0:00:00 > 0:00:01Hello. Welcome to the show!
0:00:01 > 0:00:05The auction property market is worth billions of pounds each year.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08They're quite big numbers, so don't be put off by that.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12No. Auctions are a level playing field. Anyone can take part
0:00:12 > 0:00:16as long as you've got the cash and the confidence.
0:00:41 > 0:00:46Now, there are property auctions all over the country and throughout the year.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48So you're spoilt for choice.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53Let's see which properties made their buyers part with their cash on today's show.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58In Cheshire, this house may hold the key to finally shutting me up!
0:00:58 > 0:01:01And at last! Shutters!
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Fantastic!
0:01:04 > 0:01:09There's a property in Gravesend, Kent, that gives me the chills!
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Hold on a minute - there's no radiators in here.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16And in Hammersmith, west London,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19a flat that can't be your home.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24Wow! In English, that means if you buy it, you can't live in it!
0:01:25 > 0:01:28All these properties have been sold at auction.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32We find out who bought them and what they paid when they went under the hammer.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Yours!
0:01:37 > 0:01:41I'm in the affluent village of Bowdon in Cheshire,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45popular with celebrities and some of the north-west's successful entrepreneurs.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Unsurprisingly, it boasts some impressive properties.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54The house I'm here to see occupies this corner plot.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And pretty impressive it looks, too.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01Three bedrooms. Had a guide price of 300 to 350,000 quid,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04which for round here I think is tremendous value for money.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10Question is, can the interior match up to the grand exterior?
0:02:11 > 0:02:15The house is on a busy main road and sits on a corner plot,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17flanked closely by its neighbours.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26But I love the look of it and prices here have been static in the last few years,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29a good indication of just how desirable this area is.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Great sense of anticipation.
0:02:34 > 0:02:40But unfortunately, very disappointing when you come in here.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43It's a good-sized space, lots of light pouring in,
0:02:43 > 0:02:47but very little character. Lots of woodchip wallpaper.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Big space, though, the main living area here.
0:02:49 > 0:02:55Down this corridor, a rear entrance through to a small courtyard.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Then through into the kitchen.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02But once again, you expect something grand to match the house.
0:03:02 > 0:03:08But fairly standard, run-of-the-mill stuff. It could be so much more.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13But the space is quite nice. A family kitchen/dining area here, which is good.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18And at last! Shutters! Fantastic!
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Some original features!
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Maybe all is not lost!
0:03:24 > 0:03:28So far, the inside is in need of a good makeover
0:03:28 > 0:03:29to help it match the outside.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Upstairs is a bathroom and three good-sized bedrooms,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37all of which are crying out for some love and attention.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44But this is a house with some hidden depths!
0:03:44 > 0:03:47In terms of extending this house,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51your options to go either side of it are fairly limited
0:03:51 > 0:03:53because it's on this corner plot. However,
0:03:53 > 0:03:58great news down here in the cellar. The only issue is the head height.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Ideally, you want this to be about 2.4 metres
0:04:01 > 0:04:03to give a feeling of space and loftiness.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05That's what the average room is.
0:04:05 > 0:04:10This isn't, it's just over six foot. So what are the options?
0:04:10 > 0:04:15One thing, which is what someone's been looking at here, is to dig down.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Dig away the floor, thereby giving extra head height.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22But that is a very labour-intensive process.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26All the muck, dirt, soil, has to be carried out by hand.
0:04:26 > 0:04:31So it can be quite expensive and it's worth employing a specialist cellar contractor.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35You want the walls damp-proofed, et cetera, et cetera.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39And in an old building, you've also got to let it breathe.
0:04:39 > 0:04:45So a great property with an unusual but potentially promising way to extend.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49And it had a 300 to £350,000 guide price.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50We asked a local estate agent
0:04:50 > 0:04:54to cast his expert eye over it and give us his thoughts.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58The house is located in a conservation area.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Because of that, we'll find it very, very difficult indeed
0:05:02 > 0:05:06to get planning permission to alter the external appearance of the property.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08However, there's a super basement area
0:05:08 > 0:05:14and I think that's the place that will increase the footprint.
0:05:14 > 0:05:19If someone were to modernise this place, but leave the basement be,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21how much could it be worth?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25The house renovated would easily make £500,000.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30What impact could converting the cellar have on the sale price?
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Assuming a full and complete renovation of the house
0:05:33 > 0:05:35embracing the basement conversion,
0:05:35 > 0:05:40I would suspect that this house would achieve in the late 500s,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42possibly up to 600,000.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And if it were rented out?
0:05:45 > 0:05:47A typical rental value for this house
0:05:47 > 0:05:50would be in the order of £1,500 per calendar month.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56So, a lovely house in a great location with bags of potential.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Especially when it comes to sorting out that cellar!
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I'm sure this was a fantastically popular lot
0:06:02 > 0:06:04when it went under the hammer!
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Now, ladies and gentlemen, lot four.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12How much can we say for this?
0:06:12 > 0:06:14250. Thank you.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18He'll not buy anything, but he'll start me off!
0:06:18 > 0:06:20250,000 I've got. Thank you, sir.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22260 now. 260.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24270. 280.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Bidding continued to inch up for the next ten minutes.
0:06:28 > 0:06:35Unusually long for an auction. It finally crept up to £355,000
0:06:35 > 0:06:36where we rejoin it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39355? Yes? 355.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41355 and a half? Yes.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43355 and a half.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45356.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48At 355 and a half I'm selling once. 356.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52At 356. Are you going again? No?
0:06:52 > 0:06:56At £356,000, this is not a dear house. You're going again.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58356 and a half.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01At 356... And 357.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03357 and a half?
0:07:03 > 0:07:08At £357,000, once. Twice. Third and final time.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13At £357,000. Yours.
0:07:13 > 0:07:20Successful with his bid of £357,000, was kitchen designer, David.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23He was bidding on behalf of his girlfriend, Suzanne.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27She had been looking for the perfect property in this area for two years.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30She'd finally fallen in love when she found this one
0:07:30 > 0:07:32which she plans to renovate with David.
0:07:32 > 0:07:38Suzanne, David, good to meet you. Congratulations! Well done on surviving that marathon!
0:07:38 > 0:07:40- It was, wasn't it?- What was it like being in it?
0:07:40 > 0:07:48A bit hot under the collar! A bit strange and pressured, but we stayed in there.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- When it started out, you had no idea what would happen.- No.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- We're not familiar with auctions. - I'd never been to an auction.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00- I wanted David to do the bidding. - Before we went in,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04I said to Suzanne what I thought we'd have to go to to get it.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07And we weren't very far off on that.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Suzanne, why were you so keen to buy this house?
0:08:10 > 0:08:14I went by my instincts. I was very excited about it.
0:08:14 > 0:08:20I hadn't felt excited about any house I'd viewed in two years, so I though I'd go for it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22What got you going about this house?
0:08:22 > 0:08:28I just could see it having a lot of charm once I'd finished with it.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33I liked the look on the outside. It's 150 years old and it looks cute.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37There's something about it. I love the brickwork. And I love the area.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Tell me exactly what you're planning to do.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44We're going to completely transform the cellars downstairs.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45- The cellars?- Yes.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50We have two and a half rooms downstairs, and we've found a further room below this kitchen.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55- What have you found?- Once we got the house and we brought a builder down,
0:08:55 > 0:09:00they pulled away a wood panel and the whole area was doubled up.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05The area under the kitchen has actually already been partly excavated
0:09:05 > 0:09:09and hopefully it's not too big a job when you're doing all the work
0:09:09 > 0:09:14to almost double the room that was downstairs when we first saw the house.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16- What a find that was!- Yeah.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21How fantastic. That, as well as the additional room the cellar already offered
0:09:21 > 0:09:24means even more for Suzanne to work with down there.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30That allows more freedom in what she chooses to do with the rest of the house.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33And she's got further plans.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37We're going to drop all these walls and have bi-folding glass doors
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- so that all you see when you walk in is the courtyard.- Wow.- Yes.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44So it'll all be open-plan in here?
0:09:44 > 0:09:49Open-plan, but it's already open-plan as you walk through the front door.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52We'll have a glass door to the kitchen.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Suzanne, convenient to hook up with a kitchen designer!
0:09:56 > 0:09:57Yes!
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- Was there a plan there? - No, absolutely not.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06No, no plan. He's just got to prove himself now!
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- David, what plans have you got for the kitchen?- In this case,
0:10:09 > 0:10:14I have a very important client. So it's a trickier one.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18The main thing is that this window is going to come out
0:10:18 > 0:10:21and that's where the bi-folding doors will go across.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25So there's a couple of choices. At the end of the day,
0:10:25 > 0:10:30in this case, Suzanne makes those decisions. I want her to have the kitchen she wants.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36But basically we're going to use this wall for the majority of the kitchen in terms of units.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40We have a choice in terms of sink whether we use that window or not.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44We'll probably get an island in here. But until we knock the wall down,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48and get a feel for it, then we'll sit down and work it out.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51There are always options and then it's personal choice.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53I'm there to lend a guiding hand.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56What kind of budget have you set aside?
0:10:56 > 0:11:01- Probably round about 60 to 70,000. - Including the cellar and everything?
0:11:01 > 0:11:07- Mm-hmm. It's a bit of a guideline at the moment.- Good luck. I look forward to seeing how you get on.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:11:10 > 0:11:16So, will the property turn out to be worth that marathon battle at the auction?
0:11:16 > 0:11:19David and Suzanne have certainly got some good ideas.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24And discovering that additional bit of cellar
0:11:24 > 0:11:25that has to be a great start.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Find out how they get on later in the show.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44I'm in Gravesend in Kent, part of the Thames Gateway Redevelopment Zone.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48That means it falls within the 70-mile stretch of land from East London
0:11:48 > 0:11:55to Kent that's been earmarked for new homes, better infrastructure, new jobs and improved town centres.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00It already boasts a high-speed train which transports you into the capital in under 30 minutes
0:12:00 > 0:12:02so it's commuter heaven!
0:12:02 > 0:12:07You're a couple of miles from the train station here on this 1950s estate.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10It's a pleasant suburban spot, nice and green,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13it's well-maintained, lovely gardens.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17It gives you a positive feel for the place even before we reach the property.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20I'm here to see a three-bed house with room for improvement.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Words we like on Homes Under the Hammer!
0:12:23 > 0:12:25It doesn't look too terrible from the outside.
0:12:25 > 0:12:30Certainly for the guide price of 95 to 105,000.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43It's a very solid square box of a property. It's not instantly appealing
0:12:43 > 0:12:50with no features to speak of, but I'm hoping a look inside will reveal some great living space.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52A lot of brown tones with this house.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Brown front door, brown banisters, brown windows,
0:12:55 > 0:13:00which tells me it's quite dark, a bit old-fashioned and needs modernising.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Get the white, bright paint out, I say!
0:13:02 > 0:13:06But a very nice hallway. It's nice and wide. Very welcoming.
0:13:06 > 0:13:12The kitchen, look, it's incredibly dated. All the units need replacing.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16New cooker, new hob, but what I like is the space.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18There is a lot you could do in here.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23The same could be said of this room. It's dated, but it's spacious.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Lots of opportunity in here.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30What you could do is knock down this wall and open up that kitchen.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Put your dining table there, a nice big family space.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37But I'm not sure it would be worth spending the money.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41And your whole ground floor would be open-plan,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43so you can't get away from noise.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45But there's a rather big room here.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50A three-piece suite in here. It could be the hub of the family space.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Nice and cosy in the winter
0:13:52 > 0:13:55You're not overlooked. Lots of mature trees out there.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Once somebody spent a bit of money in here,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01you could have a really nice functional family space.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06The benefit of a property like this is that what it may lack in charm
0:14:06 > 0:14:09it makes up for in scope to do with what you like.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Clear it out, tidy it up and it'll feel like a brand-new home.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27You know, it definitely feels worse up here.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32I'm sure it's just cosmetic, but everything needs doing.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36Two good-sized bedrooms and a really big bathroom.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41This is the smallest room. You could think about moving the bathroom into here
0:14:41 > 0:14:45and you have to think about the plumbing, so it's probably not worth it.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Hold on a minute. There's no radiators in here.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51I'm sure I saw radiators everywhere downstairs.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Let's have a look and see if...
0:14:54 > 0:14:58A-ha! Look! There's none in here.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02That is something you could so quickly miss on a viewing.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06You really need your wits about you when you view these properties.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08You could miss something like that.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10First thing I would do once moving in here
0:15:10 > 0:15:13would be to get the plumber in and get the heating sorted.
0:15:20 > 0:15:27I know there's double glazing, but you'd have been frozen in here judging by recent winters.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31In fact, downstairs, there are only two radiators and an electric fire.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33So another expense to add.
0:15:33 > 0:15:39But if you wanted to take this project on for a profit, what about adding on somewhere else?
0:15:39 > 0:15:44The garden is a lovely space. More than that, it's really big.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49A proper family size with room for a shed, a trampoline, a paddling pool
0:15:49 > 0:15:52and what about an extension?
0:15:52 > 0:15:55You could push out to the side, the rear or both
0:15:55 > 0:15:57without losing too much outside space.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01But financially, I don't think it's really worth it.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04In my opinion, let the family who end up living here
0:16:04 > 0:16:06add that square footage if they want to.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10It saves you doing the spending for little or no added return.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18There's definitely space to go large here, but for your efforts,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21I don't think you'd make large profits.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26The property had a guide price of between 95 and 105,000.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31We asked a local estate agent along for her opinion.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35First impressions are that it's a great size,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39there's a bit of work to be done, but it's purely cosmetic.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Other than that, a great family home.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44How much will it take to spruce it up?
0:16:45 > 0:16:49I think you could spend around the ten to £15,000 mark.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53No need to be extravagant. It's a normal family home. So 15-ish.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Valuing this property as it is right now
0:16:58 > 0:17:04I would say approximately £110,000 to £115,000.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09Once fully renovated, I would say that this property is worth
0:17:09 > 0:17:13150 to £160,000.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16What's the possible return on rental?
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Once fully renovated,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22this property would achieve £750 per calendar month.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Sometimes, it's good to keep things simple.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30At that guide price, I reckon this equation is pretty straightforward.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Nice road, good solid property, not too much to spend
0:17:34 > 0:17:38equals good investment. Let's see who agreed at the auction.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44Lot 19.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47What shall we say on that one? Modern-looking house.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Start me where you will. Start me at £100,000.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53100,000? Give me 95, then.
0:17:53 > 0:17:5595, I'm on the way. I'm obliged.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59At 95 I've got. 100 now, do I see? 100, may I say?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01At 100. And two.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03102 and five.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04105 and seven.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09And ten. Ten, may I say? 110 anywhere? 107 at the back. 110.
0:18:09 > 0:18:1312. 15. 118. 118. 120.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16And two. 122. And five.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19125, may I say? 125. And seven.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22130. 132. 135.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25135 I've got. 137, sir?
0:18:25 > 0:18:27137. 140?
0:18:27 > 0:18:30At 137 I've got. 140 I'm looking for.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33If not, at £137,000
0:18:33 > 0:18:35for the first time.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38£137,000 bid for the second time.
0:18:38 > 0:18:43Third and final time if we're all done at 137. Yours at 137.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48Soaring above the 95 to £105,000 guide price
0:18:48 > 0:18:50with their £137,000 bid
0:18:50 > 0:18:54were golf club secretary Dave and his singing teacher wife, Christine.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57They're hoping to make this property hit the high notes!
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Chris and Dave, lovely to meet you.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07You looked very serious while bidding for this at auction!
0:19:07 > 0:19:10It was a very serious business, unfortunately!
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Being our first one, it was quite serious but it was a real buzz.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Dave, why did you want to buy this? What's the story behind it all?
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Unfortunately, Lucy, we've based all our research on Homes Under The Hammer!
0:19:22 > 0:19:27- We are sadly big fans of the show. - I'm happy to hear that.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31We've watched it quite a lot. And we thought it would be great to have a go!
0:19:31 > 0:19:33So we had a go!
0:19:33 > 0:19:38How long did you get to spend in this house before you decided you wanted it?
0:19:38 > 0:19:43That intrigues me. People don't spend long enough in properties before buying them!
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- We were here for ten minutes. - Ten minutes.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48And did anything go unmissed?
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- Yes!- Well..- We didn't know there were no radiators upstairs!
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- Really? See!- We didn't notice that.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58And coming back now, it's worse than I remember it being.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02But it's still cosmetic. Nothing to worry about.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It is cosmetic, but everything needs doing.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Everything needs doing. Everything is dirty.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Everything smells of cigarette smoke and it needs clearing out
0:20:12 > 0:20:15and modernising.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17What's the plan with this? You're intending to rent?
0:20:17 > 0:20:23- Yes.- I'm glad you said that because you did pay at bit more at auction.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28We knew we would because there must have been 20 people here on viewing day.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32We knew, especially when there were so many people at the auction,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35- we knew we wouldn't get it for a bargain.- Being at the auction,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38we heard other people who were going to bid on it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41We moved - the people behind us were going to bid on it
0:20:41 > 0:20:45and we moved seats just before the lot came up to get away from them!
0:20:45 > 0:20:50- I didn't want to be bidding over my shoulder.- Wise move, Dave! I like it!
0:20:50 > 0:20:53I've bought cars at auction in the past and I know it's a game.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57So we decided to pretend we knew what we were doing!
0:20:57 > 0:21:03And why not? Property auctions are often about a bit of bluff and bravado!
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Christine and Dave do have another property they rent out
0:21:06 > 0:21:10but this is the first time they've dipped their toes into renovation.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14So what are you going to do and where will you start?
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Get rid of everything and start again, basically.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20The kitchen and bathroom are disgusting.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22The trees at the front need to go.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Why get rid of the trees? That gives you privacy.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29- I think it's too dark.- I think once you've painted this space,
0:21:29 > 0:21:35once you've painted the window frames and given yourself some light and airy reflective colour,
0:21:35 > 0:21:38you'll be so surprised at how it's not dark.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43It depends on the cost. If it's £500 to cut them down, the trees will stay!
0:21:43 > 0:21:45And YOU can cut them down!
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We're doing nothing. We've decided that.
0:21:48 > 0:21:54I believe in getting people to do things who know what they're doing. And we don't know.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57So who's going to be doing all the dirty work for you?
0:21:57 > 0:22:02I work at the golf club, and so does our builder, our decorator,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04our plumber, our gardener.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09When the sun's shining there won't be anybody here cos they'll all be playing golf
0:22:09 > 0:22:11and when it rains they'll crack on here.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Christine, you'll have to pray for rain, chilly weather,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19- so that some of the boys are here. - Released for renovations only!
0:22:25 > 0:22:28It's not often people rely on rain,
0:22:28 > 0:22:34but if it doesn't come, this will be a "fairway" to ever getting finished!
0:22:34 > 0:22:39Let alone with their four to six week time scale, and that's not all that's ambitious!
0:22:39 > 0:22:44- What's your budget?- We started off thinking it was going to be about 5,000.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49- What?!- We then raised it up to about eight. So eight to ten.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Wait, I need to go through this with you. That does worry me.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57Eight to ten thousand for a new kitchen, new bathroom,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59and you've got to pay all your guys.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04I run the golf club so if they want a free game in exchange for painting a radiator, then fine!
0:23:04 > 0:23:06There's ways round it.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11I'm going to hold you to that! I want to know exactly every penny you spend
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- because if you do that on that budget, I'll be very impressed. - So will we!
0:23:17 > 0:23:22Let's hope the sun doesn't shine until Christine and Dave's golfing team have finished the work!
0:23:22 > 0:23:27Because there is a lot of work to do here and I hope the pair realise this.
0:23:27 > 0:23:33Join me later to see if the refurb is below par or a hole in one!
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Coming up, this flat in west London turns out to be much less simple than it seemed.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Will they turn it from a no-brainer into a bit of a head-scratcher?
0:23:44 > 0:23:49In Kent, did Christine and Dave's hands-off approach pose more questions than answers?
0:23:49 > 0:23:53You're wondering how are they doing and would they be finished in time.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59But first, did Suzanne manage to make light work of this dark property?
0:23:59 > 0:24:03It was like a dungeon down there. It was cold and miserable.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12We're back in Bowdon in Cheshire
0:24:12 > 0:24:18where Suzanne, who's only recently turned to property developing purchased this period house
0:24:18 > 0:24:20for £357,000.
0:24:20 > 0:24:25It has potential in spades. Holding her hand was boyfriend David
0:24:25 > 0:24:28whose job was bound to come in handy.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Suzanne, convenient to hook up with a kitchen designer!
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Yes!
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- Was there a plan there? - No, absolutely not, no.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41No plan. He's just got to prove himself now!
0:24:41 > 0:24:4620 months later, did David live up to expectations?
0:24:46 > 0:24:49And did Suzanne manage to take this tired interior
0:24:49 > 0:24:51to a greater place she could call home?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Wow is not the word!
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Suzanne has done an absolutely incredible job here.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Every room in the house has been cleared out and transformed
0:25:17 > 0:25:19into something stunning and special.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25The hidden gem here was the dark and dingy basement
0:25:25 > 0:25:27which now looks anything but.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38But the heart of the home and the place where David would be put to the test
0:25:38 > 0:25:40was the kitchen.
0:25:45 > 0:25:51Well, the biggest design decision was actually to use a central island
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and to use the bi-folding doors and eliminate
0:25:54 > 0:25:58the window and units which were going round in a U-shape up to there.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03Once we'd decided that, then everything else fell into place.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Design-wise it all fits together with a beautiful view onto the patio.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11David isn't moving in yet
0:26:11 > 0:26:17but it sounds like Suzanne would have had a tough job on this mega project without him.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19It was great working with David.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23He helped me tremendously throughout the whole project.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27He was always at the end of the phone when I had problems
0:26:27 > 0:26:29which was probably 24/7.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33With the kitchen he was very patient
0:26:33 > 0:26:36and I absolutely love my kitchen, I really do.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41It's exactly what I wanted. Not too many gadgets, not over the top,
0:26:41 > 0:26:46not flashy. I love the oak and the simplicity of it.
0:26:46 > 0:26:52It works really well and there's lots of storage and it's turned out exactly how I envisaged it.
0:26:52 > 0:26:58She certainly needed to be looking through potential goggles when she first saw this place.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01It was a very big mess, derelict, smelly.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05But it had the most amazing charm when I first approached the house.
0:27:05 > 0:27:12The double-fronted Victorian house with a certain charm and I knew when I walked in I wanted to buy it.
0:27:12 > 0:27:18But what nobody saw on first viewing was that the cellar had not three but four rooms.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22So after lowering the floor to give the extra headroom required,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Suzanne set to work on maximising the space.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28It was like a dungeon down there.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33It was cold and miserable and the head height was 1,900.
0:27:33 > 0:27:39I transformed it to 2.4 metres so it feels very spacey now downstairs.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44I've also added side windows to the side elevation of the house
0:27:44 > 0:27:49and created a bedroom there which never existed before. It was very exciting!
0:27:49 > 0:27:55With all the amazing work done here, was Suzanne able to stick to her timescale?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57The timescale was expected to be four months
0:27:57 > 0:28:02and it took about ten months from the start of the build to the end of the build,
0:28:02 > 0:28:06although it was four or five months to get certain planning permission
0:28:06 > 0:28:10with plans drawn up, et cetera, et cetera.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15As this property was purchased as a home rather than an investment,
0:28:15 > 0:28:19it was well worth taking the extra time to make everything perfect.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22But perfection costs money.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27The original budget was 60 to 70 and I spent 200,000.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30But I got a better spec of house.
0:28:30 > 0:28:36Everything that I've put into the house, certainly it's a great investment for me.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41We invited two local estate agents along
0:28:41 > 0:28:43to hear their thoughts on Suzanne's new home.
0:28:45 > 0:28:46I think it's a fantastic house.
0:28:46 > 0:28:53The work they've done sets it apart from a lot of other properties in this price range.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57I think it's wonderful, having seen what it was like originally.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59It's been positively transformed
0:28:59 > 0:29:03from a very, rather tired, Victorian house
0:29:03 > 0:29:07into a stunning contemporary house and it works really well.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11It's very striking and it's quite rare to find a house at this price point
0:29:11 > 0:29:14that's been specified to this level.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20Suzanne purchased this property at auction for 357,000
0:29:20 > 0:29:22and spent £200,000 on the work
0:29:22 > 0:29:26taking her total outlay to 557,000.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29If she considered selling, would she get her money back?
0:29:30 > 0:29:34I would put this on the market for a figure just under £600,000
0:29:34 > 0:29:36at £595,000.
0:29:36 > 0:29:41I would put it on at a figure of around £650,000.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44I'm delighted with that. I bought this for my home.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46I intend to stay here for a very long time.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49I'm really pleased with the valuation.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54Those valuations would give Suzanne a potential pre-tax profit
0:29:54 > 0:29:58of between 38 and £93,000, minus the usual selling expenses.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02And if she was thinking of going down the rental route?
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Just under £2,000, at 1,950.
0:30:05 > 0:30:10I'd be looking at a rental of £1,950 per calendar month.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15That's probably what I'd have guessed it would be. But I don't intend to rent it out!
0:30:15 > 0:30:17And I can't blame her.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21She really has created something spectacular here.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25I wouldn't want to leave it, either, and as they say, there's no place like home!
0:30:25 > 0:30:27I love it all.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29It absolutely feels like home.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32I feel for the last five years I've rented
0:30:32 > 0:30:34so I've built this house really.
0:30:34 > 0:30:40I've put so much into it, every finest detail,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and so it really does feel like it's mine.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53# As the winter winds
0:30:53 > 0:30:56# Litter London with lonely hearts
0:30:56 > 0:31:02# The warmth in your eyes swept me into your arms. #
0:31:02 > 0:31:04This is Hammersmith in west London.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09Affluent, desirable, convenient and - you guessed it - expensive!
0:31:09 > 0:31:14Still, I reckon if I look hard enough, there may still be a property bargain
0:31:14 > 0:31:18lurking under the snow ready to thaw out any frozen bank accounts!
0:31:18 > 0:31:23This really is a prime London location.
0:31:23 > 0:31:28Hammersmith tube just ten minutes' walk, the river a short stroll
0:31:28 > 0:31:32and a Michelin-starred restaurant on your doorstep.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36It probably comes as no surprise that property prices round here
0:31:36 > 0:31:38may well make you see stars!
0:31:38 > 0:31:45£245,000 was the guide price for a one-bed flat in need of work.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47Wow!
0:31:52 > 0:31:56The property is on the first floor of this attractive Victorian terrace
0:31:56 > 0:32:00on a lovely street just steps from the shops.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04But for your 245,000, you don't get any outside space
0:32:04 > 0:32:07so it's what's on the inside that counts.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11You don't have to venture too far inside
0:32:11 > 0:32:14to see that it's in a shoddy old state.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18At least things like carpets have been removed so that'll save a bit of time.
0:32:18 > 0:32:23A tiny little bathroom definitely in need of a good seeing to.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26A good-sized bedroom, although there is only one bedroom.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29It would be nice if there was a feature fireplace.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31Worse than that, though, is the kitchen.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35That is microscopic. But I have a solution to that.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38But through into a really good-sized room.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41The main living room. Big windows,
0:32:41 > 0:32:46lots of light. Again, I'd like to see a feature fireplace. But not a bad-sized space.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49The solution to the problem is take out this wall
0:32:49 > 0:32:52to create a kitchen/living room area.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56That's very acceptable round here. It would totally change the feel of the flat.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05It wouldn't be hard to bring this place back to life.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07There are a few cracks lurking here and there,
0:33:07 > 0:33:12but I think they're most likely to be superficial. However,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15as with any purchase, I advise getting a surveyor's expert opinion.
0:33:15 > 0:33:20It has wooden floors, so you could sand them down to bring back some character.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23Open up that kitchen, put some colour on the walls,
0:33:23 > 0:33:28replace the bathroom and it's sorted. That's it, then. Or is it?
0:33:28 > 0:33:32So you don't get a garden for your 245,000
0:33:32 > 0:33:34but what you do get is that!
0:33:34 > 0:33:38It's a loft hatch and above it is a loft.
0:33:38 > 0:33:43And that is potential for adding on an extra bedroom.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45You'd have to go through planning
0:33:45 > 0:33:49and get consent of the freeholder
0:33:49 > 0:33:51but by adding an extra bedroom up there,
0:33:51 > 0:33:57you could add on about £100,000 to the value of this place.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00I think it's worth the effort, don't you?
0:34:00 > 0:34:03You wouldn't just be increasing the space.
0:34:03 > 0:34:08Making this into a two-bedroom puts it into a whole new league of potential buyers
0:34:08 > 0:34:13and appealing to the widest market possible is the key to successful selling.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15But just as things are looking up,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18the small print rears its ugly head!
0:34:18 > 0:34:22You always get that sinking feeling
0:34:22 > 0:34:26when you see a clause or a covenant attached to the purchase of a property.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28But this one takes the biscuit!
0:34:28 > 0:34:32In the auction catalogue, it states that "The seller of this property
0:34:32 > 0:34:37"cannot sell the property to a purchaser who intends to occupy it
0:34:37 > 0:34:42"as his or her principal home."
0:34:42 > 0:34:47Wow! In English, that means if you buy it, you can't live in it.
0:34:47 > 0:34:52It's something councils are introducing to do with how they account for the sale.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Whatever the reason, it basically means that whoever buys this
0:34:55 > 0:34:57can rent it out,
0:34:57 > 0:35:01or if they do it up, they can sell it on to another person
0:35:01 > 0:35:03and that clause is then nullified.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Either way, if you missed that,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08it would be a very nasty shock.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Well, it's a strange one, but it just goes to show
0:35:15 > 0:35:18how important it is to do your research.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20And there are more shocks to come.
0:35:20 > 0:35:26The service charge for this place is - wait for it - £8,000 a year!
0:35:26 > 0:35:31So a whopping £666 a month! I think I need to sit down!
0:35:36 > 0:35:40We asked a local estate agent what he thought of this pickle of a property.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45First impressions are it needs a bit of work. It's very well located.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47It's an affluent part of London.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50You'd see houses for a family in the region of £1.2 million.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54You'd also see first-time buyer flats at around £250,000.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59Such as this one with its guide price of 245,000.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02The potential here is that you would extend up into the loft,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04create a new top floor.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07If you were lucky enough to incorporate a bathroom,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10you could get a good two-bed, two-bathroom property.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13How could these changes affect the figures?
0:36:13 > 0:36:18Value today, you'd be looking in the region of £250,000 in current condition.
0:36:18 > 0:36:24If it was upgraded as a one-bedroom I'd expect to achieve in the region of £300,000.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28As a two-bedroom, I'd look to achieve £450,000.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30Wow, that's some jump!
0:36:30 > 0:36:33What about rental figures?
0:36:33 > 0:36:38You'd be able to rent this out for 1,200 to £1,300 per calendar month.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40If this property came to the market as a two-bed,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44I'd see it achieving £1,600 per calendar month.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Well, this is a classic auction property.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52It teases you with an attractive guide price and the promise of quick profit
0:36:52 > 0:36:56but scratch the surface and it's not quite that simple.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59That restrictive clause and the huge service charge
0:36:59 > 0:37:03turn it from a no-brainer into a bit of a head-scratcher.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06Still, I think there are profits to be made.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Let's see who fancied it when it went under the hammer.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Where would you like to start?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18200. Thanks(!) 205.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20205. 210.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23215. 220.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27225. 230?
