May is Home Remodeling Month but we don’t need to always do large and expensive projects. We can transform our homes with simple, low-cost, DIY projects. In this episode, we discuss the different types of projects you can do that are affordable, easy and can often be completed in a weekend. Tune in to hear our tips to refresh your home with simple DIY projects.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:50] Cost-effective exterior project ideas.
[05:37] The benefits of installing low voltage lighting outside.
[12:26] Interior DIY project ideas.
[16:00] How to refresh a room with decorative and furniture type projects.
[19:15] Tips when using paint to transform different spaces.
[23:08] Where to find inspiration and other easy project ideas.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
DIY projects can be great ways to update your home for a low cost.
When investing in your home, focus on the front of your house first. Take care of your grass, irrigation, and consider adding shrubs, trees and potted plants.
The front door is the main way we welcome guests. Freshen up your front door with a bright paint color or new hardware.
Organization is another way to invest in your home. When you have a clutter-free environment, you have a more productive environment.
For homeowners getting ready to sell their homes, what can or should you do to get your home ready to list? On today’s episode, John and Beth are talking with Jill Elliott, a Broker Associate with over 10 years of experience in all aspects of real estate. Jill brings her realtor experience to share tips on what homeowners can do to list a home. She also shares stories of her experiences and suggestions from her own client’s journeys through real estate sales. Jill offers advice on how to work with a real estate agent in your area and her own suggestions on how to market a home and move through the process more easily when selling a home.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[02:21] How to get your home ready for sale.
[03:39] How to get older homes ready for sale.
[05:00] Is there certain maintenance you should do before you contact a real estate agent or before you list your home?
[06:20] How important is curb appeal and staging a home?
[10:47] How to set financial expectations for listing a home.
[15:36] How to find the right real estate agent.
[19:19] Why a house might not close; tips for planning a home inspection, and parting advice from Jill.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The first thing to do when deciding to sell your home is let go and let the process happen. Respect the process, be flexible and make changes suggested by your realtor.
Things to be aware of when selling or buying a home are the roof and foundation, plumbing, windows and electrical.
How do you find the right real estate agent? Find one that you trust. Not that you like, but one that you trust.
Jill Elliott is a Broker Associate with @properties Dallas and brings over 10 years of experience in all aspects of real estate. She has consistently been a top producer in the DFW area, receiving yearly Circle of Excellence awards. Before becoming a full time REALTOR, Jill was a radio personality for 22 years in several cities around the country including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Columbia, Augusta and Atlanta. This may seem a strange transition but her former career allowed her to work with so many different people and charitable organizations that a real estate career was a natural fit for her. Jill has a podcast – For The Love of Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others. She is a big fan of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. She is a member of the MetroTex Board of Realtors and the National Association of REALTORs. Jill is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and lives with her wonderful family and dog Stella on the shores of Lake Lewisville.
Interviewing a remodeling contractor for some may seem challenging. But we have some simple tips to help you have a fabulous relationship with your contractor. In today’s episode, we walk through the steps to consider before, during, and after a remodel project. Listen in to learn the tips and tricks on how to start your project off on the right foot and end with on a good note!
Questions to consider when starting a project:
What should a homeowner do before researching for a remodeling contractor? What do homeowners need to look for when researching a contractor for a remodel project? Is it important to compare contractors or quotes before deciding on which contractor to use?
What details should be asked prior to signing a contract with a remodeling contractor? How should a homeowner manage their contractor during the construction process?
How should you handle a situation with your contractor if something is not working during the project? Who manages or is responsible for the budget of the project?
How should change orders be determined when changes do happen to a project? How should money be paid to a contractor? Up front, partial payment, etc
What are the risks of certain contracts? What to look for and how to manage the details? What does a close out look like and if there is a problem with the job, how can you manage this process?
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:23] What should a homeowner do before researching for a remodeling contractor? What do homeowners need to look for when researching a contractor for a remodel project?
[09:24] How do you find quality contractors and one of the key questions to ask your contractor?.
[12:53] how to ask for client referrals?
[18:34] How should money be paid to a contractor?
[21:10] Understanding “change orders” and what happens when changes happen during the project.
