Latest / Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time / Designing and Building Mid-West through the Big Dog Gameplan: Protecting Your Investment

Transcript

Designing and Building Mid-West through the Big Dog Gameplan: Protecting Your Investment · Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_04: Welcome to Designing and Building Mid-Ellinois, one home at a time with Big Dog Construction.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_03: The podcast you didn't know you needed.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_04: It's Chris Hartzuck and Caitlin Morgini.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_04: Join us as we explore the stories, expertise, and projects shaping the future right here in Mid-Ellinois.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_03: Whether you're planning to build, curious about the latest trends, or just love innovative ideas, we've got insights and inspiration coming your way.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_03: And some laughs too.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_04: Let's go.
• 0:24
  unknown: Big dog!
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: In the military, there's no such thing as good enough.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: You either do the job the right way or you don't do it at all.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Blake Middleton of Elite Roofing Professionals and Exteriors.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_01: I'm a veteran and I brought the same mission first mindset back to Illinois.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_01: While others talk about the way it's always been done, my team focuses on the technical precision of how a roof should be built.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_01: We use the best materials, the best technology, and a level of communication you won't find anywhere else.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: Your home isn't just a job, it's a commitment.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: Elite roofing, high standards, zero compromise, clear communication.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: Give us a call today.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_04: Hey, welcome back to Designing and Building The Midwest, one community at a time.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_04: I'm your host, Chris, with Big Dog Construction, your local window depot.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_04: And as usual, our lovely co-host, Caitlin.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Hi!
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_04: Hey, and this is another episode of the Big Dog Game Plan, where we're helping homeowners understand what it really takes to plan, build, and maintain a successful remodeling project.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_04: We've covered a lot of ground in this series.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_04: We've talked about building your remodeling game plan.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_04: We talked about setting a realistic budget.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_04: Gotta talk about the Benjamins, right?
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_04: We talked about DIY versus hiring a professional.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_04: DIY means do it yourself.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_04: We also talked about defining your scope.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_04: We talked about choosing the right contractor.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_04: We walked through what actually happens during construction.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_04: And last week, once we got done talking about WPBL and a few side topics, we talked about change orders, why they happen and how to prevent them, and when they actually can protect your investment.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_04: But today we're talking about what happens after the contractor leaves.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_04: Jobs done, right?
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_04: Because here's something I want every homeowner listening to understand.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_04: Finishing a remodel isn't the end of your investment.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_04: No, it's the beginning of protecting it, right?
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_04: You just spent thousands, tens of thousands, depending on what you did.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_04: Um, improving your home.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_04: So, how do you make sure that investment continues working for you?
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_04: That's what we're going to talk about today.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_04: But first, we're going to pay some bills.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_04: I know, that's right.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_04: We're going to make it rain.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_04: Money, money, money.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_04: We're going to make it rain, right?
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_04: So we're talking about our 10x partner, our first 10x partner that joined this podcast.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_04: They believed in us so much.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_04: They said we want in.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_03: And I get to see him today.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, Chris.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_04: And that was the folks over at Elite Roofing Professionals, right?
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_04: Truly elite.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_04: They are elite.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_04: They are there to help you in any fashion of your exterior home roof down.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_04: And they will come out, give you a free home, excuse me, free roof inspection, right?
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_04: Free home inspection.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_03: He would kill us.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_03: Here, here's a free home for you, a free home for you.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_04: We're Oprah.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_04: You get a home, you get a home, you all get a home.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_04: We're going to hand out cars now, too.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_03: Mike's coming forward.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_04: Mike's all crap.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_04: There goes my marketing budget.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_04: No, hey, you can reach out to them at 217-851-3836, or you can find them on that beautiful interweb at eliteroofingprofessionals.com.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_04: Again, we want to give a big shout out to Blake Middleton and his crew over there at Elite Roofing Professionals, covering the Midwest and Northwest Ohio.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_03: So cool.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_04: Hey, that's right.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_04: Now that we paid those bills, let's talk about and protecting your investment, right?
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_04: But remember last week we started with a little new big dog bite and we're having a challenge in.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_04: Dog on a bone.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_04: The mic's gone.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_03: The mic's gone now.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_04: Mike's like whatever.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_04: So hey, here's the big dog bite.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_04: The cheapest home improvement you'll ever make is the one you prevent from becoming a major repair, right?
