HGTV Ben and Erin Napier on "Home Town."
Ben and Erin Napier are helping Laurel-native Brandon Everett return home in season 7, episode 2 of HGTV‘s “Home Town.”
WARNING: STOP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT SPOILERS FOR SEASON 7 OF “HOME TOWN.”
“Brandon grew up here, he went to Laurel High School,” Ben explains in the episode. “He has the stereotypical small-town story. He left and I don’t think he ever planned on coming back.”
As Brandon explained, he left to attend Mississippi State for college 13 years ago but returned to Laurel after his sister’s death in 2021. As the episode showed, he is currently living with his mom while he buys and renovates a home.
“It’s one of those incredible cottages that are always a favorite—but most of all you’re going to fall in love with Brandon who came back home to Laurel to be close to his mom and nieces and nephews after losing his sister,” Erin teased on Instagram ahead of the episode. “You’re going to love this family. (Also, we may or may not actually tear down the house he buys and build a new one??)”
Here’s what you need to know:
Brandon Everett Toured the Roseberry & Howell Houses
It is the battle of the fixer-upper for Brandon when Ben and Erin take him to see the Roseberry and Howell Houses.
Brandon revealed in the episode that he has an all-in budget of $200,000. Among his wants, he is looking for a house with plenty of storage, a good kitchen and at least 2 bedrooms, so his nieces and nephews can stay over. As an engineer, Brandon also explained, he is a fan of symmetry.
The Napiers first took Brandon to see The Roseberry House. As Ben explained, Ben and Sarah Roseberry bought the home in the 1920s and lived there for about 40 years. The home does need some extra love, with added visual interest and repairs to the outdoor steps.
With a listing price of $50,000, the home’s features include:
- 3 bedroom
- 2 bathroom
- 1,400 square feet
- Built in 1915
Brandon also toured The Howell House, which was home to James and Becky Howell in the 1970s. The home was in disrepair, with broken glass, an ugly door, busted lights and even a crow looming outside.
With a listing price of $30,000, the home’s features include:
- 2 bedroom
- 1.5 bath
- 1,056 square feet
- Built in 1940
Brandon Everett Bought The Howell House for $14,000
In the end, Brandon decided to take on the challenge of The Howell House and negotiated the price down to $14,000.
“I know that that probably sounds completely absurd that he got a house for $14,000 to the rest of America, but here, I mean, that happens,” Erin said in the episode. “I am just tickled for him. This is amazing.”
However, some unexpected costs are on the horizon for Brandon’s renovation.
Brandon Everett Must Decide If He Will Tear Down the House
Brandon has a decision to make when demolition reveals just how much work needs to be done on the house.
“We knew the house was in rough shape, but what you can’t tell until you take up the floor and you take down the walls is just how rough,” Erin explains in the episode.
With the home down to its studs, the Napiers take Brandon through the issues which include termite damage, rot and extensive foundation repair needed.
The homeowner is presented with two options. The first option, the house would have to be lifted to fix the foundation and then one of the walls would have to be torn down to repair the termite damage. This path would take an additional 2 weeks and with added costs, the all-in price would come out to $189,000.
The other option would be to bulldoze the house and start anew, which would take an additional 2 months. The total all-in cost would be between $205,000 and $210,000.
To keep it within budget and a more expedited timeline, Brandon decides to do the repairs.
The Napiers call in Mr. Jones, a local foundation expert, who will slowly jack up sections of the house for repairs.
Brandon Everett’s Grandfather Visits Ben Napier’s Workshop
Brandon’s grandfather, Mr. Walter, stopped by Ben’s workshop. He had a piece of wood from his farm that he thought the woodworker could incorporate into Brandon’s home.
Ben jokingly told Mr. Walter, who was donning a gray suit, “You are dressed for anything but working in a woodshop.”
While discussing Brandon, Mr. Walter revealed he always knew his grandson would be an engineer.
“I always took my grandchildren out,” Mr. Walter explained to Ben. “I gave them all a little piece of money to go in the store. Rest of them came out with candy and tater chips, whatever they want. He came out with a screwdriver.”
Ben ended up splitting the wood to make two swings for Brandon’s nieces and nephews. Before they were finished, Mr. Walter signed each swing so they would have a piece of him at the house for years to come.
Erin Napier Enlists a Lamp Maker to Transform an Old Instrument
Erin turns to lamp maker Bryan to transform an “inoperable” saxophone into a lamp for Brandon’s home. Bryan previously worked with the “Home Town Takeover” star on a gift for her nephew.
“He’s an engineer and he also played saxophone in the band at Mississippi State,” Erin explains to Bryan. “He loves his collection of saxophones. He likes to restore them, tinker on them.”
The pair pick out a light to fit the jazz theme.
Ben Napier Builds a Desk for Brandon Everett’s Office
The Napiers are transforming what was once a kitchen into an office that doubles as a guest room, complete with a custom desk made by Ben.
“This room is really small, it’s the smallest room in the house so the desk has to work with the room,” he explained.
Talking to his frequent collaborator, Josh, Ben reveals that he plans to make an L-shaped desk, with an American Red Oak top and a frame made of “solid, American-made square tubing.”
The 39-year-old quips, “I’m welding y’all. I’m giving up woodworking.”
Brandon Everett Has a Newly-Renovated House With an Old Tree
What was once a dilapidated house with cream-colored siding and brick trim is now the symmetrical, blue cottage Brandon wanted.
“You’ll remember, the house had brick along the bottom,” Ben explained. “Because of the termite damage, we actually had to remove the entire front of the house so the brick had to go away also.”
Pointing out the home’s facade, he explained, “Everything that you see right now, is new.”
The trio went to tour the inside of the home, with Brandon pointing out the blue cabinets, vinyl flooring and backsplash. As Erin revealed, she found porcelain that replicated the look of Chicago brick at a more affordable cost.
Having repaired the issues in the home’s foundation, Ben added, “Maybe the best thing about your house when you walk inside is something that you cannot see.”
Brandon celebrated the floor no longer having a “bounce.”
Having torn down a wall, the house now features an open-concept dining room that leads into a caramel-colored living room.
The home also features two bedrooms. What was once a “gross” kitchen is now a home office that doubles as a guest room. The now-sophisticated main bedroom no longer had holes in the walls and its large bathroom now features a built-in cabinet.
After the big reveal, Brandon said the renovation was “worth every penny.”
With his niece and nephew swinging, Brandon mused about the future parties and barbeques he will have at his home.
“It may seem bittersweet the reason he came home, but this is going to be, I think, a good chapter in his life,” Erin said.
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