We love property brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, their formidable design sense, and their real estate savvy. We even love their dad jokes and their wacky stunts.
On each episode of “Backed by the Bros,” the brothers consider a range of renovation projects and back the ones they think they can help the most.
In the latest episode, the wisdom the brothers impart ranges from how to make small spaces appealing to whether or not to invest in a pool.
New pool? Bad idea
(HGTV)
The first project they take a look at is in Culver City, CA, where a couple bought a 1,300-square-foot, three-bedroom home for $1.2 million. The couple hope to renovate the residence so they can rent it out for $7,500 a month.
It had a small, old pool that dominated the backyard when they bought it, so they decided to remove it and put a new pool in. The project was about two-thirds of the way done when Jonathan and Drew stopped by.
When they saw the work, the brothers voiced their displeasure.
“That is probably one of the biggest mistakes we see here in California,” says Jonathan. “If you’re doing a flip property, putting in a new pool is not a good [return on investment]. That’s usually something we would just say no to. You’ve got to look at the numbers. The numbers do not lie.”
“I know everybody wants a pool, but pools are very expensive, and you usually won’t get back what you spend,” adds Drew.
Dining space is a must
(HGTV)
The brothers decide that the Culver City home doesn’t need as much help as a different residence in the Glassell Park neighborhood.
There we meet Christina and Arek, who invested in a couple of lots that offer a total of two garages and one family dwelling. They want to convert the garages into accessory dwelling units and move their family into the home.
The work progresses fastest on the JADU. (The J stands for “junior” and can designate an accessory dwelling unit that measures up to 500 square feet.)
When the brothers peek at the plans the couple have drawn up for the small unit, Drew asks, “Is there an eating area? Where do people eat?”
Christina says they planned on having tenants eat from their laps on the couch. A big no-no!
“That is super unappealing,” Drew tells them. “When somebody comes to rent this, when they see there is nowhere for them to sit and eat, even though it’s a small space, they’re going to be like, ‘That sucks!’”
He suggests the couple build a bench against a wall and put a small table in front of it to allow for dining.
Christina and Arek go one better, and build storage into the bench against the wall. Problem solved.
Be mindful of parking
(HGTV)
The couple’s property sits on a hill, and the street in front of it is steep, narrow, and filled with parked cars on each side.
When they come to work on the property, the couple have to park several blocks away, uphill. It’s inconvenient to say the least.
“This is an example of why I feel it might be good to keep an extra parking spot, instead of adding outdoor seating area in front of the ADU,” says Drew as he huffs and puffs up the hill to help them carry a sink from their car. “Any tenant is going to say, ‘I want the parking spot in front of the house off the street.’”
In small spaces, keep the design simple
(HGTV)
You don’t need multiple patterns or designs in small spaces like bathrooms.
And so, Drew’s surprised when he sees how many kinds of tiles the couple picked out for the tiny bathroom of the JADU.
“Guys, you’re breaking all the rules,” he tells them. “You have four different tiles in a tiny bathroom. Four tiles in one space is a no-no.”
He suggests using the largest scale tile on the floor and running it up the wall, and to use the accent color they’ve selected above that.
“It’s going to look more high-end and will actually get you a little bit more money for the space,” he concludes.
They don’t exactly follow his advice, but at least the small bathroom doesn’t seem overwhelming with clashing tile patterns.
Pedestal sinks are a no-go for renters
When the brothers walk into the almost finished bathroom, they’re not impressed by the elaborate pedestal sink that Christina found on sale. It offers zero storage space.
“Pedestal sinks are an absolute no for every single bathroom except for powder rooms,” says Drew. “This is the complete worst thing to have for a tenant in here. Why wouldn’t you have done a vanity with drawers? You have so much space.”
“In the future, always think of who your tenant’s going to be, how they’re going to use the space, and how you can minimize the complaints that you’re going to get,” advises Jonathan. “You will get a complaint about lack of storage.”
In the end, Jonathan and Drew acknowledge that the couple have done a solid job with the small space, and they should be able to get at least $2,200 a month for the JADU.
(HGTV)
