Your Valuable Home

In our first segment today, Ron speaks with architect Matt Piotrowski about the viability of first-time buyers stymied by a tight real estate market building versus buying. We get into a couple of scenarios where it might be viable to build, especially if the decision includes a plan for expansion.  The Horror Story today involves an electrician’s mistake that could have resulted in disaster, had it not been for the diligence of the homeowner. There’s sound advice at the end of this segment. In our Feature, we discuss with a firefight what would happen if just some of the many publicized issues with the recent LA wildfires were introduced to a small wildfire that could easily have been controlled. This ‘is something to take to heart, if your home is near an area filled with trees or brush.

We’re going straight to our weekly Horror story in this episode. During the recent presidential election cycle, seniors who weren’t on their toes, failed to uncheck the recurring donation box. Both parties were guilty of this “oversight.” Our Feature today is Part two of the story of the 20-year renovation of a historic Philadelphia mansion. This is the inside story of the work done to the home’s four magnificent stories.  One of the best parts of the story is the kitchen and adjoining sunroom that, combined, equal the size of an expansive apartment. Every square foot of this home is amazing.  You’ve got to hear this, and see the pictures on this week’s Your Valuable Home Instagram and Facebook posts.

Welcome to the first release to kick off the 12th year of Your Valuable Home with the story of the 20+ year renovation of a magnificent mansion in the historic district of Philadelphia. But first, our popular Homeowner Horror Story. This one involves a member of a popular hotel rewards program. This could also involve you and cause you to part with a substantial amount of money. Apparently, bad actors accessed the rewards program database. Our feature is part 1 of a 2-part interview with the current owner of a historic 12,000-square-foot Philadelphia mansion. Designed in part by one of the most famous architects of the time, Frank Furness, the home was built in 1874, by prominent Philadelphian, George Thomas. It’s situated mid-way between two of Philadelphia’s famous squares, which were designed by William Penn. The current owners, a well-known orthopedic surgeon and his wife, are restoring the 7-bedroom home with subterranean garage to its 19th century grandeur in a “mission” that’s spanned 20 years and counting. If you have a historic renovation in your future or simply enjoy stories like this, this will make your day.

In the Replay today, Mike talks about the final stages of his Kitchen/Laundry Room reno.

In our Feature today Matthew Carletti, who monitors the homeowner’s

insurance industry for Citizens JMP Securities, explains the science and

rational behind the setting of homeowner’s insurance ratees. Surprisingly,

two families who live on the same street and are covered by the same

insurer can be paying two very dffferent rates. Not so surprisingly, both

national and regional insurers who have suffered huge losses because of

natural and man-made disasters spread their losses across their entire

book of business. This interview brings real clarity to the cost and

coverage offered by homeowner’s insurance providers.

Our Replay today is all about ProVia® metal roofing, the appeal, the

choices (cedar, slate and barrel tile configurations), the 50-year, limited

warranty. For anyone building a home or doing a major renovation or

roofing project, ProVia metal roofing is a one-and-done. In our second

segment today, we remember those who perished in the four coordinated

terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001.

We also encourage visits to the 9/11 memorial and museum in Lower Manhattan and the memorial and park near Shanksville, PA where the brave passengers and crew of Flight 93 took the plane down. Our Feature today is all about PFAS...” forever chemicals” that cause many types of diseases and are most likely in your

drinking water.

A subject expert from NSF, an organization that certifies water filtration systems and many other types of products, briefs us on the type of water filtration system you need to mitigate the risk caused by PFAS to you and your family.

In the Replay today, Mike is estatic about his all-ProVia® exterior

makeover.

It’s Bad Guy Bulletin time again. Makes you wonder how much

better off we’d be, if the people who concoct this stuff devoted their time

and talent to pursuits that actually benefit people besides themselves.

In today’s Feature – the notable architect, Illya Azaroff, talks about safe rooms in a home that stay intact in a tornado or hurricane to keep families out of harm’s way. The concept actually comes from the Caribbean. Illya will be back again next week with a way of building back better and stronger when homes get decimated by tornadoes and hurricanes. Don’t miss these two shows. In fact, subscribe so you never miss a single episode of Your Valuable Home.

Here’s a big THANK YOU to RawVoice, the parent company of Blubrry.com for naming me, Ron Melk, podcaster of the month for January 2025. The timing couldn’t be better, because the third week of January we’ll introduce a brand refresh for the Your Valuable Home podcast, including a new segment featuring Caroline Blazovsky, America’s Healthy Home Expert. Subscribe, and you won’t miss an episode.

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The Your Valuable Home Podcast will close out 2024 with a huge thank to everyone in our audience for listening this year. Starting with last week’s release – and continuing through the third week of January - we’ll replay four listener favorites from 2024. Then, with our podcast release on January 24, we’ll begin a milestone 12th year of Your Valuable Home. You’ll never miss a single episode if you subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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In the Replay today, Caroline joins us for an update on the major

renovation of her family’s farmhouse, one of the oldest homes in America.

Fascinating!

In today’s Horror Story, Kevin tips us off to the Siding Installer

Group’s Facebook page, where there’s no shortage of incredible photos of

jobs that went off the rails.

In our feature, Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), again joins us with the results of recent research into who is likely to be buying homes in 2024. Number one is families. Listen and learn who numbers two and three are. Jessica’s interview also contains important information on Black, Hispanic and Asian buyers. Don’t miss this, if you’re planning to put your house on the market in 2024!!!!

The Your Valuable Home Podcast will close out 2024 with a huge thank to everyone in our audience for listening this year. Starting with this week’s release – and continuing through the third week of January - we’ll replay four listener favorites from 2024. Then, with our podcast release on January 24, we’ll begin a milestone 12th year of Your Valuable Home. You’ll never miss a single episode if you

subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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In the Replay today, Mike talks about his kitchen project in progress.

The Horror Story has to do with another roofing job gone bad. This is vivid

proof of the need to have a roofer document his work with photos every

step of the way.

With so many people on Medicare Advantage today,

chances are many of our listeners have it – those 65 and over and others

whose parents are 65 and over. How can Medicare Advantage plans offer

ZERO monthly premiums, along with lots of FREEBIES? Can you keep

your current doctors? Are you covered when you travel? Today we talk

with an expert on the subject about everything they don’t mention in the tv

commercials.

In the Replay today, Kevin reports on a window BOGO that is a definite

NOGO.

In the Bad Guy Bulletin, Mike Bannon is back.

In the feature, renowed surgeon, Dr. David Nazarian has the back story of his personal residence in Philadelphia, the one year build along with the year purchased, architect, previous owners, and number/types of rooms and overall size.

In the Replay today, Mike talks about his kitchen project in progress.

In the Bad Guy Bulletin, Mike Bannon is back to warn you about interent scams, gift cards, and a useful tip to cut down on robo calls.

We’re joined today by Caroline Blazovsky, America’s well-known healthy home expert. Caroline answers questions about products in your home – like cleaning products and appliances – that could be detrimental to your health and the health of your family. Take natural gas-powered stoves and furnaces, for example These

appliances emit benzene, even when they’re not in operation. In this segment, we’ll talk about how to mitigate the release of benzene, a known cause of AML leukemia. We’ll also cover the downside of common household cleaners