[narrator] House Hunters is getting a star treatment.
You could probably do a plunge pool...
-No, I want a bigger pool. -You don't even swim!
[narrator] For the first time ever, our experts are leading the hunt...
Trust me, I have your back.
[narrator] Taking buyers to see homes in the towns they know best.
Mina is synonymous with the city of Indianapolis.
[narrator] Giving expert reno advice on the biggest fixers.
Having Jasmine is like having a magic genie here.
♪ Baby, what you wanna get ♪
[narrator] And real estate knowhow to get buyers into their perfect home.
This is why you bought the pros in.
[narrator] It's House Hunters on a whole another level.
-Let the house search begin. -Yes! This is fun.
-Are you ready? -Yeah.
[narrator] Tonight in South Florida,
Galey Alix from Home in a Heartbeat
searches for the right home for a family of five,
but she only has one weekend to do it.
Anxiety level, here.
[doorbell rings]
[theme music playing]
♪ Doors open if you wanna play ♪
♪ I won't say no if you want to stay♪
[Galey] Oh, she's gonna love this.
I am here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, my hometown, and I am so excited,
because I am gonna help Mike, Stef and their three boys
make a huge lifestyle change and relocate from New Jersey right here to South Florida.
I got jackets.
We can either, A: Not pack them or just take them just in case.
[chuckles] Take them just in case.
Mike just accepted a job in Fort Lauderdale,
and now the whole family needs to move as soon as possible.
Put it in the box. We can bring it with us. Put it in.
[narrator] And with just a weekend to find a house,
Stef reached out to her favorite South Florida designer,
who knows about getting things done quickly.
Stef is flying down alone to look at houses with me over the weekend,
and Mike is staying back to pack up the house and get ready for this move.
I organized as much as possible.
Most of the stuff is in bags inside.
The wardrobe has a bunch of stuff. Can you handle it?
-All right, I got this. -All right, good.
We only have three days to find them a home, but I know South Florida,
and I've renovated entire homes in a weekend.
To complete all of this in 72 hours is basically impossible,
but I love a challenge.
[laughter]
[man] Oh, man!
[Galey] I kind of feel like I am the perfect person for the job,
so, put me in Coach.
♪ We gonna live it up ♪
♪ We gonna ever look down We gonna ever look down ♪
♪ Live it up ♪
[Stef] Bye, thank you
-[Galey] Oh, hello! -Hi.
-[Galey] Welcome to Florida! -Thank you. It's so nice to meet you.
I think Galey's expertise is gonna be helpful in a lot of ways.
She has the vision that I don't, and she has the style that I love,
And I think she's gonna be really helpful for Mike,
because he's up in New Jersey and Galey will hopefully keep Mike's ideas in mind.
I know we are really rushed to find this house.
Do you feel your heart beating out of your chest a little bit?
-A little bit. -'Cause I am feeling it for you.
-Okay, a little bit. -Okay.
Let's go over it one more time.
Like, what are your and Mike's things you guys have to have when we buy this house?
We definitely need to have more than four bedrooms.
I want to have one for each of the boys
-and for family when they come to visit. -Okay.
And then, I really like Mediterranean style.
-Got that old Florida vibe to it. -Yeah.
That's something we don't see in New Jersey.
And if I am gonna make this big move, I really wanna feel that in Florida.
But Mike really likes that new, kind of, newer construction, grey, white...
Very modern...
-You want it to have a little more charm. -Yes.
So he wants two story, no matter what.
-Why is that? -He's just not into the ranch.
I am okay with the one story. I am kinda pushing for it a little bit.
He's also really into this, like, hidden space for the kids.
Like, so I think he's envisioning if it has this really awesome staircase,
he could build something underneath.
Okay, so what is happening here is, I think,
-Mike is trying to re-live his childhood. -It's possible.
I also think Mike is like you. He wants a project.
He likes to renovate. He...
like, thinks it's thrilling.
I really don't want a renovation.
