The Unsellable Houses Hosts Reveal How To Make Your Home Feel Less Like A Rental

Twin sisters Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb jointly host the popular HGTV show "Unsellable Houses." And as Realtor explored, the twin sisters expressed knowledge of the current seller's market in the United States. Pointedly, the seller's market in real estate reflects a surge of eager homebuyers. For context, the term seller's market describes a market wherein sellers exercise dominion over the market because demand for the product that they sell outpaces supply, as the Corporate Finance Institute defined.

Given the current seller's market, substantial emphasis is placed on aspects of the home. To this point, Lamb noted that a particular residence that the twins explored on "Unsellable Houses" was classified as a rental. Because the home was classified as such, the co-hosts expressed a desire to handle the property a bit differently. In particular, Lamb said, "This house definitely has that rental vibe ... I mean, you can tell the difference between an owner-occupied [home] and a rental."

Ultimately, the "Unsellable Houses" team invested $50,000 in renovating the property. After the $50K infusion in the home, Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb then spent the next four weeks working on making the house feel more like a home than like a rental property, as Realtor explained. 

On the show, the "Unsellable Houses" team explored specific aspects of the home. This investigation hinged on whether the proposed changes could help elevate the home's presentation for the current market and maximize its value in a sale. The sisters suggested a board and batten treatment (a particular siding and paneling style) for the home's ceiling, which they say makes the property feel homier. 

Davis and Lamb also explored the subjective-but-market-based distinction between home features that can contribute to the property being considered retro or vintage as opposed to being considered old and out-of-date. Another upgrade included adding counter and storage space to the bathrooms; both of these treatments made the abode feel less like a rental. Ultimately, the home –- which was initially projected to sell for $400,000 –- successfully sold for $520,000.