0:00:00 > 0:00:03Hello. Property continues to fascinate us
0:00:03 > 0:00:05but tricky market conditions
0:00:05 > 0:00:09means it can be harder to find that particular place
0:00:09 > 0:00:10that will make your fortune.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Buying at the right price is imperative
0:00:13 > 0:00:15if you want to make a profit at the end of the day.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20Yes. And one good way to stack things in your favour and to get the ball rolling
0:00:20 > 0:00:22is to visit your local property auction.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51The three properties on the show today are very different.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54But their new owners will all be hoping that they made a good investment.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Let's see what they went for on auction day.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01In Newcastle, this two-bed maisonette
0:01:01 > 0:01:04looks the height of modernity from the outside,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07but inside, well, the decor's all Greek to me!
0:01:09 > 0:01:14In Telford, Shropshire, this mid-terrace has one of my least favourite wallpapers - woodchip.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17But believe it or not, we find somebody who likes it!
0:01:19 > 0:01:21And while we're talking decor,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25in Rochester, Kent, this three-bedroomed property is the business!
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Oh, that's gorgeous!
0:01:30 > 0:01:32All these properties sold at auction.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33250.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35And we'll find out who bought them and what they paid for them
0:01:35 > 0:01:38when they went under the hammer.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I'm here by the side of the River Tyne
0:01:45 > 0:01:48standing beside the Millennium Bridge,
0:01:48 > 0:01:50the world's first and only tilting bridge.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54It's one of seven bridges that links the town of Gateshead
0:01:54 > 0:01:57with the city of Newcastle.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03The Newcastle skyline has been transformed by fantastic architecture
0:02:03 > 0:02:05and regeneration projects.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08It's a really lively and exciting city to be in.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15Well, walking distance from the town centre in this block of flats
0:02:15 > 0:02:17is the property I'm here to see.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19It's a split-level apartment.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Had a guide price of 39,950 quid.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Wow, for something that close to the town centre,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28that strikes me as being great value for money.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Let's hope there aren't any nasties inside.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36So for that kind of money, I am expecting something a bit pokey.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38But this is a good start.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Nice little entrance area here,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43somewhere to hang coats and hats and store bikes and all that.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47And then another large entrance area here.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Really gives the flat a sense of...
0:02:50 > 0:02:51space.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Hmm. I didn't notice these as I walked in.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55OK!
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Very interesting choice of decoration!
0:02:58 > 0:03:01These plaster things on the walls. Wow!
0:03:01 > 0:03:03What else have we got?
0:03:03 > 0:03:05The first bedroom down here.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09It looks a good size, but again, what's going on with the ceilings, as well?
0:03:11 > 0:03:13There's wild plaster everywhere!
0:03:28 > 0:03:33But if you can get your head round that,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36the actual space down there is brilliant.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39You've got a downstairs cloakroom and loo.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42And then upstairs. So yes,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44it's a two-level flat.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45And, um...
0:03:45 > 0:03:47yep, there's more!
0:03:47 > 0:03:49Fantastic(!)
0:03:50 > 0:03:52But up here you've got yourself a bedroom
0:03:52 > 0:03:56and again this great feeling of space.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Through into the lounge.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02And views out across the balcony there.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04It's a really fantastic flat.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07This is great, really great.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09You've got this room, the main living area,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11lots of space with room for a dining table et cetera.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16The only downside is that that is the location of the bathroom
0:04:16 > 0:04:17or the main bathroom and loo.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Not really ideal off the lounge,
0:04:20 > 0:04:21but we'll forgive it that.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Through to the kitchen.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Huh! You know what, this is really nice, too.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Possibly the units are a bit old,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33but it's solid wood there on the front
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and it's a really nice space.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39I like the layout. The fact you've got the sink there,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41a little alcove with the cooker over there.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46Lots of light. This flat really surprises me.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Yes, we can forgive it some of those interesting design touches,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53because what you've got here is space.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57In some ways, it feels bigger than lots of houses I've been into.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03There's a lot of apartment for your money here with good sized rooms.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05That upstairs bedroom is enormous.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08It looks as if it might have been two originally
0:05:08 > 0:05:11so maybe that could become two bedrooms again.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15That would add value, though one of them would be small.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17High ceilings, decent kitchen,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19and a loo on each floor.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22The one downstairs could be extended
0:05:22 > 0:05:25while the one upstairs already has a shower.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I love the bright, airy feel
0:05:29 > 0:05:31and the balcony, which has a lovely view.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The building itself is very striking,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47but perhaps part of the reason the flat's so cheap
0:05:47 > 0:05:51is that it is of non-standard construction.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54That can make getting a mortgage rather tricky.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59On the plus side, it's close to the train and metro and there's a regular bus service.
0:05:59 > 0:06:00The grounds are well kept,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03but beware of communal charges for the upkeep.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05As for the location,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07it really is very, very pleasant.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12Lots of open parkland, trees, mature shrubs and things like that.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13You've got a church.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16You know, that sets this place apart.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20All this for a guide price of just under 40 grand.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Too good to be true? Let's ask a local estate agent.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Obviously the property has got lots of space to the rooms.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30There is a spacious lounge, spacious bedrooms.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32The layout is slightly unusual,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34with the bathroom being off the lounge.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38So I would suggest taking the bathroom down to the lower level
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and opening up the living space.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Lots of ticks for this Newcastle flat.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48What could it be worth, once done up?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Once renovated, I would put this property on the market
0:06:51 > 0:06:54at £75,000.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57What would the rental value of the finished property be?
0:06:57 > 0:07:02Once renovated, I would expect to achieve £550 per calendar month.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Well, it's a good location and a really interesting little flat.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09I'd live there myself.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Let's see who fancied it when it went under the hammer.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16So we're going to move back up to Newcastle.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19We had it advertised at 39,950 plus.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21We're actually putting it in the room tonight
0:07:21 > 0:07:22with a starting bid of £15,000.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Got to be a buy for somebody.
0:07:25 > 0:07:2715,000. Who wants to start? 15,000.
0:07:27 > 0:07:3015,000. Do I have 17,000 anywhere else?
0:07:30 > 0:07:32I have the one bid at £15,000.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34We want to sell. 17 on the second row.
0:07:34 > 0:07:3619? 19 bid. 21.
0:07:37 > 0:07:3921 bid. 23?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41The bidding at this auction was brisk
0:07:41 > 0:07:44and soon went beyond the guide price.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45Bid on the left. 39.
0:07:45 > 0:07:4739 bid. 39 and a half?
0:07:47 > 0:07:5040. 40 and a half?
0:07:50 > 0:07:5141?
0:07:51 > 0:07:5241 and a half bid.
0:07:54 > 0:07:5641 and a half thousand pounds.
0:07:56 > 0:07:5742.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01It's the gentleman standing at £42,000.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03I'll take 250.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07No? I'm selling at £42,000.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Selling once at 42. For the second time at £42,000.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Sold. Gentleman standing.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15At £42,000. Congratulations.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21That final bid came from Terry on the right here.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24He's a student and care assistant
0:08:24 > 0:08:26and has brought builder Ian along.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30I was keen to find out the plans for this fascinating flat.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Ian, Terry, good to meet you both.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Congratulations. Tell me why you wanted to buy this place.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37- Cheap!- Cheap, OK!
