Home Repair and Maintenance

Key takeaways:

• Royal Paper, a key supplier for Trader Joe’s and Kroger, is filing for bankruptcy amid a planned asset sale

• The company says operations will continue as normal during the transition to new ownership

• Toilet paper remains a sensitive commodity for consumers, with pandemic-era shortages still fresh in memory

Royal Paper has filed for bankruptcy. Why should you care? Well, not to sow widespread panic buying but Royal supplies toilet paper and other paper products to Trader Joe's, Kroger and other major outlets.

The bankruptcy isn't necessarily a crisis for those without bidets or other cleansing methods though. It's part of a sale of the Arizona company's assets to Sofidel America Corp., the companies announced.

The sale is subject to court approval but Royal said it "intends to move through this process while operating in the ordinary course – providing the high-quality products that its customers and partners rely on."

"Our team has been working diligently to strengthen our financial foundation in the face of difficult macroeconomic circumstances and other challenges facing Royal,” said Steve Schoembs, Chief Executive of Royal.

The company sells paper goods under a variety of brand names and store brands. 

"Some (stores) prefer to carry one of our proven retail brands like Earth First, SuperSoft, and EcoFirst. Others want to build their brands by working with us to create their own private label brand," the company said. 

A vital staple

Toilet paper is no small consideration for American consumers. During the early days of the COVID pandemic, supermarkets' paper goods shelves were bare as worried shoppers stocked up on vital supplies.

Driving the frenzy was the closure of many offices and institutions, where many consumers normally used on-site bathrooms. Those who suddenly began working from home found themselves running through their paper goods supplies, sparking an anguished reaction comparable to the fear of infection.

Paper manufacturers were caught with their plans down and did not have vast quantities of home-style toilet paper in stock. The office variety typically comes in huge rolls and is thinner than the more luxe version preferred by homeowners. 

Thus, there was an uncomfortable waiting period while supplies caught up with demand. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a rule to provide stronger protections for homeowners who take out Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans.

These loans, used for clean energy upgrades and disaster preparedness, are paid back through property tax bills. Due to concerns about homeowners being misled or taking on unaffordable loans, Congress required the CFPB to improve protections.

The new rule ensures that PACE borrowers receive the same standard mortgage disclosures as those applying for traditional mortgages. This will help homeowners compare PACE loans to other financing options and prevent them from being pushed into loans they cannot afford.

“Today’s rule stops unscrupulous companies and salespeople from luring homeowners into unaffordable loans based on false promises of energy savings,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Homeowners deserve to know just how much they are paying when they put their home and financial future on the line.”

Most PACE loans are sold through door-to-door sales and often promise energy savings or disaster preparedness benefits. However, research shows PACE loans can lead to higher property taxes, higher interest rates, and an increased risk of falling behind on other mortgage payments. PACE loans tend to be more expensive than regular mortgages, with rates about five percentage points higher.

The CFPB has been closely monitoring the market and recently issued warnings about predatory solar loans. The new rule, effective March 1, 2026, aims to protect consumers from deceptive practices and ensure they have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Read CFPB's tips about PACE loans. 

An indicator developed by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies suggests a slowdown in home remodeling activity will occur in 2024. The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) projects annual owner expenditures for home updates and maintenance to decline by 7.7 percent through the third quarter of 2024.

There are a number of reasons for the projected slowdown in remodeling activity. There is ongoing weakness in the overall housing market caused by higher interest rates. Uncertainty over the health of the economy and job market may also be an influence.

But this could be good news for homeowners who plan to remodel a kitchen or bathroom this year or undertake any home improvement project using a contractor. It’s the basic economic law of supply and demand – if contractors have fewer jobs they may offer more competitive bids to get your business.

Hiring a remodeling contractor is serious business. Not only is it likely to be costly, you and your family will be living with the contractor and crew while the work is being done.

Finding a contractor

Here are some ways to find a contractor:

• Ask family and friends

• Check with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry

• Read reviews on ConsumerAffairs

There are also some important questions you should ask:

• Are you licensed and certified?

• Will you pull all required permits?

• Are you fully insured?

• Will there be a dedicated team of workers or will you rotate subcontractors?

Finally, ask how many similar projects the contractor has carried out. If the contractor does mostly exterior work, the company might not be a good fit to remodel a bathroom. It’s also a good idea to ask for references.

The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies has concluded that 2024 is shaping up to be a challenging year for the home remodeling industry. That could work to consumers’ advantage.

There was a surge in home improvements during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic because millions of Americans were trapped at home with little to do. But many of those improvements were cosmetic, such as updated kitchens or bathrooms.

Today, many important home improvements and repairs are not being done. A survey by finance company Figure found that more than six in 10 new homeowners are delaying needed repairs to their homes because of a lack of money.

Some of these needed repairs are important structurally and should not be postponed, experts say. A roof leak, for example, will only get worse over time. Damaged or ineffective gutters will cause water to collect around the foundation and cause expensive damage.

Bill Dallas, president of Finance of America Mortgage, says he believes the home improvement trend will continue because the nation’s housing stock is getting old, homes are continuing to rise in value, and interest rates are still relatively low.

