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, weโll cover what matters to you: security, energy efficiency, maintenance, home improvement, finance and insurance.
๐ขย Act now if youโre 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. ๐ฆย 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 […]
๐ฅฉย Grillinโ 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. โ๏ธย How it works: Run a natural gas line and shut off to your grill location. Purchase the […]
๐ย 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. ๐ผ๏ธย 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 โ cheap gutter guards make […]
๐ย Before you build or remodel
Find out if your contractor knows how to build the perfect wall. โ๏ธย Dig deeper Watch Matt Risinger describe it. Why it matters: Durability, comfort, health and efficiency. ๐ผ๏ธย The big picture: We should expect more from our buildings. Longer lasting. Tuned for our comfort. Designed to promote health. ๐ย Bonus! Energy efficiency is a side effect. Thatโs […]
๐ย 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? โ๏ธย How it works: Today, weโre 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 […]
๐ฑย 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 youโre on vacation to coordinate meet up spots for you family. โ๏ธย How it works: […]
๐ย So this is 50
During our re-roof yesterday, Tony and I had a little โcome to Jesusโ 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 Iโm departing from my usual format to offer some reflections as I turn 50. Iโm up […]
๐งย 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. โ๏ธย How it works: This compression tape can stop leaks immediately โฆ for awhile. I needed a repair on a cracked drain pipe โ> drain pipes are less […]
๐๏ธย Survey says
Have a potential issue with your property lines and boundaries? Itโs best to deal with it before it becomes a problem. Why it matters: Waiting until itโs time to sell the house to resolve any questions can be more costly. Waiting until one of your neighbors sells can cause problems too. ๐ย What to do next: […]
๐ฅตย 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. ๐ผ๏ธย The big picture: High humidity leads to poor indoor air quality and damages building materials. Dust mites do not thrive below 55%RH โ and dust mites are one […]