By Stephanie Edwards

Rick Allen has been building a solid reputation on the air for more than six years with his home improvement radio show — Rick’s House.

“We designed the show to help our listeners,” Allen said. “We try to take the fear out of home improvement.”

Listeners are welcome to call in during the show with their home improvement questions, and with more than 20 years of experience in areas such as construction, home improvement, and real estate, Allen is prepared for most questions that come his way.

“I know a little bit about plumbing and a little bit about different things. But if I do not know the answer to a question, I won’t pretend like I do and make something up. We’ll take a time out and call an expert in the field and get their opinion. We try to set up listeners with our sponsors who can help them,” Allen said.

Allen tries to make the show fun for everyone.

“We use a lot of humor with a lot of knowledge. I always say that if Larry the Cable Guy and Bob Vila had a baby, it would be me,” Allen said.

Thanks to the Internet, Allen is beginning to grow a fan base outside of East Tennessee. There is a live chat room that listeners can visit during the show.

“It seems like whether they’re in California or Tennessee, they have a lot of the same problems,” Allen said.
“We’ve really made a family (with our listeners).”

Allen is also known for being the resident handyman on WBIR Channel 10 “Style” show. He is planning to team up with other home improvement and real estate professionals and do a six-week home improvement show tour.

Allen spent his first year and a half on the air in Panama City Beach, Fla. Then, the Knoxville native moved back home and began broadcasting on WNOX. After five years with the station, he decided to move his show to the Horne Radio Network, which owns several stations including WKVL 850, WLOD 1140 in Loudon and WGAP in Maryville.

Allen’s show can be heard on these stations from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information, visit www.rickshousradioshow.com.