0:00:02 > 0:00:05There are nearly a million homes lying lost and abandoned in the UK,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08waiting for someone to breathe life back into them.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Whether it's a tired semi or a rambling mansion,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13we're on the search for Britain's Empty Homes.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26If the thought of rescuing an old house tugs at your heartstrings,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29then we're going to show you how you can make one your very own.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34Today I'll be showing a couple of home-hunters around two vacant houses they could call home.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39- A lot of potential in it - this is the best bit of the property, really.- It is.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43We meet the people determined to take buildings from obsolete to occupied.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48You suddenly see them being brought back into use - you get a really big boost from it.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53And we'll see how once despondent domiciles have become dream des reses.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59While many people may dismiss empty properties as something of an eyesore,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03clued-up buyers know that behind their doors, could lie a world of possibility.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10Martin and Angela James have lived in their current modern house in Northamptonshire
0:01:10 > 0:01:13for the past seven years but are keen to try something different.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18I think Martin, more than me, would like a house with a bit more character.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20This one's a bit of a box.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- It's a lovely box!- But it is a box. - But it is a box.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28I think we do agree on the sort of property we want.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33I think you would prefer to have somewhere to eat in the kitchen or a kitchen/diner.
0:01:33 > 0:01:39And holistic therapist, Angela, needs a quiet space away from the house to work in.
0:01:39 > 0:01:45I need a decent-sized garden because I need to have, as I've got now,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48a room out there that I do the therapies in.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52I reckon Martin and Angela's best bet for finding what they want
0:01:52 > 0:01:55could lie behind the door of a vacant building.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Now then, Martin and Angela, what's behind this move of yours?
0:02:00 > 0:02:02It just feels the right time, basically.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06- We've been where we are for, what, seven years? - Yes, you've got the seven year itch!
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Martin gets a little bit bored sometimes.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14We would have moved more but sometimes I dig my heels in and go, "No, I'm not moving!"
0:02:14 > 0:02:19But you're prepared to give in now. Why are you prepared to go for this move at the moment, Angela?
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Now, I think I'm ready to take on a challenge with Martin.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27Are you fairly flexible as to the kind of property you're looking for?
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Is there a picture in your mind of the ideal?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31A village location - I think we like that.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Something with, not a big garden, but a garden you can do something with.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Let's think about the budget cos that's going to dictate everything. How much have you got to spend?
0:02:41 > 0:02:47- All in, 320-350. - So that's the purchase price AND money to do it up.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49- Let's see what we can find you. - OK.- OK.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54So, they want a house with character, three bedrooms,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58a large kitchen/diner and space for Angela's holistic therapy room -
0:02:58 > 0:03:01all for a budget of £350,000.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05We need to find them somewhere that fits the bill,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08which is why I've brought them to the village of Wilbarston,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12six miles outside Market Harborough in Leicestershire.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16With a pub, post office and shop, it has all that the Jameses are looking for,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19with a backdrop of beautiful open countryside.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23This detached cottage hasn't been lived in for more than two months.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It's on the market for just under £250,000,
0:03:26 > 0:03:32which will give them a further £100,000 spare from their budget to make it their ideal home.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36OK, let's start with this one. What do you think?
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- Um...- Looks very good. - Looks interesting.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44It's very interesting. The good thing is that although we are in a conservation area,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48which does have an effect on what you can try and do to this building,
0:03:48 > 0:03:49in itself, it's not listed.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53- OK, that's good. - It's a really good thing.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- Currently on the market for £250,000...- All right.- OK. - ..for an initial spend,
0:03:57 > 0:04:03leaving you, potentially, £100,000 or so to play with, depending on what you want to do to it.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- Let's see what you think. - Yeah, I'm excited.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Since the owner passed on, the house has been empty and is up for sale.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Inside, there are three bedrooms...
0:04:17 > 0:04:20..two reception rooms...
0:04:20 > 0:04:22and a kitchen, which all need a revamp.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Now, come in here.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- This is currently kitchen/diner, as you can see.- Mm.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- Not the biggest in the world.- No.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39- I don't think you would want this as your kitchen/diner.- Definitely not.
