Episode 11

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0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to the show!

0:00:03 > 0:00:05Whether you're buying property as a place to live in

0:00:05 > 0:00:07or as an investment, you still need to know what you're doing.

0:00:07 > 0:00:09And with a fluctuating property market,

0:00:09 > 0:00:12it's quite difficult to spot those bargains.

0:00:12 > 0:00:14But a good place to start is an auction.

0:00:40 > 0:00:42Well, literally thousands of properties are sold at auction

0:00:42 > 0:00:45but the good news is it's not a long drawn-out process.

0:00:45 > 0:00:48The hammer goes down and a few weeks later, you've got the keys

0:00:48 > 0:00:51- to your property.- But, of course, it's not as easy as that.

0:00:51 > 0:00:53It is hard work.

0:00:53 > 0:00:55Let's see what the bidders on today's show decided

0:00:55 > 0:00:57to spend their hard-earned cash on.

0:00:58 > 0:01:02First up, in Plumstead, London, right property, wrong time?

0:01:02 > 0:01:04I'm not sure you'll leave this property.

0:01:04 > 0:01:06We're going to buy exactly the same house in 20 years.

0:01:06 > 0:01:08LAUGHTER

0:01:08 > 0:01:12Whilst in Mickleover, Derby, there'll be no risk of broken nails.

0:01:12 > 0:01:14- So, you don't want to have any involvement?- No.

0:01:14 > 0:01:16No, look at them nails, they're not geared for that.

0:01:18 > 0:01:22And in Chatham, Kent, best-laid plans hit a snag.

0:01:22 > 0:01:24This was our problem.

0:01:24 > 0:01:27Flint. And there was loads of it, as you can see behind me.

0:01:29 > 0:01:31All these properties have been sold at auction.

0:01:31 > 0:01:34We'll find out who bought them and what they paid for them

0:01:34 > 0:01:36when they went under the hammer.

0:01:36 > 0:01:37Sold, 295.

0:01:40 > 0:01:42This is Plumstead,

0:01:42 > 0:01:46an area of south-east London in the Borough of Greenwich.

0:01:46 > 0:01:49Plumstead originally expanded rapidly in the 1880s

0:01:49 > 0:01:53with houses developed for those working at the Royal Arsenal.

0:01:56 > 0:01:58But does the capital's continuing housing boom

0:01:58 > 0:02:00resonate in these parts?

0:02:02 > 0:02:05I think I'd better go and check out what's on offer here.

0:02:05 > 0:02:09# And I'm on my way... #

0:02:09 > 0:02:14On this lovely kept street, I'm here to see a four-bed mid-terrace

0:02:14 > 0:02:16property with three reception rooms

0:02:16 > 0:02:19and a guide price of £250,000.

0:02:20 > 0:02:24Now, it's got a small front garden but I do like that brickwork

0:02:24 > 0:02:27up there, incredibly pretty brickwork, there.

0:02:27 > 0:02:28Bit of TLC on the front of this house

0:02:28 > 0:02:30and it could be a very pretty property.

0:02:32 > 0:02:34I'm just hoping there are more glimpses

0:02:34 > 0:02:35of these Victorian features inside.

0:02:39 > 0:02:41Right. Lovely hall space in here.

0:02:41 > 0:02:43And that ceiling has hit me straight away.

0:02:43 > 0:02:45Lovely detail on the top, there.

0:02:47 > 0:02:49Even longer hallway down to the kitchen in here.

0:02:49 > 0:02:51Look at the space in here!

0:02:51 > 0:02:54Look at this incredible room that would have been two rooms,

0:02:54 > 0:02:57there would have been a wall here at some stage.

0:02:57 > 0:03:00But what has caught my eye is this damage over here.

0:03:00 > 0:03:02Extensive wall damage here, brickwork,

0:03:02 > 0:03:05it's gone straight through to the brickwork. Plaster's away.

0:03:05 > 0:03:08I don't think it would have been the weight of the television,

0:03:08 > 0:03:10judging by the size of this stand.

0:03:10 > 0:03:12Get that sorted, get it checked out, as soon as possible.

0:03:15 > 0:03:17So, there's clearly an issue with damp here.

0:03:19 > 0:03:23But all around, there are some fantastic original features.

0:03:23 > 0:03:25Beautiful coving,

0:03:25 > 0:03:26ceiling roses

0:03:26 > 0:03:29and that bay window. I love it.

