Guides

Home service guides

Straight answers on cost, hiring and repairs.

What a roof replacement actually costsWhat drives the price of a new roof, and why two bids on the same house diverge so far.How to vet a contractor before you signThe checks that separate a contractor who finishes from one who takes a deposit and stops answering.What a home warranty actually coversA service contract is not insurance. Here is what plans include and where the denials come from.A season-by-season HVAC maintenance calendarMost HVAC failures are maintenance failures. A short seasonal routine costs less than the repair.Five signs your water heater is finishedWater heaters fail slowly, then all at once. These are the signals that the tank is done.Repair or replace: how to decide on a roofAge, extent and deck condition decide it. Repeated patching on a dead roof is money lit on fire.Home warranty vs home insuranceDifferent products, different jobs, constantly confused. One covers events, the other covers wear.Licensed vs unlicensed contractorsThe difference is not paperwork. It is who pays when the work goes wrong.How to get several roof quotes without the runaroundThree itemised bids is the only way to see what a roof really costs. Here is how to ask for them.Comparing window replacement quotes properlyGlass package, frame material, install method. A quote without these is a guess.