0:04:39 > 0:04:45The point about this whole area is that it's an extension to the earlier property,
0:04:45 > 0:04:50so my suggestion is that the wall with the wallpaper on it, all of that can come out,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52and that wall there would all go.
0:04:52 > 0:04:58- Behind that is a bathroom...- Right. - ..and again I would get rid.- Yeah.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03So you open this up in a pretty big way,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07cos what the property could then offer you is a mixture of character where it exists -
0:05:07 > 0:05:12you'd keep that bit - and then you'd go for a nice modern, slick, clean look in the kitchen.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- Yeah, I can see that. Yeah.- Yeah. - Good. Let's continue through here.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21This is where the character really comes to life.
0:05:21 > 0:05:27This room is similar to what's next door - very cottagey, very cosy.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- Yes.- No square lines. - No square lines.
0:05:30 > 0:05:36It's good, it's got the two windows, cos you've got a bit more light coming in than you'd have normally.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41- In terms of space...?- It's all you'd need.- I think it's enough, yes.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44- Because it is basically a sitting room, isn't it?- Yes.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51So, after a quick tour of the three upstairs bedrooms, one of which has an en-suite loo,
0:05:51 > 0:05:56I take Angela and Martin outside to show them where there may be the possibility of extending.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Right, let's have a first look at the rear of the property.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06- Aw!- Quite sweet, isn't it?- It is.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Now, as you've seen upstairs, it's a bit poky.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14What we're suggesting is that you could come out on the left-hand side of the property
0:06:14 > 0:06:20with an upper-storey extension that would come out over half of the new open-plan kitchen/diner.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25- Right.- That would allow you space for either very generously apportioned three bedrooms
0:06:25 > 0:06:31with an extra family bathroom upstairs in the property,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35or you could potentially squeeze in a smaller family bathroom and go for a four bed.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39That makes it a better proposition - it's too small as it is, upstairs.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- So, that would be a lot better.- Yeah.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47The garden is a decent size and there is a detached garage
0:06:47 > 0:06:52plus there is an interesting space that would be ideal for Angela's therapy room.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55This used to be the old village wash house.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57This is a project in its own right.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- You can't wait to get in, can you? - No!
0:07:04 > 0:07:08- Now, this is quite an interesting space.- Oh, my gosh!
0:07:08 > 0:07:14- This is tremendous.- Yes. - Can you see yourself in here as a big open-plan studio?
0:07:14 > 0:07:19Definitely! I think you could even split it - I might share a little bit with you!
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- LAUGHTER - What would you do in your half?
0:07:21 > 0:07:27I'd... Well, I was just thinking, get rid of the garage, have a garage and a room.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- So save yourself the job of the garage.- We've got more garden.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32- Brilliant.- Fantastic.- Yeah.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Something like this is a real asset.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41To realise all the potential here, demands the expertise of an architect,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43so we asked a local one to inspect the house
0:07:43 > 0:07:48and price up for knocking through in the kitchen to create an open-plan space,
0:07:48 > 0:07:53extending and reconfiguring the upstairs to create three large bedrooms and a family bathroom
0:07:53 > 0:07:57and turning the old wash house into a therapy room for Angela.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- We're thinking about £20,000-£25,000 to do this up.- In here, yeah.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06About £10,000 on a new garage but you've saved that already by putting it in here.
0:08:06 > 0:08:12But all in, we are confident that for the £100,000 left over from your 350 budget,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15you would do all of that - put the extension on the back of the property,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18renew the kitchen area etc.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22So, going to the top of your budget of 350 but you would achieve it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27- Yeah.- It has a lot of potential in it. This is the best bit of the property, really.- It is.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Yeah, it does feel good, actually, it's got a nice vibe.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- So, worth showing you?- Very much so.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37- Something for you to think about. - Something we would never have thought of, I have to say.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42- I'd have probably just not walked in here.- Ah! So we might have opened your eyes a bit?- Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47When it comes to making a vacant house your home,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51keeping your eyes open for any opportunity can pay off handsomely,
0:08:51 > 0:08:56which is exactly what happened when Catherine and Sam Heppenstall found Stubbin Farm
0:08:56 > 0:08:58in Holmfirth in Yorkshire.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00We'd walked past it many times as a family
0:09:00 > 0:09:04and often thought, "What a beautiful house - we'd love to live there."
0:09:04 > 0:09:08We'd approached the guy who owned it many times and one day he said, "Yes, you can buy it."
0:09:08 > 0:09:10It was just, like, "Crikey!"
0:09:10 > 0:09:13The house was in a shocking state
0:09:13 > 0:09:17when they paid £130,000 for it in 2002.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21It were derelict - it had been empty for six or seven years,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25so it were really uninhabitable.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29- Totally, we had trees growing here in the kitchen.- Yeah, it were grim.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Yeah - grim's a good word for it!
0:09:34 > 0:09:39It was a really sad house but you could see it had once been so happy and it just needed a little bit...
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Well, it ended up being A LOT of love and attention.
0:09:42 > 0:09:48Being in such a beautiful location dictated to Catherine and Sam how they wanted the house to look.
0:09:49 > 0:09:57We tried to use as much reclaimed stone and locally-sourced materials as we can to make it blend in.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Yeah, and look as though it's original.
0:09:59 > 0:10:06Catherine and Sam have worked hard to make their perfect family home in a once derelict farmhouse
0:10:06 > 0:10:10and it's cost them much less than if they'd bought it newly renovated.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15The farmhouse cost us about £130,000 and then we spent another 220 on it,
0:10:15 > 0:10:21so, recently, when we had it valued at £500,000, it really did make it worthwhile.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24I would never give it up.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28I love it - we've got the pigs, the chickens. We're doing the good life!
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I want to do it - I don't want to be striving towards something else.
0:10:31 > 0:10:37I want to stop and enjoy what we've got and I want the children to have their memories planted in this home.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41The memories within the walls are our memories and will reflect that in years to come.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52For every empty property lying boarded up in your neighbourhood,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56the chances are there's an empty property officer working hard behind the scenes
0:10:56 > 0:11:01looking for clues as to who owns it and what can be done to bring it back into use.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Sue Hague heads up a team based in Devon covering an area of almost 700 square miles,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11taking in both urban and rural properties.
0:11:11 > 0:11:18What people tend to think is that if the council comes to see them then it's because they're in trouble
0:11:18 > 0:11:20and that's not the case.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25In her sights today is a new case in Exeter
0:11:25 > 0:11:29brought to her attention by the council's environmental health department
0:11:29 > 0:11:32after a concerned neighbour contacted them.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36I haven't seen this and we need to have a really good look at it,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38see what kind of state it's in
0:11:38 > 0:11:42and then see where we need to take it from there.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Sue's first task is to establish if anyone is living there or not.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56The property appears to be very, very overgrown.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01I'm quite surprised, just looking at this, that we haven't been contacted before.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Extremely overgrown and...
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Good heavens!
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Completely full of rubbish.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17I have to say, this is one of the worst I've seen.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22A lot of this looks like it could be building rubbish.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27It could be that work's started on the property, maybe to convert it,
0:12:27 > 0:12:32and not actually managed to get the planning permission that they need.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34So, that's something we'll really need to look at
0:12:34 > 0:12:38and see whether there is any planning application in on the property.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42But what we really need to do is get this cleared.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45But that's just the front garden.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46Sue's still not seen inside.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51I can't see down to see whether there's any post lying around.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55If you can see that there's post in there,
0:12:55 > 0:12:59it probably means that at some stage they're going to collect that post.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01What we can do is write a letter to the actual property
0:13:01 > 0:13:05and then, hopefully, once the owners pick it up they'll contact us.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10It doesn't always work but at least it's a way of attempting to get hold of them.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14It almost looks like it's open at the back.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19She's keen to check the back of the house to make sure it's secure.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23We have a wall.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26But the only way to gain access is through a neighbouring building.
0:13:26 > 0:13:27Thank you.
0:13:33 > 0:13:39It looks as if the original door that was on the back has been removed.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44There's certainly not any activity gone on there for quite a while.
0:13:44 > 0:13:50For now, Sue's done all she can at the house but the investigation is far from over.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52The next step is back to the office, make a few calls,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55see if we can find out who the property belongs to and take it from there.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02If you want something done about a vacant building near you,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05contact your local property officer who can investigate it for you.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15Martin and Angela James have lived in their current home in Northamptonshire for seven years
0:14:15 > 0:14:19but now they're itching to live a quieter life in a semi-rural setting.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21With £350,000 to spend,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I think a vacant home could offer them everything they want.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30We started off at a cottage in the village of Wilbarston near Market Harborough
0:14:30 > 0:14:34on offer for a figure just shy of £250,000.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39£100,000 under budget, it had ample room to satisfy Angela's need for workspace.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- This is tremendous.- Yes.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Now I'm taking them to the village of Swineshead and to Elm Cottage.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Set in an idyllic spot, this place has not been lived in for the past 11 months.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Right, now, property number two -
0:14:58 > 0:15:03quite an old property, it's probably a good 200-300 years at its core.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07It's hard to tell because it's been covered in this pebble-dash render.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- It's a pretty village location. What do you think?- I like the village.
0:15:10 > 0:15:17- Very nice.- It all looks very nice but this, straightaway, looks too small, I have to say.
0:15:17 > 0:15:24- But that is reflected in the price - £175,000.- OK.- Yeah. - Way under your £350,000.
0:15:24 > 0:15:29This is a classic case of a historic property that's just been left
0:15:29 > 0:15:35to literally fall apart and it's going to require some very sympathetic historic renovation.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- OK.- You'll see what I mean on the inside...- Mm.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40..and we'll see whether you're up for it!
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Inside, there are two bedrooms and two reception rooms.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56The whole house is in need of a complete renovation.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Come on in - squeeze round the door.
0:16:00 > 0:16:06You're quite right, Angela - it isn't the biggest place in the world, to be fair.
0:16:06 > 0:16:13- You can see for yourself.- Well, I'm a very small person and even for me this is claustrophobic.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17- Might be good for decorating but... - Don't touch that too much.- Sorry.
0:16:17 > 0:16:23One of the reasons this is going to be a quick look around the property is that we can't really go upstairs.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26These stairs here are full of damp.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29I have looked at it earlier but I'm not going to take you up there.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31So, up here you've got two bedrooms.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Effectively, it was a two up, two down.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40But, as I say, there is scope to extend it.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45- But as you can see, everything needs doing - the lot.- Right.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46Come through here.
0:16:46 > 0:16:52That's your bathroom, in there. As you can see, it all needs sorting.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- The whole place needs gutting.- Yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00This is the sort of house where you'd say to a builder, "Give it back in six months' time."
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Yes, exactly. I don't think you'd move in and do this on the hoof.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08I think you'd have to trust the builder - really, really trust him.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Well, come through here.
0:17:12 > 0:17:18Well, last but not least down here, we've got this - it's obviously been knocked through at some point.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23This, I think, is hiding a timber beam.
0:17:23 > 0:17:29- Don't knock it too hard! - I think the beam's all right - it's the ceiling I'm worried about!
0:17:29 > 0:17:32You've really got to empty all of this.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- But, you know, it's a project! - It's a project.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40There are ways of extending this, very similar to what we saw in our first property,
0:17:40 > 0:17:45that is to create a kind of a two-storey wing on it.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47You would push through that wall, there.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52Outside, the garden is big enough to give scope for extending the house
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and there is a garage which could become a therapy room for Angela.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59To get an idea of how to tap into the potential here,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02we asked a local architect to give it the once over.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06She measured up to see just how much work and cash would be necessary
0:18:06 > 0:18:09to get the place just how Martin and Angela would want it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12There are two ways of looking at this place.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17One - you could look at pricing it up to just simply renovate what's here.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23That's going to cost you somewhere in the order of £60,000-£80,000.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27On top of the £175,000 also.
0:18:27 > 0:18:34If one was to turn it round a little further and look at bringing this out to about here,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37- so the wall would be about there. - OK, right.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Two-storey gable, like that,
0:18:39 > 0:18:45running back into there to give you a third bedroom and potentially an en suite.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48You're probably talking about an additional £80,000.
0:18:48 > 0:18:56- Mm.- So, about £160,000 odd, which combined with the asking price, puts you pretty much at your 350-ish...
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- if you were going to take it on but you probably aren't! - I don't think so!
0:18:59 > 0:19:07- OK.- It's a lot of money for a small property.- It's a small plot, um...
0:19:07 > 0:19:10I think, you know, I take on board what you said
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and I know I've been quite negative,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15but I can see you could do something with it.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Angela and Martin have toured two empty properties.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Both offered massive scope to become their dream home.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26We'll find out later if they're up to taking on one of them.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Meanwhile in Exeter, empty property officer, Sue Hague,
0:19:34 > 0:19:37is back on the trail of vacant homes in need of residents.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42This morning we're going to see a little two-bed terraced property
0:19:42 > 0:19:45that we've known about for about four years now
0:19:45 > 0:19:51but only actually within the last two years managed to find out who the owner was
0:19:51 > 0:19:55and actually managed to work with him to bring this property back into use.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Getting a grant from Exeter Council means the owner of this terrace is now able to renovate it
0:20:01 > 0:20:05on the condition he then lets it to tenants on the housing waiting list.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10Today, Sue's meeting a council-approved builder to assess what work needs to be done.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16- We need the windows and doors in first to secure the property.- OK.
0:20:16 > 0:20:22Then we'll need the electrics in and the central heating pipework to be done,
0:20:22 > 0:20:27- so we can start putting the floors down and get everything secure, so we can walk around safely in it.- OK.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31So, once we get to the stage where we've got the floors down,
0:20:31 > 0:20:36- how long would you envisage then for plastering and...?- Within a week.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40- Really? As quick as that? - Once the floor's down, yeah.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45It's going to need a complete renovation from the ground up.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Oh, good grief!
0:20:49 > 0:20:52It's going to look very, very different, isn't it?
0:20:52 > 0:20:54But it needs to!
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- We can't get much worse than this. - No.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01It's a relief to see it cleared.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05Now you can see the framework of the house, you can see what it's going to become.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Sue's next port of call is with the landlord of a flat at the other end of the process.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17The main problems here were that the property was suffering from damp.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22There was only a gas fire in the main lounge, with a free-standing heater in the bedroom
0:21:22 > 0:21:28and the old doors at the back were wooden ones, they weren't really helping the situation at all.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Lovely lounge area and a nice garden area out the back, as well.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35It is lovely, the garden, isn't it?
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Getting help from the council with finance and building work
0:21:39 > 0:21:41means this place is ready to be occupied once again.
0:21:41 > 0:21:48'I would hope that we could be looking at tenanting the property next week or the week after.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53'You get a really big boost from it when you consider you see the property right at the beginning'
0:21:53 > 0:21:58and it can be in as severe a state as the one we saw before that was nearly derelict,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01and then you suddenly see them being brought back into use
0:22:01 > 0:22:06and you see a family move in and start a happy life in a home that they can afford.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08There can't be anything better than that.
0:22:12 > 0:22:18Bringing an unloved house back into use can reap both emotional and financial rewards.
0:22:18 > 0:22:23And sometimes it's not what you know but who you know, as Adrianne Brewer discovered
0:22:23 > 0:22:29when a friend of hers put this Georgian farmhouse on the market in South Devon in 2004.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34We were in Devon visiting them and he said, "Come and have a look at it."
0:22:34 > 0:22:41So we went over and it was an October day and the rain was horizontal and it was dark and miserable
0:22:41 > 0:22:47and the house was... It was a sight, just completely derelict, broken windows, the roof was broken
0:22:47 > 0:22:49but there was just something about it.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55When you see a house like that, there's an element of wanting to turn those houses back into family homes.
0:22:55 > 0:23:02Coombe House hadn't been lived in for two years when she bought it and began a twelve-month renovation.
0:23:02 > 0:23:08Once we owned it and we started really doing the design work and the planning
0:23:08 > 0:23:12then I think it got a bit scary because you realised how much there was to do.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16In fact, I brought my father over from Canada and had him start the project for us.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20I just didn't know where to begin - it was so huge.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25Her father's experience in the construction industry certainly helped at the start
0:23:25 > 0:23:30and Adrianne knew she wanted to create a look that was sympathetic to the period of the house.
0:23:31 > 0:23:37We've left a lot of the original stone on the walls and the flagstones in the floors.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42In some of the rooms, we've revealed the original stonework and I love that we've done it like that.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48When we bought the house, it had been on the market for about £500,000.
0:23:48 > 0:23:54Our budget had been around £350,000-£400,000 to bring it back to a family standard.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59Hopefully, it's still worth more than that now, finished, if one wanted to sell it again,
0:23:59 > 0:24:00which, at the moment, we don't.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03If you buy something that needs work doing to it,
0:24:03 > 0:24:08then you probably can afford a little more than if you were buying it already done.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10It gives you a lot more house in the end
0:24:10 > 0:24:14than if you're buying something somebody else has done the work to.
0:24:14 > 0:24:19And she's clear that taking on an abandoned place was the right thing for her and her family.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24We love being in the house - it's really calm and peaceful and it's full of light.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28It suits the family beautifully so we enjoy the house very much.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40And if you're keen to make an empty house your next home, here is how you can start your search.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Once you've chosen your location,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47make sure you let local estate agents know precisely what you're looking for
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and to notify you the moment suitable properties hit their books
0:24:50 > 0:24:54but you may have to act fast as they're often highly sought after.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57If you're prepared to cast your net wide for your ideal house,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00auction houses often have vacant buildings for sale,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03so why not check out their catalogues on line?
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Martin and Angela James want to move somewhere semi rural.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11They'd like three bedrooms, a large kitchen/diner
0:25:11 > 0:25:14and a garden where Angela can create a holistic therapy room.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18I've shown them two houses well inside their £350,000 budget
0:25:18 > 0:25:23but has either convinced them a disused dwelling is the right choice?
0:25:23 > 0:25:28I'm going to start slightly back to front and deal with our last property first.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33- It's not for us.- It's not for you - clearly too much of a project - but could you see its merits?
0:25:34 > 0:25:39I can only see some merit in doing up what's there.
0:25:39 > 0:25:44In other words, putting a two up, two down in good order on that plot.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47The plot's too small for doing anything else.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Well, let's revisit what I hope are somewhat happier pastures!
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Our first property with that extraordinary outbuilding.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58We gave you quite a lot to think about in terms of how you might knock it around.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00What did you make of that?
0:26:00 > 0:26:04I thought it was very good - a lot of potential there for doing different things with.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09We talked about the barn or the old washroom, that's what it was.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13There are a lot of options that need re-looking at.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18But it would certainly give you the space that you're looking for in terms of a therapy room
0:26:18 > 0:26:22- and the retreat that you're craving. - Yes, definitely, that fitted the bill.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26And I could see what we could do with that place.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27So, what happens next?
0:26:27 > 0:26:31I think we need to look again. We need to have another look at it.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- I think so, yeah.- It's definitely an interesting proposition
0:26:34 > 0:26:38and it's not something I'd have looked at if I'd just seen it on paper.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Brilliant. We've inspired you to take on an empty property
0:26:41 > 0:26:46- and may have found something you wouldn't have considered in the first place.- Definitely.
0:26:46 > 0:26:52- Well, I'm delighted. Thank you very much indeed and very best of luck. - Thank you very much.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Like any kind of prospecting, it takes time to find your diamond in the rough.
0:26:56 > 0:27:02Once you've found it, of course, you can cut and polish it to fit your very own exacting requirements.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:20 > 0:27:23E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk