Designed to Sell: Smart Ideas That Pay Off!

Even if you're not planning to sell your house, this is a great book for basic design principles and clever, cost-effective design ideas. If you like the show, you'll love the book!

This inspirational collection of success stories who spent 2K in home improvements to realize 50K in profits from their investments promotes home redos which transform rooms, encouraging high and quick sales prices by introducing contemporary, clean new appearances to drab old homes. These aren't huge makeovers, but are often inexpensive and easy projects to dress up floors, windows, and walls. From cosmetic changes which pay off to inexpensive extras buyers fall for, the dos and don'ts come from both homeowners and real estate pros and reflect the best investments you can make. And if its title sounds familiar, that's because DESIGNED TO SELL: SMART IDEAS THAT PAY OFF! Comes from a hit TV show of the same name and approach. Diane C. Donovan, Editor California Bookwatch

I'm a big fan of the Designed to Sell TV series hosted by the ever witty Clive Pearse and the enthusiastic Lisa La Porta, a duo who managed to make home improvement a fun and entertaining TV watch. The book of the show makes a great companion to the series. It's layout is clear and concise with great photography. Based around some of the best projects from the series it is full of useful tips and hints, not only on home design but also on everything from choosing a real estate agent to conquering clutter. It also contains more detail than the series of how much extra money the homeowners made as a result of their outlay. Spending $2000 to update and improve your home and getting offers of $26,000 above the asking price as a result certainly shows the power of 'speculate to accumulate' ! The book got me motivated to really take a good hard look at my home and to make the effort invest some time and money before putting it on the market.

I've been a fan of this show for awhile even though I like some of the homes better than others. Still, for quick results and homes that look great on a rock bottom budget, this one can't be beat. It takes a certain skill to see your home with fresh eyes, know what to toss or store and what to keep, what paint to use to update your tired or dingy walls and how to style your home for the greatest effect. This book shows you how. I couldn't believe how some of the "ugly duckling" rooms could actually look stylish. Clive Pearse, LIsa LaPorta, Donna Freeman and Shannon Freeman (who all worked on this book) have talent! Features include: 1. Plenty of full-color photos, including close-ups of key elements. Nice graphics, easy to read, very user friendly. 2. An eye on the budget. There are cost breakdowns for any improvements or materials such as paint, window treatments and accessories. 3. An awareness of what sellers want. They KNOW you don't want to sink any more money into your home than you have to before you sell it and move on to your next home. They know you DO want to sell it for the best price possible. And if you can spend between $500 and $2000 and end up with $50,000 or more profit than comparable homes on the market....why not go for it? 4. Ideas for showcasing shelves, bookcases and architectural features. 5. Tips on lighting, creating drama, directing the eye to prime features (fireplaces, built-ins, chandeliers). Great bang for your buck!

This book takes rooms right from the TV show. I enjoy the show and used their "tips" to sell a townhouse about 3 months ago. It was terrific. The reason for getting the book? Because I wanted some decorating tips and this book supplied that as well. Easy reading and handy reference guide.