This Old House On The Money Pit

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to the final episode of The Money Pit, where we celebrate more than 21 years of helping you turn your house into a home you love. In this bittersweet finale, Leslie Segrete and Jim Kenzie reflect on our many years of offering floorboards-to-shingles advice while honoring the legacy of our late friend and long-time co-host, Tom Kraeutler. Thank you for more than two decades of The Money Pit. And remember: you can do it yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone. - Preventive Maintenance: We emphasize that consistent home maintenance is the most vital habit for any homeowner, because small tasks like cleaning gutters or changing filters prevent the most expensive disasters. Remember, a home is a living thing that requires constant care and attention to truly reward its inhabitants. - Common Homeowner Mistakes: We do a review of the most common homeowner pitfalls we’ve seen on The Money Pit, such as the temptation to hire the cheapest contractor, which often leads to poor quality and high

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to the final broadcast of The Money Pit, a very special episode marking the end of our incredible 21-year journey of helping you make your homes safer and more beautiful. While our live show is coming to a close, we are finishing strong with the essential advice you need to plan a successful year of home improvements ahead. - 2026 Project Planning: We outline a home project plan that prioritizes safety and efficiency first, followed by maintenance and finally beautification. - Timeless Design Upgrades: Leslie shares tips for choosing finishes that won't feel dated, such as using neutral paint colors and focusing on functional kitchen upgrades like deep drawers. The key is to design your home around your actual life rather than fleeting social media trends. - The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist: We review the "backbone" of home care, emphasizing that cleaning gutters twice a year and servicing HVAC systems are critical to preventing major repairs. Adopting a "maintenance first, rep

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to The Money Pit! This week, we’re delving into more crucial home maintenance topics for the season and helping you fix up your home sweet home as we prepare for the end-of-year happy holidays! - Indoor Air Quality: We share easy and affordable ways to significantly improve your indoor air quality, even when windows stay shut during the winter. A key step is checking your HVAC filter, which captures dust and allergens without overworking your system. - Warming Up Chilly Spaces: We tackle how to warm up those stubborn, chilly spots in your home without replacing your heating system. Simple weekend projects like applying removable rope caulk or window insulation films to seal drafts and installing foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plates on exterior walls can make a big difference. - Kitchen Organization: With the holidays approaching fast, the kitchen is about to become your busiest room, so we offer quick kitchen organizing tricks to make cooking and cleanup easier -

SHOW NOTES: Welcome back to The Money Pit! In these final festive weeks of the year, Leslie Segrete and Jim Kenzie delve into essential winter home projects, share crucial safety tips, and continue to answer your calls. Join us for these home improvement topics and expert DIY answers! - Tips for Hanging Holiday Lights: We discuss the simplest and safest ways to hang holiday lights, both indoors and out, without damaging your home. You should use damage-free hardware like gutter clips for the exterior or removable adhesive hooks and suction cups indoors, specifically avoiding damaging staples, nails, or drilling. - Winter Safety Checks: We share important early winter safety checks to keep your home and family protected through the cold weather months. This includes testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, checking the charge and expiration dates on fire extinguishers, and cleaning lint buildup from dryer vents. - Décor Tricks to Warm Up Your Space: To instantly warm up your space for the holidays with

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to the Money Pit! With only two weeks left until Christmas, we know this is a busy time of year, but we're here to help you keep your home in tip-top shape and get you through the finish line of the holidays. Whether you are doing or dreaming of projects, we make DIY doable! - 5 Common Remodeling Mistakes: We share the top five most common remodeling mistakes homeowners make, so you can be prepared for your next project. - Safe and Efficient Space Heaters: We discuss how to choose a safe and efficient space heater by understanding the difference between radiant heaters and convection heaters. - Live Christmas Trees: If you’re heading out to buy a live Christmas tree, we provide tips on how to ensure the tree is fresh. - The Age of Your Home: Leslie's Last Word offers tricks for figuring out the age of your home by checking plumbing fixtures or recognizing old wiring and pipe types.   Q & A: - Linda from Washington wanted to cover her outdated Formica kitchen countertops with a new

