Sweat Equity Episodes
Ugly House Update
Jesse Johnson & Amy Marolt have remodeled the entire inside of their house, but the outside is so hideous they have yet to invite anyone over to show it off. They've got a $12,000 budget to give their house much-needed curb appeal but they'll have to stretch those dollars as they plan to upgrade or repair every inch of the property including the yard, driveway and exterior siding. Sweat Equity Boost: $50,000.
Houseboat Renovation
Small spaces can be challenging and when that small space also floats, it adds a whole new set of obstacles. Houseboat owner Dawn Brodey would like to modernize the interior of the 70s watercraft and up the functionality of her year-round home. She has a budget of $8,000 to create a better layout, add multipurpose furniture with hidden storage and insulate to prevent the pipes from freezing in the winter. Sweat Equity Boost: $20,000
Front Porch Addition
Neal Perbix & Sarah Elhardt bought a house that needs fixed up both inside and out. They've addressed much of the interior space and now would like to add an open porch to the flat front of their home. They only have $10,000 for the addition, so they are hoping they can tackle much of the work on their own. Sweat Equity Boost: $15,000
Bed & Breakfast Conversion
Rob & Noel Cesena got a steal on a former bed and breakfast that had extensive damage due to two years of abandonment. The plan is to turn it back into a single family home. They have a budget of $175,000 to make the 4,000 square foot 19th century home grand once again. Sweat Equity Boost: $350,000
Missing Mudroom
When Josh and Jessica Lund bought their new home in the exurbs, they thought it seemed picture perfect. However, now that they've lived there a couple years they've discovered its one major flaw. The home features roomy and attractive living spaces, but the cramped laundry room and back entry closet don't offer the storage that most people would expect in a new home. They have a budget of $8,000 to create a large mudroom with cubbies, lockers, lots of counter space for the laundry area and even an apron front sink. Sweat Equity Boost: $20,000
Front Yard Patio
When New Jersey residents Jonathan and Jordana Comito were transplanted to the Midwest they bought a two-story home in the suburbs. The house has nice updates, but the main problem areas are the front and back yards. The old landscape walls that are built out of railroad ties have seen better days, the driveway needs replacing and the backyard looks like an abandoned lot. They want to put their $15,000 budget into the front yard since everyone plays in the cul-de-sac and. The Comito's plan to create a user-friendly area by installing a paver patio complete with a sitting wall, adding a water feature and simplifying the landscaping. They think by doing the work themselves they can stretch their budget and are confident that they'll get quality results that will give them a big return. Sweat Equity Boost: $50,000
Townhouse Updates
Steve & Amy Williams have a townhouse that looks like all the others in the neighborhood - bland. They'd like to upgrade some of the features and make their home stand out to buyers since they plan to move in the next year. With a budget of just $5,000, they'll have to do all the work themselves and try to figure out the best improvements to draw buyers' attention.
50's Bath Redo x2
The only thing worse than having one outdated pink bathroom is having two outdated pink bathrooms. Bachelor Rob Rieckenberg has updated much of his 50's rambler but the maze of pink bathrooms is next on the hit list. Rob is handy, but with the average bathroom remodel running $16,000 and a budget of just $10,000 for two bathrooms, he's definitely got his work cut out for him.
Messy to Modern Backyard
Dan Spengler & Amy Fox have a modern home in an ideal location but their backyard is less than ideal. Their first joint home improvement project is to bring the backyard in line with the standards of perfection set on the inside. With just $14,000 to make it happen, can they keep their expensive tastes from ruining any chance to build equity?
Monster Garage
Jack Sutton & Emily Burton have two big projects on their wish list - an updated lower level and a new garage. But the garage has to come first since they need to create more storage space for the stuff that's in the basement. Their current garage is in shambles so the whole thing is coming down and in its place will be a more spacious structure with a second story dedicated to storage.
Backyard Party Place
When Heather Brown's parents decided to say good-bye to their hot tub, she and her husband Tim inherited it. However, that little windfall has snowballed into a backyard renovation that's bound to cost the Browns a whole lot of money. The plan includes a two-tier cedar deck built around the hot tub with an adjoining circular patio and firepit. Tim has experience deck building, which is another plus. However, designing around a hot tub could put a kink in the numbers and that could mean disaster for any equity building plans.
Kitchen
Amber Hoang and Bihn Tran were renting in the neighborhood when a 1980s two-story home caught their eye. The price finally dropped and they snapped it up. The house was unkempt and in need of some major care. They started outside by removing the dilapidated swimming pool and creating a beautiful landscape. Then, they moved into the lower level, refinishing it with a sleek contemporary style. Now, they're ready to do something to the kitchen. They've already bought new appliances and have a nice wood floor, but the 1980s style cabinets and traditional rail separating the eating area and family room have to go. They'll reconfigure the bad cabinet layout and bring in contemporary style.
Low Maintenance High Style
When Christine Matthews bought her first house, she knew she'd be relying on her family for help. Since big sister Amy is a licensed contractor, dad is Mr. Home Improvement and mom is a master gardener, they can handle it all. Christine will need the help because the 1920s bungalow needs a new bathroom, a finished basement and a landscape makeover. Christine wants to start in the backyard that currently is nothing but overgrown grass and weeds. The yard slopes toward the garage and that needs addressing. Dozing and leveling the yard and adding drainage are essential. The key is keep the yard low maintenance because Christine is young, single and doesn't want to be tied to yard work, but still wants it to look great.
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