Heart of the Shore

EP20: NJ Contractor Check: Verify Registration Before You Renovate

A practical shore-ready checklist for verifying a New Jersey home improvement contractor’s registration before you pay a deposit. Key rule: Home improvement contractor registrations are issued to the business, not the individual. Use Business Search on the state portal — not Person Search. * Official verification portal: newjersey.mylicense.com/verification [https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/] * NJ Consumer Affairs HIC page: njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic [https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic] * NJ AG Licenses & Permits hub: njoag.gov/resources/licenses-permits [https://www.njoag.gov/resources/licenses-permits/] 5-minute checklist: (1) Ask for the exact business name and registration number. (2) Open the NJ portal — use Business Search. (3) Search multiple ways. (4) Match name, address, and status. (5) Treat “don’t worry, we’re registered” as a signal to verify harder. Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9AFumq4bWw] This episode is AI-generated content produced by Love of Humanity, Inc.

EP19: Seven Contractor Red Flags (and the 10-Minute Vetting Routine)

Seven red flags every Monmouth County family should know before signing a home-improvement contract — plus a 10-minute vetting routine you can run in your kitchen with one cup of coffee. * Cash-only, “today only” pressure plays storm chasers use after Jersey Shore nor’easters * Why the NJ Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) number must appear on every contract and ad * How to verify a contractor in 30 seconds at the NJ DCA Business Search [https://newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/] * What a real insurance certificate looks like (and the bait-and-switch to watch for) * How to read a change order — and how to handle a dispute without losing leverage References: NJ Verify a Contractor [https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hec/Pages/verification.aspx] · NJ HIC landing [https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hic]. Need vetted Monmouth quotes? Post free at localjobs.advalorem.io [https://localjobs.advalorem.io/]. Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gQziqaNSX0]. This episode is AI-generated content produced by Love of Humanity, Inc.

EP03: Free Money You're Not Claiming — NJ Benefits Most Families Miss

NJ FamilyCare, SNAP, Summer EBT, WIC, veteran benefits, free tax prep, and more — a full guide to the programs most New Jersey families don't know they qualify for. One screening tool, ten minutes, thousands of dollars. Visit lovehumanity.charity [https://lovehumanity.charity] for more. This episode is AI-generated content produced by Val Kleyman and Love of Humanity, Inc.

EP02: 27 Things to Do in Monmouth County This Spring

From 70-million-year-old fossils at Big Brook Park to the Asbury Park Spring Disco, Sandy Hook's ancient lighthouse to Turkey Swamp camping — your complete guide to spring in Monmouth County. Visit lovehumanity.charity [https://lovehumanity.charity] for more. This episode is AI-generated content produced by Val Kleyman and Love of Humanity, Inc.

EP01: Your JCP&L Bill Is Too High — Here's What NJ Will Pay For

LIHEAP, USF, Fresh Start, NJ SHARES, Lifeline, Weatherization — a complete walkthrough of every energy assistance program available to Monmouth County families, including income limits and how to apply. Visit lovehumanity.charity [https://lovehumanity.charity] for more. This episode is AI-generated content produced by Val Kleyman and Love of Humanity, Inc.