HomeVestors® Names The Ugliest House Of The Year® for 2024

Quaint 1923 Chicago Lost Treasure Gets Transformation Worthy of Title

A quaint 1923 home in Fox Lake near Chicago that had languished on the market has won the title of The Ugliest House Of The Year® for 2024 from HomeVestors of America, Inc., the We Buy Ugly Houses® people. The national contest highlights the most dramatic “befores” and “afters” from the houses purchased and renovated in 2024 by the company’s independently owned and operated franchises around the country. Tara Farnsworth and Bob Albrecht of Antioch, Ill. are this year’s winners of the 18^th annual heated competition.

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Located near Chicago, The Ugliest House Of The Year® is 1548 square-feet and was originally built in 1923 with four beds and two baths. Before the stunning renovation, it had been severely neglected, spent a stint as a drug den, and had a massive roof hole, overgrown yard, and other issues that required expert transformative care from the property experts. Most recently, it had sat on the market for nearly 500 days, twice listed and twice cancelled. (Photo: Business Wire)

As a result of the win, Farnsworth’s and Albrecht’s local Habitat for Humanity® chapter, Habitat for Humanity Lake County, will receive a $20,000 donation from HomeVestors. Once high school sweethearts, Farnsworth and Albrecht reconnected six years ago and started a HomeVestors franchise together in October 2022. Now engaged, they have beautified 12 houses since then, bonding with grateful homeowners and neighbors as they caringly breathe new life into homes like this year’s winner, and were over the moon about winning the national contest.

“Bob told everyone he knew when we found out, we dreamed one of ours might be chosen, but never really imagined we’d win,” said Farnsworth. “He’s an experienced master carpenter and general contractor and I have a background in marketing, business development and customer experience, so we combine our talents to make a real impact in Chicago’s North neighborhoods and suburbs. We’re driven by a shared passion for helping others, and take pride in transforming spaces and enriching lives, even more with this project since it’s now earned the national donation to our Habitat.”

Located on Lippincott Road in Fox Lake, The Ugliest House Of The Year® is 1548 square-feet and was originally built in 1923 with four beds and two baths. Before the stunning renovation, it had been severely neglected, spent a stint as a drug den, and had a massive roof hole, overgrown yard, and other issues that required expert transformative care from the property experts. Most recently, it had sat on the market for nearly 500 days, twice listed and twice cancelled.

After HomeVestors’ expert work, the home now has three bedrooms and two baths, with Pottery Barn colors and new flooring throughout. The house now boasts a large kitchen, after one of the bedrooms was converted, which has quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a walk-in pantry. The two bathrooms are all new with upgraded mohawk tile, new cabinets, quartz counters with black faucets and accents. Outside, it has a new roof, fresh vinyl siding and gutters, and an open back patio with a cozy built-in firepit that helped the home immediately draw a seller once it was back on the market, pleasing new homeowners and neighbors alike.

“It’s deeply satisfying to turn the worst house on the block into the best,” added Albrecht. “Our work doesn’t just uplift homes; it transforms entire neighborhoods. We often get to assist people facing emotional or financial challenges, and help them close painful chapters. Some sellers return to see their homes beautifully restored, which brings joy to everyone involved as new life is brought back to a place that holds so much significance.”

HomeVestors prides itself on buying homes that traditional buyers may not consider. After purchase, franchises often improve homes and reintroduce them as valuable real estate assets, helping maintain an affordable housing supply. Habitat for Humanity also works in local communities across all 50 states, working towards a vision both organizations share of a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to live.

Note to media: A complete gallery with “before” and “after” images is available here.

About HomeVestors of America, Inc.

HomeVestors of America, Inc. is the largest professional house buying franchise in the U.S. with more than 150,000 houses bought since 1996. HomeVestors recruits, trains and supports its around 1,000 independently owned and operated HomeVestors^® franchisees that specialize in building businesses based on buying, rehabbing, selling, and holding residential properties. Known as the We Buy Ugly Houses^® people, HomeVestors strives to make a positive impact in each of the 47 states and the District of Columbia, in which it has franchises.

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