Be a Smarter Homeowner

For homeowners getting ready to sell their homes, what can or should you do to get your home ready to list? On today's episode, John and Beth are talking with Jill Elliott, a Broker Associate with over 10 years of experience in all aspects of real estate. Jill brings her realtor experience to share tips on what homeowners can do to list a home. She also shares stories of her experiences and suggestions from her own client's journeys through real estate sales. Jill offers advice on how to work with a real estate agent in your area and her own suggestions on how to market a home and move through the process more easily when selling a home.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:21] How to get your home ready for sale.
• [03:39] How to get older homes ready for sale.
• [05:00] Is there certain maintenance you should do before you contact a real estate agent or before you list your home?
• [06:20] How important is curb appeal and staging a home?
• [10:47] How to set financial expectations for listing a home.
• [15:36] How to find the right real estate agent.
• [19:19] Why a house might not close; tips for planning a home inspection, and parting advice from Jill.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The first thing to do when deciding to sell your home is let go and let the process happen. Respect the process, be flexible and make changes suggested by your realtor.
• Things to be aware of when selling or buying a home are the roof and foundation, plumbing, windows and electrical.
• How do you find the right real estate agent? Find one that you trust. Not that you like, but one that you trust.

RESOURCE LINKS

Jill Elliott's Website

Jill's LinkedIn

@properties Dallas Website

HomeZada Website

BIO:

Jill Elliott is a Broker Associate with @properties Dallas and brings over 10 years of experience in all aspects of real estate. She has consistently been a top producer in the DFW area, receiving yearly Circle of Excellence awards. Before becoming a full time REALTOR, Jill was a radio personality for 22 years in several cities around the country including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Columbia, Augusta and Atlanta. This may seem a strange transition but her former career allowed her to work with so many different people and charitable organizations that a real estate career was a natural fit for her. Jill has a podcast - For The Love of Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others. She is a big fan of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. She is a member of the MetroTex Board of Realtors and the National Association of REALTORs. Jill is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and lives with her wonderful family and dog Stella on the shores of Lake Lewisville.

Interviewing a remodeling contractor for some may seem challenging. But we have some simple tips to help you have a fabulous relationship with your contractor. In today's episode, we walk through the steps to consider before, during, and after a remodel project. Listen in to learn the tips and tricks on how to start your project off on the right foot and end on a good note!

Questions to consider when starting a project:

• What should a homeowner do before researching for a remodeling contractor? What do homeowners need to look for when researching a contractor for a remodel project? Is it important to compare contractors or quotes before deciding on which contractor to use?
• What details should be asked prior to signing a contract with a remodeling contractor? How should a homeowner manage their contractor during the construction process?
• How should you handle a situation with your contractor if something is not working during the project? Who manages or is responsible for the budget of the project?
• How should change orders be determined when changes do happen to a project? How should money be paid to a contractor? Up front, partial payment, etc
• What are the risks of certain contracts? What to look for and how to manage the details? What does a close out look like and if there is a problem with the job, how can you manage this process?

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:23] What should a homeowner do before researching for a remodeling contractor? What do homeowners need to look for when researching a contractor for a remodel project?
• [09:24] How do you find quality contractors and one of the key questions to ask your contractor?.
• [12:53] how to ask for client referrals?
• [18:34] How should money be paid to a contractor?
• [21:10] Understanding "change orders" and what happens when changes happen during the project.
• [24:01] How to handle the close out process and gather warranties.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• You need a plan before you start looking for a contractor. Do the upfront planning before you try to determine the scope of the project.
• If you are working on a bigger project, it's smart to get two to three bids or estimates.
• When getting customer referrals, don't ask broad questions like whether the contractor did a good job. Ask detailed questions about the process of the project and demeanor of the contractor.

RESOURCE LINKS

HomeZada

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with bootstrapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

Many homeowners are investing in vacation homes or rental properties. And because they are investing in owning multiple homes, they have added concerns. We are going to talk about these additional concerns and what you need to do in order to successfully manage more than one home. Listen as we discuss maintenance schedules, the benefits of hiring a property manager, and the importance of a home inventory.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:27] Beth's experience with managing more than one home
• [04:43] What is a home inventory and why is it important for vacation and long-term rental properties
• [06:32] Maintenance schedules to be aware of and how different climates impact properties
• [12:09] How important is it to hire a property manager and what are the benefits
• [17:39] Key items to consider with selling your vacation home or rental property
• [21:03] How HomeZada helps with managing multiple homes
• [27:08] Action items: property managers and home maintenance

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Take a home inventory of your house before renters come in and then after or between long-term renters.
• Two benefits of hiring a property manager: 1) they can be on location to attend to issues in a timely manner 2) property managers generally have a network of contractors and or service providers that they regularly use for regular maintenance and those one off situations that are timely.
• HomeZada makes multi-home management so much easier, more comprehensive and it centralizes all of your important data in one easy to navigate location.

RESOURCE LINKS

HomeZada

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the face of America's workplace. In fact, an increasing number of folks might find their "new office" feels a lot like home – because it is literally their home.

Our post-pandemic "return to the office" may look different with hybrid or fully remote work models rapidly rising in popularity. Studies from Accenture support this trend with 83% of workers believing a hybrid model would be optimal going forward. Further, 87% of managers believe working from home is the future, according to Remote-How research.

While the new dynamic promises an improved work-life balance, it will also cause energy use and utility bills to skyrocket with technologies, appliances, and systems running over time – making optimal, energy-efficient home climate control a greater challenge.

The good news is that families can prevent a utility bill blitz by following a few simple tips. With home heating and cooling accounting for nearly half of home energy use, small steps can go a long way. Today, Beth and John are talking with Dennis Stinson, VP of Sales for Fujitsu General America. Dennis is here to offer expert advice for homeowners and discuss these questions:

• What is a "hybrid" home?
• How has this new workplace dynamic impacted America's homeowners and their energy bills?
• What are the latest and most energy-efficient HVAC systems that can help offset increased utility bills as employees spend more time working from home?
• Are there any easy tips and tricks for practical fixes around the house that can help enhance energy efficiency?

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:33] What is the hybrid home and industry research
• [04:41] How hybrid homes impact homeowners' energy bills
• [05:45] Assessing current HVAC centers
• [08:33] Leveraging smart home HVAC offerings
• [10:19] Adding additional units or splitting units
• [12:35] Consumer experience and mobile technologies
• [15:32] Energy incentives and rebates
• [17:30] Recap and action steps

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Action Step: Evaluate how well your HVAC system is working, or if you have had changes to how often you are home. Is the HVAC working properly?
• As a homeowner, you should have a relationship with a variety of different contractors. Try to find one before your system breaks. Get on a regular annual maintenance program to have your system maintained and cleaned.
• There are rebate and incentive programs available to promote higher energy efficiency in your home. Be sure to take advantage of these!

BIO:

Dennis Stinson is the Vice President of Sales for Fujitsu General America, a national manufacturer with distributors in local communities across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and brings over 30 years of industry experience.

Dennis leads a team of sales professionals, selling well over $300M of Fujitsu products. At Fujitsu, Dennis has held the responsibilities of Regional Sales Manager in the Mid-Atlantic and The Director of National Accounts. Prior to joining Fujitsu, Dennis spent his career as a Manufacturer's Representative representing various Manufacturers in the HVAC industry throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Dennis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-p-stinson-a49ab95a/

Website: www.constantcomfort.com

When it comes to homeownership, first-time homeowners often have challenges. These challenges often surround home maintenance. Understanding the types of home maintenance that are necessary to manage a home and why home maintenance is important to keeping a home operating properly. If as a first-time homeowner, you need to hire someone to help with these tasks, how do you contract and interview these service providers? What can first-time homeowners look for when it comes to home management? Listen as John and Beth share their experience and tips for first-time homeowners.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:46] Things first-time homeowners will need to be aware of
• [04:38] Types of maintenance first-time homeowners should be aware of
• [08:26] Smart home technology pros and cons
• [13:06] Costs for managing a home
• [18:40] Finding the right professionals to help with home maintenance
• [22:52] Paying attention to small inconsistencies in your home
• [26:43] First-time homeowner action items

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• No matter what your age, no matter what generation you're in, no matter where you live, you still struggle with the same things as a first-time homeowner.
• The specifics of maintenance fall into five categories: seasonal maintenance; maintaining the health of your home, like air quality; maintenance that keeps your home safely functioning; energy efficiency maintenance; and outdoor maintenance
• Preventive maintenance is extremely important in avoiding unexpected maintenance costs.
• When hiring maintenance professionals, first-time homeowners can utilize helpful platforms like Angie's List, Porch, or others to find high quality professionals.
• Action step: Create a schedule for preventive home maintenance

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing, and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

January is Get Organized Month. With that one of the best places to start is by taking a home inventory or organizing other areas around the home. In today's episode, Beth is talking with the past president of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), Susie Hayman to discuss organization and what we can do to be better organized. We will cover how Get Organized Month came to be, how HomeZada can help you become better organized around your home. We will discuss physical and digital organization. We will discuss the benefits of being organized and how NAPO members help homeowners. We will discuss the value of organizing all year round. If homeowners need help organizing, we will also discuss how to find the help you need. Getting organized can start with simple steps and can also be done by yourself or with help.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:20] More about Susie
• [05:58] NAPO's Get Organized Month
• [12:41] Benefits of being more organized
• [20:15] How to stay organized throughout the year
• [25:25] How NAPO can help you get more organized

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• January is Get Organized Month! NAPO helps people improve their lives by helping them create environments that support productivity, general health, and wellbeing in all areas of their homes (physical and digital).
• Being organized saves you time and money. If you know where things are, whether it's something physical or whether it's something digital, you're not going to buy it again and you will be able to find it easily. When you are organized you have more time to do those things you want to do.
• Organization helps restore a sense of order and control. Thus, you reduce your level of stress. You get rid of that horrible feeling of overwhelm and you're more efficient and productive in everything you do.
• In order to get and stay organized, take small steps. You don't (and can't) organize everything in one day, one week, or even one month. Just take one step at a time, one small portion at a time. See those little wins and then keep on going.

LINKS MENTIONED:

[email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiehayman/ www.inyourbizness.com

NAPO

www.napo.net https://www.napo.net/page/GOMonth2022?&hhsearchterms=%22organized+and+month+and+2022%22

BIO:

Susie Hayman, as the founder and owner of In Your Business, helps small business owners, entrepreneurs and nonprofits be more productive by giving them the tools to efficiently manage their people, processes, time and stuff. She works with business owners, managers and employees to develop the systems and processes they need to be successful. In addition to working one on one with clients, Susie shares her expertise with prospective and new professional organizers and productivity consultants.

With 19 years of experience in the organizing and productivity profession, Susie has increased employee productivity and organizational efficiency for small businesses, retailers, nonprofit organizations and home offices. Her workplace organizing and productivity classes and workshops are presented to businesses, organizations and community groups throughout the Richmond area.

Susie has been featured as an expert on CBS "Virginia This Morning," the WRVA radio morning show, and "Girlfriend We GottaTalk!" radio show. She has written numerous articles for professional and lifestyle publications, and co-authored "Organize Your Small Business," 70 tips from a collection of experts.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Susie currently serves as Past President of NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals), a 3,300 member association. She is the recipient of the 2017 NAPO's Founders' Award, a 15-year Golden Circle member, and holds a NAPO Specialist Certificate in Workplace Productivity.

[email protected] www.inyourbizness.com 804.360.8337

NAPO

www.napo.net 856.380.6828

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

In today's episode, John and Beth talk about home finances. Which includes more than just the aspects of buying or selling a home. We discuss the financial nuances of home buying, but we also talk about the importance of tracking and managing ongoing finances as a homeowner. We break down common homeowner's expenses, how to prepare for them and save money, why you should keep track of the value of your home, and ultimately, how to make smarter financial decisions related to your home.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:06] Home finances related to buying a home
• [03:25] Closing costs and down payments
• [04:10] Understanding and tracking your investment
• [11:23] Home equity assets
• [12:49] Home inventory assets
• [14:35] Regular ongoing home expenses
• [18:59] How do you budget for ongoing home expenses?
• [23:23] Maintenance/repair expense
• [25:33] Hiring people for infrequent maintenance
• [28:40] How do you budget for these expenses
• [30:06] Home improvement expenses

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Your mortgage amount, down payment, and closing costs are all things to keep in mind when buying a home.
• Having title insurance is important because you want to protect the property that you're buying, and title insurance does do that. It helps identify the long history of where the property was once purchased.
• Action Step: After you buy your home and move in, track how your estimated value of your home is increasing.
• Calculating your home equity is a simple equation. It's the estimated value of your home minus the remaining balance on your mortgage. That's the percentage that you own.
• The two most important ways that you can increase your equity is you live in a hot neighborhood and the value is going up and you're paying off your mortgage.
• Regular home expenses include mortgage and insurance, utilities, service providers, lawn care, maintenance contractors, property taxes.
• It's important to track what the market thinks your home is worth and what your county thinks your home is worth, which is how your property taxes are assessed based on.
• Action Step: Commit to creating a budget for home expenses (regular, annual, and irregular), track the actuals and then use that to make better smarter decisions in the future.
• Your home maintenance may be 1 to 4% of the total purchase price of your home. 1% if your house is less than five years old but once your house gets between five and 15 years old, that percentage increases to 2%.

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing, and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

In today's episode, John and Beth talk about how to manage home improvements. We talk about the culture's obsession with home improvements and discuss some of the most common problems that homeowners face with home improvement projects. John and Beth talk about budgets, hiring contractors, and how to make a plan for your home projects. At the end of the episode, we share several easy and important action items that will help be more successful with home improvement projects.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:27] Why do people love home improvement projects?
• [6:24] New home builders
• [07:19] Projects that add value to the home
• [09:23] Home improvement problems
• [14:67] DIY vs hiring a contractor
• [18:54] How to hire a contractor and manage your budget
• [22:09] Action Step: Make a plan
• [24:08] Action Step: Create your budget
• [27:05] Action Step: How to hire a contractor
• [28:31] Action Step: Track costs during the project
• [22:50] Close out Phase

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Home improvement can pertain to lifestyle aspects to fit a family's needs or structural aspects like new windows, roof, plumbing, etc.
• Bathroom and kitchen remodels are "money rooms." They do add value to your home, but they also are very expensive.
• There are small projects that cost little but add value to your home. Like a new front door, painting your front door, making small modifications to your front porch etc.
• When choosing between DIY or hiring a contract it boils down to safety, skills, and time.
• Home improvements add value to your home, but you have to consider your neighborhood and surrounding homes. You don't want to add so much value that you price yourself out of the market which could make it harder for your home to sell.
• Your contractor does not own your budget. You own your budget.
• Before starting a project, plan for what home improvements you want to do and prioritize them.
• Before hiring a contractor, get multiple quotes from multiple contractors. Don't forget to check references and licenses.
• Track budget and costs during the project to maintain your budget and the project scope. Also take before and after photos to keep track of the changes.
• The closeout phase includes filing new warranties, checking with your accountant to see how new improvements impact your taxes, and lastly, updating your home insurance.

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing, and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

In today's episode, John and Beth talk about how to manage the ever growing accumulation of home-owning documents. From mortgage contracts, appraisals, and home warranties to important receipts and owners manuals – the stack usually grows faster than we can manage. While the bulk of home documents may still be in paper format, there is an appealing draw to convert to a more digital strategy. In this episode John and Beth share tips on how best to organize your documents, the pros and cons of digital vs paper storage and how to take the leap into using digital storage, one small step at a time.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:57] The types of documents for homeowners
• [8:38] How to store homeowner documents
• [11:00] Paper vs digital document storage
• [16:15] How to scan documents
• [20:28] Using a mobile phone to take photos of documents
• [22:04] Digitizing multi-page documents
• [23:18] Where to store digital documents
• [26:00] Protecting your digital storage
• [28:40] The value of going digital
• [30:38] Value of sharing documents easily
• [32:43] Action items: developing a digital strategy

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• There's no right or wrong way to store home documents. Do what you most feel comfortable with and what makes the most sense to you.
• There is value in storing items digitally, like the ability to search your documents and sharing capabilities.
• There are multiple ways to convert items to digital – by photo, documentation apps, or by scanner.
• There are multiple ways to convert items to digital – by photo, documentation apps, or by scanner.You don't have to convert to digital storage all at once. It's an incremental process. Get a strategy and take as much time as you need to convert documents and fine the best way to store them whether in cloud storage, hard-drive, etc.

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.

John and Beth are here to share with you their tips and suggestions, as well as interviews with industry experts, with the goal of helping you become a smarter homeowner. Once we buy a home, we now ask ourselves the question... Now what? Today's episode focuses on the value of maintaining your home, including home maintenance and all the different things that we as homeowners need to do to maintain our home. Tune in for advice on everything from preventative maintenance to standard maintenance, what we can save, and how to improve the value of your home!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:00] Standard care of the house.
• [05:00] Health and safety, including smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• [10:00] Maintenance and the value of your home.
• [13:00] Increasing your replacement costs if you neglect small 30 minute tasks.
• [17:00] How to be reminded of tasks that need completing.
• [22:00] Should you be doing these tasks yourself or hire a contractor?
• [29:00] Start with the basics to figure out the typical maintenance things you need to do from a preventative standpoint.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Keeping track of home maintenance will add value and save time.
• The difference between doing the tasks yourself or hiring a contractor.
• How to keep track of home tasks that need completing.

BIO:

Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.

John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with bootstrapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.