Episode 58 Homes Under the Hammer


Episode 58

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Transcript


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Hello and welcome to the show.

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Now, there are plenty of reasons to try your hand at property investing.

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Yes, but there are plenty of things you've got to do right

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if you want it to go smoothly.

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Yes, number one is get the property at the right price.

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One way you can do that is by going to the auction.

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We always say, "Do your research before buying at auction,"

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and that means going to see the property beforehand

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and reading the legal pack.

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But it doesn't mean there won't be any problems.

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Forewarned is forearmed.

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Here's what tempted the buyers on today's show.

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Today we test the temperature of the Midlands market in Nottinghamshire.

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Talk about the hot seat!

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What a strange place for the boiler.

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This three-bedroom semi in Derby has a red-hot kitchen.

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It's like a red wine mixed with tomato. Clash!

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And the buyer of this Stoke property is going to need a cool head.

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Now, clearly we are entering the realms

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of fairly specialist opportunity.

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All of these properties have been sold at auction.

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We'll find out who bought them and what they paid for them

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when they went under the hammer.

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The village of Pleasley in Nottinghamshire

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is very pleasing on the eye.

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The River Meden runs through the village and determines

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which parts of it are in Derbyshire and which are in Nottinghamshire.

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Pleasley Pit, which formed the main employment for the area,

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closed in 1983 and then became a mining museum.

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The nearby village of New Houghton was built to house the mine workers,

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like the property I've come to see.

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Some real nice little details on these terraces.

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I love these arched bits above the windows. Brilliant.

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But what am I here to see?

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Well, thankfully it is one of these very properties.

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Three-bed, mid-terrace. Guide price of £40,000.

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Boing!

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So what have we got? Well, a little entrance area here.

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Interesting sort of cupboard area there underneath the stairs,

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but a useful place to store all those things

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you've got nowhere else to put. New carpet...

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That's not a bad thing to see,

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although you do wonder sometimes if it's covering up something.

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But front room here - big window underneath that archway,

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it's a nice size.

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A few signs of damp on that front wall -

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you'd want to investigate that.

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Through into the rear sitting room, and I quite like this layout, actually.

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You've got that front room there, the stairs up to the bedrooms

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curving round there and then this...

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I guess this is your rear sitting room/dining room

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dominated by this fireplace.

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So what do you think? Keep it? Get rid of it?

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Personally, I think I'd put something slightly more in-keeping

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in its place. Definitely retain the lovely feature,

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but maybe not that one.

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Through into your kitchen. Well, it's not huge.

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You could contemplate basically taking out that wall -

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supporting it, obviously, with some beam over the top there -

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opening this into a really nice sort of kitchen/living area,

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a real family-friendly space.

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Or you could leave it as it is, replace the units.

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I mean, either way, it's just adding to, you know,

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a not bad little house.

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Actually, not little at all.

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A not bad BIG house.

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Opening up spaces like this and making a dining-kitchen

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is what's in demand for modern-day living.

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That and easy access to the garden.

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Oh, I do like a nice set of sliding patio doors.

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Only bettered by the slightly more modern trend of bi-fold doors,

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where you can literally pull back the whole glass wall

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to reveal the room and open out the house onto the garden.

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I think you'd probably want to do a bit of work

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before you do that, though.

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It's largely laid to concrete at the moment

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and the rest of it is a bit of a jungle. But it is a good size.

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Look at this!

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And rear access, which is a bonus, so maybe decking, grass,

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water feature, place to park your cars...

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Ideal.

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Out here, I've spotted a trio of bonuses - quiet back garden,

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secure off-road parking, and the vista from the front of the property

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over the fields is very nice.

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So far, I like everything downstairs and outside.

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There's just upstairs left to discover.

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So upstairs and just more confirmation

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that this really is a good-sized terrace -

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seemingly on the inside much bigger than it is on the outside.

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Three half-decent-sized bedrooms, so lots of ticks, really,

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and really importantly, the bathroom upstairs too.

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But what a strange place for the boiler.

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That's not very clever, is it?

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All in all, it's not a bad house,

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especially with a guide price of 40,000.

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But that carbuncle of a boiler and casing would have to go for me.

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A case of "mind your head on the way back out".

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And on the way in is a local estate agent invited along

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to give some opinions and valuations.

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I'd say the property is in very good condition.

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It doesn't need a tremendous amount of work doing to it in order

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to put it up either for resale or onto the rental market.

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For the price bracket and for the area,

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if you were to sell the property, it would probably go to a first-time buyer.

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I could see that - they could live in it as is

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and do up the kitchen etc in due course.

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What would be the market value, then?

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If the property was done up to a reasonable standard,

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I would recommend an asking price of £70,000,

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to achieve in the region of £60,000-£65,000.

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For a rental value, I would recommend marketing

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the property at £400-£425 per calendar month.

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Well, a few modifications required here and there,

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but intrinsically it's a good house in pretty good condition

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and I certainly like the location. So, yes, lots of boxes ticked.

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Let's see who went for it when it went under the hammer.

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Onto lot 279, it's New Houghton.

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Mid-terraced house, three-bedroom,

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lot 279 in New Houghton.

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Start me at...

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Start me at 30,000.

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30 I have...31, 32,

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33, 34,

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35, 36,

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37,

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38, 39,

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40...

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No. It's against you on my right, it's with you on my left at 39,000.

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40 anywhere else? Gentleman's bid. Bold bid. Thank you, 40 I have.

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Fresh place. 41? Fresh place for that, 41. 42, sir?

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43.

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No, he's not in. Your bid, 42,000. It's against you in the back.

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43, anywhere else?

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First for 42...

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Second time, 42...

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The third and final time at £42,000...

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Your bid, I think you've got it...

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Sold at 42.

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You may recognise Kate and Charlie,

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they've been on the show before with their family of little helpers.

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My work was painting

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and trying to get woodchip wallpaper off the walls.

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I scrubbed quite a lot of the skirting boards, hoovering...

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I did a lot of things, from stripping wallpaper to painting.

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I'm really pleased to see the house come back to life, really.

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In fact, they bought this house at the same auction as

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the previous one, so I met them to find out

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what their plans are for this one.

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Tell me why you wanted to buy this place.

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We were looking to buy a new buy-to-let property and we came

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to look round here and it was just the house that we were looking for.

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Ticked all the boxes, doesn't need a huge amount of work doing to it

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and we know the area, so, yeah.

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What was on your checklist, then?

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It ticks boxes - what was in your boxes?

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Something that we could do and the family could do as

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a joint project, and so this really fitted the bill.

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We'll get them to do as much of the refurbishment as we can do.

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We obviously get tradesmen in to do the electricity and gas

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and all those bits and pieces

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and the plastering - they're not plasterers yet.

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Let's talk about this place.

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What are you going to do to sort it out?

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It doesn't need a huge amount doing to it.

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There's a bit of damp to sort out, we're going to get someone

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to come and have a look at that for us.

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We want to take out the feature fireplace

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and we're going to refurbish a little bit in the kitchen.

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The only other thing we're going to check is the boiler.

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If that needs replacing, we'll put a combi boiler in

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and sort that out so it doesn't eat into as much space

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in the room, and try and get a shower in that bathroom as well.

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OK. What are you going to do with outside?

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I think we should leave the back area for space for three cars

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and then...we've actually had quite a lot of interest in renting

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-the property already.

-Oh, right. Even before you've refurbished it?

