Letting Go Of The Past And Preparing For A Sale! 💸 | The Unsellables | MEGA MARATHON | House to Home

real estate like everything else in life has its ebbs and its flows and in today's market house sales have softened so if you've had loads of viewings and no offers you've got to work out why this is happening and do something about it because in a slowing market missed opportunities are something you can't afford [Music] single mom catherine has her lovely spacious house up for sale but it's been lingering on the market for three whole months it's listed at 449 000 it's had 70 showings and six open houses she's also recently married ian a firefighter and would love to move into his house but she can't until she sold this one but that's why we're here to put out the real estate fires and to turn this house from unsellable to sellable this house has been a wonderful family home and it served us really well i'm not really sure why it hasn't sold i'm wondering if there's just no wow in the house we were hoping the house would be sold around the time we got married it's very odd that we're not living together it is stressful it is frustrating and i do want to get on with my new life and we just can't do that until this house sells with parks and the waterfront close by this area is known as an upscale family community so we know the neighborhood has a lot going for it but let's see what the inside of catherine's house looks like sophie hi so glad you're here lovely to meet you should we start in here sure great proportions lovely big window did you choose the peach paint well yes i had it painted when i first moved in now this furniture it looks like it's seen a few summers it's seen a lot of summers and a lot of children climbing on it curious did you put this carpet in no no this curve was here when i got here i wonder if it has hardwood floor underneath it does it has milk that is fantastic i do have to say your house is immaculately clean so you're on the right track there but it's not enough on its own and this is the dining room yes it is very nice but the combination of the armoire and the pink paint it makes it look a bit old-fashioned and i don't think i've seen frosted glass windows for a while but the bare bones are here definitely so this must be the kitchen yep not a bad size eating kitchen's a big plus when selling because families love them so that's all great but what i would say is there's a lot of different textures going on you've got the oak handles here oak at the back of the cupboards but then you've got brown so terracotta tiles olive green walls but we can do something with this kitchen you're very tactful i'm not always tactful wow this is the longest peachiest corridor i've ever seen love the floor is this the floor we're gonna find under the carpet in the sitting room yes that is very very exciting your two daughters rooms are down here but it's the master bedroom that i really want to take a look at so the journey from peach to purple is complete very dark wood furniture it's quite overpowering in a room this size i mean you've got one two three four five six pieces but good size room you've got the hardwood floors which is lovely but now we go down and we have our little chat [Music] now this house has bags of potential but it looks like it was last decorated when shoulder pads and leg warmers were in style that's putting potential buyers off so it's time for me to get tough this is not a lost cause by any means you've got a fantastic house having said that in a slow and competitive market you need to address the things that are holding the house back because to be honest you've got the price tag right but the decor is not matching the price tag at the moment in this room for instance it's the combination of the peach paint the old leather furniture the slightly old drapes it's not singing at the moment in here i like your armoire but makes this room look quite small and in the kitchen it's great that it's an eating kitchen but it just needs some tender loving care great moving upstairs the endless beach corridor it needs to be repainted and put stuff on the walls make it look a bit more interesting and people don't tend to like purple master bedrooms unless they're under five [Laughter] so we want this house to look elegant to look modern to look classic and then it will appeal to a broad range of potential buyers which is important no matter what state the market's in and you can get on with your life and move in with your new husband that would be terrific catherine has a great house and it's in a beautiful area but she is going to have to do a lot more to it if she wants to wow potential buyers peach walls gray carpets fine in the 80s but fashions change and now the house just looks outdated so if catherine and her two daughters want to move house anytime soon they're going to have to say out with the old and in with the new catherine's neighborhood is quiet and picturesque and they even vary the power lines and the telephone lines so you don't have to look at the ugly blighters which means it's even more surprising that catherine's house hasn't sold that is why i'm about to meet rose the real estate agent to get to know this house just that little bit better rose you'd have 70 viewings six open houses it's been on the market for three months so what do you think is wrong with the house i think one of the main reasons why it didn't sell was it was too high as in the marketplace where price wise so you've already reduced the price which is important because often people price their homes incorrectly understanding the market adjusting accordingly is key absolutely hopefully the new listing price will help but the decor does need some updating and first impressions are so key so with a few modern updates we're going to have a sellable property on our hands despite the slow market thank you so much lovely to meet you and you catherine's real estate agent rose and i both agree that the uninspiring and tired decor is really affecting her sale and that's why i want to show katherine a comparable house in the neighborhood that is not only modern and classy but also sold very very quickly now before you say anything i know this is considerably smaller than your sitting room in fact the whole house is smaller than your house but it's in the same area and there's a lot of elements of this house that i'd like to implement in yours starting with the floor it's beautiful also it's just nice calm updated colors i can see what you mean now come on through to the dining room now again different layout but similar size nice color palette hardwood floors that just gives it a contemporary look i really see what you mean anyway let's move on with our tour it's very modern it is very modern it's very contemporary but having said that cupboards i don't think they're very modern they've just been freshly painted and they've got new hardware on them really yeah i said again and again and again the best way to update your kitchen is to paint the cupboards and put on new hardware it's an immediate instant facelift what i'd like to do in your kitchen is tone down the mediterranean a little bit and it can look as gorgeous as this that would be fabulous let's go upstairs then after you it's a nice calming