1. On the Air - iPod, uPod, We All Pod!
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Wet Basement
3. Cool Tools - Telescoping Ladder
4. Fun Fact - Best ROI Bets
5. Dot Common Sense - Adding a Phone Line
6. On the Wire - Prep Your Home for Sale

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ASK TOM & LESLIE

This week's question comes to us from Ron, who listens to The Money Pit in Middletown, Delaware. Ron says, "My house has a basement with poured cement walls. My main drain and my main water line coming through the wall leak after a long soaking rain. They used spray foam and caulk for my drain and just caulk for my water line. I want to remove everything and use something better. Is there some kind of cement product I can use?"

Ron, thanks for writing The Money Pit. We have two suggestions. Besides cleaning out the old caulk or foam, which is a great start, make sure you look at the drainage conditions above the foundation. You may have a disconnected or clogged gutter that is allowing too much water to form in that spot, which can be bad for the foundation. Don't use concrete to patch the hole. It's not sticky or flexible enough to stay in place. Instead, use a good quality silicone caulk to seal around the pipes. If the hole is very large, stuff the space around it with some fiberglass insulation just to cut down on the amount of caulk you'll need to seal it up.

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GOT A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR MONEY PIT?

1. The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
2. Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
3. Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.

Forget stocks and bonds, you're biggest investment is probably your home. The best thing you can do to keep your investment in tip-top shape is maintaining all the "working parts" of your home, like the heating and cooling systems. But there are also improvements you can make that will bring a very good return on your investment. Here are the top five best bets for a great ROI:

Kitchen remodel - one of the best ways to increase the value of your home and get most of your investment back when selling. Even a minor remodel like upgrading flooring or appliances will make a big difference.

Bathroom remodel - again, a little goes a long way. Upgrading a vanity, lighting or even just fixtures can easily translate into more dollars for your asking price.

Deck - instantly adds square footage to your house with minimal construction. Be sure to check into any permits required before building.

Entryway - Therma-tru and TNS (formerly NFO WorldGroup) conducted research that found an enhanced entryway can add as much as $24,000 to a home's perceived value, approximately 5 times the cost of the entry system. Replacing the entry with a fiberglass door will increase your home's energy efficiency as well.

Addition - more space is always a good selling point. But if you are planning the addition as an investment, make sure it's not too personal. Not everyone wants a heart-shaped master suite or ??? game room.

One thing that actually loses money is adding a swimming pool. Potential sellers often see it as something that's costly and time consuming to maintain. Go ahead and install one if you like laps, but don't plan on seeing any cash back.

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COOL TOOLS

How many ladders do you have in the garage or shed? How many times have you had to buy or borrow a ladder you didn't have because yours didn't extend high enough? Most homeowners could use at least three ladders: a stepladder, a painter's ladder and an extra-tall ladder to reach gutters and the roof. Now, you can get all three sizes in one space and money saving ladder! The Telesteps telescoping ladder was invented and designed in Sweden. The model 1205W extends from thirty inches to twelve and a half feet in a matter of seconds. Developed for extreme use, the 1205W has a 300 lb. weight rating. The Telesteps ladder automatically locks in place at one-foot increments providing multiple sizes in one small and convenient package. At only 24 lbs, the ladder is lightweight, portable and easily stores in small spaces. The Telesteps ladder is available for immediate delivery direct to your home or office from RE Williams, call toll free at 888-845-6597 or online at www.REWCI.com.

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DOT COMMON SENSE

Have you thought of adding an extra line to your home for your fax or computer? Did you decide against it when you learned what the phone company would charge you? Did you know it's something you can do yourself? Homeowners rarely attempt to work on their own phone system - but they should. Installing a new telephone line is not too difficult and you probably already have most of the tools needed on hand. We found the following instructions at www.thisoldhouse.com.

The first step to adding a line is to contact the local telephone company and request a second line. The company will make the required wiring changes at your junction box, usually located outside your house. The phone wiring in your house can already handle two separate lines. Standard residential phone cable contains two pairs of wires, which is enough for two separate lines. Adding a second phone line means you will need to decide whether to use your existing phone jack or add a new jack in a different location. To check if an existing jack is already wired for two lines, unscrew the cover plate and examine the terminals where the wire from the cable is connected. If just one pair of wires is connected, your jack is wired for a single line only.

To hook up the second line, strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from an unused pair of wires (the yellow and black wires, if you're working with standard cable) and loosen the screws from the corresponding terminals. Wind each bare wire in a clockwise direction around the terminal screw, then simply tighten the terminal and replace the cover.

Another option is to replace a single jack with a two-jack wall plate. Or, install a second jack a few inches away from the first and connect the two with a short piece of cable. Both of these are more secure options because they don't rely on an adapter that could fall out, and they give each jack its own line. One drawback to installing a second jack near the first one is that it leaves extra hardware on the wall.

Phone wires carry only a very slight charge, but there are a few things to watch out for. Take the phone off the hook to disconnect the line you're working on. Or, disconnect the main feed line at your demarcation box or junction box. Avoid working on phone wiring if you have a pacemaker, or if there's an electrical storm threatening. Finally, make sure you are aware of any electrical cables (120 and 220V wires) whenever you are cutting into a wall or snaking phone cable. For more options and detailed instructions, click here.

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ON THE WIRE

When selling your home, putting it on the market "as is" is never a good idea. The key to ensuring the best possible price for your home is careful preparation. Money Pit host Tom Kraeutler recently appeared on CNN Headline News and offered these tips on preparing your home for sale:

CREATE SPACE: Most people buy homes because they need more room for a growing family. The more "space" it appears you have, the higher the price you're likely to get. To create more space, even in smaller houses: Eliminate excess furniture. Rent a storage space for the couple of months it may take to sell your home. Clean out your garage, basement and other areas that buyers want for their own storage. De-clutter. Cluttered rooms don't show well to prospective buyers; that's what it looks like at their old house.

MAXIMIZE AND NEUTRALIZE: After cleaning, it's time to paint. Professional relocation firms use this technique on houses they have to sell quickly. Once the seller's moving van clears the corner, they immediately paint all rooms off-white and install a neutral, low-grade, wall-to-wall carpet. You may not want to purchase new carpet, but a fresh paint job will go a long way to attracting buyers. It's easier for a buyer to imagine their stuff in your house if they're not distracted by wild colors or patterns.

ALL SYSTEMS GO: Next, get your mechanical systems serviced by qualified contractors. It is generally not expensive and extremely important. Service your air conditioning system, clean your furnace, repair plumbing leaks, correct any electrical switches or outlets that are not working, and so on. Fix any minor problems before they become major ones.

OUTSIDE CHECK: Once you're finished inside the house, do a little work to freshen up the exterior. Replace broken windows, repair rotted trim, cutback trees that are too close to the house and make sure your landscaping looks neat.

INSPECTION PLUS: A professional home inspector can offer valuable expert help in the pre-sale process. Buyers usually want their own inspection, but you'll be far ahead of the game to have an impartial expert check your house beforehand. Inspectors can provide lists of needed repairs and, most importantly, give you an early warning of any potentially major problems likely to creep up when a buyer's inspector gets involved. There's nothing worse than bargaining down to your last dollar on the sale of your house, only to find out later that your furnace is shot and the buyer wants you to pay for a new one. To find a qualified professional, visit the website of the American Society of Home Inspectors at www.ashi.org. ASHI is the oldest and largest society of home inspectors.

If you follow these steps, you'll be setting yourself up for a top-dollar transaction when it's time to negotiate your sale.

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