0:00:02 > 0:00:05It's not just properties in poor condition that end up at the auction.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09And in today's market, you might be surprised by what you find.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15So, we've trawled the auction catalogues and brought you a selection for today's show.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45If you're looking for a quick buy, an auction room can be a great place to start.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49When the gavel falls, you know the property is yours, if you come up with the cash.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53So let's see what inspired the buyers today on Homes Under The Hammer.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59In Crewe, have I sniffed out a bargain or a problem in this property?
0:00:59 > 0:01:04When you go round the house, use all your senses. There's definitely a smell of damp.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07We return to a story we first showed you five years ago.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10There were ambitious plans for this south London property,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14and you're going to see the fabulous finished result.
0:01:14 > 0:01:20And there's a shop in Basingstoke that's small but beautifully proportioned.
0:01:20 > 0:01:21HE LAUGHS
0:01:21 > 0:01:24It's not exactly big.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31All these properties went to auction. We'll find out who bought them and what they paid
0:01:31 > 0:01:32when they went under the hammer.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34You've bought it, sir.
0:01:36 > 0:01:42For our first property that went to auction, we've come to the market town of Crewe.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47Once home to a major railway works, it's now famous for the Bentley cars that are manufactured here.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53This is Browning Street, pretty close to the town centre.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59Up for auction was a three-bedroom detached house with a guide price of 60,000 quid.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Not bad, and you know what?
0:02:01 > 0:02:03It looks all right from the outside.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08The condition of the exterior of this Victorian property doesn't look too bad.
0:02:08 > 0:02:14It once belonged to the church next door, so I'm praying that it'll be fine when we see the interior.
0:02:14 > 0:02:20Once you get in, there's a small hallway leading to a reception room at the front of the house.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25So, decent-sized sort of living room.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27But something... HE SNIFFS
0:02:27 > 0:02:30If you smell - and I've told you about this before -
0:02:30 > 0:02:33when you're going around a house, use all your senses.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36There's definitely a smell of damp, so that's got me thinking.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40And sure enough, down here, underneath the window, yes, that feels damp.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43My guess is that the damp-proof course has broken down.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45It's not a major issue to sort out - get a firm in here,
0:02:45 > 0:02:49they'll do an injection damp-proof course in there for you.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54Not hugely expensive, but it's having some knock-on effects,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and you must be careful it's not affected the floorboards if there are any.
0:03:00 > 0:03:07The decor is also dated and tired, as an estate agent would say, so a complete overhaul is required.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09Through to the rear living room area.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13Again, it smells of damp, and all over the walls a lot of signs of that.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Some good things. We have got double glazing, but I reckon when you come to restore this place,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21once you start taking the paper off, you'll have lots of plastering to do.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Through into this area here, you've got your kitchen.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Again, it's definitely in need of a bit of tender loving care.
0:03:28 > 0:03:33All the units want replacing. The boiler looks reasonably new. Maybe that's another good thing.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38But, overall, it's going to take some money to sort this place out, but nothing too major.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43The general state of the place inside is pretty good.
0:03:43 > 0:03:49The property also comes with some outside space, but that's limited.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54Out the back here you'd think that the boundary of the property ended just here.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57But a really nice added bonus is that you've got about an extra metre.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01It stretches all the way down there, so a real nice thing to have.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03There's also this little courtyard.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Clearly in a bit of a state.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07But, a bit of local history.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12That there, apparently, is an old air raid shelter,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15where the kids from the local Sunday school used to go.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26One point to note is that the legal pack states that the new owner is responsible
0:04:26 > 0:04:31for building and paying for a wall to divide their yard from the church next door.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36Also that no building work is allowed on Sundays, so as not to disturb the church service.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40That's the sort of crucial information to look out for in a legal pack.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Back inside, it's time to check out the three bedrooms.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Up here it continues to be grimy. But what's the layout?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Well, we've got one bedroom there, bedroom number one.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57We've got a bathroom and loo upstairs, always a big bonus.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59And then bedroom number two.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01"But where's bedroom number three?"
0:05:01 > 0:05:05I hear you shout at your television or computer screen.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Well, it's here. Not ideal, you have to walk through bedroom two to get through to bedroom three.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Clearly that's not good at all. So, the alternatives?
0:05:13 > 0:05:16The obvious thing is to think about putting a corridor,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19partition wall in here separating off the two bedrooms.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20The only problem with that,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23you're then left with two very small rooms. So, either way,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26not ideal.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33Well, the house right next door to the church went to auction
0:05:33 > 0:05:36guided at £60,000. What does an estate agent
0:05:36 > 0:05:40make of its prospects, and is there any other interesting
0:05:40 > 0:05:45local information about this property?
0:05:45 > 0:05:47The property was originally constructed
0:05:47 > 0:05:50as the caretaker's house, and it's unusual in the fact that
0:05:50 > 0:05:54it's detached - most of the houses round here are terraced.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58It still could be an ideal home for anyone who's got an involvement with the church.
0:05:58 > 0:06:04So, if the place was done up, what could its rental value be once modernised?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07If this property were to be marketed for rental purposes, as a house,
0:06:07 > 0:06:12then I'd be recommending an asking rent of £450 per calendar month.
0:06:12 > 0:06:18'How about resale value? Once the property was renovated, how much could it be worth?'
0:06:18 > 0:06:21From a resale value point of view,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25this property would achieve in the region of £75,000 if left as it was,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28and just updated and modernised.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Well, all in all, pretty solid house.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43I like the fact it's located so close to the town centre and the fact it's detached is a real bonus.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45So, remember, at a guide price of just 60,000 quid.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Let's find out what happened when it went under the hammer.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51This is a detached house, it's well located for
0:06:51 > 0:06:55the town centre and all the areas of employment.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59What shall we say, then, for lot 13? Can I say 50?
0:07:01 > 0:07:0345, then? Start me at 45?
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Thank you, 45 I'm bid.
0:07:05 > 0:07:0950, thank you. At £50,000.
0:07:09 > 0:07:1155 is it? I'll take one if it helps.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15£51,000. 52? 52.
0:07:15 > 0:07:2153, 54, 55, 56.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24At £56,000, 57 is it?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26New bidder at 57.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29£58,000. At 58,000.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32£59,000, seated left.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36New bidder on the back, 59,500.
0:07:36 > 0:07:4160 is it? £60,000. Another half. 61?
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Yes, 61...
0:07:45 > 0:07:4761,500. 62?
0:07:47 > 0:07:5062. 62,500.
0:07:50 > 0:07:5263, sir?
0:07:52 > 0:07:5563. 63,500.
