Scrambling for a Snappy Sale

The Karim family — which includes two daughters who are getting close to school age — is trying to make a quick sale of their home, but hey have run into a few obstacles along the way. Help is one the way in the form of the Designed to Sell team of experts and their $2,000 budget. Will it be enough to turn this house around and help the Karims move from urban to suburban?

Real estate expert Shannon Freeman is first on the scene to provide her assessment of the house. She is immediately disappointed by the exterior, or lack thereof, noting that the "curb appeal needs to be pumped up just to stay in the game." Once inside the house, her opinion stays about the same. She says there are awkward layout issues that create wasted space as well as a general cluttered appearance.

Designer Lisa LaPorta weighs in next, agreeing with Freeman and then laying out a plan to improve this home before it goes to market. She wants to focus on the entryway, kitchen and living area, and here's how she plans to make the changes happen:

Step 1: Map it out. Resize and design rooms to create a floor plan that flows.

Step 2: Define the space. Give each room a purpose so buyers know that they are paying for.

Step 3: Join the big leagues. Move the decor from the minus to the majors to pull in winning offers.

Joining the team lineup are carpenters Steve Hanneman and Brooks Utley. See the results of everyone's hard work below.