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ENLARGE
The old adage that a contractor’s home is never finished could have been Ross and Sarah McMahan's mantra.
However, when Incline Village Realtor Lexi Cerretti offered to put their home on HGTV’s national television show, “My House is Worth What?,” the Incline couple put their remodel into high gear.
“That was one of the main reasons we agreed to do the show. It was going very slow,” said Sarah. “This really helped us to have a deadline.”
Ross is a contractor and owns McMahan Homes, so the couple was doing their own remodel, which included putting in an addition above their garage and remodeling the kitchen and living room.
Once they agreed in March to be on the show with Cerretti, the McMahans had a month to finish the remodel before filming began in April.
“We got more done in that one month than in a year piddling around,” Sarah said.
The episode, called “The Lessons of Real Estate,” will be aired Tuesday at 11 p.m. on HGTV.
It will also have future airings, which viewers can find on either Cerretti’s Web site, www.BuyTahoeHomes.com, or on www.hgtv.com, episode HHWW-1006.
Cerretti is a Realtor with Chase International in Incline Village, an occupation she began a year and a half ago after being Chase’s office administrator for four years.
The McMahans and Cerretti got a taste of Hollywood, when filming the episode.
“A lot goes into filming,” Cerretti said. “I had to have all the data in mind as I put on my TV personality; exaggerating gestures and really hitting home the pluses and minuses of each home.”
The television camera crew required three takes for each scene, Cerretti said.
“It was actually great. The crew was so nice to work with and they were really accommodating,” Sarah said, adding that they would arrange filming around her twin 2-year-old boys’ nap.
HGTV found Cerretti through her Web site, and she had to present remodeling facts for the producer in a demo tape before she was chosen. Her husband, Antu Cerretti, is a general contractor so she had experience with remodels and how they add value to a home.
“I did a lot of research before I was accepted onto the show. They really wanted hard numbers, they didn’t just want fluff,” Cerretti said.
According to Pie Town Productions segment producer Holly Schwartz, each episode involves plenty of research and scouting.
“We are looking for real estate experts who have a strong presence and knowledge of their market,” Schwartz said. “They should be confident judging homes and letting homeowners know the expected return on investment. On top of that they have to have good communication skills and lots of energy.”
In the McMahan’s case, their remodel added a lot of value without as much expense because Ross is a contractor and they were able to save on labor.
She said that there are a lot of remodels in Incline Village, and with the slow economy Realtors are seeing more potential buyers looking for homes to remodel. Home buyers are looking for homes that need remodeling but could cost less in some of Incline’s preferred neighborhoods, such as Lakeview and Mill Creek.
However, those looking to remodel need to consider the year the home was built. Homes built in the early 1980s and 1990s have 2 x 4 construction, instead of the 2 x 6 construction required in later homes, she said.
Those later homes also have modern electrical and plumbing infrastructure, making them a better choice to remodel while earlier homes could be better torn down and rebuilt, Cerretti said.
When you remodel, homeowners want to add value to the home, which was the point of the “My House is Worth What?” show.
The McMahans purchased their home for $425,000 in 2002 and added $110,000 worth of upgrades. They guess their home was worth $800,000, although they have no plans to sell.
“We never plan on moving again. We love our house, our lot, our neighborhood and we love Tahoe,” Sarah said.
So what is their house worth now, after the remodel?
Tune in Tuesday to “My House is Worth What?”
However, when Incline Village Realtor Lexi Cerretti offered to put their home on HGTV’s national television show, “My House is Worth What?,” the Incline couple put their remodel into high gear.
“That was one of the main reasons we agreed to do the show. It was going very slow,” said Sarah. “This really helped us to have a deadline.”
Ross is a contractor and owns McMahan Homes, so the couple was doing their own remodel, which included putting in an addition above their garage and remodeling the kitchen and living room.
Once they agreed in March to be on the show with Cerretti, the McMahans had a month to finish the remodel before filming began in April.
“We got more done in that one month than in a year piddling around,” Sarah said.
The episode, called “The Lessons of Real Estate,” will be aired Tuesday at 11 p.m. on HGTV.
It will also have future airings, which viewers can find on either Cerretti’s Web site, www.BuyTahoeHomes.com, or on www.hgtv.com, episode HHWW-1006.
Cerretti is a Realtor with Chase International in Incline Village, an occupation she began a year and a half ago after being Chase’s office administrator for four years.
The McMahans and Cerretti got a taste of Hollywood, when filming the episode.
“A lot goes into filming,” Cerretti said. “I had to have all the data in mind as I put on my TV personality; exaggerating gestures and really hitting home the pluses and minuses of each home.”
The television camera crew required three takes for each scene, Cerretti said.
“It was actually great. The crew was so nice to work with and they were really accommodating,” Sarah said, adding that they would arrange filming around her twin 2-year-old boys’ nap.
