The home maintenance trends inspectors say worry them most

The home maintenance trends inspectors say worry them most

Home inspectors are seeing a shift in how Americans care for their houses, and the patterns are not all reassuring. As more owners delay repairs, attempt complex projects themselves, or overlook emerging environmental and safety risks, the quiet problems behind the walls are getting bigger and more expensive. I set out to understand which maintenance…

Why basic home fixes are taking longer to schedule than they used to

Why basic home fixes are taking longer to schedule than they used to

Across the country, homeowners are discovering that simple jobs like fixing a leaky faucet or replacing a broken outlet now come with surprisingly long wait times. What used to be a next-day visit can stretch into weeks, as the basic machinery of home maintenance strains under worker shortages, fragile supply chains, and a packed remodeling…

The most common home repair surprises buyers are discovering after closing

The most common home repair surprises buyers are discovering after closing

For many buyers, the real shock of homeownership arrives after the keys change hands, when the first big repair bill lands and the “dream home” starts behaving more like a demanding side business. Surveys show that unexpected fixes and ongoing upkeep are straining budgets just as housing costs in general are climbing, turning small inspection…

Shotguns that punish your shoulder more than the critters

Shotguns that punish your shoulder more than the critters

A homestead shotgun should be something you’ll practice with and something you can run under stress. The problem is a lot of folks buy the lightest, shortest, hardest-kicking setup they can find—then they flinch, hate training, and miss more than they should. These shotguns tend to be brutal in real use, especially with heavy loads…

The repairs homeowners are skipping first when money gets tight

The repairs homeowners are skipping first when money gets tight

When household budgets tighten, homeowners are not just trimming vacations and restaurant meals. They are quietly pushing critical fixes and upgrades further down the to-do list, even as the long-term costs of delay keep climbing. The pattern is clear: cosmetic projects are the first to go, but increasingly, essential maintenance is getting kicked down the…

Why emergency home repairs are becoming the new normal

Why emergency home repairs are becoming the new normal

Across the country, homeowners are discovering that the most important projects on their to‑do lists are not kitchen makeovers or new decks, but burst pipes, failing furnaces, and leaking roofs that cannot wait. Rising costs, tight household budgets, and a strained repair industry are turning urgent fixes into a routine feature of homeownership rather than…

Rifles that feel handy in the store and useless in the pasture

Rifles that feel handy in the store and useless in the pasture

A rifle can feel perfect in the shop and still be dead weight when you’re sweaty, wearing gloves, shooting offhand, or trying to make a fast, safe shot around buildings and animals. The pasture doesn’t care about clever designs—it rewards simple handling, predictable accuracy, and real-world reliability. Henry AR-7 Survival Rifle The AR-7 feels smart…

The home systems failing most often in houses built before 1990

Homes built before 1990 carry a kind of durability that newer construction often struggles to match, but age is catching up with their hidden systems. Behind solid brick, plaster, and hardwood, critical components are failing in predictable ways that can turn a charming property into an expensive repair project if owners are not prepared. From…