Welcome to the Home Services Show
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Home Services Home Show — where you learn a lot that you need to know and everything that you don’t. Yes. Do we want to talk sports a little bit quick before we get going?
You say, “Welcome back, welcome back” — that’s kind of a rude start. Welcome back to what? The show people are watching again?
We’re back. This is the second one, I know. But we’re back.
Yeah, we’re back. Like Johnny 5 — alive! Like that little robot thing opens his eyes.
We are back.
We will be back.
We’ll be consistently back every week — new episodes guaranteed, teaching you everything that we can, right?
About homes and how they work. How roofs work. How gutters work. How homes breathe. How they lose and gain energy and heat and cooling. All that kind of stuff. That’s everything you need to know. And there’s stuff you don’t need to know — like, we talk about the Badgers. Like, I actually have phenomenal tickets to the Badger game this weekend against Oregon. And they play the number one team in the country.
But what’s weird is that I don’t really know if I want to go. Oregon’s only favored by 14. Remember last time that Wisconsin played a highly ranked team weeks ago? Alabama — only favored by 14. That’s it. Vegas knows. Well, they don’t give away Christmas presents, right?
They did the same thing with Alabama. Everybody’s like, “Oh, 13 and a half, 14. Alabama’s going to roll them.” Alabama did roll, but they kept it really close for a long time.
College Sports & NIL Changes
Yeah. For a long time.
I don’t know — anyway, basketball teams had a couple games, spanked a couple small schools. But it’s just odd. There’s just such a different face to the team with transferring in and out, the new NIL stuff. And our best player got paid to go to Kansas, and he seems to be fitting right in.
What was his name?
Store.
Store. He seems to be fitting in right away — and the number one team in the country, right?
We had the setup. Them didn’t have the money. We had them where we wanted them — didn’t have the money.
You need the money nowadays in college sports.
In college sports, you need the money to keep mind.
Football This Year: No Clear Favorite
But it has been a fun college football year. Like, I mean look at some of those teams. Miami had their hands full and looked silly this last week. There’s a lot of really competitive college football teams.
What I think is really fun about football this year — college football — I wouldn’t say there’s one team that’s like, “Oh, they’re going to kill everybody.” Because Oregon has had some really close games with some not really great teams. And then, if you look right now in the standings, Big Ten has four of the top five teams, right?
When’s the last time that happened?
That’s solid. That’s very solid.
And then you’ve got the SEC teams, which could on any given day beat any of those teams. So this year they go to that 12-team expanded playoff. Should be really interesting.
The 12-team playoff is going to be — I think it’s going to be fun. Because you’re right. There is no Nick Saban dominating the world like years past. Or you know, Clemson or Alabama’s lost two games. Georgia’s lost two games. Texas lost. Miami lost to an unranked team.
There you go.
So, football — same thing. There’s no outright favorite.
NFL Talk: Patrick Mahomes & Fantasy Woes
Is Kansas City still undefeated?
Undefeated. But they barely win. They should — if they didn’t block that field goal at the end — they barely win.
They barely win.
And trust me, Patrick Mahomes, when you see this — I benched you. I benched you for Bo Nix. A rookie.
Oh, that worked?
Yeah. Well, yeah — he scores more points than Patrick Mahomes does. Patrick Mahomes does not score crap for points this year.
You know what winners do?
He wins.
Win — when you’re averaging like 12 points a game.
Come on, bro.
Yeah, come on. They don’t ask, “How many wins in a year?” I ask him to score some damn touchdowns. That’s what I ask.
Bo Nix has been slanging it.
Yeah, so anyway — it’s been a fun year. Sports. It is.
Introduction to the IRA Home Rebate
So today, what we really wanted to dive into was the IRA home rebate — and how it really works, how people qualify, and what to look for in a contractor.
We’re going to break down two episodes here, back to back. And I think this will be good for people so they can look at it from the time they consider doing something like this through like the audit section. And then we’ll pick it up on the back end from when our sales reps get there and how our experts help you along that process — through production, through pulse testing, and getting your money from the IRA.
