House Hunters Renovation

After traveling the world for the past few years, Jenny has moved back to Southern California to be near family and she's ready to set down roots and buy a home in the area. With the help of her mom Lowry, she's searching for a Spanish home with architectural style and eclectic details to remind her of her travels. Finding her all that plus an updated kitchen, two bathrooms, and a pool close to family will be a challenge for her agent Lindsay Milkovich. But once she finds a place she'll need to put her stamp on it , and with the help of designer Caitlin Murray and contractors Chris Mc Craw and Robert Cortez, she'll face everything from electrical issues to rising costs to the cabinets arriving in the wrong color. It will be a struggle to the very end, but it will be worth all the pain when Jenny winds up with a stunning home that's just her style.

Chicago newlyweds Lindsay and Tyler are searching for a home in the city where they can start a family together. But while she wants a Victorian with vintage charm and an open floor plan, he'd rather have a bungalow with more separated rooms. Finding a place that suits them both that's also close to transportation and in their budget will be no easy task for agent Todd Szwajkowski. But eventually they'll find a place they think has great potential, though it may turn out to be a potential for disaster. They'll face plumbing issues, structural issues, and budget issues, all before they even finish demo. As problem after problem piles up, designer Susan Klimala and contractor Allyson Case will try to drag this project toward the finish line. And in the end, even being wildly over budget won't stop them from loving their completely transformed new home.

Craig, Monique and their young daughter Sadie are ready to get out of their cramped condo and into a single-family home with more space and a yard. Monique loves the charm and cozy feel of a Spanish-style home, but at 6'7", Craig would prefer a modern place with high ceilings so he won't feel boxed in. Even with their $1.3 million budget, their agent Amanda Chapman will struggle to find everything on both their wishlists in the competitive Culver City, CA market. Once they finally find the right house, the struggles continue as they take on major renovations including overhauling their kitchen and creating an atrium in the middle of their home. But with help from designer Breeze Giannasio and contractor Avi Ezra, they'll wind their way through plumbing problems, building code issues, and mid-reno design plan changes to emerge on the other side with a revitalized home that their whole family not only fits into, but loves.

After dating for two years, Austin, Texas couple Jamie and Emilee are ready to take the next step in their relationship and buy their first home together. She's looking for a small midcentury modern house with a chef's kitchen where she can show off her culinary education. But he's looking for a larger Craftsman style home with a separate laundry area, since he's very particular about clean clothes. Finding all that plus a big backyard in the city's popular Central Austin area will be a challenge for their agent Rachelle Anselmi. And the challenges will keep on coming once they start renovations and learn that they may have to entirely rethink their plans. With help from designer Sarah Stacey and contractor Cesar Fuentes, these first-timers will learn the renovation ropes. And if the structural issues, budget overages, and frustrations of learning to cope don't overwhelm them, they'll wind up with a transformed home where they can start their future together.

Craig and Lital are expecting their first child and need to find a home fast. After selling their condo quicker than expected, they're living with her parents and are ready to have a house of their own in California's San Fernando Valley. He wants a traditional ranch, but she's hoping for a more contemporary place. And while they both want a spacious kitchen and a large yard, she absolutely refuses to have tandem parking. Hunting down the perfect house won't be easy for their agent Tanya Williams, but she'll find them a place they can make their own. And with the help of designer Kurt Langenhahn and contractor Ken Hicks, they'll dive into an overhaul of everything from the kitchen to the backyard. Budget concerns and design indecision will push them ever closer to their baby's rapidly-approaching arrival, making it all the more rewarding when they finally complete a beautiful new home to share with their bundle of joy.

Heather and Jesse are searching for a Long Beach, CA, house where they can start a family. She wants a cozy Spanish-style place with separate rooms, but he wants a Craftsman bungalow with an open floor plan. And while she would love to see gold fixtures in every room, he prefers a more contemporary look. Their agent Shelley Rocha will have a tough time finding a place with an updated kitchen, a large master suite, and a spacious yard with their first time buyers' budget. So once they get the keys, they'll have to customize their new home with a massive renovation. Designer Kimberly Winthrop and contractor Tom Bittner will guide them through a major remodel of their master suite as they face everything from wiring issues to layout concerns. With help from family, Jesse and Heather also take on a dangerous kitchen remodel that may leave them permanently scarred. But if they can survive this project, they'll get to enjoy many years of health and happiness in a beautifully transformed home that's worth all the pain.

Kay and Todd are expecting their second child, which means they've run out of space in their current Chicago condo. Todd would like a brick home with traditional style, but Kay wants a more updated transitional Chicago frame house. And while he wants separate entertaining areas on different levels, she wants eveything together in one open floor plan. It will be a tall order for their agent Nicholas Apostal, but he's up to the challenge, hunting down a home that has a lot of what they want and allows them to add what they don't. With the help of designer Erica Lugbill and contractor Damian Szulga they'll overhaul the layout on every floor, reorganizing the bedroom and bath layout as well as transforming the kitchen. Plumbing issues, unexpected expenses, and the general chaos of living through a renovation will threaten to keep them from finishing before the baby arrives. But in the end, the stress will pay off with an almost unrecognizable makeover that is beyond their wildest dreams.

Kim and Troy love the beachfront atmosphere of their Marina Del Rey, CA rental, but they're ready to get into a home of their own. With prices in their current neighborhood out of reach, they've been searching for almost a year to find a house that fits their budget, but still has the scenic views of nature that they enjoy. It can be a Craftsman style home for her or a midcentury for him, but it needs to have an open concept kitchen, lots of light, and preferably have both a fireplace and a pool. Their agent Ellen Philips will somehow manage to hunt down a place that makes them both happy, but they'll face some major work and major problems as they try to make it their own. From structural issues to floods to fire dangers, they'll tackle it all with the help of their designer Kelly Schandel and contractor Bo Siton. And in the end, their new home will be worth the wait as they find themselves enjoying a stunning view both inside and out.

Two expecting parents are faced with some surprises as they rush to finish a massive renovation of their new California home before their baby arrives.

A comic and his wife want to find a property full of character and history, but they both have a different type of house in mind.

Mortgage broker John and his wife Audrey, a real esate agent, have been raising their three young kids, Tyler, Callie, and Courtney, in Austin, Texas. But with the kids getting older, they are now on the hunt for a larger home, one with lots of space inside and even more land on the outside. Audrey wants an farmhouse in a bright feminine palette, but John has his heart set on a Texas style ranch with a grand fireplace and lots of rustic wood. But once they find a place they both adore, their problems are far from over as they realize their big ideas for remodeling might be far outside the reach of their modest budget. With patience, compromise, and help from their designer Heather Harkovich and contractor Brian Moore, the struggle will all be worth it, and John and Audrey will finally settle in to a beautiful new family home.

Chicago residents Michael and Leslie are fitness trainers that recently tied the knot. Now they're looking forward to taking another big step and buying a first home together. They're targeting homes in the heart of Chicago with their $650,000 budget. Leslie is dead set on a townhome with a brick exterior and lots of character. For interior style she leans toward transitional elements with soft feminine touches, but that may push Michael out of his manly bachelor pad comfort zone. Michael is hoping to find a modern, sleek condo in a swanky high-rise, with a doorman and tons of amenities.

Erin and Aemon have recently moved from New York City to Austin, TX to work in the area's growing tech sector, and to raise their young son near family. After renting for a few months, they're now ready to find a home. While Erin loves the cozy charm of a bungalow, Aemon prefers the clean lines in midcentury modern homes. Erin would also like to do less reno and move in quickly, while Aemon is happy to wait and put more work into a house to get exactly what they want.

Lawyers Chris and Ashley are newlyweds who are eager to buy their first home. For the last few years they've been living apart while Chris finished up law school, and are now currenlty living with Ashley's parents until they find a place of their own. They're targeting three bedroom homes in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, but that's about the only thing they both agree on. Chris is stating his case for a Craftsman house with a modern interior, while Ashley is arguing for a ranch with a cozy cottage style on the inside.

Texas transplants, Casandra and Gerald moved to California ten years ago and have been renting ever since. After having two sons, they're finally ready to make their move more permanent and are looking to purchase their first home. She wants a cottage style home like the ones back in Texas but he wants something more modern. And while she has her heart set on a pool and rustic finishes inside the home, he insists that everything is new; including the plumbing. Their agent Cynthia Imani will have her hands full finding something they can both agree on. So when they get the keys, they'll need to renovate their new house to make it exactly what they want.

Jen and Nick live in a crowded condo in Chicago with their two young children. Desperately needing more space, but facing high home prices in the city, they've secured a mortgage-renovation loan where the costs of renovation are added into the mortgage. So they're looking for a "hot mess" fixer. Helping them find a good bargain is real estate agent Annie Bauer. Because the homes they're looking at haven't been touched in decades, it won't be easy to see past all the flaws and zero in on what has the right potential.