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So we may even have a discussion with the tenant to see what they'd like.

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So let's talk about the refurbishment costs.

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How much do you think it's going to cost?

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We've put a budget of about £3,000.

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If we have to do the boiler, we might put that up to five,

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but we really are looking at a quick turnaround - four weeks.

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-Three weeks.

-Oh, wow. Three weeks?

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-It might slip to four.

-Cracking the whip, then.

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-Absolutely.

-And will you two get involved as well?

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Yeah, very much so.

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It must be nice to be doing it as a family, actually.

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It actually is quite a teambuilding experience, we've found.

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It has been... Over the last year

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when we've done other houses up it's been really good, hasn't it?

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It has, yeah. We enjoy it, really.

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Not, perhaps, in the thick of it, when it's really late at night

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and everyone's hungry, but it is good, it's good.

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The family certainly seem to be on a roll.

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You might recall I mentioned earlier that they bought the two properties

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on the same day at the same auction,

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and the similarities didn't end there.

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Both houses have the same street name.

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That's obviously going to be lucky for you, then, isn't it?

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Yeah, it is lucky. It causes lots of confusion, but it is, yeah.

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-It was meant to be, I think.

-You say it caused confusion...?

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Well, unfortunately our solicitors decided to only convey

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-on one property...

-Oh, no!

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..and we got to the exchange day and we said, "Where's the other one?"

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And they went, "Other one?"

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-You are joking!

-I'm not, no.

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So we conveyed, though, they were marvellous.

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They conveyed on that whole second house in one week.

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-So that shows they can do it.

-That's a classic.

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-So they sort of went, "What do you mean, two properties?"

-Yes.

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There must have been a heart-in-the-mouth moment.

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There was, there was a slight moment of panic because we didn't want

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to incur huge fees for not completing within the 28 days,

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-so we were only a week late.

-Yeah, well, phew.

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-It's good that the vendor was sympathetic.

-Yeah, they were.

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-So is it going to be rented out?

-It is.

-Both of them?

-Yes.

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-We're going to be renting them out.

-Building a portfolio, or is this...?

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We are, yes. We already have two.

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Our first two houses we bought last year and then these two.

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Well, congratulations for your double purchase.

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-Thank you.

-Yes.

-Good luck with it.

-Thank you very much.

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We look forward to seeing how you get on.

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-Thank you, Martin.

-Cheers.

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Well, what an unusual set of circumstances,

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and a slightly problematic one, as it turned out.

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Thankfully, though, it was sorted and Kate and Charlie

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and their children can get on with sorting this place out.

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How will they get on? You can find out later in the show.

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It's Derby day here on our meander round the Midlands.

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We are in Chaddesden, just east of Derby town centre.

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As well as lots of its own amenities,

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it has great transport links into the surrounding area.

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I bet we'll be finding some interesting properties here.

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Well, along this residential road is the three-bed semi I'm here to see.

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Now, it had a guide price of £55,000.

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That sounds pretty reasonable,

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but I'm not fan of the pebbledash exterior.

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But there are a few positives I can see from the outside.

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Firstly, there's double-glazed windows, and secondly,

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somebody has already built a porch which now only needs to be rendered.

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So far, so good.

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I think porches are wonderful creations.

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They keep out the wind and the rain,

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somewhere to store your coats, bags, shoes and bikes - fabulous.

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So let's have a look around, then.

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Well, nice hallway, reception room, double glazing - a real bonus -

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you've got central heating and a...

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Wowzer! Check out the kitchen.

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It's red. Black and white tiles...

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The funny thing is, though, it's like a red wine mixed with tomato.

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Clash!

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I think I'd like to try and come down just a little bit in here.

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But something else you need to think about - the guidelines

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to have your cooker and your sink...

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Well, you should have at least 40cm apart.

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You could think about switching this over so your sink's over here

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and your draining board's here,

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but I'd definitely have a little bit more of a gap between the hob

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and the sink, or even you could move it somewhere else.

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But a great space in here.

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If you think THIS is a good space, check this out.

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It's only a utility room, and it's massive.

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It's almost like a second kitchen.

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You've got a downstairs loo, door leading out to the front,

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door leading out to the garden.

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In fact, I would say this downstairs space is almost good to go.

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That's if you like red kitchens, of course.

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# Red rain is coming down

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# Red rain... #

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That's a great-sized ground floor.

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There is some work needing to be done, but it's all cosmetic.

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Things are looking good.

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The upstairs bathroom looks freshly done.

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I just hope that if the new owners do decorate the kitchen,

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they buy enough paint for the upstairs, too.

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Lime green, anyone?

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When a property's already in good condition,

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there are less ways you can add value to it.

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However, one way you can give a place like this a boost

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and make it more saleable is to create some off-road parking.

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I can see a lot of the neighbours along here, well,

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they've already done that. You will need to apply

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for permission from the local council to drop this kerb

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but the driveway should only cost around £800

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and it could add as much as £8,000 onto the value of the property.

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Well worth it, don't you agree?

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Along with the relevant permissions to get a driveway,

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the front and back gardens are going to need a good clear-out.

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Never underestimate how much soil this produces,

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so factor skip hire into your budget.

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Still, all this space and a potential driveway for a guide price of 55,000!

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What's the catch?

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If something seems too good to be true, well,

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unfortunately it often is. I have a big bombshell to drop.

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This house is prefabricated, which means it's of non-standard construction.

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# Duh, duh, duh... #

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Yes, that is bad news.

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It means that this is susceptible to structural problems

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and, even though there are no signs of that yet,

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mortgage lenders will be very reluctant to provide money,

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which means it could be tricky to sell on.

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Not only that, it reduces the value of this property

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compared to its brick-built neighbours by around £20,000.

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Ouch!

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I hope the buyer of this one did their homework and

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they know exactly what they're dealing with.

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# I want to build you up

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# Brick by brick

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# I want to break you down

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# Brick by brick... #

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This issue can be resolved by building a brick skin, which

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could cost around £20,000.

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Oh, suddenly the colours inside the house don't seem like an issue.

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As long as the buyer has done their homework

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and is aware of possible constraints around the mortgageability

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of this property and the possible cost of making it mortgageable,

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then all should be well.

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Time to find out if a local property expert thinks this is

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a secret gem or some fool's gold.

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The property is a good size.

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It would certainly appeal, in my opinion, to a young family.

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All the big items of expenditure, in my opinion,

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have all been taken care of.

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I do feel it is ready for a cosmetic overhaul and general tidying up.

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I agree entirely, but what about that non-standard construction?

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It does pose some limitations in terms of resale value.

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Some mortgage lenders are a little bit

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guarded about lending on properties of non-standard construction.

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However, that is easing a little bit more now.

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More lenders are taking a view that they will lend on these properties.

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That's certainly positive.

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What value will she put on this non-traditional house?

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Once renovated, in my opinion,

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the property could resell for somewhere in the region of £95,000.

0:18:080:18:13

And if the property was to be rented?

0:18:130:18:15

In my opinion, the property would let for approximately

0:18:150:18:18

£525 per calendar month.

0:18:180:18:21

So this property already has double glazing,

0:18:220:18:25

central heating, as well as a modern kitchen and bathroom.

0:18:250:18:28

It is of non-traditional construction, don't forget,

0:18:280:18:31

which will always limit its end value.

0:18:310:18:35

Still, as long as the structure remains sound, I think

0:18:350:18:38

it doesn't need too much work to bring it up to standard

0:18:380:18:42

and, as a rental investment, it could provide a decent return.

0:18:420:18:46

Let's find out who that buyer was when we went to auction.

0:18:460:18:49

The guide is 55-plus.

0:18:490:18:50

Who has got 50 to start me and let's get on? £50,000?

0:18:500:18:54

Thank you, 50,000 I've got.

0:18:540:18:57

51 is bid.

0:18:570:18:58

At 51, 52?

0:18:580:19:00

52,000. 53?

0:19:000:19:02

The bidding was very competitive.

0:19:020:19:04

We rejoin the auction at £66,000.

0:19:040:19:08

66.

0:19:080:19:09

500?

0:19:090:19:11

67.

0:19:110:19:13

67,000, is it getting a bit warm?

0:19:140:19:16

Or is it me?

0:19:160:19:18

£67,000.

0:19:180:19:21

500. I thought you might.

0:19:210:19:24

68.

0:19:240:19:25

68, definite?

0:19:250:19:27

67,500, once, twice, third chance...

0:19:270:19:31

It's yours for 67,500. Thank you.

0:19:330:19:35

With a successful bid of 67,500, the house was to be

0:19:370:19:41

developed by Hemi, who has recently become a full-time property manager.

0:19:410:19:45

I caught up with her at her house to find out more.

0:19:470:19:50

-Hemi, congratulations.

-Thank you very much.

0:19:500:19:53

Is this the first one you've ever bought at auction?

0:19:530:19:56

No, I actually bought another one on the same day.

0:19:560:19:59

Yeah, that one's already rented out.

0:19:590:20:02

This is the first big refurb project for the business.

0:20:020:20:07

-Tell me more about the business.

-The business.

0:20:070:20:09

What it is, I'm a property manager.

0:20:090:20:12

I manage buy-to-let residential properties on behalf

0:20:120:20:15

of landlords, clients.

0:20:150:20:17

This one was the first purchased at auction

0:20:170:20:19

that I've done for one of my clients.

0:20:190:20:21

-Is this a fairly new business?

-Yes, it is.

0:20:210:20:24

Within the last 12 months, it's all very "go, go, go",

0:20:240:20:27

considering it's so new.

0:20:270:20:30

I'm already managing, like, a dozen properties, two properties bought...

0:20:300:20:33

No, it's really fun. Really a lot of fun.

0:20:330:20:36

# I'm taking over

0:20:360:20:39

# Now I'm in control

0:20:390:20:42

# And the pressure is on... #

0:20:420:20:44

A dozen properties? Hemi has certainly hit the ground running.

0:20:440:20:48

What does she intend to do with this,

0:20:480:20:50

the business's first big refurb?

0:20:500:20:53

What is your plan - are you going to keep this,

0:20:530:20:56

sell it on or are you going to let it out?

0:20:560:20:58

I think initially it is going to be let out.

0:20:580:21:00

It's a lovely house

0:21:000:21:01

and we know the rental potential around here is quite good.

0:21:010:21:04

We're going to see really what happens next year.

0:21:040:21:07

No-one really knows what's going on in market.

0:21:070:21:09

We're just going to wait and see.

0:21:090:21:12

Tell me a little bit more about your client.

0:21:120:21:14

I manage all his portfolio at the moment.

0:21:140:21:17

When he approached me and said he wanted to expand his portfolio,

0:21:170:21:20

I was the first person he thought of.

0:21:200:21:22

-Lucky for me, he also just happens to be my dad!

-Well!

0:21:220:21:26

So he's going to be doing that, so he's putting a lot of faith in me.

0:21:260:21:29

Do think your dad has helped you springboard

0:21:290:21:32

into this business, really?

0:21:320:21:33

I think it's been more than springboarding,

0:21:330:21:35

it's more inheriting his passion for it.

0:21:350:21:38

The more he talks about it, the more I got interested in it

0:21:380:21:41

and thought, "Yeah, I'm going to give that a go, actually."

0:21:410:21:44

And guess what, Hemi's parents have been on the show before -

0:21:440:21:48

in 2010, in fact.

0:21:480:21:50

Homes Under The Hammer spans generations of property developers.

0:21:500:21:54

Hemi, I've done my research

0:21:540:21:56

and I know this is non-traditional construction.

0:21:560:21:59

That might have put some people off on auction day. Did you know that?

0:21:590:22:03

We were aware of some things about it.

0:22:030:22:06

It was more to do with the fact that we checked all the legal

0:22:060:22:09

documentation before the auction.

0:22:090:22:10

We made sure all the building regs had been in place for all

0:22:100:22:13

the extensions and we were pretty happy with the fact that there

0:22:130:22:16

wasn't actually any structural issues, it was just cosmetic stuff that we needed to do.

0:22:160:22:20

What about the fact it is non-traditional construction,

0:22:200:22:23

it's not built of typical brick, and therefore it's hard to get

0:22:230:22:28

mortgages and, hence that's probably why this was at auction.

0:22:280:22:31

Do you think that might, in the future, be a bit of a hindrance,

0:22:310:22:34

could put some people off?

0:22:340:22:35

To be honest with you, if it does in the future come up as an issue

0:22:350:22:40

and people do say, "OK, there is a problem with mortgages,"

0:22:400:22:43

we will just keep it for rental.

0:22:430:22:44

As Hemi is planning to rent the property,

0:22:440:22:47

the house's construction is not much of an issue but, regardless,

0:22:470:22:51

I'm glad to hear she went in with her eyes open.

0:22:510:22:53

With that concern out of the way,

0:22:530:22:55

Hemi's planning on leaving much of the ground floor as is,

0:22:550:22:59

simply redecorating, which includes mercifully some paint to

0:22:590:23:03

tone down that radical red kitchen.

0:23:030:23:06

What about upstairs?

0:23:060:23:07

The upstairs, to be fair, is actually pretty good.

0:23:100:23:13

There's a few suspect colour choices.

0:23:130:23:16

There's some interesting wood ceilings been put in.

0:23:160:23:20

To be fair, I've actually had a couple of my contractors say

0:23:200:23:23

it could be an interesting feature if we just tidy it up.

0:23:230:23:26

I think we're going to do a bit of that. The bathroom is completely new.

0:23:260:23:30

We just need to install a shower.

0:23:300:23:32

The client, Hemi's dad, has agreed a £5,000 refurbishment budget,

0:23:320:23:37

but what about the timescale?

0:23:370:23:39

At the moment we've estimated between four and six weeks.

0:23:390:23:42

I have to be honest, sometimes I look around and think,

0:23:420:23:46

"I don't need that long." Other times I think, "Actually maybe, maybe."

0:23:460:23:51

We've allowed six weeks, mainly because a couple of the contractors

0:23:510:23:54

I'm speaking to are a little bit busy at the moment.

0:23:540:23:56

So rather than starting when we were looking at, it might be delayed for a week.

0:23:560:24:00

Although the work won't be actually that long, to make sure

0:24:000:24:03

the contractors are all there on time, we've allowed six weeks.

0:24:030:24:05

Hemi, I can't wait to see it once you've freshened it up.

0:24:050:24:08

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

0:24:080:24:10

Well, it's an exciting time for Hemi.

0:24:110:24:13

She has her own property management company

0:24:130:24:16

and her client for this house, her dad.