SHOW NOTES: Happy holidays, everyone! With just a few weeks left until Christmas, we're making sure you get those home projects done and make DIY doable with clear tips and advice. Join us as we chat about these home improvement topics and questions from callers like you: - Clear Advice on Buying New Windows: We simplify the confusing process of buying new windows by explaining the labels from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Understanding these ratings will help you compare energy performance and save money. - Granite Countertops in a Weekend: If you’re noticing areas that need help in the kitchen, we share an easy DIY solution to give your countertops a fresh, sleek look with a smooth granite finish in just one weekend. - Holiday Lighting Safety: We offered safe and sound tips for holiday decorating, such as checking all your lights for the UL seal of approval for safety. We also discussed easy ways to replace frayed lighting strands from last year. Q & A: - Sally reported that her t

SHOW NOTES: It is officially December, which means temperatures are dropping, the holidays are fast approaching, and your to-do list is likely growing by the minute. Whether you are stressing about getting your home guest-ready or worrying about winterizing your plumbing before travel, we’re here to help you tackle those projects without breaking the bank. - Winterizing Pipes: We share critical steps to prevent burst pipes, such as wrapping them in foam insulation and letting faucets drip slightly during extreme cold snaps to relieve pressure. - 2026 Real Estate Forecast: After years of high rates, experts predict a stabilizing market for 2026, with mortgage rates potentially dropping to around 5.9% and home prices seeing steady, modest growth. - Holiday Hosting Hacks: We discuss stress-free ways to prep your home for guests, including focusing cleaning efforts only on visible rooms, adding warm lighting, and using natural scents like cinnamon and pine. - Plumbing Safety Tip: We explain the importance o

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to this week's episode of The Money Pit! It’s almost the first weekend in December, and while we know you’re running out of time for holiday preparations, we are here to help you manage your home projects before the festivities begin. - Warm Up Without High Bills: We share simple ways to keep your home cozy, such as hunting down drafts around windows and doors, changing air filters, and installing programmable thermostats to save up to 10% on heating costs. - Winter Floor Protection: To protect your floors from muddy boots and cookie crumbs, we recommend placing mats at every entrance and using specific cleaning methods for hardwood, tile, and carpet to prevent winter wear and tear. - 2026 Home Improvement Predictions: Looking ahead, we discuss top trends for 2026, including a heavy focus on energy efficiency like heat pumps, "mini-makeovers" for kitchens rather than full remodels, and multifunctional outdoor living spaces.   Q & A: - Fred in Delaware built a walkout from his basem

SHOW NOTES: Welcome back to The Money Pit! Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone! We are here to help you tackle your home improvement challenges – from safety tips to planning projects to finding the best deals this busy holiday season. Check out these hot topics, plus listeners’ calls and solutions: - Safe and Stress-Free Babyproofing: We offer smart, stress-free tips to quickly baby-proof your space before hosting family and friends with little ones this holiday season. - Smart Shopping Secrets: We share secrets for smart holiday shopping, noting that the best deals for tools and DIY gear appear around Black Friday and into early December, while appliances see deep discounts in November and January before new models arrive. - Planning Ahead for Home Projects: Learn why winter is actually the best time to plan your spring home improvements, as starting early helps secure quality contractors who get booked months in advance. - Cleaning Range Hood Filters: We discuss a simple 10-minute maintenance job:

SHOW NOTES: Welcome back to The Money Pit! Even with Leslie sporting a "brand new voice" (thanks, cold!), we're here this holiday weekend ready to help you fix up your home sweet home. Listen in as we offer tips on a range of home improvement topics and DIY dilemmas! - Choosing the Right Christmas Tree: We help you decide between a real or artificial Christmas tree, breaking down the pros and cons for each option, from the sturdy branches and fragrance of the Fraser Fir to the convenience and energy efficiency of pre-lit LED artificial trees. - Best Tool Gifts for DIYers: We share our favorite tool gifts for DIY enthusiasts from the Popular Mechanics holiday gift guide, featuring practical finds as well as fun gadgets that still get the job done. - Winterization Tips: We offer essential winterization tips, including shutting off and draining all outdoor faucets and hose bibs to prevent burst pipes. We also demonstrate how to find and seal drafts around windows and doors to help maintain heat and cut energ

