0:00:02 > 0:00:05There are nearly a million homes abandoned in the UK
0:00:05 > 0:00:09waiting for someone to come along and give them a brand-new lease of life.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12So whether it's a tired semi or a rambling mansion,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15we are on a mission to rescue Britain's empty homes.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Buying a house is the biggest investment
0:00:28 > 0:00:29that most of us will ever make,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33so it's vital to make sure your money goes as far as possible.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35To do that, you have to learn how to spot the potential
0:00:35 > 0:00:37in properties that other people can't.
0:00:37 > 0:00:42Those in the know know that the best bargains are empty homes.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45'Today I'm helping a couple of house-hunters in their quest
0:00:45 > 0:00:50'to find an empty place that's perfect for their plan to downsize.'
0:00:50 > 0:00:53He's the pragmatist and I'm the one who'll go, "You never know."
0:00:53 > 0:00:54"You never know," yes.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57'And they'll be getting some cautionary advice
0:00:57 > 0:01:01'from renovators in the middle of their own transformation.'
0:01:01 > 0:01:04We underestimated how long it would take to do this.
0:01:04 > 0:01:10'We'll also be joining an empty property officer on his mission to get disused houses occupied again.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:13When you start bringing them back into use, the whole area improves.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18When moving home, one of the toughest things you can do is
0:01:18 > 0:01:21to transplant yourself into a much more expensive area.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Often it's going to mean buying a much smaller house,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27so it's vital that you maximise your money,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30finding something with potential that's yet to be realised,
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and that's where empty properties come in.
0:01:33 > 0:01:39'Artist Katie Priday and handyman husband Lee currently live in a four-bed house in Gloucestershire,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42'but as their children have flown the nest, they want to downsize
0:01:42 > 0:01:47'and start afresh in Brighton on the Sussex coast.'
0:01:47 > 0:01:50- I'm excited about moving to Brighton.- Yes, I'm excited.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54I think it will be a great place, to come and renovate a property
0:01:54 > 0:01:55and add value to it
0:01:55 > 0:01:59and I think we're going to enjoy living in a city and on the coast.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03At the moment we're living in the country, and the country is really quiet,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07which has been brilliant for the last few years because of the kids, but now...
0:02:07 > 0:02:11We're just looking for somewhere with a bit more life.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14'Ideally, they want a two or three-bedroom flat that is
0:02:14 > 0:02:18'within walking distance to the sea, but Brighton is pricey, so they are going to have
0:02:18 > 0:02:23'to draw on every ounce of their creative and practical skills
0:02:23 > 0:02:25'to get the most out of their £300,000 budget.'
0:02:25 > 0:02:29We're looking for an empty property because I'm not good at waiting,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33so I want somewhere where we'll be able to move quite quickly.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37'I'm going to give them the benefit of my renovation experience to help
0:02:37 > 0:02:41'them recognise all the potential empty properties have to offer.'
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- Hi, Katie. Hi, Lee. How are you? - Hello.- Come on, let's have a chat.
0:02:46 > 0:02:52Well, what's this move all about? How much renovation have you done before, Lee?
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Well, I've renovated three properties before, actually.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Have you ever done anything from scratch?
0:02:58 > 0:03:01No I've never done anything from scratch as such.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I can put my hand to lots of things, but I do realise my limits.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08Knowing your limits is right, Lee. I totally agree with you on that.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I have this illusion that I help him an awful lot, but having
0:03:11 > 0:03:14looked back, I'm thinking I don't think I do.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I think that's probably very unfair.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19You know, people think that renovation is all about
0:03:19 > 0:03:22having to do it yourself, but the truth is it's how you manage it.
0:03:22 > 0:03:27You're both very creative people, so I think taking on an empty property could be the way to go.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31- Yeah.- Could be quite fun. - Yeah. Well, let's hope so.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36'Later I'll be taking Katie and Lee to meet other renovators in the area
0:03:36 > 0:03:41'who have taken on the challenge of resuscitating empty houses,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44'but first I want to set them something of a challenge to see
0:03:44 > 0:03:48'how imaginative they could be when it comes to downsizing.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51'After all, they will be moving from a large four-bed house
0:03:51 > 0:03:56'to a small flat and will need to adjust their expectations accordingly.'
0:03:56 > 0:03:59I'm keen to see how Katie and Lee react to the reality
0:03:59 > 0:04:03of looking around a house that's much smaller than they are used to.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07I also want to know if they can think laterally about how best to use the space on offer.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Without me to guide them, I've sent them off to have a look
0:04:10 > 0:04:14at a good example of the sort of empty property they could buy.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19'Flats in the centre of Brighton aren't cheap, so with their £300,000 budget,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22'Katie and Lee may well find themselves considering a flat
0:04:22 > 0:04:26'in one of the many terraced houses in the city's less expensive areas,
0:04:26 > 0:04:32'like this two-bedroom maisonette on the market for £225,000.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37'Having sat empty for months, it's ripe for improvement.'
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Could do with a bit of tender loving care, I think.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45Yeah, I think so, yes. I mean, looking at the outside of it
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I'm not sure I'm going to like the inside, but let's see.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- You'll hold judgement until we get in there.- Yeah.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56'The existing rooms could be reconfigured to make the most of
0:04:56 > 0:05:00'the space, something all downsizers need to be on the lookout for,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04'and planning permitting, there is also scope for an extension too.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07'But will Katie and Lee spot this?'
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Oh, actually,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15this is quite nice, I like the cornice thing up there.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Oh, this is slightly bigger than you'd think.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Yeah. I actually think this has been let out as bedsits at some stage.
0:05:23 > 0:05:29The thing is I'm not sure whether this would be a kitchen-diner for some reason, I'm not sure.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31I'm not sure...
0:05:31 > 0:05:35'And also downstairs, next door to the kitchen, is the bathroom.'
0:05:35 > 0:05:38That is quite a big bathroom, actually, isn't it?
0:05:38 > 0:05:40This could be a really useful room.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43You don't know until you've looked upstairs,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46because the layout of this is awful, to be perfectly honest.
0:05:47 > 0:05:52'Layouts of converted flats in old, empty houses are often outdated.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56'It can be surprising and rewarding to discover how much more space
0:05:56 > 0:06:00'can be unlocked by taking a more modern approach to their redesign.'
0:06:00 > 0:06:05- There's a room here.- Well, this cold possibly become the bathroom.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- What's this one? - It's quite nice, actually.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11You can take cupboards out.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15'It's often not until you have the bigger picture
0:06:15 > 0:06:18'that all the remodelling opportunities will appear.'
0:06:18 > 0:06:21You see what they've done to the back of those houses.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Oh, yes. Oh, my goodness, yes.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25They've actually come out, haven't they?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28They've basically created a much larger space up there.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Do you know, having looked at what they've done to those houses
0:06:33 > 0:06:37over there, there's no reason why you couldn't actually
0:06:37 > 0:06:39take the stairs from here and go out that way,
0:06:39 > 0:06:45so that's getting you your access to the loft.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Ah.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Well, it would be worth investigating, anyway.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Yeah, it would, wouldn't it?
0:06:52 > 0:06:57'As well as plans for the loft, Lee also thinks downstairs could become more open-plan.'
0:06:57 > 0:07:01You'd have to have a look, but knock out some walls so you could knock through...
0:07:01 > 0:07:06- Yeah, I'd like that. - With the living room, that would become a kitchen-diner.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- You are the expert at that bit. - Well, I wouldn't say I'm an expert at it, but...
0:07:11 > 0:07:14'Well, they've pieced together quite a few possibilities here,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17'so has it inspired them in their quest to downsize?'