“That said, many of those who seek out funding for home improvement projects are working to address major issues that need to be addressed in their homes,” Dallas told ConsumerAffairs. “In this case, I’m referring to critical projects that may require immediate attention, either from a safety, code compliance, or basic functionality perspective.”

These projects include things like changing out a broken HVAC system, replacing the roof, or upgrading outdated plumbing and electrical systems. These projects have two things in common: they are vital to the structural integrity of a home, and they are expensive.

Using equity to pay for repairs

Fifty-seven percent of the homeowners who were surveyed indicated that they would use savings to pay for any repair projects. Dallas says another option is to tap the equity of the home.

“In my opinion, given the record $9.4 trillion in tappable equity, many homeowners could benefit from a cash-out refinance or a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to access funds that can be put toward home improvements if they don’t have the savings or the cash on hand,” Dallas said.

According to Bankrate, home improvements are the single best use of a home equity loan. That’s because the additional debt is being used to add value to the home or to prevent a loss of value. 

Under recent tax law changes, the interest deduction on HELOC loans has been limited to expenses to improve the home that secures the loan. Using the loan to buy a boat doesn’t provide a tax break, but replacing a roof does.

ConsumerAffairs has gathered useful information on HELOC loans here.

With chilly weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to perform a little seasonal home maintenance. Making sure your home is ready to handle fall weather can help you save time and money by staving off the need for costly emergency repairs later.

To stay one step ahead of any issues that may be lurking on the horizon, experts recommend checking heating units and other household systems to make sure they are in good working order before cooler weather hits.

Fall checklist

Here are a few tasks to take care of now in order to ensure your home is up to the task of keeping you warm and comfortable in the months to come:

• Prepare your heating unit. Have a professional look at your heating system before it gets cold. This can help keep heating costs down, ensure your warranty remains viable, and prolong the life of your equipment. By having your heating system tuned up annually, you can make sure all the parts of your heating unit are functioning efficiently. You’ll also be able to stay ahead of any problems that could become expensive issues down the line.
• Clean furnace filters. Dirty furnace filters can hamper airflow and increase energy demand. To make sure your furnace stays in good condition, be sure to check filters once a month and replace or clean as needed.
• Reverse ceiling fan blades. During the summer, ceiling fans help circulate cool air -- but summer isn’t the only time fans can be of use. Ceiling fans that come with a switch that reverses the direction of the blades can make the room warmer and cut heating costs by as much as 10 percent.
• Service your HVAC. After a long summer of tirelessly working to keep your family cool, your AC’s coils could probably use a good cleaning. This video can help you learn how to safely clean the condenser coil. Once clean and dry, cover the AC unit to shield it from potentially damaging debris and ice.
• Clean your humidifier. To keep dry winter air from adversely affecting your health, take steps to ensure your central humidifier is in good shape. If the plates or pads look to be in need of cleaning, do so by using vinegar or a strong laundry detergent. Rinse and scrape off mineral deposits with a wire brush or steel wool.

There’s still a little time left to enjoy warm summer days, but cooler weather is right around the corner. To make sure your home is ready for winter, home improvement experts suggest staying one step ahead of Old Man Winter.

By taking care of outdoor home maintenance projects now, you’ll save yourself from having to brave the cold to tackle them later. In its blog, QuickenLoans runs down a few ways to get a head start on prepping your home for the winter months.

Here are a few home maintenance tasks to consider adding to your end-of-summer to-do list.

Clean and protect your roof

Check your roof for loose shingles and repair any that need fixing. If you find more than a handful of loose shingles, this may indicate a bigger issue. Consider getting a professional opinion.

While you’ve still got the ladder out, clean your gutters to clear out any debris that may have been created by summer rainfall and thunderstorms. To keep your roof from being pummeled by a heavy branch when it’s already covered in snow, remove any overhanging branches.

Seal gaps

Make sure the heat in your home will stay inside -- and small rodents will stay outside -- by sealing up cracks in the foundation or near windows.

To further ensure heat stays where you want it to during the winter months, have a professional come by to inspect your furnace in late August or early September.

“It may seem a tad too early, but you’re better off checking it off your in late summer than having something go wrong in the middle of January,” writes Anthony Fontana on Quicken Loans’ Zing blog. “Taking care of a small furnace problem up front can also save you money in the long run, instead of letting it snowball into a much more expensive issue.”

Clean your deck

Your deck has probably hosted its share of cookouts and stood up to the elements for many months, so it may be in need of a little TLC.

Instead of hitting it with a power washer or other high-pressure water outlet, which could potentially be damaging, Fontana suggests opting for a garden hose, soft brush and deck cleaner.

Additionally, either remove, cover, or store outdoor furniture and grills to protect them from harsh winter weather. Clear the soil out of pots and planters to keep them from cracking in the cold, and disconnect garden hoses that aren’t likely to be used during the winter.

Inspect your chimney

Chimneys should be cleaned a minimum of twice a year, experts say. Homeowners should be sure to remove soot and creosote buildup, which is extremely flammable.

Have your chimney inspected by a professional once a year, since a professional will be more adept at spotting and repairing structural damage.