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to The Money Pit! As the holiday season kicks into full swing, our homes start working overtime, whether we're hosting guests, cooking festive meals, or just trying to keep the utility bills manageable. This week, we're here to help you get your biggest investment running smoothly – from laundry room prep and crucial plumbing repairs to dealing with smoke damage and rescuing your holiday budget. - Laundry Room Maintenance: We discuss preparing your laundry room for the influx of guest linens and cozy sweaters by sharing smart maintenance tips for washers and dryers. - Safe and Effective Cleaning Solutions: Bruce Yako, the CEO of Jaws International, joined us to explain how their Just Add Water system uses reusable bottles and concentrated, EPA Safer Choice-certified pods to provide streak-free cleaning while reducing plastic waste. - Holiday Budget Plan: We offer a Holiday Budget Rescue Plan, suggesting simple actions like lowering your thermostat by a degree or two to save on heating

SHOW NOTES: Welcome back to The Money Pit! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we’re here to help you rush through your home improvement to-dos and provide fast, stress-free ways to get your house in tip-top shape before the holiday hits. We’ve got tips on everything from lightning protection to tackling holiday spills and getting your home ready for winter. - Stain Removal: We offer tried-and-true stain-busting tricks using pantry staples to manage inevitable holiday spills like red wine, greasy gravy, and cranberry sauce. - Proper Home Insulation: We detail how to check if your home has enough insulation. Options for insulation include affordable fiberglass batts, blown-in cellulose or fiberglass, or professional spray foam. - Saving Energy in Winter: Energy-saving winter tips include checking weather stripping and installing a door sweep to block cold air, using a smart thermostat to automate heating schedules, and wrapping older water heaters with an insulation blanket. - Improving Indoor Ai

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to The Money Pit! Home sweet home is the biggest investment you’ll ever make, but it doesn't have to be a bottomless money pit. We know you’re busy at this time of year with holidays and projects, but we’re here every week to help you handle those improvements, whether you have questions about painting, plumbing, home safety, security, or curb appeal! - Smart, Damage-Free Ways to Decorate for the Holidays: We emphasize the importance of using plastic light clips instead of nails or staples to prevent damage to your siding or roof. We also stress power safety, recommending outdoor-rated lights, weatherproof extension cords, GFCI outlets, and smart plugs or timers to control usage. - Simple Strategies to Keep Your Home Safe While Traveling: Make your house look lived in by using varied timers on lights and having trusted neighbors check on packages and park in the driveway. Key safety measures include locking all doors and windows and setting the thermostat to 55-60 degrees to prevent pip

SHOW NOTES: Hey, everyone! With the seasonal craziness upon us, it feels like we're cramming more stuff into the same schedule. Join us this week as we share how to get your house in order, keep it in tip-top shape through the winter, and prepare for spring with these time-saving tips: - Caulking for Winter Protection: We share why checking and sealing your exterior caulking now is crucial to prevent energy leaks, energy loss, and sky-high heating bills this winter. - Transforming Your Garage into a Workshop: Learn how to convert that chilly, cluttered garage into a warm, usable workspace by winterizing appropriately and making specific upgrades. - Understanding the Housing Market Crunch: We dig into the current real estate affordability crisis and discuss the “golden handcuffs effect.” While high rates and surging prices make affordability a challenge, buyers are gaining slightly more negotiating power. - Preparing Your Appliances and Fireplace for the Holidays: Before Thanksgiving, we give tips on how

SHOW NOTES: Coast to coast and floorboards to shingles, this is The Money Pit! As we enter this wonderful, thankful time of year, we are focused on making sure your home is prepped to look nice and stay safe before the holiday guests and cooking sprees begin. Listen in for this week’s home improvement topics and calls, including: - Refreshing Your Home's Exterior: Fall provides crisp, dry weather that is perfect for refreshing your exterior paint. We’ll give you some tips on how to boost curb appeal and better protect your home. - Preventing Holiday Plumbing Disasters: Before guests arrive, take steps to avoid kitchen clogs and toilet backups, such as avoiding putting grease, potato peels, or bones down the garbage disposal. - Essential Fire Safety for the Season: Holiday lights and decorations can increase fire risks, so use surge protectors and avoid daisy-chaining extension cords, which can overload wires. Also, always remember that unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires. - Quick Clean