So that’s kind of the plan. I think it’ll be a good two-part episode.
Let’s roll into it.
Breaking Down the Rebate Buzz
So, there’s been a lot of buzz. You know, anytime that there’s $150 million given to a state — well, there’s been buzz in our world. Our buzz maybe hasn’t reached your world yet.
Yeah.
But there’s a lot of marketing dollars being spent by Focus, which is awesome.
You think the federal government had to choose someone locally to do it? I think FKS is probably the best one they could have used.
Don’t know how else they would — how else.
Correct.
But they’re creating some buzz, right?
So the IRA thing — they got $150 million giveaway, and they gotta give $599 million over the next handful of years.
Mhm.
So, with that becomes a lot of questions. And homeowners seem more confused now than probably ever:
“How do I get it? How do I get it?”
Right — because they’re just saying five grand.
Right — “Up to five grand.”
Hardly anybody’s going to get five grand, right? But it looks good on a marketing piece.
So, we’re fielding a lot of calls. People are calling and asking us like, “Hey, help us through the process.”
And as the expert in the industry, that’s something we look at. We look forward to it — here in Neenah, and in the Madison market, and the Milwaukee market — to be really the expert and help people through the process.
Essentially the whole state of Wisconsin. Except for that west side — but there’s some weirdos over there.
Yeah, we got some good friends over there. But they’re kind of weird.
We’ll let them do that.
We’ll let them do that.
Choosing the Right Contractor
So one of the biggest things people ask — you know, that we’ve got from the call center — is like, “How do I know who to pick?”
And you go to Focus’s website, and Focus will have a website, and they have a list of IRA contractors. And as I’ve watched this thing develop — here’s what I tell people: if I look at a company that has less than 10 reviews, that’s a new company. That’s started to try to chase this money. It’s obvious that’s what’s happened.
So I always tell people: if the contractor you’re looking at doesn’t have 300, 400, 500 reviews, then I’d be a little bit concerned.
So I would say, start with those contractors that are established, grown contractors that take care of people. That’s a good place to start.
The people that are new — not that they can’t do good work, not that they won’t do good work — but we gotta be a little suspicious of what’s their motive, and what could happen to me as a homeowner. Right?
So, safety for homeowners means saying, “Hey, find someone with 300–500 reviews. Start there.”
Understanding IRA Eligibility & Income Levels
So what they’re going to do is they’re going to call, and they’re going to ask:
“Hey, I have some problems with my home. Am I eligible for the IRA?”
And the IRA is really going to come down to — you have to find out where you qualify from your income base. The whole program is — that’s how you know you can qualify.
Correct.
And it’s based off the median income by county. So every county you live in is different.
Dane’s different than, let’s say, Oconto, which is different than Outagamie, which is different than Dunn, you know?
Every county in the state’s got a different number — that’s where it’s going to tier people.
And there’s three levels. You can get low income — get up to $5,000 if you qualify for that income level. There’s $2,500 for the median. And we have our guys — have the breakdown of all that.
Show the home. Yep. Show them. Yep. And then the highest income — you know, over 150% of the median income — gets $1,500. Right? So with those numbers, there’s some money in there, but there’s also some strings attached. And there’s a process. And that’s kind of what we want to talk about today.
Starting the IRA Process
And when people call, we’re going to forward them to a website.
Correct.
Yeah. So we’re actually — when someone calls Keeney Larson Services, what’s going to happen is they’re going to talk to our IRA specialist. That’s a whole lot of stuff in one — our IRA specialist.
And what she’s going to do is she’s going to walk you through the process for you to get this thing started.
They’re going to direct you to the Focus website. And you’re going to be asked to go through and apply and put in your information to see where you qualify.
It’s the most efficient way to do it.
Yes.
And then the process is going to be: if you want to move forward, then we’ve got to start with an auditor to come out and actually model the home.
You want to take what that looks like? You want to walk through what that looks like?
