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NBC News
a day ago
- General
- NBC News
The best dusters to actually keep your home clean
That dust accumulating in your home? It could be because you're dusting wrong. One of the biggest mistakes people make while dusting is not using the right cleaning tool — bad dusters often push particles around and make more of a mess instead of removing them from surfaces altogether, says Marla Mock, president of home cleaning service Molly Maid. I spoke to experts about how to dust every area in your home and the best dusters for doing so. Using their guidance, I rounded up top cleaning tools from brands like Amazon Basics, Swiffer and Oxo. How I picked the best dusters When shopping for dusters, experts suggest keeping the following in mind: Type and size: Microfiber cloths, dusting wands, vacuum attachments and similar products all qualify as types of dusters. Choose one that's appropriate for what you're cleaning and make sure it's the right size for the space. Disposable versus reusable: Some dusters are designed for one-time use, while others are reusable and can be cleaned after they get dirty. Many options come with a reusable handle or base; to use them, you add a disposable refill each time you clean. Material: Choose dusters that are soft and won't scratch or otherwise damage surfaces. Some surfaces are particularly sensitive, like certain types of electronics (gaming consoles or computers, for example) or screens on tech like TVs. In these cases, experts recommend reading product care descriptions to learn about what materials to prioritize and avoid. Additionally, textured materials have a larger surface area compared to untextured materials, which means they can better pick up and trap dust as you're cleaning, says Angie Hicks, chief consumer officer at Angi and co-founder of Angie's List. The best dusters to clean every part of your home Best hand duster Microfiber cloths are great all-around hand dusters to keep at home because they're gentle on surfaces and act like a magnet for dust — the material attracts the tiny particles, lifts them off surfaces and traps them, experts told us. And while you can use the cloths dry, damp cloths are much better at holding onto debris, says Mock. 'A dry cloth may just push the dust around or create static that attracts more dust,' she says. You can wet microfiber cloths with water, an all-purpose cleaning solution or disinfectant, but be careful not to add too much, as it can leave streaks on surfaces. Amazon Basics has a set of 24, 36 or 48 microfiber cleaning cloths, each of which measures 16 by 12 inches. The microfiber material is soft, nonabrasive and won't scratch delicate surfaces like glass, according to the brand. The cloths are available in pink, gray and green or blue, white and yellow — experts suggest designating different colors for different rooms or floors in your home. Best damp duster Using a damp duster, like this one, is comparable to using a wet microfiber cloth. Before each use, you dampen the foam sponge to soften it. Then, as you wipe dust off surfaces, the sponge's ridged exterior traps particles. The sponge also compresses so you can squeeze it into tight spaces. When it gets dirty, you can rinse it off and reuse it. Be sure to store it in a cool, dry place when you're not using it to prevent bacteria growth, according to the brand. Swiffer's fibrous, fluffy, disposable dusters have a three-dimensional shape. To use: slide them over the top of the brand's reusable handle, which can extend up to three feet. You can also adjust the angle of the handle's head depending on what you're cleaning. I've used this duster for years and it helps me reach places like the tops of bookcases, shelves, ceiling fans and above door frames. I also slide it under furniture and appliances and use it to clean baseboards and molding. Swiffer's dusters are recyclable as well. You can download a free shipping label from TerraCycle, pack all your used dusters in a box or envelope and send it to the recycling company. In addition to Swiffer's unscented disposable dusters, I like the pet refills, which are fluffier and can trap large amounts of cat and dog hair. Best adjustable duster This duster head is made of recycled microfiber, which the brand says can grab three times more dust than its feather counterparts. The head can also rotate in six different directions, making it easier to clean corners, under furniture and other tight spots. Plus, the handle extends three feet so you can reach high ceilings. The kit comes with two replacement duster heads as well, according to the brand. This Oxo duster is similar to the Swiffer option above, but the entire thing is reusable, including the duster head. The duster's handle extends from 24 inches to 53 inches in length — at its longest, it will likely help you reach ceiling fans, air vents and above door frames. The handle also has a soft, nonslip grip to keep your hand comfortable while cleaning. The detachable, reusable microfiber head rotates 270 degrees and locks in