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.
3 Big Questions Buyers Have About a Home Warranty
When you buy a home, one of the topics you should talk about is a home warranty.
Should you buy one? What is it? What does a home warranty cover? Who do you call when an appliance or system fails?
These are all great questions and important to discuss before buying a home or a home warranty.
We answer three questions about a home warranty in this episode.
Learn more below:
(click here to watch the home warranty video on your mobile device)
Who do you call when there is a problem?
Always call your home warranty company first. They will provide you with a list of contractors that are part of the program. If you call a service provider first, you may be stuck with the whole bill.
Will it cost more money after the premium is paid?
Almost all home warranty plans have some sort of deductible each time you need something fixed or replaced. The deductible can run anywhere from $50 to $250, depending on the plan you choose.
What is covered by a home warranty?
Most home warranty companies offer several plans, each providing different levels of coverage. Be sure to read the details of any contract before buying. If you choose to renew the contract from, check the fine print on your plan because coverage can change from year to year. Here is a general list of what items a homeowner can expect to be covered:
Appliances
– Refrigerator*
– Stove
– Oven
– Dishwasher
– Compactor
– Washer*
– Dryer*
– Garbage Disposal
– Installed microwave
Home Systems
– Heating
– Plumbing
– Electrical
– Central Air*
– Exhaust fans
– Sump pump
– Water heater
– Whirlpool tub system
– Garage door opener
*May be part of an upgraded home warranty level
Optional Coverage (higher cost)
- Pool
- Spa
- Well pump
- Septic system
- Standalone freezer
- Central vacuum
Buying a home 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.
Pros and Cons of Well Water and Septic Systems
If you’re looking to buy a home on the edge town or in the country, you’ll need to be aware of the difference between well water with a septic system and city water with sewer.
There are both upsides and downsides, and our Peoria team takes you through both in today’s Insider Show episode:
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
If you have any questions about well water, septic systems, city water, or sewer 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.
If you’re interested in getting 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!
To subscribe, click here to see your options.
Beware of The Hidden Costs of Hot Tubs and Pools
With winter approaching, some homeowners are considering warming up with a new hot tub (or pool if you’re down South). However, most people forget the hidden costs associated with these improvements.
In today’s episode, Jennie takes over the Insider Show and shares three hidden costs that are associated with improvements like a hot tub or pool.
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Here are three costs to remember when considering a hot tub or other home improvement:
1. Utilities and insurance
Anything that uses electricity to operate (such a hot tub or pump) will raise your utility costs. If you add a pool to your property, your homeowner’s insurance will increase. These are important costs to consider when making a decision.
2. Maintenance
Big ticket items like this are not one time expenses. It takes money to properly maintain a hot tub, pool, or any large improvement. Even a simple item like a pool table may require extra funds for supplies and replacement parts.
3. Value
Just because you purchased a $25,000 pool does not mean the value of your house increased by $25,000. If nobody else in your neighborhood has a pool, it will be harder for the appraiser to determine a value for your home when selling or refinancing.
A large “fun” home improvement should be something you enjoy, not something you expect to bring a large return on your investment.
If you’re interested in getting future episode, 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!
To subscribe, click here to see your options.
3 Reasons to Avoid a Dirty Remodeling or Building Contractor
Many people are remodeling or repairing their home to increase property values. However, in this economy too many are not choosing a reputable contractor and opting for the cheapest option. As a result, more problems arise.
In today’s episode, Jennie and Ryan share three reasons why you should take the time to hire a reliable and experienced contractor.
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Here are three reasons why you should avoid the cheap and dirty contractor that you just found on Craigslist:
1. You don’t want to pay for the work twice.
A contractor may do a shoddy job and you’ll have to pay someone again to do the same work. Don’t pick a contractor just because they are the cheapest. You may end up having to pay more to fix their mistakes. It’s usually true that you get what you pay for.
2. You don’t want to pay for overruns.
When contractors are not familiar with a certain job, (or if they’re a dirty contractor) they’ll give you a big bill at the end of the project. They may quote you a price at the beginning of a job but send you an additional bill after their work is completed.
3. You don’t want to hurt your credibility.
You are paying for this rehab. If you sell the house and something goes wrong with it, they’re going to go after you. They’ll say that you knew there was something wrong with the house and blame you for it. Even though the contractor did the work, you are the one liable.
So where do you find a contractor that will avoid these problems?
There are a wide variety of places to find a licensed and experienced contractor. A great place to start looking is angieslist.com. They have a great list of contractors that are reviewed by their customers and the reviews are a great reference point. You can also use word of mouth to find a reliable source or check with the Better Business Bureau.
Most importantly, you could ask the contractor for their references to see what kind of bids they’ve done in the past. It’s also a great way to see if they’ve done quality work for their previous costumers.
At the end of the day, it’s worth the extra money to get it done the right way and on time.
If you’re interested in getting future episode, 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!
To subscribe, click here to see your options.
3 Reasons Why Home Construction is Expensive
Many people only think of materials as the most expensive part of home construction and remodeling projects. You might be surprised to learn that labor is a big piece of the pie. A large portion of the cost comes from the workers in these three trades:
In today’s episode, Ryan and Mike discuss why the manpower is worth the price.
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Workers in these three fields need to be licensed, insured, trained and registered before they can use their expertise to create or remodel your dream house. You can’t just pick someone up off the street (or Home Depot, Menards, or Lowe’s) and trust them to wire your house. Remember to keep the price of quality craftsmen in mind before you spend the money on that 12-headed shower you always wanted.
Stay tuned for next week when we talk more about the real estate market and what to look for when home shopping. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, let us know. We’ll do a whole episode on it.
Stay tuned!
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What Women Want: 3 Home Upgrades that Make Sense and Why
What do women want?
Men, listen up! Today Jennie answers that question for anyone thinking about upgrading or selling their home some day. Obviously everyone has slightly different tastes, but Jennie narrows down the three most important rooms to consider upgrading when you own your own home:
In today’s episode she answers why and offers tips to keep your home attractive to future buyers.
Let’s go inside!
(click here to watch the episode on your mobile device)
Stay tuned for next week when we talk more about the real estate market and what to look for when home shopping. If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, let us know. We’ll do a whole episode on it.
Stay tuned!
To subscribe, click here to see your options.