color palette and there's not a lot of dark furniture so it just looks really lovely it's like a little haven up here and that's what bars these days are looking for especially in the master bedroom now i know this house is appealing to potential buyers because it sold for just under the asking price in 20 days your house has everything going for it and we can make it sell incredibly quickly that would be fabulous okay well let's go and do it then all right we have a lot of work to do so to help us modernize catherine's dated house i've called on general contractor anthony says catherine i spoke to you earlier about some of the changes we're going to make the design changes but i'm going to let anthony here our contractor fill in the rest of the blanks terrific can't wait we'll start by removing the carpet expose the hardwood floor that's under there it'll be just like brand new so that's brilliant yes also um i'm gonna update some of your furniture mostly the furniture upstairs in the bedroom we're gonna paint it out and add some stylish hardware wow great and uh the kitchen we just need to tone down the colors and neutralize the style of the kitchen i think all the changes are going to make a huge difference because at the moment people are expecting a certain standard when they walk in they're wanting elegant modern and classic and that is what we're going to give them terrific brilliant it sounds like we've got a lot to do then so let's get to it excellent [Music] yes the gray carpet is no more you like i love so what i did was i took the carpet up i cut it into three foot strips make it easier to dispose and dump and then whatever tack strips that were around the edge it holds the carpet in place there was a million staples throughout the floor so i removed them all and what i've done is i've sanded out any water marks or any damaged area just try to clean the floor up as best as possible and then you're ready to vary thing is this this milky stuff yes uh the key to this you don't want to shake the can right you need to take a stick and stir it from the bottom and bring it up from the bottom if you shake the can it will leave air bubbles and then once you put it on the floor the bubbles will dry and it will be a disaster then you'll have to redo your floor all over again no you definitely don't want to do that i am so impressed it looks a million times better i think it makes the room look bigger and from a resale point of view hardwood floor so much better than carpet this looks beautiful and he's easy to clean now you come in and it's like a wow factor again yeah it looks elegant not 80s [Music] catherine's house is structurally sound and that is a crucial important potential buyer but the decal was distinctly uninspiring but now the changes we've made are beginning to have a big impact [Music] pretty amazing what a coat of paint can do i've taken a sprayer and sprayed this piece i had four or five pieces to do so that's why i use the sprayer and i like the finish that it gives you you can achieve the same look by using a brush and painting it out but it'll just take you a lot longer i rented the sprayer from a big box hardware store for ninety dollars always spray outdoors wearing a mask and goggles and use a tarp for the over spray you need to let it dry for about 24 hours but never under direct sunlight because it might bubble and peel i changed the handles to give the cabinet a more updated look i've transformed this old piece of furniture that they were gonna throw out into something sleek stylish and looks brand new refurbishing old furniture is a cost-effective way to modernize your decal which will give your house an edge in the marketplace this comparable house has done just that it's an older home but with an updated feel inside an uncluttered living room with neutral colours on the walls allows buyers to visualize their own things in the space the first step towards a sale hardwood floors are considered an upgrade and are a feature will it highlight in their listing and this flooring carries right through to the dining area creating a warm inviting flow that buyers will notice instantly the eating kitchen is the showstopper modern and obviously updated but as i've said before painting your cabinets in lighter tones and giving the kitchen a thorough clean can give off the same great impression as this one upstairs the contemporary master bedroom is painted a soothing light colour and the furniture blends into the space instead of standing out like a sore thumb buyers walking in can immediately picture themselves in this house which is exactly what it's all about when you're trying to sell catherine's house wasn't selling because it was looking tired and old but now with the changes we've made the house looks modern and elegant and i think potential buyers will really appreciate its classic feel catherine's 80s inspired living room was putting buyers off so we brought it decades forward with a little upgrade at minimal cost we've replaced her overstuffed furniture with a modern sofa and loveseat which has updated the look of the room and contemporary pieces make this space feel inviting new drapes create a feature out of the front window and the natural light coming through but most impressive are the hardwood floors hardwood is a hot selling feature these days and just by ripping up the carpet we've increased the value of the house immediately the dining room had few issues so he simply rearranged katherine's original pieces moving the armoire and adding accessories by taking off the old french doors we've opened up the space which gave the main floor much better flow something buyers will definitely notice the kitchen wasn't terrible but it needed to be refreshed so by painting the cupboards and walls we gave it a clean updated look [Music] kitchens are a key selling feature and can make or break a sale so you don't want buyers feeling like it needs a ton of work that boring upstairs hallway seemed to go on forever but by painting the walls and adding some artwork we've turned it into a bright welcoming space that nicely leads you onto the bedrooms the master bedroom's old furniture and purple walls were far from a peaceful haven so we've turned it into a space that feels as calm as it does neutral especially with catherine's refurbished bedroom set rearranging or removing some furniture can open up a space to reveal its true potential a quick fix that doesn't cost a thing with new contemporary drapery embedding this room confirms the overall sense that this house is move-in ready and at a total cost of 3 500 the transformation is bound to attract a slew of new buyers which is well worth the price if you have original hardwood floor hiding under ugly old carpet take the plunge and rip the carpet up because you could be left with beautiful wood floors that add considerable value to your home if you own outdated furniture but you're looking for a fresher modern look there's no need spending a fortune replacing the offending items spray painting furniture and adding contemporary hardware can work miracles if your house has been listed for an extended period of time potential buyers might begin to think there's something wrong with it and that's why it hasn't solved so consider taking it off the