The Seasonal Guide to Home Maintenance
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic delve into the essential topic of home maintenance. They discuss what constitutes home maintenance, the importance of seasonal upkeep, and the necessity of having a maintenance schedule. The conversation also touches on the choice between DIY tasks and hiring professionals, emphasizing the significance of understanding one's home and its unique needs. The hosts provide practical insights and tips for homeowners to ensure their properties remain in optimal condition throughout the year. Takeaways...
info_outline
Unlocking Homeowner AI: Your Financial Ally
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic discuss the importance of financial visibility for homeowners through the use of Homeowner AI. They explore how homeowners can track their home value, equity, and expenses, emphasizing the need for ongoing financial awareness. The conversation includes a demonstration of the Homeowner AI platform, showcasing its features that help users make informed financial decisions regarding their homes. The hosts stress the significance of understanding both the emotional and financial aspects of...
info_outline
From Wishlist to Budget: AI-Powered Remodeling with HomeZada
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic explore the complexities of home improvement projects, focusing on the role of AI in remodeling. They discuss the challenges homeowners face in decision-making, budgeting, and material selection, emphasizing the importance of thorough research. The conversation highlights the potential of Home Zada's Shopping AI to simplify the shopping process and enhance the overall homeowner experience. In this episode, John Bodrozic and Beth Dodson discuss the transformative impact of AI on home shopping and remodeling processes. They explore how AI...
info_outline
Smarter Remodeling: How Homeowner AI Transforms Project Planning
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode of Be a Smarter Homeowner, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic tackle the world of home remodeling — and how Homeowner AI is making it easier, smarter, and far less overwhelming. From upgrading kitchens to redoing landscaping, remodeling is a massive industry filled with major decisions about budget, materials, and scope. Beth and John break down remodeling projects into four main categories: Big Systems (roofs, windows, HVAC) Lifestyle Upgrades (kitchen and bathroom remodels) Minor Projects (new flooring, painting, appliances) ...
info_outline
From Floods to Fires: How HomeZada's AI Keeps You Informed
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode of Be a Smarter Homeowner, hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic explore how AI technology is transforming the way homeowners prepare for severe weather events. They discuss how HomeZada now uses AI to deliver real-time alerts based on your exact property location — not just your city or zip code — helping you act faster when dangerous weather is on the way. Beth and John walk through how the system pulls data from the National Weather Service, translates it into specific, actionable recommendations, and even helps homeowners proactively assess risks like...
info_outline
Preparing for Natural Disasters: A Homeowner's Guide
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode of Be a Smarter Homeowner, co-hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic tackle one of the most vital topics every homeowner needs to hear about: disaster preparedness. Natural disasters — from wildfires and hurricanes to floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes — are increasingly impacting every region of the country. Beth and John break down how homeowners can be proactive rather than reactive when the unexpected strikes. They walk you through practical, actionable steps: creating evacuation plans, assembling essential go bags, safeguarding pets and livestock, hardening your...
info_outline
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Why You Must Inventory Your Storage Units
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary: In this episode of Be a Smarter Homeowner, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic dive into a topic you might not think about often — what's hiding inside your storage unit or other outbuildings? Whether it's transitional moves, seasonal gear, heirlooms, or forgotten treasures, too many people lose track of what they own simply because it's out of sight. Beth and John break down why it's critical to inventory your storage units, sheds, barns, or other structures — and how doing so can save you money, protect your investments, and ease the burden on your family in the future. They...
info_outline
Home Maintenance with AI: A Homeowner's Best Friend
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary In this episode, Beth Dodson and John Bedrozik delve into the world of Homeowner AI, focusing on its application in home maintenance. They discuss the challenges homeowners face in managing maintenance tasks, the importance of preventative maintenance, and how AI can simplify the process. The conversation highlights personal experiences, the significance of health and safety in home maintenance, and the potential impact of maintenance on home value. In this conversation, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic discuss the importance of budgeting for home maintenance, the role of AI in assisting...
info_outline
Revolutionizing Home Inventory with AI
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Title Revolutionizing Home Inventory with AI Summary In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic explore the intersection of home inventory management and AI technology. They discuss the importance of understanding fixed assets versus personal property, the significance of photo composition for accurate inventory, and the balance between speed and accuracy in documenting home contents. The conversation also highlights real-life applications of HomeZada's AI features, demonstrating how homeowners can efficiently create detailed inventories...
info_outline
From Chaos to Control - Home Inventory Tips for Multiple Properties
Be a Smarter Homeowner
Summary In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic discuss the complexities and benefits of owning multiple homes. They explore various scenarios of multiple home ownership, the importance of managing home inventory, and how technology like HomeZada can simplify the process. The conversation also touches on insurance considerations, documenting inventory for rentals, and the significance of having a plan in place for effective home management. Takeaways · Multiple home ownership can take various forms,...
info_outlineIn today’s episode, John and Beth talk about home finances. Which includes more than just the aspects of buying or selling a home. We discuss the financial nuances of home buying, but we also talk about the importance of tracking and managing ongoing finances as a homeowner. We break down common homeowner’s expenses, how to prepare for them and save money, why you should keep track of the value of your home, and ultimately, how to make smarter financial decisions related to your home.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- [02:06] Home finances related to buying a home
- [03:25] Closing costs and down payments
- [04:10] Understanding and tracking your investment
- [11:23] Home equity assets
- [12:49] Home inventory assets
- [14:35] Regular ongoing home expenses
- [18:59] How do you budget for ongoing home expenses?
- [23:23] Maintenance/repair expense
- [25:33] Hiring people for infrequent maintenance
- [28:40] How do you budget for these expenses
- [30:06] Home improvement expenses
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Your mortgage amount, down payment, and closing costs are all things to keep in mind when buying a home.
- Having title insurance is important because you want to protect the property that you're buying, and title insurance does do that. It helps identify the long history of where the property was once purchased.
- Action Step: After you buy your home and move in, track how your estimated value of your home is increasing.
- Calculating your home equity is a simple equation. It’s the estimated value of your home minus the remaining balance on your mortgage. That's the percentage that you own.
- The two most important ways that you can increase your equity is you live in a hot neighborhood and the value is going up and you're paying off your mortgage.
- Regular home expenses include mortgage and insurance, utilities, service providers, lawn care, maintenance contractors, property taxes.
- It’s important to track what the market thinks your home is worth and what your county thinks your home is worth, which is how your property taxes are assessed based on.
- Action Step: Commit to creating a budget for home expenses (regular, annual, and irregular), track the actuals and then use that to make better smarter decisions in the future.
- Your home maintenance may be 1 to 4% of the total purchase price of your home. 1% if your house is less than five years old but once your house gets between five and 15 years old, that percentage increases to 2%.
BIO:
Elizabeth Dodson is a focused technology entrepreneur with successful skills in business development, sales, marketing, and finance with over 20 years of successful management of revenue producing partners. With great organizational skills balancing multiple roles and responsibilities as an entrepreneur and the drive to increase company revenues and user growth for a consumer technology solution with a partner solution to support the homeowner market.
John Bodrozic has start-up entrepreneur experience beginning with boot strapping, profitable growth, securing venture and corporate venture funding, acquisitions of technology companies, and selling a business to a publicly traded company.