Finally, Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas of HGTV’s “Bargain Block” have turned their attention to reviving their own run-down hovel of a home.

Bynum and Thomas, you see, never bothered to fix up the Detroit-area home that they purchased over two years ago. We saw many scenes with them discussing plans for beautiful houses they intended to renovate for others, all while seated within the discomfort of their own home, with unfinished walls, broken cardboard boxes, and debris in the background.

In their Season 3 episode “The Boys’ House,” they finally get down to their own business.

“We have been living in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house with a janky enclosed porch for two years now. It is time for an upgrade,” says Bynum. “It’s been a great starter home for us, but we’re ready to make it better.”

It’s about time!

They give themselves a budget of $100,000, and they’ll do as much of the renovation themselves as they can. As they finally work their magic on their own home, they pass along some excellent advice that might apply to your own dwelling. Check out what we learned.

Don’t ignore a freaky foundation

“We have to find something to do with this porch thing that’s falling off our house,” says Thomas one morning as he and Bynum are making pancakes.

“Yeah, it’s an insurance liability at this point,” says Bynum.

“So when we bought this house, we knew that the back had an addition that was done improperly,” Bynum continues. “Essentially, somebody closed in a porch. The foundation wasn’t meant to be a house. It was built to be a porch, and the structure wasn’t even good enough for a porch.”

The guys know they have no time to lose. If that porch falls off, it could rip off the back of their house with it. The house could be condemned, and someone could get hurt. Who knows why they waited so long?

If you’re going to expand, EXPAND

They decide that instead of just ripping off the porch, they will nearly double the size of the house—adding several rooms, expanding others, and making it into their dream house.

Since they have to redo the janky porch foundation anyway, they’ll add over 20 feet to the back of the house and more living space above that.

“It’ll make the house more livable: 1,800 square feet is a more livable house,” says Bynum.

Add a bathroom whenever possible

Bynum and Thomas decide to add not one bath, but two, and one of those is on the first floor. A first-floor bathroom is a no-brainer.

Their real estate agent bestie and business partner, Shea Hicks-Whitfield, gets excited when she hears about the addition of the two baths. She knows this will really increase the value of the home when they decide to sell, even though they say they might never want to move.

Add character with local materials

Bynum and Thomas decide to use Detroit’s classic Pewabic Pottery for their fireplace tile.

“Pewabic is really historic in the city of Detroit,” says Bynum. “All the most iconic buildings have a little touch of it here and there. They’re known for their handmade tile and their incredible glazes.”

“It’s a splurge,” Bynum adds, “but we really want to make a tile moment around our fireplace.”

Distinctive local materials can’t help but add to the emotional value of a home, which is priceless. We might not all have historic tile works nearby, but wood, brick, and stone sourced from your own area might be easier and less expensive to acquire and would add invaluable character.

Paint fast!

As Thomas hand-paints the trim on the remodeled kitchen, Bynum encourages him to paint faster. You can see that the brush strokes are drying into grooves, and who doesn’t prefer a smooth surface?

“You should be painting at twice the speed at which you’re currently painting,” says Bynum.

“I am painting as fast as my brush will move,” says Thomas. But somehow he finds a way to speed up, so his work comes out smooth as satin.

Was the effort worth it?

The house is certainly more livable when their remodel is finished. In fact, it’s so livable, Whitfield-Hicks thinks they could make a huge profit selling it to someone else.

“I know you’re planted, you’re not going anywhere, but you have added a tremendous amount of value. I would say that the value has increased by at least $150,000,” she says.

If they ever decide to sell it (which they say they won’t), they could all make a tidy profit. For now, it’s another stellar addition to the “Bargain Block” portfolio.

The post At Long Last, the Stars of ‘Bargain Block’ Fix Up Their Own Dump of a House appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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