SHOW NOTES:

Welcome back to The Money Pit! Today, we have an action-packed show designed to help you tackle those crucial fall projects, regain control over clutter, and navigate the shifting landscape of housing. Join us as we discuss topics and caller questions that include:

- Transforming Outdoor Spaces with Hardscaping: We’ll share projects perfect for this time of year, including how products like Ladera and RumbleStone from Pavestone can transform forgotten yards with
gorgeous patios, fire pits, and useful garden walls, adding curb appeal that lasts.

- Understanding Home Organization and Clutter: A new national survey reveals that women are far more likely to take charge of tidiness and feel better when their homes are organized. We’ll discuss what motivates
Americans to get things under control, the tools they prefer, and the biggest challenges to staying organized.

- The Evolving Townhome Market: Townhomes used to be the go-to for affordable home ownership, but we are looking at how rising construction costs, stricter regulations, and tougher master insurance rules are making this dream harder to build.

- Essential Fall Floor Protection: As the weather cools, we spend more
time indoors – bringing mud and other grime inside, too. We're sharing easy ways to care for your floors, including using doormats, switching to microfiber mops, and deep cleaning high-traffic areas.

Q & A:

- Courtney in Pennsylvania calls about adding air conditioning to her Cape Cod house and asks whether she should remove her existing baseboard heating system for an all-in-one unit. We strongly advise against removing that wonderful, clean baseboard heat, suggesting Courtney seek a second opinion on ductwork.

- David in Kansas City had foundation repairs done and was told by the contractors to seal the entire foundation and close off all the crawl space vents. We give David basic steps to reduce moisture, including installing
a thick plastic vapor barrier on his dirt floor, ensuring his downspouts are clean and extended, and checking the soil grading.

- Carrie is deciding where to put a second bathroom in her 1912 house, choosing between a vacant basement area or a partially finished attic space. We recommend the second-floor (attic) location, since adding
a bathroom upstairs is more attractive for future buyers and improves the
overall resale value of the home.

- Greg in Ohio wonders if he can apply stone veneer over his old exterior glazed block building to improve curb appeal. We advise him that this project is possible, especially with a thin veneer, provided that he researches the proper strong veneer adhesive and ensures the underlying glazed stone is in good shape.

- John in Bedford, New York, emailed us because his circuit breaker keeps tripping immediately every time he resets it, even though everything is unplugged. We stress that this means there is a short, and he needs to call a professional electrician who can quickly and safely resolve the issue.

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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