can be tricky—and it’s getting trickier. Some insurers are canceling policies in fire-prone areas of the West Coast or simply not renewing them. Homeowners insurance is getting harder to find, but you don’t want to be caught without it and on the hook for hundreds of thousands in repair, rebuild, and replacement costs.

There are a few options for homeowners who can’t get home insurance from a typical provider due to their region, and the This Old House Reviews team has rounded up the options available to you when standard insurance isn’t accessible. Surplus line carriers are one choice, and homes with a value of over $1 million may be eligible for coverage under AIG or Chubb. As a last resort, homeowners can turn to their state’s insurance safety net.

Unfortunately, the options are few and generally more expensive than traditional homeowners insurance policies. But to protect your largest investment, it can be worth it.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wildfire Damage?

For most home insurance companies, fires are a covered peril. If your home is destroyed by a fire from arson, electrical issues, or a wildfire, your insurance company will help cover the cost of rebuilding your home and other structures, replacing your personal property, and helping you with the costs of temporarily living outside of your home.

Earthquake insurance has its trade-offs, depending on your personal risk and how much it costs. Weigh the pros and cons here. 

Earthquakes can cause serious damage, putting your home in jeopardy and putting you at risk of expensive rebuild costs. Unfortunately, earthquake insurance isn’t covered by your standard homeowners insurance policy. Earthquake insurance isn’t required by states or most mortgage lenders, but if you live in an area where there’s lots of seismic activity, whether due to proximity to a fault line or hydraulic fracturing, you might want to consider it. The major drawback is the cost, so you have to weigh whether earthquake insurance is worth it.

All it takes is one catastrophic event to destroy your home and personal belongings, leaving you with nowhere to stay. But if you live in a state that experiences little to no earthquakes, earthquake insurance might not be worth it.

To help you make your decision, the This Old House Reviews team has rounded up everything you need to know to determine if earthquake insurance is worth it. We examine coverage, costs, and more.

What is Earthquake Insurance?

Earthquake insurance can either be bought as an endorsement to your standard homeowners insurance policy or purchased individually from a statewide private agency. Many states that have frequent earthquakes have government resources available, like the California Earthquake Authority.

Arlo offers DIY camera-based security solutions that give you a view into what’s happening inside and outside your home. In this Arlo home security review, we provide an overview of the company’s offerings to help you determine if Arlo is right for you.

This Old House Rating: 9.3/10

Arlo takes a starkly different approach to home security than many of its competitors. Offering just surveillance-based security solutions like cameras, spotlights, and video doorbells, Arlo home security provides customers the opportunity to receive high-definition video and view live updates directly from their phones.

Through its offering of home security camera systems and subscription-based cloud storage options, Arlo gives a basic video surveillance system to customers who aren’t looking for a traditional professional monitoring security service. Keep reading to learn if Arlo is the best home security system for you.

A home security system can give you confidence that your home is protected. In this Ring security system review, we evaluate the company and its offerings to help you decide if it’s right for you. 

Founded in 2012, Ring was one of the first home security companies to sell doorbell cameras. The company started with a straightforward, no-frills approach to home security. Over the years, it has expanded to include a variety of home security products and several monitoring plans at reasonable prices. Ring stands out with 24-hour emergency support and a 30-second average call response time.

Keep reading this Ring security system review to learn more about the easy-to-use, streamlined products and packages the company offers and determine if this is the best home security company for you.

Our Take on Ring

The This Old House Reviews team rated Ring home security a 9.5 out of 10. It’s a brand name in the home security industry, with smart home integration, no contract requirements, and affordable prices for both packages and products.

Ring Home Security Packages and Equipment

Ring offers two home security protection packages at varying levels of comprehensiveness: Basic and Plus.

In this PODS review, we detail the moving and storage company’s services, cost, and reputation.

When you’re moving to a new location, do you pack up and move all by yourself? Or do you prefer to seek professional assistance? Because each method for moving has its own benefits and drawbacks, it’s up to the homeowner to determine their personal preferences and make a decision based on those qualities.

If you decide to hire a moving company to help with your packing, transporting, and storage needs, it’s important to find one whose reputation you can trust. The This Old House Reviews team researched some of the top moving companies to give you our best recommendation. Check out our PODS review and decide if it’s the right company for you.

Our Take on PODS

PODS is a well-known name in moving services and storage solutions around North America. The company was founded in 1998, creating a name that stands for “Portable On-Demand Storage.” Its goal is to provide flexible moving solutions and do-it-yourself options for homeowners, renters, and businesses. You can rent its portable containers to load up your belongings and control your own moving timeline. Although the company offers convenience and ease, it does not have widely available discounts.

Pros & Cons

Learn about some of the advantages and disadvantages of PODS:

Vinyl flooring and laminate flooring are both affordable, durable, and customizable. However, they also have many differences. Discover which is best for your next flooring project.

Over the years, flooring manufacturers have innovated and upgraded the materials they use to create great options for homeowners. Laminate and vinyl flooring are both ideal if you’re looking for durable and affordable flooring. They also both come in a variety of styles to mimic authentic wood, tile, and stone. So how do you decide which is best for your home?

While vinyl and laminate flooring have a lot in common, there are a handful of important contrasts. When you’re deciding which to install in your home, it’s best to consider the needs of your home and the room you’re renovating. Qualities like being waterproof or comfortable to stand on can make or break your decision.

Learn about the differences between vinyl flooring and laminate flooring, as well as the pros and cons of each.

What Is Vinyl Flooring?

Vinyl flooring is made of a number of layers that build a durable and waterproof floor. Its solid vinyl core is topped with a printed vinyl layer and a wear layer. These synthetic materials work to enhance your floor’s moisture resistance, as water can sit for long periods of time without causing damage. Homeowners can choose from many types of vinyl flooring like vinyl planks, WPC vinyl, and Rigid Core vinyl flooring.

When you’re searching for the best vinyl flooring for bathrooms, consider your style preferences and the amount of traffic it gets. Learn about these waterproof flooring options.

If you’re planning to renovate your home, one of the best places to start is the bathroom! Although it can be a small area of your home, it’s a place where you spend time on self-care. It should be efficiently designed to support relaxation and cleanliness. If your bathroom has had the same flooring for the years, or if it’s no longer your style, it may be time to consider replacing your bathroom flooring.

One of the best flooring options for bathrooms is vinyl. Manufacturers provide this budget-friendly, water-resistant, and durable flooring type to fit your home’s needs. Read on to decide which direction to go with your bathroom and learn about the benefits of vinyl.

What to Look for in Bathroom Flooring

When you’re shopping for new bathroom flooring, you want to make sure you’re getting the best materials for your home. Water is prevalent in the bathroom, and spills are often inevitable, especially if you have children. This means, if you choose the wrong type of flooring, this moisture can greatly damage your home.

First, it’s important to choose bathroom flooring that is waterproof. Your bathroom will often fall victim to spills and splashes from the sink, tub, and, unfortunately, the toilet. You need a flooring surface that will not become damaged after being exposed to lots of moisture.

If you’re searching for the best flooring for your kitchen, consider what your family needs most. From durability to eco-friendliness, there are great options for kitchen flooring.

For many families, the kitchen is a huge focal point in their homes. It’s not only a place where you cook meals, but it’s also a gathering spot for your loved ones and guests to spend time and make memories.

To give your kitchen a new look, remodeling with new flooring can be a fun project. Or maybe it’s just time to repair some wear and tear after decades of using the same floors. But how do you find the best flooring for your kitchen?

From farmhouse styles to more contemporary materials, homeowners have endless options for customizing the looks of their kitchens. When you’re trying to decide on the best flooring for the kitchen, consider factors like the amount of traffic it has, your family’s risk of messes, and your style preferences.

Read on to learn about the best flooring for kitchens.

Top real estate agents in Silver Lake have years of experience and a track record of successful transactions in the Los Angeles neighborhood. Discover your next great realtor from our list.

Silver Lake is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Los Angeles. It’s known to be a diverse area, full of young creatives. You can find great homes in Silver Lake with price points averaging around $1.3M. And, across many real estate listing sites, homes are appreciating in value each year.

