Family Ties Beckon

Homeowner Laura Woods put her home on the market hoping for a quick sale, but it's nearly a year later and it still hasn't sold. She is desperate for some expert advice, so she turns to the Designed to Sell team, who signs on to help turn this hard-to-sell home into a real estate moneymaker.

Real estate expert Donna Freeman says it's no surprise the home has not sold. Without any style or staging, the good features are lost. For example, there is a great dining room with high ceilings that's not being played up properly. "Flaunt it if you've got it," she says. It's more of the same in the master bedroom and bathroom, where the space is a good size, but the furnishings and colors are drab and outdated.

Designer Lisa LaPorta is on the scene next. She is on board with Freeman's assessment and lays out a plan to improve this place and get it sold. She wants to concentrate her efforts on the living and dining rooms and the master bedroom, including the master bath. Here's her plan:

Step 1: Make it memorable. Add drama to the living room and dining rooms by turning the bland fireplace into a fabulous focal point and adding color and texture.

Step 2: Less stuff=more space. Eliminate extra furniture in the master bedroom to create a better flow.

Step 3: Dress it up! An old bathroom will send a potential buyer screaming. It's OK to use expensive materials in because you don't need a lot of it.

Carpenters Steve Hanneman and Brooks Utley are ready to get to work and help speed up the selling process.