Home Wiz Guy | Your Home Improvement Advisor

Home Wiz Guy

Does an Alarm System Increase The Value of Your Home

If you are thinking about selling your home now or sometime in the future, you are probably looking for ways to increase its value so you can get the absolute highest offer possible.

1. An Alarm System Increases the Actual Value of Your Home

With the popularity of home security systems increasing, many buyers are looking for homes where alarm systems are already installed. So, just as adding a swimming pool, building a deck, or updating your kitchen can increase the number of offers you receive (as well as the amount offered), so can a home alarm system.

You’ve purchased the equipment and paid for its installation, which means all buyers have to do is contact a security company. You save them time and money — many buyers are willing to pay more for this convenience.

2. An Alarm System Increases the Perceived Value of Your Home

While an alarm system has a monetary value that can increase the market price of your home, it also has a perceived value due to its functionality. Alarm systems are installed for the purpose of keeping your home and family safer. Some buyers will likely look at the price of an alarm system and see if the added monetary value it brings is enough to justify the cost of your home. Perhaps more buyers, though, will consider the benefits a home alarm system brings instead. They will think of the added safety, security, and peace of mind that comes with having a system. This will not only increase the perceived value of your home, but it will have buyers questioning whether or not they should buy other homes that do not have alarm systems installed.

3. Discounts on Homeowners Insurance Justify an Added Investment

Because alarm systems can prevent burglary (as well as fires and flooding when paired with other security technologies), the installation of a system often results in a reduction to your homeowner’s insurance premiums. Your house is statistically at less risk of experiencing damage from one of these threats, so insurance companies are willing to charge you less. The amount discounted depends entirely on the insurance company and your policy, but it can be as much as 20%. This doesn’t exactly increase the value of your home, but if buyers know of this discount, they may be willing to pay more for your property.


Alarm Systems Don’t Just Add Value to Your Home, They Add Value to Your Life

A home alarm system is an investment that you want to be able to justify before buying — we understand that. But an alarm system can do more than just improve the value of your home. With incredibly convenient home automation features like light control, thermostat control, and more, alarm systems can make your life easier and your home more enjoyable.

How Can we help?

Here are some trusted companies who are very popular for providing standard Home Security services in their local area. If you are interested in getting a system for your home, feel free to reach out to these companies.

Home Wiz Guy Posted on September 7th, 2021

General Contractor or Basement Expert?

Sometimes the choice is clear when searching for someone to do work in your home: a plumber to fix the shower, an electrician to add a light switch, and so on. On the other hand, there are some jobs where it might seem that more than one type of contractor might be just as good as another. There are two directions you can go when selecting a contractor to finish your basement: finding a general contractor who's willing to do the work for you or locate a basement remodeling expert. When selecting between the two types of contractors, here are three things to consider:

1. Experience in Basement Finishing

A basement has many unique challenges not present in the rest of the home. A general contractor who is accustomed to working in wide-open spaces will have to deal with low ceilings, furnaces, water heaters, pipes, heating ducts, posts, water storage tanks, and a variety of other obstacles that commonly appear in the basement environment. An experienced basement remodeling contractor, however, has years of experience in creatively designing basements to look exactly the way you want - without a boxed-out look or ugly remodeling job. They'll also be familiar with local building codes, practices, and standards that will keep your basement up to proper codes with the best techniques in the industry.

A basement is going to look a little different than the rest of the home. It has fewer windows, more obstacles, and generally a lower ceiling than the rest of the home. While any contractor is going to want to make it look like it follows suit with the other levels, an experienced basement remodeling contractor will also know how to design the lower level with proper lighting and basement windows that take full advantage of available sunlight and space.

2. Proper Materials for a Basement Renovation

A basement provides an environment that requires different building materials than the rest of the home. Unfortunately, a general contractor will often install drywall for the walls and ceilings and carpet on the floor- just like they have for the rest of the home. Basements with ruined, moldy drywall and sagging ceilings every day that has been installed by general contractors who just don't realize what happens to these materials in a basement in the long term.

For example, it's common for a general contractor to install carpet on top of a wood subfloor in a basement area. Unfortunately, these materials take 3-4" of headroom away from the homeowner's space. Additionally, wood planks are generally laid directly on the basement floor, where they collect moisture seeping from the ground through the basement floor. This moisture and humidity collect, causing the wood to rot, swell, buckle, grow mold, and smell. This damage will spread to the carpet, and the finishing is eventually ruined. Other wood floor materials use wood tile with plastic bottoms in an attempt to deter this moisture. These tiles do not take a foundation leak or a plumbing leak into consideration, which still collects moisture and ultimately be ruined just as easily. Drywall, even mold-resistant drywall (which has no lasting warranty against mold) will also grow mold and be easily damaged by moisture.


Basement contractors who have a long history in basement finishing are aware of these conditions and are able to prepare a lasting solution for the homeowner. They use well-insulated, completely inorganic materials with a long-lasting warranty that the homeowner will be able to count on. Their basement stays beautiful for decades and will not degrade and need replacement several times over the life of the home.

3. Reliability in General Contractors

Simply put, general contractors do not make their living finishing basements. Any estimates they make on price, materials needed, and manpower are going to be rough and experts state that you should expect at least a 10% cost overrun on work done by general contractors.

Additionally, a general contractor will generally schedule their jobs tightly, and if they've underestimated the time needed, they may need to return at a later date to complete the work. The homeowner will be inconvenienced with a house full of displaced belongings as they wait for their basement remodeling to be completed.

Lastly, the Small Business Administration reports that 50% of contractors fail within the first year and 96% within the first five years. If you remodel the basement and find that you need to have the job serviced, repaired, or improved on, there's a very good chance that they won't be there for you. And a warranty will only be as good as the company behind it.

Professional Basement Finishing Contractors

Finishing a basement is a big investment! With the wrong contractor designing the space, you can be stuck with an ugly, poorly finished space created by a contractor who may not be there for you when the materials begin to decompose in the basement.

Here are some highly trusted companies who are very popular for their Standard service in their local area. So if you are in their service area then you can get their services.

Home Wiz Guy Posted on September 6th, 2021

Why You Need Your Ducts Cleaned

Many homeowners don't realize the amount of contaminants that can be harbored in your air ducts. Over the years, dead skin, dust, mold and other contaminants can build up. When your HVAC system runs, all that dust is then distributed throughout the house.

The Benefits of Clean Air Ducts

Improve Air Quality: A proper, thorough cleaning can reduce dust, allergens, toxins, bacteria, and fungus in your home to smell cleaner and improve the air quality.
More Efficient System: Think about it - if you have dirt and debris clogging the ducts, air flow is blocked, causing your HVAC system to work harder. A clean HVAC system runs more efficiently which results in lower energy bills, maintenance, repairs and increases the life of your HVAC system.

Do New Homes Need Duct Cleaning?

Surprisingly to most people, the answer is a resounding YES. During construction, your air duct system is open allowing wood shavings, drywall dust and particles, bugs, dirt, dust and carpet fibers to settle or be swept into your system. Cleaning your air duct system can remove these contaminants, giving you a clean, fresh start to your new home.
Visit: Hydro Clean Duct Cleaning - Why You Need Your Ducts Cleaned

Home Wiz Guy Posted on August 10th, 2021