[24:01] How to handle the close out process and gather warranties.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
You need a plan before you start looking for a contractor. Do the upfront planning before you try to determine the scope of the project.
If you are working on a bigger project, it’s smart to get two to three bids or estimates.
When getting customer referrals, don’t ask broad questions like whether the contractor did a good job. Ask detailed questions about the process of the project and demeanor of the contractor.
Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.
John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with bootstrapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.
SHOW NOTES: Many homeowners are investing in vacation homes or rental properties. And because they are investing in owning multiple homes, they have added concerns. We are going to talk about these additional concerns and what you need to do in order to successfully manage more than one home. Listen as we discuss maintenance schedules, the benefits of hiring a property manager, and the importance of a home inventory.
IN THIS EPISODE: ● [01:27] Beth’s experience with managing more than one home ● [04:43] What is a home inventory and why is it important for vacation and long-term rental properties ● [06:32] Maintenance schedules to be aware of and how different climates impact properties ● [12:09] How important is it to hire a property manager and what are the benefits ● [17:39] Key items to consider with selling your vacation home or rental property ● [21:03] How HomeZada helps with managing multiple homes ● [27:08] Action items: property managers and home maintenance
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
● Take a home inventory of your house before renters come in and then after or between long-term renters. ● Two benefits of hiring a property manager: 1) they can be on location to attend to issues in a timely manner 2) property managers generally have a network of contractors and or service providers that they regularly use for regular maintenance and those one off situations that are timely. ● HomeZada makes multi-home management so much easier, more comprehensive and it centralizes all of your important data in one easy to navigate location.
Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market. John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.
SHOW NOTES: The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the face of America’s workplace. In fact, an increasing number of folks might find their “new office” feels a lot like home – because it is literally their home.
Our post-pandemic “return to the office” may look different with hybrid or fully remote work models rapidly rising in popularity. Studies from Accenture support this trend with 83% of workers believing a hybrid model would be optimal going forward. Further, 87% of managers believe working from home is the future, according to Remote-How research.
While the new dynamic promises an improved work-life balance, it will also cause energy use and utility bills to skyrocket with technologies, appliances, and systems running overtime – making optimal, energy-efficient home climate control a greater challenge.
The good news is that families can prevent a utility bill blitz by following a few simple tips. With home heating and cooling accounting for nearly half of home energy use, small steps can go a long way. Today, Beth and John are talking with Dennis Stinson, VP of Sales for Fujitsu General America. Dennis is here to offer expert advice for homeowners and discuss these questions:
● What is a “hybrid” home? ● How has this new workplace dynamic impacted America’s homeowners and their energy bills? ● What are the latest and most energy-efficient HVAC systems that can help offset increased utility bills as employees spend more time working from home? ● Are there any easy tips and tricks for practical fixes around the house that can help enhance energy efficiency?
IN THIS EPISODE: ● [02:33] What is the hybrid home and industry research ● [04:41] How hybrid homes impact homeowners’ energy bills ● [05:45] Assessing current HVAC centers ● [08:33] Leveraging smart home HVAC offerings ● [10:19] Adding additional units or splitting units ● [12:35] Consumer experience and mobile technologies ● [15:32] Energy incentives and rebates ● [17:30] Recap and action steps
LINKS:
KEY TAKEAWAYS: ● Action Step: Evaluate how well your HVAC system is working, or if you have had changes to how often you are home. Is the HVAC working properly? ● As a homeowner, you should have a relationship with a variety of different contractors. Try to find one before your system breaks. Get on a regular annual maintenance program to have your system maintained and cleaned. ● There are rebate and incentive programs available to promote higher energy efficiency in your home. Be sure to take advantage of these!
BIO: Dennis Stinson is the Vice President of Sales for Fujitsu General America, a national manufacturer with distributors in local communities across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and brings over 30 years of industry experience.
Dennis leads a team of sales professionals, selling well over $300M of Fujitsu products. At Fujitsu, Dennis has held the responsibilities of Regional Sales Manager in the Mid-Atlantic and The Director of National Accounts. Prior to joining Fujitsu, Dennis spent his career as a Manufacturer’s Representative representing various Manufacturers in the HVAC industry throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Dennis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
