Mckenzie Monroe

Hiring a Contractor After a Water, Fire, or Storm Loss – 10 Tips for Navigating Insurance Claims

By Mckenzie Monroe / October 2, 2026 / Comments Off on Hiring a Contractor After a Water, Fire, or Storm Loss – 10 Tips for Navigating Insurance Claims

When a home is damaged by a fire, water loss, or major storm, homeowners have a lot to figure out at once. Insurance claims can introduce an entirely new set of questions: Who should you hire? What does your insurance company actually require? What should you sign—and what should you avoid? We wanted to put together a straightforward resource for Washington homeowners navigating that process.

What a Professional Organizer Wishes Every Homeowner Knew Before Planning a Remodel

By Mckenzie Monroe / September 24, 2026 / Comments Off on What a Professional Organizer Wishes Every Homeowner Knew Before Planning a Remodel

When you’re planning a remodel, it’s easy to focus on the big decisions: layout, finishes, fixtures, and materials. But some of the decisions that make the biggest difference in how a home feels day to day are the ones that determine where everything actually goes. That’s where professional organizer Kari Lonczak, founder of Refine Organizing,

House Lift vs. Basement Dig Out: Two Ways to Gain Headroom in Your Seattle Basement

By Mckenzie Monroe / August 28, 2026 / Comments Off on House Lift vs. Basement Dig Out: Two Ways to Gain Headroom in Your Seattle Basement

If your Seattle home has a basement or crawl space with low ceilings, you may have wondered if there’s a way to gain more headroom without moving. One option is a basement dig out, excavating below the existing floor and reinforcing the foundation to create a deeper lower level while the house stays put. Another

Seattle URM Retrofits: What Building Owners Should Know

By Mckenzie Monroe / August 17, 2026 / Comments Off on Seattle URM Retrofits: What Building Owners Should Know

We recently sat down with Francesca Renouard, PE, SE, a Principal at Swenson Say Fagét, for a deep dive on unreinforced masonry buildings in Seattle. Francesca has worked on more than 80 URM buildings and served on the technical committee that wrote the retrofit standard the City is planning to require and the SDCI Director’s

Day in the Life of a Designer at Harjo Construction

By Mckenzie Monroe / July 31, 2026 / Comments Off on Day in the Life of a Designer at Harjo Construction

Go behind the scenes with a Harjo Designer and see how thoughtful design transforms ideas into beautiful, functional homes before construction begins.

Building a Home Remodeling Budget: Expenses Homeowners Should Plan For

By Mckenzie Monroe / June 29, 2026 / Comments Off on Building a Home Remodeling Budget: Expenses Homeowners Should Plan For

Creating a home remodeling budget? Learn about the often-overlooked costs homeowners should plan for, from permits and temporary housing to contingency funds and unexpected discoveries.

Day in the Life of a Project Manager

By Mckenzie Monroe / May 28, 2026 / Comments Off on Day in the Life of a Project Manager

If a Superintendent is the steady presence on the job site, the Project Manager is the connective thread running through every phase of a remodel — from early budgeting and pre-construction planning to field coordination and final project close-out. At Harjo Construction, Project Managers work closely with homeowners, designers, Superintendents, and trade partners to keep

Seattle Spring & Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

By Mckenzie Monroe / April 29, 2026 / Comments Off on Seattle Spring & Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

Get your home ready with our Seattle Spring and Summer Home Maintenance Checklist. Prevent repairs, improve efficiency, and stay ahead of seasonal issues.

Seattle Remodeling Permits Guide: STFI vs Full Review

By Mckenzie Monroe / March 19, 2026 / Comments Off on Seattle Remodeling Permits Guide: STFI vs Full Review

A Homeowner-friendly Guide to STFI Permits vs. Full Plan Review If you’re planning a home remodel in Seattle, one of the first questions that comes up is: Will I need a permit? The answer depends on the scope of your project. Some remodels can move forward with minimal review, while larger renovations, additions, and new

A Day in the Life of a Superintendent

By Mckenzie Monroe / February 28, 2026 / Comments Off on A Day in the Life of a Superintendent

In residential remodeling, Superintendents are the first to arrive and often the last to leave. They coordinate trades, walk homeowners through details, solve problems in real time, and ensure the vision created during design is executed with care. At Harjo Construction, the Superintendent role is both logistical and relational. To explore what that really looks