Proper maintenance of your riding lawn mower will keep it performing reliably for years.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Our lives are increasingly busier these days, and it s hard to find spare time. Unless you have a home project that you d get a lot of enjoyment out of doing, it s worth considering calling on a professional for some of the routine tasks, like housecleaning and lawn care. There are some very good maid services out there, but be sure you check references and the company or individual s insurance before you hire. A visit just every two weeks could save your sanity and a lot of your time. A small landscaping crew can make light work of the jobs that usually take you all weekend. You can hire them weekly or just seasonally, and your plants will thank you. Why not stay off the ladder and hire someone to clean out the gutters and wash the windows? Keep the names and numbers handy of a good small jobs contractor and appliance service provider for those last-minute repairs. Establish a regular appointment schedule for HVAC tune-ups, gutter cleaning and other household services. Important maintenance will get done on time automatically, and you ll have a better chance of catching problems early. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Bob plays hooky and takes us on a tour of the nearby CBS Studio Center, the first of the great big movie lots that gave Studio City its name.