Three More Really is a Crowd

Melissa and Zach Cook need to find a larger home before their triplets are born. They already have a 2-year-old son, so space is tight as it is. They want to make maximum profits from the sale, so they enlist the help of the Designed to Sell team to help make that happen.

Real estate expert Shannon Freeman pinpoints some areas that need special attention, starting with the front of the house. Its unfinished look is not welcoming to potential buyers.

Once inside, Donnais pleasantly surprised by the foyer, but the first room she enters appears to have no distinct purpose (though she is told it is a playroom). It has ceiling damage, and the great bay window gets missed because the room is so cluttered with toys. There is also a bar area that is being underutilized. That could be a strong selling point, she says.

Another room that is ambiguous is the office/guest room, which currently serves as a dumping ground for clothes and other items that don't yet have a home. The door won't even open without a hearty shove because the things inside are packed right against it.

Donna wants this room to have a specific designation. Since Zach has been planning to install closet doors in there anyway, it is decided that this room will become a nursery.

The master bedroom just needs some basic polishing, decluttering and rearranging, while the master bath needs a major overhaul. There is also an extra sink/vanity area in a hallway connecting the bedroom and bathroom that is not being used wisely.

Designer Lisa LaPorta agrees with Donna's assessment and lays out a plan to turn this house into a moneymaker:

Step 1: Dress it up. Turn confused spaces into functional and inviting rooms that will appeal to buyers.

Step 2: Clear it out. Scale down the overcrowded rooms to play up the home's square footage.

Step 3: Scrub it down. Clean up the dingy and grime to make it sparkle for the open house.

Lisa doles out projects to her usual crew of contractor Jim Collins and carpenters Brad Haviland and Nick Ralbovsky, who are anxious to get the work done in time for the open house. Let's see how they did: