Smart Homeowners
Daily tips and resources to help you improve, care for and protect your home.
I will give you something every day so you can live smarter. With my team of experts, we’ll cover what matters to you: security, energy efficiency, maintenance, home improvement, finance and insurance.
📢 Act now if you’re shopping insurance
Some insurance companies are not writing policies in Texas for the remainder of 2023. Why it matters: If you’re considering changing insurance, your alternatives are shrinking. 🔦 Pro Spotlight Aaron Husman with The Phoenix Insurance explains that insurance companies only write policies until they reach a limit. The limit is determined by the amount of insurance […]
🥩 Grillin’ with gas
Ever run out of propane during your cookout? Solve that problem by running a natural gas line! Why it matters: You can eliminate the hassle of swapping propane tanks and instead focus on the grill and your guests. ⚙️ How it works: Run a natural gas line and shut off to your grill location. Purchase the […]
💂 Gutter guards or no?
A good gutter guard system is more expensive than the actual gutters. Why it matters: You need to know if that expense is worth it. 🖼️ The big picture: A well designed system with quality guards will keep your gutters from being clogged so water can flow. On the flip side — cheap gutter guards make […]
👀 Before you build or remodel
Find out if your contractor knows how to build the perfect wall. ⛏️ Dig deeper Watch Matt Risinger describe it. Why it matters: Durability, comfort, health and efficiency. 🖼️ The big picture: We should expect more from our buildings. Longer lasting. Tuned for our comfort. Designed to promote health. 👏 Bonus! Energy efficiency is a side effect. That’s […]
🏆 Code? How about CodePlus!
Building codes set the MINIMUM standard for safety, durability and efficiency. Why it matters: Do you want the minimum for your home or something better? ⚙️ How it works: Today, we’re starting another install of a CodePlus roof by IKO. Follow me on Facebook or Instagram as I share the details of this next level roofing […]
📱 An app for your summer adventures
I created a reel and wrote about What3Words when I learned the Dallas Police Department was encouraging citizens to learn to use it. Why it matters: What3Words can lead emergency services to your exact location. It can also be used when you’re on vacation to coordinate meet up spots for you family. ⚙️ How it works: […]
🎂 So this is 50
During our re-roof yesterday, Tony and I had a little “come to Jesus” meeting as we talked about whether or not we were going to do it right or take the shortcut. More on that in a minute. Today I’m departing from my usual format to offer some reflections as I turn 50. I’m up […]
🔧 Quick plumbing fix
A plumber told me about an amazing temporary solution. Why it matters: A proper plumbing repair can be expensive. Sometimes the budget or circumstances require a temporary fix. ⚙️ How it works: This compression tape can stop leaks immediately … for awhile. I needed a repair on a cracked drain pipe —> drain pipes are less […]
🏘️ Survey says
Have a potential issue with your property lines and boundaries? It’s best to deal with it before it becomes a problem. Why it matters: Waiting until it’s time to sell the house to resolve any questions can be more costly. Waiting until one of your neighbors sells can cause problems too. 📝 What to do next: […]
🥵 Do you need a dehumidifier?
Yes, you probably do. Why it matters: Unless your home can maintain a relative humidity (RH) of below 60% (55% would be better), you need to dehumidify. 🖼️ The big picture: High humidity leads to poor indoor air quality and damages building materials. Dust mites do not thrive below 55%RH — and dust mites are one […]