From Application to Audit: The First Steps
If the homeowner decides to move forward, the next step is to set up an energy audit. This audit models the entire home. Unlike past Focus audits that focused on basic tests like blower door assessments, the new IRA-compliant energy audits are comprehensive. They evaluate every appliance (microwave, dishwasher, furnace, refrigerator), lighting, insulation, and air sealing. This audit requires a high level of expertise, training, and time. Ken K. Larson Services uses both outsourced and in-house auditors, all of whom have extensive education and certification.
The Audit Process and Modeling
The audit itself takes approximately 3-4 hours in the home, followed by another 3 hours of data input and modeling. The result is an energy model that calculates potential savings. To qualify for IRA rebates, the model must demonstrate at least 20% energy savings. Anything less doesn’t count. Unfortunately, many projects come close but fall short (e.g., 18-21%), making it difficult to qualify without adding more energy-saving upgrades.
What It Costs and What You Could Save
Homeowners must pay $700 to $1,000 for the audit. If they don’t meet the energy savings threshold, they may need to invest in additional upgrades (like HVAC systems or heat pump water heaters) to qualify. For high-income homeowners, the net savings often don’t justify the investment. However, for low-to-moderate income families planning upgrades anyway, the combined IRA and Focus rebates can make a meaningful impact.
Stacking Rebates and Understanding Program Limits
Focus on Energy rebates can often be stacked with IRA rebates, especially for natural gas or electric customers. Propane or wood-burning households are limited to IRA rebates only. It’s a complex system, and Larson Keeney has invested in IRA-trained staff to help homeowners navigate it. Not many contractors have this level of in-house expertise.
The initial phase of the program requires homeowners to invest time, money, and effort before any actual improvements are made. That’s why it’s essential to understand qualification requirements up front. Homeowners can call in and speak with the IRA specialist (Darlene), who will walk them through the process, costs, and expectations.
People hoping for “free money” should know there are real costs involved. You must pay for the audit and potentially spend more to make your home qualify. However, those truly interested in improving home comfort—fixing cold floors, drafty rooms, or inefficient energy use—are most likely to benefit. Stacking rebates and working with an experienced team like Larson Keeney’s is key.
Be Cautious of Gimmicks and Unqualified Contractors
Some companies market foam insulation as a solution that qualifies for rebates. But unless a home has no wall insulation, spraying foam won’t qualify and might even worsen performance. The truth is, 60% to 80% of energy loss happens through the ceiling, not walls. The attic is often the most critical area to address.
Contractors unfamiliar with building science may recommend ineffective solutions. Larson Keeney often turns down work that wouldn’t help the customer, choosing instead to focus on real performance improvements. Adding insulation on top of existing fiberglass, for example, does nothing to improve comfort or efficiency. Homeowners deserve honest advice from contractors who understand how homes truly function.
If a contractor doesn’t have hundreds of verified reviews or specialize in insulation and energy efficiency, think twice. Homeowners should talk to experienced professionals like the team at Larson Keeney before committing. If IRA isn’t a fit, Focus on Energy rebates may still offer good value—especially with a simpler, less expensive audit.
Still Have Questions About the IRA Rebates?
If you have questions about how the IRA affects your home, the rebates available, or whether you’re eligible, contact one of our three offices in Neenah, Madison, or Milwaukee. We have the staff, training, and expertise to help guide you through the process. We’ll also help you understand the next steps to truly fixing your home—which we’ll talk about that in the next episode—what it looks like and how to figure out the right way to fix it.
But for this segment, if you have questions, give us a call. We’ll help you through the process. That’s who we are. We’ve been studying insulation, air sealing, and home performance for a long time. And more recently, we’ve been deep diving into these rebates and qualifications—more than we’d like, honestly!
But call us. The reality is, the programs are out there, and I don’t want to see people get taken advantage of. That would be a tragedy in my mind—when companies take advantage of customers simply because they’re vulnerable. That’s not how I built my business. It’s not how you built yours.
Let us help you. We’ll tell you what’s right and what’s wrong. And yeah, maybe sometimes it’s not what you want to hear—but one thing we can promise is this: we’ll give you the truth. We will give you the truth and help you understand exactly what you qualify for. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you next time.
