Moving Closer to Family

Looking to Move
New parents Jamie and Joe McDonald have a special new reason to move close to family, but selling their house could be a challenge. Good thing the Designed to Sell team of experts loves a good challenge!

The first team member on the scene is real estate expert Donna Freeman, who provides a candid assessment of the house. Overall, she says it is a great contemporary house, but is full of unfinished projects that deduct a lot from the sale price. She also thinks the homeowners need to show off the adorable curved brick path.

Designer Lisa LaPorta enters next and lays out a plan to whip this house into top selling shape. She intends to focus the team's efforts on the living room, kitchen and patio.

Step 1: Lighten the cave. Brighten dark areas that block out the home's true value.

Step 2: Tame the untidy. Cleanup cluttered and messy areas so they aren't hidden from house hunters.

Step 3: Escape the '80s. Update older features that aren't cool to 21st-century buyers.

On hand to help put LaPorta's plan into action are contractor Jim Collins and carpenter Brad Haviland.