Barbara Kavovit Says “Never Be a Damsel in Distress” When It Comes to Home Projects

Is there anything Barbara Kavovit can’t do? In addition to owning two construction companies, The Real Housewives of New York City newbie is also the founder of a female-focused tool kit called DIYVA and she just published her second novel. So, when she stopped by our HQ recently for The Daily Dish Podcast, we clearly had some questions — like how women tackle the tough chores normally reserved for men at home.

“Well, I’d definitely say have a tool kit,” Barbara said. “I think all women should be self-sufficient in their own home. And you know 21 percent of all homes last year were bought by single women. And I think to never be a damsel in distress and to be independent, you should know what the essential tools are and that should be a hammer, a screw driver, a wrench, a tape measure, hex keys, and a flash light. Those are the things that you should always have.”

Got it — we need to get our collective tool kits stocked! But once we’ve got the tools, Barbara suggests also having some basic skills down pat, too. “You should know how to shut the water off in case you have a leak because water can do mass destruction to your home,” she explained. “You should know how to hang a picture, fix a leaky faucet, you should know how to call a contractor, the questions to ask, how to get the right information and the right insurances.”

Need more Barbara in your life? Fear not: You can get more of her great tips via her non-fiction books Invest in Your Nest and Room for Improvement. And she’s also going to be rolling out a new series on her YouTube channel, offering up inspirational tips on everything from how to hire a contractor to how to do an addition on your home and more. 

To hear Barbara's full interview, listen to the podcast below and be sure to tune in to RHONY tonight at 9/8!

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