Sunken Bathtub Disaster House

What do portable urinals, teapots, and a peculiar sunken bathtub all have in common? They’re all in this disaster house!

You’ll see in today’s Insider Show episode!

We had some fun with this!

(click here to watch our video on your mobile device)

As you can see, we have a lot of fun with Real Estate and the quirky things that happen while we’re working.

If you have any questions about homes that have been foreclosed on, struck by lightning, fire damaged, exploded ceilings, homes in general, or buying a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes via email, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as things warm up and we find other crazy projects to take on.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

Before and After Renovation: The Amazing Technicolor Dream House!

We just finished renovation work on an outdated home with crazy colors like lime green, Pepto-Bismal pink, Groovy 70′s maroon, and bright blue.

We demolished the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and added a whole new bathroom in the lower level. We also got help from the Insider Show Facebook fans to pick colors and decide if we should keep or kill a curio cabinet in the dining room.

In the end we think it turned out great. You be the judge.

It is finished!

Before remodeling began

Kitchen demolition

Bathroom and basement demolition

(click here to watch our renovation videos on your mobile device)

As you can see, we have a lot of fun with Real Estate and transforming homes and neighborhoods. We love it!

If you have any questions about buying a home in our four cities, homes in general, or how to buy a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes via email, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as things warm up and we find other crazy projects to take on.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

When Lightning Strikes a House!

Good thing lightning never strikes the same place twice…

When lightning strikes a house, it explodes into fire. It’s pretty terrifying! Watch the video below to see what it looked like when we found it.

It was crazy!

After the lightning strike and ensuing explosion/fire happened to this house, we took the chance to rebuild it into something even better.

This was our biggest project ever!

(click here to watch the “Lightning Strike House” video on your mobile device)

As you can see, we really enjoy taking on big projects. We also have a lot of fun with it.

If you have any questions about homes that have been struck by lightning, fire damage, exploded ceilings, homes in general, or buying a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes via email, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as things warm up and we find other crazy projects to take on.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

Living Room Trapped in the Body of a Garage!

One of the homes we worked on this fall had a living room that used to be a garage. We helped it return to it’s original form.

It’s much happier now.

We had some fun with this one…

(click here to watch the living room to garage video on your mobile device)

If you know a confused home in your neighborhood that needs help, let us know. We’re very open minded about all homes, even ones that have been burned, struck by lightning, attacked by mold, or foreclosed on. We’ll help them become a dream home again.

If you have any questions about demolishing living rooms, homes in general, or buying a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as we bring in new faces and share more information that will help you become and stay a successful home owner.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

What Does Home Staging Do When Listing a Property For Sale?

Curious about home staging? The Chicago team just finished the renovation of a large home in Olympia Fields. In order to sell it faster, we decided to try staging the home.

What did home staging do?

Surprisingly, it made the home feel bigger. The furniture, artwork, and rugs helped define the space and give perspective. It also helped visitors imagine where furniture would go and what sort of decorations would fit well. Most importantly, it made visitors feel like it was a home that they could see themselves living in.

How did it look?

Right after they finished decorating, Jennie got a look at how it turned out. These videos offer you a picture of what home staging looks like before and after. Let’s go inside!

(click here to see the staged home video on your mobile device)

How did it look before?

If you’re curious what it looked like before, check out this initial final tour before the home was staged. The difference is remarkable.

(click here to see the before video of this home on your mobile device)

Buying a home can be confusing, difficult, and full of bumps along the way. We create our videos to help you make decisions, see what kind of homes are out there, and have some fun along the way. Hopefully you get some ideas.

If you have any questions about staging a home, homes in general, or buying a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as we begin to prepare for Spring.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

We are just like you…

The last couple years have seen pretty rough times for many Americans.  2011 was no exception.

Many of us have seen problems at work or watched loved ones lose their jobs. It hasn’t been pretty, but you kept at it.  You didn’t quit and here we are with one more year under our belt.

We are just like you.

Most of our colleagues in the home building community have moved on. Very few people are buying new homes. Many many homes are sitting in disrepair as the government or big banks figure out what to do with them.  It’s not a great time to be passionate about building homes.

Even so, we love building homes so much that we decided to fight through it.

The Insider Show idea was our answer.

We figured out a way do what we love and help people too.  Our teams got together from Chicago, Milwaukee, Rockford and Peoria to tell the story of how we’re doing it.  We’ll answer any questions, show anything we do.  No secrets.

We buy really bad homes.  We’ll even take homes when lightning strikes or mold attacks (see below).  Then, we fix them up how we’d want them ourselves, using stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and vanities, and really nice floors of hardwood or tile.  We’re really proud of the homes we work on.

That is why we make our videos.

In the process we get to keep doing what we love, give hundreds of good people jobs, make new homeowners happy, and raise the values of neighborhoods in your area.

In 2011, we learned how to share our story with you.  In 2012, we look forward to hearing your story, getting more of your feedback, and including you in what we’re doing.

Thanks for a great year.  Thanks for helping us spread the word.

Thank you for helping us keep our jobs.

We appreciate you.

Here’s to a great 2012.  Cheers!

- Your friends at the Insider Show

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

Some of the crazy houses from 2011

Realtors Get Locked Out Too

Ever get locked out of your home? It’s not fun.

Realtors get locked out too!

Getting locked out is a lot more fun when it isn’t you. Scott wasn’t laughing…

(click here to watch the “Locked Out” video on your mobile device)

As part of our new “Foreclosure Hunters” series, we’re sharing an inside look at how difficult it can be to buy a home that’s in foreclosure or owned by a bank. It’s not easy.

If you’re interested in following our videos, click here to subscribe for free. If subscribing via email, make sure you select “All episodes”. If you have any thoughts for us, just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes, The upcoming months will be exciting as we bring in new faces and share more information that will help you become and stay a successful home owner.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

Should You Demolish Your Chimney Before Christmas?

The Peoria team demolishes this chimney to the 1812 Overture soundtrack. This will create more open space in a bedroom and the kitchen at the Resthaven Project. However, one big question remains…

How will Santa get in?

Somehow he finds a way. Check it out in today’s episode!

(click here to watch the chimney demolition video on your mobile device)

Buying a home during the Holidays can be confusing, difficult, and full of bumps along the way. We create our weekly videos to help you make decisions (and have some fun) along the way.

If you have any questions about demolishing a chimney, homes in general, or buying a home, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as we bring in new faces and share more information that will help you become and stay a successful home owner.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

5 Star-Studded Holiday Home Tips (PG-13 for Humor)

We care so much about Christmas tree fire safety, we had Ryan go topless to draw attention to the serious issue!

Ryan’s been on a strict diet and training program to get ready for his big scene in this week’s Insider Show holiday home tips episode.

It also features Macaulay Culkin, Will Ferrel, Chevy Chase, and the Grinch. We had a lot of fun with this one. Please let us know what you think on our Facebook wall (or below) and share it if you found it amusing.

This one is so crazy it could go viral!

(click here to watch the Holiday Home Tips video on your mobile device)

5 Holiday Home Tips to Keep You and Your Family Safe

1) Make sure you water your Christmas tree if it’s real.

You don’t need a fire ruining your home or Christmas presents.

2) Make sure you shut your holiday lights off during the day or late night.

A huge utility bill is the last bill you need to see after the Christmas shopping season. Use a timer if you can. You’ll be happy you did.

3) Don’t spend too much on presents.

They are not more important that paying your mortgage. Create a budget and stick to it.

4) Take security measures if you’re traveling for the holidays.

The holiday season is one of the top times for burglars to break in and rob your home. Make arrangements to have snow removed and mail picked up when you’re gone from your home.

5) Have fun!

Enjoy time with your family and remember why you work so hard. Make your home happy. Have fun.

Buying a home during the Holidays can be confusing, difficult, and full of bumps along the way. We create our weekly videos to help you make decisions (and have some fun) along the way.

If you have any questions about buying our holiday home tips, homes in general, home warranties, things that break once you’re in your new home, or other home purchase issues, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as we bring in new faces and share more information that will help you become and stay a successful home owner.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.

Black Friday Real Estate Message

The holidays are here!

With Thanksgiving yesterday and more holidays on the way, we wanted to take a minute to wish you a happy holiday season and say thank you.

If you’re reading this, we made this video for you:

(click here to watch the home warranty video on your mobile device)

Buying a home during the Holidays can be confusing, difficult, and full of bumps along the way. We create our weekly videos to help you make decisions (and have some fun) along the way.

If you have any questions about buying a home, home warranties, things that break once you’re in your new home, or other home purchase issues, we’d love to help answer your questions. Just post a comment here on the blog or the Insider Show Facebook wall and we’ll help you out as best as we can or point you in the right direction. You can also contact us on Twitter.

To stay informed and get future episodes, click here to subscribe for free. The upcoming months will be exciting as we bring in new faces and share more information that will help you become and stay a successful home owner.

Stay tuned!

- Your friends on the Insider Show team

To subscribe, click here for several options. We work hard on these videos and would love to have you along for the ride.