It’s starting to feel like spring, so it’s a good time to share our Spring Checklist. I’ve shared a fall maintenance checklist forever because there’s a ton of stuff for Minnesota homeowners to do before winter. For spring, however, we get to take it easy. Mostly, just enjoy the weather. But there are a few […]

How long does a home inspection take? How tall is a tree? Ha ha. Of course, the answer is “it depends”. We typically book a four-hour time slot for the home inspection, and this works well most of the time. However, many variables affect how long a home inspection takes. Let’s go over the most […]

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/U0ALmS9vUC0 In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry talk with Sophie Ashley of Energy Vanguard about her journey from hands‑on carpentry and post‑Katrina rebuilding work to becoming an HVAC designer for high‑performance homes. Sophie shares how her field experience shaped her understanding of buildin...

To watch a video version of this podcast, click here: https://youtu.be/eK-WIS7inMU In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry talk with Steve Rogers, President of The Energy Conservatory (TEC), about the science behind home performance and why so many HVAC systems fall short of expectations. Steve shares TEC’s journey from early prototypes to industry‑standard testing [...

A ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) is a life-safety device designed to help prevent electrocution. They’ve been around for over 50 years, and they’re required all over the place in new construction homes. Here’s a partial list of places where receptacles must be protected by a GFCI device: Bathrooms Garages and accessory buildings Outdoors Crawl spaces B...