0:24:160:24:18

She seems very relaxed about this project but will it all

0:24:180:24:22

be as straightforward as it seems when she scratches the surface?

0:24:220:24:25

Don't forget, it is non-traditional construction.

0:24:250:24:29

Join me later in the programme and you can find out how she gets on.

0:24:290:24:33

Coming up, I'm at a property ripe for redevelopment.

0:24:340:24:38

The profit could be anywhere between 1.5 million and 2.5 million.

0:24:380:24:42

Mmm.

0:24:420:24:44

And in Chaddesden, Derby, we find out what Hemi's dad

0:24:460:24:50

makes of his daughter's handiwork in her fledging career.

0:24:500:24:54

Now back to New Houghton and the parish of pleasing Pleasley.

0:24:590:25:03

The village that's partly in Derbyshire

0:25:030:25:05

and partly in Nottinghamshire.

0:25:050:25:07

This three bedroomed mid-terrace was bought at auction

0:25:090:25:11

for £42,000 by Kate and Charlie.

0:25:110:25:15

The family were going to get stuck in together,

0:25:150:25:17

again having previously renovated another property

0:25:170:25:20

bought at the same auction with an uncanny coincidence.

0:25:200:25:24

Both houses have the same street name.

0:25:250:25:27

That has got to be lucky for you.

0:25:270:25:30

-Exactly. It caused us lots of confusion.

-Oh, yes.

0:25:300:25:33

It was meant to be, I think.

0:25:330:25:35

You say it caused confusion.

0:25:350:25:37

Well, unfortunately, the solicitors only decided to convey on one property.

0:25:370:25:41

Oh, no!

0:25:410:25:42

We got to the exchange day and we said, "Where's the other one?"

0:25:420:25:46

They went, "Other one?"

0:25:460:25:48

One month later, we're back.

0:25:490:25:52

Remember that featureless front room

0:25:540:25:56

and the heavily featured fireplace in the back?

0:25:560:25:59

Well, it's all changed.

0:26:030:26:04

Both the downstairs rooms have been freshly painted and decorated

0:26:070:26:10

and the new laminate flooring is practical and bright.

0:26:100:26:13

Extra and repaired kitchen units with new worktops

0:26:150:26:19

and a new colour scheme refreshed the old kitchen.

0:26:190:26:22

Upstairs, the bathroom got a thorough transformation with

0:26:260:26:30

that previously daft position for the combi boiler sorted,

0:26:300:26:34

and a nice, new suite and shower,

0:26:340:26:36

so no more cases of concussion from the combi.

0:26:360:26:40

It's all looking much better.

0:26:400:26:42

Only the bedrooms remain much the same.

0:26:420:26:45

It looks like a sensible refurbishment.

0:26:480:26:50

Much of the original fixtures and fittings

0:26:500:26:53

have been cleaned up and reused.

0:26:530:26:55

What's the story with the latest addition to the family portfolio?

0:26:550:26:59

The main infrastructure of the house was pretty sound,

0:27:000:27:04

apart from the wiring that we've done.

0:27:040:27:06

The carpets upstairs were in good condition, so we've kept those.

0:27:060:27:09

That's about it.

0:27:090:27:11

In the kitchen, we've kept the same units

0:27:110:27:13

but we've moved them around so it makes more sense of the space.

0:27:130:27:17

It's quite small in there.

0:27:170:27:18

We've replaced all the worktops and really given it a coat of paint

0:27:180:27:22

and made it look a lot brighter.

0:27:220:27:24

We've installed a gas cooker and an extractor over it,

0:27:240:27:28

again to make it a little bit more contemporary

0:27:280:27:30

and really make it look a nice, workable kitchen.

0:27:300:27:34

The family have been working round the clock - and still are,

0:27:340:27:37

by the looks of it.

0:27:370:27:38

How has renovating two houses at the same time been?

0:27:380:27:41

Panic! They've both gone well.

0:27:430:27:46

I think, if the opportunity happened again, buying two

0:27:460:27:50

houses at auction at the same time, we would probably do it again.

0:27:500:27:54

They are gluttons for punishment.

0:27:540:27:56

Buying in pairs could mean double trouble

0:27:560:27:59

but they seem to have got through it untroubled. How come?

0:27:590:28:02

The kids have been brilliant.

0:28:050:28:07

They have come in and done all the decorating,

0:28:070:28:11

the cleaning, the tidying.

0:28:110:28:13

They've strimmed the garden.

0:28:130:28:15

The two older boys have painted the outside of the house.

0:28:150:28:18

They've all taken on jobs and tried to do new things, as well.

0:28:180:28:22

It's been a really good learning experience for them.

0:28:220:28:25

The main argument is it's 12 o'clock in the morning

0:28:250:28:28

or 12 o'clock midday,

0:28:280:28:30

it's time to get out of bed, kids.

0:28:300:28:32

Once they're here and working, it's good, lots of tea breaks,

0:28:320:28:36

chocolate biscuits, bacon sandwiches.

0:28:360:28:38

That keeps everybody fed and watered.

0:28:380:28:42

Hence the expression, "bringing home the bacon".

0:28:420:28:46

Did they bring home a healthy budget?

0:28:460:28:48

Initially it was set out at 3,000 to 5,000.

0:28:480:28:52

We've spent just about £6,000 and that is

0:28:520:28:54

because we did replace the boiler.

0:28:540:28:56

We thought that was a good thing to do

0:28:560:28:58

and we also went for a slightly nicer spec on the bath

0:28:580:29:02

and the shower, just because it's a really nice bathroom

0:29:020:29:05

and we wanted to give it a feel of space.

0:29:050:29:08

£6,000 doesn't seem all that bad

0:29:100:29:12

but what will two local estate agents make of the family's efforts?

0:29:120:29:16

I think it's been renovated to a very good standard.

0:29:160:29:19

The three bedrooms is obviously a benefit.

0:29:190:29:22

It's got a good-sized third bedroom.

0:29:220:29:24

The kitchen and bathroom are very modern.

0:29:240:29:27

And the fact it has off-road parking is a bonus as well.

0:29:270:29:31

The standard of finish is right for the market we're going to be

0:29:310:29:35

appealing to.

0:29:350:29:36

It's been done to a high standard

0:29:360:29:38

and you can tell a lot of hard work's gone into it.

0:29:380:29:41

The house was bought for £42,000

0:29:410:29:44

and then has had £6,000 spent on renovation - a total of £48,000.

0:29:440:29:50

If the family wanted to sell, what could it fetch on the open market?

0:29:500:29:55

I feel the property could resale between £65,000 and £70,000.

0:29:550:30:01

If I was to put this property onto the market,

0:30:010:30:03

I'd recommend an asking price of £70,000.

0:30:030:30:08

-At £70,000, that could mean a pre-tax profit of £22,000.

-Wow!

0:30:080:30:12

-That's good.

-That's pleasing.

-That's great.

-That's very pleasing.

0:30:120:30:16

Yeah.

0:30:160:30:17

But of course, Kate and Charlie are going to rent this

0:30:170:30:20

property as part of their portfolio and already have a tenant.

0:30:200:30:24

So, what kind of rent should they have been looking for?

0:30:240:30:27

If this property was to be on the rental market,

0:30:270:30:30

I'd recommend an asking price of £400 per calendar month.

0:30:300:30:34

I feel the property could achieve £425 per calendar month.

0:30:340:30:39

-Got it rented at £425, so that's fair enough.

-That's great.

0:30:390:30:44

£425 per calendar month gives the family a yield of 10%.

0:30:440:30:49

# Bringing home the bacon... #

0:30:490:30:51

Their fourth property is sure to put even more

0:30:510:30:54

pennies in their piggy bank. And what an interest rate.

0:30:540:30:58

But will the kids continue property development when they're older?

0:30:580:31:02

I think I'd need four children to go into property developing cos

0:31:020:31:05

otherwise I don't know how I could afford it.

0:31:050:31:08

Yeah, all the free labour.

0:31:080:31:10

We must have saved Mum and Dad a couple of grand helping out here.

0:31:100:31:13

-On each house.

-On each house, yeah. But the money's good.

0:31:130:31:17

I can see it's a worthwhile investment, so...

0:31:170:31:20

I have lost track of how many times I've visited the Stoke area

0:31:250:31:29

for Homes Under The Hammer.

0:31:290:31:32

But let me tell you, it's a lot!

0:31:320:31:35

And the lot I'm here to see is in Bucknall, which is

0:31:350:31:38

about 1½ miles from Hanley.

0:31:380:31:41

So far, so familiar.

0:31:410:31:44

At this point, you're probably expecting me

0:31:440:31:47

to say I'm off to see some two-bed terrace, or maybe a three-bed semi.

0:31:470:31:52

But no. No, no, no!

0:31:520:31:56

I'm here to see...this - a 43-bedroom former care home,

0:31:560:32:02

sitting on an acre-and-a-half of land.

0:32:020:32:07

So much to see, I don't know where to start.

0:32:070:32:11

On the face of it, it seems like a bargain,

0:32:110:32:15

for a guide price of £200,000.

0:32:150:32:18

Now, clearly we are entering the realms of fairly specialist

0:32:230:32:27

opportunity scenario here,

0:32:270:32:30

but I shall try and inspire you with the options.

0:32:300:32:33

Through what is a temporary door at the moment,

0:32:330:32:37

into what, I guess, was the main community area. It's a big space.

0:32:370:32:40

You kind of get a feeling when you come in here of...

0:32:400:32:43

Well, there's a lot of clearing out to do

0:32:430:32:45

and also the age of the building, and so you've got to be aware

0:32:450:32:48

of some of the building practises of the era in which this was built.

0:32:480:32:52

One thing I'm definitely looking out for is signs of asbestos.

0:32:520:32:56

Other than that, let's just see what we find.

0:32:560:32:59

The building was built in the late '60s, early '70s,

0:32:590:33:04

at a time when asbestos was commonly used as a fire retardant

0:33:040:33:07

and insulation. So, there's a reasonable chance it could be

0:33:070:33:11

hidden behind ceilings or walls.

0:33:110:33:14

So, I'd advise that the building was checked for asbestos.

0:33:140:33:18

Electrics and plumbing probably aren't up to modern standards

0:33:180:33:21

either, so a lot of rooms, but potentially a lot of cost.

0:33:210:33:25

It's quite hard to get a grasp, and even worse,

0:33:250:33:29

trying to explain the kind of layout of this place, but I'll do my best.

0:33:290:33:32

Back there, sort of an industrial kitchen.

0:33:320:33:36

More sort of staff areas, and just...facilities here.

0:33:360:33:40

As you progress down this corridor,

0:33:400:33:42

we're moving towards where the bedrooms are.

0:33:420:33:44

In fact, this is quite useful. A map, a layout of the actual place.

0:33:440:33:49

Here's where I came in. There's that big lounge area there.

0:33:490:33:53

Through here, the kitchen.

0:33:530:33:55

Down here to where I was just a second ago. I'm now at this point.

0:33:550:33:59

You can see the bedrooms spreading out down this long corridor,

0:33:590:34:04

here and down here.

0:34:040:34:05

So, you get an idea - a really extensive building.

0:34:050:34:10

And that starts you thinking about what you could potentially

0:34:100:34:13

use this for.

0:34:130:34:14

That needs to be mulled over, but for now, as I said,

0:34:140:34:17

one long corridor going down that way, let's head this way.

0:34:170:34:21

This place is vast.

0:34:210:34:24

Along with 43 bedrooms, there's washrooms, hair salons,

0:34:240:34:28

six offices, a kitchen/dining area, three sitting rooms,

0:34:280:34:33

and seemingly miles and miles... and miles and miles of corridor!

0:34:330:34:41

Well, this place has certainly got my developer's mind racing.

0:34:470:34:51

So, let's just look at the options.

0:34:510:34:53

First of all, you could leave it pretty much as it is.

0:34:530:34:56

Obviously, you'd have to spend a bit of money doing it up, but converting

0:34:560:35:00

it back into a care home or some kind of residential care facility.

0:35:000:35:04

That's number one.

0:35:040:35:06

Number two, you could think about keeping the existing building

0:35:060:35:09

but putting it to alternative uses.

0:35:090:35:12

Thirdly, what about the option of developing it?

0:35:120:35:15

I've been going through

0:35:150:35:17

some kind of back-of-an-envelope calculation in my head

0:35:170:35:20

and I reckon as an average in the UK at the moment,

0:35:200:35:24

between 12 and 17 houses per acre, ballpark,

0:35:240:35:27

so you've got an acre-and-a-half,

0:35:270:35:30

so that's between 18 and, say, 25 houses on here.

0:35:300:35:34

Let's say each of those houses would be worth £150,000

0:35:340:35:39

and let's say each of them cost around about £50,000 to build.

0:35:390:35:44

Take off the cost of buying the land, social housing you might

0:35:440:35:48

have to build, putting in utilities, general bits and pieces,

0:35:480:35:51

architects' fees, blah, blah, blah...

0:35:510:35:54

I reckon, ballpark, if you built houses on here, the

0:35:540:35:57

profit could be anywhere between £1.5 million and £2.5 million.

0:35:570:36:01

Mm...

0:36:010:36:04

Numbers like that are eye-watering.

0:36:040:36:06

But there's an awful lot of hoops to jump through before you'd

0:36:060:36:10

get to see any returns.

0:36:100:36:12

You might not get planning consent, for a start, and then what

0:36:120:36:16

you've got is a big building that might be hard to do anything with.

0:36:160:36:20

So this investment wouldn't be without its risks.

0:36:200:36:23

What does a commercial property agent think is the best

0:36:230:36:26

use of this former care home?

0:36:260:36:28

My opinion would be that whoever subsequently buys this property

0:36:280:36:31

continues to use it on an existing use basis.

0:36:310:36:35

That will obviously require a lot of refurbishment and investment,

0:36:350:36:38

but in doing so, the existing Planning (Use Classes) Order will not

0:36:380:36:44

need to be adjusted, which obviously makes life a lot more simple.

0:36:440:36:48

Simpler, indeed, but could there be any money in it?

0:36:480:36:52

It is a tricky property to value as a completed project

0:36:520:36:56

because the value of the care home largely depends on the revenue

0:36:560:37:00

it produces once it's fully occupied.

0:37:000:37:02

But knowing what we do about the size of the property

0:37:020:37:05

and the revenue it's likely to generate,

0:37:050:37:07

I would estimate that the value completed and fully

0:37:070:37:11

occupied will be somewhere in the order of approximately £1 million.

0:37:110:37:15

So, what do you think?

0:37:170:37:20

A tantalising opportunity,

0:37:200:37:22

or a project that's just too big to even think about?

0:37:220:37:26

Depends who bought it, I guess.

0:37:260:37:27

Let's find out who that was, when it went under the hammer.

0:37:270:37:31

Lot number six is a former residential care home.

0:37:340:37:37

Has onsite parking, with gardens. Kitchens and lounge.

0:37:370:37:41

Site area of 1.5 acres. So, lot six.

0:37:410:37:45

170, going to say? 170, bidding?

0:37:450:37:48

Yep. £170,000. Standing left.

0:37:480:37:50

At £170,000. Looking for 175 now.

0:37:500:37:54

At 175. At 175.

0:37:540:37:58

180, right at the back.

0:37:580:38:00

At 180. 185? 185.

0:38:000:38:04

Maybe not surprisingly, this was a popular lot,

0:38:040:38:07

and we rejoin the bidding at £350,000.

0:38:070:38:11

350.

0:38:110:38:14

355.

0:38:140:38:15

360.

0:38:150:38:17

365.

0:38:170:38:19

370.

0:38:190:38:21

375.

0:38:210:38:23

Shaking his head. 375.

0:38:230:38:25

Bid's seated, right.

0:38:250:38:27

At £375,000.

0:38:270:38:29

Bid is seated, right. At £375,000, then, for the first time...

0:38:290:38:36

At £375,000 for the second time...

0:38:360:38:39

Third and final time, at £375,000...

0:38:390:38:44

You've bought it, sir. Well done.

0:38:440:38:46

And so, for £175,000 over the guide price, at £375,000,

0:38:460:38:52

the new owners of the former care home in Hanley

0:38:520:38:56

are father-and-son team Bill and Phil.

0:38:560:38:59

I met them back at their new purchase to find out what

0:39:000:39:04

they hoped to do with this extensive building.

0:39:040:39:08

-Bill, Phil, great to meet you both.

-And you.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

0:39:080:39:13

Why have you bought this place?

0:39:130:39:14

It's a good business proposition.

0:39:140:39:18

Tell me more about the business proposition.

0:39:180:39:20

Well, we're going to convert it back to its old self.

0:39:200:39:23

Right, so, old self being a care home.

0:39:230:39:27

It'll be a care home with particular interest to those who have

0:39:270:39:31

got dementia and Alzheimer's.

0:39:310:39:34

OK. A very worthwhile project, then.

0:39:340:39:36

Tell me more about your involvement in this sphere.

0:39:360:39:39

We've been involved in it for 26 years.

0:39:390:39:44

We now have five and this will be our sixth.

0:39:440:39:47

And we're hoping that this will be a success,

0:39:470:39:50

as the others have been as well.

0:39:500:39:53

Right. How much demand is there for what you're providing?

0:39:530:39:56

We have looked into it quite a bit

0:39:560:39:58

and there is quite a lot of demand in the area.

0:39:580:40:01

Residents won't like to travel too far from where they're

0:40:010:40:05

normally based.

0:40:050:40:06

But there is a lot of demand.

0:40:060:40:08

'Bill is chairman of the care home company.

0:40:080:40:12

'It is a very highly regulated sector that involves

0:40:120:40:16

'a thorough knowledge of working practises,

0:40:160:40:20

'but for Bill, it wasn't his first career.'

0:40:200:40:23

So, how did your business start? Is this what your background is?

0:40:230:40:27

No, I started off in the entertainment business.

0:40:270:40:30

-What kind of thing?

-Discotheques.

0:40:300:40:33

I opened the first discotheque in the country in Hanley,

0:40:330:40:38

more or less 50 years ago this month, called The Place.

0:40:380:40:43

-1963.

-1963.

0:40:430:40:46

-And that was the first disco?

-It was the first disco in the country, yes.

0:40:460:40:50

So, what kind of music were you playing at the time?

0:40:500:40:53

-I suppose stuff of the era.

-The Beatles, Rolling Stones...

-Right.

0:40:530:40:56

You had a lot of live bands, though, too.

0:40:560:40:59

-Oh, we had a lot of live bands, yes.

-Like?

0:40:590:41:01

Well, there was Elton John, Rod Stewart, Drifters,

0:41:010:41:06

Four Tops... The Supremes, Martha Reeves And The Vandellas...

0:41:060:41:12

-All the Motown acts.

-Wow! And they were all playing in Hanley!

0:41:120:41:15

-They were all playing in Hanley, yes.

-In your disco.

-Yes.

0:41:150:41:18

So, how did that lead into what you do now?

0:41:180:41:21

I had a chap who was working for me

0:41:210:41:23

who suggested that I carry out a development on a house

0:41:230:41:28

and he felt that it would make a good nursing home,

0:41:280:41:33

-convert it into a nursing home.

-Right.

0:41:330:41:36

And I said, "I know nothing about nursing homes."

0:41:360:41:39

He said, "My fiancee's a nurse and it seems like a good prospect

0:41:390:41:43

-"and there's a great demand for nursing homes."

-Right.

0:41:430:41:46

So I looked into it and this is where we went from there.

0:41:460:41:50

-26 years ago.

-Yes.

0:41:500:41:52

So, in order to convert it to what you want it to be,

0:41:520:41:55

-what are you going to have to do?

-A lot of the rooms aren't large enough.

0:41:550:41:58

They've come at about nine square metres.

0:41:580:42:01

We have to make them a minimum of 12 square metres, which means combining

0:42:010:42:05

a lot, or the majority, of the rooms together, to make usable rooms.

0:42:050:42:09

So, how many rooms will there end up being?

0:42:090:42:12

-There will be 42 bedrooms.

-42 bedrooms.

0:42:120:42:14

-Does that mean 42 residents here?

-Yes, up to. A maximum of.

-Yes.

0:42:140:42:19

Are you going to do anything to sort of make your care home

0:42:190:42:22

-stand out?

-Well, we have speakers throughout the corridors,

0:42:220:42:26

playing soothing music...

0:42:260:42:27

-Oh, great.

-Maybe music of the era as well.

-Oh!

0:42:270:42:30

We might have a sensory area,

0:42:300:42:33

or a sensory room we might put in to the premises.

0:42:330:42:35

-Nostalgia, reminiscence.

-Reminiscence.

0:42:350:42:39

We'll have a sensory garden as well,

0:42:390:42:41

which will be a secure sensory garden.

0:42:410:42:43

What do you mean by sensory garden?

0:42:430:42:45

So the residents are able to sit down, relax, have...

0:42:450:42:49

Things that will heighten their senses.

0:42:490:42:52

So smells, visual things, so from floral plants to fruit plants

0:42:520:42:58

and fruit trees as well.

0:42:580:43:01

-That type of thing.

-Sounds like an expensive project.

-Slightly.

0:43:010:43:06

How much is it going to cost to get this place up and running?

0:43:060:43:09

Well, we reckon about £550,000 to £600,000 and we expect it's

0:43:090:43:15

going to take seven to eight months to complete the building works.

0:43:150:43:20

-Well, congratulations.

-Thank you.

0:43:200:43:22

-Good luck with it.

-Thank you.

-Pleasure.

-Thank you.

-All the best.

0:43:220:43:26

Thank you.

0:43:260:43:28

So, father-and-son team Bill and Phil taking on, well,

0:43:280:43:33

an ambitious project by anybody's standards.

0:43:330:43:36

However, they've got the experience to make it a success.

0:43:360:43:40

How will they get on providing a very valuable service for the area?

0:43:400:43:44

Let's find out later in the show.

0:43:440:43:46

We've seen how our first buyer got on, now what about the others?

0:43:480:43:52

Let's see if everything went as it should have.

0:43:520:43:55

Back now to Chaddesden, Derbyshire, where earlier I saw a three-bedroom

0:44:000:44:04

semidetached house which was bought for £67,500 to be

0:44:040:44:10

developed by Hemi, a property manager.

0:44:100:44:12

She has only recently gone into property management

0:44:120:44:15

and this was to be her first full-house refurbishment

0:44:150:44:20

for a rather special client.

0:44:200:44:22

Tell me a little bit more about your client.

0:44:220:44:25

Well, I manage all his portfolio at the moment,

0:44:250:44:28

so when he approached me and said he wanted to expand his portfolio,

0:44:280:44:31

I was the first person he thought of.

0:44:310:44:34

-Lucky for me, he also just happens to be my dad.

-Wow!

0:44:340:44:37

So, he's going to be doing that, so he's putting a lot of faith in me.

0:44:370:44:40

Do you think your dad has helped you sort of springboard into this

0:44:400:44:43

-business, really?

-I think it's been more than springboarding.

0:44:430:44:46

It's more sort of inheriting his passion for it.

0:44:460:44:49

The more he talked about it, the more I got interested in it

0:44:490:44:52

and thought, "Yeah, I'm going to give that a go, actually."

0:44:520:44:55

I think it's fair to say the house had a rather unconventional

0:44:550:44:59

palette of colours throughout.

0:44:590:45:01

# Green is the colour of the sparkling calm in the morning

0:45:030:45:08

# When we rise

0:45:080:45:11

# In the morning, when we rise

0:45:120:45:15

# That's the time, that's the time

0:45:160:45:20

# I love the best... #

0:45:200:45:22

So, you've got £5,000. Yes. How long have you got to do this up?

0:45:220:45:27

At the moment, we've estimated between four and six weeks.

0:45:270:45:31

I have to be honest, sometimes I look around and think, "I don't need

0:45:310:45:35

"that long," and other times I think, "Well, actually, maybe, maybe..."

0:45:350:45:40

So, time to see if Hemi was right,

0:45:400:45:42

as we return eight weeks after our first visit.

0:45:420:45:46

Let's start by looking at the changes in the multicoloured

0:45:460:45:49

kitchen.

0:45:490:45:51

# So open your eyes and see

0:45:510:45:57

# The way our horizons meet

0:45:570:46:01

# And all the lights will lead

0:46:030:46:08

# Into the night with me... #

0:46:090:46:14

The once tired utility has been spruced up with a new paint

0:46:160:46:22

scheme and worktops.

0:46:220:46:24

The downstairs loo is now fully operational.

0:46:240:46:28

# All of these stars will guide us home... #

0:46:290:46:36

Back at the front of the house, the lounge has a new vista,

0:46:360:46:41

thanks to some hard landscaping.

0:46:410:46:43

Upstairs, the once orange box room has had a bright face-lift.

0:46:530:46:58

Lime green lovers need not apply any more,

0:47:090:47:14

as the neutral tones continue in this bedroom too.

0:47:140:47:17

The final bedroom had wall-to-wall bold wallpaper

0:47:200:47:24

and a dark imposing ceiling. Not any more.

0:47:240:47:27

# So open your eyes and see... #

0:47:290:47:35

Now, there's just wallpaper on one feature wall. Much calmer.

0:47:350:47:38

The bathroom is pretty much as was.

0:47:420:47:45

And finally, let's take a look around the outside,

0:47:500:47:53

where things are so much tidier.

0:47:530:47:55

Apart from the unsightly skip, which is going soon.

0:47:570:48:01

Quite a change, thanks to Hemi's hard work.

0:48:030:48:07

Did all go as planned?

0:48:070:48:08

I think really most of the work was expected.

0:48:100:48:13

There was a couple of little bits and pieces,

0:48:130:48:15

like when we did take off the wallpaper, all the plaster

0:48:150:48:18

came off the walls, so unfortunately we had to re-plaster all of that.

0:48:180:48:22

There was a lot of garden waste, so we ended up having to hire a skip.

0:48:220:48:27

And there was a couple of minor issues with the boiler,

0:48:270:48:30

where we ended up having to do some repairs and what have you.

0:48:300:48:34

But really speaking, I think

0:48:340:48:36

we've been quite lucky in that there haven't been any major expenditures.

0:48:360:48:41

Nothing significantly over budget. So that went quite well.

0:48:410:48:45

-How did the budget end up?

-So, the original budget was £5,000.

0:48:450:48:49

We managed to get it in to £5,155.

0:48:490:48:53

£155 over! Well, I always say, keep a contingency fund.

0:48:530:48:58

What about timescale?

0:48:580:49:00

It did take pretty much bang on the four to six weeks.

0:49:000:49:03

I did have some allowance in that timeframe to allow for any contracts

0:49:030:49:07

and scheduling issues and that kind of thing, but we did manage to finish

0:49:070:49:11

on deadline and within the timeframe we imagined, so that was quite good.

0:49:110:49:16

Hemi's dad has ruled out selling in the immediate future,

0:49:160:49:20

so to find out what his daughter's work is worth on the rental

0:49:200:49:23

market, we've invited two local property experts for their opinions.

0:49:230:49:28

I've had a good look round the property.

0:49:280:49:32

it's a very basic finish to the property, but ready to go.

0:49:320:49:37

The finish is fine.

0:49:370:49:39

It's perfectly adequate for particularly the rental market.

0:49:390:49:44

With a total outlay of just over £72,500,

0:49:440:49:48

what sort of return can he expect?

0:49:480:49:51

And we may as well get the sale valuations too,

0:49:510:49:53

just to find out if he would have made a profit.

0:49:530:49:57

The resale value of the property would be up to around £85,000

0:49:570:50:01

and the rental value would be up to £525 per calendar month.

0:50:010:50:06

I would anticipate the property reselling for somewhere

0:50:060:50:09

in the region of £85,000 and renting between £500

0:50:090:50:14

and £525 per calendar month.

0:50:140:50:16

That's a potential profit of £12,400, minus the usual taxes

0:50:160:50:22

and expenses. And taking the highest rental figure, nearly a 9% yield.

0:50:220:50:28

So, how do those figures stack up for Hemi and her client?

0:50:280:50:32

I think that's a little bit lower than the research that I've done.

0:50:320:50:36

I did do a lot of research before I recommended it to my client.

0:50:360:50:40

So the rental income that I'm expecting is around the £650,

0:50:400:50:46

if we're lucky, a bit more, towards £700.

0:50:460:50:48

It has been advertised at that level and I've had enquiries,

0:50:480:50:51

so that's why I'm managing it myself, really!

0:50:510:50:55

-So we'll see what return we get.

-I agree.

0:50:550:50:58

The market here, the research that we've done seems that we

0:50:580:51:02

might be able to achieve more like the £600-700.

0:51:020:51:07

Well, they say the client is always right,

0:51:070:51:10

and so it was with Hemi's dad.

0:51:100:51:12

His prediction of renting for £600 per calendar month came true

0:51:120:51:16

just after filming.

0:51:160:51:18

Something tells me it's not just a case of first time lucky

0:51:180:51:22

for Hemi's refurbishment future.

0:51:220:51:24

It was just a few miles from Stoke-on-Trent,

0:51:290:51:32

in the area of Bucknall where we first came across an auction

0:51:320:51:36

lot with loads of rooms, loads of space, and loads of possibilities.

0:51:360:51:41

A bit different to your average two-up, two-down -

0:51:410:51:45

a substantial former care home.

0:51:450:51:47

It's not often that you see properties like this going

0:51:470:51:50

under the hammer, needing a specialist purchaser.

0:51:500:51:53

Step forward father-and-son team Bill and Phil,

0:51:530:51:57

who, along with Phil's brother Will, bought it for £375,000.

0:51:570:52:03

And they knew exactly what to do with it.

0:52:030:52:07

Why have you bought this place?

0:52:070:52:09

-Well, we're going to convert it back to its old self.

-Right.

0:52:090:52:14

Old self being a care home.

0:52:140:52:16

It'll be a care home with particular interest to those who have

0:52:160:52:20

got dementia and Alzheimer's.

0:52:200:52:23

Many years ago, Bill ran a disco called The Place,

0:52:230:52:26

before his career change into care homes,

0:52:260:52:30

which he's now been specialising in for a quarter of a century.

0:52:300:52:34

Tell me more about your involvement in this sphere.

0:52:340:52:38

We've been involved in it for 26 years.

0:52:380:52:42

We now have five and this will be our sixth.

0:52:420:52:46

And we're hoping that this will be a success,

0:52:460:52:49

as the others have been as well.

0:52:490:52:51

Right. So how much demand is there, Phil, for what you're providing?

0:52:510:52:55

We have looked into it quite a bit.

0:52:550:52:57

There is quite a lot of demand in the area.

0:52:570:53:00

Residents won't like to travel too far from where they're

0:53:000:53:04

normally based, but there is a lot of demand.

0:53:040:53:07

The refurbishment will be an extensive one.

0:53:070:53:10

Bedrooms are required to be bigger than they were back in the day,

0:53:100:53:14

so some rooms were to be combined and reconfigured.

0:53:140:53:18

And they will be applying for planning permission to

0:53:180:53:21

extend the facility,

0:53:210:53:22

all in accordance with the Care Home Quality Commission's guidelines.

0:53:220:53:27

19 months later and we're back to check on progress.

0:53:270:53:32

OK, so not quite ready yet,

0:53:380:53:40

but with another care home refurbishment taking priority,

0:53:400:53:43

this refurbishment project was put on the back burner

0:53:430:53:46

and it's only in the last year the work has properly started here.

0:53:460:53:50

With Bill away in America, it was down to his son, Phil, to update us.

0:53:520:53:57

In this entrance area, we're going to have a cafe.

0:53:570:54:00

we're going to knock through the front area there, have a

0:54:000:54:03

bar with a coffee shop, with maybe even an "Other Place" coffee shop,

0:54:030:54:07

which will be nice. We're going to have seating through here,

0:54:070:54:10

maybe windows into the dining area over there.

0:54:100:54:14

And on the left here, we're looking at having an old sweet shop,

0:54:140:54:17

which should be really nice.

0:54:170:54:19

# Sweet, sweet memories you gave me

0:54:190:54:22

# You can't beat the memories you gave me... #

0:54:220:54:25

The home will have the latest in modern technology, like wi-fi,

0:54:250:54:29

but there will also be a focus on various reminiscence tools,

0:54:290:54:33

like visual images and music from the past, and even smell,

0:54:330:54:37

as these have been proved to help people living with dementia.

0:54:370:54:41

Looking at putting a sensory garden in,

0:54:430:54:45

which we're looking at putting some old-fashioned sensory items in,

0:54:450:54:49

such as a phone box and a bus stop, and we'll have raised flower beds

0:54:490:54:54

and it'll be a nice secure area for them to go into.

0:54:540:54:58

# Something old, something new

0:54:580:55:02

# Something borrowed, something blue

0:55:020:55:08

# I've still got memories to cherish... #

0:55:080:55:13

The Italian poet Cesare Pavese once said,

0:55:130:55:16

"We don't remember days, we remember moments."

0:55:160:55:19

And that's what Phil hopes the surroundings here will stimulate,

0:55:190:55:24

but how many residents will this building cater for once completed?

0:55:240:55:28

When the care home is complete, in about five or six months,

0:55:300:55:34

we hope, we're looking to have 47 bedrooms,

0:55:340:55:37

of which we'll have about four or five en-suites,

0:55:370:55:41

and we're looking at putting a large living area in with an extension,

0:55:410:55:46

and that's going in any minute now.

0:55:460:55:49

This is clearly a large project, and with an extension,

0:55:490:55:52

it's going to get bigger. What's it all going to cost?

0:55:520:55:56

So far, we've spent about £200,000 on the project

0:55:560:56:01

and we have another £500,000 to spend on the project.

0:56:010:56:06

We will look in total at spending about £1 million.

0:56:060:56:13

That £1 million includes the £375,000 it cost to purchase

0:56:130:56:18

the building at the auction.

0:56:180:56:20

So, they may end up slightly exceeding

0:56:200:56:23

their hoped-for £500,000 to £600,000 budget.

0:56:230:56:27

But will it be money well spent?

0:56:270:56:29

What does a commercial property expert think?

0:56:290:56:32

There's a lot of work that's been done over

0:56:320:56:34

the course of the last few months.

0:56:340:56:37

Some rooms have been altered and rearranged.

0:56:370:56:39

I understand there's a plan for an extension to be

0:56:390:56:41

added to the property.

0:56:410:56:43

Whilst there is still quite a lot of work that needs to be done,

0:56:430:56:46

what's been done looks to be done to a good standard, so I expect

0:56:460:56:49

they'll end up with a nice quality care home when it's all finished.

0:56:490:56:52

Phil and his dad Bill, along with his brother Will,

0:56:520:56:55

expect to have invested £1 million to get the care home up

0:56:550:56:59

and running, but what kind of value could the end product be worth?

0:56:590:57:03

Once this care home is finished,

0:57:030:57:05

I understand it's going to be converted into a 47-bedroom home,

0:57:050:57:09

the value will range from somewhere between £20,000 to £25,000 per

0:57:090:57:15

room, which will give us a range of values of somewhere

0:57:150:57:17

between £1 million to £1.2 million.

0:57:170:57:21

I think that the value of £1 million to £1.2 million

0:57:210:57:25

is on the low side, really.

0:57:250:57:27

We see it being valued more along the lines of £2 million

0:57:270:57:32

when it's full and operating.

0:57:320:57:34

I guess, as they say, only time will tell what the finished building

0:57:340:57:37

and the site will be worth.

0:57:370:57:40

But for Phil and his family, the business is

0:57:400:57:42

just as much about running the care homes as it is refurbishing them.

0:57:420:57:46

How do the family manage to work

0:57:460:57:49

so closely on such a big, expensive project without friction?

0:57:490:57:53

You've always got your problems working with your family

0:57:530:57:56

members, as I'm sure many family businesses would agree.

0:57:560:57:59

We cover different areas, so there is a little bit of overlap

0:57:590:58:03

but not much massive overlap, so it's working well as a team.

0:58:030:58:06

So, join us next time for more stories behind those auction

0:58:090:58:12

-properties.

-Yes, here on Homes Under The Hammer.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

0:58:120:58:16

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