Hire It Done

Hiring the wrong contractor can turn a simple home improvement project into a stressful, expensive mess. In this Hire It Done episode, I break down the questions every homeowner should ask before hiring a contractor, how to vet referrals the right way, what to ask about payment schedules, and how to handle a dispute without making the problem worse. If you are planning a home renovation, remodel,...

Clean water starts with knowing what is actually coming through your tap. In this episode of Hire It Done, I sit down with Jerrad Beauchamp, President & CEO of Beauchamp Water Treatment Solutions, to talk about water testing, water softeners, whole-house filtration, reverse osmosis, PFAS, lead, city water, well water, fridge filters, hard water, and the everyday signs homeowners should not ignore....

Your home has been closed up all winter. Now it is time to wake up the inside of your house before the busy spring and summer season hits.   In this episode, I walk through a practical interior spring home maintenance checklist for homeowners. We cover the simple things that are easy to forget, including furnace filters, ductwork, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, plumbing checks, sump p...

Interior styling is the final layer that makes a house feel like home. In this episode, I sit down with Julie Coopersmith and Emily Taylor, founders of The Edit, to talk about how homeowners can refresh, organize, style, and rethink their spaces without always starting from scratch.   We talk about the difference between interior styling, staging, organizing, and design, and why The Edit starts by...

Spring is the time to get your HVAC system ready before the first real heat wave hits. In this episode of Hire It Done, I sit down with Ron Garmo and Gary Shelley from Running Right Heating and Cooling, along with co-host Brian Lee of Metro Home Improvements, to talk about AC tune-ups, mini splits, equipment replacement, indoor air quality, and what homeowners should know before summer puts their...

Spring is here, and that means it is time to stop ignoring the outside of your house. In this Hire It Done episode, Adam Helfman walks through a practical exterior spring home improvement checklist to help homeowners catch small problems before they turn into expensive repairs.   He covers the roof, gutters, downspouts, siding, caulking, foundation cracks, drainage, concrete, decks, mulch, fencing...

If you are planning a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, room addition, or major repair, one of the smartest questions to ask before anything gets demoed is this: how are you actually going to pay for it?   In this episode, I sit down with Brian Baumann and Chris Osterlund of Rocket Mortgage to break down how homeowners should think about paying for a home improvement project in 2026. We get in...

If you're thinking about painting the outside of your home this spring, this episode can save you from hiring the wrong painter. I'm breaking down what homeowners should ask before any exterior painting project starts, especially if you want real prep, lasting results, and trusted contractors who do the job right. This is the kind of home improvement advice that helps you protect your property, av...

The Smartest Way to Find Contractors at a Home Show is not to wander in and hope for the best.   In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth Wyss of the Novi Home Show to talk about how homeowners can use a home show strategically to compare contractors, ask better questions, and leave with real next steps instead of information overload. This conversation is especially timely because the Novi Home...

Spring is the best time to start the home improvement projects that can make your summer more comfortable, more functional, and a whole lot more enjoyable. In this episode, I walk through some of the best spring home upgrades to start now, so you are not scrambling later when the warm weather hits. If you are a homeowner looking for trusted contractors, smart remodeling tips, and practical home se...

Spring is when small home issues start showing themselves, and this episode is all about helping you catch them before they turn into expensive repairs. I'm walking you through a practical spring home checklist for homeowners who want to protect their property, stay ahead of damage, and hire trusted contractors with confidence. Whether you're dealing with roofing, drainage, foundation concerns, or...

If you're thinking about a kitchen remodel, second-story addition, or major home renovation, don't make the mistake most homeowners make and wait until the last minute to figure out how to pay for it.   In this episode, I sit down with Brian Baumann and Chris Osterlund of Rocket Mortgage to break down the real roadmap for remodeling financing for homeowners. We talk through how Metro Detroit homeo...

Hiring a painter should not feel like a gamble. In this episode, I sit down with John Cox of Roost Booster Painting and Remodeling to talk about how homeowners can hire trusted contractors without regret. We break down what really separates a true professional from someone who just bought a brush and a bucket, and why the right painter can save you time, stress, and expensive mistakes on your next...

A big furnace repair quote can put homeowners in a tough spot fast. Do you fix the old system, or is it finally time to replace it?   In this episode, I sit down with Ron Garmo and Andrew Perlin of Running Right HVAC to break down the hidden rule that can save homeowners thousands. We talk about what Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan homeowners need to know before pouring money into an aging fu...

Hiring a contractor should never feel like a gamble.    In this episode, I break down the exact questions every homeowner should ask before signing a contract, handing over a deposit, or letting any work start on their home. If you're a Metro Detroit homeowner or anywhere in Southeast Michigan looking for trusted contractors for remodeling, roofing, windows, bathrooms, concrete, or other home impr...

If you're thinking about a major remodel, this is the kind of conversation you want to hear before the first wall comes down.    In this episode, I sit down with Brian Lee of Metro Home Improvements to talk about what homeowners should really expect before starting a kitchen remodel, room addition, or full home renovation. We get into what's driving today's home improvement trends, what projects M...

A major home remodel can either improve your life or turn into a stressful, expensive mess if you go in unprepared. In this episode, I sit down with Brian Lee of Metro Home Improvements, Macomb County's favorite home improvement company, to talk about how homeowners can plan smarter, ask better questions, and avoid costly mistakes before a big renovation starts. Brian has more than 40 years of des...

If you've ever sat in the dark during a Metro Detroit windstorm and wondered whether a portable generator is enough, this episode is for you. I sat down with Josh Young of Voltron Power, a licensed and insured electrical contractor serving Oakland County and the greater Metro Detroit area, to break down the real difference between portable and whole-house generators.    We talk through what Southe...

If you're a homeowner in Metro Detroit or anywhere in Southeast Michigan, this is a conversation you need to hear before you grab a ladder, a razor blade, or a power tool. In this episode, I break down why so many DIY home repairs go wrong and why trying to save money can quickly turn into emergency room bills, bigger repair costs, and more stress.   I walk through the kinds of small home repair j...

If you think pest problems only start when you finally see a bug, this episode is for you. I sat down with Derrick Case of Frame's Pest & Wildlife Control to talk about the hidden entry points most homeowners miss, the early warning signs that show up before a full-blown problem, and how Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan homeowners can stay proactive instead of reactive.  If you care about prot...

If your insurance company just sent you a "replace your roof or lose coverage" letter, you're not alone. A lot of Metro Detroit homeowners are getting hit with drone photos, policy changes, and pressure from "free inspection" roof sales pitches.  In this episode, I sit down with Adam LaBelle and Jeff Goldman of EverNew Roofing to talk about a smarter option many Southeast Michigan homeowners don't...

Deck season is here, Metro Detroit homeowners. And if you're deciding between cedar and Trex, this episode can save you a lot of money (and a lot of maintenance headaches). I'm joined by Chris Quackenbush from Coy Construction, one of the most experienced Trex deck builders in Southeast Michigan. We break down what actually drives deck cost, what makes Trex worth it, and the install details that s...

If you're a Metro Detroit homeowner planning a remodel, here's the hard truth: hiring an unlicensed, uninsured contractor can turn your "dream kitchen" into a full-blown financial disaster. In this episode of Hire It Done, I'm joined by Brian Lee of Metro Home Improvements—Macomb County's go-to home improvement company for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions, and more. Brian's been in this b...

If you want a remodel that doesn't turn into a months-long headache, the secret is simple: design-build accountability. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Veronica Simmons of Simmons+Co Design — a Metro Detroit interior designer and licensed builder who runs a women-owned design-build firm that handles the entire process under one roof (design, planning, construction, finishes, and all the mov...

If you're a Metro Detroit homeowner planning a remodel, the fastest way to lose your mind (and your money) is a sloppy payment schedule and "surprise" change orders.  In this episode, I walk you through the practical payment and change order rules I used for decades—so Southeast Michigan homeowners can hire trusted contractors, stay in control, and keep projects moving without the stress. You'll l...