Tis the season of devastating, but preventable holiday home fires. They are the most humbug of holiday statistics, numbers not even Scrooge, the Grinch or Hans Gruber would enjoy. The American Red Cross estimates 47,000 holiday home fires will claim 500 lives, cause 2,200 injuries and cost $500 million in property damage this season. Nothing […]
It’s the first rule of construction: No structure can stand without a strong, healthy foundation. But if your home is facing foundation solidity issues or needed repairs, the first question you need to ask is the most essential. Does my homeowners insurance cover foundation repairs? If you’re not absolutely sure, the plot will thicken on […]
Analyzing the fine print of your homeowners insurance policy is not anybody’s definition of a great read, but for homeowners facing a troublesome mold problem, it’s a must read. Especially, this section: Does Your Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold? In most cases, the disheartening answer is no. With a few important exceptions, most home insurance policies […]
There is no better assessment of a home’s health and present livability and safety condition than a professional home inspection. For prospective home buyers, a home inspection is a must and a great State of the Home Report. Home inspections allow perspective owners to avoid buyer’s regret, offer leverage to negotiate a lower asking price, […]
There’s no heat in Iowa quite like the sizzling, sometimes unmerciful humidity of the dog days of summer. It’s a type of humidity-drenched sun that can drive the devil to Wal-Mart hunting for air conditioners. It’s the type of heat that melt ice cream to the cone in less than a minute. It’s the type […]
The No. 1 Question Every American Homeowner Will Likely Never Ask Themselves This Summer: “Hmmm, Is My Dehumidifier Safe?” With all the things to enjoy in Iowa this summer, it’s easy to overlook one of the most underappreciated of household appliances. Simply put, dehumidifiers are air purifying rock stars. They keep the air we breathe […]
What’s this project worth? It’s a make-or-break question facing every American homeowner weighing diving in on a home improvement project this summer. For there is arguably no greater evaluator of the success of a project than its return on investment. ROI is everything in home improvement. If your project won’t return the money and sweat […]
It’s finally spring in Iowa and construction season is in full swing. With the sweet sights and sounds of life returning to normal post the Coronavirus pandemic comes the very real threat of construction site fires. Like oil and water, red wine and white carpets, and Iowa and Michigan fans, surging spring temperatures and combustible […]
Foundation Definition: The load bearing element of a structure responsible for connecting it to the ground and transferring loads from rooftop to soils. A home’s foundation is much more than the ground we are raised on. It’s the difference between living in a house of cards and a house standing stronger than oak. A house’s […]
Green Mold. If your name’s not Oscar the Grouch or you are not a scientist doing important research on this gross subject, it’s most probably not your jam. Alas, as mold grows in different textures and colors, it offers many different forms of unwelcome moldy intrusions into your home. Mold threatens your home’s livability and […]
