15-Minute Fixes For Around The Home

Home maintenance is an ongoing project. There's always something to do around the house, or something to fix. The problem is, you may not have the time, or the skills, to get it done yourself.

In this 4-minute piece from The Today Show on NBC, you'll see some projects are quite simple.

Dubbed "15-Minute Fixes", see how simple it can be to handle 3 common household chores:

1. De-alcification of a shower head
2. Clearing hair from the inside of a bathroom drain
3. Sealing a granite counter-top

Each clean-up job is cheap, quick, and can be handled sans handyman. As Spring Fever sets in, put these fixes on your To-Do List.

How To Properly Screen A Prospective Tenant

According to the the National Association of Realtors®, "distressed homes" represented nearly 2 of every fifth home sold in January 2010. Clearly, real estate investors in Mount Holly and around the country are taking advantage of good deals on cheap property. But there's risk involved.

This NBC Today Show interview first ran in March 2009, featuring real estate expert Barbara Corcoran. Despite its age, the message remains relevant. Today may be a terrific time to buy a bank-owned home -- just make sure you do your research first. There's plenty of ways for investors to get burned.

Some of the tips in the video include:

• Buy in your own backyard
• Start small, then build to a bigger portfolio
• Watch receipts -- rent rolls don't matter if tenants aren't paying rent

Corcoran also gives pointers on how to evaluate a prospective tenant.

Foreclosures should represent a large number of 2010's total home sales and will offer interesting opportunities to bona fide real estate investors. Before you jump in, make sure to watch the video. The rents you save may be your own.

Remember, the stats and the data are from 12 months ago, but the advice stays meaningful. Real Estate investing, when you apply sound principles is still a great way to build income and acquire wealth. You just have to take time and investigate it completely.

7 Ways To Protect Your Credit Score For Better Mortgage Rates

As mortgage lenders tighten approval standards in Pennsylvania and nationwide, the importance of a good credit score is rising. Credit scores not only make the difference between a mortgage approval and mortgage turn-down, but they also play a large role in determining your actual mortgage note rate.

In the 3-minute piece, the NBC Today Show talks about 7 ways that homebuyers ruin their credit -- often by accident. Some of the highlighted mistakes include:

• Closing open credit cards
• Making appliance buys on credit prior to closing
• Asking creditors to lower credit balances prior to closing

In general, a 740 FICO will insulate a borrower from the higher costs and/or rates associated with low credit scores. Below 740, though, every 20 points adds to the damage. Watch the video and apply what you can to your own situation. The more you know, the more you can save.

Things to Buy When the Economy is Slow

Down economies reduce consumer spending, creating a bind for retailers. As excess inventory collects dust, companies have little choice but to drop prices in hopes of selling more product.

For the bargain shopper with extra cash right now, there are some terrific deals to be had out there. This 4-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show highlights a few of them.

• Wines over $25 per bottle reduced up to 50%
• High-quality diamonds reduced up to 30%
• Summer rental homes reduced up to 50%

Furniture is another discounted item.

Now, these aren't everyday-type purchases, but when the economy turns around for good, the bargain-priced items highlighted in the video are expected to return to their former price levels.

If you have the means, therefore, consider taking advantage while costs are down.

Great Gadgets for Mother's Day or Father's Day!

After attending the International Home and Housewares show, The Today Show filmed a 5-minute segment called "Housewares You Won't Be Able To Live Without".

The title is somewhat over-the-top but don't let that turn you off. The gadgets reviewed are both practical and inexpensive. They include:

1. Make-no-mess vegetable peeler for the kitchen
2. Efficient kabob tool for the grill
3. Grow-In-Your-Kitchen garden that grows like an outdoor one

Of over 2,000 products at the show, NBC selected seven. Watch the video to see them in action.

Gadgets don't improve a home's value but they can make life easier sometimes. And for homeowners, easier is often better.

DIY and Increase Your Home's Value!

In a tight economy, do-it-yourself home improvements projects not only save money, but may also justify a higher listing price for a soon-to-be home seller. In addition, projects like these make your home "the shiny penny", standing out when buyers are looking through the houses on the market.

In the 4-minute video above, Sweat Equity host Amy Matthews talks with NBC's Matt Lauer about affordable home upgrades that even the least skilled home remodelers can finish on their own.

Three of the huge, bang-for-the-buck projects discussed are:

• Refinish laminate countertops for $95.


• Replace hollow "builders' doors" with sturdy doors for $200 each.


• Install kitchen and bathroom backsplashes for $500 each.

The video also recommends installing a basement egress window, if possible. As far as DIY goes, it's a little bit more complex but the results are stunning.