0:08:37 > 0:08:43Very cheap. I actually tried to buy it for 57,000 a couple of months before it went to auction.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45- Wow!- But I got gazumped.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Then it went back. I found out it was up for auction.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53It was listed for 40,000
0:08:53 > 0:08:54but on auction night it started at 15.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57So I was only going to go to 40
0:08:57 > 0:09:01and then this one was like, "It's only a few grand. Just go over."
0:09:01 > 0:09:04And we got it for 42.
0:09:04 > 0:09:05It's a really interesting flat, isn't it?
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Or apartment, if you like. It's really unusual.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Yeah. The layout is weird.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12But it's great.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- It's massive, really.- Yeah.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20'This isn't the first time that part-time builder Ian
0:09:20 > 0:09:22'has assisted Terry with a property.
0:09:22 > 0:09:29'He's a plumber by trade. The two of them plan to be hands-on together on this, Terry's second project.'
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I think there's going to be a few walls coming down, things like that,
0:09:32 > 0:09:34that you've been having a look at.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36So it was the price that attracted you to it.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- Anything else about it? - The location's brilliant.
0:09:40 > 0:09:41It's five minutes from the city centre.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45The size, it's not a pokey little flat, as you saw.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48You like the cherubs, don't you?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I love the decor! It's brilliant!
0:09:51 > 0:09:52- You do?- No!
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Yeah. The location, the size, the price, just perfect, really.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00What are you going to do to it to sort it out?
0:10:00 > 0:10:05Um, I think pretty much every wall around here is coming down.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09I'm going to knock all this into one big kitchen/lounge area.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13That one's going to be moved back about a metre
0:10:13 > 0:10:18- then storage cupboards put on the landing. There's no storage in the place.- Right.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20That walk-in shower in the bathroom
0:10:20 > 0:10:24is going to be joined with the cupboard in the bedroom
0:10:24 > 0:10:26to make one big wardrobe.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29That's going back to two bedrooms upstairs, as well,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- cos at the minute it's just one big room.- Right.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36The bathroom downstairs. So pretty much everything's moving.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39I'll be living in it as well.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42But I'm going to rent the downstairs room out
0:10:42 > 0:10:45and I've already got a friend who's going to rent that off us.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Good. That'll cover part of the rent.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50In fact, that'll probably pretty much cover your...
0:10:50 > 0:10:56It'll cover the mortgage and the service charges for the building,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58- so it's pretty good.- Result.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01'Terry seems very sorted.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04'With a lodger in place downstairs and his own room and a guest room upstairs,
0:11:04 > 0:11:06'he is adding value.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10'Many of the walls will be moved. What else have they got planned?'
0:11:12 > 0:11:13We'll call in plasterers and things,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16but the majority I'll do myself. I'll fit the kitchen, the bathroom,
0:11:16 > 0:11:18and we'll see about getting tilers in.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Obviously the electrics we'll have to be careful with the regulations nowadays,
0:11:22 > 0:11:24so we'll have a professional in to do that
0:11:24 > 0:11:25and then get them signed off.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28But everything else I think we'll do between the two of us.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33Terrific. There was a bit of concern about the building construction in general.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Do you know anything about this?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Just that it's a concrete frame with brick infill.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Some lenders wouldn't lend on it.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43So I went round a few to try and get the best mortgage deal
0:11:43 > 0:11:48and the bigger banks would lend on it, but smaller ones wouldn't touch it.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52'Apparently, the concrete might be an issue for some lenders.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58'It goes to show that shopping around for mortgages can be as trying as the renovation itself.'
0:11:58 > 0:12:01So what is the time scale?
0:12:01 > 0:12:05That depends on funds because obviously I don't have much at the minute.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09But I'm planning on re-mortgaging because it's worth a lot more than I paid.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- Right.- So hopefully I'll be able to get it revalued
0:12:12 > 0:12:14and get the funds released.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- You'll have to wait a while. - About six months.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21So I think it'll be between six and 12 months for everything to be done.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Right. And what kind of budget have you set aside?
0:12:24 > 0:12:30- We're looking at between 10 and 15. - Wow!- But I think about ten would do it.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35That's including the radiators. That's everything.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39All the very best. I look forward to seeing how you get on.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45'I don't think there's any doubt that Terry has bagged himself a real bargain at this flat.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48'And he certainly has major plans for it.'
0:12:48 > 0:12:52Big question is, will the elaborate plasterwork remain when we come back?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Will it be more Newcastle than Florence?
0:12:55 > 0:12:58You can find out later in the show.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05I'm just outside Telford in Shropshire now
0:13:05 > 0:13:08in the market town of Wellington.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It's on the old Roman road of Watling Street
0:13:11 > 0:13:14and has long been a popular place to live.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18Past residents include the poet Philip Larkin
0:13:18 > 0:13:21and several members of the band T'Pau.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Let's hope today's property is something to sing about.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32About ten minutes' walk from Wellington town centre
0:13:32 > 0:13:33is the property I'm here to see.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Two-bedroomed mid-terrace.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Had a guide price of £50,000 plus.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40This is it. Let's have a look.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45So, fairly standard lay-out.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47In through the door. Stairs up to your bedrooms there.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Into your front sitting room.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53You've got this door here. Keeps the cold out.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57What might not, though, is the alternative repairs to the window!
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Interesting. That looks like double glazing
0:13:59 > 0:14:03but it isn't, so possibly something to sort out.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06But it's a good-sized room. Some nice features.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09There's recesses there and reasonably high ceilings.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14That feeling of space continues as you come to the rear of the property
0:14:14 > 0:14:15where you've got this kitchen.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Clearly in need of some tender loving care,
0:14:19 > 0:14:24but it's a good sizes space. It's big enough to be a kitchen/diner which is good.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26And it continues down here.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31There's more. Through here a downstairs loo
0:14:31 > 0:14:35and the good news is this isn't the only loo in the property. There's one upstairs, too.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39So this is, I guess, a utility room/ stroke downstairs toilet.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Excellent. Who'd have thought it from the front?