SHOW NOTES: Welcome back to The Money Pit! As the days grow shorter and we settle into the realities of daylight savings time, it's the perfect time to tackle those crucial home improvement projects and winter preparations. We’re here every week with home improvement how-tos, hacks, tips, tricks, and advice to help you fix up your home sweet home! Today’s featured home improvement topics and calls include: - Home Improvement ROI: We break down the top five home improvement projects that will deliver the biggest bang for your buck. - Hiring Contractors: We share our insider checklist for hiring the right contractor, emphasizing the critical steps you need to avoid getting scammed this holiday season. - Outdoor Chore List: We detail the essential last outdoor chores you need to complete before winter settles in. - Refreshing a Backyard Garden Bed: For those with an unused space, we discuss how to rejuvenate a tired backyard garden bed in the fall.   Q & A: - Tracy in Florida was considering installing h

SHOW NOTES: Welcome back to The Money Pit! It’s getting chilly out, so we’re focused on preparing a cozier home for the colder season ahead. Give us a call now at 888 Money Pit, but first, listen in for this week’s topics and DIY caller questions! - Fireplace Safety Check: Before striking that first match for a cozy fire, pay attention to our quick fireplace safety checklist. We’ll walk you through tips to tackle before lighting your first log. - Pre-Winter Power Washing: Before winter wraps your home in a snowy blanket, it’s a great time to give your exterior a deep clean. Coming up, we’re talking about the power of power washing! From removing grime and mildew to making your walkways safer and your house sparkle for the holidays, we’ll share why this quick weekend project is the ultimate pre-winter refresh. - Smoke Detector & Cold Prep Reminders: Changing the clocks is a perfect reminder to replace the batteries in all your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and to swap out any units that are more th

SHOW NOTES: Happy Halloween weekend! Once spooky season is officially behind us, it’s time to turn things over and get ready for the real holiday hustle. We are sharing easy ways to prep your kitchen and dining areas for all the extra cooking, baking, entertaining, and guests you’ll have. Plus, we’re tackling exterior maintenance tips before the deep freeze sets in. Stay tuned to hear all this and more! - Holiday Kitchen Prep: We offer easy tips to prep your kitchen for the holidays, emphasizing deep cleaning the oven well in advance of a major feast and clearing out expired items from the fridge and freezer to make space for groceries and leftovers. - Refresh Your Dining Room: We provide quick and affordable ways to refresh your dining room, focusing on simple centerpieces and cozy lighting upgrades. - Making Space for Guests: If you’re hosting holiday guests but don’t have a spare room, find out how to create a warm overnight space using visual separation, high-quality air mattresses, and thoughtful be

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to The Money Pit! Home sweet home doesn't have to be a bottomless money pit, and we are here every week to take your calls and offer expert advice. This week, we’re getting festive with last-minute Halloween treats and tackling your scariest home improvement dilemmas! Topics this week include: - Last-Minute DIY Halloween Decor: If Halloween snuck up on you, there is still time to haunt your house with easy decor ideas like using cheesecloth or gauze draped over balloons to create floating ghosts, cutting black trash bags into spiderwebs, or creating spooky silhouettes from paper and cardboard. - Budget-Friendly Yard Frights: We share quick and clever DIY lighting effects to transform your yard into a haunted masterpiece, including using toilet paper rolls with cellophane and LED lights tucked into bushes to create glowing eyes, or setting up a glowing, smoky cauldron with a fog machine or dry ice. - The Best Way to Store Decorations: Once the spooky season is over, you should sort and

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to The Money Pit! You can make your outdoor space your favorite place, and we can help. Whether you’re tackling projects inside or outside, we are on your side, and we’re discussing some awesome autumn topics today and answering DIY questions from callers like you! - Smarter Fall Leaf Cleanup: We share a better, faster, and more eco-friendly way to clean up the yard this fall. You'll learn why not raking every leaf is the best thing you can do for your lawn and the planet. - Preparing the Garden for Winter: Fall is the time to prep your flower beds and vegetable gardens to ensure a vibrant, healthy, bountiful spring. This includes clearing out old or diseased plants, enriching the soil with organic matter, and giving perennials a necessary trim. - Tool Tune-up and Winterization: Before you stash that mower and hang up the rake, we walk you through a simple tool tune-up that will save you time, money, and headaches next season. Q & A: - Mark was seeking options for adding an attracti