market giving it a bit of a facelift and then re-listing it and that should generate re-interest it's almost time for the open house and the changes we made to katherine's home have created a contemporary feel i think it looks fab but it doesn't matter what i think is what the potential buyers think well that's that the work is done and it's time for the open house hopefully our transformation will create renewed interest in this property and then catherine and ian the newlyweds can start their new life together under the one roof [Music] come on through it's beautiful i love the colors now have you seen this house before or not i did i saw it when there was snow on the ground it has been on the market a long time yeah was there carpeting before there was carpeting floor how do you know if i came through you came through it before it's great it looks very open and the floor makes you look much cleaner do you like the color palette yeah i don't think we would really be changing any colors because it seems to have very neutral colors you've really brought it into the 2000s with the furniture and the decor come on through the dining room so the first thing i noticed is that you've opened up this space because that used to be closed off and there was a big side dresser there and it seemed very cramped whereas it's much more open i love the mirror and now it's really bright and opened up it's like a different house glad you say that now i think you will notice a big difference in the kitchen oh wow what a difference this looks amazing yeah you can basically just move in now i love it when people say that it's a nice little eat-in kitchen here too yeah and the handles too yeah yeah the knobs are already there should i show you the master bedroom sure i hope you're going to be pleased with the master bedroom this is fabulous wow that's the old furniture wow repainted what a difference that looks absolutely beautiful so all in all what do you think of the transformation i think it's fabulous yeah i can't believe it's the same house is this the style of house that you can imagine starting married life in your first house yeah definitely so you maybe would think of coming back for second view yeah for sure we'll definitely be talking tonight i think it's a possibility and i think i'll bring my husband to come through fantastic i always like showing realtors around the house because you get a professional opinion so what do you think i think now the improvements that you've made it's much brighter and cleaner it's got a lot of features that people are looking for the hardwood you can see the hardwood floors now it's got chic paint colors all throughout the house and it really shows well i don't think it'll last long now it's on the market for 449 000 competitive i think it's very competitive it should go very quickly fantastic and hopefully you might have a few clients up your sleeves i'm gonna give them a call when i get out of here that's brilliant thank you so much well judging by some of the comments we have at the open house this home is showing as it should new paint refinished furniture and a beautifully restored hardwood floor has turned this house from a bit of an old maid into a blushing bride and from unsellable to sellable the house is amazing it looks so different i recognize some of my old pieces my furniture but it looks totally different it looks modern and contemporary i'm hoping that the perfect buyer will come in be very happy and the house will sell quickly and i'm really looking forward to being together full-time with ian so it feels good that the house has a fresh beginning just like i'm having a fresh beginning after all the hard work on catherine's house i am happy to say that the newlyweds can finally start their married life under one roof katherine accepted a solid offer for very close to asking pride from a buyer who fell in love with the property turning it from unsellable to soul selling your house isn't something you do every day so if things aren't going to plan it can be difficult to know what to do but if it's in your power to make improvements to your home then do it because in today's erratic market you won't get a second chance to make that first impression and you can't just take it for granted that your house is going to sell like that [Music] adam and christine are a young couple with two kits they live in this spacious three-bedroom back split that's on the market for 269 000 it's in a suburb about 45 minutes out of the city the couple want to move closer to their family so they put their house on the market but it's not selling and time is running out we've had our house on the market i would say it's probably been about four months i thought for sure it would have sold by now our style for our decor i guess would be ultra modern so i'm thinking that maybe it might be just decorated too modern for them and they can't see past that we want to sell the house now because uh because of the children getting closer to family right now we travel back and forth just to visit and it's like a three hour drive so it's really hard on the kids michaela she's already three and she will be starting school next year just kind of want to get it over with and start our next chapter in our life adam and christina's house is in a sought-after suburban community close to amenities and in one of canada's fastest growing cities the property has a huge backyard and all the toys for kids and adults and with a price tag of 269 000 someone should have snapped it up but that's why we're here to turn this house from unsellable to sellable hi hi how are you nice to meet you this is the living room it is very rock and roll looks a bit like the back room of a recording studio i like the open plan but you've still got some dividing walls which i think is nice the color choice is quite stark this is more our style and yeah not other people yeah i do love your sofa though oh thank you we love it too you've done a fantastic job here because it's clean and decluttered which is brilliant when you're trying to sell your house so through here's the kitchen yes it is first thing straight off the bat not enough prep space potential buyers most likely to be families and they'll need more prep space oh yeah for sure my second thought is it's all a bit haphazard yeah these are our cd cabinets we didn't have enough space so we took our cds out and threw in food cd for cereal yeah exactly genius i'm loving the fact it's clean it's tidy and it's decluttered but having a clean kitchen is one of the most important things when you're trying to sell it oh yeah for sure and it leads straight onto the dining room nice size dining room thanks the brightest drapes i have ever seen in my entire life it ties the red in you have matched all the colors yeah they're just not necessarily what you'd expect to see in a kind of suburban house only you guys could paint a banister rail black i painted that because uh it was quite brown before and it didn't go with the theme we have going on in the house now tell me about this because it looks a bit like a banister rail it was uh my cheap solution at the time i think we can do a bit better should we go to the master bedroom so this is our bedroom it's not a bad size you think people will be