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We have hardware store ratings for these seven metro areas.
Where to Shop for Plants

Where to Shop for Plants

Since most garden centers buy—rather than raise—most of what they sell, there is room for tremendous variation in buying standards and the quality of plants being sold. The opinions we collected from consumers on garden centers reflect these big differences.

Where to Find the Best Prices for Plants

Where to Find the Best Prices for Plants

Our undercover shoppers found huge price variation among garden centers—perhaps more than in any other subject we cover. Unfortunately, we found the lowest prices at big chains, which receive poor ratings from their customers.

Plotting Your Course for Plant Purchases

Plotting Your Course for Plant Purchases

Make like an HGTV star and do a rough drawing showing your house, other structures, property lines, and desired plants. Get guidelines and ideas from gardening websites, friends with attractive outdoor spaces, and experts.

Buying Kitchen Cabinets

Buying Kitchen Cabinets

Are you ready for a kitchen makeover? Here's advice on how to get the kitchen you crave for the least amount of hassle and money. We provide tips and ratings to help you plan your space, find the right designers, suppliers, and contractors, and get good prices.

Trends in Cabinets & Countertops

Trends in Cabinets & Countertops

Since you’ll probably redo your kitchen only every 10 to 20 years, you’ll want to select finishes and fixtures that you love. But also make sure they fit current, up-and-coming, and long-term cabinet and countertop trends.

Countertop Intelligence

Countertop Intelligence

While granite is still popular, the most popular kitchen countertops are quartz, which looks like stone but is actually a mashup of minerals and resins and usually colored with patterns that mimic granite or marble. No matter what type of material you select, you can save plenty by shopping for the best price.

Where to Buy Appliances

Where to Buy Appliances

Finding the right appliance, buying it, and getting it delivered and installed without hassles can be an aggravating experience. But we found that many stores serve their customers well, and you don’t have to pay more to get this kind of treatment.

How to Get the Best Deal on Appliances

How to Get the Best Deal on Appliances

You want sound buying advice, careful and prompt delivery, and a trouble-free install—but you don’t want to pay a steep price for them. Fortunately, you don’t have to.

Kitchen Appliance Trends

Kitchen Appliance Trends

Kitchen appliances continue to evolve due to new tech and changing styles—and because manufacturers and retailers need reasons to convince you to replace perfectly functional units.

Where to Find Good HVAC Help

Where to Find Good HVAC Help

To make sure your heating and air-conditioning systems work when needed, they must be properly installed and maintained. We’ve rated heating and air-conditioning services for quality and price.

What to Do If You Need HVAC Repairs

What to Do If You Need HVAC Repairs

If you know the repair you need, get price quotes from at least three highly rated companies—a bit of shopping will pay off big time.

Choosing New HVAC Equipment and Getting It Installed Properly

Choosing New HVAC Equipment and Getting It Installed Properly

How well a new HVAC system performs, and how much it costs, depends heavily on its design and the quality of installation. It’s important to make the right decisions—and there are many to make. You also must make sure to get a fair contract.