Fashion blogger Jenny and her boyfriend Michael are ready to take their relationship to the next level. Currently living in two separate rentals, they're eager to purchase a home in Los Angeles and move in together. He's looking for a Spanish-style home but she'd prefer a Colonial like the ones she saw in American movies while growing up in Shanghai. And while he loves traditional old world details, she likes newer contemporary styles and insists on finding a home with a spa-like bathroom and an oversized, walk-in closet.

Tim and Angela live in a small condo near the ocean in Redondo Beach, CA. They love outdoor activities like hiking and scuba diving but they don't have enough space to store their gear. They've decided it's time to look for a single-family home. They want to stay near the beach area and Tim is hoping to find something contemporary while Angela would prefer a home with Spanish touches. With sky-high housing prices in their target area, they know they'll need a fixer no matter what.

Chicago couple Cathryn and Jeff feel cramped in their small loft so they're searching for a home in the suburbs. He wants a Spanish-style home and she prefers a midcentury modern but they both would like a big yard for their two dogs to run around. After finding the right home, they must tackle an entire house's worth of work, including gutting the kitchen and updating the master bathroom. When they run into a Chicago cold snap and find a budget-busting structural issue, can they push through to finish their major renovation?

Exhausted from their three hour daily commute from the desert to the city, Bryan and Kristine are searching for a new home with their four children somewhere near Burbank, CA. With a budget of $725,000, their dollar will definitely not stretch as far in Burbank as it does in the desert. They know they will have to buy something that needs some updating but just how much work are they willing to put in and how small will they be willing to go?

Ready for their new life together, newly engaged couple Jordan and Emily have decided to leave their hip downtown city loft in favor for a more suburban Los Angeles home and they want it done before their upcoming wedding. But with a modest budget in an expensive market, they know they will have to do some renovations and with houses selling quickly they will have to act fast. Eager to do get his hands dirty and with reno help from his older brothers, Jordan trusts that he can put his stamp on home that needs some TLC while Emily is a bit more hesitant in tackling big projects. And while she wants a space with great vintage character, he is prone to much more contemporary ideas and clean lines.

Newlyweds Alan and Lucy recently relocated from Minnesota to Chicago. They enjoy all the restaurants and activities that the big city has to offer but they aren't as thrilled about living in a small 280-square-foot apartment. They'd like to buy a spacious three-bedroom home in the suburbs of Chicago. Alan has his heart set on a Victorian-style home with rustic charm on the interior. Lucy would prefer a Cape Cod house that has an updated traditional vibe. While they may not agree on style, they both want the home to have a big yard, a nice entrance for guests to place their shoes and a spacious kitchen to cook and entertain. Lucy would also like one room in the house to be a designated tearoom since her family loves tea.

John, Sarah and their three young children recently relocated to Southern California and are eager to buy a home in Thousand Oaks. Working with an $860,000 budget, they hope to find something with a large backyard and an updated master bathroom. Sarah would like a ranch home with a contemporary farmhouse style, while John would prefer a Spanish-style home with clean lines and a modern vibe. They also have deal-breakers, like John's hatred of round design elements and Sarah not wanting a drain in the middle of the shower floor. They finally find a home and start renovations but pricey issues keep popping up that hurt both their timeline and their budget. Will the stress and headaches be worth it in the end?

Computer engineers Cory and Caitlin are young, quirky and a perfect fit in the 'keep it weird' city of Austin, TX. Ready to take the plunge and buy their first home together, they disagree on what they want. Caitlin has her heart set on a midcentury with a cottage interior while Cory has visions of a real Texas ranch with limestone and lots of land. When they find the happy medium between their two styles, renovations prove much harder than expected for this tech-savvy duo.

Natalie and Matt love living in Redondo Beach, CA, but want more space so they can start growing their family. Natalie is a food blogger so she needs a larger kitchen with more counter space and natural light for photographs. While she loves the rustic farmhouse look, Matt prefers something more masculine and industrial for their home. Once they find a house they can agree on, they set about opening up the kitchen and redoing the bathrooms. In the end, they hope to have the perfect home for their future family that features a blend of their personal styles.

Real estate agent Daniel, his wife Julia and their young son Leonardo want to be closer to family so he's searching the listings for homes in Burbank, CA. Daniel would like to find a ranch on a cul-de-sac while Julia prefers a traditional home with a picket fence. Daniel finds homes that are more his taste than hers, so Julia recruits both of his brothers, who are also real estate agents, to help tip the scale in her direction. When they get the keys to their new home, Daniel and Julia take on projects throughout the house including a massive kitchen remodel and they realize they'll have to make some compromises to get their dream home.

