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Share ideas and learn about the latest in home improvement and décor from Tom and Leslie.

Money Pit Blogs

Declutter Before a Major Spring Cleaning

Fri, 03/08/2013 - 01:58 - Leslie Segrete

Before you swing into spring cleaning, clear the way with strategic decluttering. Clearing away household clutter not only makes housekeeping easier, it also makes your home more safe and efficient. Plus, you’ll be able to make better use of storage zones and living areas, ultimately expanding...

Spring Cleaning for Home Curb Appeal

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 22:33 - Tom Kraeutler

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what potential buyers see in your home makes all the difference in its sale price. If you’re planning to put your house on the market this season, do some basic spring cleaning to spruce up its curb appeal. Take care of the basics first, and you’ll be...

Top Outdoor Living Trends of 2013

Sat, 02/23/2013 - 00:12 - Leslie Segrete

If you’re already plotting springtime projects that’ll spruce up outdoor rooms, you’re not alone. Americans love beautiful, functional outdoor spaces for entertaining and recreation, and according to the 2013 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey, we also favor sustainable and...

Average U.S. Heating and Cooling Usage Dips Below 50%

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 22:58 - Tom Kraeutler

For several decades, space heating and air conditioning have accounted for over half of the typical American household’s energy use and spending. But according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, that trend could be reversing. In their most recent Residential Energy Consumption...

Freshen Interiors with Greens and Blues

Sat, 02/09/2013 - 15:20 - Leslie Segrete

For this year’s “in” paint colors for home decorating, look outside. The range of beautiful greens and blues found in the natural world can inspire peace, calm and renewal, making them popular choices for coloring your indoor world. If you’d like to refresh a tired living space, consider going...

Upgrade Your Super Bowl Sunday

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 04:07 - Tom Kraeutler

If you’re hosting your home team for the Super Bowl, add some splash and panache with a few upgrades to your standard celebration. Here are some gadgets that’ll make a real touchdown for you and guests alike. For the resident Twitterer: Keep the real-time game commentary flowing online by...

Flooded Hardwood Floor Solutions

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 16:34 - Money Pit Team

Q: We have a new house.  A company installed new washing machine but didn't attach pipe.  As a result, the washing machine flooded the hardwood floor in my kitchen.  When it dried, the hardwood cupped significantly.  The company wants to sand it but I want the damaged wood to be replaced to...

Five Things You Didn't Know You Could Recycle

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 02:00 - Leslie Segrete

Even if you do a lot of recycling, five items could be missing from your routine. Look beyond the usual paper, plastic and metal and get greener with the following recyclables.

1. Compact fluorescent bulbs are better off recycled than trashed, as they release mercury and other harmful contents...

How to Beat DIY Deja Vu: Solutions for "Groundhog Day" Home Improvement Problems

Thu, 01/24/2013 - 15:45 - Tom Kraeutler

Feeling like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day? With some home improvement projects, it can seem like you’re stuck in a twilight zone where you have to fix the same problem over and over and over again. There’s a reason for this, and it’s also the way out of the cycle: you have to address the root...

How to Hang a Flat-Screen TV

Thu, 01/24/2013 - 01:00 - Tom Kraeutler

Hanging a flat-screen TV is a skill few people have, and yet almost everyone is buying flat screen televisions. Not every flat-screen TV needs to be hung. Some free-standing models allow you to place the TV on a tabletop. However, most standing flat-screen TVs have removable bases, so they, too,...