Designed to Sell
Encyclopedia
Designed to Sell is an HGTV
American
reality television show hosted by Clive Pearse
, Shane Tallant, Michael Johnson, and Rachel Reenstra
, and produced by Pie Town Productions (Los Angeles and Chicago) and Edelman Productions (Washington, DC and Atlanta). Each 30-minute episode focuses on the fixing up and renovation of a home that is about to go on the market. The show began airing in 2004
.
The show provides expert advice, redesign advice, professional carpenter
s and a $
2,000 budget into fixing up the home in order to get a maximum offer when it goes on the market. To add excitement to the show, the renovations generally take place over a period of three to seven days sometime before the home's open house
, by which time all the changes have to be complete. However, these work days aren't generally consecutive, but instead are spread out over the course of three or four weeks. The show's $2,000 budget does not include the carpenter's fees, which the show pays. All changes are cosmetic, but some require drastic demolition and reconstruction, though all changes must stay under the budget.
At the beginning of each show, the homeowners are introduced and explain why they are selling. Common reasons include needing more room for a growing family and wanting to shorten commutes. The homeowners then may discuss some cosmetic defects they recognize their home has.
Then the host gives a professional real estate agent a walkthrough of the property while the homeowners watch on closed-circuit television
from a neighbor's home. The real estate agent is asked to be very direct in their opinion of the home and often their assessments can be brutal and demeaning.
After the appraisal, the redesign expert reviews the main defects the real estate agent pointed out and their solution to their criticisms. Then the homeowners, the host, the redesign expert and carpenters go to work fixing up the house, using the designer's plan as a guide. This often includes some demolition and building and/or installation of new features, such as shelves, awnings, etc. While the episode's budget pays for any materials used, it does not include any carpentry labor costs.
Often, as the date for the open house nears, they may run into unanticipated problems and may have to work around them or work longer in order to meet the deadline.
After all the changes are complete, the designer reviews the changes with the homeowners and the viewers are shown "before" and "after" views of the improved areas. This is often accompanied by host voiceover.
Afterwards, the host discusses how the $2,000 budget was spent, such as for paint, construction materials, accents, etc. The show normally comes in within $10 of the $2,000 limit.
The homeowners and designer leave before the open house commences. The host stays and asks prospective buyers their opinions of the home, which are almost universally gushing. The host often also asks if the visitors are considering making an offer.
After the open house, the host tells the homeowners the general opinions of the open house viewers and any offers they've already received. The show ends describing how quickly the house was sold. Often the house sells above the asking price. While the asking price is never revealed, the host or homeowners usually disclose how much above the asking price the house sold for.
, Washington, D.C.
, Chicago, Illinois
, and Atlanta, Georgia
. Each location has its own specific host, designer, carpenters, and real estate experts.
The first three seasons of the show took place solely in Los Angeles. Later more locations were added. Four metro areas were featured regularly, the Los Angeles team still being the marquee crew, with HGTV regularly running short segments called "Lisa La Pointers" and "Clive Unleashed" during commercial breaks. Clive and Lisa are also featured in most ads and promos for the show. Even though the Washington D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta episodes have their own hosts who talk to the homeowners and help in the transformation of the home, Clive Pearse narrates many of the non-L.A. episodes from off-location. When Clive was unavailable for hosting in L.A., Michael Johnson or Shane Tallant was the guest host.
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reality television show hosted by Clive Pearse
Clive Pearse
Clive Pearse is a British-American television host. He is currently one of the hosts of the HGTV home design oriented show Designed to Sell. Pearse, originally from the United Kingdom, became an American citizen in 2002.-External links:*...
, Shane Tallant, Michael Johnson, and Rachel Reenstra
Rachel Reenstra
Rachel Reenstra is an American comedian and actress. A graduate of Hope College, she has played minor roles in various television shows and movies. She was the hostess of the Animal Planet reality television series Ms...
, and produced by Pie Town Productions (Los Angeles and Chicago) and Edelman Productions (Washington, DC and Atlanta). Each 30-minute episode focuses on the fixing up and renovation of a home that is about to go on the market. The show began airing in 2004
2004 in television
The year 2004 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2004.For the American TV schedule, see: 2004–05 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
.
The show provides expert advice, redesign advice, professional carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
s and a $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2,000 budget into fixing up the home in order to get a maximum offer when it goes on the market. To add excitement to the show, the renovations generally take place over a period of three to seven days sometime before the home's open house
Open House
Open House may refer to:*Open house , a common school event held in the United States and Canada*Open House , a 1960 album by jazz organist Jimmy Smith*Open House , a 2004 independent film...
, by which time all the changes have to be complete. However, these work days aren't generally consecutive, but instead are spread out over the course of three or four weeks. The show's $2,000 budget does not include the carpenter's fees, which the show pays. All changes are cosmetic, but some require drastic demolition and reconstruction, though all changes must stay under the budget.
Description
Each show follows the same general format:- Homeowner introduction
- Recognized problems
- Professional real estate agent appraisal
- Redesign plan
- Demolition, if any
- Construction, painting, etc.
- Review of changes
- Budget breakdown
- Open house
- Result
At the beginning of each show, the homeowners are introduced and explain why they are selling. Common reasons include needing more room for a growing family and wanting to shorten commutes. The homeowners then may discuss some cosmetic defects they recognize their home has.
