HGTV's “Fix My Flip” returns for Season 2, starring Paige Turner as she helps home flippers make a profit, which is harder than ever in today's high-interest rate market.
In the “Beachside Rescue” episode, Turner meets a seasoned home flipping couple, contractor Juan and his daughter Allison, who have flipped six properties together but have yet to make more than $50,000 in profits on each one — a low profit margin in the Southern California market.
They know they need to make changes to their business but aren’t sure whether they should cut their renovation budget in hopes of cutting costs or invest in more upscale renovations in hopes of attracting buyers willing to pay a higher price.
“We're at an impasse as to whether we should continue to make quality investments in these resales or get in, get out and move on,” Allison told Turner.
The HGTV star agreed to help Juan and Alison with their latest project: a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Huntington Beach, California, that the couple bought for $865,000 and planned to spend $55,000 to renovate. But Turner insists they need to spend more on the house if they want to make more money.
Read on to find out if Turner can help the duo take their property flipping to the next level, and to get ideas for improvements that can help any home increase its value and sell faster, even in today's market.
1. Paint your trim to make it stand out
Before: From the outside, the house looks old and tired.
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When Turner first approached the home, she noticed some obvious problems: Though Allison and Juan had recently painted the house a clean white, the garage door still needed replacing and the unkempt front yard needed tending.
She invested in new landscaping to make the house look attractive, replaced the old garage door with an elegant dark-colored one, and even invested in a bit of paint to complete the exterior renovation.
“The trim was painted a nice dark charcoal color to give it that modern pop that we sorely needed,” she explains.
After: Dark trim really makes this home stand out.
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Alison and Juan probably replaced the garage and redecorated the lawn, but it was Turner's idea to paint the trim that gives this home depth. Sometimes, just a little effort and a few more coats of paint can make a big difference.
2. Open layouts are still what buyers want
Before: Alison wanted to keep this wall because of the wood paneling.
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Inside the home, the living room is divided by a wood-paneled wall, and although Allison loves the look of wood and wants to keep it, Turner knows that a buyer wouldn't be happy with the layout as is.
“Maybe someone added this wall in the '80s or '90s when small spaces were in fashion,” she explains, “but now it's all about having light, open space, and great flow.”
Because the wall isn't load-bearing, it was easy to remove. Once removed, Turner was pleased to see how the living room felt lighter and more airy. The wood paneling was lovely, but it was a small price to pay for the open living space.
AFTER: Removing the wall makes the living and dining rooms feel larger.
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Once the renovations were complete, Turner invited Alison and Juan's real estate agent, Megan, to show them around the property.
“It's exactly what buyers in this market are looking for,” Megan says of the open floor plan.
This is an important lesson for real estate agents who aren't sure if removing a wall is worth it, but it's also a great example for homeowners who want to improve their space: When the wall is gone, light floods the living room and kitchen, making the whole house feel larger.
3. Add some color to your kitchen
Paige Turner knew this kitchen needed a colorful kitchen island.
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The real estate agent had recently finished renovating the kitchen and thought their work there was done, but Turner is insisting on making changes: She wants to move cabinets, put in new backsplash tile, and add a new island.
The Flippers seem unhappy with all the changes, but eventually agree to get the new island, but trouble arises again when Turner is not happy with the grey color.
“Gray is the new beige,” the HGTV star groans.
Instead, Turner wants to paint the feature piece a light blue to add a pop of color to the kitchen. Then she'll paint the front door the same shade to match the new backsplash tile. Using the same color will help connect the spaces and create a unified look throughout the home.
“It was all planned and deliberate,” Turner said.
4. Lay bathroom tiles to the ceiling
Previously: Alison and Juan stopped tiling under the windows.
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Allison and Juan have already made progress on the guest bathroom, but once again Turner is not happy with their work: the shower tiles stop below the showerhead, and Turner wants the tiles to extend all the way to the ceiling.
“Imagine what would happen if you had a leak in here,” she says, pointing to the showerhead, “and the water would go right into the drywall. Then that's a whole other problem.”
AFTER: By installing the shower tile all the way to the top, the bathroom feels even more luxurious.
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At first, Allison insisted she didn't want to spend any more time or money on the bathroom, but Turner was adamant.
“It would only cost a few hundred dollars to install tile all the way to the ceiling, so I really don't see why this would be an issue,” Turner explains.
The tile extension only cost $320, but it really made a difference. Megan was impressed when she walked into the room.
“It's a small space, but it feels so much bigger. The tile really makes it feel bigger,” she says.
5. Replace your windows with French doors
This master bedroom door leads directly to the backyard.
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While Turner has made many improvements to the home, often changing or undoing things Juan and Allison have done, there's at least one renovation the father-daughter team pulled off successfully: replacing the master bedroom window with French doors.
The new door is a great addition, providing easy access to the backyard as well as bringing in lots of natural light and a nice breeze.
So, will this reversal ever be corrected?
Alison and Juan purchased the home for $865,000 and ultimately spent $75,000 on renovations. With Turner's help, they completed the renovation in just two weeks. Ten days after it was on the market, the home received an offer of $1.1 million, which the couple accepted.
So after paying Turner their $15,000 fee, Allison and Juan will have a profit of $145,000 – their biggest profit yet and proof that sometimes it pays to get a second opinion from a professional like Turner.