The neighborhood of Silver Lake has a balanced real estate market, with a pretty even supply and demand for homes in the area. So, no matter if you’re buying or selling a house, you’ll need to work with an experienced realtor to stay competitive.

Read on to discover some of the top real estate agents in Silver Lake to guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Benefits of Working with a Top Real Estate Agent in Silver Lake

When it comes to a competitive, booming real estate market like the one in Los Angeles, you need an experienced realtor by your side. No matter if it’s your first time buying a home or if you’re a longtime homeowner, a professional real estate agent can support you in many ways.

Two daughters renovate an unused room into a senior-friendly, handicap accessible bathroom for their elderly parent

Before: An empty room becomes a handicap accessible bathroom

The family has lived in their colonial home in Saint Albans, Queens since 1975. The space was working for most of them, but the daughters’ aging mother needed a one-floor living situation so she wouldn’t have to go up and down the stairs to use the bathroom or kitchen.

That meant converting an extra room on the first floor into a senior-friendly bathroom adjacent to her bedroom. They posted their project on Sweeten and were matched with this general contractor.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free.

Slideshow:

After: A walk-in shower and ADA-compliant toilet

After the room was demolished, reframed, and equipped for plumbing, the family worked together to choose materials and products for the bathroom. The biggest consideration was the glass-encased shower. In order to build the frame for the shower, it was initially discussed that one of the back windows would have to be blocked off. Their contractor found another solution, adding a tiled extension off the existing half wall to support the glass. The radiator had to move down closer to the toilet to make room, too. The contractor also ensured the shower entry was large enough to fit a shower chair and made the entry curbless.

Decorating The Garden Arbor

When we built this garden and arbor earlier this year, I did not consider all of the possibilities there would be for decorating it. I was just thinking that my garden needed an entrance! Now I know that this entrance is perfect for these 5ft pre-lit artificial Christmas trees . I placed one on each side and then brought in Mr. Bear to accompany them. My kids were so excited about this bear from the moment I pulled it out of the box and assembled it. I mean, the bear even got hugs from them! Needless to say, this bear has made quite the impression and seems quite at home in his spot by the garden arbor. We also added this large, pre-lit wreath and bow to top it all off!

Light Up The Greenhouse

My greenhouse is probably my most prized backyard possession. She even has a name, Josephine. We recently added a porch to her which made decorating her for Christmas even more of a possibility! We strung bulb lights around her roofline and hung a simple battery-operated, pre-lit wreath on the door. I also placed the stacked up gift box set by the door. Josephine was already looking super cute! Then we decided to up the ante a little by creating a DIY “faux” marquee letters sign.

DIY Faux Marquee Letters Sign

The process to create these letters was fairly simple and straightforward. This type of sign can be used for a variety of events and celebrations. Check out this how-to guide on The Home Depot’s website  to see how I did it!

This may have been my first time decorating outside, specifically the garden/greenhouse area but it certainly will not be the last! This was so fun and the kids love to see the space all lit up at night! We were able to find everything we needed for this project from The Home Depot which made it super convenient. The Home Depot was literally a one stop shop for everything that we needed, and I am so grateful for the app, ship to home options, and store pickup! I am already coming up with ideas for the next holiday!

I love everything about the holiday season. The traditions. The food. And, of course, the festive decor! For those who know me well, this should come as no surprise. (After all, I’ve had Christmas tunes on repeat for a few months now.) So this year I’m thrilled to team up  with The Home Depot as a partner for their Holiday Style Challenge to share some ideas for creating a festive holiday brunch.

Creating a Festive Holiday Brunch

One of my favorite holiday traditions is gathering around the table with family and friends for a meal. So for my style challenge, I decked out our dining room with pieces from The Home Depot’s home decor and holiday collections. Complete with a DIY hot cocoa bar, it’s perfect for a festive Christmas brunch, don’t you think?

Home for the Holidays

This year, more than ever, I wanted to make our home feel welcoming for the holidays. To capture those warm cozy feelings and create a timeless Christmas look, I used a mix of greenery paired with red, gold, and traditional plaid throughout our home.