multiple positions so you can clean from different angles. You can purchase additional reusable duster heads to keep extras at home. Hiware's Window Blind Duster Brush is one of our favorite cleaning gadgets. It has three arms and comes with microfiber cloths to slip over them, allowing you to dust the tops and bottoms of multiple blinds at a time. You can also use the tool to dust vents and air conditioners. Some of the most common places people forget to dust are under appliances like refrigerators and ovens, as well as under furniture like couches, says Hicks. It can be hard to fit dusters in these narrow spaces and reach all the way behind them, but Mr. Siga's duster is specifically designed for these types of jobs. Its 19.7-inch wide microfiber duster head is flexible so you can bend it to fit into nooks and crannies. If you need to reach high or deep spaces, the duster's handle extends from 46.9 inches to 65.7 inches. Feather dusters are useful for cleaning delicate items like fine china, fragile knick-knacks or picture frames, says Mock. Move the duster in steady, even strokes and dust in one direction instead of moving the tool back and forth, which can stir up dust instead of picking it up. It's made from ostrich feathers and has a wooden handle. You can hand wash it by rinsing the feather off and letting them air dry, according to the brand. How to dust properly, according to experts Yes, there is a right way to dust, although the majority of people dust incorrectly, experts told me. Dusting properly is crucial — it ensures you're actually lifting dust off surfaces and removing it from your home. Otherwise, you might just be moving dust around or putting it into the air. While you're cleaning, consider wearing a face mask so you don't inhale any of the dust particles that might make their way into the air, says Dr. Shradha Agarwal, an allergist and immunologist at Mount Sinai Health System's Icahn School of Medicine. Below, experts share tips for effective dusting. Dust from top to bottom, or in one horizontal direction While you're cleaning higher areas, some particles fall onto surfaces beneath them. That's why it's important to dust from top to bottom — once you get to the lower areas, you can collect the dust that was there in the first place, plus any that made its way down during the cleaning process. Mock also recommends dusting first, then vacuuming. The vacuum can suck up any dirt and debris that got onto the floor while you were dusting. If you're dusting horizontally, make sure to clean in one direction (either right to left or left to right) instead of going back and forth. Doing so ensures you don't dirty already-clean areas, says Mock. Don't forget about these commonly missed spots People most often forget to dust hard-to-reach areas in their homes, says Mock. This includes ceiling fans, light fixtures, behind furniture, the tops of door frames and under appliances. Ignoring these spaces allows layers of dust to build up over time, eventually creating dust bunnies, which are small clumps of dust, lint, hair and other debris. Clean or swap out your dusters Be sure to clean reusable dusters after every job, or trash used disposable dusters and swap them out for new ones. Even if your duster doesn't look dirty, it likely has microscopic dust particles on it that you can spread to other surfaces. Start every new clean with a fresh duster to avoid that. How to reduce dust in your home If your home is particularly dusty, spend some time identifying the root cause, says Hicks. Doing so can reduce how much and how fast dust builds up, making regular weekly maintenance easier. Here are some steps you can take to reduce dust and dust mites in your home. Regularly clean fabric and upholstered surfaces: Dust mites usually settle on bedding, upholstered furniture, curtains, drapes and carpeting, not hard surfaces like wood, says Agarwal. Cleaning these surfaces weekly helps remove and kill dust mites, and you can also put dust mite-impermeable covers on mattresses, box springs and pillows, she says. Additionally, try not to add a lot of additional fabric into your home from decor like accent pillows or stuffed animals, for example. Use an air purifier and/or dehumidifiers: Air purifiers with HEPA filters can help remove dust particles and other allergens like pollen, dander and pet hair from the air, while dehumidifiers can reduce condensation in homes. 