0:00:02 > 0:00:03You don't need experience to buy at a property auction.
0:00:03 > 0:00:07But you do need to do your research and get your finances sorted.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08And then all you need is courage
0:00:08 > 0:00:12to stick up your hand and bid and buy your home under the hammer.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40You'll find all sorts of properties in the auction catalogues,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44from commercial units, to mansions, to cosy cottages.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48So let's see what features on today's programme.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51In Margate, in Kent,
0:00:51 > 0:00:56surely the days are numbered for the decor in this house?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It's got to come off soon.
0:00:58 > 0:01:05For me, it's sun, sea and shocks in Bournemouth, Dorset.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Oh, my goodness!
0:01:11 > 0:01:14And we first saw this house in Nottinghamshire in 2007.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Three years on, it finally represents the good life.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23All these properties have been sold at auction
0:01:23 > 0:01:26and we'll find who bought them and what they paid for them
0:01:26 > 0:01:27when they went under the hammer.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Congratulations.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32I'm in Cliftonville
0:01:32 > 0:01:36which used to be the fashionable hotel area of Margate
0:01:36 > 0:01:40when British seaside holidays were the only holidays to go on.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44Well, times have of course changed and many of these hotels
0:01:44 > 0:01:46are now flats and bedsits.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50But they've stood the test of time and they're still hugely desirable.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56While there has been a downturn in the fortunes of some seaside towns,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59if you're looking for a turn of the century property
0:01:59 > 0:02:01with Victorian charm,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04then look no further than the south-east coast.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Well, the property I'm here to see is in Norfolk Road.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13It's a five-bedroom, end-of-terrace Victorian property.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18At a guide price of 95-105,000 quid and you know what,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21from the outside, it looks pretty grand and impressive.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25And I love these bay windows, some original features there.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Let's take a look around.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32The house is typical of the area,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34grand and spacious but a little run-down.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39It was built in the early 1900s and, according to the catalogue,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43"offers extensive accommodation over two floors."
0:02:43 > 0:02:44I like the sound of that.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49So the big question is will any original features remain?
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Well, that's a nice start. Here in the porch, bit of lead glasswork.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Lovely. Through into the entrance and wow.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00Big, high ceilings. And yes, there's some original coving. Hallelujah.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02What have we got, though? Front living room there.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Not so much of an original fireplace. We don't like that.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But, you know, nice bay window.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Lots of light. What on earth is that?
0:03:11 > 0:03:13This pipe work, is fairly new.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16But who in their right minds would put it in like that?
0:03:16 > 0:03:19It's really shoddy, isn't it? I hate it when you see things like that.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21It's in the way of these light switches. Oh!
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Very annoying indeed. Rear living room there.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Again, the original fireplace looks like it's gone.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Down this corridor, then, to the rear of the property and,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34you have to say, is big. This is the kitchen.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Not original units, obviously, but it's a good-sized space.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40You could really do things with this with a bit of imagination.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Lots of light coming through the windows again.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45So, yeah, a big sort of family kitchen area.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48And it gets better as you go through here into like a rear utility area.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50There's a loo at the back of it.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53It's a very practical house straightaway.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55It's a really good start.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59There may be a lot of work needed to get this place up and running,
0:03:59 > 0:04:01but those large rooms
0:04:01 > 0:04:03and great period features have certainly got
0:04:03 > 0:04:05what potential developers look for.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08And I haven't even been upstairs yet.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11You know, I love these kind of houses.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13They're a bit higgledy-piggledy, all over the place,
0:04:13 > 0:04:15but that's what gives them character.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17This kind of, like, this middle floor.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Bedroom at the back. More horrendous pipe work on display, I'm afraid.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Smaller bedroom there. Bathroom and separate loo.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Do you know what I mean? A bit of a knick-knacky place.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31It's great. Up a few more stairs on to this next landing.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Look at the height of the ceilings.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36I love the fact that you've got lots of light coming in.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38That was a very Victorian style feature.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Something that's not so good, stairs up to the attic.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Clearly, they don't meet building regulations.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47However, as long as you don't call that a room to be used
0:04:47 > 0:04:49and you just have it as an attic,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52I reckon they're better than one of those retractable loft ladders.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Not least because of the fact you're going to have a real job
0:04:55 > 0:04:58getting a ladder that reaches down 10 feet.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03So, more bedrooms there. And then through into this room here.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Now, what on earth has gone on with the walls which have been,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10well, covered in this artexy stuff.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Thankfully... It doesn't look like it's too hard to get off.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17There's one thing for sure. It's got to come off soon.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Just like the ground floor,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22the decor up here definitely needs overhauling.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27In fact, I'd say the kitchen is just about the only salvageable room.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I reckon whoever takes this on
0:05:29 > 0:05:32will have to be prepared for some serious plumbing work.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Now, the rooms are all a good size and there's
0:05:36 > 0:05:40indications that in the past it's been split up into bedsits.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42That I think is a very good use for this property
0:05:42 > 0:05:44if you're looking to maximise your income.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46But if you are going to run it as an HMO, a house in
0:05:46 > 0:05:50multiple occupation, you are going to have to pass current regulations.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52You could have a bit of a battle on your hands
0:05:52 > 0:05:55because that mezzanine floor could be construed
0:05:55 > 0:05:57as a separate floor in its own right,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00in which case you'd have to be a licensed HMO.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01Something to look into.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04But in terms of a money-making venture?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07One that's definitely considering.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11So, lots to think about on the inside and it looks like
0:06:11 > 0:06:14the back garden will need some care and attention as well.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19But a great bonus is some rear parking via the side access road.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23So, a lot of pros and cons with this property.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26But I think for that £95-£105,000 guide price,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29it could represent a good investment.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34But what does a local estate agent feel about it?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42My first impressions of this property is it needs a bit of work.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44It would be well worth the effort.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47It's nice to see a large property
0:06:47 > 0:06:51of this era still intact with some of the features.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54But I think it's going to cost quite a lot of money to put right.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Bearing in mind that top guide price of 105,000, if you spent, say,
0:06:58 > 0:07:04£40,000 to put it right, you'd be looking at £145,000 spend here.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07So, could the returns justify the outlay?
0:07:07 > 0:07:09In a good buoyant market,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12this would have been achieving approximately £200,000.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16If this were to be rented, in the present market I would expect
0:07:16 > 0:07:20it to achieve approximately £800 per calendar month.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Well, you get a lot of property for that
0:07:28 > 0:07:31£95-£105,000 guide price and I think a lot of options with this one.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34It's a great investment opportunity.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Let's see who agreed with me when it went under the hammer.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Lot number 50.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Where are you going to start on this? 95-105?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Is there a bid of a 100 to start me? £100,000.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Where do you want to start me?
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Start me at 90, then. At 90,000. 90 I'm on.
0:07:50 > 0:07:5490 I've got. Now 95. At 95. At 95.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57At 100. At 100. And five. 105.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01105. 105 sitting down. And 10.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Shaking his head.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06110 from anybody else? I'll take 108 if it helps you.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08108 standing at the back.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10108 standing at the back.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13110 I'm looking for. 110 sitting.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15112, it's against you at the back.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17112.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19You saw his catalogue go up. 112 I've got. And 14?
0:08:19 > 0:08:23114. 114, he says, "Yes."
0:08:23 > 0:08:25116, it's against you.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30115 I've got. 116. Keep with it. You won't get another chance.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32These don't come around very often.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37At £115,000 and bid at the back then, for the first time.
0:08:37 > 0:08:38At £115,000 for the second.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Third and final time, if you're sure you're all done.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46It's going to be sold. It's yours, sir, for 115,000 at the back.
0:08:46 > 0:08:52For 115,000 quid, the new owner of the Margate property is Terry.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56He got it for £10,000 over the top guide price.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58I met him and his son, Gavin,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01back at the house to find out their plans.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Terry, Gavin, lovely to meet you both. Congratulations.
0:09:04 > 0:09:05A lot of house for the money.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Absolutely. Yes.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11- Tell me why you wanted to buy it. - It was the worst house in the road.
0:09:11 > 0:09:17And it's big. It's got all the coving, everything's still here.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19And it was cheap.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Why did the fact that it was the worst house appeal?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I like to get involved in taking houses apart
0:09:24 > 0:09:27and putting them back together. Love Victorian houses.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32- What is it about the Victorian era that you particularly like? - I know they're very well made.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Construction's good. The windows are usually solid.
0:09:36 > 0:09:42And I love the sash windows here as well. So that was a bonus for me.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Enthusiastic or what?
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Terry's got that look in his eye that tells me he's not just in it
0:09:48 > 0:09:51for the money, but that this is going to be a labour of love.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Will his son, Gavin, feel the same?
0:09:54 > 0:09:56What's your involvement in all of this?
0:09:56 > 0:10:00I'll be ripping everything out and then pretty much getting
0:10:00 > 0:10:05the labourers and plasterers and electricians in to do all the work.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08And then just bring it back to its original glory.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- Former glory.- Yes, a lot of work. A hell of a lot of work.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15A lot of work, yes, but with no structural problems,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18it's going to be a straightforward internal renovation.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22They aim to gut the interior and start afresh.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25They do plan some major changes, though.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27The steep staircase is going.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30The bathroom and toilet will be combined into one.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32And the two back bedrooms
0:10:32 > 0:10:36will be joined into one larger room with an en suite.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40That would turn this five-bedroomed house into a four-bed.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43You've looked into what the demand in this specific area is
0:10:43 > 0:10:45in terms of people would want
0:10:45 > 0:10:47bigger rooms, rather than more rooms.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51- That's a really important thing to do, isn't it?- Definitely so.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54The four-bed is obviously perfect for a nice family to move into.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58So, there are two quite large areas up in the loft which, obviously,
0:10:58 > 0:11:02with the right work, people can open up and use
0:11:02 > 0:11:06whenever they want in the future to add to, if they wish.
0:11:06 > 0:11:07We're not going to do that. We're just going
0:11:07 > 0:11:11to clean it up, basically, and let somebody else do that later on.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13So, Terry, how did this collaboration
0:11:13 > 0:11:14on what you're doing now begin?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17What's your background? How did you two start working together?
0:11:17 > 0:11:21I've got a lot of time off on holiday because I'm a schoolteacher.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26- Right.- And it gives me time to, you know, do houses up.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Gavin is very good. He keeps an eye on the money for me.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33I'm the one who spends the money but he keeps tabs on me.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36It should be the other way around shouldn't it?
0:11:36 > 0:11:39If I see something, I'd like to buy it. He stops me usually.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- Your son is stopping your dad. Really?- Yeah, I know.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46There's a bit of role reversal going on here as son, Gavin,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48will project manage but his father, Terry,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50is happy to let him get on with it.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54With Gavin controlling those purse strings,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56the duo have a budget of £17,500.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00It doesn't seem much for the task ahead, but as Gavin runs a business
0:12:00 > 0:12:03fitting kitchens, he'll have the right connections
0:12:03 > 0:12:05to get the job done.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08What will Terry be doing?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11I'll be allowed to do the staircase. That's my forte, the staircase.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13What specifically about the staircase?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15It's the shape of the spindles and everything.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Just love doing staircases.
0:12:17 > 0:12:18It's very therapeutic, painting those.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20I'm happy for him to paint those.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Do you scrape off all the old paint, and stuff?
0:12:23 > 0:12:27No, just rub down, make good, and then primer, undercoat, and topcoat.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29They come up beautifully.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Well, it looks like Terry's got his stairway to heaven here.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41But it's a time sapping job if ever there was one.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Five other people will help Gavin and Terry here.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47They hope to complete it in eight to ten weeks.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50A tough deadline, if you ask me.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Are you confident you're going to be able to complete it
0:12:52 > 0:12:53within the timescales?
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Absolutely. I've got all the workmen there to do the work with me.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58I'll be on site most of the time.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Obviously, in about a week and a half's time,
0:13:01 > 0:13:03I'm off to Poland to get married so...
0:13:03 > 0:13:04Oh.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Yeah. I'm off to Poland to get married.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13- I'll be here to crack the whip. Yes. - It'll be absolutely fine.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15I trust him. He'll do a good job.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Well, I'm sure you'll agree that Gavin and Terry
0:13:24 > 0:13:26got a lot of property for their money.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28An interesting reversal of roles
0:13:28 > 0:13:30with Gavin controlling the purse strings.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33But, of course, he's off on his wedding.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Will his team really do the kind of job he hopes?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39You can find out later in the show.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45This is the beautiful seaside resort of Bournemouth in Dorset.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Not long ago in a survey,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49it was found to be the happiest place in Britain.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54So I'm just hoping the property I'm here to see,
0:13:54 > 0:13:57a quarter of a mile from the town centre,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00a walking distance to the beach, will make me happy.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Now, a lot of larger period buildings
0:14:02 > 0:14:05along this street have been converted into flats,
0:14:05 > 0:14:06just like this one.
0:14:06 > 0:14:11It's on this private driveway, set in these wonderful communal grounds.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14It's a ground-floor one-bedroom flat.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16It had a guide price of just £55,000.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Quite an exciting start, I think.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26The house, probably Victorian, was converted into six flats in 1938.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29And stepping through that communal entrance,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32it looks like there's a treat ahead.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Oh, my goodness.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38This is a bit of a tangerine dream.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Not so much of a dream, as a nightmare.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Orange, orange everywhere.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Look, different shades.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49But all is forgiven.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Just look at this amazing room.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57It's huge! You've got these sash windows, beautiful cornicing,
0:14:57 > 0:15:01lovely ceiling height, you've got all this light coming in.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05If the rest of the flat is like this, fantastic!
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Uh, unfortunately, it's not.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11In fact, I wish I'd bought my sunglasses
0:15:11 > 0:15:14because everywhere I look it's orange overload.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Although in moderation it's a gorgeous colour,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20it makes the internal hallway dark and uninviting.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Whoever decorated this must have realised
0:15:23 > 0:15:25oranges aren't the only fruit.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30What a shame. There's a double bedroom with small bathroom
0:15:30 > 0:15:33off and then into this kitchen.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37The trouble is it's a disproportionate layout.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41You had the enormous living room and at the back of the property this
0:15:41 > 0:15:44comparatively small kitchen which is disappointing.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48I think they should re-jig the layout to balance it out
0:15:48 > 0:15:51and maybe even fit in a second bedroom.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54That's an instant way of adding value.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59One way would be to make that huge living room a kitchen lounge area
0:15:59 > 0:16:01freeing up the back garden.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Despite the decor disaster, there are possibilities.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Of course, as this is a leasehold flat, permission would be needed
0:16:08 > 0:16:12from the freeholder for any structural changes.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16So the flat seems great, doesn't it?
0:16:16 > 0:16:18But of course there's a catch.
0:16:18 > 0:16:24This property only has a short lease with approximately 50 years left,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27which means it's not mortgageable.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Once bought, you can't apply to extend the lease
0:16:29 > 0:16:33until you've owned the property for at least two years.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37If you wanted to buy this and turn it quickly for a fast buck,
0:16:37 > 0:16:38you can forget it.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42The short lease reduces its value and desirability too much.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46This is best kept as a long-term investment.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50The cost of renewing the lease is usually tied up to the improvement
0:16:50 > 0:16:53in value of the property once the lease is extended.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56So the shorter the lease, the greater the cost to renew.
0:16:56 > 0:17:02What's more, if the solicitor and freeholder drag their heels,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05the whole process could take up to 12 months.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10So that attractive guide price of 55,000 did come with its drawbacks.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13But there's no denying the potential of this one-bedroom flat.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18I asked a local estate agent what he thought.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24The negatives is we can see it needs a lot of work doing.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26It needs some money spending on it.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30Positively, it's a good size, it's got character and original features.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Properties like this are few and far between in Bournemouth.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37It's in a desirable area and it's a good size.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40So how do the figures stack up?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Assuming the property would be renovated,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44rental would be fairly easy.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47For a one-bed you'd be looking to achieve £600 a month,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50for a two-bed up to £725 per calendar month.
0:17:50 > 0:17:57Assuming the lease can be extended, what could this place be worth?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Once renovated, if this was a two-bedroom property,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02we'd market this to achieve £135,000.
0:18:02 > 0:18:03If it's a one-bedroom property,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06we'd market this to achieve approximately £115,000.
0:18:08 > 0:18:15Basically, this is a large desirable flat with a small undesirable lease.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19If you can get the lease sorted and change the layout and ideally
0:18:19 > 0:18:22make it into a two-bedroom property,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24you've got a great long-term investment.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28So, who had their eyes set squarely on the future?
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Let's find out when we go to auction.
0:18:31 > 0:18:38Somebody start the bidding for just £50,000. 50 I have straight away.
0:18:38 > 0:18:4350, I have. 55. Nice and prompt. 60?
0:18:43 > 0:18:4965, seated. 70 we have in front. 75, we have. Round 80?
0:18:49 > 0:18:5380,000. 85? 85,000, we have.
0:18:53 > 0:18:5890? 90, I now have. 91? 91,000 here?
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Nope, shake of the head. It's with you, sir, at 91,000.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Take 500 anywhere else in the room?
0:19:04 > 0:19:0891,500 on my right-hand side.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11I lip-read that!
0:19:14 > 0:19:17I can't say what he said.
0:19:19 > 0:19:2191 and a half is there. Back with you at 92?
0:19:21 > 0:19:2391 and a half over on the right.
0:19:23 > 0:19:2592 anywhere else in the room?
0:19:25 > 0:19:3091 and a half on the right for the first. 91 and a half for the second.
0:19:30 > 0:19:3492. They've come back. 92,000.
0:19:34 > 0:19:3792 and a half on the right.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Wave me away in disgust.
0:19:39 > 0:19:4292 and a half on the right for the first,
0:19:42 > 0:19:4592 and a half on the right for the second,
0:19:45 > 0:19:4992 and a half for the third and final time.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Congratulations. Your number, please?
0:19:51 > 0:19:57So, for £92,500 those successful last-minute gatecrashers were local
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Bournemouth man Sergio and his partner Kelly.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05I met them back at their new purchase to hear about their plans.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Guys, congratulations. This is a wonderful flat. I love it.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10What was it you really liked?
0:20:10 > 0:20:15It's got a lot of character. It's not your standard boxy-type property.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20We were looking for something we could get stuck into.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Kelly wanted a project and it had character.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25- He's blaming you.- I've got one!
0:20:25 > 0:20:28You're going to be busy, hon.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30I didn't want to get involved at all, really.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Kelly is going to be down here.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35It's not the first time I've seen her dusting
0:20:35 > 0:20:37with a paintbrush in her hands.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40It'll be quite nice seeing her come home worn out at night...
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Looking like a white pit bull.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47I'm glad to hear the tangerine terror is to be terminated.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Kelly will be here full time project managing the renovation.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53It's a joint venture with Sergio,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57who happens to work in residential lettings and property management.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00That should prove handy when dealing with the tricky problem
0:21:00 > 0:21:01of negotiating that short lease.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08We're in the process of having a chat with the landowner
0:21:08 > 0:21:10to see whether we can extend that.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14If they don't want do that, we'll wait two years.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18So you did by this with an element of risk attached, didn't you?
0:21:18 > 0:21:22You don't know how much you might have to stump up for the lease.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We have a rough idea. We have asked.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27About 20,000.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32They have a couple of years before facing that pay-out
0:21:32 > 0:21:36but with a two-year wait before they can extend the lease
0:21:36 > 0:21:38and realise some profit on the flat,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40it's bound for the rental market.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43They've already got some tenants in mind.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45I'm thinking about putting my mum and dad in.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47They've recently moved from Blackpool
0:21:47 > 0:21:50down to Bournemouth and they're living with my sister at the moment.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51It would be nice for them.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- Have they seen it?- Yeah!