0:07:55 > 0:07:5864. 64,500.
0:07:59 > 0:08:0565? 65. 65,500.
0:08:05 > 0:08:0666, sir?
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Yes, 66. He's shaking his head now.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13£66,000 seated.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16The bid's here at £66,000.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Coming back in?
0:08:19 > 0:08:24No, shaking his head. Bid's here then at 66. I'm selling at 66 for the first time.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27At 66 for the second time.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Third and final time at £66,000?
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Your lot, sir, well done.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38That successful bid of £66,000 for the house next door to a church
0:08:38 > 0:08:42was made by Oliver, who's based in Cheshire.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44He's bought the house with his son Adam.
0:08:44 > 0:08:50I met up with the father and son team back at their new property to find out their plans.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Adam, Oliver, lovely to meet you both. Congratulations.
0:08:53 > 0:08:54Why did you want to buy this house?
0:08:54 > 0:08:58It's in the right area, where we'd like to buy.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01The guide price was cheap enough, so we thought we'd go for it.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06- Tell me about you two. - I'm a joiner, I work at a joinery manufacturers in Crewe
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Monday to Friday, then I tend to do this sort of thing at weekends.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13- Right. And?- I work for myself.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19I'm a joiner also, but doing building work, extensions and all sorts of building work.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21- But it's father and son, right?- Yes.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26Did you inherit this interest in joinery from your dad?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- Yes.- Yes, Adam used to come to work.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Both my sons used to come to work with me in the school holidays.
0:09:35 > 0:09:43Oliver and Adam have been developing houses as a sideline for about three years now.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45This will be their fifth project together.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51- What do you do with the properties? Hold on to them and rent them?- We keep hold of them and rent them out.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Yes, they're all rented out.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56So, why this one, then? What are you going to do with it?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Hopefully split it into two flats.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Flats? OK. Have you worked out the economics of it?
0:10:05 > 0:10:12Yes, obviously it'll cost to turn into flats, but it'll still be paid for quicker doing it that way.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14What are you going to do to it?
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Well, from the roof downwards, everything will be brand-new.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- How d'you mean? - Take the roof off, re-slate it.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24New plaster, new doors, new windows.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29Two new kitchens, two new bathrooms. We're going to turn it into two flats. Everything brand-new.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32And how much of the work you actually do yourself?
0:10:32 > 0:10:38We normally do all of it. Apart from things that we can't do - electrics,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40damp coursing.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43- The plumbing as well. - We don't to the plumbing, yes.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46But more or less everything else.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Adam has already drawn up some plans for the proposed layout of the two new flats.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55So, Adam, talk me through the plans here.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59This is the proposed ground floor.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01New staircase leading up to upstairs.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- That means you're swapping the stairs from this way to that way?- Yes.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- A big job?- Yes.- But it enables you to achieve what you want?- Yes.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Not very expensive, because I'll make the staircase myself.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17And then the new entrance to the downstairs flat will be via a new front door here.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20We've got a new kitchen and bathroom.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Bedroom is over here, which is quite a good size.- OK.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Then this is the first floor now.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31We've come up the stairwell into the living room.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Again, it more or less mirrors the downstairs flat.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Kitchen, we've got to build a tiny bit of an extension there.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- How long do you think this will take? - Four months, maybe five months.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46Right. Any idea of roughly how much it's going to cost?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49£40,000 - £50,000. Something like that.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- Good luck with it.- Thank you.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54And congratulations.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Ambitious plans. They've already paid
0:11:59 > 0:12:06£66,000 to buy the house, and plan to spend at least £40,000 more converting it.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10So, Adam and Oliver have certainly got the experience to take on the project.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14But converting it into flats is certainly something I hadn't considered,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17and to be honest, I'm not sure the economics stack up.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20How are they going to get on? You can find out later in the show.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29We're going back in time now to a place we first showed you in 2004.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33A time when property prices seemed to just keep on going up.
0:12:33 > 0:12:39It was in Streatham, south-west London, and the house had a guide price of £240,000.
0:12:39 > 0:12:45Just over a mile away from all the action of Streatham is this really pretty street.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50It's Ribblesdale Road, and I'm here to see 115.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Here we are, so far so good. It looks well-maintained from the outside.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57But let's hope it doesn't lose its looks once we go in.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01And at that guide price of 240,000, it looked good value.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Yes, I'm getting a good feeling about this place.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08- And I thought- I- had a lot of junk mail!
0:13:08 > 0:13:11If you clear it all out of the way, look...
0:13:11 > 0:13:16You can see the most beautiful tiles on the floor here.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19This is what I love to see.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Well, so far, so good.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Now this is going to be a great living space for somebody.
0:13:25 > 0:13:31I love the way that all the old features are still intact, look at that beautiful ceiling rose.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34We've got the lovely old, original sash windows.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36They look like they're in good condition.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I don't think you'll need to replace those, so you save money there.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41And look at this.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Beautiful marble surround fireplace.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Look at these tiles, 6 x 12, these are really unusual.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52If you look closely, it's a really romantic scene.
0:13:52 > 0:13:57But, if you're looking to save money while you're developing property,
0:13:57 > 0:14:03I always say exposing and restoring what you've got can save you a bomb.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Lovely old floorboards down there.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08If you sand those up, they'll just come up beautifully.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11And also, it'll add value to your property.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17At the back of the house there's a large dining room, with doors leading to the back garden.
0:14:17 > 0:14:23Then there's a back room that leads into a kitchen, which has definitely seen better days.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28Now, people buying property today love to see large open spaces.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31This would be great as one big kitchen/diner.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Knock this wall down, but you'd need to comply with building regulations.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38It'll be a good idea to talk to a structural engineer perhaps,
0:14:38 > 0:14:43who would calculate the size of the beams that may be required for this job.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a bathroom.
0:14:48 > 0:14:54Two of the bedrooms are very small and the bathroom with separate toilet isn't exactly huge either
0:14:54 > 0:14:59but bedroom one is a different story altogether.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02This is a large, bright bedroom.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Another fantastic feature fireplace over there.
0:15:05 > 0:15:10You don't even get rooms this big in large detached, Georgian houses.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15The good news with that is that you can afford to lose a bit of the bedroom space over here,
0:15:15 > 0:15:21continue that staircase up to the loft so you make this a four-bedroomed two-bathroom house.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23That can only add value.
0:15:25 > 0:15:31Brimming with potential, this house has lovely original features just waiting to be restored.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36With a guide price of 240 grand, I think it's a good buy.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39You certainly get value for money living in Streatham.
0:15:39 > 0:15:46In terms of your living space, you get a bigger house, a bigger plot, a lovely garden like this one.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50If you did want to convert the loft, you can see quite a few of the neighbours
0:15:50 > 0:15:53have done that, so there shouldn't be any problems there,
0:15:53 > 0:15:58but for a guide price of £240,000, you get a lot of house.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02I think there's a good level of profit in this one. Let's go to auction.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07Here in London, will it be investors or first-timers
0:16:07 > 0:16:09looking to buy our Victorian house?
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Well, let's see.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16We come out to lot 59 to the west of Tooting station,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19an attractive terraced house in need of repair.
0:16:19 > 0:16:25A cellar and a rear garden. Nice property, offered on behalf of the London Borough of Wandsworth.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Who'd like to start me off at 175 for it?
0:16:28 > 0:16:31175, sir. 185, can I see?
0:16:31 > 0:16:33185. All right, sir?
0:16:33 > 0:16:36185. 195?
0:16:37 > 0:16:40205. 215.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44Looking for 210. 210 in a new place.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Any further advancing on 2... 215, sir. 220.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Do you want to make it... ? 225. 225.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53230.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54235.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58240. 245.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01250?
0:17:01 > 0:17:02What's this? 255? 260.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05265.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Yes. 270.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10275.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12271 then.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16271. 272.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18273.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20No?
0:17:20 > 0:17:24Your bid at £272,000, all right?
0:17:24 > 0:17:28£272,000 for the first time.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31273 in a new place. 274.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34275. 276.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36277. 278.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38279.
0:17:40 > 0:17:41280.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45281. 282.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48283?
0:17:48 > 0:17:51284?
0:17:51 > 0:17:56No? It's with you then at £283,000 standing at the back. It's against you sitting down.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Is that a bid? 284.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Would you make it 287,500?
0:18:04 > 0:18:05290.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11It's with you at 287,500, standing at the back of the room for the first time.
0:18:11 > 0:18:17£287,500, for the second and final time.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22HE BANGS HAMMER
0:18:22 > 0:18:29And with a bid of £287,500, the new owner is property developer Paul.
0:18:29 > 0:18:35He actually lives in an identical property only a few doors along, so I met him there for a chat.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- Hello, Paul!- Hi, Lucy!
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- Great to meet you. - Nice to meet you, too.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45- I can't wait to look around.- Please.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50I can really see why you bid for the property down the road.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55Where do you think your passion for property has come from?
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I think it started about 1985, somewhere around there.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01My mother had a large house, she sold it, there were some funds left.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05My brother and I and my sister invested on another property
0:19:05 > 0:19:09and we converted it into two flats and we went forward from there.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Paul was responsible for renovating the house he currently lives in,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and the work has been carried out to a very high standard.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19He maintained original features where possible,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23and has already converted the loft into a spacious double bedroom.
0:19:24 > 0:19:30So what did you learn from doing this house that you're not going to do with the house up the road?
0:19:30 > 0:19:35I think I'd try and do it all in one go, because I actually lived here at the time,
0:19:35 > 0:19:41so I lived in this room and maybe another room and then did the loft, and then moved all my stuff upstairs,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45whereas I'd like to get that one finished and move straight in.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Shall we go and have a look at your other property just along the way,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50- and see what work you're going to do?- OK.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02Paul certainly won't have to travel far to keep an eye on how his new property is progressing.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Although it may only be down the road, it's streets apart in condition.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10This is the lounge, so let's have a look.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Quite a difference from your lovely warm house up the road!
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Are you going to change anything in here?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Er... Yes, slightly, definitely!
0:20:19 > 0:20:22I have one wall to come out between the rooms.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27I wanted to convert the loft area, definitely get one large bedroom,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30maybe two, and an en-suite bathroom
0:20:30 > 0:20:34and I'll combine the bathroom upstairs and the separate WC
0:20:34 > 0:20:37cos that will give me space to put a shower unit in there.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42New kitchen, new bathroom suite, rewiring, central heating. Basically, everything.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Everything you've done to your house up the road.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Yes.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50You've done it once before, how much money do you think
0:20:50 > 0:20:52it's going to cost you to do this property?
0:20:52 > 0:20:58I've budgeted about 60, but I hope to spend about 50, so I've got a safety margin.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02For all the work that Paul wants to do, 50 to 60 grand,
0:21:02 > 0:21:08I think it seems a little tight, but looking at his current home, he's obviously done it all before.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Are you going to live here?
0:21:10 > 0:21:11I'm not sure.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Ideally I'd like to live here, I'd like to sell my house and move here,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18but I don't know, because I'll have two houses. I don't want two houses.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22I'll sell one and keep the other one - I'm not sure which one yet.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24It depends when it's finished and how I feel.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28I can't wait to come back and see what you've done. See you in a few months' time.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Thank you.
0:21:30 > 0:21:37Join us later to see why when we first returned, despite all Paul's talents, things were on hold.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43I have a main job, and I consider this as a hobby and a lot of people
0:21:43 > 0:21:50say I've got an artistic bent, as people refer to, and this is my way of showing that.
0:21:50 > 0:21:57Well, delays aren't unusual but stay tuned to see how stunning the house now looks five years later.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06Coming up - in Basingstoke, there's not much work required in this former sweet shop.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11It's got a big window and it's in reasonable condition. The floor certainly is.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15We go back to Streatham, South-west London, to show you how this
0:22:15 > 0:22:19property looks now after several years of lavish refurbishment.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22It's been well worth the wait.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27But first we return to Crewe where hard graft was needed on this house.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31The biggest problem we've had here is finding time to come.
0:22:33 > 0:22:41Earlier in the programme, back in Crewe, Adam and his dad Oliver paid £66,000 for this detached house.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46It was originally the caretaker's house of the neighbouring Methodist Church.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Like his dad, Adam is a joiner by trade.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53In the past, Oliver has built his own house,
0:22:53 > 0:22:58but now he and Adam are building a portfolio of buy-to-let properties.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02This is their fifth, which they'd planned to convert into two flats.
0:23:02 > 0:23:08Ten months have passed, and we're back in Crewe to see the results.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11There's now a wide front door to greet you,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15but once you get inside, progress looks to have been a bit slow.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18In the front room, the walls have been stripped and filled.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22The dining room has been completely replastered.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26The kitchen has got all-new appliances.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31But upstairs, things have not moved on much at all.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37No sign yet of the two flats.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42Weren't they planning to get it all done in six months? Why the change of plan?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47The original timescale had elapsed, we were going to try to do it in four to five months
0:23:47 > 0:23:53but as it happened, we didn't start work here till at least six months after I first drew the plans.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56We had another property to finish, time was running out,
0:23:56 > 0:24:01money was a bit of a problem, so we just kept it as one nice, big house.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04The biggest problem we've had here was finding time to come.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09All the work's been done on a Saturday,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and maybe a few days in the week, but not many.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17Just so busy with our own jobs, sort of thing,
0:24:17 > 0:24:22and perhaps rather doing social activities as opposed to coming here.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Ah, yes, that old problem(!)
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Although Adam and Oliver have done a lot of the work themselves, they also
0:24:28 > 0:24:32employed experts for the jobs they weren't qualified to do.
0:24:32 > 0:24:38The help we've had in is a heating engineer, a plumber, electrician,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40we obviously get an electrician to do all that
0:24:40 > 0:24:47because that has to be up to regulations, and all the plastering, that has to be done.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50About the only things we've had to have done.
0:24:50 > 0:24:56Not surprisingly, these two joiners have replaced the doors, the skirting and the architraves.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Now, remember, this former caretaker's house had a covenant
0:25:06 > 0:25:12in the legal pack that required the new owner to build a wall between the Methodist church and the back garden.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18And a new wall has also been built inside on the first floor.
0:25:18 > 0:25:24So to get into bedroom three, which I'm standing in, we had to walk through bedroom two,
0:25:24 > 0:25:30so we've built this corridor here, separate door on, so then we just have a little corridor here
0:25:30 > 0:25:36and we've got two separate bedrooms, which we obviously think is much better to do it this way.
0:25:36 > 0:25:42As you can see, this is a complete new kitchen, new units, new worktops.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45There's space for the fridge-freezer here. New oven, new hob.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46Electricians put them in for us.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Plumbers helped us with the sink.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Finishing touches now - magnolia walls and white ceilings.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58Adam and Oliver paid £66,000 on auction day for the detached house,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02which they'd originally planned to convert into two separate flats.
0:26:02 > 0:26:09As they have not done this, it's meant much less work, so what effect has that had on the budget?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12The flats, we thought, would cost between 40 and 50 grand.
0:26:12 > 0:26:19As we haven't done that now, we haven't actually had a budget as such. So we paid 66 for it.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24All in, I think we'll have spent 10, 12 grand on it,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28- so max is an £80,000 outlay.- Yeah.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33I'd be chuffed if we get £90,000 for it in the current market.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Well, this is number five in their property portfolio, all of which are rented out.
0:26:37 > 0:26:43So is that still the plan here, now that it's a house rather than two flats?
0:26:43 > 0:26:50We might put it on the market for sale, but at the same time see if we can get a tenant in,
0:26:50 > 0:26:57and if we get the tenant in first, that's what will happen - it'll stay rented as long as we can.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Time to see what two local estate agents
0:26:59 > 0:27:02think of this former caretaker's house next to the church.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I think the workmanship is very good.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11I think the property has been well converted.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13Obviously there's more work to be done,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16so it would be nice to come back and see the finished product.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19It was an excellent idea to insert a corridor upstairs,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22because it now means that you'll be able to get to
0:27:22 > 0:27:24the bathroom without going through a bedroom,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and it adds that extra bedroom facility to the property.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30I think, if it's going to be one dwelling, it needs to be three
0:27:30 > 0:27:36bedrooms to get the best rental or market return, and I think the three bedrooms are still a good size.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39In my opinion, value-wise, I would say it was
0:27:39 > 0:27:44a good idea to keep it as a house rather than to try and split it up.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47I would have advised them to get permission for two flats.
0:27:47 > 0:27:52I think the return would have been somewhat greater than they'll get for one property.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57Short-term, they've saved money by not converting the house into flats.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00But how much could they expect to get for it?
0:28:00 > 0:28:07Once finished, I would expect this property to achieve between £450 to £475 per calendar month.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10I'd be asking £500 per calendar month.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12That's quite good, isn't it?
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Yeah, it is. Very good, actually, yes.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Is the plan still to have a two-pronged attack on the market,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21looking for a tenant at the same time as a purchaser?
0:28:22 > 0:28:28Well, we'll still do both, try and sell it and rent it out, whatever comes first.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Definitely whatever comes first.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Time to discover what the house could fetch on the open market.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39You'll remember that they spent a total of around £78,000 on it,
0:28:39 > 0:28:43and would be happy with anything over £90,000.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Once fully fitted out and completed, I would expect this property
0:28:46 > 0:28:51to achieve in the region of £95,000 to £100,000 upon the open market.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55Resale valuation, once completed, would be around £99,000.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57That's a good result.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00Quite a bit higher than what we thought.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Yes, maybe £10,000 more.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06If we got about 99 for it, yeah, maybe...
0:29:06 > 0:29:09I'm happy to take the extra 10,000, though.
0:29:09 > 0:29:10And why not?
0:29:10 > 0:29:13I love a story with a happy ending.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21And the smiles continued, because a tenant did turn up before a buyer one month later.
0:29:21 > 0:29:27They've now moved in and are paying 475 quid a calendar month.
0:29:31 > 0:29:38Basingstoke in Hampshire. Sometimes known as Doughnut City because of the number of roundabouts there are here.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41But it's really well located in terms of transport links.
0:29:41 > 0:29:46It's easy to get to London, Reading and Southampton.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Apart from the usual big high-street shops, the town also
0:29:50 > 0:29:56has some charming courtyards where older business properties are in use.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01I'm here in Basingstoke to talk business.
0:30:01 > 0:30:02I know I normally do,
0:30:02 > 0:30:05but in this case it's a retail unit that was up for auction.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08It's in this building here. It's ground floor.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10It was freehold with vacant possession.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Had a guide price of 20,000 to 25,000 quid.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16It seems to make financial sense to me.
0:30:16 > 0:30:17Ah, well... CHUCKLES
0:30:19 > 0:30:21It's not exactly big.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24That could explain the price tag.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26It's basically one room. This is it.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Very limited facilities at the back.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30You've got a loo, basically,
0:30:30 > 0:30:33and a little kitchenette / preparation area there.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37But er...
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Big windows, he says, trying to find something positive.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41And it's in reasonable condition.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44The floor certainly is, the walls.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47A bit of internal messing around with required.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49But, overall, I guess one of the positives of it being small
0:30:49 > 0:30:53is that you don't have too many square metres
0:30:53 > 0:30:56of anything to paint or whatever.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01This shop used to be an African artefacts shop,
0:31:01 > 0:31:03selling items from that part of the world.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12It's now moved out of Basingstoke, which is why this retail opportunity
0:31:12 > 0:31:16has become available to another entrepreneur. But a word of caution.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Before you start any business in a premises, you really need
0:31:19 > 0:31:23to do your research to find out what might work in the location.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25I've come into the neighbouring street
0:31:25 > 0:31:28to see what kind of businesses are here.
