Real-Estate Mystery

The Designed to Sell team helps spruce up a house that's been stubborn to sell.

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Filed under: Home Staging, Master Bedrooms, Living Rooms, Home Selling

Animal lover Deborah Orlik wants to move to be closer to the college where she teaches and to spend more time with her daughter, rather than commuting all the time. Her house has been on the market for six months, but she hasn't had a single offer. That's where the Designed to Sell team comes into the picture. They have $2,000 to get this house ready for market.

Real estate expert Donna Freeman begins her assessment with the exterior. She immediately notices the pine needles on the roof and wonders if they are there to cover up a problem area. She thinks that buyers may ask that same question or even think that the house is unkempt, based on that alone. First impressions are key, she says, and they always start outside, so things should look neat and clean.

Moving inside, she finds that the house in general is in good shape except for lingering animal odors, awkward furniture placement and an Asian theme. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the home and often can't get past an already established theme.

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