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_04: So maintenance isn't exciting.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_04: Nobody wakes up thinking, I can't wait to clean my gutters today.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_04: Right, right.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_04: There are a few obsessed idiots out there like that, but not calling our listeners idiots, but there are a few people out there that are like that.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_04: But five minutes of maintenance today can sometimes prevent thousands of dollars repairs tomorrow, right?
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_04: Because if you don't clean those gutters and they back up and they start backing water up under your shingles and start rotting out the eaves of your house, and then it w wicks its way back up the rift further, and boom, now you have water inside the house and you don't even know it.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_04: But protecting your investment isn't about spending more money, it's about being intentional with money you've already spent.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_03: So But I mean, I want to say this.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_04: Please do.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_04: That's why you're here.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_03: Protecting your investment, I mean, throughout all these years, you are gonna have to put the maintenance money, you're gonna have to spend money a little bit.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_04: You you can, yeah.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_04: Uh well, just like elite roofing professionals.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, they have a monthly service plan that you can purchase for them, right?
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_04: That they'll come out, maintain, make sure things are good and all that to help prevent.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_04: It's called preventative money, right?
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, that's thank you.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_03: That's what I was meaning.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, preventative.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_03: And to me, you know, a lot of people, you you want to think like I would rather pay someone that money to do that instead of take my wonderful time.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_04: Your wonderful, your time is wonderful.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_03: That's what I mean.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_03: Seriously.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_03: That to do it.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_03: So I think that it's okay to spend a little money, but it's all parts of your house, not just the gutters and the outside.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_03: Vacuuming?
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_04: Which we're gonna get into those things.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_04: Sorry.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, no, you're she's just like on a whim.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_04: She's on it.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_04: So hey, so your remodel doesn't end at the final walkthrough.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_04: When we do that, we'll walk through with the client when the project's done.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_04: So here we go, here's your home, here's your keys, whatever, right?
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_03: Here's your home.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_04: Here's your maintenance package, here's your paperwork, all that stuff, your warranty uh information and so forth.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_04: But let's start with something simple.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_04: When we leave, when the contractor leaves, hey, that's it, we're done.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_04: And technically the construction may be finished, but your responsibility as a homeowner has just changed.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_04: You've moved from building mode into ownership mode, and ownership comes with responsibility.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_04: Think about your car.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_04: You wouldn't buy a brand new vehicle and never change the oil, right?
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_04: There are some people that do it.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna be honest, I truly am terrible at taking care of my car.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_04: So you may see the white van broke down on the side of the road one day and it's pistons thrown through the hood of a car.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_03: I ran out of gas three weeks ago.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not sure.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_04: Oh my gosh.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_04: Uh you wouldn't buy a new truck and ignore the tires.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_04: You wouldn't buy a new HVAC system and never replace the filter.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_04: I'm guilty of that.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_04: Your home is no different, right?
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_04: Your remodel needs to be maintained, your roof needs attention, your gutters needs attention, your windows need attention, your HVAC system needs attention, your plumbing needs attention.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_04: All those little things matter.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_04: But I will say, when designing the home, we're gonna reverse TVO this back a little bit here.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_03: TiVo.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_04: So we're gonna TVO this back a little bit.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_04: Um, we can help minimize the amount of maintenance you have to do on homes by you know not having paintable items outside.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_04: You know, we wrap things in in uh custom bin aluminum so you don't have to paint the jams around the outside of your windows anymore or doors or around the garage door, stuff like that.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_04: Vinyl siding on a home versus wood siding on a home.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_04: You know, so there are things like that, but there's still maintenance with those items to make them look fresh and keep them what they need to be, right?
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_04: So we do inject maintenance-free type items, meaning no painting, but you may still have to wash those, right?
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_03: So not near as bad.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_04: So we're gonna break down the big dog five of what you should watch for.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_04: Let's break this down into five areas every homeowner should pay attention to.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_04: Number one is water.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_04: Water is one of the biggest enemies of a home, right?
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_04: Look for leaks, stains, soft spots, condensation, mold or mildew, damage caulking, water around windows or doors, as in setting, you know, the water setting or pooling around those.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_04: Don't ignore a small water problem because it looks insignificant.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_04: Water rarely gets better on its own.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_03: It really, guys, I'm here to say it firsthand.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_03: I have a question.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_04: Yes.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_03: Is it normal in the shower?
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, I have like the the glass doors and then the clear caulking, like here's my tiling, okay?
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_03: But down here, Chris, I'm embarrassed to say it.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_03: It's black.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_04: It's it's just that's normal.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_04: Mildew.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_03: And I take it out or no?
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_04: That the caulk needs to be cut out, cleaned out, bleached, you know, bleach solution, clean it out, and then a new sealant around that put in place.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_04: Yes.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_03: See, I learned and I have I learnt today.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_04: I learned it today, right?
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_04: So that's a thing.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_03: But water's bad.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_04: A small leak today can become major repairs tomorrow.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_04: So it's just paying attention to your surroundings of your home.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_04: Condensation, I want to bring that up real quick because that was one of the things.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_04: Condensation usually means that the thermal break, whether it be a wall, a window, or a door, that thermal break is doing its job of stopping the transfer of hot and cold through a home, right?
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_04: So some people say, Oh, my windows are leaking.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_04: No, if they're condensating, that means they're doing their job, which you will have that, especially change of seasons where it's real hot and humid.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_03: I'm glad you're talking about the city.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_04: And a lot of people put, well, not a lot of people, when we design homes, the HVAC ducts are put in front of the windows.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_04: Because that's usually the least insulated part of a wall is where the window is, right?
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_04: So you have your heat or cold there to mix with where the most cold and heat's coming in.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_03: But as oh my god.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_04: But as windows become more energy efficient, then you know they're still placed there, but you will still get a little bit of some condensation on someone home, on some homes, depending on how humid you keep your homes.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_04: Some people run dehumidifiers, some people don't.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_04: I think if you have a humid home, especially in the winter, then that's usually when you see it as in the winter.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, because that's when I turn my humidifiers on.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_03: Chris, I mean, I just honestly didn't know that the HVAC ducks were so specifically placed for those reasons.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, and now I'm thinking about my house, every single one.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 9:55
  unknown: Yep.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_04: I so number two of this uh big dog five breakdown here is roof and gutters.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_04: Your roof, it's your home's first line of defense from the elements.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_04: And your gutters are part of that system.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_04: The gutters, you know, keep them clean, make sure downspouts direct the water away from the foundation because a lot of it is water management around the home, keeping that from sitting against your foundation will help prevent water from getting in your crawl space or your basement.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_04: Basement, yeah.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_04: Right?
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_04: Watch for damaged shingles, watch for flashing problems.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_04: Flashing would be around chimneys.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_04: What's flashing mean?
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_04: Flashing is would be the metal, metal, metal.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_04: The metal.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_04: The metal, metatel, the metal that goes around, like if you have a chimney protruding through the roof, the flashing goes under the shingles and up the face of the chimney, and then there's a counter flashing that stops water from getting behind the flashing.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_03: Got it.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_04: Or if a roof comes to a wall, like on a second story or a dormer, you'll have a roof come to a wall, it is flashed as well.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_04: So you just want to make sure those things are in place and there's no issues that, right?
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_04: You know, again, it's not being blind to your home.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_04: Like when you pull up, specifically kind of look up at your roof every once in a while, just make sure, hey, oh, there's no shingles blown out, or hey, there's not a branch that fell fell on my roof and punctured a hole through there, which you would know eventually when it started leaking.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_03: So Yeah, you just gotta be, you know, look.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and don't look at my don't wait until you see water inside your house, right?
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_04: Your home is designed to keep water outside.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_04: Your maintenance plan should help that do it exactly.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_04: So just keep an eye on that.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_04: Number three on the big dog five is the throwing things around here, windows and doors.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_04: Let's talk about those windows.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_04: Obviously, this is an area near and dear to us at Big Dog being your local window depot.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, yes, but replacing windows is only part of the equation.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_04: You also need to maintain them, keep tracks clean because the you're in your window shut and the dirt and all that stuff blows in and the rain.
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_04: You got all that dirt and debris, and then when you open it, your gaskets are kind of stuck at the bottom and you're like, Yeah, right.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_04: But keep keep those clean, your seals clean.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_04: Watch for condensation between the panes of glass.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_04: So if you have glass one, glass two, and in our case, we have glass three.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_04: If you have condensation between the glass, you're wiping, you're like, it's still there, you go outside, it's still there.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_04: That means the thermal seal has broke on that glass, which means it is not keeping the hot and cold where it's supposed to be on that.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_04: So if you have our windows, they have a lifetime warranty on them, come out and take care of it for you, right?
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_03: Is that something that happens a lot?
