Pennod 2 Ar Werth

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-Estate agents.

-This is no ordinary house.

-We rely on them.

-Oh, wow! Fantastic.

-In this series, we meet some

-of the industry's big characters.

-Talk business, houses and money.

-We see what it takes

-to be an agent.

-I'll have a nose.

-We experience the highs...

-Accepted, 245. Fantastic.

-..and the challenges...

-Move the door.

-..of putting your house up for sale.

-Around 50,000 properties

-are sold in Wales every year.

-Little wonder then

-that we have so many estate agents.

-Ruth Tottey is one of the most

-experienced sales negotiators...

-..on the Dafydd Hardy team.

-Ruth has worked for the company

-for over 20 years.

-How many houses has she valued?

-What, in the past 20 years?

-Dear me! Hundreds.

-I can't put a figure on it.

-Hundreds.

-It's an aspect of the job

-that I really enjoy.

-I enjoy seeing new properties

-and meeting new people.

-It's brilliant.

-I love my job, to be honest.

-Today, Ruth will draw up a valuation

-on a house in Llangefni...

-..which holds several surprises.

-Hiya! I'm Ruth.

-Hello. How are you?

-I'm Nia.

-I'm Nia.

-

-Here's my card.

-Thank you very much. Come in.

-Here we are, in the hall.

-Very nice.

-This is the original tiled floor.

-This is the original tiled floor.

-

-It's a nice feature as you walk in.

-It's one of the first things

-potential buyers will see.

-That's what attracted me

-to this house.

-I walked in, saw the tiles

-and thought, "Wow!"

-Nia inherited her parents' house

-and moved in herself.

-She's keen to sell this house.

-So keen, in fact,

-that she hardly needs Ruth.

-This is the lounge.

-This is the lounge.

-

-It's a wonderful room.

-We had the fireplace fitted.

-It's quite new.

-This pattern was on the old windows,

-so we kept that.

-This is the utility and, as you can

-see, there were once servants here.

-They could ring the bells.

-They could ring the bells.

-

-Oh, posh!

-It's an original feature

-but it doesn't work any more.

-That's a shame. I want a cup of tea!

-This clothes dryer is also original.

-Do you use it?

-Do you use it?

-

-Yes. It's really handy.

-That's really nice.

-It's a spacious landing.

-You could have a party here!

-That window is original.

-It opens upwards and across...

-..so I think that's how people

-got their furniture in and out.

-This house

-is packed with brilliant features.

-Ruth has plenty to work with here.

-What does Nia feel

-will sell the property?

-I hope people love the house,

-like I did.

-It's important

-that I take the viewings myself.

-I've lived here and I can

-answer people's questions...

-..about the work

-that's been done to the house.

-Fingers crossed someone falls

-in love with my house and buys it.

-Someone has already

-fallen in love with it!

-Once you get someone through the

-door, this house will sell itself.

-It's packed with features

-and it's a great size for a semi.

-I could almost buy it myself.

-I could almost buy it myself.

-

-Do it!

-Nia hopes to sell it

-for around 250,000.

-Can she find a buyer who'll pay

-that sort of money for it...

-..and love it as much as Ruth?

-Ruth is optimistic and

-she'll market the house at 249,000.

-The house is great.

-It's in good condition...

-..and houses like that

-are very rare in Llangefni.

-It's a big semi

-and it's close to the school...

-..and close to the leisure centre.

-Fingers and toes crossed.

-In Aberystwyth, Iestyn Leyshon

-from Lloyd Herbert & Jones...

-..loves his job

-as a property seller.

-Through there.

-Come with me.

-That's an adventurous colour.

-Iestyn is bubbly.

-What are you doing here?

-Romantic.

-He loves to have a laugh.

-That caught you out!

-Do you want to do that again?

-He also relishes

-the challenge of selling a house.

-That didn't sound good!

-Today is a good day.

-Iestyn is in Trawscoed,

-near Aberystwyth...

-..to take a look at a property which

-has been on the market for a while.

-This is no ordinary house.

-It's not every day

-you get to view a house like this.

-This is part of the residence

-of the Vaughan family...

-..and it was

-part of the Crosswood Park estate.

-Crosswood Park was considered to be

-among Wales's top stately homes.

-It's being sold in lots...

-..and this one

-is valued at 500,000.

-Shoulders back, lovely boy!

-This section of the house could

-be adapted into a three-storey home.

-It includes an old library

-and ten acres of land.

-Ten acres of land

-which Iestyn is about to wreck!

-That was alright!

-The average house price in Wales

-is around 140,000...

-..but prices can vary at auction.

-One property seller and auctioneer

-who understands this...

-..is Glyn Owens

-from Clough & Co, Ruthin.

-Glyn specializes in selling farms

-and smallholdings...

-..mainly at auctions

-held at Ruthin Livestock Market.

-Glyn is carrying out a valuation

-on a unique property...

-..which goes under the hammer

-in a few weeks.