0:03:30 > 0:03:33What I'm not loving so much are the fireplaces which,

0:03:33 > 0:03:35though more modern than the other features,

0:03:35 > 0:03:37haven't aged nearly as well.

0:03:38 > 0:03:39They're definitely not keepers!

0:03:42 > 0:03:45This'll be the third reception room, dining room,

0:03:45 > 0:03:47next-door to the kitchen.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50Nice big space again. Nice high ceiling.

0:03:51 > 0:03:55Kitchen could do with a bit of an overhaul.

0:03:55 > 0:03:56Take the whole kitchen out, start again.

0:03:56 > 0:03:58Something nice and bright there

0:03:58 > 0:04:01cos there's only a small window going out to the garden.

0:04:02 > 0:04:05I'd be very inclined to take this wall out,

0:04:05 > 0:04:08have a nice dining room/kitchen as one.

0:04:08 > 0:04:12And there is a false ceiling here, a panelled ceiling.

0:04:12 > 0:04:14If you were to take that out, go back to the original height

0:04:14 > 0:04:18of the ceiling, the ceilings would match up, both sides,

0:04:18 > 0:04:21and you'd have a really, really nice dining room/kitchen area.

0:04:21 > 0:04:25It's the real lack of light that's the problem here.

0:04:25 > 0:04:27The old, dark, wooden kitchen cabinets

0:04:27 > 0:04:29aren't doing the space any favours, either.

0:04:29 > 0:04:33So, strip it all out, open up the kitchen, lift that ceiling,

0:04:33 > 0:04:37get some nice lighting in here and the whole area would be transformed.

0:04:37 > 0:04:40# Come on and make it

0:04:42 > 0:04:45# Come on and make it

0:04:45 > 0:04:49# Just better. #

0:04:49 > 0:04:51And there's a similar story upstairs,

0:04:51 > 0:04:55with a toilet and separate bathroom which would also benefit

0:04:55 > 0:04:57from removing that wall between them.

0:04:57 > 0:05:00Bigger is better, in my opinion.

0:05:00 > 0:05:02And then there's the bedrooms.

0:05:02 > 0:05:03This is one of the four bedrooms,

0:05:03 > 0:05:05the bedroom at the front of the house.

0:05:05 > 0:05:07It's a nice size and next-door to this bedroom,

0:05:07 > 0:05:10you've got a little boxroom here, as well. But having...

0:05:10 > 0:05:12- KNOCKING - ..listened to that wall,

0:05:12 > 0:05:15which is completely false, and there's another false wall

0:05:15 > 0:05:17just here, again, it's false.

0:05:17 > 0:05:21So, I'd be inclined, if you want to make this into a family home,

0:05:21 > 0:05:24to knock that through, have a nice bedroom here

0:05:24 > 0:05:25with an en-suite bathroom there.

0:05:25 > 0:05:29I think in a big family home one toilet, one bathroom,

0:05:29 > 0:05:33just isn't big enough. Make this one into a nice big master bedroom.

0:05:33 > 0:05:34But you've got to remember,

0:05:34 > 0:05:37if you want it for rent or you want it for resale,

0:05:37 > 0:05:40you're going to lose a bedroom, so it might affect your income

0:05:40 > 0:05:44when it comes to monthly payments or a sale at the end of the day.

0:05:44 > 0:05:46So, think first before you do any work.

0:05:47 > 0:05:48Generally, the more bedrooms you have,

0:05:48 > 0:05:51the better the rental or resale return.

0:05:51 > 0:05:54But in terms of making this a more balanced house to live in,

0:05:54 > 0:05:58I think this property would definitely benefit from making

0:05:58 > 0:05:59the master bedroom an en-suite.

0:06:00 > 0:06:06# Come on and make it Just better... #

0:06:06 > 0:06:09Another area which could certainly be better is outside.

0:06:09 > 0:06:10# So much better. #

0:06:10 > 0:06:12This could be a lovely family back garden.

0:06:12 > 0:06:15You can't see it at the moment cos it's full of greenery

0:06:15 > 0:06:17but it's on two or three levels.

0:06:17 > 0:06:20If you could get the levels as one, get rid of all this mess,

0:06:20 > 0:06:22put some grass down,

0:06:22 > 0:06:26it could be a lovely family back garden for kids to play out.

0:06:26 > 0:06:28Even trim back some of the trees, if there's no orders on the trees,

0:06:28 > 0:06:31trim them back, bring a bit more light in.

0:06:31 > 0:06:34I've got to show you one thing as we go in, I did notice this just on

0:06:34 > 0:06:37the way out through the back garden. There seems to be a significant

0:06:37 > 0:06:41crack that's going from the window all the way to the guttering.

0:06:41 > 0:06:45Now, it can lead to subsidence or, already has subsidence,

0:06:45 > 0:06:49but, in this situation, get it checked out as soon as possible.

0:06:49 > 0:06:51It's the best way to look after things like that.

0:06:51 > 0:06:54These types of cracks really need expert appraisal.

0:06:54 > 0:06:57It could be something simple like a collapsed drain

0:06:57 > 0:06:59or it could be something more sinister.

0:06:59 > 0:07:01Either way, better get it checked out.

0:07:01 > 0:07:03And while you're at it,

0:07:03 > 0:07:06there are those signs of damp to be assessed, too.

0:07:06 > 0:07:09But I can't help thinking that lurking beneath that shabby,

0:07:09 > 0:07:13dated decor there's a house that has a lot offer.

0:07:19 > 0:07:21But what does a local estate agent make of the property?

0:07:24 > 0:07:26My first impressions of the property

0:07:26 > 0:07:28is it's got so much potential.

0:07:28 > 0:07:31It's nice that it's still got some original features, as well,

0:07:31 > 0:07:33with the coving in the lounge

0:07:33 > 0:07:36and that is quite unusual cos a lot of people do get rid of them.

0:07:36 > 0:07:40The main areas of concern is there's a crack to the rear of the property

0:07:40 > 0:07:43and also the roof does look like it needs repairing.

0:07:43 > 0:07:46And the general, sort of, the kitchen, the bathroom,

0:07:46 > 0:07:48looks like it could do with some updating, as well.

0:07:48 > 0:07:52Yep, there's no doubting this needs a full-scale refurbishment.

0:07:52 > 0:07:55But what about the numbers on a house that has been

0:07:55 > 0:07:57guided at auction for £250,000?

0:07:59 > 0:08:02Once the property's fully refurbished, I would expect the price

0:08:02 > 0:08:06to achieve £420,000

0:08:06 > 0:08:09and the rental value to be £1,400 per calendar month.

0:08:09 > 0:08:13Well, there may be a fair amount to do here but there's a fair amount

0:08:13 > 0:08:16of reward to be had, both on the resale and the rental market.

0:08:19 > 0:08:22Let's see who wanted to take it on when it went under the hammer.

0:08:25 > 0:08:27So, move on to Lot 44.

0:08:27 > 0:08:30Four-bed mid-terrace house.

0:08:31 > 0:08:33I don't know, 250?

0:08:33 > 0:08:34250 with you.

0:08:34 > 0:08:36255 anywhere?

0:08:37 > 0:08:39251?

0:08:39 > 0:08:42251, 252, 253,

0:08:42 > 0:08:45254, 255...

0:08:46 > 0:08:48..256, 257...

0:08:49 > 0:08:51..258...

0:08:51 > 0:08:55So, there was a lot of interest in the Victorian four-bed house

0:08:55 > 0:08:57and we rejoin the bidding at £300,000.

0:08:59 > 0:09:00300.

0:09:01 > 0:09:04301, 302, 303?

0:09:05 > 0:09:08303, 304, 305?

0:09:09 > 0:09:13305, 306, 307?

0:09:14 > 0:09:17306, first time,

0:09:17 > 0:09:19second time,

0:09:19 > 0:09:20third and last time, if you're all done.

0:09:22 > 0:09:24Sold, 306. Well done.

0:09:24 > 0:09:26And so, hidden from our camera's view,

0:09:26 > 0:09:30the four-bed mid-terrace house in Plumstead was sold for £306,000.

0:09:33 > 0:09:36And those mystery bidders were Guillaume, on the left, and Gabriel.

0:09:37 > 0:09:40Guillaume is an optician while his partner, Gabriel,

0:09:40 > 0:09:42works in logistics.

0:09:42 > 0:09:45And this is the first property they've bought together.

0:09:47 > 0:09:49- Gabriel, Guillaume, nice to meet you.- Nice to meet you.

0:09:49 > 0:09:52- Congratulations, first and foremost.- Thank you.

0:09:52 > 0:09:55Tell me about the auction experience. Who went to the auction?

0:09:55 > 0:09:58We both went to the auction. I was the one bidding.

0:09:58 > 0:10:00- Were you not allowed to bid? - I was too scared.

0:10:00 > 0:10:02LAUGHTER

0:10:02 > 0:10:03Because I didn't see the property.

0:10:03 > 0:10:06- Oh, OK. So, who actually... - I saw the property.- OK.- Yeah.

0:10:06 > 0:10:08Just for five minutes.

0:10:08 > 0:10:10And what made you want it so much?

0:10:10 > 0:10:13Well, the area was nice, the house is big,

0:10:13 > 0:10:16there's a lot of work to do but it's fine.

0:10:16 > 0:10:19Guillaume, how about you now you're here and it's yours?

0:10:19 > 0:10:22What are your thoughts on this property? Anything frightening you?

0:10:22 > 0:10:24The crack on the back of the house.

0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Yep.- That, the big damp, as well.

0:10:27 > 0:10:29But I think it will be fine.

0:10:29 > 0:10:33Are you buying it to rent it or to sell it, to live in it?

0:10:33 > 0:10:35- Initially, we wanted to live in it. - OK.

0:10:35 > 0:10:37But I think it's a bit too big for us.

0:10:37 > 0:10:41- So, we're going to sell it, I think.- OK.- Yeah.

0:10:41 > 0:10:45We didn't even start yet and I really don't want to sell it.

0:10:45 > 0:10:47- Really?- So, it's going to be hard to sell it.

0:10:47 > 0:10:50- It's exactly the house that we love. - So, what's making you sell it?

0:10:50 > 0:10:53- Why don't you live here? - Money.- Money?- Yeah.

0:10:53 > 0:10:56# I don't want to let you go

0:10:56 > 0:11:00# I never can say goodbye, boy. #

0:11:00 > 0:11:03Ah. If you want to be successful at property developing,

0:11:03 > 0:11:07keeping an eye on the money is definitely the key.

0:11:07 > 0:11:10Mind you, one of the things is not getting too attached

0:11:10 > 0:11:13to a property and making it like you want it.

0:11:13 > 0:11:16So, I hope these guys can be detached enough not to make

0:11:16 > 0:11:17it too personal.

0:11:17 > 0:11:20Who's going to take charge of this project?

0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Are you going to do it together? - Yeah, we're going to do it together.

0:11:23 > 0:11:26I'm going to follow the building structure, he's going

0:11:26 > 0:11:28to follow all the design.

0:11:28 > 0:11:31OK, so, what's the first thing you're going to do?

0:11:31 > 0:11:33I'm going to do a beautiful kitchen

0:11:33 > 0:11:36- and a beautiful bathroom.- OK.

0:11:36 > 0:11:41And I'm going to keep half very Victorian and half very modern.

0:11:41 > 0:11:44And the dining room separate or are you going to make it one?

0:11:44 > 0:11:46It's going to be a big room, kitchen and dining area.

0:11:46 > 0:11:49- Good, you're knocking the wall down. - Yeah.- What about the ceiling,

0:11:49 > 0:11:52you've got a ceiling in the kitchen, are you changing that?

0:11:52 > 0:11:54Yeah, we're going to remove the ceiling.

0:11:54 > 0:11:57So it's going to be higher and then we're going to put all spotlight.

0:11:57 > 0:12:01We're going to combine the toilet and the bathroom together upstairs.

0:12:01 > 0:12:04- OK, so you're knocking walls down again.- Yes.- OK.

0:12:04 > 0:12:09And we're going to create another toilet downstairs.

0:12:09 > 0:12:11Yeah, I think that's a sensible idea.

0:12:11 > 0:12:14And outside, structurally, you mentioned the crack.

0:12:14 > 0:12:18When we had our survey, he said it's not a big problem,

0:12:18 > 0:12:21it's just a drainage problem, so we need to sort out the drainage.

0:12:21 > 0:12:25- Fill the crack.- That's good news. - Yeah.- Save on the money.- Yeah.

0:12:25 > 0:12:27And, also, the damp, as well.

0:12:27 > 0:12:29There's a little bit of damp around the property.

0:12:29 > 0:12:33- There's a little bit a lot. - A lot of damp around the property!

0:12:33 > 0:12:37Yeah, it's cos the roof is leaking a bit everywhere

0:12:37 > 0:12:40so we need to repair the roof and then sort it out inside.

0:12:40 > 0:12:42Do you have a budget?

0:12:42 > 0:12:45I can see your faces are changing now when it comes to money.

0:12:45 > 0:12:48- Yeah, budget is around 30.- OK.

0:12:48 > 0:12:50- Hopefully less.- Yes.

0:12:50 > 0:12:53Time, four months, maybe five.

0:12:53 > 0:12:56Although Gabriel will oversee the work and Guillaume will design

0:12:56 > 0:13:00the interiors, they will contract the work out to builders,

0:13:00 > 0:13:03leaving the bulk of it to the professionals.

0:13:03 > 0:13:04Always a good idea.

0:13:05 > 0:13:07And I think their £30,000 budget

0:13:07 > 0:13:12and four- to five-month timescale certainly isn't unrealistic.

0:13:12 > 0:13:16- Is this something that you want to continue to do?- Yes.- Yeah?

0:13:16 > 0:13:18And you want to have a portfolio of houses.

0:13:18 > 0:13:21This one, sell it, maybe buy another one then sell it or rent?

0:13:22 > 0:13:26Yeah, we can buy and sell it or buy and then rent it out. We'll see.

0:13:26 > 0:13:28I'm not sure you'll leave this property.

0:13:28 > 0:13:31- I think you'll find yourself... - No, we will leave here.

0:13:31 > 0:13:32I think we will leave it,

0:13:32 > 0:13:34we're going to buy exactly the same house in 20 years.

0:13:34 > 0:13:35LAUGHTER

0:13:35 > 0:13:37- Maybe you can buy this one back. - Oh, yeah.

0:13:37 > 0:13:39- It will cost you four times the money!- So, no.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44Listen, Guillaume and Gabriel, I wish you luck. OK.

0:13:44 > 0:13:47- Very nice to have met you and good luck, hey?- Thank you.- Take care.

0:13:49 > 0:13:52Gabriel and Guillaume seem to have this project all in hand.

0:13:52 > 0:13:55But will it all go to plan? You can find out later on in the programme.

0:14:00 > 0:14:04Located just two miles east of Derby is the suburb of Mickleover.

0:14:04 > 0:14:09A highly popular residential area, it has a strong property market,

0:14:09 > 0:14:13growing population density, good schools, shops and parks.

0:14:13 > 0:14:15So, location wise, we're off to a good start.

0:14:17 > 0:14:20So, it's certainly a desirable area and that's reflected

0:14:20 > 0:14:24in the guide price of the property that was up for auction.

0:14:24 > 0:14:27A two/three-bedroom ground-floor flat.

0:14:27 > 0:14:31The guide price was £45,000 plus. Let's take a look.

0:14:32 > 0:14:37The flat itself is situated in what was an old Victorian house

0:14:37 > 0:14:39that has been converted into several flats.

0:14:39 > 0:14:42It's accessed via the back of the property

0:14:42 > 0:14:44with its own separate entrance.

0:14:46 > 0:14:48- HE BREATHES IN SHARPLY - OK.

0:14:48 > 0:14:51So, through the entrance door - back, front, whatever it is,

0:14:51 > 0:14:55it's the only one - into this little sort of covered courtyard area.

0:14:55 > 0:14:57It's got this plastic sheeting roof.

0:14:57 > 0:14:59I imagine it's just been covered up at some point

0:14:59 > 0:15:02and this would have been open in earlier years.

0:15:03 > 0:15:06This is a useful little space, somewhere to store your bikes

0:15:06 > 0:15:09or dump your bags. But, then, you've got a choice.

0:15:09 > 0:15:13You've got, basically, three doors leading to the rest of the flat.

0:15:19 > 0:15:23Now, the moment you come in here, you do get a sense of it being

0:15:23 > 0:15:26a bit like a basement flat.

0:15:26 > 0:15:32It suffers from not having enough exterior walls with windows in them.

0:15:32 > 0:15:36So, we've got two rooms here separated by sort of a divider.

0:15:36 > 0:15:38It's almost been done as if it's some kind of an office.

0:15:38 > 0:15:40You've got this office style ceiling

0:15:40 > 0:15:42which obviously wants to come down.

0:15:42 > 0:15:44Again, makes it feel a little bit...

0:15:46 > 0:15:48..claustrophobic, for want of a better word.

0:15:48 > 0:15:50You've got the two little rooms there. A room on the front,

0:15:50 > 0:15:54then into this rear sort of living area.

0:15:54 > 0:15:56Again, though, look at the size of that window,

0:15:56 > 0:15:58I mean, tiny for the size of room.

0:15:58 > 0:16:00- HE EXHALES LOUDLY - What do I want to do?

