The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast

This can be a challenging time for many things and that includes selling your house! If you are planning to do that this summer, Tom and Leslie share the key improvements that need to get done first to nail a quick sale at the highest possible price. Plus… This summer, most of us will be spending more time at home and enjoying our outdoor spaces. And for DIY’rs, there’s more interest than ever in...

Renting your first apartment is a big step that’s both exciting and terrifying all at the same time! Tom & Leslie share expert tips on what to look for before signing a lease to make sure you get all your security deposits back. Plus.. If you love gardening and landscaping, you might not think there’s much new to know about one of the most common landscaping tools – the shovel. Well, all shovels a...

With summer thunderstorms, blackouts are becoming more common – which is why now is a good time to think about adding a whole house generator. The costs have come down and the convenience can’t be beat. We’ll share the options and how to find the right size unit for your home just ahead If you’re looking for an easy and inexpensive way to transform the look of your kitchen, applying a decorative s...

Summer marks the riskiest time of year for pool drownings, which is actually the leading cause of death to young children! In this episode, expert hosts Tom & Leslie explain the best way to backup parental supervision and keep kids safe. It’s a pool safety approach called layers of protection. Plus… Replacing your front door is a project that can increase your home’s value and increase its curb ap...

Building codes exist to keep your family safe, but only if you or your contractor follow them! Tom & Leslie have tips on how to avoid the THREE most commonly violated codes. Plus, if you’ve noticed that your walks, porches or patios look a bit worn – we’ll tell you how to resurface those at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Do you have a small backyard and looking to make the most of your min...

Are you ready to buy a bigger and better air conditioner to keep cool this summer? Well, you may be surprised to learn that bigger is not always better for your comfort. We’ll have tips on how to pick the best one for your home. Plus… Smelly water is a common complaint among homeowners, for good reason: No one wants to drink, cook or clean with water that smells like rotten eggs. We highlight the...

The right deck design can make your home appear larger than it is – which is why adding a backyard deck can actually increase your home’s value. Tom & Leslie have tips on how to choose a deck design that works for you. Plus… Squeaks, creaks, drips, bangs and hisses – are all noises your house makes, but have you ever wondered what’s behind them? We’ll tell you how to sniff out and silence the most...

It’s a great time of year for outdoor living and if you want to step up your space, we’ve got tips on how you can build your very own fire pit!  Want a garden that not only looks good, but also serves an important purpose? Bees, hummingbirds and butterflies are all pollinators and play a big role in plant reproduction. Tom & Leslie have tips on how you can create a pollinator garden to give these...

Are you ready to do one final cleanup of your garage before the summer kicks into full swing? Tom & Leslie share simple garage organization tips, plus: Have you needed to crank your AC yet? If not - great because there are 3 things you should do first - to make sure it’s set to keep you cool and comfortable all Summer long. The pandemic has changed the way we do many things, and that is certainly...

This is a big episode for The Money Pit. Its show #2,000 and we can’t thank you enough for allowing us to help you make your home the best they can possibly be! Not all home imp projects require an entire weekend to get done! We’ve got 3 -30-minute home improvement hacks that can help you save time, energy and make your space look great! Do you love your dog -- but not so much having to get up in...

Do you have an old, faded plastic playset in your backyard? By giving it a coat of fresh paint, you can bring it back to life – it’s easy IF you use the right materials. We’ll walk through this project. Plus… With all the time we’re spending at home these days, the wear and tear shows on us, as well as our houses! And when stuff breaks, we need to be able to find the right glue to fix it fast and...

Want to grow your own home remedies, right in your backyard? Well walk you through easy to grow herbs for surprisingly effective herbal medicines. Plus… Backyard honeybee hives are becoming a huge trend. We’ll tell you what all the buzz is about coming up. Over the winter – the combination of road salt and freezing weather, can do some real damage to concrete steps, walks, patios or driveways leav...

Have you noticed that your allergies are particularly bad this year? Well it turns out that quarantines can actually make allergies worse! Learn why from one of the nation's best experts on indoor air quality. Plus, learn some places allergens hide we guarantee you never would have thought of! Also in this episode. Want to improve your outdoor space by adding an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, grill en...

If you’ve been sprucing up your landscaping, avoiding high-maintenance plants that require constant pruning or suffer from pest problems is key. We’ve got tips on how to select a reliable, trouble free shrubs to spruce up your outdoor living spaces and your outlook! Plus, going green in your kitchen isn’t limited to veggies -- earth-friendly countertops can lend plenty of green as well. We’ll shar...

Having a small yard or living in an apartment is no reason to give up on the idea of your very own garden, though. Urban and other small space gardeners are making use of containers and vertical space to grow crops like tomatoes, radishes, lettuce and other greens — we’ll show you how. Plus… ·        There are many, many things for your home that can be delivered in a box. A beautiful lawn however...

Outdoor living spaces have never been more popular -- and that includes outdoor kitchens. But cooking and dining outside require special recipes of their own. Tom and Leslie have tips for designing an amazing outdoor kitchen. Plus… Spring cleaning isn’t just for indoor rooms. Now is also the time to spruce up a favorite outdoor room—your deck, we’ll have some deck cleaning tips later on in the sho...

If you’d like to take on one home décor project that you can really spruce up a room, new blinds are the ticket. Not only do they make your place look better, they can save you energy in both winter and summer. Tom & Leslie share how you can get this entire project done, without ever leaving home! Also ahead… ·        While most of us have been hunkered down inside for weeks, the wear and tear on...

With the weather finally getting nicer, are you thinking of family-friendly outdoor activities for you and your little ones? Creating a kid-friendly garden is a great way to get the whole family involved in a fun project. Tom & Leslie tell you how to get things growing! Plus, Of all the cleaning questions we get, how to clean a hardwood floor takes the lead. It’s a tough spot to keep clean with al...

When it’s time to pull out your outdoor furniture, it’s also time to give it a good cleaning! Tom & Leslie have tips on how best to clean and prepare the furniture so it’s ready for a fresh start this Spring, plus.... ·        There’s nothing that wears out a floor faster than the dirt and grime that everyone drags in on their feet. But cleaning wood floors is a challenge because wood absorbs mois...

Well, the quarantine has not been good for many industries but the Wall Street Journal reports that one is actually doing quite well. Any guesses? It’s the JIGSAW PUZZLE INDUSTRY! If you’ve caught a case of cabin fever, then adding a game room may be the answer you’re searching for stay at home entertainment! Tom & Leslie tell you how to get this project started. Plus… ·       Building a garden wa...

Could germs actually be lurking in your laundry? It may seem counterintuitive, but for the health, safety and cleanliness of your family, it’s important to actually wash your washing machine. Tom & Leslie tell you how to deep clean your machines, just ahead. Plus... Summer is only a few weeks away when air conditioning will be a big part of our comfort plan. But when it comes to AC, the refrigeran...

If one of your favorite foods (or your kid’s favorite!) is pizza, imagine being able to grow all of your favorite pizza toppings right in your backyard? You can if you grow your own Pizza Garden. We’ll share tips on how to do just that. Plus For a home to be healthy, it has to breathe. That’s why ventilation is important! But if your home is energy efficient it - could potentially be too airtight...

Whether you have a green thumb or need to hire out the job, sprucing up your landscaping is a great way to step up your landscaping. Tom & Leslie have tips on how you can create a simple landscape plan to for a beautiful exterior to your home. Plus…  Flu season is upon us and along with all the concerns we have about viruses, do you know the difference between a cleaner, sanitizer and disinfectant...

Re-tiling a bathroom is a great way to update the look, function and feel of this space. But if you want to make it last, it’s what goes UNDER the tile that counts. Tom & Leslie share what you need to know. Also… Now that it’s Spring cleaning season, the #1 tool you need to work and work well is your vacuum! If yours just doesn’t have the sucking power it used to – we share troubleshooting tips to...

As you start to spend more time outside, it’s a good time make sure your yard is pet-friendly and safe. We’ll share tips on the must have elements to keep your pets happy, plus the surprisingly common plants to avoid because they can make your dog sick!  just ahead. Plus, ideas on… How to build a greenhouse to help you get a jump on Spring gardening and assure a steady supply of veggies until Fall...