Episodes

In the Replay, we report on two creative solutions to the danger posed by dead ash trees. It’s time for the Bad Guy Bulletin, with a heads up on Social Security and other scams. In the Feature, learn how insurance companies respond to hail damage, the damage and theft caused by squatters and which insurer is responsible for damage to a condo cause by a water leak from above...the HOA’s insurer or the insurer of the unit above. Insurance pro, Mike Cellucci addresses it all.

In the Replay today, Kevin walks us through the renovation of a 300-year-old farmhouse. In the Horror story, Kevin discovers a new company on Instagram and their improper installation of windows and roofing. In the Feature today, Brad O’Conner, Chief Economist of Florida Realtors, provides a briefing on Florida real estate with an emphasis on the Gulf Coast. Properties currently on the market still don’t come up to the pre-Covid numbers, but the market is moving, despite rising mortgage and ho...

In our replay today, we get Michele’s take on her recently completed total ProVia exterior makeover. In the Horror Story, a homeowner learns that the poor choice of a contractor results in a poorly installed patio door. In our Feature, Angel explains the latest improvements she’s made to her smallish, concrete, Mid-mod home, located where the northern boundary of Philadelphia meets the burbs. Angel, who retired from the commercial design firm she founded, just completed a wonderful outdoo...

In our Replay today, we arm you with questions few homeowners ask when selecting a contractor. The right answers can make the difference between a great job and a botcthed job. In our Horror Story Today...the contractor came to install a new roof and siding, and caused massive water damage. Was it worth it? Do you know if you have 2 X 4s for studs or the newer 2 X 6s. It makes a difference in terms of the insulation in your walls. Today, Kevin again becomes Professor Kennedy, as he explains th...

Today’s Replay is the first of two that offer sound advice on choosing a contractor for any type of home improvement project. It’s time for the Bad Guy Bulletin. There’s a pretty widespread scam going on. It involves roofers who knock on your door, claiming that you have hail damage on your roof, and they can re-do your roof at your insurance company’s expense. Sounds tempting, but beware. In our feature today, Kevin and Ron share their points of view on selecting, improving and maintaining r...

In today’s Replay, Kevin explains the proper way to install windows and why it’s so important. In the Horror Story, Kevin encounters a contractor who failed to get a permit and got caught. In our Feature, we again interview renowned architect, Illya Azaroff, about a current project underway in Oahu, Hawaii The KO’OLAULOA Resilience Hub is under development in a particularly isolated area of Oahu. It’s capable of housing 1,500 local residents for 30 days, whenever Mother Nature shows her a...

In the Replay today, Kevin riffs on the pros and cons of a drip edge. The Horror Story is about another botched window installation. Listen carefully, so you know how to spot a botched window installation, if it happens to you. In order to help you and/or your parents with the process of rightsizing to simplify life and age in place, take a few tips from Rosemary. She made the transition from a 5,000-square-foot house to a compact rental cottage. A couple of years later, she couldn’t be ha...

In our Replay today, Ron takes us on a 15-minute journey through Palm Springs. This oasis in the California desert east of LA was featured in our Popular 2023 YouTube series, The Coolest Neighborhoods in America. Listen today, as Ron shares what he learned about Palm Springs during a recent trip to the epicenter of Mid-century Modern architecture and so many other fascinating things. Ron’s trip inspired two additional Feature segments. One was on Pacaso fractional home ownership (11/10/23). The...

In our Replay today, Ron gives us the inside story of his recent visit to the architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, the Martin House. FLW designed the house for a Buffalo, New York entrepreneur back when that city was one of the wealthiest in America. Among many fascinating features, the Martins became the first American family to a have a home with an open floor plan. In our Horror Story, trouble often happens because everyone thinks they’re a contractor. Our Feature is the soundtr...

In our Replay today, we discuss the criteria for SUCCESSFULLY hiring a contractor. The Horror Story deals with sophomoric questions posted to Facebook by a siding contractor who should know better. The urban Doom Loop is a hypothesis developed by Professor Stan Van Nieuwerburgh from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. According to Professor Van Nieuwerburgh, Covid and the sudden rise of remote work spawned crises in terms of vacant office space and a cascade of other trou...

In today’s Replay, Kevin’s customer explains what sold her on ProVia windows. Our Horror Story is about a professional contractor Facebook account where they ask rudimentary questions that you wouldn’t expect from home improvement pros. Many first-time home buyers have been stymied by a persistent seller’s market. Now first timers in New Jersey are getting a helping hand in the form of a forgivable loan to help fund a downpayment. In many NJ counties the amount of the loan is $15,000. In ...

In the Replay today, you can’t always take reviews at face value. Kevin cites one that praises an improperly done roofing job. Our Horror Story deals with a window installation that went off the rails – and the contractor attempted to justify it. In today’s Feature, we get reactions from realtors in North Carolina and California to the class action that changes the way agents for residential sellers and buyers are compensated. Who will it impact the most...sellers, buyers or real estate agents...

In the Replay, this homeowner can’t wait to get started on a whole new exterior featuring ProVia products. It’s again time for The Bad Guy Bulletin. We’re joined by both Marc Furber from the Bucks County DA’s Office and Mike Bannon from Bucks County Consumer Protection Weights and Measures. Both report on the latest scams, and Mike has great news for Pennsylvania residents: home title surveillance is now available from your local recorder of deeds for FREE. In our Feature today...in case y...

In the Replay today, Kevin reports on a window BOGO that is a definite NOGO. In the Horror Story, Kev spots a contractor scaffolding accident waiting to happen on a siding group’s Facebook page. Hope the contractor had worker’s comp. The subject of our Feature today is spring projects, featuring decks. Steven, a Trex product manager, explains the many reasons why Trex remains a leader in composite decking and railings. It all comes down to great appearance, durability, value for the money,...

In the Replay today, Ron questions Kevin about the appeal of ProVia® products including windows, doors, and siding, among his customers. Three factors stand out: the ProVia warranty, appearance, and durability. Our Horror Story today deals with the replacement of a window that failed to meet HOA standards. As you can imagine, this caused much needless aggravation. The subject of our Feature today is ventilation and Professor Kennedy schools us on the importance of it.

In the Replay today, Caroline walks us through the many updates Kevin and crew have brought about in her house, one of the oldest in America. In today’s Horror Story, Kevin shares on bad window installations. In the Feature, our frequent guest, the multiple award-winning interior designer, Donna Hoffman easily shifts gears to suggest modestly priced decorating updates to heighten the appeal of a rental property, a boomer couple’s home that they’ve finally put on the market and the home of a co...

In the Replay today, we interview Sean about his choice of new ProVia® windows. The look and the limited lifetime warranty, in particular, stood out in Sean’s mind. Also, the Bad Guy Bulletin is this week! In the Feature today, Matt C., one of the two Crypto Matts who keeps adding to our knowledge of the Crypto landscape, is back to facilitate our understanding of the CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency), being studied by the U.S. and already implemented in China and elsewhere. Matt wil...

In the Replay today, except for a few finishing touches, it’s a wrap for Dianne’s kitchen, featuring an expansive ProVia® window with built-in blinds. You can pick up pointers in this final interview with Dianne. In today’s Horror Story, a homeowner gets duped with a lie about siding. In the Feature today, Joe Bograd, a Re/Max Elite Realtor makes his client's properties stand out with a branding program second to none. Joe promotes the Bograd Team on YouTube, TV, radio billboards social me...

In the Replay today, Kevin’s customer, Dianne, is ecstatic about her expansive, new ProVia kitchen window that provides a lot more light and a view of her beautiful backyard. In the Horror Story, Dianne shines a spotlight on contractors who fail to return homeowner calls. Not a great way to get business!!. In today’s Feature, the answer to the question posed above is: regional insurers who don’t write business in western states are prone to wildland fires, Tornado Ally, and Florida and ot...

In the Replay today, Kevin and Ron raise awareness of roofing companies promoting new roofs and citing hail and wind damage. They’ll even represent you in talks with your insurance carrier. Think twice before you fall for this. In today’s Bad Guy Bulletin, we tip you off to scams you need to avoid. In the Feature, as a follow-up to an interview we did on hazards posed by dead ash and other trees in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, this week’s feature is about a drive-around Kevin and Ron did w...

In the Replay today, Dianne paints a picture of her new kitchen and its defining characteristic, a ProVia® picture window with built-in blinds. In the Horror Story, if you’re considering an HVAC split system, make sure the installer strings the tubes inside – not outside – the house. Wow!! And in the Feature, Matt C. and Matt P., two Crypto-savvy individuals who we call the CryptoMatts, join us this week for an interview to advance your understanding of Crypto and its many moving parts. We...

In the Replay today, Kevin and Ron reveal the scams, lies, and shaky sales pitches some contractors employ to get jobs. In the Horror Story, we cite a bad roofing job that led to a bad siding job. Today’s feature was prompted by Ron’s visit to his godson’s parent’s home, where he experienced the excellence of their refreshed kitchen. There was no need to change the basic footprint of the cabinets, which were in great shape. So, after weighing the cost of replacing the cabinets, the decis...

In the Replay today, Kevin and Ron explain how a responsible home improvement contractor can make a positive impact on a family. It’s the third week of the month...time for the Bad Guy Bulletin, with contributions from Mike Bannon from Bucks County Consumer Protection, Marc Furber from the Bucks DA’s Office and Ron, whose mortgage holder was hacked by the bad guys. In the Feature today, Rebecca Edwards points out top family and home safety and security products and advice on safewise.com ...

In the Replay today, Kevin walks us through the renovation of a 300-year- old farmhouse. In the Horror story, Kevin discovers a new company on Instagram and their improper installation of windows and roofing. In the Feature, Jim Mailey, Senior Technical Training Coordinator from Simpson StrongTie, walks us through the products his company makes to bring about more resilience in the connections between framing members. Something to consider if you re-do your siding.