Alan J. Heavens

Alan J. Heavens has been writing about real estate and home improvement for the last 14 years. A veteran of 35 years as a reporter, he holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in history.

Heavens cannot make recommendations about contractors, realtors, mortgage services or neighborhoods.

See recent entries in Al Heavens' Q&A Forum
Email Al at aheavens@phillynews.com

Cheat Sheet: Usually, buying is better than building bookcases

By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

Posted 2:06am

Until Amazon's Kindle makes physically purchasing individual books online or at the bookstore a thing of the distant past, voracious readers who would rather buy than borrow from the library will continue to need vast spaces for storing their tomes.

Cheat Sheet: Usually, buying is better than building bookcases

Your Place: Getting that deck cleaned, better late than never - 07/03/2009: By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

Question: I know you've written many times about cleaning decks, but mine is looking kind of dingy and, because it sits on the north side of our house, is coated in mildew. The deck is gray, but the color is more greenish-black. Can you dig into your files and see if you can find your advice? I would have liked to have gotten it done for July 4. Maybe I'll get it done in time for Labor Day. Thanks.
On the House: - 06/28/2009: By Al Heavens, Inquirer Columnist

Inquirer real estate writer Alan J. Heavens is the author of "Remodeling on the Money" (Kaplan Publishing). His home-improvement columns appear Fridays in Home & Design.
On the House: A dearth of affordable rentals - 06/26/2009: By Al Heavens, Inquirer Columnist

Amid abundant houses for sale and unsold condos doing temporary duty as rental units, "quality" affordable apartments remain in short supply. But don't interpret "quality" as "high-end."
Cheat Sheet: Some factors to consider in picking a clothes dryer - 06/26/2009: By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

I need to feed you a line - a clothesline, in this case, which, without fear of contradiction, remains the most energy-efficient way of drying laundry.
On the House: Sheriff's sales are for insiders - 06/19/2009: By Al Heavens, Inquirer Columnist

Robin Goldsetter is a savvy businesswoman. Her shop, Robin's Hair Design, has been a fixture of the Head House Square neighborhood for 30 years.
Your Place: Getting patio furniture spruced up for summer - 06/19/2009: By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

Question: We bought patio chairs several years ago. We leave them out of doors year-round, and the material has become discolored. Is there a way to clean them? No holes or any other problems.
On the House: Layoff sets off a search for shelter - 06/12/2009: By Al Heavens, Inquirer Columnist

Rita Hernandez's experience is not uncommon. Not in less-affluent, big-city neighborhoods, where opportunities are few and despair can be quite abundant.
Cheat Sheet: Some tips on how to find storage that's top-drawer - 06/12/2009: By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

I was walking to the drugstore the other evening and happened to pass a discarded computer table with file drawers that had seen better days.
On the House: The root of mortgage problems? - 06/05/2009: By Al Heavens, Inquirer Columnist

Patricia Franklin has been unhappy ever since the day she walked through the front door of her Haverford condo.
Your Place: Some tactics to spiff up faded aluminum siding - 06/05/2009: By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

Question: My daughter moved into a house that has aluminum siding. The siding is in good condition, but it is ugly - it's white and chalky-looking and faded, if white can look faded.