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Be a Smarter Homeowner

Be a Smarter Homeowner

By: Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic
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About this listen

 Welcome to Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, where hosts, Beth Dodson and John Bodrozic are dedicated to helping you save money and get organized while managing, maintaining, protecting, improving, and eventually buying or selling your largest financial asset and biggest expense, your home. Discover how easy it is to be a smarter homeowner. Having worked with homeowners for over 20 years, your co-hosts are two of the three co-founders of HomeZada, a digital home management software platform that helps you to manage everything about your home in one digital place. Episodes of Be a Smarter Homeowner Podcast will feature John and Beth as they explore all the different aspects you need to know while owning a home; from home maintenance, home improvement projects, tracking your home finances, storing important documents, to creating a home inventory. With a focus on the financial impacts all of these things have on your home’s value and the expense to own it, turn the complexities of homeownership into solutions that will make your life easy and stress free. Being a homeowner can be costly and frustrating if you're not in the know. How do you know what maintenance tasks to do and when? Most homeowners forget or don’t know what to do which ends up costing you more money in repair and energy costs. Do you understand your insurance policy? Save your wallet and home from taking a hit. Make sure you have the coverage for your belongings, with the liability protection you need. Love DIY and home improvement? Plan and manage all your remodel, landscaping, and design projects. Discover how to hire contractors, stay on budget, track your costs, and save information for future tax, insurance, and resale purposes. What financial info should you know? Stay in control and up to date on various financial metrics such as home values, mortgage balance, home equity, household expenses, completed projects and maintenance costs. Where are your home documents? More disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and house fires cause home damage and destruction. Learn the value of having a home inventory using photos, videos, and documents of your home and your personal property. Looking to buy an investment or rental property or vacation home? Discover important strategies on how to manage multiple homes by staying organized and in control. Intimidated by being a first time homeowner? You're excited for your new home, but now what? Accelerate your knowledge on what it takes to manage your home and avoid costly mistakes. How to get top dollar when selling your home? Get insights into current market conditions for your home and strategies you can take with your real estate agent to market your home. Planning for retirement? Get prepared with financial planning on your home equity and even include estate management plans on how to disperse your home and your assets to your heirs. Have an aging parent? Get information on downsizing or aging in place and more data on how to remotely manage your elderly parents’ home for them. The podcast will feature experts in the industry. And with your home likely being one of the largest purchases of your lifetime, these experts will keep you informed, offer you tips and tricks, and weigh in on the risks and benefits of all things related to homeownership.2021
Episodes
  • From Honey-Do to Honey-Done - Smarter Home Maintenance

    From Honey-Do to Honey-Done - Smarter Home Maintenance
    Sep 10 2025

    Summary

    In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Elizabeth Dodson and John Bodrozic discuss essential home maintenance tasks that homeowners often overlook. They emphasize the importance of understanding different categories of maintenance, including preventative and inspection-oriented tasks. The conversation covers various inspection tasks, such as checking roofs and foundations, and highlights the significance of using technology for home inspections. The hosts also share practical maintenance tips for appliances, cleaning routines, and safety considerations, ultimately encouraging homeowners to take proactive steps in caring for their homes.

    Takeaways

    • Home maintenance is an ongoing journey for all homeowners.
    • Different homes require different maintenance tasks based on location and age.
    • Preventative maintenance can save homeowners from costly repairs.
    • Regular inspections can help detect issues before they escalate.
    • Technology can assist in home inspections and maintenance tracking.
    • Cleaning tasks are often as important as maintenance tasks.
    • Safety should always be a priority during home maintenance.
    • Garage doors require periodic maintenance to ensure safety.
    • Sewer line maintenance is crucial for preventing clogs and backups.
    • Tree maintenance is essential to protect your home from potential damage.

    Sound bites

    "You could always be smarter."

    "Avoidance is not a good thing."

    "Safety is the first priority."

