Homeowner

Save TONS of Money on Replacement Vinyl Windows

I recently needed to replace all the windows in my 1950’s home in Alexandria, VA.  I decided I would explore every option to experience what consumers are up against when making this expensive and common upgrade. The results shocked me.

Conclusion: You could accidentally spend triple the amount on similar windows! This clip will explain:

 

I needed 30 windows, a number that surprised me. I did some searches and put together a list of 10 suppliers of windows in different categories.

  1. The media driven company.  In my case it was Thompson Creek.  For years I had heard this name through radio advertisements across multiple stations as well as radio personalities endorsing this company.  They made claims such as “windows built specifically for our local climate”. And so I took the bait and called.Answering the phone for the company was a representative that took my name and address but then proceeding into a long line of questioning.  “What window issues are you trying to solve”? What a weird question.  Umm, they are 60 years old…  “Who owns the house”?  “Will all the owners be present when the salesman arrives”?

    The day arrives, the salesman showed up with his mini window display and breaks out into a full on […]

By |October 2nd, 2015|Homeowner|
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A Natural Gas BBQ Grill is a Thing of Beauty

When I purchased my first home and foreclosure I had a lot to learn.  Seriously, the trials and tribulations were astounding but once in the rear view, the feeling couldn’t be beat.  Luckily, there was no shortage of wise men (and women) around me offering advice from years of their own experience.  Most of the time I used it to solve construction problems such as layout, materials, contractors, etc.  Every once in a while we came up with a solution to a problem I didn’t even know I had yet.

July 4th rolls around and you’ve invited the neighbors to a nice little cookout.  Throw some burgers on the grill, a couple dogs maybe a few brats and some veggies.  Hmm, grill sounds funny. Meats not really cooking, missing that sizzle sound.  You’re out of propane and everyone’s looking at you, starving.  Now since you’ve missed your opportunity to have checked the tank beforehand or be clever enough to have a full spare on hand, you’re left with one option.  Tuck your tail between your legs and run off to the store where you better pray that 100 other jokers didn’t already fall prey to the same situation earlier.

Insert a natural […]

By |July 4th, 2014|Homeowner, Renovations|
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Solar Tubes – Must Have in Dark Interior

IMG_20140602_181612Lighting is everything, ask any photographer. Natural lighting is everything in a home.  Nothing worse than dark shadowy areas with the lights on full blast.  There is also nothing better than bright natural light beaming in during the daytime.There is a product generally known as solar tubes that are a must have for interior rooms without windows.  Good example would be a hall bathroom.  These tubes come in a variety of  sizes (10″ pictured) based on the size of the room you need to illuminate.  IMG_20140610_202533

 

You may need to buy an extension, or several if the distance between your roof and your ceiling is greater than the size of the main solar tube supplied. Most companies offer flexible and rigid extensions depending on your install challenges.   

If your planning on having your roof replaced I would highly recommend adding one of these to your plans.  Averaging between $250-$350 for the kit, it’s a small price to pay for permanent natural lighting.  You would be surprised how often people will ask “how […]

By |June 23rd, 2014|Homeowner, Renovations|
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