Writing
Guides for people making decisions about their homes: what to fix, who to hire, and how to read the paperwork without losing sleep.
Home improvement
renovations, repairs, and what they really cost
Repair or replace? A calmer way to decide
When a furnace, water heater, roof, or set of windows starts to fail, the choice feels urgent and expensive. A few plain questions make it smaller.
Read your renovation contract for these seven things
A renovation contract is where good intentions become obligations. Seven sections deserve a slow read before you sign, and none of them need a lawyer’s vocabulary.
Real estate & housing
buying, selling, and making sense of the market
How to read a home inspection report without panicking
Inspection reports are long, blunt, and full of photos that look worse than they are. Here’s how to sort what matters from what doesn’t.
What to fix before you list, and what to leave alone
Some repairs help a house sell. Others eat money and time that buyers never notice. How to tell them apart, and why honest disclosure matters more than any of it.
Skilled trades
the people who wire, plumb, and frame our homes
Why the electrician wants to see your panel first
Ask an electrician about a heat pump or a car charger and the first thing they’ll want is a look at your electrical panel. Here’s what they’re checking, in plain terms.
What a good plumber checks before quoting
Shut-offs, pipe material, water pressure, drain history, and access. What a careful plumber looks at before putting a number on paper, and why a quote without a visit should make you curious.
Local business
the shops and services neighbourhoods run on
How to read reviews for a contractor
Star ratings tell you less than you’d think. Patterns, the owner’s replies, and the review that mentions a problem often tell you far more.
Hiring local: what ‘local’ should actually mean
Plenty of businesses call themselves local. Here’s what the word should mean when someone is working on your home, and how to check.