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_03: Or it will.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_04: Well, sometimes if there's extreme conditions, extreme conditions where there's a reflective, something else reflect, like someone parks their car and every day at a certain time the wind, the the sun reflects off of a car or twin shield and reflects straight into that glass.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_04: It could superheat it higher than what its normal extremes would be and could cause it to have a thermal seal failure.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_04: Got it, got it.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_03: But no, it's not really happen all the time.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_04: Your older windows, you'll see that happen.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, right.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_04: There are some companies that had major issues with that.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_04: So inspect the exterior caulking or the sealing of the window to its its jam.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_04: Make sure doors continue to seal properly and they're they're open and closing without rubbing, right?
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_04: You just want to make sure that.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_04: And if something changes, don't ignore it.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_04: Small issue with a window or door can eventually lead to moisture intrusion, energy loss, or damage around the opening, like rotting in the framing, the subfloor, or the sill outside.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_03: I mean the energy loss, guys.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_03: That is yeah.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_04: With the cost of energy, I can't even handle it.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_04: All right, so we're moving on to number four, the big dog five, which is HVAC.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_04: That's your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_04: So your heating and cooling system is one of the hardest working systems in your home.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_04: Change the filters.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_04: I'm guilty.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_04: I'm guilty.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_04: I'm so embarrassed.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_04: I am too.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_04: I'm in a three-story house.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_04: I have two different systems.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_04: One's in the attic, one's in the basement, the one in the basement.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_04: I rarely go down there, and I called the tech to come out and said, hey, something, you know, just not cooling, it's just not working.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_04: He goes down there, and my filter was filthy.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_04: I wish he would have taken it.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_04: Because there's no air can't get into your system.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_04: That's why it's starving it, you know.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm like, oh my gosh.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_03: Mine was really bad too, Chris.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_04: So embarrassed.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_04: It was like sucked into the kit.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_04: Sucked in there was so damn bad.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_04: Change your filters, keep your system serviced.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_04: Again, a lot of HVAC companies will have the preventative maintenance things.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_04: They'll come out a couple times a year to service it, you know, usually change of seasons, right?
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_04: Uh keep outdoor units clear and clean, your outdoor air conditioning units.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_04: A lot of times people are like, my AC's not keeping up.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_04: That's because the little thin condensing fins out there, they will get dirt in there like dust, and then it rains, and then it turns mud, and then it dries and hardens, and then it's trying to suck air through there.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_03: Or you could get a chipmunk that falls through there.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_03: You have chipmunks that I see a lot of people have landscaping, you know, a little bit different.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_04: Grown up to hide it.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_04: Yes.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_04: Yes.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_04: It starves the airflow.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_03: And and mine was like that by accident.
• 14:49
  SPEAKER_03: But I like we came back from vacation.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_03: I swear my plants had grown like two feet, and I was like, oh my gosh.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_03: But they they were like going into those little Yep, the fins.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_04: So that outdoor condensing unit is trying to dissipate heat.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_04: Get the heat out.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_04: Out.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_04: And it's doing that by drawing air through the over the coils to get that heat and then blow it out the top.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_04: It's trying.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_03: But if it can't draw in enough cool air, it just what you said, the hardest working system in your home.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_03: You gotta take care of that, man.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_04: And don't uh ignore unusual noises like chip chipmunks in your condenser.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_03: My neighbor, my at the they had the worst problem with their AC.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_03: I was about ready to lose.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_03: Because it was making noise.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_03: I said I handled this for two days.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_04: So did you let them know?
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_03: No, I saw workers out there two days.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_03: That's why I didn't.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_04: All right.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_04: You're all right.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_03: See, I was close because I was like, it's disturbing me.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_04: So one other thing too, Caitlin, is pay attention to your energy bills.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_04: If you see like a weird spike, that means something is overly working or not being able to like your refrigerant's low in your AC uh unit, and that means it's running longer to try to bring the temp down and it just will run, run, run and drive your energy bill up, right?
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_03: So usually it tells you like what days on your bill too.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_03: Like when that was so you can help pinpoint your problem.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_04: So your home is giving you information all the time.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_04: You just got to pay attention to it.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, even yeah, even now with technology, if you have a smart home, it can literally tell you on your phone.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_04: So the number five on the big dog five is the little things, right?
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_04: This is where homeowners often get caught.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_04: Loose handrails, cracked caulking, small plumbing leaks, cracked grout in a shower, cracked grout in a tile floor, loose trim, doors that don't close properly.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, all that.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_04: A little water under the sink, it'll dry up.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_04: Eventually it rots out the bottom of your cabinet, and then you're like, where'd my bottom of my cabinet go?
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_04: You know, and all the mice and ants are like, ooh, thanks for the moist wood we get gonna gnaw on here, right?
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_04: You're sick.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_04: Well, it happens.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_04: None of these things seem like a big deal, but deferred maintenance has a way of becoming expensive maintenance.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_03: Deferred, that's right.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_04: Fix the little things while they're little.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_04: So one last thing we're gonna talk about is protecting your home's value.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_04: So your home isn't just where you live.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_04: Uh for most families, it's one of your largest financial assets you have.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_03: 100%.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_04: And that means maintenance isn't just about keeping things pretty, it's about protecting value.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_04: Think about two homes sitting next door to each other.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_04: One homeowner maintains her property, the other says, I'll get to it eventually.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_04: Five years later, those homes may have very different values.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_04: Curb appeal matters, condition matters, function matters, updates matter, but most importantly, maintenance matters, right?
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_04: You just don't protect your home's value by waiting until you you're ready to sell.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_04: You protect it every year you own it.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_04: Wash the siding, right?
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_04: Wash the vinyl siding.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_04: Because if you don't wash the siding and all that dirt builds up on there and a hole happens and you don't know it, then eventually you're gonna have rotten wood behind that and you're gonna have bigger issues.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_03: And also, guys, it looks hideous.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_03: Like it's not hard to power wash.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_03: Even I can do it.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_04: Even Caitlin Borjani Trider can do that stuff.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_03: And again, like you said, the maintenance things are so important.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_03: I know we all want our house to look pretty, but you can't just cover it up.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, like you said, it the value that right there.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, again, two identical homes side by side.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_04: One one person maintains their home, the other one doesn't.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_04: Well it's gonna happen, the guy that doesn't maintain his home or the person that doesn't maintain it, it will bring down the value of the other one because they're in the same neighborhood.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_04: So that sucks.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_04: Hey, neighbor.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_04: Take care of your sighting.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_04: So there is a there is a point even in in protecting your investment of your remodel or your addition or your new home, right?
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_04: And it's kind of the same thing.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_04: Know when to call a professional.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_04: Because we even talked about Elite has the preventative maintenance type things they have, right?
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_04: So this is where I want to connect this episode back to episode three and remember our conversation about DIY.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_04: And there are things homeowners can absolutely handle themselves, but there are also times when you need to call a professional.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_04: If you see a structural problem, we talked about this, a significant water leak, electrical concerns, foundation movement.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_04: You got cracks in your foundation or cracks that show up in your drywall, right?
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_04: You want to check on that.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_04: Rift problems, major plumbing issues.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_04: Don't wait.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_04: Pick up the phone.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_04: Heck, call us here at Big Dog, and we'll direct you the right place, even if it's something we can't help you with.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_03: 100%.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_04: Because we're we're here to help our listeners and past, present, and future clients.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_04: So and don't just start watching YouTube videos and hope for the best.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_03: Because not everything on YouTube is right.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_04: Correct.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_04: There's nothing wrong with being a DIY homeowner, but smart homeowners know their limits, right?
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_04: So be a smart homeowner.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_04: Sometimes the smartest thing you can do for yourself is make a phone call, right?
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_04: 217-970-7340.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_04: That's us.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_04: Give us a call, give us a shout.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_04: We will help you out on that.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_03: Get on the interweb.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_04: All right.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_04: Big dog rapid fire.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_04: Here we go, right?
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_04: So let's make this simple.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_04: Here's your homeowner protection list.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_04: Check for water leaks regularly.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_04: Keep gutters and downspouts functioning properly.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_04: Inspect roof and exterior areas.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_04: Maintain windows and doors.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_04: Change the HVAC filters, Chris.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_04: Schedule appropriate professional maintenance.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_04: Address small problems before they become big ones.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_04: Keep records of major improvements, whether they're new HVAC systems, new windows installed, additions, new siding, whatever that is, new roof.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_04: Yep.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_04: Right?
• 20:16
  SPEAKER_04: Address the small problems before they become big ones.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_03: Keep records of everything, guys.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_04: Save warranties and product information.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_04: Revisit your home's needs every year.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_04: You don't have to do it every day, but you should have a plan.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_04: We've talked about plans before.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_04: So big dog, final thought after we just went through the rapid fire.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_04: Here's what I want you to remember from today.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_04: What's what we both want you to remember from today.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_04: When you remodel your home, you're not just spending money, you're making an investment in the place where your life happens.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_04: Your kids grow up there, your family gathers there, your friends come over, your potential grandchildren, which I have now, make memories there.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_04: So when you spend the money to improve that home, protect it, maintain it, take care of it.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_04: Because the goal isn't simply to have a beautiful house the day of the project is finished.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_04: The goal is to have a great home 10 years from now, 20 years from now, right?
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_03: I want to have something good to leave my kids.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_03: Maybe even 30 years from now.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_03: You know?
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_03: I don't know.
• 21:11
  SPEAKER_04: And that's what we're talking about when we say that.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_03: But I really think about that.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_03: Like I don't want them, like when I leave, I want them to be able to make money off my home.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_03: Do you know what I'm saying?
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_03: After I die.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_03: Like I or keep it like you did in your family and rebuild it.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_03: And I think it's important.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_03: That's my motivation to keeping my house nice.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_03: And maybe some other parents on here too.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_04: And that's why we say build better.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_04: So our big dog challenge, here's the challenge, right?
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_04: I thought it was good.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_04: I wonder how many our listeners, followers did the three list last week walking through their home, right?
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_04: Hey, so the big dog challenge, set aside 30 minutes, walk around the outside of your house, then walk through the inside.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_04: And don't look at it like a homeowner.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_04: Look at it as an inspector.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_04: Look for water, cracks, leaks, little magnifying glass, flashlight, inspector gadget.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_04: Uh loose materials, damage caulking, poor.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_04: Drainage, things that aren't working the way they used to.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_04: Write down everything you find, then divide that list into three categories, fix it now, plan for later, or keep an eye on it, right?
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_04: Not get to it later.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_04: That is not one of the three categories.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_04: That's it.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_04: 30 minutes, one list, and you may catch something before it becomes a much bigger, bigger problem.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_04: So we don't want to.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna do my homework.
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_04: All right.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_04: So here, here we go.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_04: If you've been following along with the Big Dog Game Plan series, you now have a roadmap for planning your remodel.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_04: And if you're just joining us, go back and listen to the previous episodes.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_04: And don't forget to download the big dog remodeling game plan checklist.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_03: Very helpful.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_04: If you can't find it, give us a yell, we'll send it to you.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_04: It's designed to help you take these conversations and actually put them into action.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_04: If you're thinking about a project and don't know where to begin, reach out to us here at Big Dog Construction.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_04: Let's sit down, let's talk about your vision, let's talk about your goals, and let's build a plan.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_04: Because you shouldn't have to guess your way through one of the biggest investments you're going to make.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_04: Right?
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_04: Correct.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_04: Any parting words?
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_03: No.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_03: Just take care of your homes, guys.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_03: Exactly.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_03: It's that easy.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_04: So hey, thanks for joining us today for another episode of Designing and Building the Midwest, one community at a time.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_04: This has been another episode from a big dog game plan.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_04: Next time we're going to take you behind the scenes of something that makes Big Dog different.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_04: The Big Dog Design Process.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_04: How we take your ideas, your vision, your wish list, and turn them into a real plan you can actually build.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_03: Exciting.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_04: So until next time, plan smarter, build better, protect your investment by maintenance.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_04: And remember, at Big Dog Construction, we just don't build homes, we build relationships, we build trust, and we build stronger communities.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_04: One project, one family, one community at a time.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_04: We'll see you next time.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: Bye.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: Hey there.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Lisa Miller, managing broker and owner of First Choice Realty Pros.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: We don't just help you find a house, we help you discover home.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_00: My team and I are passionate about taking care of your needs, making the process smooth, and ensuring you get the personalized attention you deserve.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_00: Ready for the next step?
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_00: Call us at 217-825-3999.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_00: With First Choice Realty Pros, you've got a team that's got your back.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_05: Big dog.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_00: Your local Window Depot, USA.
• 24:47
  unknown: Big Dog.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_04: Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois One Home at a Time with Big Dog Construction.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_03: If you enjoyed what you heard, be sure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook or any of your favorite socials.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_04: Check us out on our website, bigdogcc.com.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_04: Until next time, keep designing and building.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_03: See you soon!
• 25:07
  unknown: Big Dog!
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_02: This episode was produced by Big Dog Media Group, delivering powerful creative for brands and creators everywhere.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_02: If you're looking to take your podcast to the next level or just get started, Big Dog Media Group has you covered.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for listening.