Your Valuable Home - podcast cover

Your Valuable Home

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 my Featured Segment draws in experts from across the country on everything from new building products, maintaining a healthy home and leveraging home equity, to choosing the right contractor, adding value to communities and so much more. Your Valuable Home is not about DIY or flipping. It is about building wealth with real estate, choosing the right contractor to do the right job at the right price…improving communities. The show is packed with valuable education for homeowners and landlords who believe that knowledge is the path to wise decisions.

Episodes

Everything you didn’t know about the legalities and the danger of large, dead trees

In our Replay and Horror Story today, Frank fills us in on his in-law suite which is now on the right track. The same project began as a contractor Horror Story that lasted about a year. In the Feature today, a deer strike will ruin your day. Getting hit by a dead, falling tree could destroy your home, your car, and/or take your life. Today we get a short, intensive course on why our landscape, including roads and municipal rights of way, holds the potential for disaster with thousands of dead a...

Dec 14, 202329 min

Everything you didn’t know about the legalities and the danger of large, dead trees

In our Replay and Horror Story today, Frank fills us in on his in-law suite which is now on the right track. The same project began as a contractor Horror Story that lasted about a year. In the Feature today, a deer strike will ruin your day. Getting hit by a dead, falling tree could destroy your home, your car, and/or take your life. Today we get a short, intensive course on why our landscape, including roads and municipal rights of way, holds the potential for disaster with thousands of dead a...

Dec 14, 202329 min

Major Interior Renovations are Major Opportunities to Re-do Do Things Better

In the Replay today, Kevin reports on a large, 300-year-old house that’s getting an extreme makeover. His first order of business: replace 40-some windows. In the Horror Story, Kevin reports that a driveway repaving job has gone totally out of control. In the Feature, Kevin proves that you can take advantage of a major renovation to make major, long-overdue upgrades.

Dec 07, 202350 min

Major Interior Renovations are Major Opportunities to Re-do Do Things Better

In the Replay today, Kevin reports on a large, 300-year-old house that’s getting an extreme makeover. His first order of business: replace 40-some windows. In the Horror Story, Kevin reports that a driveway repaving job has gone totally out of control. In the Feature, Kevin proves that you can take advantage of a major renovation to make major, long-overdue upgrades.

Dec 07, 202350 min

It’s Getting Tougher for First-time Home Buyers to Locate and Buy a House. Find out why.

In the Replay today, we revisit Mike for the final time. The post-fire reconstruction that became a nightmare for him and his wife is redone far beyond his expectations. The Horror Story involves the refrigerator in Kevin’s home, and it has a happy ending. After several attempts by repair people to fix a nagging problem, Kevin’s wife contacted the head of General Electric Appliances, and he made good things happen. Congratulations GE, for delivering outstanding customer service. In this week’s F...

Nov 30, 202343 min

It’s Getting Tougher for First-time Home Buyers to Locate and Buy a House. Find out why.

In the Replay today, we revisit Mike for the final time. The post-fire reconstruction that became a nightmare for him and his wife is redone far beyond his expectations. The Horror Story involves the refrigerator in Kevin’s home, and it has a happy ending. After several attempts by repair people to fix a nagging problem, Kevin’s wife contacted the head of General Electric Appliances, and he made good things happen. Congratulations GE, for delivering outstanding customer service. In this week’s F...

Nov 30, 202343 min

The inspirational story of Eight Days of Hope and how this faith-based organization offers hope and help to victims of natural and human disasters.

In our Replay today, Kevin provides sound advice on how to vet and hire a house painter. In today’s Horror Story, the choice of the wrong painter results in a huge mess. Our Featured segment today focuses on Eight Days of Hope, a faith-based organization of volunteers who have helped victims of natural disasters in Florida, Hawaii, and elsewhere rebuild. Most recently, Eight Days of Hope expanded its mission to help young female victims of one of the most horrendous human disasters of our time —...

Nov 23, 202347 min

The inspirational story of Eight Days of Hope and how this faith-based organization offers hope and help to victims of natural and human disasters.

