ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Name: Meghan Wentland
Title: Contributing Writer and Editor
Meghan Wentland joined the Bob Vila team as a writer and editor in the home finance, home security, and home improvement spaces in 2020. She is also a professor of writing and literature, where she spends her time teaching students to think critically and look for clarity.
Expertise and Experience
Most of Meghan’s expertise in the home improvement area comes from research, trial, and plenty of errors. In her teaching career, she spends a lot of energy explaining to students that writing is a set of skills that can be learned, and the same goes for any unfamiliar process or project. This is how she believes that with enough preparation, home buying and home improvement don’t have to be intimidating. The best companion during a home project is a clearly laid-out explanation of what to do and how to do it; Meghan is happy to contribute to that body of work for new and experienced DIYers.
There’s a lot to know about improving a home, but home finances, insurance, and security can be just as intimidating as home improvements, especially for new buyers. In her writing, Meghan strives to tame these beasts and make them accessible for newcomers or those who don’t need the whole backstory but only the steps they need to take to get the job done.
Meghan also enjoys working on gift guides, product reviews, and pieces that help readers estimate the costs of projects and hiring the right professionals to help.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 | TUESDAY
Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons: What Homeowners Need to Understand First
Q: We retired a few years back, and because of some changes in our investments we find that we’re a little more pinched financially than we expected we would be. We’d like to be able to r...
SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 | TUESDAY
How to Install Security Cameras: 13 Steps to Take For a Safer Home
Take a good look at your home. Where do you feel you need video coverage? Is there a dark space you can’t quite see from the window that would make a perfect hideout for a criminal? Is th...
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 | FRIDAY
6 Steps to Take for Drastically Improved Screen Door Security
Many articles relating to curb appeal tend to highlight front entryways, and there’s often a focus on residential entry doors that have no screen or storm door. The look is open and appea...
AUGUST 31, 2022 | WEDNESDAY
How Much Does Wallpaper Removal Cost?
Typical Range: $420 to $1,190 National Average: $786Wallpaper goes in and out of style, and does so with great gusto—some wallpaper companies make designs so distinctive that those wit...
AUGUST 30, 2022 | TUESDAY
Solved! Do Security Signs Really Deter Crime?
Q: I’ve noticed that many of my neighbors have security systems—or at least signs on their lawns that say they do. One neighbor actually told me that he didn’t want a security system, so ...
AUGUST 30, 2022 | TUESDAY
How Much Does a Gutter Guard Cost to Install?
Highlights The typical cost range for gutter guard installation is $615 to $2,348, with a national average price of $1,481. The most significant cost factors for gutter guard installati...
AUGUST 25, 2022 | THURSDAY
Solved! Is There a Security Camera That Works Without Wi-Fi?
Q: There are so many security cameras on the market now, and with a slight rise in crime in my neighborhood I’d like to get one. However, my Wi-Fi is spotty on a good day, plus I’m not su...
AUGUST 24, 2022 | WEDNESDAY
Solved! How Long Do Water Softeners Last?
Q: Our new home has a whole-house water softener installed. The previous owners only lived here for a few years and aren’t sure exactly how old it is, though they indicated that it was wo...
AUGUST 16, 2022 | TUESDAY
Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention: 5 Tips For Worried Vehicle Owners
Q: Our local police department recently sent out an alert about a rise in catalytic converter thefts in our area. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not actually sure what a catalytic conv...
AUGUST 5, 2022 | FRIDAY
Looking to Buy New Windows? Pella Has An Option for You—If You Can Find It
It seems as if most people only think about the windows in their home when there is an issue to address: maybe the windows are in desperate need of being washed, or one struggles to open....
