Connie and Sebastian are hands on first-time homeowners. A little too hands on. As soon as they moved into their new home they were lifting carpets, peeking behind walls and dreaming up plans for every square foot.

When Jay and Kathryn moved into their new home they never thought they would outgrow it so fast! With two kids in the family space is at a premium.

Kirk and Stephanie bought their dream house 3 years ago, and have since spent every waking moment improving the condition of each of the three apartments in the building. Now they are thinking about starting a family and someday would like to be able to take over the whole house.

Peter Busse purchased an expensive, fully renovated Victorian in a hip downtown neighbourhood last year. Adding a potential rental suite in the basement was his plan and the key to bringing down his substantial mortgage.

Martin & Isidora have found their dream home, but the basement needs a lot of work. Closing date has been pushed up by 3 months, and they have already promised their tenant she can move into their basement apartment 15 days after they take possession.

Tai and Beatrice have dug themselves into a hole, both literally as well as financially. They went way over budget when they purchased their dream home, and as soon as they moved in, they took the advice of a relative and began digging a hole in their basement to upgrade the old plumbing system.

Elliot bought his first home and has big dreams for it. Unfortunately bigger isn’t always better. His elaborate plans are taking way too long and costing way too much. Scott is going to show him how to spruce up his income suite without spending his entire life savings.

Heather is a teacher who bought a newly renovated bungalow with a “ready to rent,” two-bedroom basement apartment, which was the key to affording the house on her own.

Samantha and Andrew were smart enough to buy their first home with a fully functioning basement apartment. They were told the previous owner had been renting the basement for $800 a month, which was exciting news to them. But when closing day arrived they were shocked to see the actual condition of the basement.

Sean bought his semi-detached, former boarding house with the intent of converting it into a duplex to help pay the mortgage. Disaster struck within 48 hours of moving in, when the drain in the basement overflowed and filled the basement apartment with sewage making it impossible to rent.

Expecting their first baby in nine weeks, Shawn and Sarah thought ahead when they bought their first home, purchasing one with an existing basement apartment. They figured they would need the income to make the mortgage payments in the short-term with a plan to eventually move Shawn’s mother and brother into the basement to assist with the finances in the long-term.

Brad and Nikki always knew what neighbourhood they wanted to live in, but they also knew they needed an income property to be able to afford to live in it. So when they found their first home with a basement apartment complete with a quality tenant, they thought they were set.

When Steve was searching for his first home, he knew exactly what he wanted: a triplex that would bring in double the rental income. For the past four years Steve has successfully rented out two units, but now his mortgage is up for renewal and in this credit crunched economy, it is estimated that tax values will increase on average by 20%. On top of this, Steve is renting out his basement unit well below the market value. Steve needs Scott’s help to update his basement suite to help offset his increasing mortgage and be able to charge top dollar for the apartment.

Daria and James fell in love, got engaged and bought a house. Two years later they are still not married and they’re spending over 50% of their income on their home. They need an income suite if they ever hope to tie the knot and keep their heads above water.

Julie and Andy intend to renovate the existing income suite in their new home. They just can’t make it happen: they have demanding careers and no renovation experience. Their sweet little income suite needs Scott’s skills and reno savvy.

Jennifer and In-Suk experienced a financial setback. With Jennifer on maternity leave and In-Suk unemployed for the last seven months, this couple needs an income suite to offset their mortgage costs and help them afford the home they love in a great neighbourhood.

Evelyn and Armel had an energy audit and now they’re racking up debt in order to make smart improvements to their home. They need the income from an accessory apartment to help out with the costs of renovating for the long-term.

Allison and Rob’s income dipped due to a career change and maternity leave. Luckily, they have an income suite in their basement that can help them maintain their great standard of living.

Lise will be 63 years old when her 35-year mortgage is finally paid off. If she builds a clever income suite in her basement, she could be mortgage free in as little as 13 years, at age 39! Scott will help set Lise on the path to financial freedom.

Alice is living under a gold mine: a two story apartment above her own apartment that’s fallen into disrepair. Alice wants it to be perfect but she doesn’t trust anyone and doesn’t know what she wants. Scott will try to win Alice’s trust and help her make the right renovation choices.

Anne and her sister, Karin, bought their duplex from their landlord a couple of years ago. Now, Karin has unexpectedly fallen in love and she's moving out. That leaves Anne with a full mortgage to pay and an apartment to rent. She wants to convert her unit into a short-term executive rental so that she can pay the mortgage without giving up her beloved home.

Marsha and Ellwood married four years ago bringing two kids each to their blended home. They also bought a new house with a separate apartment that needs a good reno. Could it be a new home for their eldest daughter and a long-term solution to their financial challenges?

Two years ago, Victoria and Evan started a business with offices in two separate cities, but when the lines between work and home became blurry, they decided to buy a property to get a greater return on their investment. The building has an apartment but it needs a lot of work -- Scott will help them figure it out.

Adam is bought a triplex in an urban neighbourhood and promptly rented out one of the floors to a tenant who has yet to move in. Adam is in the enviable position of being able to renovate while he's collecting rent. Scott will help Adam make the most of a smart renovation opportunity.

Do-gooder David bought an urban duplex with a gorgeous upper apartment - and a lower apartment that's a disaster. With the help of his mother and the ever-ready Scott, David will get his duplex ready for action so that he can worry less about the reno and more about his causes.