December 29, 2025

#2583 – Preventive Maintenance | Common Homeowner Mistakes | Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off

39 minutes

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 higher costs in the long run. We also hear from listeners about water and moisture issues; make sure you address those, because they will never resolve themselves and only grow more destructive over time.

- Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off: We detail home improvement investments that pay off every time, such as prioritizing

energy efficiency through insulation and smart thermostats to increase comfort and reduce bills. Additionally, we recommend focusing on lighting upgrades and safety essentials like smoke alarms and secure railings to ensure a home is a place where families can thrive.

Q & A:

- George in Arkansas dealt with a chilly bedroom despite a 72-degree thermostat setting. We advise him to add 15 to 20 inches of insulation in his attic and use the back of his hand to find and seal drafts around window jams and outlets.

- Cliff in Nebraska wanted to know how to make new wood picture frames look like weathered barnwood. We suggest burning the wood with a propane torch and using a wire brush to remove the soft char, creating a "driftwoody" texture before staining.

- Lori in New Jersey asked how to treat a garage floor coated in thick oil and grease. The answer is to pressure wash the floor with a TSP solution and then apply a durable, two-part epoxy floor finish.

- Lisa in Texas inquired about the safety of older two-prong outlets in her 1960s home. We explain that while they can be safe with adapters, it is much better to hire an electrician to upgrade the wiring to a modern, grounded system.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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By Leslie Segrete

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