Tom Kraeutler

{{Short description|American radio host (died 2025)}} {{Infobox person | name = Tom Kraeutler | image =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Thomas A. Kraeutler | birth_date = 1959 or 1960 | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and given age|2025|02|02|65}} | death_place = | nationality = | alma_mater = Trenton State College <br> University of Copenhagen | other_names = | known_for = Home improvement <br> Remodeling | occupation = Talk radio host <br> Author }}

'''Thomas A. Kraeutler''' (1959 or 1960 – February 2, 2025) was an American home improvement authority,<ref>{{cite web|last=Klettke|first=Russ|title=An On-Air Construction Education|url=http://americanbuildersquarterly.com/2012/an-on-air-construction-education/|work=American Builders Quarterly|date=July 2012 |publisher=Guerrero Howe, LLC.|access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref> author and broadcast journalist.

Kraeutler co-hosted (with Leslie Segrete) the nationally syndicated ''The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show'' broadcast on more than 335 stations every weekend, reaching an audience of more than 3 million listeners. His home improvement tips were also broadcast across 350 radio stations weekdays during morning drive time. Talkers Magazine named Kraeutler one of the “100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America.” He also published a weekly home improvement newsletter and podcasts the national radio program. The podcast of the show usually ranked at the top of the home improvement listings on iTunes.

Kraeutler frequently contributed content to sites like Oprah.com,<ref>{{cite web|last=Kraeutler|first=Tom|title=5 Mistakes Every Homeowner Makes|url=http://www.oprah.com/home/Painting-Insulation-and-More-Home-Improvement-Advice--Tom-Kraeutler|work=Oprah.com|publisher=Harpo, Inc.|access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Kraeutler, Home Improvement Expert|url=http://www.oprah.com/contributor/tom-kraeutler|work=Oprah.com|publisher=Harpo, Inc.|access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref> AOL Daily Finance,<ref>{{cite web|title=Tom Kraeutler, Writer|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/writers/tom-kraeutler/|work=Daily Finance.com|publisher=AOL |access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref> and DIYLife.com. He has also served as the Home Improvement Editor for AOL,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kraeutler|first1=Tom|title=AOL Names Tom Kraeutler First Home Improvement Editor|url=http://www.buildingonline.com/apps/news/article/5512|website=Building Online|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="nyt"/> providing the site with a wide variety of multimedia content. His book, ''My Home, My Money Pit'' (co-authored with Segrete) was published by the Knack imprint of The Globe Pequot Press in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Living/Travel Briefs: Sunday, August 17, 2008 |url=http://newsok.com/livingtravel-briefs-sunday-august-17-2008/article/3283733/?tm=1218841464 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=August 17, 2008 |access-date=May 5, 2011}}</ref>

Kraeutler appeared frequently on a wide range of network news<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kraeutler|first1=Tom|title=The hidden dangers in your home|url=http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4150407878001/the-hidden-dangers-in-your-home/?#sp=show-clips|website=Fox Business|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kraeutler|first1=Tom|title=The top trends for kitchen and bath remodeling|url=http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3497049240001/the-top-trends-for-kitchen-and-bath-remodeling/?#sp=show-clips|website=Fox Business|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kraeutler|first1=Tom|title=Should home owners repair or replace appliances?|url=http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/4122589438001/should-home-owners-repair-or-replace-appliances/?#sp=show-clips|website=Fox Business|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref> and daytime television programs. He is often quoted as a home-improvement expert in major publications like the ''New York Times'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kraeutler|first1=Tom|title=Sprinkler Systems: Watering Made Easy|work=The New York Times |date=8 July 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/realestate/08home.html|access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kraeutler|first1=Tom|title=Reading Smoke Signals|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/garden/25fix.html|work=New York Times|date=24 December 2008 |access-date=21 April 2015}}</ref> ''USA Today'' and ''CNN''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tuning Up Your Furnace |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/realestate/28home.html |newspaper=New York Times |date=October 28, 2007 |access-date=May 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Making Accidents Less Likely to Happen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/realestate/03home.html |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 3, 2007 |access-date=May 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Home improvement: Tom Kraeutler and Mary Barretta |url=https://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2001-04-13-moneypit.htm |date=January 21, 2005 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Theft-proof your home |url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/06/16/real_estate/home_theft/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228232200/http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/16/real_estate/home_theft/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2005 |newspaper=CNNMoney.com |date=June 18, 2004 |access-date=May 5, 2011 |first1=Valerie |last1=Morris |first2=Fn |last2=Anchor}}</ref>

He was a remodeling columnist for ''House Beautiful'', and contributed to or been featured in many national magazines including ''Smart Money'', ''Reader's Digest'' and ''Consumer's Digest''.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

Kraeutler had more than two decades of experience as a professional home inspector,<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/realestate/28GH-Home.html|title=Closing Up for the Summer|author=Amy Gunderson|date=March 28, 2007|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=2011-04-25}}</ref> former building contractor and industrial arts educator. He was appointed by former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman to the state's first regulatory authority for the licensing of professional home inspectors, which he chaired for several years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kraeutler|first=Thomas|title=Home Inspection Advisory Committee Minutes of February 11, 2003|url=http://www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/hiac/minutes/hi211.htm|work=New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs|publisher=State of New Jersey|access-date=7 September 2012}}</ref>

Kraeutler held a BS in Industrial Arts Technology Education from Trenton State College and completed an international studies program in architecture at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

Kraeutler died from complications of surgery on February 2, 2025, at the age of 65.<ref>{{cite news |title=Home Improvement Radio Host Tom Kraeutler Passes Away at 65 |url=https://radioink.com/2025/02/04/home-improvement-radio-host-tom-kraeutler-passes-away-at-65/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |publisher=Radioink |date=4 February 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== * {{cite book|title=My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure|url=https://archive.org/details/myhomemymoneypit00krae|url-access=registration|quote=Tom Kraeutler.|author=Tom Kraeutler|year=2008|author2=Leslie Segrete |isbn=978-1-59921-287-6|publisher=Knack}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|6095103}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kraeutler, Tom}} Category:20th-century births Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:2025 deaths Category:American talk radio hosts Category:The College of New Jersey alumni