HGTV found Cerretti through her Web site, and she had to present remodeling facts for the producer in a demo tape before she was chosen. Her husband, Antu Cerretti, is a general contractor so she had experience with remodels and how they add value to a home.
“I did a lot of research before I was accepted onto the show. They really wanted hard numbers, they didn’t just want fluff,” Cerretti said.
According to Pie Town Productions segment producer Holly Schwartz, each episode involves plenty of research and scouting.
“We are looking for real estate experts who have a strong presence and knowledge of their market,” Schwartz said. “They should be confident judging homes and letting homeowners know the expected return on investment. On top of that they have to have good communication skills and lots of energy.”
In the McMahan’s case, their remodel added a lot of value without as much expense because Ross is a contractor and they were able to save on labor.
She said that there are a lot of remodels in Incline Village, and with the slow economy Realtors are seeing more potential buyers looking for homes to remodel. Home buyers are looking for homes that need remodeling but could cost less in some of Incline’s preferred neighborhoods, such as Lakeview and Mill Creek.
However, those looking to remodel need to consider the year the home was built. Homes built in the early 1980s and 1990s have 2 x 4 construction, instead of the 2 x 6 construction required in later homes, she said.
Those later homes also have modern electrical and plumbing infrastructure, making them a better choice to remodel while earlier homes could be better torn down and rebuilt, Cerretti said.
When you remodel, homeowners want to add value to the home, which was the point of the “My House is Worth What?” show.
The McMahans purchased their home for $425,000 in 2002 and added $110,000 worth of upgrades. They guess their home was worth $800,000, although they have no plans to sell.
“We never plan on moving again. We love our house, our lot, our neighborhood and we love Tahoe,” Sarah said.
So what is their house worth now, after the remodel?
Tune in Tuesday to “My House is Worth What?”
HGTV tour highlights by Realtor Lexi Cerretti of Ross and Sarah McMahan’s remodel
Kitchen: Replaced tile counters with granite, traded linoleum floors for slate, refaced original cabinets and added new glass fronts, new backsplash, stainless appliances and painted in rich tones.
Cost: $6,000
Expected return: $16,000 (The average cost of a minor kitchen remodel done in studies in the West was $22,000 in 2007 with 103 percent return. Considering the size and flow constraints, Cerretti expected a 75 percent return on that figure or at least $16,000.)
Living room: New front door, new banister, changed tile in foyer, redid the fireplace and added a new mantle and hearth, new trim around windows, doors, baseboards.
Cost: $11,000
Expected return: $5,000 - $7,000 on the fireplace. No return on the banister, 100 percent return on the windows ($4,000, if that’s what they paid for the living room).
Downstairs bath: Did not do.
Cost: $9,000
Expected return: Could expect a return of at least double.
Master bedroom: Added a suite above the garage with vaulted ceilings, painted in earthy color, french doors with mini balcony, two-sided gas fireplace and huge master closet.
Cost: $80,000
Expected return: $100,000 (This is based on a 2007 study where the average cost of a master addition is $116,000, returning 87 percent of $100,000. The McMahans’ cost does not include labor).
Master bathroom: Included in the master bedroom suite. Double sinks, tub area, two-sided fireplace (shares with bedroom), tile, shower
Cost: Included in the above $80,000
Expected return: Of the total $100,000 expected from the master suite, the bathroom comprises 30 percent of this.
Kitchen: Replaced tile counters with granite, traded linoleum floors for slate, refaced original cabinets and added new glass fronts, new backsplash, stainless appliances and painted in rich tones.
Cost: $6,000
Expected return: $16,000 (The average cost of a minor kitchen remodel done in studies in the West was $22,000 in 2007 with 103 percent return. Considering the size and flow constraints, Cerretti expected a 75 percent return on that figure or at least $16,000.)
Living room: New front door, new banister, changed tile in foyer, redid the fireplace and added a new mantle and hearth, new trim around windows, doors, baseboards.
Cost: $11,000
Expected return: $5,000 - $7,000 on the fireplace. No return on the banister, 100 percent return on the windows ($4,000, if that’s what they paid for the living room).
Downstairs bath: Did not do.
Cost: $9,000
Expected return: Could expect a return of at least double.
Master bedroom: Added a suite above the garage with vaulted ceilings, painted in earthy color, french doors with mini balcony, two-sided gas fireplace and huge master closet.
Cost: $80,000
Expected return: $100,000 (This is based on a 2007 study where the average cost of a master addition is $116,000, returning 87 percent of $100,000. The McMahans’ cost does not include labor).
Master bathroom: Included in the master bedroom suite. Double sinks, tub area, two-sided fireplace (shares with bedroom), tile, shower
Cost: Included in the above $80,000
Expected return: Of the total $100,000 expected from the master suite, the bathroom comprises 30 percent of this.
