The Money Pit and This Old House Team Up on Brooklyn Brownstone Renovation
Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete hosted a two-hour special Money Pit radio broadcast last month with the stars of This Old House to celebrate the completion of the Emmy Award-winning PBS television show's first-ever project in New York City, a 1904 Brooklyn Brownstone.
This Old House master carpenter Norm Abrams with Leslie & Tom in Brooklyn. |
The show was produced in the house, right in the middle of the renovation, featuring interviews with Kevin O'Connor, master carpenter Norm Abram, landscape contractor Roger Cook, general contractor Tom Silva and design correspondent Carole Freehauf.
The Money Pit audience heard the all-too-familiar tales of the trials and tribulations of living through a major restoration, including:
- The on-line purchase of a historic spiral staircase that did not fit
- The exquisite and delicate wooden fret work nearly came crashing down during the filming
There's a reason why we call home improvement an "extreme adventure."
Located in historic Prospect Heights, the 1904 Renaissance Revival brownstone was a former rooming house transformed into a three-family home. The team refurbished well-worn period details while adding modern conveniences for 21st century living. See pictures, read more at the TV project website or listen to The Money Pit broadcast.
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Reach consumers looking for home improvement products and solutions to make their home and outdoor living space more relaxing and enjoyable this summer. Money Pit Media's STAY-cation Promotion delivers a cost-effective and impactful promotion of your products via a 9-week multi-media editorial series that will have hosts Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete focusing on how your products can homes and outdoor space the restful, relaxing and recreational stay-at-home vacation consumers will be looking for this summer. Contact Warren Banholzer for details at 212-545-8383.
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Despite falling values and mortgage problems, 90% of Americans say their home is a source of comfort in their life—a value that isn't reported on anyone's balance sheet. A new report from the Pew Research Center shows that such comfort translates into happiness, while the small number who report that their home is a burden are less happy with themselves and their communities.
The study found no differences by gender, race, age, income, education, marital status or employment status. But region had a slight impact with more Midwesterners reporting that they feel burdened by their home than homeowners in other regions. 65% of respondents also felt that now was a great time to buy a home.
Tom's Take: We get a lot of questions about ROI for home improvements. While we know people sincerely want to get the best value, the focus on payback and ROI in the media can be misleading as a driver of home improvements. Most people remodel for their personal comfort and style. The ROI part helps them justify it.
Even before Michele Obama planted vegetables at the White House, food gardening was on the rise in the US, already up 19 percent from 2008 according to the National Gardening Association. In 2008, gardeners spent a total of $2.5 billion to purchase seeds, plants, fertilizer, tools and other gardening supplies to grow their own food.
Tom's Take: Even if you're not in the gardening business, this movement—it's more than a trend—has possibilities for your marketing. Events, recipes, cooking techniques, outdoor living and landscaping tips can tie your brand into the home-grown zeitgeist. Looking to start your own veggie garden and save cash? Learn how here.
If there's one thing holding brands back from social media, its fear. This story from the Marketing Profs is an example of how one company addressed misinformation and turned the bad tide around.
Tom's take: A marketing pro at a top home improvement brand recently asked me: "What if someone comments negatively about your brand online?" My response: "Do you want people talking about you to your face or behind your back?" Follow Mack Collier's tips in this article and address the concerns promptly and politely. You may never gain the respect of a naysayer out to do you harm but the good will you'll gain from the greater community will be enormous.
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