Chad and Kelsie are eager to buy their first home together in Austin, TX, and are looking for a three-bedroom home under $250,000. Since Chad is a part-time fitness trainer, he'd like a designated area to work out but also a place for a chicken coop. Kelsie is more focused on finding a colorful, funky home with room to practice yoga and an outdoor gardening space. Once they find a house and start remodeling, the couple soon finds out that renovation's not everything it's cracked up to be. Will Chad and Kelsie finish their reno and find themselves in a home that has them clucking with joy?

Cassie and Oliver are tired of living in LA rental properties with their three dogs so they're looking for a spacious house with a big yard in the San Fernando Valley. Oliver, a former chef, wants a ranch-style home with a huge kitchen while Cassie, a former swimmer, dreams of a pool and a cottage-style home. After they find their perfect place, Cassie and Oliver find themselves in over their heads and knee-deep in construction problems. They sort out how to handle over-sized appliances and a new layout to create a design they can both agree on.

Tired of living in apartments and with two little boys in tow, Lucho and Annie are ready to buy their first real home for their family. They are looking for a toddler-friendly place with a big yard, large kitchen and enough space to grow for years to come, so they've decided to focus their search in the trendy area of Eagle Rock, CA. After finding a place to call their own within their budget, Lucho and Annie have one unexpected cost after another and quickly discover that even the smallest of homes can come with some hefty renovation price tags. With the help of interior designer Stephanie Leese and contractor Cristian Cruz, they maximize their small place with big design ideas, creating a stunning interior and a paradise of a backyard.

Now that Lars and Katherine have a young son, they'd like to trade their cramped Los Angeles rental for a more spacious family home. They'd like a three-bedroom house with a big kitchen and backyard but they both know that in the pricey Los Angeles market they'll have to be ready to put in some sweat equity. Once they find the right home, major renovations begin in the kitchen and the bedrooms but a costly wall removal bid stops them in their renovation tracks. While they face rising costs and unexpected issues along the way, in the end Lars and Katherine wind up with a stunning new home that is everything they wanted and more.

Instead of taking their honeymoon, Austin, TX, newlyweds Diana and Sean are searching for a new home. They're confident they can find a good value quickly, if only they could see eye-to-eye on their wants and needs. To find the right home, Sean is taking the lead and acting as the couple's agent and once they find a place they can both agree on, Diana steps in and acts as the contractor to take on the challenge of a complete redo. Along the way, the budget keeps rising as problems come up, not to mention extras in their kitchen and master bath. In the end, they wind up with a home that truly feels like the perfect start for their lives together.

After a large natural gas leak forced them out of their rental house, Brigg, his wife Endyia and their two sons are searching for a home in California they can settle into for years to come. Music producer Brigg wants to find a home with enough room for a music studio and Endyia insists on an open-concept kitchen with a large island for entertaining. When they finally get the keys, they need to renovate their new house to make it exactly what they want, taking on massive projects in their kitchen, master suite and guest bathroom. Determined to get everything she wants, Endyia rolls up her sleeves to help out while contractor Al provides a rockin' musical backdrop with his guitar.

Chelsea and Aaron no longer feel as though their rental townhouse's features or location are appropriate for raising their daughter Scarlett and are looking for a new home that can combine her love of contemporary farmhouses with his taste in rustic charm. Their agent Andrew is helping them find a home that suits their needs and fits within their low budget. Once settling on a home, they hire a designer and contractor to help with some of its shortcomings but will the renovations result in a home that makes them feel like they're truly living the dream?

A newly engaged couple is on the hunt for their first home together near their families in the Austin, TX, area. Their real estate agent gets to work helping them find and renovate a place that fits both of their conflicting tastes, while their designer and contractor step in to help solve structural and budgetary issues. Despite the flaws and setbacks, they're hoping to begin their new lives in a warm, welcoming new home.

A family is quickly outgrowing their apartment and complicate their first-time home buying experience by renovating their new kitchen. They hope the renovation results in a home interior that fits both his eclectic taste and her desire for simple style, so they're enlisting the help of a local real estate agent, a designer and a contractor to help them. Will their time, money and effort be worth it in the end?

An Austin, TX, family is looking to start over after losing their home during the recession. Their real estate agent helps them track down a home that fits their many needs and renovations begin immediately. With the help of their agent, a designer, a contractor and even the talents of their own relatives, this family is able to overcome several setbacks and put together a beautiful home they can call their own.