How Jacqueline Bienko Sold Her Problem Property As-Is and Escaped a Second Mortgage
We see it all the time. Homeowners have two properties and are trying to fix up the second, but a bad contractor derails their plan. They can’t afford to fix the contractor’s mistakes, and they know they’ll have a hard time selling if they disclose all the issues. Meanwhile, they’re stuck paying two mortgages while trying to figure out what to do.
That’s exactly what happened to Jacqueline Bienko in Fort Washington, MD, and thanks to House Buyers of America, she was able to get out of her all-too-common situation.
A Second Home That Needed Love, But Got Trashed Instead
Jacqueline, like many homeowners, assumed that renovating her home would make it easier to sell and that she’d get more money for it. Unfortunately, we’ve seen that thought process backfire more than once.
Jacqueline’s second home needed repairs, so she found contractors to get the work done. Everything seemed fine at first. But the real issues started when that work wasn’t done up to standards.
Now, she was stuck with a home she couldn’t list, and a second mortgage she couldn’t afford. We’ve seen this situation more than once, and instead of trying to get top dollar after the failed repairs, Jacqueline was racing the clock to get out of her investment.
A Simple Solution Is Often The Best Solution
Once we learned of Jacqueline’s situation, we knew we could help with the simplest solution possible: buying the house As-Is. At House Buyers of America, we don’t care about the state of the property; we’ll buy it and help homeowners, like Jacqueline, get out of their tricky situations.
Finally, Jacqueline was able to feel some relief. Now, she didn’t have to spend money fixing the renovations, invest into the property, or waste time staging a home for a traditional sale.
We offered her the contract to purchase her home in late October 2025, and by early December 2025, her burden was gone. She walked away with cash in hand and even made money on top of what she already spent.
What Happened To Jacqueline’s Home After The Sale?
Once we solved Jacqueline’s issues, it was time to get that home back in shape. We took the time to complete a full renovation. Not only did we focus on fixing the previous contractor’s work, but we also updated the entire home.
The kitchen looked brand new after we installed new cabinets, added an island, and installed quartz countertops. We didn’t stop there, either. We added a beautiful tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.
Next up were the bathrooms. We added new vanities, updated the plumbing fixtures to match the new hardware, and refinished all the shower pans. The flooring was dirty and outdated, so it was time to refresh it with LVP, tile, and carpet throughout.
The walls were dated with old paneling, so we replaced it with clean drywall. Then, we completely repainted the space. Many of the lights were updated with recessed and accent fixtures. There were other HVAC and plumbing issues that we took the time to fix.
Next up was the home’s exterior. With repaired windows, a new garage door, and an updated deck, the home was almost done. The final step was to pressure-wash the home and clean up the landscaping to improve curb appeal.
Why Homes With Bad Renovations Are So Hard to Sell
It’s no surprise to us that homes with poor or unfinished renovations are the hardest to sell. Buyers today are expecting move-in-ready homes. When they see a listing with questionable work, it raises red flags that they simply don’t want to deal with.
Although the issues caused by the previous contractors were fixable, it’s still a negative selling point for buyers. When there’s shoddy workmanship, buyers immediately jump to the worst conclusions. It’s not uncommon for us to see situations where sellers, like Jacqueline’s, invest thousands into renovations that end up putting the home in a worse situation than if they had left it alone.
That’s why, for many sellers, it’s better to just step away with a simple solution.
A Way Forward Without Any More Stress
We could tell how relieved Jacqueline was when she contacted us. When she found out she wouldn’t have to deal with the headache her second home had caused her, we could sense the stress melting away.
She was able to sell the home As-Is, and completely remove the financial burden it caused.
We’ve often seen situations like Jacqueline’s, and they’re far more common than people think.