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Listen to BOB VILA ON BUILT-IN MISTAKES or read the text below:

Built-in electronics, for example, can become outdated very quickly. And built-in custom cabinets to hold televisions and sound equipment will become outdated right along with them. After all, 20 years ago, who could have imagined that TV screens would become so big, and music players so small?

Likewise, a basic patio can appeal to anyone, but if you build in a barbecue or other amenities, you make the outdoor space less flexible. So a future owner who wants a place to play ping-pong won’t be as charmed as you are by the built-in wet bar.

So by all means remodel your home the way you want it, but keep your future buyers in mind when you install anything permanent.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on buying and selling homes, consider:

7 Renovation Tips to Boost Resale Value
10 Simple Home Staging Tips Every Seller Should Know
Bob Vila Radio: Sale Ready Homes

Bob Vila Radio: Built-In Mistakes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: todayshomeowner.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON TOILET FLAPPERS or read the text below:

It’s time to stop the madness. Take off the tank cover, flush once, and watch the mechanism at work. A likely culprit is the flapper, the piece of rubber that stops the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. If dirt or debris is keeping it from closing completely, clear the obstruction. If the chain is so taut that the flapper can’t close, or so slack that it gets caught in the flapper, reposition the chain on the handle arm.

Flush again. If the flapper closes, but the toilet still runs after this cycle, push down firmly on the flapper. If this stops the running, your flapper is probably worn or torn and needs to be replaced.

To replace it, shut off the water to the tank, flush the tank to drain it, and unhook the flapper from the base of the overfill pipe. Note the make and model of your toilet and bring the old flapper with you to the hardware store to make sure you buy the right one.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on bathrooms, consider:

15 Ways to Make a Small Bathroom Big
Bob Vila Radio: How To Replace a Shower Head
Helpful Hints for Cleaning Bathtubs

Bob Vila Radio: Toilet Flappers Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON WATERING THE LAWN or read the text below:

One easy way to avoid waste is to make sure you’re not watering the sidewalk or pathways. Check the position of your sprinklers to be certain they’re targeting grass, not pavement. If you have sprinklers on a timer, make sure they don’t operate in the rain!

And don’t water every day. In most climates, a deep, thorough watering twice a week should be enough to keep your lawn happy. More frequent watering ends up wasted, as water simply runs off a lawn that can’t absorb any more moisture. Of course, in dry climates you may need to water more often.

You might also consider having a little less lawn to water in the first place. Giving over some of your lawn space to planting beds filled with drought-tolerant shrubs and ground cover is a smart and ecologically sound way to reduce your water consumption, without sacrificing a beautiful landscape.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on lawn care, consider:

Top Tips for Watering Your Lawn
How To: Choose a Lawn Mower
5 Common Lawn Care Problems— And How to Fix Them

Bob Vila Radio: Watering the Lawn Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: hallsgarden.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON PRUNING AZALEAS or read the text below:

Pruning while an azalea is in bloom gives you beautiful cuttings to bring inside, and prepares your plant for a better bloom next year.

To start, take a critical look at the azalea and identify dead or woody branches, branches that don’t get enough sun, and branches that stick out at odd angles from the main plant. Those should come off right away. Then trim branches to create a pleasing shape. Cutting long branches back to the base will force new growth next year from the bottom, ensuring that your plant continues to develop a lush, full shape.

Be sure your pruner is clean and sharp to avoid jagged cuts. And if you miss the spring pruning season, don’t be tempted to cut back the plant later in the summer. Cutting an azalea too late in the year makes it vulnerable to damage over the winter.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on gardening, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Cleaning Plant Containers
Fresh Flowers: 10 New Annuals for 2013
We Heart Azaleas: Top Tips on Care

Bob Vila Radio: Pruning Azaleas Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON NAIL SETS or read the text below:

A nail set is a small tool that looks a bit like a nail, but thicker, with a rounded point on one side and a flat end at the other. You can use it to tap a nail in that last quarter inch without whacking the finished surface with your hammer. Finish nails usually have little depression in their heads that allows you to position a nail set without having it slip out as you tap.

You can also use a nail set on woodworking projects that will be painted or stained. Use it to push a nail below the surface, then fill in the gap with wood filler.

Finally, you can use a nail set to fix a pesky nail pop, when an old nail rises from a stair tread or starts sticking out of woodwork. The nail set lets you fix the pop without leaving a hammer-shaped dent in the wood.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on tools, consider:

Nail Guide
Tool Tip: Nail Guns
7 Essential Measuring Tools for Any Job

Bob Vila Radio: Nail Sets Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR or read the text below:

Start by looking at the colors on your home that you can’t change. If you have brick or stonework, for example, your paint colors will have to work well with these elements.

Also consider your home’s location. A house in the woods usually looks great in earth tones, and homes near water look good in blues, greens, or cream shades.

Take the color of nearby homes into consideration, as well. You probably don’t want to paint your house the same color as your neighbor’s, but you’ll want a color that looks good in the context of the other houses.

Then consider the style of your home. A stately Greek Revival home looks great in white, and old Victorians look their best when sporting bold colors that accent their many architectural details. And of course think about what colors you just happen to like.

Whatever you do, don’t commit to a color until you sample it. Paint a section of your house with a few possible choices, and live with them for a while before you decide.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on painting, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Historic Paint Color
Bob Vila Radio: Painting The Front Door
Bob Vila Radio: Paint Rollers

Bob Vila Radio: Exterior Paint Color Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON UNCLOGGING A TOILET or read the text below:

You’ll need a full-size plunger, an auger, a pair of rubber gloves, and a bucket. If your toilet is particularly tetchy, keep these supplies handy.

If the toilet is about to overflow or actually spilling over, shut off the water supply valve behind the toilet. Remove about half the water from the bowl. Insert the plunger, making sure there’s enough water to come halfway up the plunger cup, and start plunging. Keep a tight seal and plunge several times. If the water goes down, plunge once more just to be sure, turn the water supply back on, and try flushing the toilet.

If it’s still clogged, reach for the auger. Feed it into the drain, cranking clockwise, until it tightens on the clog. Reverse a bit then continue as far down as possible. Pull it all up at once and remove any debris. Plunge once more for good measure, and flush several times. Now you—and your guests—should be good to go!

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on bathrooms, consider:

Low-Flow Toilets
Quick Tip: Replace a Toilet
Bob Vila Radio: How to Replace a Shower Head

Bob Vila Radio: Unclogging a Toilet Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Drive a stake into these household vampires with a few good habits:

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Listen to BOB VILA ON VAMPIRE APPLIANCES or read the text below:

First, unplug rarely used appliances, like that microwave that you use for just two minutes a day. And don’t leave your phone charger or game charger plugged in when you’re not actually recharging anything.

Next, power down office equipment and video game systems—notorious watt-suckers—when not in use.

Invest in smart power strips, which can shut off power to electronics when they’re in standby mode, or even shut down peripherals when you turn off your computer.

Sure, vampires account for only a small portion of your electric bill. But even if it’s less than five percent, multiply that by 115 million U.S. households, and we’re talking serious energy savings. Do your part, be energy smart.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on saving energy, consider:

Bob Vila’s 50 Shades of Green
How To: Save Energy at Home
Put Your Home on an Energy Diet—TODAY!

Bob Vila Radio: Vampire Appliances Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON REPLACING GROUT or read the text below:

The first step is to remove the old grout. You can scrape it out by hand with a grout removal tool, but the work goes faster if you use a grout saw, or a grout attachment for your reciprocating or rotary saw. Just take care not to scratch the tile.

Once the old grout is out, wash the surface with a grout-and-tile cleaner. Mix your new grout to the consistency of toothpaste, then use a grout float to apply it. Spread the grout diagonally across the tile, holding the float at a 45-degree angle. When the joints are firmly packed, wipe off any excess. Let it set for a few minutes, then wipe again using a damp sponge. The grout should be slightly lower than the level of the tile.

Once the grout is dry, wipe down the entire surface the way you’d buff a car. After three days, use a grout sealant to protect it against future stains.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on flooring and stairs, consider:

5 Reasons to Love Subway Tile
Top Tips for Cleaning Grout Lines
Bob Vila Radio: Laying Tile

Bob Vila Radio: Replacing Grout Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: houseplantsguru.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON WINDOW BOXES or read the text below:

First, the box should be about the same width as your window. Make sure it has drainage holes, and consider using a metal or plastic liner inside. That extends your box’s life and makes it easier to swap in a seasonal replacement.

Next, select plants appropriate for the amount of sun your window boxes will get. Aim for a mix of textures and heights and an overall symmetrical layout. Start with a tall central focus, like spiky dracaena or shoots of salvia; fill in with medium-height stunners like coleus or pansies; and finish with dramatic spillovers like ivy or trailing petunias. Play with arrangements of your plants at the garden store before you buy to be sure they work together.

Don’t use plants so tall that they’ll block your view, and don’t go plant crazy. For maximum impact, use just a few varieties in colors that suit your exterior. Then water frequently, and don’t forget to feed and deadhead, so those flowers flourish all summer long.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on gardening, consider:

How To: Make a Window Box
10 Simple “Under $60″ Curb Appeal Updates for Any Home
Give Your Facade a Facelift: Simple, Affordable Ways to Boost Curb Appeal

Bob Vila Radio: Window Boxes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com