'Dust mites have decreased survival and multiplication when humidity is below 50% consistently,' says Agarwal. Also be sure to repair any leaks in your home, as that could also contribute to the buildup of moisture. Keep your air conditioner and furnace filters clean: Furnace and air conditioner filters do an amazing job of preventing outdoor dirt and dust from entering your home, says Hicks. But if they're dirty, they're not as effective as they're designed to be. Be sure to clean or replace these filters on a regular schedule to ensure they're doing their jobs. Similarly, cleaning your air ducts to maintain healthy indoor air quality is also important, says Hicks. You should swap out the filter on your air purifier periodically, too. Close your windows: Open windows provide fresh air and a nice breeze, but they allow debris from the outdoors to flood inside your home, says Hicks. Dirt and pollen that come inside eventually settle on surfaces, which creates more dust and circulates in the air that you then breathe in. Frequently asked questions What is dust? Dust is a collection of particles including skin, fibers, hair, bacteria, soil, pollen and more, says Agarwal. And if you're in a particularly dusty area, you may experience symptoms like sneezing, coughing, itchy skin, watery eyes and even shortness of breath, she told us. However, feeling irritated by dust is different from having an allergy related to dust. 'When speaking in reference to allergies, we worry about dust mites,' says Agarwal. 'Dust mites are arthropods that are found in the dust of homes located in regions where they are prevalent. They cannot be seen with the naked eye and feed off of organic matter such as skin scales, and bacteria and require moisture for survival.' Dust mites are not usually found in dry climates, which is why they're less prevalent in the western U.S. They thrive in warmer, wetter climates, and there are higher concentrations of dust mites in older homes prone to mold, homes with a lot of carpeting and homes that deal with other pests like roaches, according to Agarwal. Dust mite allergies can lead to inflammation inside the nose and asthma or eczema flare-ups, she says. So while dusting is important regardless of where you live, it's even more crucial if you live in an area where there are dust mites. How often should you dust? You should dust surfaces in your home at least once a week, experts told us. However, dusting frequency depends on factors like the size of your home, the level of foot traffic and activity and the types of surfaces you'll be cleaning, says Mock. If you have pets, consider increasing the number of times you dust a week, especially during shedding seasons, says Hicks. Pet hair and dander contribute to dust buildup in homes, and more shedding means more dust. Additionally, if you live in an area where dust mites are prevalent, you should dust more frequently. Mock recommends dusting after home improvement projects or renovations as well, as they tend to create a lot of dust. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who covers home cleaning, including stories on eco-friendly cleaning products, disinfectants, dish soap, laundry detergent and hand soap. For this article, I interviewed three experts about dusters and rounded up options that meet expert guidance.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
5 Backyard Upgrades That Seem Desirable—Until You Regret Them Later
Outdoor spaces have been getting their moment in the spotlight for the past five years—and that trend has shown no signs of slowing. But backyard upgrades aren't all created equal, and some of those projects are doomed to become a giant waste of money and valuable real estate. So how do you ensure that you're getting the biggest bang for the buck—and the most joy out of every inch of your yard? Think hard before you invest in one of these features that are most often a source of regret—and follow expert advice on what to think about before you commit to Our Expert Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi Kevin Lenhart, landscape architect and design director at YardzenKids' Play Equipment Kids can outgrow even the most deluxe playsets. "Kids' tastes are notoriously fickle," says Kevin Lenhart, landscape architect and design director at Yardzen. It happens all the time that parents invest a ton in a fancy play feature, only to have it go ignored after a short while." His fix? Keep play features cheap and easily swapped out as kids grow and their tastes change. "I tend to favor playscapes that are low cost and adjustable. Simply having open space where different recreational features can be swapped in and out is often the best approach to designing playscapes." Pools, Hot Tubs, and Saunas Landscaping projects that aren't super flexible and have only one use—like saunas or pools—may be less attractive, especially if you have limited yard space. Be especially cautious about one-use items that can only be used seasonally, as you could wind up giving up a lot of real estate for something you're only using for a few months of the year. Related: Wellness Gardens Are Trending—Here's How to Turn Your Yard Into a Peaceful Sanctuary In-Ground Trampolines Lenhart calls out in-ground trampolines in particular—and not just because they're often cited as one of the more dangerous items in your yard. "It's expensive, inflexible—and eventually you are left with a hole in the ground." Sports Courts Planning for a pickleball court? Lenhart suggests you kick the tires on that one. "These features can cost a lot, and can take up a lot of space in a yard—and they are meant for a certain type of activity. It's important to think what the opportunity cost of including