Sweat Equity

Mark Nelson and Shelly O'Neill are actors who moved from New York to the Midwest-looking for a slower paced lifestyle to raise a family. Their house hunting led them to a home with a huge backyard. Having spent so much time in the city, the yard clinched the deal. They've made countless cosmetic changes to the home that adds to its appeal. However, they need another bedroom for all their out of town guests and the best place to do that is by making the most of the square footage they already have. So the plan is to reconfigure the basement to include a new guest bedroom, complete with egress window and closet. Then, they'll revamp the family room to give it the quality finishes found in the rest of the home and step up the finishes in the dingy laundry room. They have only a $15,000 budget to work with so they may have to stretch their DIY skills to new heights. An additional bedroom and higher quality finishes should add value, but will they stretch their budget too thin and come up short?