May · Vermont Home Project Guidance

Memorial Day patio sales are a trap.

Patio furniture is at peak price in May. Here is what to actually buy this Memorial Day, and what to wait on.

Build my Memorial Day cart — $19.99 →Read Lake Buy/Skip/Wait

Or just ask. Free chat — real Vermont answers on weatherization, lake season, kitchen refresh, basement moisture, and more.

Ask Alder a question →

$19.99 · 30-day refund · Built in Vermont

First time here?

Three doors in. Pick the one that matches where you are.

New here?
What we are
A Vermont-built shopping list service for one home project at a time. No subscription, no contractor referral fees, no upsell.
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The method
How we save you money
Buy / Skip / Wait — a real Vermont read on which products are worth it, which are designer markup, and which to wait on.
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Just ask
Free chat for Vermont homeowners
Heat pumps, rebates, kitchen costs, when to schedule. Real answers from a Vermont local. No signup.
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The shortlist

Six guides that cover most Vermont projects.

Lake Season
Patio, lights, grill, bug control — what to buy this weekend.
Kitchen Refresh
Hardware swap, faucet, lighting. The $260 lift, not the $20k remodel.
Windows
Weatherize before you replace. The $200 fix vs the $14,000 quote.
Basement
Diagnostic before finishing. The $40 test that prevents the $30k mistake.
Grills
Weber vs BGE vs Kamado Joe — which one actually fits your cookout.
Buy-Timing Calendar
When patio drops, when grills clear, when paint moves. Month-by-month.

Or skip the reading — tell us the project and we'll build the cart.

Build a Smart Cart — $19.99 →
$19.99
One project, one fee
$184
Average skipped purchase
30 days
Refund, no form

What you get

Five things, every cart.

  1. The buy list.
    With sizes, quantities, and the brand we would actually pick.
  2. The skip list.
    What the YouTube video told you to buy that you do not need.
  3. The wait-until list.
    Stuff that is cheaper in October. Or April.
  4. The licensed-pro line.
    Drawn the way Vermont draws it. So you do not get fined.
  5. One Efficiency Vermont rebate.
    If there is one to catch on this project, it is in the cart.

Before you spend thousands

Small product lists. Expensive mistakes avoided.

Vermont-specific lists that help you avoid the expensive version of the wrong project. Each is $19.99, one-time, no subscription.

Window weatherization
Close drafts before you replace windows
$19.99 product list →
Basement moisture prep
Check for water risk before finishing
$19.99 product list →

Sample cart · open

Kitchen backsplash, 4 sq ft.

Real cart, real prices, real Vermont notes. This is what arrives in your inbox the same day you order.

Buy: 1/8 in. notched trowel$9
Buy: pre-mixed mastic, not thinset$22
Buy: 1/4 in. caulk for the sink edge$6
Buy: peel-and-stick mosaic sheets, 4 ct$72
Skip: tile spacer kit. Use nickels.-$14
Skip: full thinset bag for 4 sq ft.-$28
Skip: branded grout sealer pen.-$11
Worth a pro: outlet relocation behind the range. Vermont electrical permit.
Wait until October: contractor-grade sponges, half off at Aubuchon.
You did not spend$184

Vermont note: ask the hardware store to cut the tile. Most will, for free, if you bring a sketch on a napkin.

Build my Smart Cart — $19.99

Why $19.99

The math is the pitch.

Most Vermont DIY projects have one $30-to-$80 purchase that is wrong for the job. Wrong adhesive. Wrong fastener. Wrong-grade lumber for an unheated mudroom. The cart's whole job is to catch that one.

If it does not catch it, ask for your money back. We would rather you keep the $19.99 than pretend it earned its keep.

Refund policy

Reply refund. That is the whole process.

30-day refund, no form, no "tell us why." Reply to the receipt with the word "refund" and we send the $19.99 back the same day. We are betting you will keep it.

What you can ask for

Twelve project types we cover.

Kitchen refreshBathroom remodelDeck repairRoofingWindow replacementPaintingBasement finishingHome additionsElectricalPlumbingHVAC + heat pumpsGeneral contractors

The big ones we will not sell you a cart for: roofs, panels, septic. We will tell you who to call instead.

Tell us the project. We will do the list.

Average turnaround on a weekday: 47 minutes.

Start a Smart Cart — $19.99

Stay current

One Vermont project tip, every other Friday.

What is worth doing this month, what to wait on, one rebate that is about to close.

No upsells. No referral spam. One email, every other Friday.