Chief Operating Officer, ANGI INC
Bailey Carson's Home Maintenance Tips
Summer is a great time to tackle that home maintenance to-do list, but figuring out where to start can be a challenge. Save time ...... yourself doing some diy projects well i recently spoke with bailey carson from angie all about home maintenance these projects ...
About Bailey Carson
Bailey Carson, chief operating officer at Angi, has appeared in multiple media segments offering home maintenance and renovation advice. In a January 2022 segment on avoiding remodeling mess, Carson recommended prepping areas by removing belongings, covering furniture with plastic, and sealing off work zones with plastic sheets. She also suggested creating designated walkways, establishing a daily cleaning routine, and bringing in professional cleaners at the end of a project. In a February 2022 segment on refreshing a home, Carson advised decluttering room by room, considering a new backsplash or kitchen remodel, and using soothing paint colors such as blues, beiges, and grays. She also discussed outdoor maintenance, including gutter cleaning and checking for foundation cracks, and offered a $20 discount code for first-time Angi users. In earlier appearances, Carson addressed pet-proofing, recommending putting away dangerous items and using scratch-resistant flooring like vinyl or laminate during renovations. She also discussed home maintenance prioritization, stating that projects such as fixing small roof leaks or cleaning gutters should not be delayed due to the risk of costly water damage. Carson promoted the "three T's" framework—time, tools, and talent—for deciding whether to DIY or hire a professional, and noted that weatherproofing doors and windows has a strong return on investment. For new homeowners, she suggested re-keying locks and obtaining a home inspection if one was not completed during the purchase process.
Transcript (18 segments)
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Host0:06
Welcome back. Right now it is summer and you may want to tackle your to-do list around the home. What you need to know if you are going to find yourself doing some DIY projects. Well, I recently spoke with Bailey Carson from Angie all about home maintenance, these projects, and much more. Here's more.
Summer is a great time to tackle that home maintenance to-do list, but figuring out where to start can be a challenge. Joining us now to help us out with some great ideas to save time, money, and frustration is home care expert from Angie, Bailey Carson. Bailey, we're happy that you're here with us today.
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Bailey Carson0:41
Thank you so much for having me.
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Host0:44
What maintenance project should be our priority this summer, and are there any projects that absolutely should not be delayed?
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Bailey Carson0:52
Great question. I think that everybody has a to-do list that is longer than ever after spending so much time at home. Probably lots of things we've noticed over the course of the past year plus. In terms of things that you should not delay for sure are projects that could lead to major issues down the road. So if you have a small leak in your roof or you haven't cleaned your gutters or downspouts, both of those things could lead to major water damage, and that can be really costly to repair in the future. So go ahead and knock those out. Beyond that, I think a great project to take on this summer is weatherproofing. So we know at Angie, based on our cost data, that this has a great payback. So think about putting some caulking or weather stripping around doors and windows. It's going to help you keep in the AC this summer, keep the heat in this winter, save on your utility bills all year round. We also are seeing a ton of demand at Angie as people are getting outdoors and starting to entertain. So if you have a deck or patio or fence, think about restaining it, resealing it, or repairing any damaged areas. You can give that space a fresh look before you have friends and family over, and this is also going to help it last longer.
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Host2:10
These projects can all feel a bit overwhelming for many reasons. So how should we prioritize and budget home maintenance projects?
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Bailey Carson2:19
Yes, this is something you kind of constantly have to do as a homeowner is to prioritize and budget. So I would think again about what are the must-dos. So if you've got the leaky roof, get it fixed. And then I think about what's going to bring you the most happiness. So what is going to lift your spirits day to day? Tackle those things too. And then finally, a great tip to save some money is to try to do things a little bit off season. So one thing we do at Angie is we track when we have the most demand for particular services. An example of this would be handyman. We see a real surge in the fall as folks try to fit in projects before the winter. So if you can actually knock that out this summer, you will likely get a pro in more quickly, and you may save yourself some money as they're a little bit less busy.
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Host3:12
For new homeowners, is there a first project that they should consider undertaking?
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Bailey Carson3:19
I can definitely relate to this one. I am one of those millennial first-time home buyers that a thousand articles are being written about. The market is pretty crazy right now. But the first project I did when I moved in was having a locksmith come in and re-key all of our locks. It's pretty inexpensive to do, and it helped me rest easier. You never know who the past owner may have given a key to. So that's an easy one to do right off the bat. Additionally, we are seeing through conversations with home inspectors that more and more sales are not involving a home inspection before the closing. So if you're a new home buyer and you didn't have that inspection, it's still a really good idea to get it done. This is going to give you sort of the state of things in your home and help you budget and prioritize what tasks to take on first. And then finally, new home buyers, if you have the luxury of some time between your closing and your move-in, get that painting done, any flooring projects, or minor renovation projects. These are all things that are a little frustrating to have done when you're actually living in the space, but are very easy to have done before you've moved your things in and you're actually living there.
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Host4:38
How do you decide when you can DIY or when you should call in a pro?
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Bailey Carson4:43
Good question. At Angie, we have a great tip: the three T's. So time, tools, and talent. My husband says I'm a broken record with this one. We love taking on a DIY project, but we always think through these three T's. So first, time: do we have the time to really research it and then get it done right? Do we have the tools? Often renting or buying specialty tools can be quite expensive and maybe outweigh the cost of hiring a pro. And then finally, talent: so once you understand what's involved, do you feel confident that you have the skills to get it done right? Nothing worse than investing in the DIY project and then having to have a pro come in after the fact to fix it. So definitely ask yourself those three T's, and if the answer is no or maybe, probably call in a pro.
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Host5:34
And I understand that you recently took on a rather large move far away, a move that included a remodel all with three kids. Do you have any quick words of advice?
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Bailey Carson5:45
I would say take it step by step. We were fortunate that we had some time between our closing and move-in, so we got some painting done. Last thing I needed was toddlers running around with paint on their fingers. And also involving them as much as possible as you do get in and take on more things. My son and I planted a garden and sort of built a raised bed for that, and that was really fun to get him involved. So do as much as you can in advance, take it step by step, and get them involved when you can.
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Host6:18
And where can we get more information about everything we've talked about today?
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Bailey Carson6:23
I would encourage you to download the Angie app, and then also you can visit Angie.com. We have tons more project ideas, cost information, and access to hundreds of thousands of pros across the country when you make the decision to call in the experts.
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Host6:40
Thank you so much, Bailey Carson from Angie, for joining us today. I really appreciate all of your great advice for our home projects and more.
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Bailey Carson6:49
Thanks for having me.
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Host6:52
Thanks for watching this episode of What's Now. I'm your host, Christine Napier. We appreciate you being here with us today, and we are very grateful that you tune in and watch for more great content. Make sure to always stay tuned. I'll see you next time.