0:07:19 > 0:07:23OK, guys, let's have a think about that property that you viewed.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26I know there were one or two issues to say the least.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28- Yeah.- Go on, Lee.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Um, I mean, you could turn it into a lovely property
0:07:31 > 0:07:35by opening up the downstairs, you know,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38making it far more open-plan, and hopefully you could
0:07:38 > 0:07:41get the planning permission to go into the loft space.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Let's think about prices. How much did you think it would cost you to renovate?
0:07:44 > 0:07:48About £50,000 to £60,000. I mean, you'd still have to get
0:07:48 > 0:07:51the professionals in to give you quotes and everything.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Well, we did get a professional in and he quoted on £50,000 to do all of that.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59In some ways, I know you were saying "Could we recoup that?"
0:07:59 > 0:08:03Part of the gamble, the game, if you like, with empty properties
0:08:03 > 0:08:08is sometimes sticking your neck out into areas that aren't perhaps as desirable at the moment.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14There is no doubt that that's a very sizeable property for Brighton for the price that it is.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Yeah, but I just felt that the road that it was on, it's always going to
0:08:18 > 0:08:23be quite limited as to how... Because the ceiling price on that property.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27It's funny, isn't it? Because he's the pragmatist and I'm the one
0:08:27 > 0:08:29that will probably go, "Well, you never know."
0:08:29 > 0:08:33- "Well, you never know."- So you are heart and he is head?- Yeah, possibly.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- Sometimes.- Yeah, yeah.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38The best thing to do now is have a look at couple of renovations,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41one of which is halfway through, one of which is finished.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43We'll meet the owners, and hopefully you'll
0:08:43 > 0:08:46come away with a few more ideas that you can employ on your own.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51'It is incredible to see unoccupied buildings transformed into inspiring homes,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55'but getting there requires precise planning and clear vision from the start.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59'Which is just what Morag Christie had when she saw these
0:08:59 > 0:09:04'two adjoined former farm workers' cottages in Norfolk back in 2007.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09'They had been empty for nine months, and she knew exactly what she wanted to do with them.'
0:09:09 > 0:09:12It was just a warren, really, loads of small rooms.
0:09:12 > 0:09:18I knew that I could pull all the rooms downstairs to the left-hand side of the house into one
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and make a big sort of kitchen-dining family room.
0:09:21 > 0:09:29'Although she had a clear plan, it wasn't without challenges, all of which Morag took in her stride.'
0:09:29 > 0:09:30There was an awful lot to do.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36We got walls out, stairs out, windows out. There was a few problems.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41The RSJs that we brought in to do a 5m stretch were ginormous,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44and that was the builder's problems, not mine,
0:09:44 > 0:09:50but I was here every morning and every evening and saw what was going on. I'm a bit of a dragon,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54so when things need doing, they need doing, we have to get on with them.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00'Having bought the cottages for £227,000,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03'Morag spent a further £80,000 transforming them
0:10:03 > 0:10:09'into her cherished home which now has an estimated value of £410,000.'
0:10:09 > 0:10:13You know, we got there, and it's mine now,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17it's my home, and this is where I live and this is what I love.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22'As well as being profitable, the project has been emotionally rewarding too.'
0:10:22 > 0:10:28I think doing your own property, it brings out something in you that you didn't know was there.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32It's like all of a sudden it's magic, it's,
0:10:32 > 0:10:38it becomes your home but it's yours and you've put your stamp on it.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42This is what I wanted and I'm very, very happy here.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50Now, whilst empty homes may be good for house-hunters,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53most of us wouldn't really want to live next door to one.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58Once abandoned, they begin to look tired and scruffy and can really bring a neighbourhood down.
0:10:58 > 0:10:59In a bid to stop this happening,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03local councils employ somebody called an empty property officer.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08'And in Bristol that officer is Henry Dawson, who for the last five years
0:11:08 > 0:11:13'has spearheaded the challenge of turning the city's vacant properties into homes again.'
0:11:13 > 0:11:16There's nothing more rewarding that when you see
0:11:16 > 0:11:20a family move into a property you've brought back into use.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24'Along with an active casebook of around 300 empties at any one time,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28'Henry is alert to any possible new additions
0:11:28 > 0:11:33'and today he is looking into a complaint from a neighbour of a possible empty house.'
0:11:33 > 0:11:37The main concern of the complaint, it seems to be about a tree that they've
0:11:37 > 0:11:41got in the property which is growing over into her garden.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45'But before he inspects the place, he needs to search the databases to identify the owner.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:51Usually the first steps for me would be to carry out a search
0:11:51 > 0:11:56of the Land Registry to confirm the ownership details of the property.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58It's got the name of the landlord,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02um...which is unusual, actually, we've got a full address for them.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06I suppose the next step, really, is to go out and have a look at it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15That looks like our property now.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18Yes, a tall and enormous tree in the front garden.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22'While an overgrown tree may not sound like much of a problem on its own,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25'left to grow unchecked to the size of this one,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29'it's often a sign the place has been abandoned.'
0:12:29 > 0:12:31It's just got a bit out of control.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36'And there could be the additional risk of tree roots causing possible structural damage.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41'The tree is clearly a problem, but it doesn't mean the house is definitely empty,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44'so now Henry needs to check to see if anyone is at home.'
0:12:48 > 0:12:50I can see through the letter box.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53It's fairly clean and tidy in there.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Looks like it's open.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03I think we've found where most of the furniture is kept.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Nothing in there.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18No, I can't see anything in there.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23Looks like I might have to go and have a chat with one of the neighbours.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27'It's standard procedure that after rudimentary checks on a house, empty property officers
0:13:27 > 0:13:32'rely on talking with neighbours for further information, and in this case, where
0:13:32 > 0:13:38'overgrown vegetation is an issue, Henry needs to ask to see the back garden from a neighbour's house.'
0:13:38 > 0:13:43- Hello, my name is Henry Dawson from Bristol City Council's empty properties team.- Oh, right.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46They let me have a look around the back, and it is overgrown,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49and the property is starting to look quite tatty.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Next move, I think, will be to
0:13:51 > 0:13:55try and contact the owner and to get the garage sealed up,
0:13:55 > 0:14:01and then after that we can hopefully start addressing the vegetation at the front of the property.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06'The owner has now secured the garage and is aware of concern about the tree.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09'Henry has also let him know of the various ways the council
0:14:09 > 0:14:12'can assist householders in getting property back into use again.'
0:14:12 > 0:14:15If you are interested in buying an empty home and you
0:14:15 > 0:14:17want a good deal, you have to move quickly.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22If you are a first-time buyer, make sure you've got your mortgage agreement in place,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and if you've got something to sell, make sure you've got the sale agreed
0:14:25 > 0:14:30so you can get out there and start putting some realistic bids in on the home of your dreams.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40'Katie and Lee Priday are dreaming of relocating and downsizing
0:14:40 > 0:14:42'to a two-bedroom flat in Brighton on the south coast.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45'They hope to take on an empty property and remodel it
0:14:45 > 0:14:49'into an open-plan style to get the most out of every square inch
0:14:49 > 0:14:52'that their £300,000 budget will allow.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57'And while they clearly have the imagination required to design
0:14:57 > 0:15:02'open-plan living, I'm keen to show them why it's essential to consider the finer details
0:15:02 > 0:15:06'before knocking everything out in a rush of enthusiasm.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09'So I want them to meet a couple of renovators who are finding out
0:15:09 > 0:15:13'the hard way when it comes to creating their ideal home.'
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Well, guys, now we've got the chance to show you our first property.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22There we are. As you can see, very much a work in progress.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27If you are keen on open-plan living, this is a great example of how to do it,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31but also, I think, highlights some of the real pitfalls you can have
0:15:31 > 0:15:33when it comes to knocking things about.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39'This three-bed semi in Hove, West Sussex, appeared at just the right time
0:15:39 > 0:15:42'for Claire Hofford and Martin Wright.
0:15:42 > 0:15:48'Empty for a month and on the market for £290,000, Martin and Claire knew
0:15:48 > 0:15:51'they'd finally found the house to turn into their first family home.'
