Episodes

This episode is the second of a special 4 part series of listener favorites scheduled to post over the span of the next 4 Fridays! Enjoy! -- In the Replay today, Don shares the plan for his house now under construction in the Jersey seaside town of Stone Harbor. In the Horror Story, a new door installation reveals a potentially catastrophic problem....no header! If you have residential investment properties or are thinking about acquiring one, invest 30 minutes listening to Scott Abernathy....

This episode is the first of a special 4 part series of listener favorites scheduled to post over the span of the next 4 Fridays! Enjoy! -- In the Replay today, Mike phones in an update on the installation of his new ProVia windows and doors. In the Horror Story, we cover the shortcomings in some manufacturers’ warranties. In the Feature this week, we interview Jessica Lautz, PhD, Vice President of Demographics and Behavioral Insights at the National Association of Realtors (NAR) about the...

In the Replay today, we wrap up Tom’s dormer expansion project. It was a tough job for Kevin and company, but the end result is just what Tom had envisioned. In our Horror Story, we uncover the case of a contractor who started a large project without getting the required permits. He did, however, require large upfront payments. In the Feature, Cam Jaggard from the PEW Charitable Trusts is back to explain the two key strategies in the Marsh Forward plan that will guide 300 organizations and ind...

In our Replay today, Tom and Kevin explain the intricate job of adding livable space in the dormers of Tom’s home. In the Horror Story, a homeowner is left with a lot of problems in a project done by a contractor his HOA approved. Our Feature today is about a massive project to rescue a vital natural resource. Coastal salt marsh performs multiple important functions, like serving as a carbon sink and an effective line of defense against rising seas. A massive initiative is underway to save 1,0...

In our Replay today, Bud, who has been around home improvement contracting much of his life, talks about what’s wrong with the industry today, and what can be done to fix it. It’s once again time for the Bad Guy Bulletin with tips on scams to guard against like the recent flurry of Pay Pal hoaxes. The scammer’s goal is to get you to call and volunteer your information. Don’t do it. Even people without PayPal accounts are being hounded by this scam. We also talk about AI, a technological “...

In our Replay today, Kevin grills a builder local to our area on the proper and improper installation of building products. The Horror Story is about a homeowner who gave a contractor one-half of the estimated cost of building a shed. The contractor hasn’t been seen since. The lesson: beware contractors seeking excessive front money. When a home improvement project goes bad, it often tracks back to a lack of knowledge or due diligence in selecting a contractor – and a lack of detail on the...

In our Replay today, Kevin and Ron discuss the planning and execution of a major ProVia® window project. In the Horror Story, this homeowner paid for a new roof and instead got new shingles installed right over the old ones...a major roofing no-no. In our Featured Segment today, we learn about ONE-PS, the neighborhood association model that has been working wonders in Palm Spring California. One-PS is the entity that unites over 50 neighborhood associations in this California town of some ...

In the replay this week, Pat Leach, talks about his Provia windows. In the Horror Story, a homeowner had a contractor fix wood windows with duct tape and paint. In our Feature segment, Sandy Smith, Home and Real Estate Editor of Philadelphia Magazine, talks about the state of the real estate market in Philadelphia and Beyond!

In our Replay today, with the help of New Pod City's Frank Sasso, we scam a scammer who is eager to flip off an estimate for a roofing job sight unseen and take a credit card number over the phone. You’ve got to hear this! In the Horror Story today, social media ads enable a scare tactic to make a roofing sale. In today’s feature, we do a fascinating interview with Chase Morrill, one of the hosts of the hit Magnolia Network show, Maine Cabin Masters. How did the show, now in its eighth season,...

In our Replay today, we cover a credit card shakedown that’s not to be believed. Often subs hired by a contractor have a mind of their own. In this case, they also had the nerve to walk off the job. This is the second week in a row where we pick the brain of multiple award-winning interior designer, Donna Hoffman. Ever wondered if you should hire an interior designer? Donna will help you puzzle through that question. She’ll also talk to how to hire the right interior designer...how to iden...

In the Replay, we have a further discussion on the YouTube video on a more detailed installation of the windows for the Sugar Shack in Knoxville, PA! See video here: https://youtu.be/e5ZNj20TYP0 In the Horror story, Since the Trex show last week we continue with a Bad deck job, to a happy Trex ending! If you’re feeling dissatisfied with your home’s interior, and you have the urge to design-it-yourself, relax and listen to some great advice from multiple award-winning interior designer, Donna H...

In our Replay today, Kevin and Ron discuss the frenzy of Roofing ads on Social Media, what is their agenda? In the Horror story, a listener asks for advice on how to fix the BAD tile installation job they recently completed. In our Featured segment today, we talk with the Trex Director of Product Marketing about all aspects of Trex decking that make it the logical choice over wood and other composites. The science and engineering behind Trex, keep it from rotting, warping, and splitting from b...

In the Replay today, dad John struggles to get a contractor-created house of horrors under control. There’s a lot to be corrected, and Kevin works alongside John step-by-step to make it happen. In the Horror Story today we talk about BAD electrical wiring in a basement, and why it is so important to get permits! Finally, in our Featured segment architect Illya Azaroff gives us a a glimpse of how the concept of resilience in residential construction, performance-based regulation of utilities a...

In our Replay today, Morgen talks about the final touches of her whole-house renovation that began as a horror story. Kevin Kennedy helped turn things around. Today, it’s once again time for the Bad Guy Bulletin. Marc Fuber from the Bucks County DA’s office offers suggestions on the theft of Stephanie’s belongings by a New York moving company. (Steph’s story was in our 3/17/23 podcast.) Ron talks about an acknowledged Publishers’ Clearing House scam that includes a live check. Absolutely d...

In our Replay today, Kevin offers valuable advice to a new listener ready to update her kitchen, family room and bath. In the Horror Story, you’ll wonder how a flooring “pro” could do such a sloppy job. Continuous Load is an engineering principle that can help recently built homes withstand strong winds...possibly even a tornado. If your home was built to codes as they existed years ago, you can achieve some of the benefit of continuous load with Simpson Strong Tie products that essentially conn...

In our Replay, Robin talks about the plan and progress regarding her basement and bath projects. In the Horror Story today...Is it proper construction etiquette for one contractor to offload trash into another contractor’s dumpster? No kidding! In our Feature, Matt Sanders from PEW Charitable Trusts reports on the initiatives four forward-thinking states – New Jersey, North and South Carolina, and Maine – are taking to mitigate the damage and threat to their residents that flooding will cause ...

In the Replay today, Susan shares the story of her new roof. And in the Horror Story, this homeowner was set to refer the contractor, until Kevin noticed issues with the job in photos the homeowner sent. Good catch, Kev! In today’s Feature, Matt Skroch, Project Director U.S. Public Lands and Rivers Conservation at PEW Charitable Trusts, fill us in on how western states are keeping motorists and large, migrating animals from tangling with each other on the highway. Using GPS to track the migr...

In the Replay, Christina Sasso talks about she and husband Frank’s plans for the refurbishment of a cottage on their upstate PA property. The cottage was formerly used to process maple syrup. Refurbishing begins with two expansive ProVia® windows to be installed by our own Kevin Kennedy. In the Horror Story, Ron relates how a routine water heater swap-out in his Philadelphia rental unit became a nightmare. In our Feature today, we discuss the value and wisdom of making an offer on a residential ...

In the Replay today, Mt. Pleasant Window and Remodeling Company provides testimony to the quality of ProVia windows. The company has been a ProVia dealer for about 40 years. In the Bad Guy Bulletin today, Stephanie reveals a widespread scam that involves a moving broker and a mover. She lost everything when she turned to these two companies to store her belongings before making a move out of New York City. Turns out it will probably take an act of congress to stop this insidious shakedown scheme...

In the Replay today, Charla describes her bathroom re-dos. Our Horror Story today drives home the point that, bad a underlayment installation almost always results in a bad tile job. In the Feature today, PA realtor, Jeff Lavine, talks about alternatives to buying an already-lived-in home, which may be leaving a lot of prospective buyers in the lurch for one of three reasons: 1) You get there too late, 2) You get outbid by someone willing waive an inspection and bid crazy money over asking, or 3...

In the Replay today, Kevin takes us to his house on the Jersey shore to Replay the renovation of a fireplace using ProVia® manufactured stone veneer. Visuals to be posted to Facebook. The Horror Story is about another dreadful siding and window job. The windows are new and they’re leaking. Surprise! All Your Valuable Home listeners with rental properties will want to hear what Matt White from Berkshire Hathaway – Fox Roche has to say about making money with residential real estate today. An Inte...

In the Replay today, Susan shares her satisfaction with her new ProVia® entry door. Next...a hardwood floor Horror Story that proves who you choose to refinish your floors matters a lot. The wrong equipment in the wrong hands can result in a mess throughout the house. In last week’s Your Valuable Home, Kevin and Ron were joined by three members of the Placemakers Guild in a brainstorming session aimed at generating affordable ideas about community improvement. This week, Kevin, Ron, and sought-a...

In our Replay today, Jess is back to finish our discussion about her new kitchen and bath. It’s our third podcast of the month, time for another Bad Guy Bulletin. Ron and Kevin are once again joined by Mike Bannon from Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights and Measures. As long as the Bad Guys stay at it, we’ll keep exposing the scams and shakedowns so you don’t get burned. To celebrate our upcoming 100th podcast and the start of our tenth year of doing Your Valuable Home, we asked frequent c...

In our Replay today, Jessica, a homeowner, shares the excitement of planning a high-end kitchen and bath remodel. In the Horror Story, Kevin shares the electrical and other issues a contractor who worked on Jessica’s house years ago left behind. This is a lesson in what happens if your contractor fails to get permits. Jessica Lautz from the National Association of Realtors and a good friend of Your Valuable Home shares a 2023 forecast of the housing market. You may be as surprised as we were to ...