Education
**The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast**

Does your home ever feel like “a Money Pit?” It doesn’t have to be that way! As host of The Money Pit Podcast, a money pit is not a disaster – it’s a home you love! Whether you’re dealing with a repair or dreaming about a reno, consider me your coach, helper or home improvement therapist for all things remodeling, decor or fix up! From bathrooms to basements, demolition to décor and gardening to garages, I’ll share non-biased expertise to help you tackle your to-do’s with confidence. Taking care of a home can be a combination of love, pride and heart-stopping fear – but I promise to help you plan, save you money and spare you from snafus. Join me for new episodes every Monday and Thursday, just in time to plan your next home improvement adventure!

Latest Episodes:

Earth Day Ideas for Saving Money | Pro Painting Secrets | Hardwood Flooring Innovations | Your Q & A (Ep #2093) Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes:

Earth Day is just about here, and a perfect time to talk about our favorite tricks of the trade for saving water, energy and money at the same time.
Painting is a popular spring project and one that can be made a LOT easier if you know just a few painting tricks that pros use every day. We’ll share those trade secrets coming up.
Few home improvements bring more beauty and value to a home than adding a hardwood floor. We share tips on advances in hardwood flooring that make this product easier to install.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, installing a porch handrail, stopping water hammer, whether or not you need to remove paneling, converting a deck into a 3 seasons room, water heaters, tankless or conventional?

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Planting Spring Bulbs | Labor Saving Tips for Laundry Rooms | Easy Repairs for Rotted Wood | Your Q & A (Ep #2092) Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes:

Nothing signals the start of spring better than those fresh blooms like daffodils and tulips in full color! But if you want to enjoy those beautiful spring blooms, you need to plant bulbs now. We’ll share tips just ahead.
With all the rainy, wet Spring weather ahead, repairing rotted wood on your windows, doors or wood columns may be on your to-do list. We’re going to make those projects a lot simpler with tips on how to easily restore damaged wood.
Once the weather warms and kids spend more time outside, you may be spending more time INSIDE doing loads and loads of laundry! We’ve got a few tips to help you get your laundry room organized and save money!

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about hiring a contractor, eliminating carpenter bees, installing GFI switches, replacing a HVAC system with geothermal.

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Episode #2091: Building a Raised Garden Bed | Home Energy Audits | Avoiding Home Buying Remorse | Your Q & A Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes:

Last year was one of the biggest ever for home gardening and this Spring many are already getting those plants in the ground. If you’re ready to find your inner green thumb, the best way to may not be to dig down but to build up, by constructing a raised bed! We’ll show you how.
You probably know improving the energy efficiency of your home means you’ll spend a lot less money heating and cooling your home. But it’s not always easy to know which improvements that give you the best return in your energy saving investments. A home energy audit can help. We explain how – just ahead.
A new survey shows that 1 in 4 Americans purchasing a home are experiencing buyer’s remorse. We’ll share tips to help make sure the next home you purchase doesn’t end in disappointment.
Ready to pick up a shovel and get digging in your yard for a garden or landscape project? There’s one really important thing to do FIRST. We’ll share that tip.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about removing spray insulation on siding, installing basement flooring, safety when you have a septic field, requirements for safe well water.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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Episode #2090: Save Time Cutting Grass | Tips for Paint & Primer | Home Office Renos | Your Q & A Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Show Notes:

If you think the best way to save time and energy cutting the grass is to set the mower as low as possible so you won’t have to mow that often, you might be surprised to find out that can end up being MORE work in the long run. We’ll share why, just ahead.
We all love the look of a freshly painted room, but the getting ready part? Not so much! New paint and primer products promise to save you a big step in the process, but do they really do both? We explain where it works and where it won’t!
Who would have thought a year ago that one of the most important considerations for a home office is your zoom background! We’ll share reno tips for home office re-do’s just ahead.
Before your pet ventures out to roll around in the grass, we share tips to keep your pets safe and spaces green.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, about repairing a rotted door, installing appliances before flooring, installing a mixing valve, best gutter covers for a home, preparing a deck for painting.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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Episode #2089: Buying a Rental Home | Tips for Terrazzo Floors | Garage Door Do-Overs | Your Q & A Apr 05, 2021

Show notes

Show notes:

Buying a single-family home to rent out has always been a popular approach for investors. Now however, investors are buying homes they plan to split into multiple rental units. We’ll share how to know if this makes economic sense for you.
If you love the look of terrazzo floors but not the cost, we’ll share a new product that uses real stone to provides a terrazzo finish for concrete surfaces at a fraction of the price.
Plus, if your family is like most, you probably use the garage as much as your front door for access and security. But if your garage door is old and worn, it could not only be unsafe, it could also be providing easy access for intruders when you are away. Replacing it is a big job best done by a pro. We’ll tell you what you need to know.
Taking shorts, swimsuits and light jackets out of storage is a great way to start your spring – but it can turn into a huge disappointment if you find that they’ve been ravaged by insects or moths. Leslie’s shares a timeless solution you can build yourself.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, tips on removing a popcorn ceiling, upgrading windows in your home, cleaning and eliminating black mold, installing a bathroom in the basement.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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Episode #2088: Keeping Wildlife Out of Your Garden | Big Ideas for Small Baths | Stopping Closet Clutter | Your Q & A Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

Show notes:

Buying a single-family home to rent out has always been a popular approach for investors. Now however, investors are buying homes they plan to split into multiple rental units. We’ll share how to know if this makes economic sense for you.
If you love the look of terrazzo floors but not the cost, we’ll share a new product that uses real stone to provides a terrazzo finish for concrete surfaces at a fraction of the price.
Plus, if your family is like most, you probably use the garage as much as your front door for access and security. But if your garage door is old and worn, it could not only be unsafe, it could also be providing easy access for intruders when you are away. Replacing it is a big job best done by a pro. We’ll tell you what you need to know.
Taking shorts, swimsuits and light jackets out of storage is a great way to start your spring – but it can turn into a huge disappointment if you find that they’ve been ravaged by insects or moths. Leslie’s shares a timeless solution you can build yourself.
VURBL Station: https://vurbl.com/station/7J5ymLuI7J1/

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, tips on removing a popcorn ceiling, upgrading windows in your home, cleaning and eliminating black mold, installing a bathroom in the basement.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode #2087: Easy Clean Garage Floors | Fun Closet Cleaning Hacks | Trends in Kitchen Design | Reupholstering Furniture Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

Over the winter, garages get pretty gross. Between the stuff that never quite gets put away from last fall -- to the dirt that drips off your car – the floors can be a real mess. We’ll highlight the best garage floor solutions that are easy to clean.
Given that over the last year we’re all been we’ve all been eating out a lot less, the kitchen has become an even more important "hub" of the home – and that’s impacting the way we refrigerate food. We’ll highlight new trends in these all-important appliances, just ahead.
If you are longing for a new look at home but don’t have the funds to go all out, reupholstering the furniture you have can do the trick. For a fraction of the cost of buying new, you can change the entire look of your room. We’ll share what pieces work best and what fabric can create a lasting new look with this DIY project.
Spring is a good season for closet cleaning and but if you have a lot of accessories, it can be hard to find places to keep all of that organized. Did you know that you can use kitchen items to organize your bedroom closet? We’ll share those ideas.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions, installing baseboard trim, deck stain options, purchasing new central air units, insulating a cathedral roof, best air filters for eliminating odors.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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Episode # 2086: 4 Beautiful Bath Upgrades Under $200 | DIY Mold Cleanups | Avoid Losing Security Deposits | Soundproofing Between Floors Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

SHOW NOTES:

You can flush away a pile of cash upgrading your bathroom. Luckily, you don’t have to. We’ve got 4 low-cost ways to spruce up your space for under $200 bucks!
Even the cleanest of homes can have mold, and we’re not just talking about what you might find in last week’s leftovers! We share the surprising places mold can hid and what to do you do when you find it.
When you move into an apartment, you’ll be expected to pay a damage security deposit. Getting it back, may not be quite so easy. We’ll tell you how to protect yourself from a landlord who wants to use your deposit unfairly.
If the kids running upstairs make it tough for you to get any work done downstairs, we’ve got sound proofing tips to restore family harmony.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions on eliminating bio gas odors, stopping woodpeckers from damaging our chimney, repairing cracks in cement siding, removing wallpaper with destroying the walls underneath.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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Episode #2085: Small Kitchen Solutions | Restoring Outdoor Furniture | Eco-Friendly Flooring | Paver Patios Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Small kitchens can be tough places to work in. But a few modest updates can make small kitchens feel bigger and work better. Tom & Leslie share tips in today’s Smart Spending Tip.
If you’re thinking about getting your outdoor furniture out for the warm months ahead, chances are after an entire winter in storage -- it’ll be looking a lot worse for wear! We’ll have tips to get your outdoor furniture clean and spruced up for the season.
Today, it’s easier than ever to be eco-friendly. But when it comes to choosing eco-friendly floors for your home, understanding how the product is produced is key. We’ll tell you what to look for.
Are you planning to create a relaxing paver brick patio space to enjoy the sunshine as the warm weather approaches? We walk you through how to create an amazing paver patio from scratch – OR by paving over an existing patio.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions about, roofing material options, wainscoting walls, removing wax from surfaces, tips for installing siding over existing siding, installing a new tub.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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Episode #2084: Best Ways to Build a Shed | Granite Countertops |Avoiding Termite Trouble | Fast Fixes for Cracked Walls Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

In this episode:

Building a Shed is a fun DIY project. But did you know that whether the shed is wood, steel or vinyl, just ONE step can mean the difference between a shed that lasts for a season and one that can last decades. We share that tip plus the best options for shed storage.
Nothing keeps your home looking updated better than a current kitchen. If you’re thinking about switching out old kitchen countertops for granite, we’ll have design tips to help.
In the 20 years Tom spent as a professional home inspector, he often told his clients there are three kinds of houses: Those that HAD a termite problem, those that HAVE a termite problem, and those that WILL GET a termite problem!We’ve got solutions for keeping termites…and their costly damage… away from YOUR home.
Before we had walls made of drywall, we had walls made of plaster. Now, many homes have walls made of plaster cracks! We’ll tell you how to fix those plaster flaws – the easy way.

Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Using your new home warrantee, repairing a cracked garage floor, installing outdoor shutters, repair a tear linoleum flooring, installing smart switches, landscaping over a septic field.

Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here.

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