Our guest for our Best Practices segment today is Joelle Longo, newly promoted Product Manager for ProVia entry and storm doors. We talk about the curb appeal of ProVia entry doors and the painstaking process of how they are manufactured. We also get into the compatible design of ProVia storm doors and how they can be matched with any ProVia entry door. In our Horror Story, Ron draws attention to the page after page of cyber and other scams identified in the latest issue of the AARP Bulletin. AA...
Apr 11, 2025•43 min
Planning an addition to your home or a companion structure for your property? There are many steps involved, and getting the job done right requires following those steps and super coordination. In our Best Practices segment for this episode of Your Valuable Home, Jon Jacob, VP of Business Development for Hamilton Supply in Hamilton, New Jersey, walks us through the process of planning and constructing an addition or companion structure. If you’re a weekend DIYer, you probably want to leave a pr...
Apr 05, 2025•53 min
John Perna, President and CEO of Hamilton Building Supply in Hamilton, New Jersey, provides an eye-opening tutorial on framing lumber and why his company sells only the best. If you’re planning any home project that requires framing lumber, you should consider John’s advice a “Best Practice” for specifying framing lumber. In our second segment today, John offers an example of what can happen with sub-par framing lumber. In today’s Feature, we speak with the developer and one of the first buyers ...
Mar 28, 2025•53 min
In our Best Practices segment today, Mike McColgan, an accomplished masonry pro, provides a tutorial on the different materials available to create patios, walkways and driveways. Pavers are by far today’s material of choice for such projects. In the case of walkways and patios, pavers are often combined with natural bluestone. Mike also runs down the different brands and styles of pavers. In The Bad Guy Bulletin, Mike Bannon from Bucks County Consumer Protection, Weights and Measures returns to...
Mar 23, 2025•55 min
Marc from ABE Doors and Windows is back to offer expert advice on the proper way to install entry doors. ProVia® entry doorscome with a level built right into each door to aid foolproof installation. Marc also contributes to Our Horror Story today. Often his company is called in to replace entry doors that were improperly installed. Don’t let that happen to you. In today’s Feature, Steve Tybor, President and Founder of Eight Days of Hope, offers examples of his organization’s multi-level approac...
Mar 14, 2025•54 min
For our Best Practices segment today, Marc Rapchak, General Manager of ABE Doors and Windows in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, explains why his company sells the ProVia® brand of windows. Then in our Horror Story, Marc recounts some of the troubling situations his crews find, when they’re called in to replace old, tired or improperly installed windows with new ProVia windows. In our Feature of the week, we catch the current owner of the one-of-a-kind Buttermilk Falls shovel-ready hom...
Mar 07, 2025•38 min
This episode of Your Valuable Home opens with Architect James Rogers explaining the science that made it possible for him to design a 3,000-square foot-home on a “bridge” spanning the base of a waterfall. This could be one of the most enchanting and coveted building sites in the Northeastern U.S. It beckons the visionary buyer eager to create a signature home on this spot. In our Horror Story today, Nancy explains why it’s so important to scrutinize the work of an electrician called to install a...
Feb 28, 2025•44 min
This episode of Your Valuable Home opens with Architect James Rogers explaining the science that made it possible for him to design a 3,000-square foot-home on a “bridge” spanning the base of a waterfall. This could be one of the most enchanting and coveted building sites in the Northeastern U.S. It beckons the visionary buyer eager to create a signature home on this spot. In our Horror Story today, Nancy explains why it’s so important to scrutinize the work of an electrician called to install a...
Feb 28, 2025•44 min
Whether you’re buying or selling residential real estate today, it is so very important to work with the right real estate pro. How do you know which one is the right one? That’s the topic for the first segment in this week’s Your Valuable Home, and we’re going to get right into it with Joe Bonacci, a realtor in New York City and a good friend of Your Valuable Home. Joe has great advice about getting to know the person, their experience, their knowledge of the local market and much more. Then it...
Feb 22, 2025•52 min
Whether you’re buying or selling residential real estate today, it is so very important to work with the right real estate pro. How do you know which one is the right one? That’s the topic for the first segment in this week’s Your Valuable Home, and we’re going to get right into it with Joe Bonacci, a realtor in New York City and a good friend of Your Valuable Home. Joe has great advice about getting to know the person, their experience, their knowledge of the local market and much more. Then it...
Feb 22, 2025•52 min
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 o...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min
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 o...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min
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 th...
Feb 07, 2025•39 min
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 th...
Feb 07, 2025•39 min
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 cur...
Feb 01, 2025•43 min
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 cur...
Feb 01, 2025•43 min
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 hug...
Jan 24, 2025•43 min
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 hug...
Jan 24, 2025•43 min
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 Shanksv...
Jan 17, 2025•27 min
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 Shanksv...
Jan 17, 2025•27 min
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 Caribbe...
Jan 10, 2025•48 min
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 Caribbe...
Jan 10, 2025•48 min
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. -- The Your Valuable Home Podcast will close out 2024 with a huge thank to everyone in our audience for ...
Jan 03, 2025•48 min
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. -- The Your Valuable Home Podcast will close out 2024 with a huge thank to everyone in our audience for ...
Jan 03, 2025•48 min
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. -- In the Repla...
Dec 27, 2024•42 min
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. -- In the Repla...
Dec 27, 2024•42 min
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 furna...
Dec 20, 2024•44 min
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 furna...
Dec 20, 2024•44 min
In the Replay today, Caroline walks us through the many updates Kevin and crew have brought about in her house, one of the oldest in America. In today’s Horror Story, Kevin shares on bad window installations. Our Feature today is an inspirational story about a residential real estate entrepreneur who seized on the opportunity to turn a historic commercial building in downtown Philadelphia into a 20- unit, mixed-use apartment building. Candace was very familiar with the building, because of havin...
Dec 13, 2024•31 min
In the Replay today, Caroline walks us through the many updates Kevin and crew have brought about in her house, one of the oldest in America. In today’s Horror Story, Kevin shares on bad window installations. Our Feature today is an inspirational story about a residential real estate entrepreneur who seized on the opportunity to turn a historic commercial building in downtown Philadelphia into a 20- unit, mixed-use apartment building. Candace was very familiar with the building, because of havin...
Dec 13, 2024•31 min