0:31:28 > 0:31:29A real mish-mash.
0:31:29 > 0:31:33We've got an Italian restaurant, a pizzeria, a hairdressing salon.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36So, it seems like anything might work.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39It's currently got planning permission to be A1 use,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41which basically means you could have
0:31:41 > 0:31:44something like a hairdresser's, a shop, a newsagent's,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46maybe an estate agent's.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49So what I would do is research what there is demand for
0:31:49 > 0:31:52before I opened that shop.
0:31:52 > 0:31:57# Oh, there's lots of opportunities... #
0:31:57 > 0:32:01The shop is just over 18 square metres.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04With a bit of a rejig, this could be a great commercial property,
0:32:04 > 0:32:08especially at the guide price of £20,000 to £25,000.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15The building work next door is another good sign.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18People are clearly investing in the area.
0:32:21 > 0:32:28I asked a local expert for the low-down on property in Basingstoke.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Basingstoke is a thriving town.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32It's very, very popular in that
0:32:32 > 0:32:35it's less than an hour from London for commuters,
0:32:35 > 0:32:37but it's also got a lot of modern businesses,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40insurance and the like, that have moved into the town
0:32:40 > 0:32:41over the last 20 or so years.
0:32:43 > 0:32:48Sounds like this place could be a good investment despite being a bit small.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52I think this unit is likely to have an appeal
0:32:52 > 0:32:54either to a commercial-investor buyer,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57somebody who's going to buy it with a view to
0:32:57 > 0:33:01tidying it up a bit and then finding a tenant.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04Or somebody looking for a starter unit to run their own business,
0:33:04 > 0:33:08a hairdresser's or a niche business, something of that nature.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14So, the location could suit what's known as a destination business.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18That's somewhere people are happy to travel to occasionally
0:33:18 > 0:33:19to buy something specific.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23But could it be expensive to get the property ready to start trading?
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Not going to need a huge amount doing to it.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30It looks very ragged and tired, but a good decorate,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34tidy up and clean and you'd be surprised how quickly
0:33:34 > 0:33:38and cheaply you could turn that into quite an attractive rental proposition.
0:33:38 > 0:33:39That's fantastic news.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42This would be great for a starter business,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45especially if it went for around the guide price.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48What sort of rental income could the shop generate?
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Rental value on this one,
0:33:51 > 0:33:55once it's been tidied up, would be in the region of £5,000, £6,000 per annum.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59So, in theory, buying this, doing it up and then renting it out
0:33:59 > 0:34:02could produce a good rental income.
0:34:02 > 0:34:03What about selling it on?
0:34:03 > 0:34:06The resale value on this is going to be driven
0:34:06 > 0:34:09by the amount of rent it's achieving.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11The way to maximise the potential of this property
0:34:11 > 0:34:15would be to tidy it up, find a tenant, perhaps on a five or a ten-year lease,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18and then you'd be looking, I would imagine, at achieving
0:34:18 > 0:34:22a resale value of something around £50,000, £60,000.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29Not much to say about this place
0:34:29 > 0:34:31other than the fact that the low guide price
0:34:31 > 0:34:35probably meant it was an attractive proposition to a local entrepreneur.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Still, money to be spent to get it up to scratch,
0:34:39 > 0:34:42so let's see who fancied it when it went under the hammer.
0:34:42 > 0:34:48And 136 now is 6 Queens Parade, New Street in Basingstoke.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50It's a vacant freehold retail unit.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54Good little lot there. Start me where you will.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58Got a guide of 20 to 25 and Anyone going to come in at £20,000?
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Your own shop, £20,000.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03£20,000, can I say? Give me 18, then?
0:35:03 > 0:35:08£18,000 bid I've got. And 20 now do I see?
0:35:08 > 0:35:10£20,000, back row.
0:35:10 > 0:35:1322? Sir, it's against you. 22? 21?
0:35:13 > 0:35:15And 22? And 23?
0:35:15 > 0:35:21At £22,000 on the back row I have. 23 I want. 23 by the coffee.
0:35:21 > 0:35:2524 in the back row? 24. Thank you.
0:35:25 > 0:35:2825? It's here to be sold. 25?
0:35:28 > 0:35:3225. And 6? 26?
0:35:32 > 0:35:3426. And 7?
0:35:34 > 0:35:39No. £26,000 bid I have again to the lady in the back row.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41At £26,000 I have. 27 I'm looking for.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45If we're all done at £26,000, I will sell for the first time.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Coming in again? £26,000 for the second time.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52Third and final time, lady in the back row, all done, £26,000.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55And your number, please, is? 8431. Thank you.
0:35:55 > 0:36:00That the winning bid of £26,000 came from Anne-Marie,
0:36:00 > 0:36:04who knows a great deal about the local area.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05I met up with her back at her new shop
0:36:05 > 0:36:09to find out the history behind her purchase.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13# Working nine to five what a way to make a living... #
0:36:13 > 0:36:16- Anne-Marie, lovely to meet you. - And you, too. Thank you.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20Congratulations. Tell me why you wanted to buy this little shop.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Well, it was for two reasons, really.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25One was for business, and one was for sentimental.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29And I know that's going to sound like a recipe for disaster,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32you mustn't let your heart rule your head.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35But I've known this shop all my life.
0:36:35 > 0:36:41It was the most wonderful sweet shop right next-door to my dad's chemist.
0:36:41 > 0:36:47He rented the shop for many years from the landlord and he lived above
0:36:47 > 0:36:50in the maisonette with my mum and my sister.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53And then eventually, after about 30 years -
0:36:53 > 0:36:56it's a staggering amount of time to rent it,
0:36:56 > 0:36:58he was given the chance to buy it.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01And now it's still remaining in the family.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05- Just to clarify, you own the whole building?- We do now.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- We didn't before.- This was the final piece of the jigsaw?
0:37:08 > 0:37:11Yes, because it was like owning three legs of it,
0:37:11 > 0:37:12but not the fourth one.
0:37:12 > 0:37:17When you own the fourth, you can then decide what you do.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20So Anne-Marie paid £26,000 for the property
0:37:20 > 0:37:24next to her dad's old chemist shop and maisonette.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30She currently lets the corner store out to a Caribbean grocery
0:37:30 > 0:37:32and owns a number of other properties.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35This former sweet shop, was until now,
0:37:35 > 0:37:37the only part of this building missing from her collection.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40- And you remember it as a sweet shop?- Yes.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- With all the old-fashioned jars? - Absolutely.
0:37:42 > 0:37:48For three big, old, brown pennies, the lady would weigh them out
0:37:48 > 0:37:50of big jars into a paper bag then
0:37:50 > 0:37:54and it would be bursting with gobstoppers
0:37:54 > 0:38:01and liquorice bootlaces and bulls-eyes, all manner of things.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04For a child, it was absolutely wonderful.
0:38:04 > 0:38:09But, unfortunately, because the town has moved two or three streets away
0:38:09 > 0:38:12into a great big shopping mall,
0:38:12 > 0:38:17it's very difficult for the traders here to survive.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21And we thought, well, if we have this small shop as well
0:38:21 > 0:38:23and knock the two together,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27it could make a very viable proposition for a specialist shop.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30And Dorothy, who's next door, she said to me,
0:38:30 > 0:38:35"I'm absolutely bursting at the seams for space.
0:38:35 > 0:38:40"If ever you get the chance, please take on the shop next door."
0:38:40 > 0:38:42So, tell me what you're going to do with it now.
0:38:42 > 0:38:48I've had a builder in and he said to me that we could
0:38:48 > 0:38:51knock through just on my right here
0:38:51 > 0:38:54under the stairs so that there's a sort of thoroughfare for people.
0:38:54 > 0:38:59We can't move the stairs because that's part of the flat
0:38:59 > 0:39:03and it would be major and not cost-effective.
0:39:03 > 0:39:09We're going to keep the little room which is a toilet, but make it a lot smaller.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Then she will be able to come into the stockroom which is behind me.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14So you'll get rid of this loo?
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Yes. At the moment she hasn't got anywhere for stock.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20And that's always been a problem with these shops here.
0:39:20 > 0:39:21They are very small.
0:39:21 > 0:39:29So, her tenant's grocery store that was struggling for space is now set to expand.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Coming from a retail family, Anne-Marie has lots of tips
0:39:32 > 0:39:39to pass on to her tenant, Dorothy, who's looking for that pot of gold.
0:39:39 > 0:39:44# Somewhere over the rainbow... #
0:39:44 > 0:39:47What kind of budget have you set aside for sorting this place out?
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Well, I've been on to the builder and, to do all those things which
0:39:51 > 0:39:55I've said and paint it, it's just £2,000.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58- Including knocking through? - Yes.- You've got a good builder!
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Yes, he's wonderful.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02He costed it all out for me in the week,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05and also to paint outside and paint in here.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08And what kind of timescale for sorting it out?
0:40:08 > 0:40:14I did speak to the builder, and he thought that a couple of months is fine.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16What will be the most exciting thing?
0:40:16 > 0:40:22To see it up and running, and all nice and decorated
0:40:22 > 0:40:26and knocked through, and I can really be proud of it again, you know?
0:40:26 > 0:40:32That means a lot to me, and I think it would mean a lot to my mum and dad,
0:40:32 > 0:40:35who unfortunately aren't here now, they've gone to heaven.
0:40:35 > 0:40:40So, I feel that they'll be guiding me and hopefully all will be well.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42We wish you all the very best.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46- Thanks very much.- A lovely story. - Nice to talk to you.- You too.
0:40:46 > 0:40:55# Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue... #
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Well, what a lovely story,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03and with Ann-Marie's help two shops are going to become one.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06Still, I'm a bit concerned about that £2,000 budget -
0:41:06 > 0:41:08for two months' work, for a builder?
0:41:08 > 0:41:13I don't think so. And these are tough times in the retail world,
0:41:13 > 0:41:18so will the new, improved and enlarged shop survive?
0:41:18 > 0:41:20You can find out later in the show.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27So, have the tides changed for our property purchasers?
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Have their experiences been plain sailing?
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Did they sink, or did they manage to swim to shore with the profit?
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Time now to go back to Streatham
0:41:35 > 0:41:40in south west London, to a property we first saw in 2004.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46Developer Paul had paid £287,500 for this three bedroom house.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49It was only a few doors from where he lived,
0:41:49 > 0:41:52and was identical in style and size.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55Having refurbished his own house and converted the loft,
0:41:55 > 0:41:58he decided it was time to change this place.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02But when we first returned, there wasn't a lot of difference.
0:42:04 > 0:42:05It's been three months since
0:42:05 > 0:42:10you first came here, so during that time we've put in for planning.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12We've had various problems with that,
0:42:12 > 0:42:16mainly I think on the type of application that was made originally
0:42:16 > 0:42:20and the way it was interpreted by the local authority.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23Then they wanted some changes in the actual style of the loft,
0:42:23 > 0:42:26and so that has basically delayed everything.
0:42:26 > 0:42:31So Paul was unable to show us any structural alterations,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34but his architect's modified plans had been approved
0:42:34 > 0:42:37for the loft conversion and the ground floor.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41My plans for the downstairs involved taking out the wall
0:42:41 > 0:42:43between the kitchen and the extension
0:42:43 > 0:42:45which would be built, so you've got a large area.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49The extension will have the whole part of it facing the garden all glazed,
0:42:50 > 0:42:52and there would be sky lights in the roof to let in light.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56The planned extension sounded fantastic,
0:42:56 > 0:42:58it just needed to be built.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04It's now five years since our first visit,
0:43:04 > 0:43:08and we've come back to see the fabulous house where Paul now lives.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14The wait has certainly been work it.
0:43:17 > 0:43:21The loft conversion is truly stunning, but we'll see that later.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25Because the first impression any visitor gets is downstairs.
0:43:25 > 0:43:28Paul's managed to retain a lot of the original features
0:43:28 > 0:43:31in the living room, while also totally refurbishing it.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38At the back, the extension lets so much light in.
0:43:38 > 0:43:43The kitchen and the living area really opens the house out onto the garden.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50Up on to the first floor,
0:43:50 > 0:43:54the level of finish in the bedrooms is equally impressive.
0:43:56 > 0:43:59The Victorian fireplaces have been lovingly restored,
0:43:59 > 0:44:02and Paul's made one of the rooms into an office.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12Paul has moved in and made it home.
0:44:12 > 0:44:16He must be very pleased with the results.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18Well, the area at the back of the house is very good,
0:44:18 > 0:44:20because it's an open space now.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23Before you had two rooms which were divided and quite small,
0:44:23 > 0:44:25so that's been opened out.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28That goes into the extension, and then it also goes into the kitchen,
0:44:28 > 0:44:31so there's the equivalent of four rooms made into one area,
0:44:31 > 0:44:33which is quite nice.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35I kept up part of the original wall to give it
0:44:35 > 0:44:39a bit of a break to the area, because I thought that would help.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43Paul's managed to create more space in this Victorian house
0:44:43 > 0:44:46than the similar property he lived in a few doors away.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48He has now sold that one and moved in here to live.
0:44:48 > 0:44:52His architect's or original plans for this place were rejected simply because
0:44:52 > 0:44:55too much of this house was being modified,
0:44:55 > 0:44:59so the changes were scaled back and the plans were approved.
0:44:59 > 0:45:04With the planning consent, what we actually went for was the loft conversion and the extension.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08The good thing about it is we actually got that, so I was happy about that.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11It meant that the side return at the rear of the house could be built on,
0:45:11 > 0:45:13right up to the neighbour's boundary.
0:45:13 > 0:45:20A party wall agreement was obtained, and then the superb kitchen extension began to take shape.
0:45:20 > 0:45:26The kitchen, there was a door here that led into the kitchen, and a window that was outside,
0:45:26 > 0:45:29so this would have been the outside of the building.
0:45:29 > 0:45:34So you'd come out and go into an outside toilet, so this wall's gone, and this wall's gone.
0:45:34 > 0:45:39It's being supported by two RSJs, because it comes back at an angle.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42So there's one there and one comes back this way.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46There's a skylight that brings light in and there's quite a lot of light coming through here.
0:45:46 > 0:45:50Then we put a window in at the end. So I'm really happy with this area, it works well.
0:45:50 > 0:45:55It's how I would like to have a kitchen and I think what people would like as well.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57I tried to think of what's good space, because one day,
0:45:57 > 0:46:00ultimately, you want to sell it or you want to rent it.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08Paul runs his own property management company, with buy-to-lets
0:46:08 > 0:46:11as well as properties he's refurbished and sold on.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15Whether he rents or sells in the future,
0:46:15 > 0:46:19I'm sure this loft conversion will prove a big attraction.
0:46:22 > 0:46:29This is the converted loft area. I've got some eave storage here, there's a window to the front here, the Velux.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33There's a built-in wardrobe here.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36It's done as one large area, one large room, I prefer that.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39Some people put two rooms in to make a five-bedroom house, but I don't
0:46:39 > 0:46:43think there's a market here for five bedrooms, people prefer more space.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47Then there's a walk-in bathroom there, en suite with a shower.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51The roof's actually a Mansard conversion, so it's not a typical roof like that...
0:46:51 > 0:46:57You've got a dormer that comes up at an angle. That was part of the planning, what they wanted.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01It's spacious, that's what I like, a lot of brightness in here having the two windows.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05There's another window at the side for more lighting, but that's a fire escape.
0:47:05 > 0:47:10You have to have that as part of the planning and the building regulations.
0:47:10 > 0:47:16When Paul originally bought the place for £287,500 in February 2004,
0:47:16 > 0:47:20he had a hunch the area was about to take off.
0:47:20 > 0:47:25Since then there has been a credit crunch and a depressed property market.
0:47:25 > 0:47:30But there are now clear signs that the area is attracting more businesses and house-hunters.
0:47:30 > 0:47:35But how much has Paul spent? Did he manage to stick to his budget?
0:47:35 > 0:47:39When I first bought this house I had a budget of between 50-60,000.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42I think at the end I came closer to the 60,000, but I don't know
0:47:42 > 0:47:46exactly how much, but it was probably around about 60,000.
0:47:48 > 0:47:54So, on top of the £287,500 he paid at the auction,
0:47:54 > 0:47:59that takes Paul's spend to just under £347,000.
0:47:59 > 0:48:03It's been a lengthy project, but he's pleased with the outcome.
0:48:03 > 0:48:08As a project and an investment, it's done quite good here, because
0:48:08 > 0:48:13the property has improved in price from what I originally paid for it, so that's an investment here.
0:48:13 > 0:48:18So when I do sell, I know there's considerable equity in the property,
0:48:18 > 0:48:22which I can move on to another property, or remortgage and pull some money out.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25Or the alternative is to keep this house and to let it,
0:48:25 > 0:48:28because the rental market has improved a lot in the area.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33Let's see if Paul's confidence is reflected in the value.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37What do two local estate agents think of this property?
0:48:39 > 0:48:41I think it's an absolutely lovely family home.
0:48:41 > 0:48:45It's been finished to a fantastic standard and it's just perfect
0:48:45 > 0:48:47for the market round here.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50First impressions of the house - it's fantastic, very beautifully done.
0:48:50 > 0:48:53The kitchen extension at the back's a very good job and very clever.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55What he's done is use the space really well.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58The extension at the back, absolutely superb.
0:48:58 > 0:49:02You've got a lovely, big, kitchen family-living space with a formal reception at the front.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04The loft conversion's brilliant.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07A lot of people with loft conversions try to get too much out of it.
0:49:07 > 0:49:12They try to split that room into two rooms then make the rooms too small to be usable.
0:49:12 > 0:49:14The loft conversion is superb. It's a nice, big, bright room.
0:49:14 > 0:49:19You've got a walk-in wardrobe, en suite bathroom. I'd like to sleep in here.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Well, a vote of confidence from the agents, but what could it be worth?
0:49:23 > 0:49:28Remember, Paul spent £347,000 here.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31How much could you sell it for if he put it on the market now?
0:49:31 > 0:49:36If I was to put this property up for sale, I would market it at £575,000.
0:49:36 > 0:49:40I'd put it onto the market around the £500,000 mark.
0:49:40 > 0:49:45Quite a range, I think somewhere between the two, probably about 550.
0:49:45 > 0:49:46Price-wise, I'm happy with that.
0:49:46 > 0:49:51I thought it'd be around there in a good market, so it's good to see the price has come back.
0:49:51 > 0:49:56I've made some money, it's been a good investment, but I thought that when I saw the property,
0:49:56 > 0:50:00so I'm glad that I've still managed to make some money.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03What about rental income? If Paul did decide to move out and not sell the house,
0:50:03 > 0:50:06how much rent could it generate?
0:50:06 > 0:50:10For rent, I believe it would achieve around £1,700 per calendar month.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13If we were to rent this property, similar properties have rented on
0:50:13 > 0:50:17this road from between £2,000 - £2,200 per calendar month.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21The rental figures were very good as well, it means there's an option to rent,
0:50:21 > 0:50:25because the mortgage is quite low here. So that's an option I may consider.
0:50:25 > 0:50:30I may re-mortgage, pull some money out, and keep the property. That's another option.
0:50:30 > 0:50:35All in all, it's been a good adventure, being somewhere and having a house done, then move here.
0:50:35 > 0:50:39I'm very happy with it, the whole thing has been a good experience.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42A bit slow at the beginning, but I'm happy with it overall.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50We're going back to Basingstoke now, where, earlier in the programme,
0:50:50 > 0:50:56Anne-Marie had paid £26,000 for this empty shop next door to one she already owned.
0:50:56 > 0:51:01She has several other properties in her portfolio, but this shop had special significance.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03# Sweets for my sweet
0:51:03 > 0:51:05# Sugar for my honey... #
0:51:05 > 0:51:07I'd known this shop all my life.
0:51:07 > 0:51:14It was the most wonderful sweetshop, next door to my dad's chemist's.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16And he lived above, in the maisonette.
0:51:16 > 0:51:21Anne-Marie planned to knock a hole in the wall between what was once the sweetshop,
0:51:21 > 0:51:26and her dad's former chemist, to give her Caribbean grocery tenant more space.
0:51:29 > 0:51:33Well, two-and-a-half months later, this building now looks so vibrant,
0:51:33 > 0:51:38it's more like the Caribbean than Basingstoke!
0:51:38 > 0:51:44Remember how it was? It was all a horrible, drab brown colour.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48All the glass was broken, the door was broken.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51And it really was not inviting at all.
0:51:51 > 0:51:55You could not possibly expect passers-by to want to go into the shop.
0:51:55 > 0:52:01So now we've made it these lovely sunny colours, that we hope represents the Caribbean.
0:52:01 > 0:52:05And we can be seen, actually, from miles away!
0:52:05 > 0:52:07It's certainly colourful!
0:52:07 > 0:52:09It would be very hard to miss this.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11What about the inside?
0:52:11 > 0:52:14Has the conversion worked?
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Well, here we are, in the nice little space we've knocked through,
0:52:17 > 0:52:21so that the customers can have a walkway and go from one place to the other.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24And also, Dorothy can have her till.
0:52:24 > 0:52:29Then over here, we've put a door on to what was the old toilet facilities.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32And we've made a nice little stockroom in there for her.
0:52:32 > 0:52:37Then over here, as you can see, this lovely area is in a beautiful
0:52:37 > 0:52:42yellow colour to represent the sunny colours, we hope, of the Caribbean.
0:52:42 > 0:52:48Apart from sentimental reasons, Anne-Marie bought the former sweetshop to try and reverse
0:52:48 > 0:52:53a decline in local shopping since her dad ran the chemist's here.
0:52:56 > 0:53:02Building work had to take place only on Sundays, when the shop was closed, but now it's finished.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05All that's missing is the stock and displays.
0:53:07 > 0:53:13So, did Anne-Marie stick to her ambitions £2,000 budget, which included that sunny paint job?
0:53:16 > 0:53:18Yes, we stuck to the original budget.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20And we're really pleased about that.
0:53:20 > 0:53:26And it's all thanks, really, to the builder because they really kept us to it.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30And that's very important, I think, because it can eat into your profit.
0:53:30 > 0:53:35You will remember that at the auction, Anne-Marie paid £26,000 for the former sweetshop.
0:53:35 > 0:53:42She's had the usual legal expenses, but has only had to spend £2,000 converting it.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47Time to see how two commercial property experts,
0:53:47 > 0:53:50familiar with the local market, will rate this retail opportunity.
0:53:53 > 0:53:57If this retail unit was kept as a single unit, it's a small unit, it's
0:53:57 > 0:54:02a fringe location, I would say there would be an limited number of uses.
0:54:02 > 0:54:08Having the two units together, is a big benefit for the street because it has tidied up the corner.
0:54:08 > 0:54:14So there's a nice transition between the residential and the retail element of the town.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17Externally, she has certainly improved the appearance of the shop.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20She has made made the whole parade look a bit more vibrant.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24It will help when they finish the residential development next door.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26The whole place will look a lot better then.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30The way that the unit has been incorporated into the main unit here,
0:54:30 > 0:54:32I think could be quite easily reversible.
0:54:32 > 0:54:37So it does give her flexibility at a later date if she wants to let the two units separately.
0:54:37 > 0:54:44Anne-Marie's sentimental purchase is now producing an extra £1,500 a year income.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46But is that a fair rent?
0:54:46 > 0:54:49How much would the experts suggest?
0:54:49 > 0:54:56As a single unit, I would estimate the rental to be in the order of about £2000 - £2,500 per annum.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59As a single unit, I would probably think she should get about £80 per week.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02It would probably give her about £240 a month.
0:55:02 > 0:55:05So between £2,500 - £3,000 a year.
0:55:05 > 0:55:09So, could a bit more income be coming Anne-Marie's way?
0:55:09 > 0:55:12Oh, that's marvellous. Absolutely marvellous, yes.
0:55:12 > 0:55:18We have already settled a rent of £30 a week, which is £1,500 a year.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21And, I can't really go back on my word, and I wouldn't want to.
0:55:21 > 0:55:26But I'll keep it in mind, obviously, maybe if Dorothy goes or even in years to come.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30Taking that long-term view is sensible.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33But what about the value of the shop now?
0:55:33 > 0:55:37Has it increased since she bought it at the auction?
0:55:37 > 0:55:42At retail for the single unit, reinstated to its original size,
0:55:42 > 0:55:45I would estimate the value to be £26,000.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47She paid about £26,000 for it.
0:55:47 > 0:55:51I think she'd probably get certainly that, maybe a little bit more.
0:55:51 > 0:55:55No profit, then, but it was already a bit of a bargain.
0:55:55 > 0:56:01Yes. Well, I was very pleased, because it was on at 50,000 in the beginning, two or three years ago.
0:56:01 > 0:56:05And we felt that that was really far too much.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07And so that's really vindicated that.
0:56:07 > 0:56:11It's quite nice to know that an expert has thought that as well.
0:56:11 > 0:56:19Anne-Marie's determined to fight for small shopkeepers in the local area and maintain her family's commercial
0:56:19 > 0:56:23interests that started all those years ago with her dad's chemist's.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27I'm absolutely delighted. And I know that he would be too.
0:56:27 > 0:56:32After all, he was here for so long, and living above, and we're carrying on the tradition.
0:56:32 > 0:56:35We can't get beaten, you know, we must keep going on.
0:56:35 > 0:56:42Mustn't let all these big moguls and big companies which are gobbling everybody up. We must keep going.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46You know, we are a little force. We must keep going. Off we go!
0:56:52 > 0:56:56For more auction room action, join us next time on Homes Under The Hammer.
0:56:56 > 0:56:59- We'll see you then. - Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:16 > 0:57:19E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk