The Season 4 finale of “Rock the Block” has not only dubbed a winner, but it also set a new record, with the best house appraising for an all-time high of $2.85 million.
It makes sense since the homes started out bigger and more expensive than ever before—each one 5,000 square feet and valued at $1.9 million even before the teams spent $250,000 renovating.
In the episode “Finals Face-Off,” all four design teams work their assets off to add the finishing touches to their homes that, in the words of host Ty Pennington, will hopefully “help you score the big win.”
Then, they are toured and judged by Jasmine Roth of “Help I Wrecked My House” and “Rock the Block” Season 1 winners Mike Jackson and Egypt Sherrod, of “Married to Real Estate.”
In the race to the finish line, these design teams deliver a ton of valuable insights that could help steer any renovation you might embark on in a smart direction. Check out these lessons, plus more info on who ultimately wins this round, and why.
Create a ‘maker space’ for a side hustle
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Each house has a bonus garage with an attractive glass door, and the last challenge involves doing something wonderful to it.
Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle from “Luxe for Less” decide to turn theirs into a “maker space.”
“Typically, maker spaces are like afterthoughts. This is a maker creating a space for the homeowner, what’s better than that?” points out Smith Boyd, who allows Elle to completely design the room while he works on an office space with a new bath nearby.
Elle equips the room with a worktable, workbench, easel, cupboards, and shelves, allowing it to serve as a studio or workspace for the creative soul. He adds a sewing machine to further expand its possibilities.
“Having a dedicated workspace? I think it’s a real value add,” says Smith Boyd.
The judges agree.
“A lot of people have home businesses now, so it’s nice to have this additional space,” says Sherrod.
Double up on plumbing
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Most of the designers are down to their last $15,000 or less for the final challenge, so there isn’t much wiggle room when it comes to elaborate additions.
But Page Turner and Mitch Glew from “Fix My Flip” find a way to add an extra bathroom.
“We save money in the bathroom by using the same plumbing as in the laundry room,” says Turner. They position the bath on the other side of the wall of the laundry room. “Plus, we’ve been doing a lot of the labor ourselves, so we’ve really been able to stretch our $15,000 and can afford a sauna.”
“It’s that cherry on top,” says Glew.
Extra bathrooms always add value
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Two teams (Smith Boyd and Elle and Turner and Glew) add bathrooms in the final episode, but the other designers have been adding extra loos all along.
“They added a cute bathroom. That’s going to show up on appraisals,” says Sherrod when she sees the bathroom Jonathan Knight and Kristina Crestin from “Farmhouse Fixer” added to their lower level.
And when they see the bathroom added to the office in Smith Boyd and Elle’s house, Sherrod says, “This was a power move. This may be a game changer.”
Fireplaces spark extra value, too
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“Anytime you can add a fireplace, that’s a win,” says Sherrod as she looks at Elle and Smith Boyd’s double-sided fireplace.
Bryan and Sarah Baeumler from “Renovation Island” had also added an indoor-outdoor, double-sided fireplace, and other teams added fireplaces in their living rooms, primary suites, and lower levels.
When it comes to fireplaces, it’s the more, the merrier for Turner and Glew. These designers added two to their home, one indoor and one out.
“You’ve got two fireplaces; that’s going to show up on appraisal,” says Turner. The judges agree.
Bars can also boost an appraisal
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The designers added multiple bars to their homes, both indoors and out, especially on the lower level. The judges appreciate this.
“I believe bars add to appraisal value,” says Sherrod as she inspects the lower level of Knight and Crestin’s home, which features a “barcade” with a kitchenette/bar, arcade games, and billiard table. “This game room is drama.”
Who wins Season 4 of ‘Rock the Block’?
In the end, everyone gathers outside the homes to find out whose property appraised for the highest amount. They’re all shivering on this Colorado night, some from anticipation.
“Every home on the block appraised at over $2.7 million,” Pennington explains. Yet the winning team’s home appraised at $2.85 million. So whose is it?
It’s none other than Smith Boyd and Elle. This is a real revelation for them, because all of the other design teams are far more experienced. Smith Boyd and Elle are relative rookies with only one season of their show, “Luxe for Less,” under their belts.
Still, they figured out how to add glorious, glamorous touches on a shoestring, which gave them the budget to really amp up their spaces.
“We’re really proud of what we did,” says Elle humbly.
Then everyone hugs it out.