Standing Out in Ohio Podcast

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Resolutions fade fast when they aren’t backed by steady habits, so we’re putting structure first: the simple difference between lead and lag indicators, and how that mindset keeps both your business and your house out of trouble. We walk through the weekly inputs that actually move the needle, from outreach and education to checklists that turn big goals into bite-size tasks you can repeat without thinking.

Then...

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Ever wondered why some buyers breeze through homeownership while others drown in repairs and denied claims? The difference often comes down to one unglamorous step: reading the inspection report and taking action before problems spread. We walk through the real costs of ignoring red flags like moisture, mold, and chimney defects, and we share a clear framework for deciding what to fix now, what to monitor, and what ca...

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Ready for a home search with less noise and more truth? We dive into why winter is the smartest season to buy and how cold weather turns every house into an open book. With fewer competing buyers and more motivated sellers, you gain leverage on price, timing, and repairs—while the low temperatures reveal what glossy listing photos won’t.

We walk through the exact checks that matter when the mercury drops. Fro...

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The driveway is a sheet of ice, the hill is unforgiving, and somehow that’s the perfect backdrop for a sharper marketing plan. While we’re snowed in, we map out practical, low-friction ways service businesses stay top of mind when no one wants to leave the house. From photo contests that spark community to text messages that offer real help, you’ll get a clear playbook for turning a slow season into steady momentum.

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Think the crisp post-storm smell means ozone can fix mold? We challenge that assumption with a clear, practical breakdown of what ozone does, where it fails, and how real mold remediation succeeds. We start with building science basics: mold is a symptom of moisture. If humidity, leaks, or poor ventilation remain, colonies rebound no matter how clean the surface looks. That’s why “blast it with ozone” doesn’t solve th...

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Fresh paint, new keys, and a hidden problem you can’t see: the air. We dive into the realities of indoor air quality in brand‑new homes and rentals, where VOCs, moisture, and access restrictions can collide to create costly, preventable issues. From carbon dioxide and ventilation to radon, particles, and the chemistry of off‑gassing, we break down what actually matters and how to test it without wasting time or money....

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Ever wondered if that “finished” project is actually finished right? We unpack a homeowner’s renovation that looked fine from the sofa but fell apart under closer inspection: a deck ledger bolted into rotten wood, sliding doors with a one-inch gap and nonfunctional locks, and siding so loose the J channel could be moved inches by hand. It’s a case study in why independent inspections—before you release the final payme...

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Ever walked into your “fixed” new home and caught a whiff of something you can’t ignore? We dig into a real case where promised repairs didn’t hold up, a bathroom vent dumped sewer gas into an attic, and grading still shoved water toward the foundation. Along the way, we unpack why reinspections are the unsung hero of a smart purchase and how small misses in plumbing ventilation, moisture control, and documentation sn...

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Ever wondered who truly owns a home inspection report? We pull back the curtain on a practice too many buyers don’t see coming: agents circulating a paid report to future buyers after a deal collapses. We explain why that report is the buyer’s property, what the purchase agreement actually requires, and how reusing a report exposes everyone to risk while stripping you of negotiating power.

We walk through the...

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A vacant home. No furnace. Water service left on during a deep freeze. That combination set the stage for a preventable disaster—and a master class in how frozen pipes actually happen. We unpack the physics in plain language, explain where pipes freeze first, and share practical steps to thaw safely without turning your crawl space into a bonfire hazard.

We start with the scenario: a two-story house sitting a...

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Thinking about putting solar on your roof? We break down the real numbers and the hidden costs most sales pitches skip. From roof age and orientation to removal fees and financing traps, we map out the path that makes solar pay—and the scenarios where it stalls. If your shingles are nearing the end of their life, adding panels now can force an expensive remove-and-reinstall when you inevitably replace the roof. That e...

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Your house shouldn’t make you feel worse. We unpack the crucial difference between VOC testing and mold testing, and explain why treating them as the same can waste money, delay answers, and leave you stuck with symptoms. We also take you beyond the basics to explore mycotoxins—chemical defenses from mold that standard remediation often ignores—and why some homes feel “clean” after a wipe-down yet still trigger headac...

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Ever wondered what actually stops a home inspection? Not a dead furnace or a closed gas valve—but a city do-not-enter notice, active squatters, or a flooded basement inches from the electrical panel. We open the playbook on how professional inspectors balance thoroughness with safety, what we can still evaluate when utilities are off, and the conditions that require us to walk away.

We start with the practica...

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The repair was “done,” but the furnace cabinet was open and a part sat on the door. That moment kicked off a blunt breakdown of how buyers can protect themselves from empty promises, fake receipts, and cosmetic fixes that fail the first cold snap. We share real stories from the field—vents “extended” with gutter downspout, window trim rebuilt with silicone, and invoices from contractors who don’t exist—and turn them i...

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A quiet estate home meets a busy family and the sewer taps out—under a foundation wall, no less. We walk through the call, the chaos, and the choices that turn a near $10k excavation into a fast, clean, no‑dig relining that brought the house back to life the same day. If you’ve ever wondered whether a standard home inspection is enough, or why older cast iron piping fails right when you move in, this story lays out th...

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A scratchy throat and a pounding head turned into a hard look at what winter really does to a house—and how to stop small issues from becoming big, expensive messes. We open with the realities of backup teams and why a multi-inspector firm keeps your project on track when life happens, then shift into the seasonal steps that keep water out, heat in, and stress low.

We get practical about cold-weather prep: di...

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The sump pump wouldn’t quit, the skies were clear, and the water meter sat perfectly still—yet the service line whispered a steady roar. We follow that mystery from the first clue to the likely culprit: a hidden water leak just outside the foundation, feeding the perimeter drains and keeping the pump cycling. Along the way, we show how a sonic listening device turns guesswork into evidence by tracing sound intensity thro...

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If the air in your home could talk, what would it reveal about your health five or ten years from now? We pull back the curtain on radon—the silent, odorless gas that seeps up from soil and quietly becomes a leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers—and we do it without the myths and fearmongering that clutter the internet. Jim and Laura walk through how radon forms from uranium in rock and soil, why its decay prod...

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A roaring fire feels timeless, but the way we move heat and smoke has changed dramatically—from open hearths that once filled rooms with fumes to thoughtfully engineered systems that keep warmth in and hazards out. We explore how castles got away with walk-in fireboxes, why Count Rumford’s angled design still matters, and how Benjamin Franklin’s stove reinvented efficiency by keeping more heat where you need it.
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