-I'm now in the school building.

-There are

-some interesting features here.

-This is an old wood and coal burner.

-Imagine how dangerous

-it must have been, years ago.

-This school wouldn't pass a

-health and safety inspection today.

-Let's go through to the extension

-which was added to the rear.

-Unfortunately, it's in disrepair.

-The roof has been leaking.

-This part of the building

-has a flat roof...

-..and it needs

-extensive repair work.

-Here you can see the girls' toilets

-and the boys' toilets.

-What sort of money does Glyn expect

-the old school to fetch at auction?

-We'll set an estimate of 60,000.

-With this sort of building...

-..it depends how much you'll spend

-on the finishing touches...

-..but the renovations

-are bound to cost around 100,000.

-Once the work has been done,

-it'll be a unique building...

-..and a wonderful home for someone.

-It will take hard work and at least

-100,000 to renovate the old school.

-Who will be the successful bidder

-at the auction?

-Back in Aberystwyth, selling

-Crosswood is a massive challenge...

-..but Iestyn doesn't seem to be

-too worried about it.

-Does he have more to show us?

-I wanted to show you this vista,

-looking out over the garden...

-..plus this floor.

-The ceiling joists

-support nothing but the ceiling.

-There are floor joists above it.

-If you bounced up and down upstairs,

-in the bedroom...

-..like a trampoline...

-..it wouldn't affect

-the ceiling below.

-The plaster wouldn't be damaged.

-I'm not sure what you mean, Iestyn!

-You'd easily spend over 200,000

-on the renovations.

-It depends on the standard

-of the finish you want.

-The first fix of electrics

-and plumbing has been done.

-It's just a matter

-of putting everything back together.

-To be fair, there's a lot of

-'putting back together' to be done.

-That ceiling needs a bit of work.

-Water has penetrated here,

-over time.

-The loose plaster

-has been removed...

-..and now, the coving

-needs to be remoulded and replaced.

-A lot of work.

-There are thousands of houses

-on the market in Wales.

-What sort of properties

-do our agents prefer to sell?

-I love selling mansions

-and seeing how the other half lives.

-I enjoy every sale,

-whether it's 50,000 or 500,000.

-I still get that buzz.

-I like selling expensive houses

-because our fees are then higher.

-At the end of the day, we give

-every house 100% of our efforts.

-Back at Crosswood, the old library

-is an excellent example...

-..of this great house's potential.

-But Iestyn wouldn't read in here.

-You could do anything in here.

-I'd love to put

-a full-size snooker table in here.

-You can imagine yourself living

-here, although the room is so huge.

-You'd fill it with furniture

-and it would be a great room.

-Lord Iestyn. Follow me.

-This very special room was created

-for the Prince Of Wales in 1923.

-A house's history

-always helps sell it.

-We all love to tell a good story

-over dinner.

-Few people can say that the Prince

-Of Wales has stayed in their house.

-It's worth something.

-Buy it!

-Thank goodness

-Iestyn is an optimist.

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-The housing market is evolving...

-..and estate agents

-must get creative to attract buyers.

-Someone who's keen for his business

-to stay ahead of the game...

-..is Dafydd Hardy.

-Today, it looks like Dafydd has

-ventured into the removals business.

-What needs to be moved in here?

-Along with Claire, his wife,

-Dafydd is offering a new service.

-We normally

-employ porters to do this.

-What you're seeing here

-is our home staging service.

-There's a lot of work to do before

-you put a house on the market.

-It's important that the property

-looks at its best...

-..so that we maximize its impact

-when it goes on the market.

-The company employs

-two professional photographers...

-..to produce the best possible

-marketing material.

-We do before-and-after shots to

-show the client how effective it is.

-We hope the photographs

-attract more buyers...

-..and we make a quicker sale.

-Teamwork

-is essential in this business...

-..and Dafydd is happy

-to roll up his sleeves.

-I don't tidy up like this at home!

-Claire and the photographer

-keep working...

-..while the boss has a sit down

-and a chat with the client.

-He does a fabulous job.

-I'd hate for her

-to be following us around, bless.

-She'd be horrified

-at us moving her stuff.

-The less she sees the better.

-Ideally, we'd pack everything

-in boxes and take it out...

-..so that when people view it, it

-looks as it does in the photographs.

-Sadly, that's not the case

-with this.

-Once the photographs are done...

-..they put everything back again.

-Will the staging pay off

-when it comes to selling the house?

-Everything's back where it belongs.

-In Crosswood, Iestyn is still

-seeking the perfect purchaser.

-An ancient property worth 500,000

-in need of 250,000 of repairs...

-..should sell quickly,

-but not in this case.

-One of the reasons it hasn't sold

-is the huge renovation cost.

-You'd probably pay the

-purchase price again on the repairs.

-Few people are willing

-to go through that process.

-You'd be dealing with builders

-and the planning department.

-That can put people off.

-I've got to find someone

-who's happy to do it.

-Iestyn must come up with

-a clever plan...

-..if he's going to find

-a brave, rich buyer...

-..but, as usual,

-he's up for the challenge.

-The challenge goes on

-until the day we sell it.

-It's auction day in Ruthin...

-..and the old school in Nebo

-is about to be sold.

-With three other lots to sell,

-a crowd has gathered.

-Come in quickly,

-or there will be nowhere to sit.

-I feel slightly nervous

-before every auction I take.

-I want to do my best for the people

-who asked us to sell their property.

-The community and the local council

-own the old school...

-..so we must do our best for them.

-Welcome, everyone.

-This is a big crowd,

-so make sure I can see you.

-This is your opportunity...

-..to buy the former school,

-or community centre, in Nebo.

-Any reasonable bids

-to start, please.

-20. Who said 20?

-Glyn hopes to sell the old school

-for 60,000.

-Bidding opened at 20,000

-but that figure soon climbs.

-60,000 by the door.

-Do I hear 61?

-With bids standing at over 60,000

-what will the selling price be?

-72, 73, 74, 75, 76.

-77,000.

-78,000.

-79,000.

-80,000.

-The price is higher than expected

-but how high will the bids go?

-82.

-83, 84.

-85,000.

-85,000 for the first time.

-85,000 for the second time.

-85,000 for the third and last time.

-The old school sold

-for an unexpectedly high 85,000.

-Who are the new owners

-and what are their plans?

-Hiya, Nia.

-This is Ruth from Dafydd Hardy.

-A few weeks have passed since Ruth

-valued Nia's house in Llangefni...

-..but there's been

-little interest in it.

-Ruth wants to discuss

-the way forward.

-Just a quick call about the house.

-We've touched on this before.

-Unfortunately, we've had a

-disappointing response to the house.

-I think we must look at

-lowering the asking price.

-Ruth was hopeful

-someone would make an offer...

-..at the asking price of 249,000.

-Lowering the asking price

-makes a difference...

-..to the people who search

-within a certain price bracket.

-When we have

-a substantial price drop...

-..the phones start to ring again

-and it attracts viewings.

-I really hope so.

-How do estate agents encourage

-clients to lower their asking price?

-We persuade them by showing them

-what else is on the market.

-We also try to work out

-what their motivation is.

-Do they really

-want to sell their property?

-Vendors are often willing

-to lower the asking price.

-With today's

-sophisticated computers...

-..if you don't change something,

-it gets stale.

-Changing prices and photos

-keeps it fresh online.

-At the end of the day,

-the vendor owns the property...

-..so it's up to him.

-I'd suggest you lower the

-asking price by at least 10,000...

-..if you want it

-to have the right impact.

-I don't think 5,000 would make much

-of a difference in that bracket.

-You must explain

-why you're asking the question...

-..and show them what works.

-I would then show the vendor what

-has sold after lowering the price...

-..and be honest with them.

-We tested the price and it didn't

-attract the interest we'd hoped...

-..so we must

-try to move things forward.

-Think about it,

-discuss it and get back to me.

-I hope to hear from you by the

-middle of next week at the latest.

-Alright? Lovely.

-Thank you. Bye.

-In Nebo, Glyn Owens

-is here to hand over the keys...

-..to the new owner

-of the old school.

-Here we are on a very exciting day

-for you, Meinir.

-Yes. I'm really excited.

-I can't stop smiling!

-The tension we saw on Meinir's face

-at the auction has disappeared.

-She has some fond memories

-of this place.

-My father

-went to this junior school.

-Uncle Eurwyn was the final child

-to be registered here.

-When I was young, my mother

-was the community centre secretary.

-We went to Nebo Show every year...

-..and Santa Claus has been here

-many times.

-It's part of my family.

-How does Meinir feel about

-the mountain of work she faces?

-The walls are really damp,

-so we must dry them out.

-I hope to take down these walls.

-I want to get rid of it all.

-Everything depends on

-planning permission and a mortgage.

-We may end up doing it bit by bit,

-as the money comes in.

-I want to enjoy it.

-I've always wanted to do a project

-like this, so it's perfect.

-Before he leaves, Glyn is keen

-to hear about Meinir's plans.

-I want it to be as open as possible.

-I also want to keep as many of the

-original features as I possibly can.

-I'd like

-a lounge and kitchen here...

-..and possibly a galleried bedroom.

-Brilliant.

-What about the rear?

-Bedrooms

-and a workshop, within the house.

-Brilliant.

-I've definitely got

-lots of weeding to do outside.

-What will you call it?

-What will you call it?

-

-Yr Hen Ysgol.

-That's the plan anyway.

-I wish you every success

-in Yr Hen Ysgol, Nebo.

-Thank you very much.

-It's a new beginning which sees

-a new family in the old school.

-Nia lowered the asking price

-for her house to 239,000...

-..and she hopes

-a family will buy it soon.

-Iestyn is typically upbeat about

-his hopes of selling Crosswood.

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones

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