0:37:27 > 0:37:28226?
0:37:28 > 0:37:31Yeah? 227? MOUTHS
0:37:31 > 0:37:33240? 240.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35241. 242.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37245.
0:37:37 > 0:37:38250?
0:37:38 > 0:37:41250. 251.
0:37:41 > 0:37:42252.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46Bidding continued apace for this particular property.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49We rejoin as it reached 276,000.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51276?
0:37:51 > 0:37:53277?
0:37:53 > 0:37:54278?
0:37:56 > 0:37:57279?
0:37:57 > 0:37:59280?
0:38:02 > 0:38:04279 sitting down.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06280 elsewhere?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09279 first time. Second time.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Third and last time. Have you all done?
0:38:12 > 0:38:14Sold 279. Well bought.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18Successful with their £279,000 bid
0:38:18 > 0:38:21were local married couple John and Lisa.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25Since we know this place can't be for them to move into,
0:38:25 > 0:38:28I was keen to find out why they wanted to get their hands on it.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33- John, Lisa. Lovely to meet you. Thanks for coming out in the cold! - It sure is!
0:38:33 > 0:38:37- Tell me why you wanted to buy this place.- This is a first one for us.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41I've done it for a living for 20 years and Lisa wanted to do something with me.
0:38:41 > 0:38:47- So I said, "Why not do something together and go to the auction?" - Yeah.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51- What do you do when you're not doing this?- Look after the kids. Three of those.
0:38:51 > 0:38:57Bit busy. Also I was a freelance journalist and I've taken time out to spend with the kids.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01And I help John with his business, so bits and pieces, really.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05- You like the idea of property developing?- Now the kids are a bit older
0:39:05 > 0:39:07and I've watched John do what he's doing
0:39:07 > 0:39:11and watching TV programmes that are all the rage,
0:39:11 > 0:39:16I thought, "Maybe it's something I can learn about and get into."
0:39:16 > 0:39:18Tell me more about what you do, John.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21I build houses for very rich people.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25A couple I've just built in Hampstead, one just sold for 44 million!
0:39:25 > 0:39:2744 million?!
0:39:27 > 0:39:32Yes! 15,000 square feet and the most expensive house in Hampstead.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36We built another one in St John's Wood that just sold for 31 million.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40So I'm pretty good at what I do - I hope I am, anyway -
0:39:40 > 0:39:43so I'm downgrading to this one-bedroom flat
0:39:43 > 0:39:48and hopefully it won't be too much hassle!
0:39:48 > 0:39:52So, yeah, it's exciting. I'm looking forward to it
0:39:52 > 0:39:56and it's for ourselves, so I don't have to answer to clients or anything.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01That's the key to this project for John and Lisa. Something small
0:40:01 > 0:40:04in relative terms for them to get stuck into.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08But when it came to auction day, it very nearly wasn't this place.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13I had a budget at a point of where I wasn't going to go over.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16It was 280,000.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18- So...- That's what the budget was.
0:40:18 > 0:40:24That's what the budget was. So everything we'd looked at previously went over by ten, 20%
0:40:24 > 0:40:25than anything we'd done.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29So I wasn't expecting to win it. When we did, I was shocked!
0:40:29 > 0:40:32And I had to go and write a cheque out as well!
0:40:32 > 0:40:36It was first-time nerves and it was adrenaline.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38It was very good, very exciting.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Yeah, very happy.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44So let's talk about the potential for this place. The numbers, the profit.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46It really is extraordinary, isn't it?
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Apparently, a one-bed sells at quite a good price
0:40:50 > 0:40:53but it really leaps up if you can turn it into a two-bed.
0:40:53 > 0:40:59That's the reason why we thought this would be perfect. Two-bed really adds value to it.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01It certainly does.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05John and Lisa plan to convert that fantastic loft space
0:41:05 > 0:41:09into a second bedroom and bathroom and bring the rest of the property up to date
0:41:09 > 0:41:14with a few original features thrown in. I like the sound of that.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Their provisional budget is £53,000.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22They aim to complete the work in under four months then sell the property on.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25But there's one last thing that's bothering me.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Now, there is a big service charge, isn't there?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30A lot of that was to do with the roof,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34which was a pretty high price to replace the roof.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39So we were aware of that and we can do it cheaper.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41- So...- It's not cheaper.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44With the loft conversion, half the room is a mansard
0:41:44 > 0:41:46so it's going to be renewed anyway.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51- The front half is shared costs with below.- That should cut most of the service charge anyway.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Also I've spoken to the owner below
0:41:54 > 0:41:57and we're going to approach to buy the freehold as well.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02So to sell the property with the freehold is more attractive, bringing more buyers in.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04The council is going to give us a price.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07They seem to have covered every angle.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Isn't it great when you've got an expert on hand?
0:42:10 > 0:42:12With John's experience,
0:42:12 > 0:42:17I think giving this place the high-tech and high-spec finish it deserves
0:42:17 > 0:42:19won't be a problem.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22But will they sort out the issues regarding the service charge
0:42:22 > 0:42:26and will they manage to sell in this frosty climate?
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Find out later in the show.
0:42:31 > 0:42:36There's been plenty of time for our buyers to have started work on their properties.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39But have they actually done anything
0:42:39 > 0:42:41or have they been beset by problems?
0:42:41 > 0:42:45Time is money. Have they made any or just lost out?
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Let's go back and find out.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57We're going back to Gravesend in Kent
0:42:57 > 0:43:01where golf club secretary David and singing teacher wife Christine
0:43:01 > 0:43:05purchased this three-bed semi for 137,000.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09This was going to be their first development project.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12But they'd taken tips from a very reliable source!
0:43:12 > 0:43:16We've based all our research on Homes Under The Hammer
0:43:16 > 0:43:20- because we are sadly big fans of the show.- I'm happy to hear that!
0:43:20 > 0:43:24We've watched it quite a lot and we thought it would be great to have a go.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26So we had a go!
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Hopefully, they were watching carefully!
0:43:29 > 0:43:32This property may have been good and solid,
0:43:32 > 0:43:37but inside it required everything from new heating to desperately needed decor.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41So have they done it all in the three months since we last saw them?
0:43:46 > 0:43:49After clearing everything out of the property,
0:43:49 > 0:43:52Christine and David re-plumbed, rewired,
0:43:52 > 0:43:57sorted out the windows and radiators and decorated it from top to toe.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15We all know that two of the major selling features of a property
0:44:15 > 0:44:19are the kitchen and bathroom. So what did they do with those?
0:44:19 > 0:44:26So everything here needed replacing. The cupboards were really awful. So everything was ripped out.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28Then we decided what to replace it with.
0:44:28 > 0:44:33It's easier to keep things where they are, like the sink and the plumbing, as much as possible.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37Our builder selected the best units he could.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41They're good strong units that will hopefully last for ever.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43So it was a case of getting rid of all the rubbish,
0:44:43 > 0:44:48tiling it and painting it so it's lighter and brighter. Good flooring.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51We're really pleased with the results.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55I'm not surprised. This looks so much fresher than before.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57Let's hope the bathroom follows suit!
0:44:58 > 0:45:01We've done a few things in here.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03We stripped all the old suite out
0:45:03 > 0:45:05and gone for a nice plain white neutral suite.
0:45:05 > 0:45:10Took the shower cabinet out, which was disgusting, and replaced with an on-the-wall shower.
0:45:10 > 0:45:14New tiling, accent tiles on the walls. Towel rail.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18New flooring. It looks a million times better.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21Dave and Christine have also tidied up the back garden
0:45:21 > 0:45:24by painting the fences, repairing parts of the patio
0:45:24 > 0:45:26and trimming the lawn.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29In the front garden, I liked the fact that the trees gave privacy.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32But David thought they made the property too dark.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35Lucy suggested we keep the trees.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38We were going to get rid of them to bring more light in.
0:45:38 > 0:45:43But it was a couple of days' work and a four-figure sum to get rid of them.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45We decided that wasn't cost-effective.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48Especially given their planned budget
0:45:48 > 0:45:50of just eight to 10,000,
0:45:50 > 0:45:54which as I told them at the time was mighty ambitious!
0:45:55 > 0:45:58About 12.5 in total, it's cost us.
0:45:58 > 0:46:02We could have spent a lot more, but we've tried to do the house to a budget.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05We've done the minimum, but to a good standard.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08It looks great. So much better now.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10We're quite pleased with the results.
0:46:10 > 0:46:15They'd also hoped to get the work completed in six weeks.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18It's taken a couple of months from start to finish.
0:46:18 > 0:46:22It wasn't helped by the fact that a lot of our guys went on a golfing holiday for a week!
0:46:22 > 0:46:25But once back, they had renewed enthusiasm
0:46:25 > 0:46:29and they got on and got the job done in a reasonable frame of time.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32It took a little bit longer than we anticipated.
0:46:32 > 0:46:38Christine and David decided that as novices, they'd best leave the work to the experts
0:46:38 > 0:46:41which occasionally was a challenge in itself!
0:46:41 > 0:46:46You're always wondering how they're getting on, whether they'll be finished in time.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49Not worried, but it's always on your mind.
0:46:49 > 0:46:55It's been funny for me working at the golf club and seeing our builders turning up to play golf
0:46:55 > 0:46:57and I'm, "Is that the time? Have you finished?"
0:46:57 > 0:47:01But I never said it because I know they've done a day's work first.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05They've gone that bit further and done that bit extra for us.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07We'll use them again.
0:47:07 > 0:47:11It sounds to me like the project has been a success overall.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15We invited two estate agents to look at the property
0:47:15 > 0:47:17and give us their take on it.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21The main changes to this property since I saw it last
0:47:21 > 0:47:24is that they've decorated throughout,
0:47:24 > 0:47:28put in new kitchen, new bathroom, new carpets, so it's all refreshed.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30Good first impressions.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Nice new carpet throughout, neutral walls.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36A nice dining space and living room.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39A good area close to local schools and shops.
0:47:39 > 0:47:46Not too far away from Ebbsfleet, so it's 20 minutes into London, which is really popular.
0:47:47 > 0:47:51Christine and David paid 137,000 at the auction
0:47:51 > 0:47:54and the work set them back a further £12,500
0:47:54 > 0:47:59making their total outlay £149,500.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02Would they make their money back if they decided to sell?
0:48:04 > 0:48:09I would say the resale value in the current market would be around £160,000
0:48:09 > 0:48:13The resale value of this property would be £180,000.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15- It's about what we thought. - Pretty much.
0:48:15 > 0:48:19We were looking at, at the time we bought it, about three months ago,
0:48:19 > 0:48:23that when it was done up we thought about 170, didn't we, to sell.
0:48:23 > 0:48:29We paid a bit more at the auction than we intended to, but that's fine. Pleased with that.
0:48:29 > 0:48:33After spending a total of £149,500,
0:48:33 > 0:48:36Christine and Dave could be looking at a pre-tax profit
0:48:36 > 0:48:41of between 10,500 and £30,500,
0:48:41 > 0:48:43minus the usual selling expenses.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46The plan here was never to sell, though.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49It was to refurbish, then rent it out.
0:48:49 > 0:48:54I think the rental value of this property is around 750 to £800 per calendar month.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58We would rent this property at £800 per calendar month.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00That's pretty much what we were expecting.
0:49:00 > 0:49:05But after it had all been done and I asked an estate agent to look at renting it,
0:49:05 > 0:49:10he thought about 800, so we put it up for 850 and got 825.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12- So we're really pleased.- Yes.
0:49:12 > 0:49:17So the house is already rented. At £825 per calendar month,
0:49:17 > 0:49:21it's giving them a rental yield of over 6.5 per cent.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25Christine and David have already bought their next property,
0:49:25 > 0:49:29so it seems they've been bitten by the development bug!
0:49:29 > 0:49:33This has worked out really well. We're pleased with the results.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36- We've learned a lot. - Learned loads of lessons.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Hopefully next time we'll make less mistakes. You never know.
0:49:46 > 0:49:51Time to head back to affluent Hammersmith, west London,
0:49:51 > 0:49:58where husband and wife John and Lisa purchased this one-bed first-floor flat for 279,000.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01Small change compared to some prices in London.
0:50:01 > 0:50:04I build houses for very rich people.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08One I built in Hampstead has just sold for 44 million!
0:50:08 > 0:50:1144 million?!
0:50:11 > 0:50:16Yes! 15,000 square feet and the most expensive house in Hampstead!
0:50:16 > 0:50:19So, working on a somewhat smaller scale here,
0:50:19 > 0:50:24they set themselves the challenge of taking this place from tired to top-drawer.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28We've come back six months on to find out how they've fared.
0:51:04 > 0:51:09The property had a tiny kitchen and a wall begging to be knocked down, which they did.
0:51:23 > 0:51:29The last time when you were here, you might remember there was a wall here, with a tiny kitchen.
0:51:29 > 0:51:30Door there.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33So we've knocked the wall down
0:51:33 > 0:51:35and it's really opened it up.
0:51:35 > 0:51:40It's opened up the living area and made it look much more homely.
0:51:40 > 0:51:42Obviously spacious
0:51:42 > 0:51:48but still homely and a nice place to be rather than cramped. So it's lovely. I'm pleased with it.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52But the biggest task here was to take the dark and dingy loft
0:51:52 > 0:51:54and turn it into something special.
0:52:02 > 0:52:07And it's a job very well done, by the look of things.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09It's worked out really well, actually.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13We didn't realise it was going to come to this size.
0:52:13 > 0:52:18We've got double doors here and to get the ceiling height, we dropped the floor
0:52:18 > 0:52:20to give more ceiling height.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23We managed to get the en-suite shower and toilet in as well.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25A big bonus, actually.
0:52:25 > 0:52:29It's looking very fresh and a lot better than we originally thought.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33Great as it looks and positive as he sounds now,
0:52:33 > 0:52:37there was a nasty shock in store for them not long after completing on the flat.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40We did have a bit of a problem.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43We were talking about perhaps buying the freehold.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46The people downstairs were interested as well.
0:52:46 > 0:52:50Then we discovered that the loft didn't actually belong to us!
0:52:50 > 0:52:55So that was a bit of a shock, to say the least!
0:52:55 > 0:52:58I phoned to ask the solicitor why he didn't tell us!
0:52:58 > 0:53:03Anyway, the demise of the loft we now own. We had to pay the council for the demise.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06All in, they wanted an extra 30,000 on top of what we paid for the flat.
0:53:06 > 0:53:08It was a shock.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12We're the only ones up here and who else is going to use it?
0:53:12 > 0:53:17But we were more cross that the solicitor didn't pick it up.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21And a bit upset when he said, "You should have known, surely?"
0:53:21 > 0:53:27You sort of think, "Well, no! We're asking your advice."
0:53:27 > 0:53:32But we thought there's no point in worrying about it. We just had to get on.
0:53:32 > 0:53:36We needed to do it as quickly as possible. And that's what we did.
0:53:36 > 0:53:40That's the spirit! But there's definitely a lesson to be learned.
0:53:40 > 0:53:44When purchasing a property, it's dangerous to assume anything.
0:53:44 > 0:53:49Make sure you check the small print and if you're unsure of anything, ask questions.
0:53:49 > 0:53:53Lisa had been hoping to take the reins here,
0:53:53 > 0:53:57but you know what they say about the best-laid plans!
0:53:57 > 0:54:01I was going to do a lot more than I did, but I got two new jobs come up
0:54:01 > 0:54:03which I didn't want to turn down.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06So I went on to do my own work
0:54:06 > 0:54:09and left John to it cos he knows what he's doing!
0:54:09 > 0:54:12- I'll do the next one! - I don't know about that!
0:54:12 > 0:54:17Surprises aside, it's good to hear they're not put off taking a property plunge again.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20Their aim was a four-month timescale
0:54:20 > 0:54:24and after two months to resolve the issues with the loft and to get planning permission,
0:54:24 > 0:54:28the work did, in fact, take four months to complete.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30But what about that £53,000 budget?
0:54:30 > 0:54:33We've done well. Apart from the demise for the loft,
0:54:33 > 0:54:36which was obviously 30,000,
0:54:36 > 0:54:41the full conversion comes to 45,000, so we're 8,000 under budget.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47We asked two estate agents to come to the property and give their assessment
0:54:47 > 0:54:50on whether the couple will make their money back.
0:54:50 > 0:54:52First impressions are good.
0:54:52 > 0:54:54It's light, bright, a new finish.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58They've done well with the space that they have.
0:54:58 > 0:55:02It was a good idea to do the loft conversion to utilise the space
0:55:02 > 0:55:03in the roof.
0:55:03 > 0:55:08It will increase the overall square footage of the property as well as the value.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11John and Lisa are undecided whether they should rent or sell.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15What returns could they see for each option?
0:55:15 > 0:55:20If you put this property on the rentals market, you'd achieve between 16 and £1,700 per month.
0:55:20 > 0:55:25I'd expect this to achieve for rentals around £1,600 a month.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28- Yes, that's the feedback we've been having.- Yeah.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31A couple of people have said it could be more.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33So we're fairly happy with that.
0:55:33 > 0:55:40They purchased the property for 279,000 plus £30,000 to buy the loft.
0:55:40 > 0:55:47With the work costing £45,000, that's a total spend of 354,000.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50What could they make if they decided to sell?
0:55:50 > 0:55:53This would achieve in the region of £400,000.
0:55:53 > 0:55:58If you put this up for sale, you'd expect to achieve between 460 and £470,000.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00- OK.- That's a big difference.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04The offers that we've had are in the middle of that, anyway.
0:56:04 > 0:56:05- That's nice.- It's about right.
0:56:05 > 0:56:11I don't think that we would hold out for 460 or 470 if we're definitely going to sell.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14But it's nice to know.
0:56:14 > 0:56:18But also to have that middle ground as well is fine.
0:56:19 > 0:56:22So they could be looking at a pre-tax profit
0:56:22 > 0:56:25of anywhere between 46 and £116,000,
0:56:25 > 0:56:28minus the usual selling expenses.
0:56:28 > 0:56:30No wonder they're happy.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33Would their top tip for success be team work?
0:56:34 > 0:56:36- Yeah.- Yeah!
0:56:36 > 0:56:40- She does the research, I do the building. Works perfectly. - Fair enough!
0:56:40 > 0:56:44- No, we've had a good time together. - Yeah.- Absolutely fantastic.
0:56:46 > 0:56:53That's it for now. We'll have more auction stories to warn or inspire you next time!
0:56:53 > 0:56:56- Make sure you join us then. - Goodbye!- Goodbye!
0:57:18 > 0:57:20Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd