Chip Wade - Expert Craftsman

January 5th, 2009

New color, inexpensive materials and a few design tricks all add up to a well-staged home.

Too Much House
Pete Canalichio is ready to sell his spacious suburban Atlanta home to move closer to the city and his girlfriend. The four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath home is just too much for one person. Unfortunately, it might be a tough sale. The home is stuck in the 80s and it lacks the charm and updates needed in today’s competitive housing market.

Host Rachel Reenstra meets real estate expert Tonya Williams to take a tour of the home. Standing in the driveway, Williams says she loves the home’s traditional Cape-Cod style and big front porch. Inside, Williams refuses to call the master bathroom a master bathroom because it is cramped and outdated. Williams finds the guest bedroom monotonous and dull, but not without potential. The backyard is a great space with mature trees and privacy. However, Williams thinks it needs a focal point, new sod and a lot of raking.

Designer John Gidding has a $2,000 design plan that will spruce up this house for a top-dollar sale.

Step 1: Tear down wall that separates the two areas of the master bathroom then update the amenities.

Step 2: Jazz up the guest bedroom with new paint, a built-in desk and a grand headboard.

Step 3: Clean the backyard then create a focal point, add some greenery and build new pathways.

Contractor David Wint and carpenter Chip Wade know the plan and are ready to get to work

To see a full description of this transformation, visit the episode description on HGTV.