We're making this huge move, and I don't know how I am gonna have the time
to be able to undertake something like that.
Mike really wants to be close to his job in Fort Lauderdale.
Can you say that again?
-Fort Lauderdale. -[both giggle]
You're so Jersey.
I am bring the Jersey, South.
I love it.
I have family that lives 40 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale.
-Oh. -And I wanna be close to them.
-I really want a pool. -Okay.
I wanna be able to open the backdoor and just let the boys swim.
And then, what's like, the biggest thing that you think you guys are gonna...
do this on?
The price.
-Mmm-hmm. -I think Mike is very...
You know, he's very OCD about what we spend.
He does not want me going over $1.25 million.
But, if I walk into a place that's a little bit higher,
I feel like I am gonna have to kind of push at Mike to say,
"Come on, I really love this house. Please--"
Well, you've got me now, so we can have both of us pushing.
Right, right. We can work together on Mike.
A couple of years ago, I went through something really difficult in my life,
and I had to relocate from the Northeast down to South Florida.
My heart is with them, knowing that they're about to make that same move.
It's definitely challenging, but if you love your home,
it just makes the transition that much easier.
So, I am on a mission.
So, I've got one house lined up for us to go see now.
We will knock this out in three days.
-We will make magic happen. -Okay.
-Are you ready? -Yeah.
We're in Fort Lauderdale. We're near Mike's office.
Probably, a ten minute drive.
You don't sound excited about, that Mike has a shorter drive, huh?
[both laughing]
Well, I mean, it's not just what I wanted.
But I am willing to see it for Mike.
That is true love.
Here we are.
All right, what do you think of it, Stef?
I am thinking, it's on a main road.
The noise is definitely an issue.
We can always do some fishtail palms, which are really full and dense.
We could do a water feature. It will block a lot of the noise.
How do you feel about the curb appeal?
It's definitely modern.
It doesn't really have that Mediterranean feel that I was hoping for.
But I like that it's new.
This is over 25 grand over Mike's price point.
Now, the good news is, I know the listing agent.
So, I have the keys.
So, this is the foyer.
[Stef] It's just not like an entryway, just...
[Galey] It's, uh... It's cozy.
Well, how do you feel about a half bath?
Because, this is the half bath.
What is this?
Um, it looks like an extended rain-shower, but for your hands.
Oh, and it seems to wiggle.
-[both chuckling] -[Galey] It seems to have a little jiggle-jiggle.
Like the half bath,
don't like anything else about this bathroom.
-Okay, so we'll let this keep swinging. -Okay.
-And we'll swing on into the next room. -Okay.
-Okay, so... -What's this one?
This is for wine.
[Stef] I like the wine rack for Mike and I,
but I do think that my three boys would probably climb it.
Like, this one would be for Hudson.
This would be for Carter, and this one would be for Jack, they would be swinging.
-So, you've either got their personalized climbing racks... -Right.
-Or we can just remove it. -Right.
[Galey] This is the kitchen.
It's big. It has cabinet space,
and the layout, I really like.
But it's still very modern. There is no character to it.
There is no charm, but I think that it's new, it's open.
I could see everything happening down here, which I really like.
And I can just open the door, and let the kids out at the pool,
which was something that was really high on my list.
-Let's check out the pool. -Okay.
Really pretty.
[Galey] And what's really nice too, is when you have a sun shelf,
it's just really good for younger kids, 'cause I know you have a 2-year-old.
It's new and updated, which I know Mike is gonna love.
The pool pulls at my heartstrings.
I feel like this is true Florida living.
So, let's go over the stairs.
And not only is gonna love that this house has stairs,
because it also has...
[Stef exclaims]
[Galey] Because it also has...
[Stef exclaims]
A hidey-hole, a very big hidey-hole.
[Galey] You've got a nice little hideaway for the kids.
You think Mike will like this?
[Stef] I think he's gonna like this.
[Galey] There is a lot of space upstairs.
This is your primary bedroom.
[Stef] It's a good size.
So, let's see Stef's closet.
