Home eco-improvements are being pushed by the Government – but do the sums stack up?

enJuly 30, 2021

This is Money Podcast

Podcast Summary

Government's push towards energy-efficient homes faces financial challenges for homeowners: The government aims to make homes more energy-efficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the high costs of improvements like insulation and solar panels pose a challenge for homeowners, particularly those with older properties.
While the government's push towards making homes more energy-efficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is commendable, the financial burden on homeowners, particularly those with older properties, is a significant concern. The costs of making energy improvements like underfloor insulation, double glazing, solar panels, wall insulation, and heat pumps can be quite high, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of pounds. Previous government schemes aimed at helping homeowners with funding have been criticized for not being effective. The average British home is currently rated as 'D' for energy efficiency, and the government's goal is to raise it to the 'C' rating or above. However, given the high costs and challenges of making improvements to older homes, it remains to be seen how achievable this goal is for many homeowners. The government's deadline for installing new gas boilers is June 2026, but the high costs of heat pumps as an alternative are causing concerns, and it looks like the deadline may be pushed back. Overall, while the intentions are good, the financial feasibility for cash-strapped homeowners is a significant hurdle.
Cost is a significant barrier to implementing green energy solutions: Government incentives and making green energy solutions more affordable and accessible are necessary to encourage adoption and meet carbon reduction goals.
The cost is the primary barrier to implementing green energy solutions like heat pumps in older homes. The upfront cost of installing a heat pump is significant, and for many homeowners, it's unrealistic to expect them to pay that much money out of pocket. Additionally, the lack of detail on how to make these upgrades accessible and affordable is a concern. The solar panel rush in the past serves as an example of how government incentives can drive adoption, but the lack of sustained support can lead to a decline in interest. To encourage the adoption of green energy solutions, it's essential to find ways to make them more affordable and accessible for homeowners. Without this, it will be challenging to meet the ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions.
Considering Energy-Saving Home Improvements: Balancing Costs and Savings: Homeowners should weigh costs, savings, and feasibility before deciding on energy-saving home improvements. Some upgrades, like insulation, offer long-term benefits, while others, like solar panels with long leases, may not be worth the investment.
While some energy-saving home improvements, like loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, can save money in the long run, others, like solar panels with long leases, may not be worth the investment due to the high upfront costs and potential negative impact on property value. The government could help by providing more financial incentives or revising expectations to make these upgrades more accessible for homeowners. The housing stock in the UK, consisting mostly of old properties, also poses challenges for retrofitting energy-efficient solutions. Ultimately, homeowners need to carefully consider the costs, savings, and feasibility of each improvement before making a decision.
Green energy upgrades vs adding a room for home value: Homeowners weighing between green energy upgrades and adding a room for home value should consider their personal circumstances, financial situation, and long-term goals.
While extending a home to create an extra room may increase its value in the real estate market, investing in green energy upgrades may not be as appealing to most homebuyers, especially when considering the initial investment and potential long-term savings. However, the importance of energy efficiency may become more significant in the future, particularly if there are financial incentives or regulations that encourage it. For homeowners living in older homes, the cost and effort required to implement green energy upgrades may not be worth the return on investment for them. Instead, new homebuilders have the opportunity to make energy efficiency a priority, as it becomes increasingly important for both the environment and potential buyers. Ultimately, homeowners should consider their personal circumstances, financial situation, and long-term goals when deciding whether to invest in green energy upgrades or additional living space.
Government initiatives for eco-friendly homes depend on incentives: The success of eco-friendly government initiatives relies on financial and practical incentives for homeowners and residents to participate.
The success of government initiatives aimed at making homes and cities more eco-friendly depends heavily on incentives for homeowners and residents. The discussion highlighted the Green Home Deal, which, despite good intentions, has seen limited uptake due to a lack of tradespeople and financial incentives. Similarly, London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion, while aimed at reducing pollution, has raised concerns as it will impact a larger population of ordinary Londoners with older cars, who will now face daily fees regardless of the time of day they drive. The success of such initiatives hinges on striking a balance between environmental goals and the financial and practical considerations of those affected.
Older diesel car owners bear the brunt of London's new congestion charge policy: London's new congestion charge policy unfairly targets older diesel car owners, imposing a financial burden while exempting luxury, high-emission vehicles, creating a complex situation for reducing emissions and promoting cleaner vehicles
London's new congestion charge policy, which aims to reduce emissions and promote electric vehicles, disproportionately affects older diesel car owners, who face significant financial burden despite being encouraged to buy these cars due to environmental claims made in the past. The policy is regressive as it requires these individuals to pay a hefty fee while exempting luxury, high-emission vehicles. The policy's intent and its unintended consequences create a complex situation, as the goal of reducing emissions and promoting cleaner vehicles clashes with the financial strain caused by the charge for some drivers.
New ULEZ regulation disproportionately affects lower-income individuals: ULEZ regulation in London requires older vehicles to pay daily fee, disproportionately impacting lower-income individuals, while classic cars, often owned for fun, should be exempt or receive a discount.
The new Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) regulation in London, which comes into effect in October 2021, will require older vehicles to pay a daily fee to enter the city center, while newer, more expensive cars will be exempt. This regulation, which aims to improve air quality, has raised concerns as it disproportionately affects lower-income individuals who cannot afford to purchase new cars. The speaker argues that classic cars, many of which are owned for fun rather than necessity, should also be exempt or receive a discount. The regulation, which also applies to towns and cities across the country, has left many car owners unaware of the upcoming fees and the potential financial burden it may bring. Despite the government's intentions to reduce emissions, there is a need for consideration of the financial impact on individuals and communities.
UK Cities Introduce Clean Air Zones, Impacting Unaware Drivers: UK urban areas introduce clean air zones with fines for non-compliant vehicles, expanding impact and investor preference shifts towards value and quality stocks due to market recovery and interest rate rises.
Urban areas in the UK, such as Birmingham, are implementing clean air zones with charges for non-compliant vehicles. These zones have led to a significant number of fines for drivers who were not aware of the new regulations. The zones will likely expand and affect more people in the future, despite potentially improving air quality. Meanwhile, investors are currently favoring value and quality stocks over income and momentum ones, as markets recover from the pandemic and interest rates rise. Companies with strong balance sheets and the potential for a rebound are particularly attractive to investors. The trend away from growth stocks, which have been favored in recent years, is driven by the belief that investors will be less willing to pay high prices for future profits and that cheap money will flow into value stocks instead.
Shift towards finding undervalued companies in value investing: Amidst the economic recovery, value investing in dividend-paying companies remains popular, but finding undervalued stocks is the new trend. Strong earnings compared to pre-pandemic levels make the current climate favorable for companies. Individuals should research thoroughly before investing in individual shares.
The trend towards value investing, specifically in dividend-paying companies, has been dominant since the economic rebound from the coronavirus crisis. However, there's a shift towards finding undervalued companies as the market seeks cheap stocks. The current economic climate is favorable for companies reporting strong earnings compared to pre-pandemic levels. For individuals, it's essential to conduct thorough research before investing in individual shares. On a personal note, the speaker recently ended a long-term relationship with their bank and switched to a new one, highlighting the importance of having a current account. Tesco Bank customers face the challenge of finding a new home for their accounts as the bank is closing its current account operation. The speakers share their experiences of opening their first accounts and the importance of having a reliable banking system.
Switching banks for better deals: Regularly switching banks can save money, but people often hesitate due to complex arrangements. Tesco Bank closed accounts due to low usage, affecting 213,000 customers, and offered options to move balances to a Tesco credit card or other banks.
Individuals can save money by regularly switching banks to take advantage of better offers and services. However, the process can be daunting, and people often hesitate due to concerns about direct debits and other arrangements. In the case of Tesco Bank, the decision to close its current accounts was likely due to the low number of customers using it as their primary account, making it an expensive product to maintain for the bank. The closure affects around 213,000 customers, but only a fraction of that number uses the account as their primary one. Tesco is offering options for customers to move their balances to a Tesco credit card or other banks. The speaker in the discussion shared his experience of switching banks and the savings he made by doing so. Despite the ease of the switching process, many people don't switch as often as they could, and some even find it more challenging than getting divorced. The speaker encourages listeners to consider switching banks to save money and improve their financial situation.
Testing Tesco's new ClubcardPay service and current account switching: Explore new banking options like Tesco's ClubcardPay or current account switching for better interest rates, customer service, and perks.
Customers have more options than ever before when it comes to managing their current accounts. Tesco is testing a new ClubcardPay service that functions like a current account with a debit card and the ability to collect Clubcard points. However, it's not a traditional current account. Another option is to use the current account switching service to find a better home for your cash. Some banks still offer incentives for switching, but don't base your decision solely on these offers. Instead, consider factors like customer service and interest rates. Switching can be a hassle, but it's worth it for a better banking experience. Barclays is an option for those who value Avios points, but it's important to consider the overall value of the account beyond any perks or incentives. Remember, the current account switching service is a useful tool for finding a better banking solution. If you encounter any issues during the switching process, you should be compensated. Overall, the current account market is competitive, and customers have the power to find a good home for their cash.
British Airways Loyalty Program Offers Attractive Incentives for High-Earning Customers: High-earning Avios collectors can benefit from Barclays Premier Avios credit card's 25,000-point bonus and premium banking services, despite its high income requirement and monthly fee. For others, a user-friendly reward flight finder website may simplify the process of booking flights with British Airways.
Avios, the British Airways loyalty program, is offering attractive incentives for high-earning customers to join its Barclays Premier Avios credit card. With a hefty annual income requirement and a monthly fee, it may not be accessible to everyone. However, for serious Avios collectors who can meet the criteria, the 25,000-point bonus and premium banking services could make it worthwhile. Another crucial point discussed is the complexity of finding reward flights on British Airways' website. A third-party website, reward flight finder, offers a more user-friendly experience, allowing users to compare business and economy class seats across various airports and destinations. Rob Burgess, the founder of Head for Points, a popular rewards and loyalty program website, believes that this deal is beneficial for high earners and Avios enthusiasts. Ultimately, potential applicants should weigh the pros and cons and do their calculations to determine if it's worthwhile for them. Additionally, listeners were encouraged to keep up with the latest money news by visiting thisismoney.co.uk and downloading the app. They were also invited to share their thoughts, questions, or suggestions by emailing editor@thisismoney.co.uk or tweeting @thisismoney.