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Yes, I expected to see a kind of two-up, two-down kind of property.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02The downstairs loo and utility area in the little extension
0:15:02 > 0:15:04are a definite plus.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Let's not get carried away as it will need some improvements
0:15:07 > 0:15:09but it does show promise.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13I imagine when this house was first built,
0:15:13 > 0:15:17it would have had just the toilet downstairs.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20And possibly two large bedrooms upstairs.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Somebody's obviously made the decision to bring a bathroom upstairs.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26That's taken away one of the big decisions about these kind of properties
0:15:26 > 0:15:29cos you think, "Is it worth doing?" But somebody's done it.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32It does mean that certainly the second bedroom is a bit small,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35but for the sake of it, fantastic to have that up here.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Still got your two bedrooms. Job done.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41OK, it needs a bit of work,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43but a great property.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47There are definitely the makings of a decent house here.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52There's what looks like a reasonably new boiler and central heating
0:15:52 > 0:15:54and it appears structurally sound.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57I really like what I'm seeing here.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Let's go back and take a look around outside.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06At the back of the property, a really nice-sized back garden.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08It could do with a mow, obviously,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11but apart from that, a lovely thing to have.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14What's not so good is that.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20Looks to me like somebody's just dumped out loads of oil from a car engine.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Now, I know we're always talking about striking oil
0:16:23 > 0:16:27when you look at auction properties, but that wasn't what I had in mind.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34This is not the kind of oil field you want in your garden.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38It's definitely not an environmentally friendly thing to have.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Get this to an oil bank for recycling ASAP.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47Used motorcycle oil contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52It's slow to degrade, sticks to everything, contaminates water supplies
0:16:52 > 0:16:54and harms wildlife.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56It'll be a complete pain to get rid of.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00But perhaps you could strike it lucky with this property.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03I don't think it'll make you as rich as an oil baron,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06but it might be worth sinking a bob or two into it.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12What does a local estate agent make of this house
0:17:12 > 0:17:14that was guided at £50,000 plus?
0:17:16 > 0:17:20The property offers particularly generous accommodation on the ground floor
0:17:20 > 0:17:23with a single-storey extension situated at the rear.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26If this was to go on the rental market,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29one thing that does help rental yields
0:17:29 > 0:17:31is having a third bedroom.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Really, for this size of property,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37I don't really see any benefit of having two bathrooms.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39So even though the bathroom is on the ground floor,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43I would still look at possibly changing the first floor bathroom
0:17:43 > 0:17:48into a bedroom. It's certainly big enough for a reasonable single bedroom.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53Hmm. Interesting thought. So the layout may depend on what the purchaser intends to do with it.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56And that may in turn be determined by the financial returns.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00So how would this house, guided at £50,000 plus,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03do if sold on once done up?
0:18:03 > 0:18:07When this property is finished to a decent selling standard,
0:18:07 > 0:18:12I would put this on the market for round about £70,000.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Encouraging. But what about rental?
0:18:15 > 0:18:19For rental purposes, if you keep the existing layout,
0:18:19 > 0:18:21but again refurbishing to a decent standard,
0:18:21 > 0:18:28I would suggest a rental value or round about 450 to £475 per calendar month.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32If you were to create this into a three-bedroomed property,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36I would suggest between 500 and £525 per calendar month.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40So, change the upstairs bathroom back into a bedroom
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and you could increase your rental return
0:18:43 > 0:18:45by ten to 15 per cent.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47That's definitely something worth considering.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54So, would you pay the suggested £50,00 plus guide price for this place?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56I think I would.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59It's a good little property. Doesn't need too much work.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Great one to go for. Let's see who agreed when it went under the hammer.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Lot 62. A mid-terraced house. Two bedrooms.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09It does need modernising.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Start me off at 38? 38 bid. Standing right.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14at £38,000.
0:19:14 > 0:19:1740 going to say now. 40. 42.
0:19:17 > 0:19:1944. 46.
0:19:19 > 0:19:2148.
0:19:21 > 0:19:2350.
0:19:23 > 0:19:2451.
0:19:24 > 0:19:2652. 53.
0:19:26 > 0:19:2954. 55.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Shaking his head. 55. Your bid left.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34At £55,000.
0:19:34 > 0:19:3556 anywhere else?
0:19:35 > 0:19:39At £55,000, then, for the first time,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43at £55,000 for the second time.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Third and final time at £55,000.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Bought it. Well done.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51And so for just £5,000 over the guide price,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55the successful bid for the two-bedroomed mid-terraced house in Wellington
0:19:55 > 0:19:57was made by local resident Mike
0:19:57 > 0:20:00as joint purchase with his wife Annette.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03The couple have several properties already.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09They joined me at the two-bed semi to discuss what they intend to do with it.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Mike, Annette, great to see you both.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Tell me why you wanted to buy this place?
0:20:18 > 0:20:20I go to the auctions to buy property
0:20:20 > 0:20:23and Annette gives me a selection
0:20:23 > 0:20:29and most ones I don't usually get, but this one was within our budget so I bought this one.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31What was it about this one you particularly liked?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33The price!
0:20:33 > 0:20:36So apart from the price, was there anything that appealed?
0:20:36 > 0:20:38No, it didn't appeal at all!
0:20:38 > 0:20:44No, I gave him a list. Here's the list, with all the prices he could bid to on here.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47You gave him a list of how many properties he could potentially buy?
0:20:47 > 0:20:52- There's about 11 listed. I only wanted one.- Right.- He's only allowed to get one.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- But you said he could have any of these 11.- Yes.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57This was the 11th and this was the one he got!
0:20:57 > 0:21:01So what was your reaction when your husband got back?
0:21:01 > 0:21:03I wasn't very pleased!
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Do you want to expand on that a little?
0:21:05 > 0:21:08I said, "Oh, no!"
0:21:08 > 0:21:10So from your side, what exactly happened?
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Well, I was hoping that somebody else would bid higher, but they didn't!
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Cos I knew there'd be a lot of work in this house for me.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20You were hoping somebody would bid higher?
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So as I didn't get it. I don't like work, particularly!
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Let's go back a step here.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- You bought and hoped that somebody would outbid you?- Yes!
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- Right.- Then he wouldn't have got it and that would have been OK, he's thinking.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35- It's an alternative bidding technique!- Yes.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- A dangerous strategy!- Yes. I'd been given the prices to bid up to
0:21:39 > 0:21:43and I knew Annette had looked them up on the internet
0:21:43 > 0:21:44to see what they'd gone for.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48If they'd gone for higher, she wouldn't have minded.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53But if they went for the price she'd put on her list, I'd be in trouble.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Well, I think I follow Mike's logic!
0:22:01 > 0:22:03But it does seem they've ended up with a house
0:22:03 > 0:22:06that neither of them really wanted.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09But in developing, it's all about the price you pay for a property
0:22:09 > 0:22:11and at £55,000,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15they did at least find one aspect of this end-of-terrace appealing.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19The trouble is that now they've got it, they need to bring it up to scratch.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26The plan is to what, sell it on or rent it out?
0:22:26 > 0:22:28I've actually bought it for my son, this house.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- OK.- And he's going to have it and rent it out.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- He's not going to live in it?- No.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- So you're building a portfolio for him?- Yes.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39What's he going to do to sort it out, then?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Well, I'm going to remove this wallpaper.
0:22:42 > 0:22:48OK. And I'm hoping the woodchip underneath will be sound, cos I like woodchip wallpaper!
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- What?!- I like woodchip wallpaper.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56You're going to take off the wallpaper and hope to find woodchip underneath?
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Yes, cos there's woodchip round the rest of it.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Then I'm going to patch it and paint it.
0:23:00 > 0:23:06You are probably the first person I've ever met who is a huge fan of second-hand woodchip.
0:23:06 > 0:23:11- That's right.- Can you explain more about your woodchip love?
0:23:11 > 0:23:15If you take this woodchip off, you'll end up with the plaster coming off.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Then you'll have to re-plaster all the walls.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21- Right.- But if you leave it there and just patch the holes,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25it'll look perfectly presentable when it's painted and that's good.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Well, each to their own, I suppose.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39The thing this couple really do like is working on renovations.
0:23:39 > 0:23:45They do this for a living and get their hands dirty by doing all the work they can by themselves.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50They have two sons, and both got a property for their 25th birthdays.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55They've decided that even though it's going on the rental market,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58they will leave the layout as it is, with just two bedrooms.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Apart from taking off the wallpaper and hopefully finding woodchip, what else are you going to do?
0:24:05 > 0:24:11Put in new windows. We'll have the floors carpeted and vinyl in the bathroom and kitchen.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14OK. What about the kitchen and bathrooms?
0:24:14 > 0:24:16They need doing, yes.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17What's the time scale on this?
0:24:17 > 0:24:20We expect it to take us two months,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22but we're going on holiday in six weeks' time
0:24:22 > 0:24:27so we've either got to rush and do it a bit quicker,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30- or we'll wait till we come back to finish it off.- Right.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- We're working on another one at the moment.- Wow.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36So we've got to finish that one first before we start on here.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39And what's the budget?
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- 5,000.- At least you won't pay much for the wallpaper!
0:24:42 > 0:24:43No!
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Well, listen, congratulations.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50It's a very interesting story and lovely to meet you both.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52- Thank you.- Congratulations. - Thank you.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Look forward to seeing how you get on.- Thank you.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58That's a turn-up for the books, isn't it?
0:24:58 > 0:25:01A huge fan of woodchip wallpaper.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Fantastic. Still, I think Annette and Mike have got themselves a really nice house here
0:25:07 > 0:25:12although they don't seem particularly happy to have got it!
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Will they be more enthusiastic when it's sorted out?
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Hopefully so. You can find out later in the show.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Coming up: in Rochester, Kent,
0:25:22 > 0:25:29this three-bed mid-terrace has gone for the Swedish sauna look in the kitchen and the bathroom!
0:25:30 > 0:25:35We return to Telford to see if Annette was joking or if she meant it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I like woodchip wallpaper!
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- What?!- I like woodchip wallpaper!
0:25:41 > 0:25:44But first it's back to Newcastle,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48where this two-bed split-level flat had surprised Terry.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50I didn't expect it to look this good.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55We head back to Newcastle now
0:25:55 > 0:25:59and only a short walk from the city centre where we met Terry.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02He's a sociology student and care worker
0:26:02 > 0:26:05who bought himself a two-bedroom split-level flat.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09On the outside, the flat was definitely of the 20th century,
0:26:09 > 0:26:13but inside it was more Renaissance than retro.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16I love the decor. It's brilliant.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- You do?!- No!
0:26:18 > 0:26:21He'd need angels on his side with this one!
0:26:25 > 0:26:28But getting rid of the plasterwork could "frieze" his progress.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32With Ian's help, he planned to do some major reconfiguring.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35In fact, by the sound of things, no wall would remain.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38What are you going to do to sort it out?
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Pretty much every wall around here is coming down.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46- I'm going to knock all this into one big lounge/kitchen area.- Wow.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50That wall's going to be moved. That's going back to two bedrooms upstairs as well.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Right.- The bathroom downstairs.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55So, not a lot of work, then(!)
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Terry intended to finish his studies and part-time job
0:26:58 > 0:27:00and had a new job lined up.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03So he'd allowed himself nine to 12 months
0:27:03 > 0:27:07including time to raise the ten to £15,000 budget.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09So, how did he get on?
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Well, on the ground floor, that downstairs loo
0:27:12 > 0:27:15is now a very luxurious-looking bathroom.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24And the downstairs bedroom is now very smart.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Upstairs, with the bathroom moved downstairs
0:27:29 > 0:27:30and the kitchen wall demolished,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33the living room's now even better
0:27:33 > 0:27:36with a bright, open-plan kitchen and French windows.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40I pretty much changed everything, starting from a new front door.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43I completely obliterated the entire place.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46It was literally a concrete shell. I took every single wall out.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50The layout I changed dramatically, to say the least.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I got new French doors on the balcony,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59I also added a table and chairs
0:27:59 > 0:28:01which is a nice little feature
0:28:01 > 0:28:05for when the weather's lovely and you can sit outside and relax.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13Terry has reinstated it as a three-bedroomed flat
0:28:13 > 0:28:17just as he'd planned. A sensible move.
0:28:17 > 0:28:18The one bedroom that was upstairs
0:28:18 > 0:28:22has been changed into two and a walk-in wardrobe added on to that.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Unfortunately, Ian didn't end up helping with the work,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28so Terry's done it on his own.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30It's amazing he stuck to his time scale
0:28:30 > 0:28:32given what he had on his plate.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35The project itself has been up and down, with starts and stops.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38I started a new job just over a year ago.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42I work with young people with learning disabilities
0:28:42 > 0:28:44and it's really, really rewarding.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47I've been able to fit it in with the renovations quite well,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50but towards the end of the project, I sort of ran out of money.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52I went over the 15,000 mark a little bit.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56It's looking at around 17,000 and it's pretty much finished.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59A few little touch ups here and there and carpet.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03I was working 80 hours a week and trying to fit this in when I could.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07I got a bit bogged down. I had problems with tradesmen.
0:29:07 > 0:29:13I went through three sets of joiners, two plumbers. I had an absolute nightmare.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18But these last few months it's been pretty much plain sailing which has been fantastic.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22There were other pressures, too.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Terry had hoped to install a combi boiler,
0:29:24 > 0:29:27but there were quite a few hoops to jump through.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33Before I bought the property, I enquired about the heating system
0:29:33 > 0:29:35cos when I viewed it I noticed there was electric heating
0:29:35 > 0:29:38and I was aware there was communal heating.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40So I got in touch with the leaseholder
0:29:40 > 0:29:43and they said, "No bother. You'll be able to get communal heating."
0:29:43 > 0:29:47I waited for three months, and in the end they said,
0:29:47 > 0:29:50"There's a problem with the lease. You can't have the communal heating."
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Instead, he invested in an electric immersion heater.
0:29:53 > 0:29:58I got quoted £11,000 to install a gas line to the property,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02so it was a lot cheaper to go for an immersion heater
0:30:02 > 0:30:05and electric radiators.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08At least he has somewhere to go to soak away his troubles.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18I'd always wanted a bath long enough to submerge my entire body in.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21When the plans started coming together for the bathroom,
0:30:21 > 0:30:24I thought, "Perfect. I can put it in there."
0:30:24 > 0:30:27The space where the old cupboard used to be is where I'm sitting now.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32We utilised the space from the passage, the old downstairs loo
0:30:32 > 0:30:36and the storage cupboard into one big luxury bathroom.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39Everything high-spec, and I love it.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Terry seems deservedly proud of the hard graft he's put in here.
0:30:42 > 0:30:48I'm proud of the spec that it's come out. I didn't expect it to look this good
0:30:48 > 0:30:50when I first envisioned it.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53But as I went along, it's just come together perfectly
0:30:53 > 0:30:56and it's so much better than what I thought it was going to be.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01How will the improvements go down with these two local estate agents?
0:31:03 > 0:31:05My thoughts on the refurbishment, it's fantastic.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Amazed when I came in.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10It's really high quality and a really good finish.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14What does the one who saw the property before think about the new layout?
0:31:15 > 0:31:18The changes the owner's made to the property is a vast improvement.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20The layout is much better with the bathroom downstairs
0:31:20 > 0:31:25and also the creation of the lovely open-plan kitchen/living area.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Terry doesn't plan to sell right now
0:31:27 > 0:31:33but given the purchase price of 42,000 and his £17,000 spend,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35that means he's invested £59,000.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37So I dare say he'll be interested to know
0:31:37 > 0:31:40what the flat could fetch if sold on.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44I would market the property at £90,000
0:31:44 > 0:31:46to achieve as close to that as possible.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48If we were to put this property on the market,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I would suggest a price of £90,000.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53That's absolutely fantastic.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56It's a £30,000 profit. A bit over, actually.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58So I'm absolutely thrilled with that.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01What about as a rental?
0:32:01 > 0:32:05I would suggest an asking price of £550 per calendar month.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I think this would be an achievable price.
0:32:07 > 0:32:12I would recommend marketing the property at £550 per calendar month.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I hadn't actually thought about renting it as a whole property,
0:32:15 > 0:32:18but that would be a nice amount if I was to go down that route.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21That would give Terry a yield of just over eight per cent.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23But he intends to live here.
0:32:23 > 0:32:28He'll share the house and charge a fee for rent with all bills included.
0:32:28 > 0:32:29That gives him a place to live
0:32:29 > 0:32:33and helps cover his costs all in a very neat package.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35So, would he tackle something like this again?
0:32:35 > 0:32:37I would totally do it again.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40Probably on a bigger scale, next time.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43I'd like to try my hand at some construction work as well.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47But I'll just enjoy the place as much as I can while I can
0:32:47 > 0:32:50before I move on to something bigger and better, hopefully!
0:32:54 > 0:32:56This is Rochester in Kent,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59arguably the most desirable of the Medway towns
0:32:59 > 0:33:04with a centre that boasts a cathedral, castle, and more antiques and coffee shops
0:33:04 > 0:33:06than you can manage in a day!
0:33:06 > 0:33:08It's unquestionably beautiful.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12But will Rochester still offer up a bargain in the auction rooms?
0:33:24 > 0:33:29The property I'm here to see doesn't quite have the age and grandeur of the town centre,
0:33:29 > 0:33:34but it's a Victorian terrace and they're always popular with people after a bit of character.
0:33:34 > 0:33:39And this one, I think it would also suit someone who wants value for money.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41It's this three-bedroomed house
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and it had a guide price of just £75,000.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48What do you get for your money, then? Let's find out.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Straight off the street and into the hallway.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55A rather lovely cosy little lounge in there
0:33:55 > 0:33:57with a beautiful period fireplace.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59I'll come back to that in a while.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Look at these - they're really lovely.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Stairs there, into a second sitting room.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Quite a good space.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10A tatty space, I'd say. Needs a lot of work doing,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13and yes, as I expected, through here to the kitchen
0:34:13 > 0:34:15which looks a bit like a Swedish sauna.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18And a downstairs bathroom. A lot of work to do,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22but everything I would expect from a terraced house like this.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33There was a time when this cladding was fashionable
0:34:33 > 0:34:38but more worryingly, it can be used to conceal a multitude of sins.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42But whether it's here for design or disguise,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46it's time to jettison it, and while you're at it, the kitchen, too!
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Upstairs, things get trickier.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52There's a large bedroom at the front...
0:34:53 > 0:34:57but the small one at the back comes with the third bedroom off it.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Never ideal, but what to do?
0:35:01 > 0:35:03I think in all my years of viewing property,
0:35:03 > 0:35:08I've never found an entirely satisfactory way of dealing with this issue.
0:35:08 > 0:35:13Creating a corridor to make a separate access to this bedroom.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15It just eats up valuable space in here
0:35:15 > 0:35:18and sometimes, you have to turn the stairs as well
0:35:18 > 0:35:20which is hugely expensive.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24In my opinion, if it's a young family living here,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26this layout doesn't really matter.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28I reckon renovate it nicely,
0:35:28 > 0:35:33make the house homely, and I don't think you'll have a problem getting someone to move in.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Even though the layout isn't perfect,
0:35:35 > 0:35:39this place has charm and many characterful features.
0:35:39 > 0:35:40Which reminds me.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42I am saving the best till last.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44A little treat for myself.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46I can't wait to see what's behind here.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48I hope it's as beautiful as this.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Ooh! Ooh!
0:35:52 > 0:35:55That's gorgeous.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58Really unexpected in a little terraced house like this.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Beautiful.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06It's hidden gems like this that make this house so special.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10It's amazing to think these were unfashionable in the '70s
0:36:10 > 0:36:12and people just boarded them up.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15How times change! And talking of time,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17it's time to hear the views of a local property agent
0:36:17 > 0:36:21on this terraced house that was guided at 75,000.
0:36:21 > 0:36:26First impressions of the property, it does need a lot of work.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28It's been neglected over the years.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31But it has got tremendous potential.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34What does he think of the upstairs layout?
0:36:34 > 0:36:38I would suggest moving the bathroom into the third bedroom.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41Making it an en-suite off the bedroom
0:36:41 > 0:36:43rather than it being off the kitchen.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47I don't think it would add value, but I do think it would make it more saleable.
0:36:47 > 0:36:51So maybe it wouldn't be worth going to the expense of moving the bathroom.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55It would all hinge on the possible resale value.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57When the property is completely renovated,
0:36:57 > 0:37:01I would expect it to be in the region of £130,000.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05This is a very sought-after rental area.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07So what kind of rent could it bring in each month?
0:37:09 > 0:37:16In good condition, this property should rent for approximately £650 to £700 per calendar month.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20A classic, cute little rental property
0:37:20 > 0:37:24which offers a decent return near all this loveliness.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Let's see who wanted to buy it at the auction.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29Where do we start on this one?
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Nice low guide. It needs to be 75,000 to get it started.
0:37:32 > 0:37:3575,000. I'm on the way.
0:37:35 > 0:37:3775 I have. 77, may I say, sir.
0:37:37 > 0:37:3977 and 80.
0:37:39 > 0:37:4181 I have.
0:37:41 > 0:37:4282, now, if you wish.
0:37:42 > 0:37:4582 I've got. 83 by the door.
0:37:45 > 0:37:4884. I'm obliged. 85?
0:37:48 > 0:37:50There was lots of interest on auction day.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53We rejoin the bidding at 96,000.
0:37:53 > 0:37:5596 he's still with at the door.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Any of the others coming back at £97,000?
0:37:58 > 0:38:0097 bid I have.
0:38:00 > 0:38:0198 now, if you like.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03No? He says no.
0:38:03 > 0:38:0597,000 sitting down in the front.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07£98,000 I'm looking for.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11Are we all done at £97,000? Obviously going to be sold.
0:38:11 > 0:38:1498 right at the back. Do you want to fill it up to 100?
0:38:14 > 0:38:15100? 99.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19100? It's your choice to come in at 100.
0:38:19 > 0:38:25At £99,000 bid I've got. 100 I'm looking for. For the first time at 99.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Second time at 99,000.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Nobody else coming in at 100?
0:38:30 > 0:38:34Magic 100. 99 for the third and final time. All done?
0:38:34 > 0:38:38£99,000 over on my right.
0:38:38 > 0:38:43The seated bidder who got the terrace for 99,000 was Bev.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45He used to be a car salesman
0:38:45 > 0:38:47but after he was injured in a fall,
0:38:47 > 0:38:50he sold his business and is now in property development.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54It's something he first dabbled in about 20 years ago.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56This is his third buy to let property.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59I met up with Bev and his daughter, Kelly-Ann
0:38:59 > 0:39:01to find out what they planned.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Bev and Kelly-Ann, congratulations.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07Why did you want to buy this, Bev?
0:39:07 > 0:39:09We didn't!
0:39:09 > 0:39:14At the time we went there, we were looking to buy two bungalows.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Two semi's next door to each other.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20And they were withdrawn ten minutes from the commencement of sale.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24We decided that we would go for a smaller type property.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Why are you actually doing this?
0:39:25 > 0:39:28I need something to really prove to myself
0:39:28 > 0:39:31that I'm able to do what I used to be able to do.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34When I was a youngster I was a plasterer. That was my trade.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Obviously that's going to come out in this.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41Just did a bit of work at my mother-in-law's, a bit of plastering,
0:39:41 > 0:39:42and realised it was like riding a bike.
0:39:42 > 0:39:47But a year and a half ago, I had a car sales business
0:39:47 > 0:39:49which was doing really well.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53And for the sake of an aerial on a car roof,
0:39:53 > 0:39:58I climbed up a stack of cars, three cars,
0:39:58 > 0:40:05and I was unscrewing the aerial, the car was damp, and I fell to the ground.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08- Oh, no.- I broke my legs
0:40:08 > 0:40:12and my shoulder and bits and pieces weren't good.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15- But...- You are standing here
0:40:15 > 0:40:18- and you're looking...- Six months in a wheelchair,
0:40:18 > 0:40:22- looking at you and Martin on TV every morning!- Bless you!
0:40:22 > 0:40:23"I've got to have a go at that."
0:40:25 > 0:40:28It's so lovely to hear that Bev is now on the mend
0:40:28 > 0:40:32and I'm glad he's been inspired to get back into property developing.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35This time around, he's got some help.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37His daughter Kelly-Ann is more than happy to help him out
0:40:37 > 0:40:39with some girl power!
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Kelly-Ann, what is your involvement going to be?
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Everything I can do, I will do!
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Painting, knocking down walls,
0:40:47 > 0:40:49doors, literally.
0:40:49 > 0:40:50Anything!
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Bev, does she get really involved with projects like this?
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Yeah, she's, um... It's a word of caution, really.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59If you need someone to do the cooking and that, go somewhere else.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03If you want someone to take walls down, she's the right girl!
0:41:03 > 0:41:06So she's not a girly girl at all?
0:41:06 > 0:41:09She's a girly-girl in so much as make-up and the way she looks.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12But she'd rather have a hammer in a hand than a saucepan!
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Kelly-Ann plans to get busy with her hammer.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30The first wall to go is the one between the back sitting room and the kitchen.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32She plans to create a bigger dining/kitchen.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36I never understood why this is a dining area
0:41:36 > 0:41:40and nobody really uses a dining room. They tend to sit in the lounge.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44- Our view is to incorporate the kitchen into this area.- Absolutely.
0:41:44 > 0:41:49- Do you agree, Kelly?- Take the wall down, put the units along the side.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54And then make this half more of a dining area.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56'But I think the more pressing layout issue
0:41:56 > 0:41:59'is the situation of the bedroom and the downstairs loo.'
0:42:00 > 0:42:04Are you going to try and put it upstairs or live with what you've got here?
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Because you've got the little room off the main bedroom
0:42:07 > 0:42:11- which is always an awkward one in a property like this.- That's right.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14It's got to be cost effective
0:42:14 > 0:42:17and you could spend and spend and make it the right way round.
0:42:17 > 0:42:21But our view is it'll be rented out to a family
0:42:21 > 0:42:25and you would expect them to go through the younger one's bedroom.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29'This father and daughter duo have a budget of 10,000
0:42:29 > 0:42:32'and estimate the work will take eight to 12 weeks.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35'Although they'll get professionals in for the electrics,
0:42:35 > 0:42:39'it's mostly going to be down to Bev, Kelly-Ann and her hammer!'
0:42:39 > 0:42:45Kelly-Ann, one day, will take over looking after it all, so that's what we want.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47- Are you ready for that?- No!
0:42:47 > 0:42:50- Not a good idea!- Poor old Dad! Wait a minute.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Good luck with this. Can't wait to see what you do.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57- It's been smashing meeting you both. - Thanks very much.- Hope it all goes well.- Thank you.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02Doing something you love is the best form of therapy, I reckon.
0:43:02 > 0:43:08Bev has got the chance to work alongside his daughter at the same time, which is perfect.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11Find out how it all goes, later on in the show.
0:43:14 > 0:43:19Doing up a property can be very time-consuming and expensive.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22So have our new owners managed to keep to their plans
0:43:22 > 0:43:24- and their budgets?- Let's find out.
0:43:26 > 0:43:30It was just outside Telford in the Shropshire town of Wellington
0:43:30 > 0:43:32that we came across this two-bed semi.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35It obviously needed some refurbishment
0:43:35 > 0:43:37but looked structurally sound.
0:43:37 > 0:43:42It had a good-sized garden, albeit with a rather unsightly oil patch,
0:43:42 > 0:43:46a rear extension, a downstairs toilet-cum-utility area,
0:43:46 > 0:43:50an upstairs bathroom and two reasonable bedrooms.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53So it seemed to me to be pretty tempting.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59It was bought for £55,000 by Mike and Annette
0:43:59 > 0:44:02who, oddly, didn't seem to share my enthusiasm for the property!
0:44:04 > 0:44:06Apart from the price, was there anything that appealed?
0:44:06 > 0:44:08No. It didn't appeal at all.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11I gave him a list. Here's the list
0:44:11 > 0:44:14with all the prices he could bid to on here.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16There's about 11 listed on there.
0:44:16 > 0:44:20- Only wanted one.- But you said he could have any of these 11.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22Yes. And this was the 11th and this was the one he got!
0:44:22 > 0:44:26So what was your reaction when your husband got back?
0:44:26 > 0:44:28I wasn't very pleased.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42Well, wanted or not,
0:44:42 > 0:44:46the house was actually purchased as a rental vehicle
0:44:46 > 0:44:49to provide some income for one of Annette's sons.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51Armed with a £5,000 budget,
0:44:51 > 0:44:55they were hoping to refurbish it before they went on holiday.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58That gave them just six weeks to complete the work.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03Now, just five weeks later,
0:45:03 > 0:45:06we're back to see if they've grown to like this purchase
0:45:06 > 0:45:09a little bit more.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19Well, the front's been tidied up and there's new double glazing.
0:45:29 > 0:45:33And inside, well, that's definitely improved.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42In the kitchen, we did quite a bit of work.
0:45:42 > 0:45:44We kept these original units
0:45:44 > 0:45:46but gave them a really good clean.
0:45:46 > 0:45:50Here was a breakfast bar and two wall units.
0:45:50 > 0:45:53We've taken all that away and repaired the wall.
0:45:53 > 0:45:56And here, where there were just gaps,
0:45:56 > 0:45:58we bought two new units and put those in.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01We got as close a match as we could.
0:46:01 > 0:46:06And I've left this nice space here so that families can have a table and chairs
0:46:06 > 0:46:10and sit and have their tea-time and breakfast meals together.
0:46:10 > 0:46:13The downstairs toilet area has been repainted
0:46:13 > 0:46:15and is looking a whole lot better.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19Upstairs, the two bedrooms are now redecorated
0:46:19 > 0:46:21and carpeted throughout.
0:46:26 > 0:46:29The bathroom has been spruced up with new vinyl flooring
0:46:29 > 0:46:32and the bath has been rotated 180 degrees.
0:46:32 > 0:46:36But although neither of them were massively keen on the house,
0:46:36 > 0:46:42there was one thing that Annette unexpectedly and, if you ask me, inexplicably liked.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44I like woodchip wallpaper.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48- What?!- I like woodchip wallpaper!
0:46:49 > 0:46:52The wallpaper that was on top in the lounge,
0:46:52 > 0:46:55Mike took that off because I don't like taking off wallpaper.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57And the original wallpaper was underneath.
0:46:57 > 0:47:01It's a sort of woodchip, not pure woodchip, but similar.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03So I've restored all that and painted that
0:47:03 > 0:47:06and I'm very happy with that.
0:47:06 > 0:47:10Well, we're more used to seeing woodchip heading for the bin on this programme!
0:47:10 > 0:47:12Perhaps Annette is trend-setting!
0:47:12 > 0:47:14Maybe.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17Anyway, let's hope any prospective tenant is a fan!
0:47:18 > 0:47:20Outside, things are looking much tidier
0:47:20 > 0:47:23with most of the oil now removed.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27I'm hoping that the grass will now grow through.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31And the fencing, I've put both sides up brand new,
0:47:31 > 0:47:34this last little bit fell off a lorry
0:47:34 > 0:47:37about two years ago outside my home.
0:47:37 > 0:47:42And I kept it just in case and it's proved worthwhile.
0:47:42 > 0:47:46So with the new fence patched up and the oil patch nearly gone,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49it seems that in a mere five weeks
0:47:49 > 0:47:52they've made some significant improvements between them.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54I did the majority of the work
0:47:54 > 0:47:58and had a little help with the front lawn.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01But I did most of the work on that as well.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04- I did some of that. I put the gravel down.- She did the finishing bit.
0:48:04 > 0:48:08- I did all the painting.- And decided what needed doing.- And the red step.
0:48:08 > 0:48:09I'm in charge.
0:48:14 > 0:48:18Yes. Not only was Annette in charge of organising all the work,
0:48:18 > 0:48:21she was also in charge of the purse strings.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24How much of their £5,000 budget did they spend?
0:48:24 > 0:48:29£4,980.20.
0:48:29 > 0:48:30Approximately!
0:48:30 > 0:48:33But for the sake of argument, let's just call it 5,000
0:48:33 > 0:48:35to make the sums easier.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38Adding to the purchase price of 55 grand,
0:48:38 > 0:48:41brings the total to 60,000, not including tax and fees.
0:48:41 > 0:48:45So, have they made a good investment on behalf of Annette's son?
0:48:47 > 0:48:49What do two local estate agents reckon?
0:48:50 > 0:48:53I think this property has been done to a fairly good standard.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56It's had certainly a very good clean throughout.
0:48:56 > 0:48:58The garden in particular is very, very good.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01The bedrooms aren't too bad.
0:49:01 > 0:49:02The second bedroom could be larger,
0:49:02 > 0:49:04but in general, a very good house.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08So this spruced up property seems to have hit the right mark with the estate agents.
0:49:08 > 0:49:12But if it was put on the resale market, could the couple see any return
0:49:12 > 0:49:15on their £60,000 investment?
0:49:16 > 0:49:19If I was to put the property currently on the market,
0:49:19 > 0:49:22I would suggest an asking price of £90,000.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25I value the property at £80,000 to £85,000.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28It's held back by the fact that there's no off-street parking.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30I don't think we'd get that price for it.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33But we're not selling it anyway. It's not our game.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35That's quite impressive.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37A potential pre-tax profit
0:49:37 > 0:49:40of between 20,000 and £30,000.
0:49:40 > 0:49:44I sense their love for this house might be growing by the pound!
0:49:44 > 0:49:46So how about that all-important rental?
0:49:46 > 0:49:51For rental purposes, I'd value the property at £495 per calendar month.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55I would suggest a marketing price of around £500 per calendar month.
0:49:55 > 0:49:59I think that's fair, but we'll be asking 515.
0:49:59 > 0:50:03Even if they get the lowest figure of £495 per calendar month,
0:50:03 > 0:50:08they could see a rental yield just shy of ten per cent. Not bad at all.
0:50:08 > 0:50:12It just goes to show how important buying at the right price is
0:50:12 > 0:50:15when it comes to property purchases.
0:50:15 > 0:50:18So, what's next on the agenda for Mike and Annette?
0:50:20 > 0:50:23Next week, we're cruising. Out on the sea.
0:50:23 > 0:50:29Looking forward to it. But it's a working holiday. We're teaching bridge and organising the bridge.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32And looking forward to the champagne breakfast.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35What are you looking forward to?
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Annette will do the teaching, and I'll do the directing.
0:50:37 > 0:50:42- You'll be doing as you're told. - Yeah, I'll be doing as I'm told.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49Earlier, we were in the historic city of Rochester, north Kent.
0:50:52 > 0:50:56It was here that we first saw this three-bedroomed terraced house
0:50:56 > 0:50:59which looked quite presentable from the outside.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03However, the inside was rather on the shabby and run-down side
0:51:03 > 0:51:06and there were some common layout problems.
0:51:06 > 0:51:11A downstairs loo and one bedroom which could only be accessed through another.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14But that didn't put off Bev, a former car salesman
0:51:14 > 0:51:17who had bought the property for 99,000.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21With his daughter, Kelly-Ann, Bev aimed to update the house
0:51:21 > 0:51:23and add it to his small portfolio
0:51:23 > 0:51:25of two rental properties.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29As Bev was recovering from an accident,
0:51:29 > 0:51:33he was possibly going to be held back on the physical side of the work.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35But there was help at hand.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38Kelly-Ann, what is your involvement going to be?
0:51:38 > 0:51:41Everything I can do, I will do.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43Painting, knocking down walls,
0:51:43 > 0:51:47doors, literally anything.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50If you need someone to do the cooking and that, go somewhere else!
0:51:50 > 0:51:53If you want someone to take walls down, she's the right girl!
0:51:53 > 0:51:59Bev saw the project as an opportunity to speed up his recuperation from his injuries.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02He had a £10,000 budget
0:52:02 > 0:52:05and an eight to ten week turnaround planned for this renovation.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10But it was five months later that we returned
0:52:10 > 0:52:14to see if rejuvenating the house has helped to rejuvenate Bev.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17A fresh look of paint and new windows and doors
0:52:17 > 0:52:20have certainly given the house a brighter outlook.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23But as for that shabby interior...
0:52:24 > 0:52:27Well, it looks like Kelly-Ann has been very busy.
0:52:27 > 0:52:31Her hammer has been taken to the hallway wall at the front door
0:52:31 > 0:52:33to increase the feeling of space.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36And the character has been restored along with the fireplace.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38Really lovely.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40And as promised earlier,
0:52:40 > 0:52:43the kitchen and dining room have also been connected
0:52:43 > 0:52:46to create a large open-plan area
0:52:46 > 0:52:48with new kitchen units installed.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50The bathroom is still downstairs,
0:52:50 > 0:52:55but has been reconfigured and transformed into a clean, crisp space.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00But the biggest change here is that the stairs have been turned around
0:53:00 > 0:53:03to open up into the dining room,
0:53:03 > 0:53:06enabling a new staircase landing to be created.
0:53:07 > 0:53:13We needed to do something with the stairs. I really like what we've done because it's different.
0:53:13 > 0:53:18Everybody turns around and some have got a little platform, some have got this, some that.
0:53:18 > 0:53:21We went in the middle because it gave us two cupboards.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23So you've now got a cloakroom as you come in the front door
0:53:23 > 0:53:25and a hoover cupboard this side.
0:53:26 > 0:53:31Cupboards aside, rearranging the staircase has allowed for the creation of a new hallway
0:53:31 > 0:53:35now giving the rear two bedrooms their own separate access.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39The bedrooms have been redecorated in neutral tones.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42Bev and Kelly-Ann have done a sterling job.
0:53:42 > 0:53:47All that reconfiguring and the lovely finish must have been quite an undertaking.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50The project itself was a challenge for me
0:53:50 > 0:53:54to find out what I can actually achieve, what I could do, what I couldn't do.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56Gave myself a stretch and a task
0:53:56 > 0:53:59and tested myself out more than I realised.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01It's been really, really good for me.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06Before he became a car salesman, Bev was a plasterer
0:54:06 > 0:54:08and he hoped to revive that skill here.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11I plastered a ceiling upstairs
0:54:11 > 0:54:13and when I'd plastered it,
0:54:13 > 0:54:17I had a bit of a problem, so I had to have a week off.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19So I decided not to do any more of that
0:54:19 > 0:54:22and I employed someone to do that, which hurt, but there you go.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25As a plasterer, the last thing you want to do is employ a plasterer.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27That was a disappointment for Bev,
0:54:27 > 0:54:30but apart from calling in the professionals for the electrics and plumbing,
0:54:30 > 0:54:34the rest of the family pitched in to help with the work on the renovation.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37And that's where Kelly-Ann came into her own.
0:54:39 > 0:54:42Kelly-Ann did get to knock down a wall or two.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46She loved knocking the wall down between the hallway and the lounge.
0:54:46 > 0:54:47She was in her element there,
0:54:47 > 0:54:50because she found out it was just a single-course wall
0:54:50 > 0:54:53and it took her a minute to knock a hole through and she was away!
0:54:53 > 0:54:59It wasn't just on the destruction aspect of the renovation that Kelly-Ann pulled her weight.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01She's been really good at getting me up in the morning
0:55:01 > 0:55:04because I can take a while to get motivated
0:55:04 > 0:55:08and she tends to make sure I'm up and ready to go.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11She's done an awful lot, and she's learned a lot
0:55:11 > 0:55:13which she will take forward with her.
0:55:14 > 0:55:19Overall, Bev has managed the renovation and the final production is ready for the rental market.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21The schedule overran by two months
0:55:21 > 0:55:25due to Bev aiming for a higher standard than was originally planned.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27Did that affect the budget?
0:55:29 > 0:55:31I said I had about £10,000 put to one side for it.
0:55:31 > 0:55:35I looked at that and thought I'd put a bit of stretch in there
0:55:35 > 0:55:38just in case I needed it, but it wasn't quite enough.
0:55:38 > 0:55:44Today, the budget came out at £10,329 and a couple of pence.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Add that to his purchase price of 99,000
0:55:47 > 0:55:52and Bev's total spend is just over £109,000.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56Time to hear from two local estate agents
0:55:56 > 0:56:00what they think of Bev's latest addition to the rental market.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04The changes in the layout have worked really, really well.
0:56:04 > 0:56:09The open plan dining room into the kitchen is very popular these days.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11It's a very American idea.
0:56:11 > 0:56:15Moving the staircase to create the three separate bedrooms
0:56:15 > 0:56:16works really, really well.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18He's going to be very popular!
0:56:18 > 0:56:21Having looked around the property, I think they've done a very good job.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23It's clean, tidy, bright.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27I think it's as good as you can get in this kind of property.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29Both are impressed with the new-look house
0:56:29 > 0:56:34and reckon it could sell for 120 up to 135,000.
0:56:34 > 0:56:39That could give Bev a possible profit of between 11 and £26,000
0:56:39 > 0:56:42minus the usual tax and expenses.
0:56:42 > 0:56:45But as he aims to put it on the rental market,
0:56:45 > 0:56:47what sort of returns could that achieve?
0:56:49 > 0:56:55This property is likely to let for approximately 750 to £800 per calendar month.
0:56:55 > 0:57:03I think this property will rent for a figure between 725 and £750 per calendar month.
0:57:03 > 0:57:09It's not all about money. It's about getting somebody that's going to continue to rent long-term, I hope.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11But, yeah, that's it.
0:57:11 > 0:57:12But yeah, fair figures.
0:57:12 > 0:57:14If those rental figures are achieved,
0:57:14 > 0:57:17there could be a possible annual yield
0:57:17 > 0:57:21of between £8,700 and £9,600,
0:57:21 > 0:57:26giving Bev a healthy yield of around eight or nine per cent.
0:57:30 > 0:57:35So it looks like some good returns are possible with his third rental property.
0:57:35 > 0:57:38But the financial rewards seem to come second
0:57:38 > 0:57:41compared to the restorative effect that Bev has gained.
0:57:41 > 0:57:43It's been well worthwhile.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46The way it's made me feel as a person
0:57:46 > 0:57:53and the family as a whole, what they've actually achieved makes it so worthwhile.
0:57:53 > 0:57:57It's not all about money. The money's a nice thing, you haven't wasted money,
0:57:57 > 0:58:00but it's more about your self-esteem.
0:58:03 > 0:58:08That's it for now. We'll have plenty more properties of all types for you to see next time.
0:58:08 > 0:58:10- Look forward to seeing you then. Goodbye!- Goodbye.
0:58:32 > 0:58:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd