Chris and I got the nod from the church to revive a property in serious need of TLC—thanks, Larry and Carl! It had potential, but “move-in ready” it was not. Think peeling paint like a bad sunburn, dry-rotted windows, missing siding, and floors bearing the scars of a German Shepherd frat house. Oh, and the kicker? A shared sewer line requiring an easement. Because nothing spices up a project like sewer negotiations.

With a lean $15K budget, we tackled much of the interior work ourselves. The house was wrapped in plastic to handle potential lead paint, then got a fresh coat inside and out. Our crew repaired siding, refinished floors, replaced doors, rehabbed window sills, and skim-coated the basement. New lights? Check. Minor electrical fixes? Done. Yard cleanup? Good bye blackberries. Bonus: my kid worked for burgers and fries.

The kitchen needed a full remodel, but with budget constraints, we opted for a quick glow-up—painted vinyl floors (yes, it works! but only with the right kind of paint). After two deep cleans and some budget-friendly staging, the house was ready for its close-up.

The final hurdle? That new sewer line which we had to pay the neighbors money to grant us an easement. Once on the market, the home went for multiple offers and sold above asking. Cue happy clients!

P.S. This was a BIG transformation for the budget we were given and we couldn’t be prouder. Huge shoutout to our painting crew—they worked magic!

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