The Home Depot had everything I needed to decorate for the season. From home decor to garlands, trees, ornaments, and more! The Home Depot is a one-stop-shop for decking the halls. Don’t have a Home Depot store nearby? No problem! You can shop online or use The Home Depot mobile app and have everything shipped right to your door.

Setting the Table

Creating a festive holiday brunch starts with styling the table. To begin, I used a basic white table cloth as a base. Then, I transformed this plaid throw blanket into a table runner.

Hello! Katie Dunn here. Decorating for the holiday season is a tradition I look forward to every year. There is something so nostalgic and cheerful about the holidays, don’t you think? As soon as the leaves start changing, I am dreaming of twinkling lights and evergreens. This year, our son is at an age where the holiday season is pure magic. So, when it came to decorating, I knew I wanted to stick to simple, yet classic Christmas decor in the living room – using plenty of evergreens and subtle pops of red, all while staying true to the overall neutral palette I love. The Home Depot had everything I needed to make my vision come to life this year!

Festive Living Room

Let’s start with the fireplace. The Home Depot was kind enough to send us this beautiful, pre-lit garland that came adorned with red and gold ornaments. The garland is such a statement piece on its own, that I didn’t feel I needed to add any additional decor to the mantle. I’m definitely a less is more kind of gal.

Next, we ordered this beautiful, pre-lit artificial tree. When it arrived, I was a little nervous it would be too big for our home, but the size is perfect. I am beyond impressed with how realistic it is too! I know this will light up our home for many Christmases to come.

When it came to decorating the tree, I wanted to keep it simple. I used classic, modern ornaments in muted gold and champagne tones as well as a few shades of red and green. These ornaments were just what I needed to complement the garland on the fireplace. We hung them using green ornament hooks that blend nicely with the tree. For a more modern look, I swapped out a traditional tree skirt for this rattan tree collar.

From here, we hung a wreath in each of the two windows. It is a simple way to add festive greenery and it can be enjoyed from inside and out! Now our neighbors will be able to enjoy the beautiful warm glow from the twinkle lights in these pre-lit wreaths as they pass by.

Whimsical Pink Christmas Tree

I have always dreamed of a pink Christmas tree. Pink, I know, is not a traditional Christmas color, but it makes my heart happy to see bright and fun colors during the holidays. I believe decorating should be fun, and you should not limit yourself to traditional red and green colors. This year I decided a pink tree would be all the whimsy I needed to blend traditional colors.

I ordered my tree online at Home Depot and picked up in-store. I enjoyed this process, and it makes life so much easier. While I was there, I was able to grab two containers of Fantasleigh Shatter- Resistant Ornaments in two sizes, an 11 in. Mercury Gold tree topper, and a roll of 15 ft Royal Easton Red Velvet Gold Ribbon for my gift boxes.

The Christmas tree was super easy to assemble, and I spent about an hour fluffing branches and ensuring I achieved the perfect shape. Quick tip: Always look at the picture online. If your Christmas tree seems flat, keep fluffing and opening branches.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

As summer comes to a close every year, I always look forward to the change in the season. In my area, cooler temperatures and falling leaves invite thoughts of hot chocolate and possible snowflakes. I’m excited to see that time arrive again!

For my Home Depot Style Challenge, I want to show how my wife and I embellished our dining room with a mix of the newest product offerings from The Home Depot and a few of my own DIY projects.

For the past several months, traveling and shopping in-store hasn’t been an option for our family, but that hasn’t slowed my DIY projects down one bit! Nor did it affect me receiving the products I needed for this style challenge. As always, The Home Depot has both everything you need to decorate your home with the latest in seasonal decor, and super convenient ways to purchase it.

The Home Depot makes it so easy to order home accents and DIY project materials. Their website is easy to navigate and ordering is a breeze. You can have your items shipped to your house, arrange for free pick-up at your local store, or even have the items brought to your vehicle. Visit HomeDepot.com to learn all about their pick-up and delivery options.

Oh, have you downloaded the mobile Home Depot app? It truly is a hi-tech personal shopping assistant located right on your device.