Then the host gives a professional real estate agent a walkthrough of the property while the homeowners watch on closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television
Closed-circuit television is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors....
from a neighbor's home. The real estate agent is asked to be very direct in their opinion of the home and often their assessments can be brutal and demeaning.
After the appraisal, the redesign expert reviews the main defects the real estate agent pointed out and their solution to their criticisms. Then the homeowners, the host, the redesign expert and carpenters go to work fixing up the house, using the designer's plan as a guide. This often includes some demolition and building and/or installation of new features, such as shelves, awnings, etc. While the episode's budget pays for any materials used, it does not include any carpentry labor costs.
Often, as the date for the open house nears, they may run into unanticipated problems and may have to work around them or work longer in order to meet the deadline.
After all the changes are complete, the designer reviews the changes with the homeowners and the viewers are shown "before" and "after" views of the improved areas. This is often accompanied by host voiceover.
Afterwards, the host discusses how the $2,000 budget was spent, such as for paint, construction materials, accents, etc. The show normally comes in within $10 of the $2,000 limit.
The homeowners and designer leave before the open house commences. The host stays and asks prospective buyers their opinions of the home, which are almost universally gushing. The host often also asks if the visitors are considering making an offer.
After the open house, the host tells the homeowners the general opinions of the open house viewers and any offers they've already received. The show ends describing how quickly the house was sold. Often the house sells above the asking price. While the asking price is never revealed, the host or homeowners usually disclose how much above the asking price the house sold for.
Locations
Designed to Sell features homes in four real estate markets (and nearby suburbs): Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Each location has its own specific host, designer, carpenters, and real estate experts.
The first three seasons of the show took place solely in Los Angeles. Later more locations were added. Four metro areas were featured regularly, the Los Angeles team still being the marquee crew, with HGTV regularly running short segments called "Lisa La Pointers" and "Clive Unleashed" during commercial breaks. Clive and Lisa are also featured in most ads and promos for the show. Even though the Washington D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta episodes have their own hosts who talk to the homeowners and help in the transformation of the home, Clive Pearse narrates many of the non-L.A. episodes from off-location. When Clive was unavailable for hosting in L.A., Michael Johnson or Shane Tallant was the guest host.
Los Angeles
- Host: Clive PearseClive PearseClive Pearse is a British-American television host. He is currently one of the hosts of the HGTV home design oriented show Designed to Sell. Pearse, originally from the United Kingdom, became an American citizen in 2002.-External links:*...
- Designer: Lisa LaPortaLisa LaPortaLisa LaPorta is an interior designer in Los Angeles who has appeared on several HGTV reality programs including Designed to Sell, Designers' Challenge, and Designing for the Sexes.-Education:...
- Carpenters: Jim Collins (2004-2005), Brad Haviland (2004-2005), Marcus Hunt (2008), Jason Eslinger, Steve Hanneman, Brooks Utley, Sean Anthony Moran, Deus Xavier Scott and Greg PlittGreg PlittGreg Plitt is an American fitness model and actor.-Modeling career:Greg Plitt has modeled for Under Armour, Old Navy Jeans, Calvin Klein, Modell's and Skimpies, among others, and has done covers and/or editorials for Maxim, AXL, American Health & Fitness, Flaunt, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness,...
- Real Estate Experts: Donna Freeman and Shannon Freeman
Chicago
- Host: Michael Johnson
- Designer: Monica PedersenMonica PedersenMonica Pedersen is a designer on the show "Designed to Sell". She is the host of HGTV's 2009 Dream Home tour television special.-External links:*...
- Carpenters: Robert North, Chad Lopez and Lynn Kegan
- Real Estate Experts: Kathy Quaid, Brandie Malay and Bethany Souza
- Producers: Sarah Patton, Jennifer Bernardi
- Production Assistants: Becky Mc Cullum, Melony Pot, Leslie Weiner, Robert Dressel and Jerry Goodwin
Washington D.C.
- Host: Shane Tallant
- Designer: Taniya Nayak
- Carpenters: John Allen (thru 2007), Matt Steele (thru 2007), Barr Huefner, Lynn Kegan, Simon Ley
- Real Estate Experts: Shirley Mattam-Male and Terry Haas
Atlanta
- Host: Rachel ReenstraRachel ReenstraRachel Reenstra is an American comedian and actress. A graduate of Hope College, she has played minor roles in various television shows and movies. She was the hostess of the Animal Planet reality television series Ms...
(thru 2010), Chi-Lan Lieu - Designer: John GiddingJohn GiddingJohn Gidding is an American architect, television actor and former fashion model.-Biography:Gidding was born in Istanbul, Turkey to an American father and a Turkish mother. He lived in Turkey until moving to the United States for college after attending Leysin American School in Leysin, Switzerland...
- Carpenters: David Wint and Chip Wade (now with Gidding on Curb Appeal: The Block)Curb AppealCurb Appeal is a half-hour TV series that has aired on HGTV in the United States from 2002 to the present, exploring how a house's outside "curb appeal" will be updated. Various hosts over the years , talk the viewer through the planned improvements...
- Real Estate Experts: Heyward Young and Tonya M. Williams