In our Replay today, Kevin provides sound advice on how to vet and hire a house painter. In today’s Horror Story, the choice of the wrong painter results in a huge mess. Our Featured segment today focuses on Eight Days of Hope, a faith-based organization of volunteers who have helped victims of natural disasters in Florida, Hawaii, and elsewhere rebuild. Most recently, Eight Days of Hope expanded its mission to help young female victims of one of the most horrendous human disasters of our time —...

Nov 23, 202347 min

A frank discussion with Renowned Architect, Illya Azaroff, about Living Off the Grid

After listening to today’s replay, it would be a good idea to determine if your house is properly insulated. It’s the third week of the month – time for the Bad Guy Bulletin. In a tip sent in by Marc Furber from the Bucks County DA’s office, a contractor who shook down a homeowner for thousands is still on the loose. In another account, another shady contractor who demanded up-front money for multiple jobs he never completed, was taken out of circulation. In our Feature today...if you’ve ever co...

Nov 17, 202321 min

A frank discussion with Renowned Architect, Illya Azaroff, about Living Off the Grid

After listening to today’s replay, it would be a good idea to determine if your house is properly insulated. It’s the third week of the month – time for the Bad Guy Bulletin. In a tip sent in by Marc Furber from the Bucks County DA’s office, a contractor who shook down a homeowner for thousands is still on the loose. In another account, another shady contractor who demanded up-front money for multiple jobs he never completed, was taken out of circulation. In our Feature today...if you’ve ever co...

Nov 17, 202321 min

Your Luxe Vacation Home Could be in the Fabulous PACASO Collection

In our Replay today, Jon Lapp, our sponsor Provia’s Product Manager for Siding briefs us on the newest addition to the ProVia siding line – Harbor Mill shingle and shake siding. Jon talks about how ProVia uses laser technology to mimic the look and feel of real wood, the architectural styles most suited to Harbor Mill, the myriad available colors, ease of installation, etc., etc. If you’re thinking about re-siding your home, you need to listen to this. In the Horror Story, we relate the sorry ta...

Nov 09, 202337 min

Your Luxe Vacation Home Could be in the Fabulous PACASO Collection

In our Replay today, Jon Lapp, our sponsor Provia’s Product Manager for Siding briefs us on the newest addition to the ProVia siding line – Harbor Mill shingle and shake siding. Jon talks about how ProVia uses laser technology to mimic the look and feel of real wood, the architectural styles most suited to Harbor Mill, the myriad available colors, ease of installation, etc., etc. If you’re thinking about re-siding your home, you need to listen to this. In the Horror Story, we relate the sorry ta...

Nov 09, 202337 min

We Wrap Up the 2023 Real Estate RoundUp in Newport Beach and San Diego, CA

In the Replay, Mike talks about the progress made on his project, the entire house reno. In the horror story, Mike discusses the added issues from the previous contractor, you won’t believe what he did. Working our way down the California coast, we get a briefing from Heather Chadwell on the stable real estate market of Newport Beach, where the prices of many of the homes are in the stratosphere. Then on to the last stop on the Your Valuable Home Real Estate RoundUp 2023, San Diego, where real e...

Nov 03, 202347 min

We Wrap Up the 2023 Real Estate RoundUp in Newport Beach and San Diego, CA

In the Replay, Mike talks about the progress made on his project, the entire house reno. In the horror story, Mike discusses the added issues from the previous contractor, you won’t believe what he did. Working our way down the California coast, we get a briefing from Heather Chadwell on the stable real estate market of Newport Beach, where the prices of many of the homes are in the stratosphere. Then on to the last stop on the Your Valuable Home Real Estate RoundUp 2023, San Diego, where real e...

Nov 03, 202347 min

This Week We We’re Briefed on the Dallas and LA Residential Real Estate Markets

In this weeks replay, Kevin and Ron talk about the rising costs of permits. In the horror story is Not the Bad Guy Bulletin, it is the Bad appliance Bulletin! In the feature segment, the Real estate round up in heading to California, Suzi Farajiani, expects a tight seller's market to continue for some time. The good news here is that there are also towns in the LA area where homes are affordable by middle-income house hunters.

Oct 28, 202338 min

This Week We We’re Briefed on the Dallas and LA Residential Real Estate Markets

In this weeks replay, Kevin and Ron talk about the rising costs of permits. In the horror story is Not the Bad Guy Bulletin, it is the Bad appliance Bulletin! In the feature segment, the Real estate round up in heading to California, Suzi Farajiani, expects a tight seller's market to continue for some time. The good news here is that there are also towns in the LA area where homes are affordable by middle-income house hunters.

Oct 28, 202338 min

In the Real Estate RoundUp This Week the Focus Is the Tennessee Rental Market, with Insight Helpful to People Looking for a New Home, As Well

In the Replay of the Week, PA realtor, Jeff Parkins, has terrific advice about hunting for a new home in a seller’s market made more complex by rising interest rates and home prices. Relying on Jeff’s skills and tenacity, legendary performer, Kim Sledge beat the dynamics of the current real estate market in the Philadelphia area and found a great place to downsize. The Bad Guy Bulletin is about a ray of hope in the disheartening world of customer service, where the cost is often passed on to the...

Oct 21, 202358 min

In the Real Estate RoundUp This Week the Focus Is the Tennessee Rental Market, with Insight Helpful to People Looking for a New Home, As Well

In the Replay of the Week, PA realtor, Jeff Parkins, has terrific advice about hunting for a new home in a seller’s market made more complex by rising interest rates and home prices. Relying on Jeff’s skills and tenacity, legendary performer, Kim Sledge beat the dynamics of the current real estate market in the Philadelphia area and found a great place to downsize. The Bad Guy Bulletin is about a ray of hope in the disheartening world of customer service, where the cost is often passed on to the...

Oct 21, 202358 min

Another Week of the Real Estate Roundup with briefings on Florida and New York.

In the Replay today, ProVia’s Alyssa Hostetler takes us through the ProVia web-based Envision system that helps homeowner visualize how combinations of ProVia products for the exterior of the home work together on homes of different architectural styles and on their home,. It’s a marvelous way to visualize the possibilities. And in the Horror Story, Kevin verbally spars with a contractor in the process of installing windows the wrong way. In the Feature today, we keep on working our way around t...

Oct 14, 202344 min

Another Week of the Real Estate Roundup with briefings on Florida and New York.

In the Replay today, ProVia’s Alyssa Hostetler takes us through the ProVia web-based Envision system that helps homeowner visualize how combinations of ProVia products for the exterior of the home work together on homes of different architectural styles and on their home,. It’s a marvelous way to visualize the possibilities. And in the Horror Story, Kevin verbally spars with a contractor in the process of installing windows the wrong way. In the Feature today, we keep on working our way around t...

Oct 14, 202344 min

In Week Three of Our Real Estate Round Up, We Check in On Two Hot Markets in North Carolina: Wilmington and Research Triangle

In the Replay today, Scott, from Our Sponsor ProVia, is in the studio to brief our listeners on ProVia’s superb metal roofing. It’s a one-and-done roofing system available in slate, shake and barrel tile styles, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty. In today’s Horror Story, we learn why a contractor had to be convinced that removing the nailing flange from a new window was a big mistake. Wow! In this the third episode featuring our 2023 cross country Real Estate Roundup, we learn about ...

Oct 12, 20231 hr 2 min

In Week Three of Our Real Estate Round Up, We Check in On Two Hot Markets in North Carolina: Wilmington and Research Triangle

In the Replay today, Scott, from Our Sponsor ProVia, is in the studio to brief our listeners on ProVia’s superb metal roofing. It’s a one-and-done roofing system available in slate, shake and barrel tile styles, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty. In today’s Horror Story, we learn why a contractor had to be convinced that removing the nailing flange from a new window was a big mistake. Wow! In this the third episode featuring our 2023 cross country Real Estate Roundup, we learn about ...