[Stef] So I think this is perfect. The closet makes me happy.
Let's see if the bathroom makes you happy.
[Stef] I do like that it has two vanities.
I don't mind the modernness of this bathroom,
because it does have some nice serene vibes to it.
But the rocks have to go.
Oh, they're not attached. Okay. [laughing]
[Galey] This looks like a DIY project.
Because they're not glued down,
I feel like your kids are gonna be throwing these all over the house.
-Like, you'll hear them going down the stairs. -This is banned.
[Galey] The good news is, you can see they still tiled the floor underneath it.
It's time to see the boys' rooms.
The bad news is that we've got three bedrooms but only two bathrooms.
This is probably for Hudson, your eldest,
because it's the biggest, and it has the ensuite bathroom.
-[Stef] It's a nice size room, which is great. -Mmm-hmm.
Um...
Yeah, the rooms are a little small for my liking.
This room is a little small for my liking,
but I like this bathroom.
It's updated, it's modern, it has a, like, boyish feel to it.
I am pleasantly surprised with this house.
-I think there is a lot of really amazing things... -Okay.
[Stef] ...about the house that I didn't think I was gonna like.
[Galey] And you don't have to do renovating.
[Stef] Right. But I am definitely nervous that it's the top of our price range.
So there is a lot to think about, but we only have three days,
and we just lost day one.
We have to be open to the idea of some construction.
[Stef] Some construction.
-Some construction. -Okay.
♪ Running, everyday ♪
♪ Running Trying to make a way♪
[narrator] So with the clock ticking,
Galey delivers the next day with a home that's close to Stef's family,
but farther from Mike's work.
Good news is, it's about $1,045,000.
I am just a little bit worried about some of the cons.
It already has some renovations done.
That doesn't mean there's still not work to do though.
I know Mike's not afraid of a big fixer,
so let me send him the listing because he might really appreciate this.
Okay, I'll keep my fingers crossed,
-while driving. -[chuckles]
-Just hold on to the wheel. -I got it.
[Stef] I like the curb appeal.
[Galey] This is definitely more your style.
It's got that Mediterranean feel.
The agent already gave me the key, so we're in luck.
I like the floors.
These look like they were very recently done.
I feel like Mike will like the stairs.
He will like the stairs. I don't like the stairs.
I am trying to make Stef happy, but I am also trying to represent Mike.
So it's very intimidating for me trying to say the things
that I think he would say, without really knowing him that well.
And I am just hoping that I do a good job for them.
Look at this three-quarter bath.
[Stef] This bathroom makes me happy.
[Galey] And it's one less thing you don't have to spend money on.
-So... -You're saving money!
Yes, exactly!
[exclaims]
This could maybe be a playroom.
-I mean, this is a great space for kids. -[Stef] Yeah.
You just close these French doors, and then the mess is gone.
Now, there is no hidden nook under the stairs,
or some sort of hidey-hole that Mike can make into a play area for his kids,
we do have an entire extra bedroom on this house.
Maybe we could build something in it.
-How do we feel about this kitchen? -[gasps]
A win for Mike and I.
I could definitely see us cooking in here.
-Okay. -I think it would be nice
if the island was a little bit bigger, so that the kids could sit here.
[Galey] You could always do a new countertop
and then extend it out to here, and maybe we just do two legs,
and then you get a little bit of seating here.
It also looks like you've got ample space here,
where you could do like a built-in nook,
and if you did, like, custom benches,
like, attached to the wall,
you can not only get some storage underneath it,
but you could sit a lot of people.
I think that could also help the seating problem.
-Okay, so, uh, do you notice something missing here? -[sighs]
-[chuckles] I knew it. -[Stef] My heart just dropped.
-[Galey] I know. I knew you were not gonna love it. -[Stef sighs wearily]
[Galey] You have a nice water view.
-Yeah, it's very serene and spa-like... -Very calming.
...but I just really see this gigantic empty space.
No landscaping, no pool, no new pavers.
All that now I see is, cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching.
Dollars, dollars, dollars, dollars.
Yesterday, we had a pool.
But she didn't like the house. It was super modern.
Today, liked the house, but we don't have a pool.
We need to set expectations, that we're not gonna find everything in every home.
[Stef chuckles] The stairs.
Ooh!
This looks like it would be your bedroom.
[Stef] I like this size. It's a good size.
I can do, like, five cartwheels here.
And I can do, like, ten.
[both laughing]
And then we've got the ensuite primary bathroom.
[Stef] The shower reminds me of my parent's house from the 1980's.
[Galey] I don't even have a word for this. This is rough with a capital R.
It's like, they didn't even tile the floor.
They just brought in like, a piece of, like a plastic...
-[tapping] -...kid's pool.
If you completely gut this, it could anywhere from 40 to 60 grand.
I feel like I would want to rip apart this whole bathroom
and redo the whole thing.
Which might be something that Mike is into,
but I don't wanna take on any more work than I have to.
Adjacent to your bedroom, we would have one bed, one bath.
And then, if you come around this way,
we've got two beds and a shared bath.
[Stef] I feel like this house has some really great pros.
But some really negative negatives.
Maybe there is a house that kinda meets somewhere in the middle.
Still close to my family, but maybe a smidge closer to Mike's job.
-So that he would be happy. -Then maybe you're both happy.
[narrator] This next place splits the difference,
but nothing's perfect.
The kitchen, it glitters.
[narrator] Galey has just two days to find a new house for Stef and Mike,
as they relocate to South Florida.
So with him back in Jersey with the kids,
she takes Stef to see a home she thinks would be a good compromise.
I think most people would be intimidated by a weekend time crunch,
but that's literally the space I live in.
I renovate entire homes in a weekend.
So, I feel like I can do it.
And this next house, the positive here for you.
It rhymes with pears. There is none of that.
Stairs.
Oh, got you! [laughing]
Okay, here we are.
One story!
And what's the price range?
$1,250,000.
It has that Mediterranean vibe, which is what I am looking for.
And I think the grey color and the modern looking color of the roof,
plays off of Mike very nicely.
It feels like a really good compromise.
Wow!
So far, I like what I see.
Okay, so these are the only stairs in the whole house.
That will make you happy. Mike may shed a tear.
Yes. He'll definitely shed a tear.
Right. He'll have to deal with that.
So, I want to take you first into the primary bedroom.
That is a great size.
[Stef] Yeah, very big.
And then, it leads into a very nice, large primary bathroom.
[Stef] There is some very unique things happening in here.
This is at the very top of your price point.
So, renovating a bathroom like this could cost anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000.
Depending on how fancy you wanna get.
-All right, so now, we're entering into-- -Oh, wow!
[Galey] ...the kitchen.
It glitters.
[Galey] It's a little disco-ball.
It's the opposite of my style.
I would need the kitchen to be done immediately.
The space where we feel happy, we cook, we're together as a family.
And this kitchen just doesn't do it for me.
But again, this is where you have to think about the bones,
-right? -Right.
There is pluses to the way the kitchen is laid out.
And it's that really open layout that I appreciate.
It is.
We could do a little space lift.
Sand the cabinets down, so they're a light wood tone and not so orange.
Change the hardware, swap out the countertops for a light quartz,
and extend the island so that there is space for the kids to sit.
That's the sort of project I can do in three days.
And here is the top of your list, so let's see what we've got over here.
-The pool. What we got are happy. -And here!
A pool!
I am so happy!
Love the pool.
This is a win. This is great.
This is where we've got two bedrooms, and a shared bath.
[Stef] The bedrooms, I mean, I think Mike would like,
that everybody has their own space, but the rooms are really, really small.
The pro of this is that, this was one story,
which I really love.
It has a beautiful pool, but I am getting anxious.
I am confused, I am little nervous, and I am kid of missing Mike.
Like, it's weird not having him here, figuring all of this out.
I do not envy the position she's in.
And especially, 'cause she's having to make it for her whole family,
since Mike isn't here.
That's a lot of pressure to do in three days.
You're flying back tomorrow, and you have to make this decision before you leave.
♪ The sun on the beach Found so good to me ♪
[narrator] Stef is heading back to Jersey,
and there is still a lot to figure out in order to decide
which place they'll call home.
How are you feeling, and how did you sleep?
So-so. A little nervous.
I feel like the pressure is on, and I am nervous
I am not gonna make the right decision, but...
Mike and I spoke last night.
We're still a little bit torn.
I think what's most nerve-wracking to me,
what I am most nervous about is just...
making sure that the house has a little bit of Mike and a little bit of me.
I think that, there is a part of me that really just wants to pick the house that I want,
but I also know that that's not the way it works in a marriage.
Let's start with the modern beach house.
A little outside of the price range, right?
-[Stef] And very modern. -It was $1,275,000.
[Stef] It was renovated, like, very little has to be done.
And it had a really nice pool outside.
I thought the primary bathroom upstairs was pretty nice too.
And I think it would make Mike really happy being ten minutes from his job.
But I don't love the fact that it's modern.
[Galey] We've got the Mediterranean.
At $1,045,000, was definitely more in a comfortable price range for Mike and I.
Something that I loved about that house was the kitchen.
And it's ten minutes down the street from my mom and dad.
But I don't think it's ideal for Mike, so I have that kind of in the back of my head.
But then, I am also, I really want the pool,
and I want the pool now.
It goes back to, we all have to make compromises.
No house is gonna be perfect for either one of you.
And certainly, no house is gonna be perfect for both of you.
And then, we've got the one story Ranch style house.
It was at $125,000.
[Stef] One story just felt awesome to me.
The pool was there, and it was done and it was beautiful.
But it needed work, I mean, that kitchen glittered.
[Galey] It also needs a full primary bath renovation.
-Decisions. -You know what I am gonna say.
You just cannot check every single box.
No.
I have anxiety for Stef because I want her to make the right decision.
I have anxiety for Mike because he's gonna move into a house
that he's never seen before. Anxiety level, here.
My flight is in two hours.
I really have to get going.
There is one that's pulling at my heartstrings.
And I think we should call Mike.
Let's call Mike.
[doorbell rings]
Hi!
Hi, Galey!
[Mike] Welcome. Come on in. Hi.
-It's so nice to finally meet you. -Nice to finally meet you.
-You too! -I've met you.
-Hi. -[Mike chuckling]
We chose the Mediterranean,
because it was a little bit of me and a little bit of Mike.
I don't mind the commute. It's nice to have some quiet time
before you get home to three boys.
[Joy] Hi, Galey!
Nice to meet you.
Hi, nice to meet you!
You guys have done such an amazing job in here.
The furniture, the textures, you're gonna put me out of business.
[Mike laughing]
The house was listed for $1,045,000.
[Stef] We ended up paying over asking because we really wanted to solidify the house.
And there was no time to waste.
You look so good in this kitchen.
So do you, Mike.
[Stef] I might have not gotten my pool,
and I might not have gotten my perfect primary bathroom,
but I know that we're gonna get there one day.
[Mike] Ding-dong!
We even have a light!
[Stef] Look, we have a present!
Oh, who's gonna help open it?
We both had out wish list, and Galey was the perfect person for the job.
She helped me envision the home when I couldn't envision the home.
And I think Mike's also comfortable with her being there in his place.
Yeah, I knew we were in good hands.
Thank you so much for sending the treehouse. It's amazing.
[Stef] I finally got your hidey-hole.
[Galey] Yeah, exactly!
We didn't get it under the stairs, but we still got it in the house.
See, there is always a solution.
What is it?
[all gasping]
I am so happy I was able to help Mike and Stef find this house.
This is something that, they're gonna make family memories in.
Their kids are gonna grow up here.
And I got to be a little part of that.
Ding dong!
[laughter]