So you've got your eyes set on a new vacation home or maybe you are considering building a beach house in North Carolina but you are from another state. The laws and regulations regarding general contractor licenses is something that you owe it to yourself to spend a few minutes exploring. Quite frankly, I didn't do that when we moved to Michigan and while things worked out... I got lucky. You might not have the same experience as we did!

Taking cues from nature, such as a bear's winter den preparation, it's possible to imbue your home with a welcoming warmth that doesn't necessitate high thermostat settings. Think of creating a snug retreat that doesn't significantly inflate your energy bills. Natural light usage, effective home insulation, thoughtful furniture placement, and decor with warm colors and tactile appeal can help set a warm, inviting atmosphere. Don't underestimate the power of curtains and rugs in maintaining warmth either. These easy but impactful strategies help keep your home cozy and your heating bill manageable. 

This past year has been an eye opener and well a lung opener too depending on your perspective. As you might have noticed - we've been discussing not just air filters and air quality monitors, but also pollutants indoors, humidifiers, and ventilation systems a lot more this year. We've focused on ways to manage pollutant levels effectively. The simple reason is that when I was in San Diego - I couldn’t do anything about it … dust was just in the air and I couldn’t close my windows. Now that I'm indoors in Toledo, taking care of my father-in-law's home, I've had the opportunity to examine the entire problem from multiple perspectives - measurement, causes of poor indoor air quality, and what we can do about it. Through natural ventilation and regular cleaning, we can make being at home a healthier and more enjoyable experience.

Like most of you, I'm on a mission to improve my quality of life - that means paying attention to self care and personal health but the environment around you is just as important. Enter the Airthings View Plus. This air quality monitor tracks radon, PM 2.5, CO2, temperature, and VOCs. It's easy to install and syncs with your smart home system and the Airthings app can keep tabs on trends and get tips for healthier indoor air. What I like about it most is that it is by far the most "complete" indoor air quality monitor that we've tested this year.

Pooping and toilet culture in general isn't something normally talked about with men but over the past few years I've noticed that aside from "potty humor" jokes... whenever I'm on a press trip where the hotel rooms feature a bidet - guys talk about it. Until this year though, I didn't realize exactly how affordable and easy to install they could be though - and now I have two different models that I've installed at home and have even gone as far as adding an outlet to our new studio bathroom - just to avoid having to use an extension cord to plug it into an outlet by the sink. 

While these two different models offer slightly different experiences, suffice to say - I'm hooked... and so is my wife and more importantly, the model we've installed at Jim's house is helping my Father-in-law keep clean easier so that he can stay healthy, comfortable, and avoid infections!

When we look at the topic of conservation and preserving the clean air and water that we enjoy for our recreational activities, the conversation normally turns to lightbulbs and EV cars. However, like so much else in live, there are so many other big as well as small ways to make an impact. In fact, this topic was proposed to me by a PR person after joking around about a product that she was repping but it makes sense... we generate a lot of waste every time we use the toilet and let's face it, we all poop. 

While the world is becoming more progressive, gender roles are becoming more fuzzy. There’s nothing wrong with this, but societal norms and expectations are changing to where it’s becoming more challenging to know and understand basic skills that people would know generations ago. 

Indoor air quality isn’t something we usually think about but this year I’ve been living in my father-in-law’s house and working to get it healthier for his ultimate return from spending several months in the hospital due to pneumonia and associated breathing issues from COPD. Unfortunately his house is older and windows have been painted shut over the years. While we can install air filters to remove particulate matter, one challenge we had was simply understanding the actual air quality in his house - and specifically CO₂, that we were facing. With the INKBIRD IAM-T1 Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor, we’ve been able to discover some surprising things about the house that we didn’t expect.

For the past decade while living in California, I knew my indoor air quality was bad since we never closed our windows and that meant dust and soot came in... but was never going to leave. We used everything from duct taping filters to window fans to professional air purifiers to try to pull stuff out of the air where we could. That worked somewhat but I have really no idea how bad the situation actually was or what the ultimate impact of our efforts was... aside from being "better" based on the particles we collected.

Now that I'm living in a house with a central AC system though I'm actually more concerned since large particles (easily collected by the intake filter on our AC system) are taken care of - but smaller ones that you don't notice are almost certainly in the air. That's why I was excited to test out the Sensibo Elements Indoor Air Quality Monitor that the company sent over.

Keeping a home and yard well-managed can feel like a full-time job for many men. This is espectially true for those of us who lead busy lives, travel constantly, and when they get home just want to relax. Smart home gadgets are an obsession of mine and a secret weapon to effortless maintain my house and reduce yard maintenance time. Plus, to be completely honest... smart home gadgets are cool. Even when they don't work 100% as promised, this is quite litterally like living in a future world like we marveled at 30 years ago while traveling through exhibits at EPCOT center thinking those were more fantasy than reality. Well, today is that future and smart gadgets, sensors, and other connected items have become affordable. So, let's take a look at some of my favorite smart home items. This blog post is packed with helpful information about innovative devices designed specifically to simplify household tasks, save time, and increase the efficiency of your daily routine.

Think it's hot outside? It could be even hotter inside if your air conditioner is set to break down. That's exactly what happened to me last week and my wife wasn't happy. She came home and instead of facing are refreshing respite from the humid summer heat... it was nearly 80 degrees inside the house. Thankfully, we were able to fix the immediate problem but as a delved deeper into the system and lack of regular maintenance that my Father in Law had invested - it became clear exactly how little I actually understood about how an AC system like this actually works.

Are you looking for ways to enhance your backyard and create your dream yard? Well, you're in luck. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, over 80% of Americans are renovating their outdoor space to create their dream yard. With the right addons, you can create a backyard oasis that is perfect for entertaining and relaxing. In this article, we'll explore five ultimate backyard addons that will bring your dream yard to life. From lasers, lights, and water jets to outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, and a mini-golf style putting green, these addons will transform your backyard into a luxurious retreat.

As a homeowner, you're probably familiar with the idea of an energy audit. But do you know what to expect from one? A home energy audit is like a checkup for your home's energy efficiency – and it can be an eye-opening experience! As Benjamin Franklin famously said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and this couldn't be more true when it comes to maximizing your home's energy efficiency. An audit will provide invaluable information on how to make improvements that can save you money in the long run. So let's take a look at what homeowners should expect from a home energy audit.

Whether you own your home or rent it, you must always take care of it. As you can appreciate, a well-maintained home is one where you won't have to spend lots of money fixing expensive problems that you could have avoided with preventative maintenance.

Home decore is something that many guys leave to their wives and partners but it can actually be a very fun step in transforming your house into a home. As we continue to renovate our new condo in Michigan, I've become very engaged in picking out new flooring, paint, and other elements but it's just as important to think about decorating tips as well. For instance, what art will go on my office wall and what lighting will I have to illuminate the space.

As temperatures warm and we begin shedding winter coats, now is an opportune moment for house inspection and preparation for summertime activities. Just as one would prepare their car before traveling on an important road trip, making sure your house meets today's standards will ensure an enjoyable summer ahead. Here are a few suggestions to get ready for this year's outdoor adventures.

Weekends are a perfect time to tackle some home improvement projects. However, while you may
know that you want to improve your home in some way, you’re not entirely sure where to start. Luckily,
there are plenty of simple projects that you can tackle in a single weekend that will leave you feeling
satisfied with your progress once Sunday night arrives. Below are some suggestions to get you started.

The holidays are fast approaching. Your home may be a place where your family will gather. Everything seems to be going well.

It’s never a bad time to host a backyard barbeque.

What is a mansion? That's one of those subjects of late night debates way after you're supposed to have left a party but just aren't ready to go home. For some guys it is as simple as it being just a really big house, while others look at it as something particularly luxurious. What makes a big house a mansion, though? Could a really big doublewide be a mansion? There are both quantifiable and non-quantifiable standards for what defines this beacon of success. Let's take a look and try to answer this question.