‘Unsellable Houses’ Reveals a $200 Upgrade So Glam, It’s Bound To Catch On

‘Unsellable Houses’ Reveals a $200 Upgrade So Glam, It’s Bound To Catch On

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On “Unsellable Houses,” twin sisters Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb work on homes that don’t sell the moment they hit the market. With the low inventory of homes for sale across the country, this is an uncommon situation. Sometimes it has to do with the competition—like shiny, new construction going up that makes existing homes in the area look shabby by comparison.

In the Season 3 episode “Old Friends, New Upgrades,” Lamb and Davis meet with an old middle school friend, Sonja. She and her husband, Nate, have been trying to sell their Bothell, WA, home for $600,000 without much luck. Right away, the HGTV hosts know that Sonja and Nate’s dated three-bedroom simply can’t compete with the new builds in the area.

“One of the big things we look at in Bothell is all the new construction popping up,” Davis says. “How can we get your home to compare with that new construction?”

Read on to find out how Lamb and Davis give this old house a whole new look, with plenty of ideas that might inspire some freshening up around your own abode, too.

The right exterior paint color is money well-spent

Davis and Lamb have made a career out of investing in homes to sell, but their business will be successful only if they make smart, cost-effective upgrades that have a good return on invest.

So Davis is uncertain when Lamb wants to paint the home’s exterior. The current peach color is fine, and Davis knows that’s $3,500 they don’t need to spend. However, she eventually gives in and they paint the house a soft gray-blue.

When the paint is finished, Davis admits that the new color was a great investment.

“The whole curb appeal now is so inviting,” Davis tells Lamb. “You did a phenomenal job picking these colors. It’s probably some of the best money spent on this house.”

Make a statement with colorful cabinets

Lamb wants to help this house stand out by adding new, dark blue cabinets to the kitchen. When Davis first hears of the plan, she’s not happy.

“That’s a bold move. I don’t know that I could move into a house with a blue cabinet,” she says.

Still, Lamb sticks with the color, saying that a bold design will help this house compete with those beautiful new builds nearby.

“In this house, we need to give the buyer something different,” Lamb says.

To make sure the kitchen isn’t too busy, Lamb selects large white subway tiles for a neutral backsplash at a modest price of $700. And in the end, the cabinets make a bold impression without going overboard.

Add storage to impress buyers

When Lamb and Davis start work on this home, they’re unimpressed with the closed-off kitchen and the tiny pantry. They come up with an idea to install built-ins on the far wall, and while this comes at an extra cost, the sisters know the added storage will impress buyers.

“We have to compete with new construction,” Davis says. “New construction is not going to have a tiny pantry.”

The new built-ins are blue, to match the new kitchen cabinets, and they help this kitchen and dining space feel connected and cohesive.

To top off this buffet area and add some extra personality, the sisters add a herringbone-patterned butcher block counter, which Davis knows buyers will love.

“This custom feature will give us an edge over those standard new-construction homes in the area,” says Davis.

Spend a little extra on tile to glam up a bathroom

Lamb and Davis know that buyers will be expecting a beautiful kitchen, but what about a luxurious bathroom? When it comes to the main bathroom, Lamb has a great idea for adding some glamour for not too much money.

“This is our main bathroom, and I feel like we need to do as much in here as we can to make it extra,” Lamb says when showing her sister and their contractor, Jeff Lawrence, the space. “So we tile all the way up the back wall, and I actually already picked up the tile for it.”

Lamb shows off a simple gray subway tile in a herringbone pattern, pointing out that it will tie in with the new herringbone butcher block counter in the kitchen.

Lawrence says the addition will cost between $200 and $500, and surprisingly, budget-conscious Davis is fine with the upgrade.

“This I can get behind,” she says. “It definitely makes our house stand out, and it’s a cost-effective way to give us that extra.”

Find ways to make each room special

When Davis and Lamb are just about done with this home, they ask Lawrence to make one more thing: a built-in headboard for the main bedroom.

“It’s called built-in furniture, and it adds value,” Davis tells Lawrence. “Every new construction around here is $800,000 or more, OK? We have to give them value in every single room.”

Lawrence’s wood headboard looks simple and earthy, making the room feel cozy—the perfect vibe for falling asleep.

Are they finally able to sell this unsellable house?

Sonja and Nate had originally listed this 1,378-square-foot home for $600,000, hoping to start a bidding war. However, their home didn’t sell.

Lamb and Davis invest $80,000 in the renovation and list the home for $775,000. It’s clear buyers are impressed with the home, because Sonja and Nate get four offers, accepting one for $830,000.

After Lamb and Davis recoup their investment, the sisters and the homeowners split the profit, with each side walking away with $75,000.

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