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- What did they say?- Ooh! - "Oooh, it's a bit orange!"- Yeah.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01What you think about the layout?
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Because it's rather strange, isn't it?
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Yeah. This lounge is way too big
0:22:05 > 0:22:07when you look at the rest of the flat.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I'm hoping to move the kitchen,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13lounge, dine, everything in this room. Live in this room, really.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Turning this huge room into a kitchen lounge
0:22:16 > 0:22:19would free up the old kitchen to create a second bedroom.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22That would maximise the space,
0:22:22 > 0:22:23giving Sergio and Kelly
0:22:23 > 0:22:27that important value-adding second bedroom.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Don't forget, they would need the freeholder's permission
0:22:31 > 0:22:33not to mention a healthy budget.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38- What's your budget?- Ooh!- Are you going to agree on this, or not?
0:22:38 > 0:22:40No, we've had a discussion.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44We put some money by, so we initially have stuck £20,000 away
0:22:44 > 0:22:47but I don't think it will get there.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52We have said to ourselves there's going to be a couple of pounds over.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Hopefully just a couple of pounds.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56And you've got to make sure you stick to the budget.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Are you going to be on hand to help her?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I think I'll get told off, probably.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05I think I'll leave her to it and wait for the bad news.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07Come on, give the girl some encouragement!
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Seriously though, a project like this could easily
0:23:11 > 0:23:13eat up that £20,000 budget.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Kelly plans to do the renovation in four months.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I reckon for this pair, the future's bright.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21But hopefully not this bright!
0:23:24 > 0:23:26Sergio and Kelly have bagged themselves
0:23:26 > 0:23:28a great Bournemouth bargain here.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31This was still a risky purchase.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34They'll have to hang on to this property for a couple of years
0:23:34 > 0:23:36in order to extend the lease,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39otherwise they will never realise this flat's full value.
0:23:39 > 0:23:40Extending the lease can be
0:23:40 > 0:23:43an expensive and time-consuming business.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45On top of that, there's no guarantee
0:23:45 > 0:23:49they'll be able to make these internal changes that they want,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52so will they be able to turn it into a lovely two-bed flat,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55or will they be stuck with a lousy lay-out?
0:23:55 > 0:23:57You can find out later in the programme.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Coming up, in Nottinghamshire we catch up
0:24:01 > 0:24:04with this amazing farmhouse we first saw in 2007.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09It was far from finished then, but now it's past the winning post.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Back in Bournemouth,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14is Sergio getting twitchy over this flat refurbishment?
0:24:14 > 0:24:18I'm not really that concerned. He says, hopefully.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25But first, it's all about teamwork in Kent.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28We agree to disagree on a few things.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Back to Cliftonville, Margate, in Kent
0:24:34 > 0:24:39where earlier we met father and son team Terry and Gavin.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42They had bought this run-down, five-bedroomed house for 115 grand.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46They plan to restore it to its full glory but neither of them
0:24:46 > 0:24:47were experienced developers.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51There was a role reversal going on as well.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Gavin was project managing for the first time while his father
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Terry was going to be in the background
0:24:56 > 0:24:59just so he could indulge in one of his passions.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02I just love doing staircases.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04That's my forte, staircases.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08The shape of the spindles and everything. It's very therapeutic.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10I'm happy for him to paint those!
0:25:10 > 0:25:16I'm with you, Gavin. The duo were generally exciting about bringing this tired interior back to life.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Four months later we got the call to see how they'd got on.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22And the result?
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Well, from the outside it looks pretty impressive.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Fresh and inviting.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32And inside...
0:25:36 > 0:25:40The living room now feels like an oasis of calm.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44While the middle room has been transformed by the addition of
0:25:44 > 0:25:50French doors, perfect for letting in all that natural light.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54At the top of the stairs, the steep static stairway has now gone
0:25:54 > 0:25:59leaving an open landing that bathes this space in light.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04And there have been other major changes elsewhere.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08There was a door here leading into a small toilet.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12We've boxed that in and moved across to the main bathroom
0:26:12 > 0:26:18and created a larger space by forfeiting the box bedroom that was there.
0:26:18 > 0:26:24The box bedroom was so small we decided to remove that and create a larger bedroom in here
0:26:24 > 0:26:32and an en suite, which is a good trade-off to create a beautiful house for a family to move into.
0:26:32 > 0:26:39Losing that small box room has given the house just four bedrooms instead of five.
0:26:39 > 0:26:45But they're all good sizes and, as expected, airy and beautifully done.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49When it comes to finishing, Terry is especially proud of his showpiece.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53This is my favourite part of the house, the staircase.
0:26:53 > 0:27:00As you can see, the newel post at the end was scraped down with the hot airgun.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04This took me about four days to do, just this one newel post.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Then the handrail which was again all stripped off,
0:27:07 > 0:27:13right down to the bare wood, sanded down, again about an hour and a half just to sand the rail.
0:27:13 > 0:27:21Then, the spindles came out, they were dipped, they came back, three coats of paint.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23It all went back in.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26The spindles at the top didn't come out.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31They were kept in because they were in such bad condition but they were all plastered up
0:27:31 > 0:27:36and made to look as if they were brand new like the others.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41It's clear to see why Terry is pleased with his efforts.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46But judging by the rest of the house, I reckon they should both be puffing their chests out.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Despite the amount of work done,
0:27:48 > 0:27:53it's been a pretty pain-free process - well, almost, as Gavin explains.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55The big job was the ceilings.
0:27:55 > 0:28:01They were so rotten that at one point one of the doors was shut and the ceiling fell down.
0:28:01 > 0:28:09So we had a lot of work to cut around the coving to keep that and plasterboard and have it plastered.
0:28:09 > 0:28:10A lot of work.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15Terry and Gavin had all the ceilings and walls taken him right back to
0:28:15 > 0:28:20the plaster, while all the original woodwork was stripped and repainted.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24In fact, except for the original features, the house has been totally
0:28:24 > 0:28:31renovated from top to bottom with new salvaged fireplaces to give it some classic style.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33I think it's a beautiful house now.
0:28:33 > 0:28:39It's really come back to what it was originally, and I think even better, because it's got new walls,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42ceilings, windows. Everything is new.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47The kitchen and back room are still unfinished but you can be sure
0:28:47 > 0:28:50they'll blend in seamlessly with the rest of the house.
0:28:50 > 0:28:55For Gavin, project managing for the first time was fairly straightforward.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59He credits the team they put together for making it a great renovation.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03But did they get it all done for less than the original budget?
0:29:03 > 0:29:06Budget was 17 to 20,000.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10It's gone a big above that, it's about 22-23,000,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13with maybe another 1,000 to finish everything off.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18Now it's only got the kitchen and bathrooms to finish and it'll be complete.
0:29:20 > 0:29:27On top of the purchase price of 115,000, that would take their total spend to £139,000.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30They aim to recoup the lot by selling the house.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34While they overran the schedule by three weeks to a total of 12 weeks,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37that's to be expected on a job this size.
0:29:37 > 0:29:43And with the role reversal of father and son, a difference of opinion isn't unusual.
0:29:45 > 0:29:52There were obviously a lot of ups and a lot of downs where we may not have seen eye to eye,
0:29:52 > 0:29:59but we talked it through and everything came right in the end. We made some good decisions.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02- We agreed to disagree on quite a few things.- A few things. But...
0:30:02 > 0:30:05But I think the final article here is absolutely fantastic.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08He's done an excellent job. Now we've got
0:30:08 > 0:30:10a beautiful house.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14Well, I reckon they're certainly right on that score.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21But will their efforts get the local property market talking?
0:30:21 > 0:30:23We asked along two local estate agents
0:30:23 > 0:30:27to hear what they thought of Terry and Gavin's renovation.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34First impressions, now that I've come back, very good.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37What does it for me is that they've managed to retain
0:30:37 > 0:30:38a lot of the original features,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41which is something that buyers will be keen to see are still in place.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45It's very light, very airy and I think they've done a very good quality job.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48I think the attention to detail is very good.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52They've retained the original features with a contemporary feel,
0:30:52 > 0:30:56keeping it quite neutral so that people can come in and make their own mark.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00It seems that Terry and Gavin's hard work has paid off.
0:31:00 > 0:31:04But will the returns match the reviews?
0:31:04 > 0:31:08Remember, the boys have a possible total outlay of £139,000 here
0:31:08 > 0:31:13so, if they were to sell, what could they expect to achieve?
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Once finished I would suggest marketing the property at £175,000.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20Once this has all been completed and cleaned right through, I would
0:31:20 > 0:31:25want to see this on the market between £175,000 and £185,000.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27I'm a bit disappointed.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30I think it's worth about 200,000
0:31:30 > 0:31:32in its current state.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34And what's actually been put into it.
0:31:34 > 0:31:41But if Terry and Gavin decide to change their minds, both estate agents feel this is a perfect rental
0:31:41 > 0:31:44property that could realise a healthy 7% yield.
0:31:44 > 0:31:51But they're happy with what they've achieved and Gavin's keen to take on another project.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54I'll definitely look to buy another property.
0:31:54 > 0:32:00Maybe, obviously, hopefully with Dad, something of this size again.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04I love to tackle huge jobs and I feel it's a challenge and obviously
0:32:04 > 0:32:08the outcome just speaks for itself, really.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11It's Gavin's first project
0:32:11 > 0:32:15as project manager, and I'm really proud of him.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17He's done an excellent job.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25In December of 2006, despite the crisp, cold day,
0:32:25 > 0:32:31I came across an auction lot that warmed the cockles of my heart.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35I'm in Bramcote just outside Nottingham.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39It's a winter's morning, there's a light dusting of snow on the ground,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41I'm in a quiet country lane
0:32:41 > 0:32:48and I'm so excited about the property that's up for auction that I'm going to show you.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54It's a four-bedroomed former farmhouse.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57It comes with two acres of land and it sounds incredible.
0:32:57 > 0:33:02It's got an annex at the back... It's not in the best of states, but talk about potential.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Fantastic.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Gems like this don't come up that often.
0:33:07 > 0:33:12From the outside it looks structurally sound and the tiles seem fairly new.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Considering it went to auction
0:33:15 > 0:33:20at a guide price of £200,000, it's pretty attractive on the wallet as well.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Can't wait to check out the inside.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25So what have we got?
0:33:25 > 0:33:30Well, a project it seems someone's started but not finished.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34Things like insulation on the walls, there's a new beam going across there.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37But through the front door into a nice large room.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39Good to see there's an open fire.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42And an unusual thing for this kind of property, from my experience -
0:33:42 > 0:33:45a cellar down there, which is nice to see.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Main room there then through into the rear of the property.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53Again, someone's obviously cleared all of this out to create this nice big space in here.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56You can imagine a big family kitchen in here, farmhouse kitchen.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59I've got a feeling there's more to be found behind there.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02And then another room, probably a dining room, over this way.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Upstairs it seems like a bit more of the work has been completed
0:34:10 > 0:34:14than downstairs and actually I really like the layout up here.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18A small kind of landing area with four large bedrooms coming off it
0:34:18 > 0:34:23and what looks to be a potential family bathroom, which has been partially completed.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24One of the really nice things
0:34:24 > 0:34:29is a lot of the materials you're going to need to complete the project are already on site.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33Things like floorboards, the electrics have been partially completed,
0:34:33 > 0:34:35as has some of the central heating.
0:34:35 > 0:34:40So that's good news but just a word of caution, you don't know how well the work has been done -
0:34:40 > 0:34:44if the person who installed, say, the electrics was qualified to do that.
0:34:44 > 0:34:49So before you just accept that it's OK, maybe get a good builder or an architect in just to check it out.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51But a good start.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57But I'm still puzzled why, after doing so much work, the previous owner of the farmhouse
0:34:57 > 0:35:03decided to put it up at auction at a guide price of just £200,000.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07Maybe the answer lies at the back of the house.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10Well, the property comes with a pretty sizable garden.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14It's in a right old state at the moment, more than a few hours with a strimmer required.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16But once you've done that it would be fantastic.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Come out to the rear of the property, and you start to get a real feeling for the size of it.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23That's the main house there. This is an annex,
0:35:23 > 0:35:28and then this great big hole was actually dug for the foundations for an extension,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30which there's planning permission for.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34But you've got to ask yourself, the amount of money it's going to cost to build that,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37are you really going to get that back on a property this size?
0:35:37 > 0:35:40I'm not so sure that it's actually worth doing.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46One condition of the planning approval for the extension is that it must remain as a single house.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Maybe that's the reason the owners decided to sell.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55Although some work has started in the annex, it's a long way short of the finish in the farmhouse.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59But if you knock the two buildings together you'd create one very large
0:35:59 > 0:36:03house without having all that extra building expense.
0:36:03 > 0:36:09Not a project for the faint-hearted, but a superb opportunity to create the most wonderful home.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Who's going to buy it? Well, maybe a developer,
0:36:12 > 0:36:16but I really hope it goes to somebody who actually turns this place into a family home.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18How wonderful that would be.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Only one way to find out, let's go to the auction.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Lot number 45.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26A large former farmhouse
0:36:26 > 0:36:30with planning permission for a two storey rear extension.
0:36:30 > 0:36:31Would you like to start me at 230?
0:36:31 > 0:36:34£230,000?
0:36:34 > 0:36:36235? 35 is bid.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38£240,000.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40245. 250.
0:36:40 > 0:36:4755. 260. 265. £265,000.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Both out standing at the back.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52270. And 71.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54272. 273.
0:36:54 > 0:37:0274, 75, 76. 277. £277,000. It's against you.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04You're not going to be buying it? All right.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06277,000 once,
0:37:06 > 0:37:08twice, third and last chance.
0:37:10 > 0:37:16- Sold at 277. Thank you. - The successful bid of £277,000 was made by Chris.
0:37:16 > 0:37:22He was bidding on behalf of his son James and his wife Lindsey. They've only been married for six months,
0:37:22 > 0:37:27but both fell in love with the farmhouse and tried unsuccessfully to buy it a few months ago.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30Now, thanks to Dad's bid, it's theirs.
0:37:30 > 0:37:34I met up with them to find out their plans.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36- James and Lindsey, lovely to meet you both.- And you.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39You didn't look very excited there, did you(?)
0:37:39 > 0:37:41- We were quite happy, weren't we? Yes.- Yeah.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Tell me, why did you buy this place?
0:37:44 > 0:37:48I think we'd always wanted to buy somewhere with land and buy something with a bit of character
0:37:48 > 0:37:54and just somewhere you could do up, and finding somewhere around here for this sort of price is very rare.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Neither of you are property developers or have property developing experience?
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Not at all, no.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02No skills to do this up at all.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06Right. So starting with a nice simple project, then(?)
0:38:06 > 0:38:08Straight in at the deep end.
0:38:08 > 0:38:14James is a national account manager for a rucksack company and Lindsey is an accountant.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18To get the cash they need for this project, they're going to sell
0:38:18 > 0:38:23their current home plus another property that they rent out and hope to raise £100,000.
0:38:23 > 0:38:28Although plans have been granted for an extension, they're not planning to build at present.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31They're just going to restore the annex and the farmhouse.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35But it's not just the buildings that caught Lindsey's eye.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38What is it that you particular love, Lindsey?
0:38:38 > 0:38:43The land, really. I want to build some stables out the back so that I can have some horses,
0:38:43 > 0:38:44chickens, that kind of thing.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47- The Good Life?- Yeah.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50- Tom and Barbara.- Fantastic.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00Well, they've got plenty of garden here for planting or exercising in,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03plus the two acres that they're own across the lane.
0:39:04 > 0:39:11Top of Lindsey's list is stabling for her horses, but James isn't galloping ahead quite as fast.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15The first thing we need to do is get all the services attached.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Currently, there's no drainage, no running water, no gas and no electric.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22So that's obviously the first thing to get cracked,
0:39:22 > 0:39:25which we're hoping to do as soon as we get in, really.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28After that we need to make it liveable so we can live here.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32So I think it will be bathroom, kitchen, and just make it liveable, really.
0:39:32 > 0:39:38They plan to finish the refurbishment that's already started at the front of the property.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Upstairs, the bedrooms and bathrooms will be tackled and downstairs
0:39:41 > 0:39:46they're going to knock through and incorporate the existing annex.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Right, so, we're going to have this as our kitchen area.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55We are going to knock through the wall here
0:39:55 > 0:39:59to make it as open plan as possible coming through from the dining room.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Eventually we are going to knock this wall out, have in the back a cloakroom,
0:40:03 > 0:40:07a little tack room, then we're going to take these stairs out completely.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Upstairs is only going to be accessed through the upstairs bedrooms.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13That's going to be the master bedroom with an en suite.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17James and Lindsey have taken on one massive project here.
0:40:17 > 0:40:22They're inexperienced, so the advice and help they will get from friends and family
0:40:22 > 0:40:25will be critical in getting the job done.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Prioritising the work is crucial.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32You mentioned about stables and stuff, where does that come in the priority list?
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Presumably in your wish list it's fairly high?
0:40:34 > 0:40:39Yeah. I think that the most important thing is getting it habitable, getting us in.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43After that I would like to get the stables up fairly soon.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48Get using the land, get the land all fenced in. Quite quickly, I think.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51- There you go.- Yes, I've been told.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55That was over three years ago.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59When we first went back some areas had galloped ahead.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02Lindsey's priorities come first and the horses are in.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05While others had been left a long way behind.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08They were far from leading the good life but we've gone back
0:41:08 > 0:41:13again since then and you can see the amazing results later in the show.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Well, time is your enemy when property developing.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Every day over budget is going to cost you money.
0:41:23 > 0:41:29So did our owner's timescales go adrift or did they stay on track and on budget?
0:41:29 > 0:41:30Let's find out.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36In the Dorset town of Bournemouth, you might see lots of yellows and orange -
0:41:36 > 0:41:41but you'd normally expect to see those on ice lollies, not in one-bedroom ground-floor flats.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44But despite the colour, local couple Sergio and Kelly
0:41:44 > 0:41:50weren't put off and bought this flat at auction for £92,500.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54We were looking for something that we could really get stuck into
0:41:54 > 0:41:58and Kelly wanted a project and it just had the character.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02He's blaming you. There you go, you're going to be busy, hon.
0:42:02 > 0:42:07Absolutely. It was time to roll up their sleeves and get painting.
0:42:07 > 0:42:12So, eight months later, how has Sergio and, more importantly, Kelly's project been going?
0:42:12 > 0:42:18Well, for a start it's a lot less orange, but more than colour changes have taken place here.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22The bathroom was actually in the master bedroom
0:42:22 > 0:42:26with a lowered ceiling on to the window and it just looked a mess.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30It was all a bit higgledy-piggledy. We moved the bathroom out of there,
0:42:30 > 0:42:36made the single toilet in the extension bigger to create a bathroom
0:42:36 > 0:42:43and by moving the kitchen into the lounge, we created a second bedroom.
0:42:43 > 0:42:48That second bedroom also has its own patio doors out onto the communal garden.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59And as for the kitchen diner, wow, what a kitchen diner.
0:43:01 > 0:43:07OK. With the kitchen we went for something modern,
0:43:07 > 0:43:11wooden worktops, I think it fits nicely with the lounge.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Undermounted sink so we didn't have to look at a drainer.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16All integrated appliances, fridge-freezer,
0:43:16 > 0:43:20all fits in nicely and I'm really pleased with the kitchen.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22And so she should be.
