Ep 13. Poolside Potential

In the latest episode of "Flip or Flop" season 5, titled "Poolside Potential," Tarek and Christina find themselves taking on a new project with plenty of opportunities. This time around, the duo has been given the task of flipping a house situated in a suburban neighbourhood of Cypress, California.

The house in question is a classic mid-century build with a distinct old-world charm. However, it is in dire need of some serious upgrades, particularly when it comes to its exterior. The property has plenty of potential, especially since it boasts a massive backyard that comes complete with an in-ground pool.

Despite having the perfect shaped lot and the opportunity of being able to upgrade the backyard, Tarek and Christina face challenges with this new property. For starters, the house's exterior has seen better days. The worn-out roof, outdated paint job, and unappealing facade are the first things that need immediate attention.

As per the duo's usual routine, Tarek and Christina head straight to the backyard to get an idea of what they're working with. The huge pool comes as a pleasant surprise, but they find out that it isn't functional. The worst part? Fixing the pool is likely to cost quite a bit, with price estimates coming in at around $20,000.

To add to their list of worries, the landscaping is unremarkable - even worse, it's overgrown and in desperate need of some serious TLC. Worse still, the interior of the house isn't faring any better. From the slightly outdated kitchen to the musty smell of mold around the house, there's a lot of work that needs to be done.

Despite the daunting task at hand, Tarek and Christina are keen to tackle the project head-on. With a clear and detailed plan in place, the duo gets to work. First, they decide to focus on the backyard. For this, they bring in a specialist who helps them decide on a new design plan.

They decide to level out the ground, put in a seating area, and upgrade the pool. With the new upgrades, the backyard's value is set to go up considerably - exactly what Tarek and Christina had in mind! But overall, the renovations turn out to be much more expensive than they anticipated.

Tarek and Christina are accustomed to working with a tight budget, so the new expenses are a cause for concern. They get creative and decide to do some of the work themselves — within legal limits of their contractor's license; they focus on laying down the tiles for the new patio area.

The couple also decides to tackle the interior of the house, which requires a more comprehensive overhaul. They focus on the kitchen, replacing it altogether with a modern and contemporary design. The musty smell is eradicated with new flooring, and the mold is professionally removed. Furthermore, they upgrade the decor inside-out, making the house ready to be listed on the market.

As the episode progresses, Tarek and Christina's hard work starts to pay off. The house starts looking like a livable property again, and the finished work starts coming together smoothly. The exterior gets an entirely new look, and the backyard turns out to be a perfect de-stressing spot for any family.

Overall, "Poolside Potential" provides an in-depth look at the highs and lows of flipping a house. The episode teaches viewers how to navigate unexpected expenses and the importance of working within a budget. With the help of this episode, viewers can confidently get started on their own renovation projects, knowing that they can tackle any challenge that might come their way.