that feature may be—it may be nice once a month to play pickleball at home, but is it worth covering a huge chunk of your yard every day with concrete to have that occasional game, or would you get more utility from filling the same area with a more flexible design feature that could accommodate a wider range of activities?" Trendy Add-Ons There always seems to be a new craze out there, and suddenly everyone's popping pizza ovens, smokeless fire pits, or outdoor-ready TVs into their yards. But just as quickly, the trend can be over—and you may find yourself with something you don't actually use. "Anything that rises to the peaks of popularity, particularly if it rises quickly, is likely to experience an equally rapid fall from favor," Lenhart says. "This isn't to say we should simply play it safe and be boring. But we should just pay attention to the trendiness of things, and engage with them with eyes wide open." He recommends going with budget-friendly options if you're game to try a trend (i.e., buy a lower-priced pizza oven vs. investing in a high-end installed version)—unless you're absolutely certain that you'll keep using it long after your neighbors have moved on to the next big thing. What to Think About Before You Dig Into a Landscaping Project Understand the entire commitment—including maintenance You may be focused on the installation costs, but many yard features—from a raised garden bed to a pool—require upkeep, which costs you time and money on a continuing basis, says Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi. "It's important to think about the initial cost, and the ongoing maintenance cost." Think about how much you'll actually use the feature If you're someone who already has a Friday pizza night tradition in your family, an outdoor pizza oven is a no-brainer. But if you're just picturing yourself hosting outdoor movie nights and big game parties after admiring someone else's setup—without thinking about whether seasonal shifts in weather and perhaps the need to keep setting up the screen and speakers could mean you rarely use it—you may want to try a cheaper projector and a sheet as a screen until you're sure you've picked a feature you really love. "It's fine to have features that can only be used in a single way—say a bocce ball court, or built-in pizza oven—but I only recommend installing those things if you really plan to use them regularly, or if even their occasional use would merit the cost and space they'd require," Lenhart says. Consider the return on investment Obviously, no one has a crystal ball, but if you know that you'll be selling the house in the not-so-distant future, some projects may not make as much sense as others. "General landscaping, patios, decks, and gardens are often a good investment to improve the value of your home," Hicks says. "But bigger projects like pools, saunas, and more elaborate projects should really be projects that will benefit you and those living in your home—they can sometimes detract from the value of your home." Pause before you purchase Especially if you're looking at a big ticket item, Hicks says you shouldn't rush into a commitment. "If it's a project that you've been thinking about for years and have talked about at length, there is a good chance that you'll use it often," Hicks says. "If it's an add on to a project at the last moment, you might not use it quite as much." Read the original article on Real Simple
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowner tips to save on utility bills as summer heats up
2025 is on track to be the hottest year yet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Angi co-founder Angie Hicks joins Mind Your Money with Allie Canal to share tips and tricks to save on your utility bill. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Mind Your Money here. Well, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, last month was the third warmest June on record. And that trend is expected to continue. NOAA says there's less than a 1% chance that 2025 will not end up as the warmest year on record. And with the high heat comes high utility prices, as Americans pump up that air conditioning. So, what changes can you make in your home to help lower the bill? Joining me now is Angie Hicks, the co-founder of Angie. So, let's start simple here, Angie. What are some quick, affordable upgrades homeowners can make today that could immediately lower their utility bills? One of the easiest things they can do is to make sure that they're keeping curtains or shutters, blinds, window coverings closed in the heat of the day, especially where the sun's shining in, because we've all walked in that room where it's super hot because you've got that afternoon sun coming in. Keep that sun out. It's going to keep the room cooler. And then also ceiling fans. You might already have some in your house. Make sure they're running counterclockwise. And if you're considering adding them, that could be a nice addition, maybe in a bedroom where you want it to be a little cooler, for example. And Angie, I hate to say it, but this one hits close to home. Most people don't think twice about their HVAC filters. How often should we actually be replacing them, and how big of a difference can that make? It does. What it's going to do is just replacing that filter is going to make the air conditioner just run much more efficiently. So, anywhere from monthly to once a quarter. You should look and see what your, your, uh, your system recommends. And then just put it on the calendar so you remember to do it. Super easy, you know. I, I do mine myself. Everybody, I think you can probably do it yourself, and it's not an expensive item to pick up at the hardware store. And when it comes to overall appliances, when does it make sense to upgrade, and how could switching to maybe Energy Star rated models actually save over time? That's right. So, yeah, so if you're going in the market to be replacing an appliance, be sure you're looking for that Energy Star rating, because that will help. You're going to get a newer model. It's going to be more efficient, and it's going to save you a little bit each month. Uh, you know, keep in mind, your heating and cooling is your largest user of electricity in your house. Uh, you know, so being, being very careful and paying attention to those is really important. That question about when to repair, when to replace, common question. So here's a good rule of thumb. If your appliance is halfway through its useful life, so most of them last, let's say 15 years, so if you're eight years or more, and it's going to cost half as much to repair it as it will to replace, you're better off going ahead and replacing. Okay, and I want to stick on that topic, because what should homeowners know before deciding to maybe replace their windows or upgrade insulation? And are there rebates or maybe tax incentives that consumers should be aware of so that they can take advantage of that? Yeah, those are common things that you can get rebates for. So you do want to be checking, uh, either federal rebates, if your state offers them, be checking on that. Windows, insulation are very common items. And then also, another thing to consider doing is a lot of times we think about weather stripping in the winter. We're like, hey, I don't want my house to be drafty. Same problem in the summer. If it's 95 and humid, and you've got airflowing through around your windows and doors, let's seal those up. And that's something that can be relatively inexpensive. I mean, again, if you're a good DIYer, it's something that you can do yourself, uh, or you can hire a handyman that can come in and help you. Uh, but that is something that will help keep those drafts away and help you, you know, you're not wasting that nice cool air you're paying for. And what about some good hygiene tips? Are there any overlooked habits or home maintenance routines that can make a big seasonal difference without costing a dime? Yeah. One of the things that I would suggest, and it's often overlooked, is the fact that a lot of us like to disguise our air conditioning unit outside. I mean, I know they're not the prettiest thing, but that actually is harmful to the air conditioner. You want good airflow around your air conditioner. So, trim back landscaping. Make sure it's free and clear around that because it's going to pay off in the long run. And then also think about, if you don't have a programmable thermostat, it might be something you want to consider, especially if you like to adjust your thermostat to, you know, go warmer when you're not going to be home, and then go lower when you're going to be there. Uh, it helps you remember because sometimes we forget those things. Uh, so that's another item you could add to the list. Related Videos July Fed meeting and interest rates: What it means for your money Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowners are feeling especially stressed about home repairs
Home improvement retailer Lowe's (LOW) topped first quarter earnings results, while Home Depot (HD) competitor fell shy of quarterly estimates. This comes as homeowners are spending less on home repairs and DIY projects as they feel more stressed, stemming from economic uncertainties. Angi Co-Founder Angie Hicks comes on Wealth for a conversation on why homeowners are delaying repairs and home renovation projects. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. Shares of Lowe's lower after reporting better than expected earnings and growing sales from professionals offsetting weakness in the DIY consumer. Homeowners continue to spend less on big ticket items though amid broader economic uncertainty. Angie's 2025. State of home spending report found that 48% of homeowners are more stressed about home repairs than they were in January. Joining me now, we've got Angie Hicks, Angie, co-founder. Angie, we gotta ask you first and foremost, where is a lot of the stress coming from for homeowners? I think quite honestly, when it comes to taking care of your home, it's for most of us our largest asset, and we tend to spend, you know, 1 to 2% of the value of the home on improvements and repairs each year. So it really comes down to kind of budgeting and understanding what needs to be done around your house and how to best invest those dollars. And so from what you're hearing, are there massive delays in In some of the DIY projects that homeowners would typically be doing. Well, we did run a pulse survey to update our state of home spending in April and saw that 70% of homeowners said they had delayed a project. But I think what you really need to understand here is what that, you know, actually means. We also found that they're doing more maintenance, which is very common, it's a very common phenomena when we see an economic downturn or uncertainty, because what they want to do is not be surprised. They don't want to be surprised by spending, so they're gonna make sure they're getting their. Conditioner tuned up so it doesn't go out on the hottest day of the year, have their roof inspected so they don't have a leak. So they become just much more conscientious about those day to day things, and they're gonna do less discretionary items, more non-discretionary. So maybe we're not putting the swimming pool in this year, but we are still going to make sure that we're maintaining that house. So you see some shifts going on there. And quite honestly, some of those DIY projects. Might fall in that discretionary bucket that they might choose to hold off on. Yeah, we had a perfectly good blow up pool, uh, at one point when we were growing up. So ultimately just go stand next to the hose for a little bit. Yeah, exactly. So as you think about some of the lower cost alternatives to full remodels, because those are some of the projects that homeowners will take on if they're looking to maybe list their home within the next 12 months, what are you hearing on that from? What's the pulse? Yeah, so a lot of times, uh, kitchens and bathrooms are always at the top of the renovation list. And, you know, a lot of times people think, are these tens of thousands of dollars of projects? Yes, they can be. Some can be very big projects, but there are a lot of things that you can do to make it even a more efficient, uh, project, economical and get functionality. For example, in your kitchen, if you want Fresher look. Consider updating the countertops. If you can avoid updating the cabinets, that's where the big money is. And do not change the footprint of your kitchen if you can, because you start moving plumbing and electrical, the cost starts to add up. Same kind of thing in the bathroom. Think about maybe changing out the flooring, updating a sink, but if you're going to redo your whole shower, it's gonna be more expensive. Hm. And so how are the pros on the other side of this responding to what homeowners are ultimately signaling to them the market, the, the professionals that are also working on these projects? Absolutely. So the professionals are working with homeowners more, talking to them about alternatives. You know, I've, I've just had our Angie pro council meeting the other day. We were talking a lot with pros about the different things that they see where they can kind of help homeowners make trade-offs and make good decisions about how to invest those dollars. Uh, and, you know, and, and they're looking. For sorry, then they also are looking at ways that they can aggregate projects together. So you know if they offer both window cleaning and gutter cleaning, suggesting consumers get those done together so that it's one trip and it can be a more efficient economical job. What is the decision tree for whether or not you should actually be starting a new project right now? I mean, first you need to think about your budget. Look at your budget, understand how much you have to spend. And also, I always encourage homeowners to do a walk around your house and evaluate everything you see, because you might choose to do the wrong project, and we don't want people to do that. You know, so you want to start with structural problems, then go to mechanical things, and then work your way to more cosmetic, kind of more upgrade type items. So do that so that you know you're like, hey, my refrigerator's on its last leg. Uh, you don't go and put a new deck on and then realize come August that you need to buy a refrigerator and you feel the crunch. Angie, great to see you. Thanks so much for taking the time as always. Thank you.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowners are feeling especially stressed about home repairs
Home improvement retailer Lowe's (LOW) topped first quarter earnings results, while Home Depot (HD) competitor fell shy of quarterly estimates. This comes as homeowners are spending less on home repairs and DIY projects as they feel more stressed, stemming from economic uncertainties. Angi Co-Founder Angie Hicks comes on Wealth for a conversation on why homeowners are delaying repairs and home renovation projects. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. Shares of Lowe's lower after reporting better than expected earnings and growing sales from professionals offsetting weakness in the DIY consumer. Homeowners continue to spend less on big ticket items though amid broader economic uncertainty. Angie's 2025 state of home spending report found that 48% of homeowners are more stressed about home repairs than they were in January. Joining me now, we've got Angie Hicks, Angie co-founder. Angie, we got to ask you first and foremost, where is a lot of the stress coming from for homeowners? I think quite honestly when it comes to taking care of your home, it's for most of us our largest asset. And we tend to spend, you know, one to two percent of the value of the home on improvements and repairs each year. So it really comes down to kind of budgeting and understanding what needs to be done around your house and how to best invest those dollars. And so from what you're hearing, are there massive delays in in some of the DIY projects that homeowners would typically be doing? Well we did run a pulse survey to update our state of home spending in April and saw that 70% of homeowners said they had delayed a project. But I think what you really need to understand here is what that, you know, actually means. We also found that they're doing more maintenance which is very common, it's a very common phenomena when we see an economic downturn or uncertainty. Because what they want to do is not be surprised. They don't want to be surprised by spending, so they're going to make sure they're getting their air conditioner tuned up so it doesn't go out on the hottest day of the year. Have the roof inspected so they don't have a leak. So they become just much more conscientious about those day-to-day things. And they're going to do less discretionary items, more non-discretionary. So maybe we're not putting the swimming pool in this year, but we are still going to make sure that we're maintaining that house. So you see some shifts going on there, and quite honestly some of those DIY projects might fall in that discretionary bucket that they might choose to hold off on. Yeah, we had a perfectly good blow-up pool at one point when we were going up. So ultimately just go stand next to a hose for a little bit. Yeah, exactly. So, as you think about some of the lower cost alternatives to full remodels, because those are some of the projects that homeowners will take on if they're looking to maybe list their home within the next 12 months, what are you hearing on that front? What's the pulse? Yeah, so a lot of times uh kitchens and bathrooms are always at the top of the renovation list. And you know, a lot of times people think are these tens of thousands of dollars of projects. Yes, they can be. Some can be very big projects, but there are a lot of things that you can do to make it even a more efficient uh project economical and get functionality. For example, in your kitchen, if you want a fresher look, consider updating the countertops. If you're going to avoid updating the cabinets, that's where the big money is and do not change the footprint of your kitchen if you can, because if you start moving plumbing and electrical, the cost starts to add up. Same kind of thing in the bathroom. Think about maybe changing out the flooring, updating a sink, but if you're going to redo your whole shower, it's going to be more expensive. And so how are the pros on the other side of this responding to what homeowners are ultimately signaling to them, the market, the the professionals that are also working on these projects? Absolutely. So the professionals are working with homeowners more, talking to them about alternatives. You know, I've I've just had our Angie uh Pro Council meeting the other day. We were talking a lot with pros about the different things that they see where they can kind of help homeowners make trade-offs and make good decisions about how to invest those dollars. Uh and you know, and and they're looking for uh uh sorry, and they also are looking at ways that they can aggregate projects together. Uh so you know, if they offer both window cleaning and gutter cleaning, suggesting consumers get those done together be so that it's one trip and it can be a more efficient economical job. What is the decision tree for whether or not you should actually be starting a new project right now? Well, I mean, first you need to think about your budget. Look at your budget, understand how much you have to spend. And also I always encourage homeowners to do a walk around your house and evaluate everything you see because you might choose to do the wrong project, and we don't want people to do that. You know, so you want to start with structural problems, then go to mechanical things and then work your way to more cosmetic kind of more upgrade type items. So do that so that you know, like, hey, my refrigerators on its last leg. Uh you don't go and put a new deck on and then realize come August that you need to buy a refrigerator and you feel the crunch. Angie, great to see you. Thanks so much for taking the time as always. Thank you. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