able to see past a black bed black chest drawers black mirror yeah but the fact is i think it really influences people's decisions on a house now i want to show you something outside okay [Music] you said you bought this house four years ago and it was really really 70s yeah well the outside's still pretty seven oh yeah for sure now curb appeal is always important but i think at the moment it's really important because the market is softening so we've got to use every weapon in our arsenal to really get this house sold i want to have a bit of a chat now and discuss some of the things we've mentioned in the house okay okay this house has been on the market for three months and i think it's because the interior is totally our odds with potential bars expectations it's bold but it's also incredibly stark we are in the suburbs and people are looking for a much more muted grown-up palace so it's time to read the riot act your house is so much going for it but i think the decor is so out of sync with what people are expecting that they get a bit of a shock when they first walk through the door neutral warm color tones are good okay because that just allows people to be able to see their own possessions in the house the kitchen is not a bad size but i'd say it's lacking in prep space and that's very important potential buyers especially in a family home spending a bit of money on the kitchen is definitely worthwhile moving on to the bedroom if we can just make the color choice slightly less bold okay the house is a bit dated on the outside a slightly modern fresher look is not going to do any harm and if it entices people in that's good you're definitely not the average suburban couple in this area and your house reflects that but just for the process of moving on and selling i think we should make it less urban and more suburban okay are you up for that i'm sure with your help we'll be able to get through this yeah absolutely and it will get your house sold christina and adam are an urban couple who live in the suburbs their house is on the market but having no luck selling so i'm going to meet their agent john to find out why now this house had 24 viewings and eight open houses why do you think people have not been making offers on this house in order to sell a house and to open it up to the masses you need neutral colors right because suburban buyers want to move into a house that already has the look they want so they don't have to spend money to do it themselves for the most part people they're putting all the money down that they've got to secure the house they don't have a lot of money to spend immediately after they move in and there's a lot of choices in today's market as well i think in a market like this where there is a lot of competition and a lot of similar houses in the neighborhood buyers have more choice so you've got to make sure your house is the best thing they see you're absolutely right you've got to be the best deal in town i always think price condition location so the price is right we'll get the condition right and the location is right location is excellent here so we're on to a winner john absolutely fantastic [Music] often when selling a house in the suburbs the competition is fierce because there's a lot of houses with similar footprints i'm going to go and show christina and adam a comparable house in the neighborhood so they know what it takes to keep up with the joneses here we have the kitchen now the interesting thing about this kitchen is it's not brand new but what is appealing about this kitchen to potential buyers is there's a lot of prep space a lot of storage space and an eaten area and we can't make your kitchen any bigger but what we can do is make the most of the usable space okay this is obviously not your style no no it's a lot more traditional than your house and i think this is a look that in this area it's slightly more suburban it's what a lot of people like with your home which very clearly has a different look to it it's boxed into a niche market and if you want to get it sold you can't have that you need traditional well we're willing to compromise a bit that's what i like to hear here we have a nice family orientated sitting room it's very warm and inviting you've got the taupes the oatmeal the beiges and more importantly it could not possibly offend anyone no it's very generic and that is what i'd like to see in your house okay a look that says more in keeping with the neighborhood well let's go and have a look down here this bedroom furniture is very traditional and it matches the tone in the rest of the house your bedroom doesn't quite feel like a master suite i mean if you were selling a downtown condo you'd be in great shape but we're in the suburbs so we're looking for a brighter more appealing master bedroom what are your thoughts on the house very neutral very generic now i know this house is appealing to potential buyers because it's sold for just under the asking price in 35 days wow now i know 35 days doesn't sound lightning quick but in this market now things have evened out a bit so houses are taking slightly longer time to sell so 35 days is actually pretty good once we've made changes to your house that should be a similar story for yourselves sounds good well let's get to it then to help us get to it quickly i've called in some help from general contractor anthony sayers [Music] adam i'd like you to meet anthony he is head of construction and he will walk you through the changes we're going to make in your house okay sounds good walking around the front of the house i notice the paint it looks a little tired yeah so we'll address that by giving the wood a light sand and then painting it out a nice neutral color that will freshen it up a little bit maybe add some patio furniture out in the front and just make it more inviting cover is incredibly important coming into the house okay the paint color we just need to soften the gray and make it a little bit more suburban friendly okay also um these pillars that are here we'll address it by just simply boxing with just some mdf just making it a square pillar because we think they look old fashioned so we want to give them a modern look to blend in with the rest of the house in the kitchen we'll take out these two big units and i will build some lower cabinets and upper cabinets along with the new countertop and some open shelves and just make it more of a permanent fixture in the kitchen we want to use up every available inch in this kitchen to make useful prep base and storage space we're not doing any real major jobs because you've done most of the work it's just making it look cosmetically more in keeping with the neighborhood which i think will appeal to potential buyers let's not stand around then we've got a lot of work to do okay [Music] i don't feel bad about the decor being removed only because we know that this is not the house that we're going to be staying in and it's to appeal to a wider you know range of people so we're just excited to move on to the next chapter of our life into a new home [Music] pillars can come in all different shapes and sizes this one is round i'm going to make it a simple square pillar what i've done is taken pieces of mdf and just ripped them to the size that i need i've also mitered the corners so that each piece will fit nice and snug together i will glue and nail the corners so that they don't open up over time prime it and paint it it'll be beautiful for 40 dollars you can't go wrong things are looking really good huge improvement on the house things are looking a little bit more suburban for sure just the colors and it's just a little bit more neutral and it kind of blends in more with the neighborhood it makes me feel confident that we're gonna sell [Music] wow look at this you have doubled the size of the kitchen pretty much yes i love all the countertop space nice i found these lower cabinets in the basement or saving four hundred dollars wow yeah this countertop i just got as well and then i'm gonna use these shelves and make up open shelving so there's gonna be one here and then there's gonna be a longer one at the top when it's finished i'll add the kick plate it's just a finished piece of wood that will close off the bottom and then i will put some nice decorative handles how much did this all cost you all together i would say 250 so for 250 you've doubled the size of the kitchen created a breakfast bar and storage yes it's amazing you obviously have your hands full so i'm going to leave it to it thanks the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house and buyers will be looking for space to prep and cook so whatever small projects you can do to enhance it will pay off in the end this comparable house nearby has been enhanced to match the neighborhood it's an older house that's been given a fresh paint job but the beautiful landscaping still makes it stand out inside the living room has that suburban feel that buyers in this area are looking for the layout showcases its functionality as a family living space with the decor blending the most neutral palettes of beiges and creams the dining room has that same traditional feel that's common in this neighborhood but with a modern touch that will appeal to a wide range of potential buyers it's uncluttered and simple look makes it easy for anyone to feel comfortable in this space the kitchen's fresh color tones and lack of clutter presents as a bright clean and spacious room updated appliances plenty of counter space and ample storage are all important features that will catch the eye of potential buyers a modern kitchen will increase your home selling potential and can put your house miles ahead of the pack in terms of market appeal the master bedroom has fresh but muted colors that show off the amount of space instead of shocking the eye with harsh tone and angling the chair and lamp creates a nook buyers love to see a bedroom with extra potential this house has all the elements the suburban family needs and more giving it a competitive edge in a market where properties need to stand out in the crowd because as i've said before the first impression is all you get when you're trying to sell christina and adam aren't your typical suburban couple and their house reflected their style we've upgraded the curb appeal and the kitchen and toned down the decoral and i think the house will now appeal to urbanites and suburbanites alike the exterior of this house was a throwback to the 70s and seriously lacked the curb appeal needed to draw by us in a little paint quickly brought it decades forward and coupled with inviting furniture to define the front patio this house is now ready to receive buyers inside the rock and roll living room was too bold as a first impression but without even changing the furniture it looks inviting now simply painting the walls a calmer shade and adding accessories like throw pillows a muted rug and new drapes we've reached our goal and made this room suburban family friendly the homemade pillars had a dated feel that didn't quite match with the rest of the house so we gave them a sleeker look that reflects the modern trends buyers will see when they're checking out the competition and we want this house to be able to compete the kitchen's makeshift cabinet storage was simply all wrong and left no room for counter space let alone a good impression but anthony's simple breakfast bar has transformed the room turning it into a family kitchen that has loads of space for prep storage and catching a quick meal if you don't have an eat-in kitchen a breakfast bar is the next best thing with just this small addition we've improved the use of the space considerably you don't need to do a major renovation to infuse your kitchen with elements that will help sell it and by simply using some clever tricks and a bit of imagination we've turned this kitchen into a selling feature of the house the dining room was quite stark and needed more wow to appeal to a wider range of buyers but we gave it a romantic feel so people can picture themselves entertaining the bright red drapes were replaced with panels that have that traditional look we know is appealing in this neighborhood and the new light fixture adds elegance leading upstairs the black railing was a bit of a fright so we painted it a friendly white to ensure the neutral decor flows right through to each level of the house the master bedroom was overrun with black furniture and accent pieces that buyers just couldn't see past so we gave it an adult face lift adding pops of color that make it look grown up and warm we switched up the black and white drapes for more sophisticated looking ones and added new bedding and accessories that will entice suburban buyers into imagining this bedroom as their own [Music] the decor of your house needs to match the neighborhood when you're trying to sell and at a total cost of 3 900 taking this house from uber urban to neutrally suburban will pay off buyers looking in this neighborhood will now feel right at home going over and above to target the right market just makes sense newer suburbs often don't have mature trees so by buying larger trees and shrubs instead of saplings you get a real leg up in the curb appeal department everyone likes a deal home buyers included so if you can leave window coverings and light fixtures do because a lot of exclusions just put potential buyers off in suburbs using your car is a necessity so when you're selling don't overlook the garage because it's effectively another room in the house make sure it's clutter free so you highlight the space and storage potential [Music] this house now fits into the neighborhood it's modern but it's not too edgy it's got great curb appeal and a kitchen with lots of prep space and plenty of style now we just have to see if buyers agree i think we've got one of the best houses on the block and it shows so let's get the open house started and see what the potential buyers think so we've got the sitting room here yeah it's a nice size nice bright colors i think that it's a major improvement from the last time we saw it it was very gray before and i noticed that you've changed the color makes it feel a bit more spacious so you have seen it before yeah and do you like the open plan look yeah absolutely the floors are nice too i've never seen floors actually this color i like the big windows really open it up well come on through to the kitchen it's nice very bright do you think there's enough prep space for you yeah i was just going to say not lots of counter space and i like that it actually has a breakfast burner too you got the shelves up there you can put you know dishes or china whatever you want but you know it just gives us more space i think with all the bright colors you make it look larger than it really is come on through the dining room this is nice and modern mm-hmm large enough yeah yeah you could do some entertaining in here i like the floating shelf yeah i like it i really like the window coverings they're quite nice for the size of the room you put the right furniture in and from a young couple it's adequate well should we go upstairs to the master bedroom yep brilliant so here is the master bedroom oh very nice i'm glad you like it i do i like the big window too and i like that it's low it's your color nice green yeah original parquet floor yeah which is very nice good condition i like this style this is the stuff i like but can't turn them up now should we go downstairs there's a few questions i want to ask you okay what do you like about the house definitely like the living room mm-hmm the diamond is a nice size and the curb appeal definitely has it it's a very nice lot now what about the style of the house it's styled for people our age yeah it is probably one of the most drawing things to us yeah we don't have to do anything so it's on the market for 269 thousand dollars do you think that's competitive with what you've seen seems to be better than what we've seen okay i think it's very competitive just because it shows really good yeah there's a lot of beat up hoses and those price ranges so would you consider maybe coming back for a second viewing oh definitely i think we will yeah no i could potentially see us here for sure fantastic yeah the biggest changes would have to be the colors it's a lot brighter now i can see how it's more inviting to it to an outsider looking in for the first time we should have done all this at the beginning yeah it looks a lot better the kitchen looks like it is supposed to be a kitchen now instead of you know cd cabinets mismatch i really feel the house is gonna sell this time yeah i don't think we're gonna have any problems no not at all taking christina and adam's house from urban to suburban not only makes it fit in with the neighborhood but has boosted interest levels in this charming family property bringing this couple one step closer to their friends and family and the excitement of a new life [Music] as a property expert and someone who's moved house many many times i know how stressful it can be selling your home if it's been on the market for a long time you've got to make those necessary changes to get it sold because the quicker you got it sold the quicker you can move on with the rest of your life [Music] buying a detached house has always been on christina's to-do list but now she's got more house than she needs and much bigger household bills than she wants it's listed at 364 500 hasn't received a single offer but that's why we're here to take the burden of christina's shoulders and to turn this house from unsellable to sellable good boy i live here with my dog named coda so it's a lot of house for one person it's a lot of upkeep even just cleaning cleaning's a big thing to do with a three level house after living here for a year i realized to own a detached home it is expensive so at this point in time i'm house poor it's been on the market for about three months and it's time to get out christina's house is described as a designer three-bedroom open-concept home with hardwood floors throughout and a gorgeous kitchen on paper a must-see let's go and see why it isn't [Music] hello hello hi how are you welcome to my home thank you so much you're having difficulty selling yes i am i need some help lovely big open plan room [Music] and i love the floors did you put them in yourself i did i put the hardwood floors in the entire house it's a good return on your money because hardwood floors sell basically now this giant chair is where the dining table should be i haven't made the investment to buy a dining room table so no dining room hmm interesting now this is the kitchen wow this is really really stylish it's also got everything the potential guys look for it's got granite storage this is a kind of kitchen that appeals to potential buyers now what is through here don't go in there wish i hadn't those mosquito nets for curtains no they're not but they would work for a mosquito net yes absolutely this place looks like it's held together with pins and a prayer what are you hiding up there there is a little piece of the ceiling i think so i just covered it up with fabric right should we go upstairs sure yeah brilliant this office can easily be converted to a third bedroom which is a plus for buyers nice size second bedroom i love the fact that the hardwood floor runs throughout the house that's brilliant how should we go through to the master bedroom [Music] really lovely master bedroom spacious nice color and that's what potential buyers are looking for now the inside of the house is pretty spot-on but there are a few things i want to discuss with you about the outside of the house okay so should we go and do that now yeah let's go can't wait curb appeal is so important when you're selling your house especially in this case where the house looks great on the inside you want to draw people in and if it's a mess on the outside they're going to assume it's the same for the interior so we want it to look really nice on the outside and to be honest i'm slightly underwhelmed i mean you've got an old rusty light some serious lawn cutting to do and uh a weed hedge at the front lovely big yard hmm not loving the outside of the sunroom the shingles are peeling off and old yes it means a little tlc definitely a little tlc but anyway let's go and have our little chat inside the interior of christina's home is immaculate but the exterior leaves a lot to be desired so if she wants to sell her house anytime soon she's gonna have to sort out the curl appeal too sweet first things first you have done such an incredible job on the inside of this house unfortunately when i walked up the front steps of the house i wasn't expecting to see anything like this and that i think is what a lot of people will think when they're driving past which unfortunately means they might just drive on we need the curb appeal to be really spot on it just needs to be brightened up it needs to have a bit of wow factor we want everyone to think that the outside of the house looks as great as the inside so the curb appeal at the front we want to address and also the sun room and the curb appeal at the back now the sun room looks like you're hiding a whole manner of problems up in the ceiling it is something we need to address because this house is structurally sound and we don't want people thinking otherwise from the state of the standard very good point i would never have thought of it that way now in this area two-thirds of the homeowners have kits it's a family orientated neighborhood now at the moment this room is fantastic but it does lack that family vibe so by adding a dining area here i think it will appeal much more to families and it will slightly change the vibe of the room so the changes we're going to make to this house inside and out will appeal to a broader range of people and ultimately get this house sold quickly sounds great let's get started yep let's get to it christina likes to do things a little differently at 30 she's already downsizing now the improvements she's made on her home are fantastic but it's not all about staging and styling you've got to know your market and this area is popular with families so unless christina's house becomes more family friendly selling is going to remain on her to-do list [Music] christina's house is ideally located close to schools parks transit links it should be an ideal family home but no one's made any offers and that is why i'm off to see cheryl phillips the roulette i'd like to know why she thinks this house is unsellable so how many open houses have you had we've had a buddy open houses wow you reduced the price the house started substantially higher and we have reduced it a couple of times i think we're at the right price now okay and this house does have three bedrooms three bedrooms large backyard so it should appeal to the family it should yes a first impression is a lasting impression and i think that people need the wow factor just walking up to the door you're absolutely right inside is so stylish and modern contemporary open plan beautiful and i wasn't expecting to see this sort of modern dream of a house i've got a bit of work to do but you're going to come back in a couple of days aren't you for the open house i am well it was lovely to meet you and i'll see you in a couple of days we'll see in a couple of days christina has done a really wonderful job decorating her home but there are some problem areas that she needs to address if she wants to get a sale now i'm going to go and show her a comparable house that's sold and quickly like christina's this house has an unusual exterior with a big front yard i know what you're thinking about the curb appeal it's slightly all over the place having said that it does have a sort of storybook charm to it and it kind of matches the exterior of the house anyway should we go inside first thing potential buyers think when they walk in this room if they've got family it's great you know a lot of storage space you've got the kids coats mittens there's space for a pram but more than that it feels like a permanent structure you know the ceiling's not held together with pins and a drape doesn't feel like i get blown away in a gust of wind it's a nice usable space anyway come on through to the sitting room nice clearly defined sitting area dining area no confusion to what this area is i think what helps in this case is a staircase going up the middle because that clearly defines the two rooms anyway come through the dining room the main problem with your house at the moment is instead of a dining room table you've got a big old leather chair now this space we have a large six-seater table so anyone coming in here is not going to think oh my god is there room for dining room table because there is one in here easy peasy let's put a dining room table in yeah cool now with this house it's easy for potential buyers especially buyers with families to imagine themselves living here there's a clearly defined sitting room a clearly defined dining room when you're selling your house you want to be able to appeal to the broadest range of people possible it's a very simple rule but one applies to every house you will ever sell now this house was obviously very appealing to potential buyers because it sold for a thousand bucks under asking price but in eight days eight days wow i wish we can make your house just as appealing to potential buyers it's 95 there it is 95 percent there it just needs the other five percent so should we get to it let's go come on to help us with that five percent i've called in general contractor anthony sayers christina anthony is head of construction great the peeling paint it's cracking it's peeling everywhere you're railing there's a lot of rust on it we need to just address the whole front and make it more attractive for people coming in we need this house to pop because that maybe will draw the eye down from the really barney top now i was giving christina a hard time about the sunroom we'll fix the ceiling as well as we'll paint it out a nice light modern color so it actually looks like it's an extension of your kitchen which is modern stylish and clean we want the sunroom to be more than stylish and clean as well sounds like a great idea the fact that you have shingles as cladding for the sunroom not some modern no so we'll fix that up and we're good to go but that's quite a lot so we better get to it okay excellent [Music] so did you find anything under all this stuff just the fact that there was no insulation in the ceiling wow yeah all there was was just the half sheet of plywood covering the ceiling it should have been insulated so i put insulation everywhere so now we can sit in the room in the winter time and not freeze today and not crease this right so is it difficult putting insulation in not really you just got to remember when you're doing insulation you don't want to stuff it too tight right you just got to keep it loose for airflow yeah right so you can track the warm air yeah then i put the quarter inch plywood on the ceiling and then i used this one by material to line the perimeter so now this is gonna be a clearly defined mudroom yeah i'm gonna put some more hooks on the walls so when the kids are coming from the yard they just shovel their stuff here then don't trail mud all through the kitchen exactly fantastic well i'll leave you to it okay thank you [Music] it's definitely changing for me because it's not really my style but i guess that's the whole point of it um taking my style out and being more of a generic style [Music] railing was in really bad shape it was really rusted and almost ready to be replaced i've taken a wire brush and scraped off any rust and any loose paint that was on the railing after i removed all the rust i took a special red oxidizing primer and just coated pretty much the whole railing it helps prevent more rust from forming and just eating through the meadow i've got this special roller that you can get at any local paint store it's designed for painting railings it's curved and you can get between all the grooves and it just kind of takes the shape of whatever you're painting and it'll just make your job a lot faster and easier i'm re-coating the whole railing using a black semi-gloss paint that will just make the whole railing look brand new again [Music] christina's house has a lot going for it on the inside but the outside used to look like a big old brown barn and i think a lot of potential drive-bys didn't get through the front door as a result but now with a little bit of pain and some landscaping it's looking a lot more charming and inviting mr spot [Music] [Music] so what are you going to do when you sell this place then downsize most people do not downsize at 30 but that's what i love about you you've just done it completely the wrong way around but we've got to get this place sold first yes i think having a dining area is going to make a big difference yeah i think so too this successfully sold property proves the point the exterior matches the interior and buyers will find no surprises but the good kind when they walk inside the open concept main level has just the right amount of furniture clearly defining the function of each area there's no guesswork for the buyers on how to use this space and correct placement of the couch and chairs creates a seating area that is perfect for entertaining the top of the line kitchen proves that christina got it right with the upgrades since granite countertop stainless steel appliances and a tile backsplash are all huge selling features if you can get buyers in the door and as you can see these homeowners have spent as much time on the outside as they did on the inside and it definitely shows [Music] christina's house should have been really popular with families but the ugly exterior and the lack of a dining room was leaving buyers unsatisfied but that is all changed christina's house will now make a great family home inside and out this house needed curb appeal to match the already beautiful interior so we brightened up the porch to draw in buyers the overgrown hedges have been scaled back greenery gives the porch an inviting feel and a new light fixture dresses it up while adding decorative function along with the new chairs we chose contemporary paint colors to freshen up the pillars the front window and most importantly the front door first impressions are key and the modern door will get people walking through [Music] if you have the luxury of a front porch don't ignore its potential to add value to your sale the curb appeal here promises buyers a continuous wow factor from outside to inside the living area was already in good shape but we needed some cozier space planning so we changed the layout to feel inviting instead of awkward new drapes are simple but add warmth and we dressed up christina's original pieces with accessories that are modern but not overdone neglecting a proper dining area left too much to buy his imaginations but the addition of a much needed table and chairs gave this space the function it was lacking track lighting was replaced by a proper dining room fixture and new drapery adds a touch of sophistication [Music] buyers need to see a room's purpose and a good-sized dining room is a huge selling point for families so showing it off properly will pay off in the end the fashionable kitchen was already a selling feature of this house but one great kitchen doesn't overshadow bigger real estate problems so presenting each room properly is key we restored the mud room to give the same updated feel as the rest of the house and the new insulated ceiling is now a bonus instead of a concern buyers can now see the benefits of having a proper mud room the new light fixture gives a smart look alongside functional accessories like hooks for hanging coats and storage for shoes and boots the run-down exterior was giving off the impression that this house needed work the worn shingles are gone and the newly painted exterior looks fresh and solid taking the times for repairs can quickly eliminate any fear of instability and can turn a problem area into an asset when selling the exterior and interior must satisfy the sensibilities of buyers in the neighborhood and at a total cost of dollars we gave this house a family friendly boost maximize the function and groom from the road to entice buyers through the front door marketing is key when you're selling your house so it's vital to pinpoint your target market now if you're selling a large home in an area close to schools parks amenities you better make sure it's family friendly a first impression is a lasting impression so do not underestimate the importance of curb appeal rusting railings peeling paint it screams unkempt and uncared for and that does not get you asking price offers don't just hide problems fix them hiding a hole in the plaster with a painting putting rugs over damaged carpets and other quick fixes will cost you in the end because buyers will wonder what other skeletons are you hiding in your closet overall the changes are fantastic inside of the house it's so luscious and full and more family feel and even on the outside it's much brighter it's more of a welcome look to come on in and see what's inside well it's almost time for the open house the changes we've made have created a family-friendly house with some serious curb appeal but we'll have to wait and see what the potential buyers think because the proof is in the pudding well our work here is done the open house is almost upon us and that's our first real chance to see what potential buyers think of christina's home fingers crossed hi i'm sophie hi sophie so what do you think about the outside of the house i think it's cute yeah it has a nice feel to it yes it looks very fresh and welcoming so should we go on inside oh this is beautiful so here's the sitting area oh wow oh i love the open plan do you like it it's beautiful yeah yeah i do now i think you'll find this is enough room to entertain in you can totally have a family and for entertaining too family functions you know the white is great usually people don't like that but i think it makes it look clean and big it's terrific come on through some mudroom oh really nice i love this room because it's got loads of storage a place where you can keep your wellington boots your coats i really love this yard and then yes your mudroom it's nice very modern yeah very nice great color colors yeah i think the mudroom now has finished off fantastically it really shows off the house in the end from the backyard very nicely now is this what you look for in a house i think so nice and open great for entertaining great for family gatherings i love that you don't have to do anything it's perfect living condition now it's on the market for 364 500 does that sound fair to you from what we looked at yes for the area for sure well i'm glad you liked it it was a pleasure to meet you nice to meet you as well nice to meet you as well well the open house went swimmingly christina has put a lot of love and care into her house but now with the changes we've made i think it's going to be snapped up really soon the house is definitely a different style now it's more of a cozy warm feeling now i am sad i definitely am going to miss this house it looks fantastic so future i'm just looking forward to the future giving christina's house the curb appeal to match the beautiful interior is just what it needed to attract family buyers in this neighborhood christina can now tackle the next item on her life's to-do list after accepting an offer for just under the asking price turning this unsellable house to seoul [Music] you

Channel: Property & Reno

Views: 308,725

Keywords: House to Home, attractive home exteriors, attractive property layouts, contemporary house styling, decluttering tips, home improvement projects, house selling challenges, house selling tips, inviting interior spaces, marketable home features, profitable property sales, property makeover, property transformation, real estate market insights, renovation budgeting tips, retro home decor, selling strategies, selling your house, stylish home furnishings, vintage interior design

Id: zfTg12dtLtE

Length: 63min 22sec (3802 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 23 2022