Oct 12, 20231 hr 2 min

It’s Week Two of the Real Estate RoundUp 2023, and We’re Briefed on Maryland Real Estate on Both Sides of the Chesapeake Bay

In the Replay today, we interview legendary singer, songwriter, Kim Sledge, and learn that even celebrities have to navigate a tight seller’s market to find the right place to downsize. The continuing Horror Story s about the experience Kevin and company are having to re-do the work a contractor wannabe attempted in a reconstruction after a house fire. Virtually everything that was done has to be re-done. In the Feature, we get the word that the market is stable in storybook Talbot County on the...

Oct 01, 202351 min

It’s Week Two of the Real Estate RoundUp 2023, and We’re Briefed on Maryland Real Estate on Both Sides of the Chesapeake Bay

In the Replay today, we interview legendary singer, songwriter, Kim Sledge, and learn that even celebrities have to navigate a tight seller’s market to find the right place to downsize. The continuing Horror Story s about the experience Kevin and company are having to re-do the work a contractor wannabe attempted in a reconstruction after a house fire. Virtually everything that was done has to be re-done. In the Feature, we get the word that the market is stable in storybook Talbot County on the...

Oct 01, 202351 min

What’s Up In Residential Real Estate Around the Country. Our 2023 Real Estate Round Up Begins Today

In our Replay, Joann’s “Mom suite” is complete. She’s moved in and lovin’ it. It’s the third week of the month...time for the Bad Guy Bulletin. Today We discuss how, in our opinion, more and more companies are passing the cost of customer service on to the customer. Based on your experience, do you agree? In the Feature today, real estate pros in New Jersey and Pennsylvania kick off the second year of the Your Valuable Home Real Estate Round Up. Join us over the next several weeks, as real estat...

Sep 23, 202355 min

What’s Up In Residential Real Estate Around the Country. Our 2023 Real Estate Round Up Begins Today

In our Replay, Joann’s “Mom suite” is complete. She’s moved in and lovin’ it. It’s the third week of the month...time for the Bad Guy Bulletin. Today We discuss how, in our opinion, more and more companies are passing the cost of customer service on to the customer. Based on your experience, do you agree? In the Feature today, real estate pros in New Jersey and Pennsylvania kick off the second year of the Your Valuable Home Real Estate Round Up. Join us over the next several weeks, as real estat...

Sep 23, 202355 min

Wind Energy Completes Our Interviews About the Momentous Clean Energy Initiative at the U.S. DOE.

In the Replay, Michael and Michelle describe the devastating house fire that sidetracked their lives. In the Horror Story, as if things were not bad enough, Michael and Michelle hired a contractor who was more interested in shaking them down than building back their home. In the Feature today, Patrick Gilman Program Manager in the Wind Energy Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy wraps up our four-part series How We’ll Power America Going Forward. It’s going to take a mix of clean...

Sep 16, 20231 hr 3 min

Wind Energy Completes Our Interviews About the Momentous Clean Energy Initiative at the U.S. DOE.

In the Replay, Michael and Michelle describe the devastating house fire that sidetracked their lives. In the Horror Story, as if things were not bad enough, Michael and Michelle hired a contractor who was more interested in shaking them down than building back their home. In the Feature today, Patrick Gilman Program Manager in the Wind Energy Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy wraps up our four-part series How We’ll Power America Going Forward. It’s going to take a mix of clean...

Sep 16, 20231 hr 3 min

How We’ll Power America Going Forward, Wk 3: The Versatility and Promise of Hydrogen is Amazing!

In our Replay today, Chuck wraps up the story of the mom-suite he had built in his house. In the Horror Story, a homeowner learns that the poor choice of a contractor results in a poorly installed patio door. It’s week three of our Series, How We’ll Power America Going Forward. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, who will explain how hydrogen is used today, and the potentially expansive use of it ...

Sep 08, 202354 min

How We’ll Power America Going Forward, Wk 3: The Versatility and Promise of Hydrogen is Amazing!

In our Replay today, Chuck wraps up the story of the mom-suite he had built in his house. In the Horror Story, a homeowner learns that the poor choice of a contractor results in a poorly installed patio door. It’s week three of our Series, How We’ll Power America Going Forward. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, who will explain how hydrogen is used today, and the potentially expansive use of it ...

Sep 08, 202354 min