Recent Episodes from This is Money Podcast

More of us are falling into the savings tax trap - is it fair?

You find a decent paying savings account, diligently squirrel away your money, watch it grow… only for the taxman to come along and swipe a chunk.

And since savings rates have been much better in recent years, the amount HMRC is taking in in savings tax revenue has gone up significantly

It's only going to increase according to estimates, to the tune of £10.37billion in 2024/25, up from £6.6billiion in 2023/24 - and £1.2billion in 2021/22.

So, how can you dodge the trap? This week, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Lee Boyce look at this growing revenue spinner.

It also means taking advantage of Isas is key - and we're very keen on one tax-free account in particular.

And sticking with savings, this week Helen explains the case of a Barclays customer who had a stroke - recovered better than expected - but was then locked out of his account with £100,000 in it for nearly a year.

There is a mobile phone swiping epidemic in the country - but what is it the criminals are really after? Is it the handset, or something else?

We explain all, alongside businessman and This is Money columnist Dave Fishwick, who interviewed one of the gang leaders.

And sticking with Dave... he gives his views on what needs to the happen after the general election on 4 July for the North.

It's not just our phones being stolen… motor theft too is on the rise. A former police interceptor gives his tips on how to keep your vehicle safe.

Lastly, what is the magic number of salary to make you feel rich? Recruiter Indeed believes it has found the answer...

This is Money Podcast

enJune 28, 2024

Inflation is back on target, so is life about to get easier?

Inflation is back on target at 2 per cent. After the spike into double-digits that triggered talk of a cost of living crisis and sent interest rates spiralling, we are now back at the Bank of England's target level.

So, is the great inflation panic over and is life about get easier?

Or will we be feeling the after effects of high inflation for years to come?

And what's going to happen to interest rates?

On this episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert look at why inflation as come down and what happens next.

Plus, the couple who didn't get a Natiowide fairer share payout despite having £100,000 saved.

And finally, would you let your parents pay for you to go on holiday as an adult - or pay for your own adult kids to go with you?

The team look into the family time vs freeloading debate.

This is Money Podcast

enJune 21, 2024

The manifesto episode: Do Labour, the Tories or the Lib Dems have the plan Britain need?

It’s manifesto week and Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have laid out their vision for the country – along with the Green Party, Reform and others.

The economy, tax and people’s finances are a cornerstone of the all the manifestos, but what are the main parties proposing and what could it mean for you?

On this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Angharad Carrick and Simon Lambert take a deep dive into the manifestos to see what’s there.

If the country votes for a change and we do get the widely predicted Labour government, what will it mean for your money – and does talking about growth mean there’s an actual plan to deliver it?

After 14 years in charge, were the Tories bold enough in their manifesto to derail Labour’s run at power?

And do the Lib Dems have the policies that could shake things up, including a plan to substantially overhaul capital gains tax?

Plus, what did Reform say?

All this and more go under the microscope, along with a look at what has really happened to our taxes in a decade-and-a-half under the Conservatives.

And finally, away from the election, how much did the most desirable new King Charles £5 note go for at a special auction this week?

This is Money Podcast

enJune 14, 2024

What does it take to win the Premium Bonds - and is it worth you trying?

How much do you need in Premium Bonds to win the jackpot?

And if you haven’t maxed them out to the full £50,000, is it even worth bothering?

This is Money has run some in-depth analysis on all the £1million prizes over the past four years and this week revealed how much those lucky people held.

On this week’s podcast episode, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert look at what it takes to win the Premium Bonds.

Simon gives us his tax manifesto to get us out of the mess Britain’s tax system is in.

Plus, one of our readers is in their mid-40s, would like to semi-retire to work on their own terms, travel and enjoy life in a decade, and wants to know if their £180,000 investments can grow enough to achieve that.

What does someone with those ambitions need to consider? The team take a look.

Should you consider buying a cheap electric car? Prospective buyers are worried about batteries but get over that and Simon says it could prove even cheaper to run than you think.

And finally, the new King Charles notes are out but what are the serial numbers to check your wallet for that could make them worth big money?

This is Money Podcast

enJune 07, 2024

The consumer champion's guide to getting what you want

This is Money's consumer champion Helen Crane celebrated the 100th edition of her Crane on the Case column this week.