0:15:51 > 0:15:55We were living in a one-bedroom flat and we found out we were
0:15:55 > 0:15:58having a baby and decided that now was the right time to move.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03For us to stay in an area we wanted to live in, we had to take on a project.
0:16:03 > 0:16:08My view on it when we started was, "We'll knock a few walls down, put some steels up,
0:16:08 > 0:16:14"rip all the carpets out, get a plasterer in, then decorate it."
0:16:14 > 0:16:17To me, I thought it would be that simple, but it clearly isn't.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22Something this size just does take so much time and also a lot of money.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27'Claire and Martin have undertaken a major remodelling of the interior of the house,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30'and with a baby on the way they've just a few months
0:16:30 > 0:16:34'to finish it all, and right now it's a total building site.'
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Wow. This is, um, this is in progress, then, isn't it?
0:16:39 > 0:16:44We can see that you've obviously gutted it, but structurally, I mean, this is ambitious.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49I totally underestimated how long it would take to do this,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and if you'd asked me two months ago, I would have said we'd be in here by now.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- Really?- Yeah.- What are the big things that have held you up?
0:16:56 > 0:16:58The steel was a big problem.
0:16:58 > 0:17:04We've ended up with a steel across there, a nine-inch brick pier built there to support the steel one side.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08I'm not a builder and I didn't appreciate the fact that the ground workers had to dig down,
0:17:08 > 0:17:13chop the concrete away, get down to the foundation and set the steel in in concrete.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Oh, my word.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18So that must have been more of an expense than you thought.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23We're lucky. I am an electrician, and Claire works for a building company, so we've got people on tap.
0:17:23 > 0:17:24People that we trust.
0:17:24 > 0:17:30I want to move on, I mean, we say this is work in progress, but the problems are in progress,
0:17:30 > 0:17:35- because just, what, 24, 48 hours ago you have discovered another major issue.- Hmm-mm.
0:17:35 > 0:17:41'Outside, where they plan to install new patio doors, this heavy concrete lintel should
0:17:41 > 0:17:43'be supporting the wall above it,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47'but Martin has discovered to his horror that that's far from the case.'
0:17:47 > 0:17:53So, Martin, just talk us through the disaster that has just befallen you.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57Took the bay down on Friday, and it came down in five minutes,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01so that's not a good sign, so the whole thing was just coming away from the wall,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06the lintel that runs across from the top right-hand corner is just floating,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and it was being held up, basically, by a tiny bit of plaster.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13So at the moment we've just stuck a brick and a bit of wood in there to
0:18:13 > 0:18:17sort of wedge it up. It's those little things and things such as this
0:18:17 > 0:18:22that come along especially when you're something like this that put a bit dent in your wallet.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26My question is, I know you're not finished yet, but would you still
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- have bought this house if you had known what was coming? - Yes.- Yes.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31That's the right answer.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- Keep going.- We will.- Hopefully you will be in in a couple of months.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- Thank you.- Fingers crossed.
0:18:38 > 0:18:44'Problems big and small can suddenly appear on any build, so it's always sensible to allow for a little
0:18:44 > 0:18:49'extra time and contingency money to help deal with them should they arise.'
0:18:49 > 0:18:55What Martin and Claire are undertaking here has been a really good story for Katie and for Lee.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58On the face of it, this should have been a pretty straightforward build,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01but as you can see, they've opened up a whole new can of worms.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06Of course, the good news is they are persevering with it and they will get it finished,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10but it just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15'Later I'll be taking Katie and Lee to see a finished project which I think will show them
0:19:15 > 0:19:20'that big changes aren't the only way to transform a vacant house into a home.
0:19:20 > 0:19:26'But first, back in Bristol. Empty property officer Henry Dawson is on his way to see how a long-term case
0:19:26 > 0:19:30'he's been closely monitoring for years has come to a happy ending.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:33The garden around it has become heavily overgrown,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37it's had fly-tipping, it's all attracted rats and mice
0:19:37 > 0:19:40which have been living at the property, and so the poor neighbours
0:19:40 > 0:19:44down this little cul de sac have had an absolutely dreadful time.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49'It's a terraced house that fell into disrepair having stood empty
0:19:49 > 0:19:54'for two years until a neighbour decided to rescue it and turn it into a new home for a relative.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57'The renovation is nearing completion
0:19:57 > 0:20:00'and Henry is keen to see that it's all on course.'
0:20:04 > 0:20:08- Hi.- Hello there.- Henry Dawson from Bristol City Council.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- OK. Come on through. - Thank you very much.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15I have to say, it's looking so much better than when I last saw it. It looks superb.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20Yeah, we worked hard and we've taken a couple of months, six months, but we're getting there now.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Wow, you've done a beautiful job of the kitchen.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27Yeah. It took a bit of time, but yeah, we got there.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31So out of interest, who is going to be moving in here? Are you going to be renting it?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33No, my mother-in-law is going to move in.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37- Oh, right.- So she's going to be two doors away from us.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38What a lovely house for her.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It should be relatively low maintenance, I would imagine.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44'And that includes the garden.'
0:20:44 > 0:20:47You've gone for a hard landscape, no more overgrowth.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49That's right, no more weeds.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52He's making fast progress. Are you going to, are there going to be any
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- ponds or anything like that or is it going to be a hard landscape? - No ponds.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58- Keep it simple.- Very low maintenance.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- Do you mind if we go upstairs? - That's fine.- Thank you.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04I have to say you've got a good plasterer, he's done a lovely job.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Yeah.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08And a good painter, that was me.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12That's you? Actually, that is a very tidy job.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14'It's not just about pleasing the mother-in-law.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17'The neighbours are very happy too.'
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Oh, I see, you are overlooked by most of the crescent here.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- Yeah.- I can see whey they are so happy it's improved.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Yeah.- There's some really well-kept gardens as well.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30We've had the garden fence done at such a height so I can have
0:21:30 > 0:21:34a chat over the fence, and I've not been able to do that for years, and it will be lovely.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38The property looks absolutely beautiful.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41I think it will make a lovely home for his mother-in-law.
0:21:41 > 0:21:47It's one more off our list, so yeah, I'm really happy.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56'Katie and Lee Priday want to downsize and move to Brighton,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59'so I'm showing them how to make the most of the kind of empty places
0:21:59 > 0:22:02'they could afford on their £300,000 budget.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06'I've introduced them to a couple of renovators who are determined
0:22:06 > 0:22:09'to transform a vacant house into their perfect home
0:22:09 > 0:22:13'no matter how hard the struggle is to get there.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16'But transformations don't all have to be radical
0:22:16 > 0:22:19'and to encourage Katie and Lee to see beyond the build,
0:22:19 > 0:22:24'I want them to meet a couple who have achieved what they wanted in a less challenging way.'
0:22:24 > 0:22:28There we are. Sort of classic Victorian terrace.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Would this be the sort of thing that you'd think about moving into?
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- Possibly.- Possibly.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36It would be interesting to see what the inside is like.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- Yeah, absolutely.- Yeah?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'Jacob and Megan Chadwick bought their Victorian terraced house
0:22:42 > 0:22:45'in Brighton at the beginning of 2010
0:22:45 > 0:22:47'after it had been left empty for a year.'
0:22:49 > 0:22:53We wanted something that we could put our own stamp on and we thought it was kind of a carcass...
0:22:53 > 0:22:56- Yeah.- That we could do what we wanted with it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59We went in, and I think we knew within about 30 seconds.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03We were giving each other the eye and saying, "Right, this is it."
0:23:03 > 0:23:06'The unusual split-level layout of the living room
0:23:06 > 0:23:13'that had put other buyers off suited them perfectly, and they were able to buy it for £275,000.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:16A lot of people walk into a house and if the plastering isn't perfect
0:23:16 > 0:23:22or it's not a very nice carpet, they just won't buy the house, whereas I think we very much see beyond that.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27'Jacob and Megan then set about juggling work and family life to oversee the build.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32'They then spent £30,000 modernising the kitchen, the bathroom
0:23:32 > 0:23:36'and putting in new windows to create their perfect family home.'
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Hey, isn't this unusual?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- This is.- This is crazy.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44So what happened here, then?
0:23:44 > 0:23:48Well, we came into the property first day,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50found a great big hole in the floor,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53but obviously, because the property is on a hill,
0:23:53 > 0:23:58they obviously found a great big void under the floor and decided they'd have that space.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Amazingly, it makes it really quirky.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05But Megan, this is a great space, isn't it, to store away, presumably, lots of toys and kiddie stuff.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09It was my mum who came up with the idea of when we put steps in making storage in them.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13'And for Katie and Lee, utilising storage space in
0:24:13 > 0:24:16'unlikely places will all become part of the art of downsizing.'
0:24:16 > 0:24:21And presumably in here you've just got loads of, loads of stuff.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23LAUGHTER
0:24:23 > 0:24:28- That's the juggling and musical instruments.- these are very yachtie, aren't they?
0:24:28 > 0:24:31We put new windows in, triple-glazed windows, not just double-glazed,
0:24:31 > 0:24:37they are triple-glazed, and part of the reason for that would be kind of saving on the heating bills.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40I like that, I think there's a place for keeping original features,
0:24:40 > 0:24:42but if it's not functional
0:24:42 > 0:24:46and if you're going to be cold, then why not go for that? It looks fabulous.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48'And although it's an invisible improvement,
0:24:48 > 0:24:55'Jacob and Megan have insulated their house to increase its energy efficiency to keep their bills low.'
0:24:55 > 0:24:59This is the inherited cat flap, but we haven't lined it yet,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- so as you can see, we've got our plaster board here.- Yeah.
0:25:02 > 0:25:09We've got 50ml of insulation, a gap down between it and the original face of the wall,
0:25:09 > 0:25:15and this treatment has been done to all the external walls in the house.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18What's important to me is to be really warm, so I think that
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- is absolutely fantastic. - It's an interesting one.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Because it just shows how you can retro-fit to a Victorian building.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30This really has opened my eyes up, because normally in the past
0:25:30 > 0:25:34I'd never looked at owning a terraced property before, but this really has.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Well, guys, enjoy the future in your new home. Brilliant.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39Thank you. We are.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44'So although Katie and Lee have seen the harsh realities of empty
0:25:44 > 0:25:49'property transformations, hopefully it's not dimmed their enthusiasm.'
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Well, guys, we've packed in quite a lot today, and I think
0:25:53 > 0:25:56seen a couple of very interesting renovations in progress.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Yeah, those properties that you have shown us,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02you know, it's given me an awful lot of ideas, actually.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- We might look at an architect for the initial consultation.- Yeah.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09But I think the project management we could do ourselves, couldn't we?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12- Yeah, I mean, you've got to know your limitations, basically.- Yeah.
0:26:12 > 0:26:18So if you do need some professional help, you'd look for that rather than try and take it on yourself.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23- So are we still on track for an empty property and a renovation, do you think?- Yes, I think so.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24- I think so.- Yeah, definitely.- Yes.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Well, very best of luck, and can't wait to see how it turns out.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Thank you. We'll invite you back when it's done.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- We'll invite you back. - Brilliant.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36When most of us think of a successful renovation, we tend to
0:26:36 > 0:26:42imagine fresh plaster, gorgeous new paintwork, all those sort of things that make a home feel like a home.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47But as we've seen today, an awful lot of investment in any renovation is hidden from view,
0:26:47 > 0:26:51but it's all part and parcel of what it takes to rescue an empty building
0:26:51 > 0:26:53and give it a whole new lease of life -
0:26:53 > 0:26:57in short, to turn it into your new dream home.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:27:14 > 0:27:19E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk