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Building Material Supply Issues are Not Political
Let me state this upfront, this is not a political column disguised as a housing column. Recently, a local politician asked me what was...

Don Magruder
Feb 26, 20223 min read


Cleaning Before You Paint Could Save a Lot of Money
Springtime is paint-season for many Florida homeowners who want to freshen up the outside of their homes after a cold, wet winter of mold...

Don Magruder
Feb 19, 20223 min read


Expect Kitchen and Dining Area Remodels to be a Hot Trend in 2022
In 2021, creating an office space inside the home was one of the hottest new trends in remodeling because COVID-19 forced more people to...

Don Magruder
Feb 12, 20223 min read


Jobsite Safety Rules Also Apply to Weekend Home DIY Projects
If you get a job in construction these days, most companies are going to require you to wear a hardhat, eye protection, gloves,...

Don Magruder
Feb 5, 20223 min read


5 Tips to Make You a Better DIY Home Handyperson
The reason many homeowners have developed their skills as effective Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home handyperson is out of necessity because...

Don Magruder
Jan 29, 20223 min read


5 Tips for House Hunting in Florida’s Winter Selling Season
Normally, February and March in Florida is one of the hottest time periods to buy and sell a home because our winter visitors and...

Don Magruder
Jan 22, 20223 min read


Clogged Dryer Vents are Extremely Dangerous
One of the more unsafe, overlooked maintenance items in a home is your dryer vent. The National Fire Protection Association reports...

Don Magruder
Jan 15, 20224 min read


Millennials and Capacity are Changing Workforce Paradigms
Frequently, you’ll hear adults over 50 lament that millennials don’t have the same work ethic as their generation. They feel the younger...

Don Magruder
Jan 8, 20223 min read


Top 5 Remodeling Projects for 2022
In 2022, the new home industry is poised for a boom, not a bubble. In the mid-2000’s, the country went through a housing bubble in which...

Don Magruder
Jan 1, 20223 min read


Booming Forecast for 2022 Housing Market
For the last 8 years, the final Around the House column for each year normally discusses the forecasts and challenges for the upcoming...

Don Magruder
Dec 25, 20214 min read


Do You Have Room this Christmas?
Just like the first Christmas, many individuals in our society will not have a room in the inn this year as good, clean, affordable...

Don Magruder
Dec 18, 20213 min read


Federal, State, and Local Government Actions Affect Affordable Housing
Let’s be honest, not everyone shares the same concerns about affordable housing. There are the folks who don’t want new housing...

Don Magruder
Dec 11, 20213 min read


Material Delays Throughout Home Construction Persist
The Great 2021 Supply Disruption continues into the winter for the building material industry, and limited supply and variety in certain...

Don Magruder
Dec 4, 20213 min read


A Great Gift Idea for a Teen
The holiday season is upon us, and many folks are trying to find that perfect gift for their teenage child or grandchild. In this era of...

Don Magruder
Nov 27, 20213 min read


Builders Reduce New Home Options
As most potential homebuyers know, there is a shortage of homes, especially new homes, and some experts are forecasting that the new home...

Don Magruder
Nov 20, 20213 min read


10 Hidden Costs in Residential Construction Projects
Every day, budgets for residential construction projects get derailed because project owners fail to account for the hidden costs that...

Don Magruder
Nov 13, 20213 min read


Housing Material Costs Bouncing Back Up in Fall
For most of 2021, the focus of many American’s wanting to buy a home has been on the skyrocketing price to build a home, with a lot of...

Don Magruder
Nov 6, 20213 min read


Local Housing Market Remains Red Hot
The real estate market in Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties remains red hot with high demand and historically low inventories based on...

Don Magruder
Oct 30, 20213 min read


5 Reasons Why Home Remodeling is About to Boom
The country is currently in a real housing boom due to increased demand and low inventory, but homeowners need to prepare for a boom in...

Don Magruder
Oct 23, 20213 min read


Housing Prices to Remain High Despite Lumber Price Declines
Over the summer there has been a massive correction in the lumber and sheathing commodity markets, and although these markets are...

Don Magruder
Oct 16, 20213 min read
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