We are one week from the unofficial start of summer. This means the season when backyards become the place to be. After a long, cold winter stuck indoors, you and your family may see your backyard–or any lot of land surrounding your property–as an outdoor oasis offering fresh air and fun in the sun. True as that may be, like anything that’s sat virtually unused for months at a time, your yard could use your attention before beginning to barbecue with the neighbors or laying out the lawn games. (more…)

Spring and water damage tend to go hand in hand, be it melting snow, falling rain, or rising levels of humidity. And seasons aside, there’s also man-made water damage due to burst pipes, leaky appliances, and inadequate ventilation. As soon as the water hits–whatever its source–the destruction begins, causing stains, odors, wood swelling and warping, drywall deterioration, and structural rot. Within hours, flooring, walls, and furniture can be ruined, and within days the integrity of your home can be compromised and your interior air contaminated by mold. (more…)

Bills and expenses come with owning a home, but being house poor wasn’t likely your goal when putting a roof over your family’s heads. Instead, you probably planned on saving for retirement, stashing away money for your child’s education, and having a little extra to take a family vacation now and then. But if the end of the month has you seeing more red than black, it’s time to look for more ways to cut back. (more…)

We’ve made it through winter and now are heading into spring storm season meaning localized flooding, heavy rains, tornadoes, and thunderstorms. Much of the Central U.S. and Midwest have seen record-breaking flooding already this year due to drastic weather changes. The chance for more instances like that only increase as we move further into spring. This is why it is critical for every company to have an emergency response plan.

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The clocks have sprung ahead, which means a new season adds new maintenance tasks on your commercial property to-do list. Similar to residential maintenance, the spring commercial checklist typically involves cleaning and beautifying the property to wipe away the cooped-up feel following a long, cold winter. Additionally, there are quite a few areas that will simply need a checkup to make sure they’re still up to snuff after the havoc Mother Nature may have wreaked. And last, it’s an absolute must to get warm-weather based mechanicals in working order after having sat unused through the cold spell.

With so many things to address, are you floundering on where to start first? If so, try our handy task list to help lead the way. (more…)

You already know commercial buildings and facilities require a lot of attention. And the necessary efforts escalate when the temperatures plummet. Snow, cold, ice, harsh winds and other winter elements can be problematic on your properties. Even if you took preventative measures during the warmer months to winterize your commercial buildings, you can’t let maintenance coast waiting until spring is in bloom. (more…)

November and December can already be an expensive time of year, given the holiday season. But when you add in the damage that can be caused by winter weather, your wallet could take an even bigger hit than expected.

Snow, ice, wind, and cold may seem like the norm every winter season, but the Insurance Information Institute reports winter storms can create costly damages, with an an estimated $1 billion in insured losses in 2016 and about $30 billion in insured catastrophe losses between 1996 to 2015. (more…)

Living in Madison and Milwaukee, we’re used to battling through snowy, icy, cold winters. But just because we’re used to the icy cold, doesn’t make our homes immune to ice dams and the danger they pose to the health of our homes.

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