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Home Maintenance Awareness

    03:07 Understanding Home Maintenance Categories

    05:57 Inspection Tasks for Homeowners

    09:06 The Importance of Roof and Foundation Inspections

    11:57 Utilizing Technology for Home Inspections

    15:03 HVAC Maintenance and Inspections

    17:57 Cleaning and Maintenance Tasks for Homeowners

    20:45 The Importance of Cleaning and Maintenance

    23:01 Safety First: Gas and Wood Burning Fireplaces

    24:11 Garage Door Care: Springs and Lubrication

    25:53 Understanding Home Components: A Homeowner's Guide

    27:09 Dryer Vent Maintenance: A Hidden Hazard

    30:04 Washer and Dryer Connections: Preventing Leaks

    31:00 Sewer Line Maintenance: Avoiding Costly Repairs

    33:01 Tree Maintenance: Protecting Your Home

    37:59 Final Thoughts: Embracing Home Care
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    41 mins
  • Navigating Home Complexity with HomeZada

    Navigating Home Complexity with HomeZada
    Aug 21 2025

    Summary

    In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, Elizabeth Dodson and John Bodrozic discuss the complexities of homeownership and how HomeZada serves as a comprehensive platform to manage various aspects of home management. They explore the interconnectedness of home inventory, maintenance, financial insights, and the limitations of using separate apps. The conversation also highlights the role of AI in providing tailored advice for homeowners and the concept of a digital twin for better home management.

    Takeaways

    • The house is a complex entity made up of various components.
    • HomeZada addresses the complexity of home management in one platform.
    • Home inventory is crucial for insurance and maintenance purposes.
    • Maintenance tasks should be tracked to prevent costly repairs.
    • Financial insights are essential for making informed decisions about home investments.
    • Using separate apps complicates home management and decision-making.
    • AI can provide personalized advice for homeowners based on their specific needs.
    • A digital twin of your home can enhance management and decision-making.
    • HomeZada allows for easy access to all home-related data in one place.
    • The platform is designed to anticipate homeowners' needs and frustrations.

    Sound bites

    "The house is a complex entity."

    "Everything is in one place."

    "HomeZada does that as well."

    Chapters

    00:00 Understanding Home Complexity

    03:04 The Role of Homsata in Home Management

    05:59 The Journey of Home Ownership

    08:58 The Importance of a Holistic View

    11:45 Challenges of Disparate Systems

    14:55 The Value of Integrated Solutions

    20:56 The Complexity of Home Management

    27:31 Leveraging Technology for Homeowners

    33:20 The Concept of a Digital Twin

    35:03 Creating an All-in-One Platform
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    38 mins
  • The Smart Way to Inventory Your Home—Photos, Videos & AI

    The Smart Way to Inventory Your Home—Photos, Videos & AI
    Aug 8 2025

    Summary

    In this episode of the Be a Smarter Homeowner podcast, hosts Elizabeth Dodson and John Bodrozic discuss the importance of taking a home inventory and provide practical tips on how to get started. They emphasize the significance of documenting valuable items through photographs and videos, and how using tools like HomeZada can streamline the process. The conversation covers various strategies for inventorying items, including focusing on high-value possessions, exploring hidden areas of the home, and utilizing AI technology for efficient documentation. The hosts also share real-life scenarios to highlight the necessity of having a comprehensive home inventory, especially in the face of potential disasters.

    Takeaways

    • Many homeowners struggle with starting a home inventory.
    • Taking photographs is a simple and effective way to document items.
    • It's important to capture multiple angles of each room.
    • Identifying valuable items helps prioritize what to document.
    • Hidden areas like drawers and attics often contain valuable items.
    • Documenting serial numbers and details can aid in insurance claims.
    • Using HomeZada can enhance the inventory process with tracking features.
    • Videos can serve as a quick alternative to detailed photos.
    • AI technology can automate data entry for home inventories.
    • Having a home inventory is crucial for disaster preparedness.

    Sound bites

    "People get in their own way."

    "What makes a good home inventory?"

    "Start by just taking photographs."

    Chapters

    00:40 Introduction to Home Inventory

    03:40 Getting Started with Home Inventory

    06:38 Taking Effective Photos for Inventory

    09:17 Identifying Valuable Items

    12:41 Exploring Hidden Areas for Inventory

    15:30 Documenting Details and Serial Numbers

    18:34 Using HomeZada for Enhanced Inventory Tracking

    21:36 The Importance of Video Documentation

    24:37 Leveraging AI for Home Inventory

    27:51 Real-Life Scenarios and Importance of Inventory

    30:59 Conclusion and Call to Action
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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