Helen has won back more than £1.2million for readers over the course of all those columns and learnt a thing or two along the way about how to battle consumer problems and bad customer service.

On this podcast, she discusses the big wins, the satisfying victories, the worst cases of bad customer service - and gives her tips on how to get what you want.

Also on the show, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss whether working parents could be missing our by not claiming child benefit now that the rules have changed and more can get it.

Plus, if you owe tax on savings interest but don't have to do a tax return how will HMRC find out?

Is Scottish Mortgage worth backing as shares rebound but remain considerably down on their peak?

And finally, Charles Stanley's Dan Beecroft jons the show to explain 50-30-20 budgeting and why people love this rule of thumb for spending and saving.

This is Money Podcast

enMay 31, 2024

What could the general election mean for your money?

The Prime Minister put an end to all the speculation this week by giving us the date for the general election: July 4.

That comes as the latest inflation reading was 2.3 per cent, a little above forecasts making a base rate cut next month now unlikely.

Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce delve into the economic state of affairs and what the upcoming election could mean for your money, when it comes to tax, pensions, property and everything in-between.

Nationwide Building Society posted pre-tax profits of £1.77bn this week and as a result, it is dishing out another year of 'Fairer Share' loyalty payouts of £100 – will you qualify?

And not only that, it is now offering £200 to switchers and an exclusive 5.5 per cent loyalty savings rate.

How does early retirement sound to you? It seems it appeals to a lot of us because searches on Google for 'retire early' have increased threefold in the last decade.

But how much would you be willing to sacrifice to achieve it? At the extreme end, we have the FIRE movement, advocating saving 70 per cent of your income.

Special guest, former This is Money editor Andrew Oxlade had had enough – he explains why.

Lastly, This is Money has a new regular series called Modern Treasures with valuation expert Dan Hatfield – Lee reveals all about the first one, all about first edition books, and gives details on how to get YOUR items valued for free.

This is Money Podcast

enMay 24, 2024

The mystery of the stolen Nectar Points - and the loyalty card price sting

Supermarket loyalty schemes have become even more of a big thing in recent years as the two giants Tesco and Sainsbury's have rolled out Clubcard and Nectar Prices.

But while cards bring lower prices, the points collected still mean prizes for some loyalty scheme fans.

So, what happens if a fraudster steals your points? This is Money's Angharad Carrick recently went on the trail of some stolen Nectar points and uncovered a story that delivered as many questions as it did answers.

On this podcast, Ang, Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert discuss the mystery of the stolen Nectar Points and how our reader got short shrift from Sainsbury's, Action Fraud and the police when they had £230 nicked.

Plus, are these loyalty cards any good and worth having anyway and why is the competition watchdog investigating them?

Also on this week's show:

Many more people are taking mortgages than run past state pension age but with work and retirement blurring and changing does this matter? Simon explains why he thinks it does but for another reason.

Would you buy fake cash for a knockdown price off social media? It sounds daft, but this is a genuine thing - we look at how it is happening.

And should a reader who is still working at age 77, worth £2.6million and doesn't want a big inheritance tax bill start giving money away - and splashing out on themselves and their family?

This is Money Podcast

enMay 17, 2024

Should the Bank of England have cut interest rates instead of holding firm?

The Bank of England decided to hold the base rate for the sixth time in a row this week – but was it the right decision?

Should the MPC have been bold and made a cut? What does it mean for our mortgages and savings? And when will a move come - and in what direction?

This week, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce talk about the base rate decision and what happens next.

In the world of property, the number of homes being devalued is on the rise. So, what's going on? And what can you do if it happens to you.

Bungalows are having a moment. They're not just for the elderly and downsizers, young families and first time buyers are also increasingly interested - pushing the price of them higher since the pandemic. .

Energy firms have been trying to push smart meters on us for years. Have they uncovered a new trick to get us to make the swap?

And finally, it's been good news for JD Wetherspoon - the no frills pub chain said it expects annual profits to come in towards the 'top end' of forecasts.

Where do you stand on Spoons? Lee and Simon face-off with different pints of view on the pub giant.

This is Money Podcast

enMay 10, 2024

Mortgage rates are rising again - should we be worried?

With not one but two mortgage spikes fresh in our minds, a flurry of rate rises have got home owners and potential buyers worried again.

A bunch of major mortgage lenders raised their rates this week - and Santander did it twice.

So, are we about to see another mortgaage spike or is this just what brokers and lenders like to optimistically call a mere 'repricing'?

And what does this all mean if you need to remortgage soon or want to buy a home?

On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon lambert take a look at what's happening in the mortgage market, why rates are rising and whether the Federal Reserve flapping its wings on the other side of the world pushes up our homeowning costs.

Plus, Simon explains why you may not want to put all of your savings into your pension as it might dent early retirement chances.

The team look at how at the other end of the scale someone with a bigger pension than they need could pass it to their grandchildren.

Helen details a worrying Crane on the Case theft and how to protect yourself - and finally we discuss whether a passkey is the answer to our fraud fears.

This is Money Podcast

enMay 03, 2024

Is the FTSE 100 finally having its moment in the sun?

You can wait a long time for a FTSE 100 record high but for peak-starved British investors this week delivered a bonanza.

Four record highs were racked up by the FTSE 100, with only Wednesday's slight dip spoiling what would have been a perfect run over a week.

The return to new highs on Thursday came as a mega-mining merger bid arrive from BHP for Anglo American - and that was followed swiftly by one of the UK's few tech stars Darktrace announcing it had accepted a bid on Friday.

Are these the catalysts that fund manager Nick Train was talking about when he said it could take a big takeover to shake UK stocks out of their slumber and get the world investing in Footsie companies again?

On this week's podcast, Georgie Frost, Tanya Jefferies and Simon Lambert look and what's moving the UK market, why it is judged to be cheap and whether you should invest.

Plus, the top investment trusts for retirement investing and the latest twist in the state pension top-ups saga.

Should we cut inheritance tax - or at least sort out the mess - as the take soars?

And finally, are you a backseat driver? See if you can pass the test.

This is Money Podcast

enApril 26, 2024

Related Episodes

DGS 73: Mold Remediation and Air Quality with James Armendariz of TruEnviro

How should property managers deal with mold that affects air quality? How can they create a healthier indoor environment for their tenants? The key is to have a “green” professional perform tests and offer solutions.

Today, I am talking with James Armendariz of Green Home Solutions TrueEnviro. He shares a new perspective on how to handle molds and odors, as well as add healthy bacteria into the environment.

You'll Learn...

[03:23] Property managers usually try to get rid of mold by spraying a porous surface with bleach, which is 99% water that continues to feed the mold.
[04:30] Property managers often have to deal with odors left behind by tenants, including cannabis, cigarette, cat urine, and other smells.
[05:55] Painting cigarette-stained walls or using bleach only masks or covers up smells temporarily; TrueEnviro eliminates odor molecules from the environment for good.
[06:42] TrueEnviro removes allergens, pathogens, mold, odor, and bacteria to maintain and establish a healthy, indoor environment that smells like fresh air.
[07:33] Eat Dirt: Shift balance toward beneficial bacteria vs. bad bacteria.
[08:37] Good or bad, bacteria seeks a food source; TrueEnviro’s probiotic service eliminates food source that bacteria thrives on.
[10:09] Tenant may not pay rent due to illness and environmental factors that impact their ability to work and generate revenue; take action to decrease sickness, turnover.
[11:22] People travel from all over to India to drink water from a river that’s viewed as magical because of its strong flora of healthy bacteria fed by waste and sewage.
[12:48] TrueEnviro’s mold remediation product is Oceanic, which kills every pathogen and fungi; it has earned approval for use in hospitals.
[15:02] TrueEnviro can remove less building material, if it's not structurally compromised; instead of cutting mold out, the company cleans it to reduce client’s costs.
[15:46] Pre- and post-tests are conducted to obtain results and protocol for treatment.

Tweetables

Create a better way of life with a healthier indoor environment.

Bleach is not the best strategy for dealing with molds.

Property managers deal with odors left behind, especially the smell of cannabis, cigarette, and cat urine.

Resources

TrueEnviro

Green Home Solutions

NARPM

Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure It by Dr. Josh Axe

DoorGrow Website Score Quiz

DoorGrowClub Facebook Group

DoorGrowLive

Transcript

Jason: Welcome DoorGrow hackers to The DoorGrowShow. If you are a property management entrepreneur that wants to add doors and expand your rent roll, and you are interested in growing your business and life, and you are open to doing things a bit differently, then you are DoorGrow hacker. At DoorGrow, we are on a mission to grow property management businesses and their owners. We want to transform the industry, eliminate the BS, build awareness, expand the market, and help the best property managers win.

If you enjoy this episode, do me a favor. Open up iTunes, find the DoorGrowShow, one word, subscribe, and then give us a real review. Thank you for helping us with that vision. I'm your host, property management growth hacker, Jason Hull, the founder of OpenPotion, GatherKudos, ThunderLocal, and of course, DoorGrow. Now, let’s get into the show.

Today's guest we have James Armendariz from Green Home Solutions TrueEnviro. Did I say all of that correctly?

James: Yes sir, you did.

Jason: Welcome to the show James.

James: Outstanding. I appreciate it Jason. How are you?

Jason: I'm doing great. You and I connected briefly at the Los Angeles NARPM Chapter. I was there presenting and speaking. They brought me in to speak, you were a new member there or something, and you got to do your little presentation. I think I handed your card and said, “Hey, let's get you on the on The DoorGrowShow and showcase what you guys do.” I would love to get a little bit of background just on you. Tell us a little bit about who James is and how you got into this.

James: Yeah. Our company’s called Green Home Solution TrueEnviro. My name is James Armendariz, I'm one of the owners, franchise here. I just got into the opportunity to own a franchise, really control our own path, help people managing, and create a better way of life, a healthier indoor environment.

Jason: We're going to be talking today about mold remediation and air quality. What challenges have you seen that property managers are dealing with related to this that your company help solve?

James: Well, that indoor environment. You turn up mold, you have some sort of water intrusion come in that may not get dried out in time. We had a client report it, threw some towels over it, and thought it was good, but mold grew. Somebody was reporting [...] or something like that. It’s really a pesky situation that tenant, property manager, landlord situation and if you can have somebody who can come in and provide testing and solution for that mold, or whatever the case may be, certainly in a timely manner, with the green background, it's a great solution for property managers.

Jason: What do property managers typically do to try and take care of these problems?

James: Well, some of them, Jason, they throw bleach on it. One of their first things is to have a maintenance guy go out, spray it with bleach, and hope that it's taken care of, when in all actuality, bleach is 99% water. The water content absorbed into that porous material, essentially feeding the mold and then bleach does what it does, it kills the color on the surface and they think it's gone, only to come back two or three weeks later and say, “Gosh, this mold hasn’t gone away. It’s back.” Well, it never really left. You just got it embedded, stole the color and that’s a lot of [...] to take care of the mold for you.

Jason: Bleach is not the best strategy for dealing with molds.

James: No sir. Only on a nonporous surface. If you're dealing with bleach in a fiberglass shower that's hard, that’s not going to absorb water or anything for that matter, certainly bleach is best. If you're dealing with anything that's a porous surface, you do not want to use bleach.

Jason: What are some other challenges that you're helping property managers with besides just the mold situation?

James: Odor is certainly relevant in a property manager’s life. You have somebody moved out, they lived in that unit for several years or whatever the case may be, and there is an odor left behind. They know walking in to do that evaluation after somebody's moved out, “I am not wanting this unit with that smell attached to it,” so they give us a call and there’s the four C’s, cannabis, cigarette smell, cat urine, and gosh I can't remember the other one we had, but those are some very pesky odors and were able to actually eliminate all three and other one. Seriously, the tough smell would be [...] from the cabinets, but those are some tough odors we can get rid of, and we've got a very efficient and affordable way to remove those from the environment.

Jason: I was going to ask about smoking, that’s a tough one. You'll come in and you use your materials or your systems and you can remove these odors in the property. Then we'll be able to rent much more easily. Rent for a higher dollar amount, most likely, than if it had these potential problems scaring off prospective tenants.

James: Correct.

Jason: What do property managers typically do to deal with the odor things? What are they trying to do on their own? They might have their own little ozone machine. What are they typically doing and how is it different than what you guys might provide?

James: Generally, we’re trying to take care of things the most efficient way possible as far as money involved. I've seen everything from people try to paint over orange cigarette stained walls, hit it with [...], bleach is always a go-to whether it's mold or odor. Those are some of the ways they're trying to but it's really just masking it or covering it up. It’s a band aid. We have a way to go in and eliminate that odor molecule scientifically, removing it from the environment and leaving behind nothing, just that smell of a fresh unit.

Jason: Mold, odor, does that cover the bulk of what you guys do? Is there is some other things that Green Home Solutions TrueEnviro will help with?

James: Yeah. We’re able to remove allergens, pathogens, mold, odor, bacteria. We're really able to help maintain and establish a healthy indoor environment. We have different services that we can offer. One of the things we're most excited about is our probiotic treatment and [...] machine. What that does is just flood an environment with healthy probiotics, creating the healthiest microbiome possible.

Jason: That sounds really interesting. I read this book called Eat Dirt. The author of this book was talking about the benefits of having healthy bacteria and how all these things that we do to try and kill bacteria, create an environment that doesn't allow for the healthy bacteria to remain, and even in environments that we might consider dirty or unsanitary like subway systems and things like this, there's this organic or this healthy biome that exist, that maintains this healthy stasis of bacteria. The bacteria is always going to be there, so if you can shift the balance towards healthier bacteria versus bad bacteria.

In the book, he even talks about literally not maybe eating dirt or different types of things that expose you to beneficial bacteria, or allow your kids to be exposed to bacteria in ways that your immune system can develop and stuff like this. This is a really interesting idea to spread probiotic. I haven't heard too much about that. I doubt there's too many property managers spraying pro bacterial sprayers, whatever, throughout a unit. What are the benefits of putting probiotic into a building or into a unit? How's that become a thing? I find that fascinating.

James: Good or bad, a bacteria is looking for a food source. If they have something to thrive on, it can swiftly take off. If you imagine for example the air ducts. The air ducts along any indoor [...] whether office or home, it’s really circulating good, bad, indifferent bacterias, particles throughout the home. If we can eliminate that food source that a bacteria will thrive on by flooding that environment with good probiotics, there's really no way that that bad bacteria whether it’s staph, MRSA, whatever it is, can thrive and really take off an environment.

This also means allergens, pet dander, all of these things are sources of food for good or bad bacteria. When something in an environment is completely overwhelmed with those healthy probiotics, there's really no chance for a bad bacteria or any sort of infection to take over the environment.

Jason: I would imagine one of the leading reasons why a tenant may end up not paying rent or suddenly is not able to pay rent might be due to illness, sickness, things that have affected their ability to work, and generate revenue. By having something like this in place, I would imagine that the property in general, I would imagine there would be some stats over time that would showcase the properties that have this treatment done if it works effectively, but they would then be in a situation which they had a lower sickness, or a lower turnover rate, or a higher instance in paying rent.

James: Yes, exactly. The other thing that people lose sight of is that a lot of odors are contributed to bacteria. If you think about that, a moldy sponge that sits on your sink, after a few days, that thing will start smelling. It’s due to the bacteria. Not only is it going to help create a healthier environment, but it’s going to cut down significantly on things that are lingering around.

Jason: Another interesting case that kind of connects to this just in my mind is, there's this major river in India. In India, people are just putting their waste material into that, they're putting all kinds of stuff, but the water is clean. It has this flora of bacteria that's so strong and powerful in it, it’s a good bacteria that it just feeds on any sewage, or soil, or any stuff that comes into it, and it's able to transmute it basically into something positive. People will travel from all over just to drink this water.

In India, they view this water as magical or amazing, because it's got this really strong flora of healthy bacteria. It’s fed constantly by waste and stuff that we would normally find would destroy water, but it's because the bacteria is able to convert that, and it converts it really quickly and effectively. I find that fascinating. We've covered the odor. We've covered the probiotic stuff that also can help with odor remediation, removing mold. Is there anything else that we're missing here?

James: No. That indoor environment, allergens, pathogens, those are all encompassed in that indoor environment. The products that we use are really what separates us from our competition. The mold remediation product is called Oceanic. It’s been fully vetted by the EPA. By fully vetted, I mean, they put this thing through 570 individual tests. Within 10 minutes, it killed every pathogen and fungi, mold being a fungi, earning an additional approval for usage in hospitals.

How safe is it? How effective is it? So much so that they will use it in a hospital. This product, we apply it as a bomb, on the surface and in the air and it will remove the mold and mold spores, not only from the surface, but within that air quality, and that’s the problem. Just because you see a mold and you cut out mold and remove it, doesn’t mean the mold is gone. It already put spores into the [...] and that it. What you can't see that is going to cause a problem, somebody gets sick or whatever the case may be. Now the property manager or landlord is dealing with the situation and really want to know about it.

Jason: Yeah, it makes sense. That’s this Oceanic product. That's part of why you're called Green Home Solutions. It sounds like these are all products that have been tested safe, they are largely green solutions that are friendly to the environment, and they're safe to be around humans and pets, correct?

James: Yes, that’s correct. The Oceanic is a plant-based enzyme, it’s catalytic in nature, it’s whole purpose in life is to kill mold source. The difference also is that you can go out and kill a mold source, but that can still cause an allergenic threat, or cause somebody to have an asthma attack. Our enzyme, what it actually does is breaks down the three protein layers that make up the mold source and break it down and leave behind a [...] thus removing that mold source completely from the environment imposing absolutely nobody any health concerns. That's really what separates us from our competition.

With that being said Jason, we're able to remove less building material. Just because something has mold, we’re not cutting it out. As long as it's not structurally compromised, we are going to clean in place, which means a tremendous savings. That’s really why people enjoy us. We’re green, safe for everybody that lives in the environment, and we're saving your home.

Jason: Right. There's nothing destructive about it and you're not having to replace as much. I love it. What are some of the main questions besides the safety of the product, besides what you guys do that potential clients have questions or concerns about, that we maybe haven’t covered?

James: Well, one of the concerns that we see is, we need to have testing. “I see it’s mold, you're telling me it’s mold, why do we have to do testing?” The testing is so important because we need to understand the scope of the job, how much of the air, if at all, has been affected? Without a firm understanding of that, we can't properly treat that environment, and do a clearance test saying, “It's clear to go [...]” the mold level is down to a healthy state and tenants are safe to be in that environment.

I cannot give you that guarantee without proper testing, done. It's really not worth it to cut the corner and say, “I'll skip the testing, just please take care of the mold.” We've got to do testing so we can provide the proper protocol and give every [...] that that environment is [...].

Jason: Alright, so part of what you do as part of your process is you'll test the before and you’ll test the after so that you can verify with confidence that there's a difference. Whether it goes to marketing or any sort of product or service that you're using, you want to be able to showcase or prove that there's been some sort of change, because that's why a product or service exists, it’s in order to impact some sort of change.

James: Yes. The testing, we’ll do pretesting. The conflict of interest to verify our work. We have a third party that does that, but we're not done until the test, the client’s test shows what [...] to show.

Jason: You don't even do the testing yourself. You use an independent third party to do the testing to verify the results and where they're at.

James: The post testing. We will do the pretesting. Use whoever you need to know for testing, but things you should consider, what protocol do they follow. I've seen people walk in with a petri dish and say, “We’re going to leave this here for a certain amount of hours and if it turns whatever color, you have mold.” Well, we’re [...] well of course it’s going to show whether there’s mold, what kind of mold are we dealing with? Is it a waterborne, watery mold, or is it just common mold spores that are out there right now that we are breathing in? That petri dish isn’t going to tell us something.

What protocol are you following and then who are you sending this to. Make sure that the lab’s accredited. Worst case scenarios, somebody ends up having to [...] and come to find out the lab wasn’t accredited at all and now we don’t really make a stand on it, if you will. Make sure that that lab is accredited. Make sure that the protocol is on point where it needs to be, and that will give you peace of mind that the job has been done perfectly.

Jason: Fantastic. Now you guys have a franchise location in California, you target the LA market, and maybe you're expanding out from there. How can people in that market get a hold of you and how can people get a hold of you if they're outside of that market. We've got listeners all over the US. How can they get in touch with the corporate entity?

James: We cover all of Southern California. If you're in Southern California, you can go to trueenviro.com and look us up. But for anybody anywhere in the country, go to greenhomesolutions.com, type in your zip code that you need [...] the proper channel so that it fits your assessment, you get your problem taken care of.

Jason: Awesome. James, thanks so much for coming on the show. I appreciate you sharing with everybody maybe a new perspective on dealing with mold, dealing with odor, and even adding healthy bacteria into the environment. I think it's been really interesting and I appreciate you being here.

James: I appreciate you and the opportunity, Jason. Thank you very much. I hope everyone has a great day.

Jason: Awesome. For every property manager that deals with order, you deal with these sort of situations, and you want to make sure that a property is safe and healthy, because you care about the families and the people that you're putting into these homes, then if you're in California you can check out trueenviro.com. If you are outside of Southern California, then you can go check out greenhomesolutions.com as James have mentioned.

Those of you that are new to the show, make sure that you subscribe if you're checking this out on YouTube or on iTunes. Make sure that you leave us a review. If you're listening on iTunes, we would love to get your feedback and hear what you think of the show. It helps us out and motivates us to do more and to provide this free service to you guys. Also make sure you get inside our community at doorgrowclub.com and check that out.

If it's been a while since you've had your website done, or tested, or since you focused on your marketing, you may want to just test your website out, go to doorgrow.com/quiz and test your website. This will help you see your website through my eyes a little bit more from a marketing perspective, whether it's effective at making you money and converting deals. You could potentially be missing out on tens of thousands of dollars in the future ROI every month from every deal that is being missed by your website not being effective. Check that out, test your website, and make sure to join our DoorGrowClub community full of awesome property management entrepreneurs. Apply to get in it, the group's free, but you can get to that at doorgrowclub.com. Bye everybody. I appreciate you tuning in. Until next time, to our mutual growth.

#DoorGrowShow - Property Management Growth

enApril 09, 2019

propertymanagement

airquality

099 w. Oliver Silverhoj: From Micromanagement to Wholyland [Wholeness Theme]

Tora and Pam give Oliver a chance to share his story from micromanagement and chemical engineering to wholeness, alienness and Wholyland. We chat about Agenda 21, environmental issues, state control agenda and what the future could look like. We also talk about the irrational information and measures we are experiencing right now in the time of Corona. We also share our exciting new project to bring us together in leaderhood.

Holy F*ck and Sacred Water book: https://amzn.to/30Xt96a

Further content information from this episode: https://www.livetheimpossible.today/099

The co-creative membership platform Wholyland: https://wholyland.me/

Get the free Live the Impossible Playbook, here https://www.livetheimpossible.today/

Oliver & Tora Zophias (Susana) mentoring programs: https://silverhoj.com/

Pam the Health Genie: https://www.pamlob.com/

Oliver & Tora Zophias (Susana) travel blog: https://www.conscioustravelfamily.com/

Jon Century our household Magic Musician: https://www.joncentury.com/music

The above might contain affiliate links. We might earn from qualifying purchases. #CommissionsEarned

Live the Impossible Show

enSeptember 17, 2020

emotionalintelligence

Lowering Your Personal Carbon Footprint Pt. 1

On today's episode, Jason and I will be discussing our 2021 goal to reduce our carbon emissions over the year. In order to develop goals, you need to know where you currently sit. Jason found this very user-friendly tool on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website that allows you to input some information about your current habits to understand the emissions resulting from them.

EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/household-carbon-footprint-calculator

enJanuary 25, 2021

Solar you can trust

Have you always wanted to invest in solar power, but just don’t know where to start? In this episode, you’ll hear about SunSpot, an independent tool that will help you calculate how much electricity and money solar could save you.

Opinions expressed or advice given by the presenters and guests in this podcast represent their personal opinions and views and are not necessarily endorsed, recommended, or shared by Lake Macquarie City Council.

enSeptember 17, 2021