Your Valuable Home

Your Valuable Home

By Ron MelkBusinessEducationInvestingManagement
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Your Valuable Home episodes

  • Are You Covered for Named Storms and Identify Theft?
    Our Replay today is all about permits. When do you need them? Why can they sometimes be difficult to get? Our Horror Story today is about a not-so-handyman who had difficulty putting up one piece of drywall that fell down the next morning. In our Featured segment today, we talk with Mike Celucci, an Erie Insurance agent about homeowners’ coverage....particularly coverage for weather that seems to be getting increasingly severe across the U.S. For example, if you live in an area where you never gave flood insurance a second thought, what happens in the event of a freak flood? Are you covered for named storms? And given the huge increase in identify theft, are you covered if it happens to you? All questions worth posing to your insurance agent.
    55 min
  • Post Ian, The Head of an HOA in Captiva, FL Has His Hands Full.

    In our Replay today Phil, from New Jersey, purchased an adjoining lot with plans to build a B&B. Interesting idea! We get his initial thinking and offer some ideas of our own. Then, continuing with our series on the Southwest, Florida barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, we speak with Ed, the head of an HOA in Captiva with responsibility for 68 condo units. The focus of the interview: the challenge of shipping workers and materials to Captiva with the causeway from the mainland down and continuing supply chain delays. Aerial photos show that most of the units and related buildings are largely intact. The big questions: water intrusion and mold, which could necessitate extensive interior reconstruction. Post Ian, The Head of an HOA in Captiva, FL Has His Hands Full.File Size: 48214 kbFile Type: mp3Download File

    50 min
  • Florida residents cope with one of the worst natural disasters in history – focus on Sanibel and Captiva

    In our Replay today, a listener is planning an out-side-the-box B&B on his large property in New Jersey. Our Horror Story and Feature are about how Florida residents are coping with their worst nightmare – Ian. We talk with Jack who has a home on Sanibel, We also talk with his daughter-in-law, Bronwyn, who with husband, Mike, moved their permanent home to neighboring Captiva this past August. Both share their perspectives on devastation Ian left behind. Like most Sanibel residents, Jack has yet to return to his home. Bronwyn reached hers via boat. Without water and power infrastructure, repairs and rebuilding will have to wait. Jack is deeply concerned about Florida’s older residents and their financial and emotional ability to re-build, He cited a frightening statistic: only a little over 15 percent of Florida residents have flood insurance. Listen again next week for Ed’s story about Captiva. He’s challenged by the availability of labor and materials to deal with repairs/reconstruction of his own condo and the dozens of other condos that are his responsibility as head of his HOA. For those homes that were not destroyed, mold will be a huge problem. Florida residents cope with one of the worst natural disasters in history – focus on Sanibel and CaptivaFile Size: 62663 kbFile Type: mp3Download File

    54 min
  • A Sobering Discussion About Electric Vehicles (EVs), Solar and Wind.
    In the Replay, Courtney shares her kitchen expansion reno that gives her downstairs a “now” look. In our Horror Story, we debut The Bad Guy Bulletin, our once-a-month expose’ on shakedowns and scams from home improvement contractors and bad actors who use the phone, email and the post office to bilk you out of your money. Are EVs really the environmentally friendly auto option? We do a deep dive into EV batteries, solar and wind power with Barry and Chris, two listeners and top energy sector executives. How many tons of rare earths does it take to make the batteries for just one EV? How will we dispose of used-up EV batteries? Which countries have the greatest concentrations of rare earths used to make EV batteries? What problem does the addition of solar and wind energy cause in energy generation? You won’t want to miss this sobering, thought - it's a provoking discussion.
    1 hr 14 min
  • This company is cashing in on a booming rental market with build-to-rent projects in Philly

     Our Replay today is about a home improvement project that can aid in planning yours. In the Horror Story, Kevin and his team find potentially dangerous wiring in the wall, while remodeling a kitchen. Lucky homeowner! In our Feature today, Leo Addimando, the CEO of Alterra Property Group, talks about how his company is capitalizing on modular construction to erect multiple build-to-rent buildings in Philadelphia, a booming rental market. Build-to-rent means that the developer owns all of the units in a building with the intention of renting – and in this case – managing them. If you’re a landlord with a few units in your portfolio, you’ll want to hear this.

    1 hr 6 min
  • The Many Issues Caused by This Hyper-Seller’s Market

    In our Replay today, Kevin explains why your contractor may not be able to give you a solid estimate for a scheduled project. Supply chain issues for lumber and other building materials and products are causing headaches for contractors and homeowners. The Horror Story deals with a ridiculous window installation. If you’re house hunting, our Featured Interview with realtor, Jeff Lavine, will help you understand the causes (note the plural) of your frustrations – and possibly prevent you from making a buying blunder.

    47 min

About Your Valuable Home

From the publisher's feed

After years on the radio, host Ron Melk has flipped the switch to podcasting! The Home Improvement Replays can spark ideas about projects for your home. The Horror Stories can help you avoid one and…