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Don Magruder
May 14, 20213 min read
New Sidings Offer More Durability
Product offerings in the world of sidings have dramatically changed over the last decade. Project owners are no longer limited to stucco,...
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Don Magruder
May 7, 20213 min read
Do Not Waste on Construction Projects
Since last year, lumber and plywood products have more than doubled in price and most other products used in home construction and...
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Don Magruder
Apr 30, 20213 min read
The Home of the Future — Wood, Steel, or Concrete
Since the start of the pandemic, the national framing lumber composite by Random Lengths has increased by more than $600 dollars per...
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Don Magruder
Apr 23, 20213 min read
Five Tips for Speeding up Your Construction Project in This Market
If you talk to any homeowner, builder, remodeler, or subcontractor who is building a project with the current supply market during the...
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Don Magruder
Apr 16, 20213 min read
The Right to Refuse Service
Most construction, remodel, and home repair professionals are very independent. Unlike many of the big-box retailers in America, if they...
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Don Magruder
Apr 9, 20213 min read
New Housing Boom Will Not Be Like the Last One
The disinformation and uniformed opinions disseminated on social media are stunning and those who have no understanding of the...
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Don Magruder
Apr 2, 20213 min read
Be Respectful, Be Respected
I wrote a column in early March entitled “Five Tips for Hiring a Construction Professional in 2021.” In this column, I discussed how the...
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Don Magruder
Mar 26, 20213 min read
Springtime is the Time of Year for Lawn Hitchhikers
Having a beautiful lawn is a challenge, because of the climate, sandy soil, and pests. For many of us, it is almost like a war—you are...
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Don Magruder
Mar 19, 20214 min read
Understanding Transportation Impact Fees
Did you know that every new home or commercial structure in Lake and Sumter Counties is assessed a transportation impact fee? Upfront, I...
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Don Magruder
Mar 13, 20213 min read
A New Reason for Septic Tank Failure
Septic tanks are commonplace throughout Lake and Sumter Counties and the most discouraging sound any homeowner can hear is a gurgling...
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Don Magruder
Mar 6, 20213 min read
Yard Maintenance Can Affect Your Home
Most homeowners do not equate yard work with the overall maintenance of their home. However, what happens in your yard can directly...
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Don Magruder
Feb 27, 20213 min read
Five Tips for Hiring a Construction Professional in 2021
A decade ago, the construction industry had just begun coming out of the darkest days of the Great Recession and jobs in the construction...
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Don Magruder
Feb 20, 20213 min read
20-Year Cost Comparison for Local Housing is Troublesome
Lake and Sumter Counties are in an affordable housing crisis. In last week’s column, I explored the increased costs of housing and what...
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Don Magruder
Feb 13, 20213 min read
Increase in Local Housing Costs Illustrates Affordability Crisis
Housing affordability and insecurity is a real issue for millions of working Americans who do not own a home. In this two-part series, I...
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Don Magruder
Feb 6, 20213 min read
Screens, Fans, and Fresh Air Are Virus Remedies
COVID-19 and most of its cousins have a Dracula feature of not liking sunshine and fresh air, and Florida has plenty of each. In fact, if...
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Don Magruder
Jan 30, 20213 min read
Before Summer Garage Door Upgrades
Because most developments do not allow out-buildings like sheds and workshops, the garages for many homeowners have become their area for...
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Don Magruder
Jan 23, 20213 min read
Top Repair Projects for February
Florida is one of the best areas in America with all of its recreational opportunities. Hopefully, as springtime turns warmer the...
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Don Magruder
Jan 16, 20213 min read
Something to Make You Smile
For most people, 2020 has been a year of heartache, fear, and anxiety with little to smile about. We are all exhausted from the COVID-19...
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Don Magruder
Jan 9, 20213 min read
Try to Repair before Replacing
Impatience and a disposable electronic culture are leading to a lot of unnecessary replacement projects around the house. It seems that...
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