0:43:22 > 0:43:25The dark wooden floor really complements the work surfaces.
0:43:25 > 0:43:31And by matching the units to the wall colours in the kitchen fits seamlessly into the space.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34Mind you, Kelly didn't always get the colours quite right.
0:43:34 > 0:43:39I love the colour in the lounge and I got one of those cards with
0:43:39 > 0:43:45the four different shades and I thought I'd go for a paler shade for the rest of the flat
0:43:45 > 0:43:52and had 20 litres mixed after looking at a test pot and then it was just pink.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55I couldn't bear it in the hall so I've changed to that back to white
0:43:55 > 0:43:58and then just kept it in the two bedrooms.
0:44:00 > 0:44:07It's a subtle pretty pink, hardly the vivid colour from before, so no real disaster.
0:44:07 > 0:44:12But sometimes things don't always go to plan.
0:44:12 > 0:44:17The plan was that my parents would move into the flat short-term.
0:44:17 > 0:44:22But because it was only short term, they have decided a couple of weeks
0:44:22 > 0:44:26ago that they would move into their own place.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28So like the paint shades, a minor hiccup.
0:44:28 > 0:44:32No a great problem, but the big issue wasn't paint colours
0:44:32 > 0:44:38or Kelly's parents becoming tenants or not, it was whether Sergio would pleased with all Kelly's efforts.
0:44:40 > 0:44:47I really wanted to leave Kelly to do everything because I'm out doing work during the day.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49Serge has pretty much left me to it.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52Obviously he works full-time, so he's busy himself.
0:44:52 > 0:44:57I think I've lived through all the stress with her, but it's something she wanted to do.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00He didn't really want any aggravation.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03Got a little bit towards the end but not too much.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07All the moaning and whingeing and all the rest of it that I've done,
0:45:07 > 0:45:11it's been worthwhile and I'm really proud of her. A good result.
0:45:11 > 0:45:15Sergio works as a lettings agent and he's given it the thumbs up, so that's encouraging.
0:45:15 > 0:45:21It's not always just the quality of an end product that's important.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23It's also the financial bottom line.
0:45:23 > 0:45:28Serge is quite laid-back. He did start twitching a bit when I asked him for an extra £10,000!
0:45:28 > 0:45:31But no, everything's fine.
0:45:31 > 0:45:35Yes we have spent more money here but hopefully there's still
0:45:35 > 0:45:38a margin in it that will keep us both happy.
0:45:38 > 0:45:46The total budget now, originally we said £20,000, but we're actually up to £34,500 now.
0:45:46 > 0:45:51I know these things happen and there's nothing you can do about it. I'm not really that concerned.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54So... He says, hopefully!
0:45:54 > 0:45:56No, hopefully it'll be OK.
0:45:56 > 0:45:59Does he have cause for worry?
0:45:59 > 0:46:02Along with the £92,500 to buy the flat,
0:46:02 > 0:46:06and Kelly's £34,000 spend, it's on a very short lease
0:46:06 > 0:46:09that would make it difficult to sell.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13To renew the lease will cost in the region of 20 - 30,000,
0:46:13 > 0:46:18so if they did that, their total investment would be around £150,000.
0:46:18 > 0:46:22I think it's a very nicely designed apartment.
0:46:22 > 0:46:27And the space, it's spacious and they have made the best use of the space available.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29The change of layout has improved the property.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33By adding a second bedroom you've obviously offered more accommodation
0:46:33 > 0:46:35and subsequently will increase the value.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39An extension to the lease, I'm sure, could be negotiated and I think
0:46:39 > 0:46:41that would be essential if you were selling.
0:46:41 > 0:46:47Without the lease extension, resell isn't really an option for a couple of years.
0:46:47 > 0:46:53If they got it, would it make Sergio and Kelly's outlay of around £150,000 worthwhile?
0:46:53 > 0:46:59With an extended lease, I consider this property would sell
0:46:59 > 0:47:02between £185,000 - £195,000.
0:47:02 > 0:47:08With an extended lease, I feel this property would be marketed between £170,000 - £180,000.
0:47:08 > 0:47:13I think the £195,000 mark would be something that we'd be more interested in,
0:47:13 > 0:47:15being the higher one, obviously!
0:47:16 > 0:47:20That's encouraging. It clearly is worth getting the lease extended.
0:47:20 > 0:47:25But, for now, the flat will go on the rental market.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29I consider this property to be worth approximately £800 per calendar month.
0:47:29 > 0:47:34Rental value per calendar month, I would say would be between £750 - £800.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37Pretty spot on.
0:47:37 > 0:47:41I'm in the rental business and I valued it myself at 795.
0:47:41 > 0:47:44To achieve 795, we don't want to take any chips on that.
0:47:45 > 0:47:49795 a month is a good rental income for a flat.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52Is there anyone likely to pay that?
0:47:52 > 0:47:54I'd like to rent it!
0:47:54 > 0:47:57Hopefully. If she kicks me out.
0:47:57 > 0:47:58I'd like to move in!
0:48:00 > 0:48:04Ah! There you go then, Sergio.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06Tenants all sorted!
0:48:13 > 0:48:17Back in 2007, we first saw this amazing farmhouse
0:48:17 > 0:48:19and land in Nottinghamshire.
0:48:19 > 0:48:23This was a strange lot because work on the house and annex,
0:48:23 > 0:48:26which went with it, had already been started
0:48:26 > 0:48:30yet abandoned halfway through, so it was more like a building site.
0:48:30 > 0:48:36That didn't put off newly-wed couple James and Lindsey, who planned to combine the two properties...
0:48:36 > 0:48:40I think it's about here if we knock through into the annex section.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43..to make a dream home for them and their animals.
0:48:43 > 0:48:49You mentioned about stables and stuff like that, where does that come on the priority list?
0:48:49 > 0:48:52Presumably in your wish-list, it's fairly high.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56Yes, I think that the most important thing is getting it habitable, getting us in.
0:48:56 > 0:49:02But then after that, I would like to get the stables up quite quickly, I think.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05- There you go.- Yes, I've been told.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09When we returned the first time, over a year later,
0:49:09 > 0:49:13it was the horses who seemed to have galloped ahead in importance.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17While they had great new accommodation and a place to roam,
0:49:17 > 0:49:20James and Lindsey were still some way off getting their new home.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23The stable block is one area where Lindsey got her own way.
0:49:23 > 0:49:27In my idea we would get the house done and be living in here first.
0:49:27 > 0:49:32But as with Lindsey, the priorities come first and the horses are in.
0:49:32 > 0:49:36Progress on the house was also slowed by the lack of services.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Gas, water, electrics and the like.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42So it was far from habitable.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46Now, three years later, we're back
0:49:46 > 0:49:50and hey, it's not just the horses who can enjoy accommodation!
0:49:51 > 0:49:56At last the race has ended and they've passed the winning post.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04With a generous sized lounge
0:50:04 > 0:50:08that mixes farmhouse traditional with contemporary style.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15As does the rather magnificent kitchen.
0:50:21 > 0:50:28And with a dining and work areas, the house now has a great flow and feeling of space.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36It's quite a contrast to where they've been living recently.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40We've been missing in a static caravan for 16 months and, oh...
0:50:40 > 0:50:44- it's just...- Never again. - No. It's driving us mad.
0:50:44 > 0:50:49There's no space and so to move in here with all this space, it was absolutely fantastic, wasn't it?
0:50:49 > 0:50:52We never want to see a caravan again.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55Not only has it got much more room than a caravan,
0:50:55 > 0:50:58it's also got stairs, and what stairs they are!
0:50:58 > 0:51:02OK, so this is our staircase that we designed ourselves.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05We had this big window put in because we wanted to let in
0:51:05 > 0:51:07lots of light to both the downstairs and the upstairs.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10We designed this staircase around it, really.
0:51:10 > 0:51:15We had a joiner make all this bespoke oak for us and we've
0:51:15 > 0:51:19had this glass installed, which really finishes it off. so we're very pleased with it.
0:51:19 > 0:51:24Those custom build stairs lead up to the 4th bedroom.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30This is the master bedroom.
0:51:30 > 0:51:36We've got double entrance doors which are the same hand-made oak that we've got throughout the rest of the house.
0:51:36 > 0:51:40When we bought the house, this room had no ceiling and no floors, so that gave us
0:51:40 > 0:51:45the idea of raising the roof height above the purlins to give the idea of more space and light.
0:51:45 > 0:51:50Here we've got our en suite and this is the sliding door that disappears into the wall.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53We're really pleased with it, really glad that we persevered.
0:51:57 > 0:52:03Along with the master bedroom there are three other bedrooms, all a good size.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19One of them has the luxury of an en suite.
0:52:21 > 0:52:25Whereas the other two are catered for with a fabulous modern bathroom.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29There's been an impressive amount of work done here in the last few years.
0:52:29 > 0:52:34Towards the end, I was very hands-on. To start with, we had this main contractor
0:52:34 > 0:52:35who did a lot of the work.
0:52:35 > 0:52:40In the end, due to finance and timings, we had to take a lot of that ourselves.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43So it from the finish point of view, it was, a lot of it was me really.
0:52:43 > 0:52:47So it was really hands-on and I've got calluses where I've never had them before.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49And, yes, I don't want to be doing that again in a hurry.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53They also got a lot of help from friends and family.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57And, after three years of hard struggle, at last it's finished.
0:53:01 > 0:53:07It must have been a fantastic feeling to stay here for the first time.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10You actually had the first night in here without me, didn't you?
0:53:10 > 0:53:12Yes, I offered to host my friend's hen weekend
0:53:12 > 0:53:15because we thought it was going to be finished months before but it wasn't.
0:53:15 > 0:53:21We had a final push so me and about 20 girls had the first night in the house.
0:53:21 > 0:53:25- You were sent off to her boyfriend's, weren't you?- I was kicked out for the night.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27So they were all staying in my house before I was.
0:53:27 > 0:53:33So it seems it's not just horses but also hens that come before James!
0:53:33 > 0:53:36I guess he knows where he stands in the pecking order.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40Since the addition of feathered hens, ducks,
0:53:40 > 0:53:47three dogs and now three horses, one in foal, they're starting to live the good life they'd hoped for.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51But the total cost of all this can't have been chicken feed.
0:53:52 > 0:53:57I think in the end we've ended up spending around £200,000.
0:53:57 > 0:54:02That did include the stables which wasn't in our original £100,000 budget,
0:54:02 > 0:54:05which was probably getting on for £50,000.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08But yes, we've seriously overspent but we don't intend to move,
0:54:08 > 0:54:10so as long as we like it, it was worth it.
0:54:12 > 0:54:17They bought the house and land for a pretty reasonable £277,000.
0:54:17 > 0:54:25But their £200,000 spend on it means a total outlay of around £477,000.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27Is that value-for-money in the current market?
0:54:27 > 0:54:31What do two local estate agents think?
0:54:31 > 0:54:34I really love this house. The owner's done a fantastic job
0:54:34 > 0:54:37in making an older house really contemporary inside.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41It's finished to a superb standard with the oak floors, kitchen,
0:54:41 > 0:54:42bathroom, they look excellent.
0:54:42 > 0:54:49I think the garden's great. It's mainly lawned, it's lovely for a family and it's very, very private.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53The stable block definitely adds value, for those with equestrian interests
0:54:53 > 0:54:56it would be the difference between them buying the property and not.
0:54:57 > 0:55:05When we first returned to the property 18 months ago it was valued between £695,000 - £720,000.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08But that was pre-credit crunch. What about today?
0:55:08 > 0:55:15I think we'll market the property at about £575,000 to achieve something in the region of £550,000.
0:55:15 > 0:55:20It's a difficult property to put a price on. I would expect to achieve around £550,000.
0:55:20 > 0:55:28With their £477,000 spend, £550,000 would still see some profit.
0:55:28 > 0:55:33But the property slump has knocked over £150,000 off its current value.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35How do they feel about that?
0:55:35 > 0:55:41Yes, I think in the current climate we knew that the valuation would probably go down.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45- And as we're not selling it doesn't really...- Doesn't really matter at all.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49That is the key. It's their home.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53Although they'd hoped it was a good investment, it wasn't all about profit.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56Would they ever take on such a large project again?
0:55:56 > 0:55:59I think we might take another project on in the future,
0:55:59 > 0:56:02once we've had a few years to relax and enjoy this one.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04Perhaps more than a few years.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06In the distant future, maybe. Maybe.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09# Give me just a little more time
0:56:10 > 0:56:13# Baby, please, baby... #
0:56:13 > 0:56:17I think that after the tough three years James and Lindsey have had,
0:56:17 > 0:56:22they should take a well-earned break and enjoy their fabulous new home.
0:56:22 > 0:56:27For the time being, there's absolutely no need to look for pastures new.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Well, that's all we have time for on today's Homes Under The Hammer.
0:56:37 > 0:56:42But do join us next time for more news from the trenches of the property battlefield.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44- We'll see you then. - Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:56:51 > 0:56:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:56:54 > 0:56:57E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk