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Guides

Plain, practical guides on keeping a house in good shape, and on running a small service business well. No fluff, no affiliate links.

More guides publishing regularly.

For homeowners

A seasonal home-maintenance checklist your neighbors already useThe recurring tasks that keep small problems from becoming expensive ones, organized by season for north Georgia.
The signs a 'good deal' is actually a red flagA bid that's way under everyone else's usually means something's missing, not that you got lucky. Here's what to check before you sign anything.
How to compare two quotes without comparing apples to orangesThe five things that actually explain why one number is higher than another — so you can compare bids, not just pick the smaller total.
Ten questions to ask before you hire any contractorA short list that separates the pros who'll do right by you from the ones who won't — before any money changes hands.
Fall pruning in Georgia: what to cut now, what to leave aloneA quick field guide to which shrubs and trees you can prune in fall without hurting next year's growth — and which ones you'll regret touching.

For pros