0:16:00 > 0:16:03I want to take out all these walls, every single wall out.

0:16:03 > 0:16:05I want to stick beams here, there, everything else.

0:16:05 > 0:16:08Create one huge open-plan space

0:16:08 > 0:16:12and then maybe stick one or two very carefully chosen walls back.

0:16:12 > 0:16:14That's the only way it's going to work.

0:16:14 > 0:16:19Hm-mm, at present, this is a number of odd-shaped rooms at varying size,

0:16:19 > 0:16:21strangely connected together.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23There's no flow to the place.

0:16:23 > 0:16:26And not only is the flat dark and gloomy,

0:16:26 > 0:16:28I'm in the dark as to what the rooms are.

0:16:28 > 0:16:32Is this a bedroom, a study, who knows?

0:16:32 > 0:16:35Hence the two- to three-bedroom description in the auction catalogue.

0:16:35 > 0:16:38Maybe the rest of the flat will shed some light on what layout

0:16:38 > 0:16:39would work best here.

0:16:43 > 0:16:45So, through into the kitchen area.

0:16:45 > 0:16:48Well, I mean, obviously, it doesn't have a kitchen in it,

0:16:48 > 0:16:50at the moment, which does throw up issues

0:16:50 > 0:16:53when it comes to mortgageability.

0:16:53 > 0:16:56And in here, some signs of some serious damp,

0:16:56 > 0:16:59I don't know what's going on with the ceiling there.

0:16:59 > 0:17:03And all around here, definitely, I'd want to probe about a bit more

0:17:03 > 0:17:05and find out exactly what's going on.

0:17:05 > 0:17:09But at least in this part of the flat,

0:17:09 > 0:17:12you do get some natural light, which is good. And, bizarrely,

0:17:12 > 0:17:15the bathroom is the one place where you've got loads of light.

0:17:16 > 0:17:18Great.

0:17:18 > 0:17:21And the bathroom off the kitchen poses yet another layout issue.

0:17:21 > 0:17:24I think, perhaps, it would be worth seeing

0:17:24 > 0:17:27if it was more feasible to make this into a bedroom or study

0:17:27 > 0:17:30and use one of the back rooms as a bathroom.

0:17:30 > 0:17:34At least that way you'd have a bedroom with some natural light.

0:17:34 > 0:17:38All in all, this isn't the most practical flat I've ever come across

0:17:38 > 0:17:42but it is still a residential space in a sought-after area

0:17:42 > 0:17:44and that alone will give it some appeal.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51But what can the auctioneer who sold it tell us about the flat?

0:17:54 > 0:17:56There aren't very many flats in Mickleover,

0:17:56 > 0:17:58certainly not purpose-built ones,

0:17:58 > 0:18:00not that I'm suggesting this is purpose-built.

0:18:00 > 0:18:03But it's not the sort of development

0:18:03 > 0:18:07that you see a lot of in Mickleover itself.

0:18:07 > 0:18:11But because of the appeal of Mickleover as an address,

0:18:11 > 0:18:16flats as investment properties are always very good material

0:18:16 > 0:18:18because you're never going to have void periods,

0:18:18 > 0:18:20they are very lettable.

0:18:20 > 0:18:22Good news if you're looking for a buy-to-let.

0:18:22 > 0:18:25But what sort of numbers are we talking about?

0:18:25 > 0:18:28Once renovated, this would command a rent in the order

0:18:28 > 0:18:30of £425 a calendar month.

0:18:31 > 0:18:34And the flat was guided at £45,000

0:18:34 > 0:18:39so rental returns in the region of £425 per calendar month

0:18:39 > 0:18:42could see a rental yield of 10%.

0:18:42 > 0:18:45That's before any renovation expenditure, of course.

0:18:47 > 0:18:49What about the resale potential?

0:18:49 > 0:18:53Its sale value is related to its earning capacity, really.

0:18:53 > 0:18:57And I would say, even if this was in good order,

0:18:57 > 0:19:00you would only sell as an investment property.

0:19:00 > 0:19:05So, its top value is probably no more than £65,000-£70,000.

0:19:10 > 0:19:13So, a bit of thought required, particularly on the internal layout

0:19:13 > 0:19:17of this one. But not a huge project to take on and a nice area.

0:19:17 > 0:19:20So, yes, I'm sure it was popular when it went under the hammer.

0:19:23 > 0:19:24Lot number 11.

0:19:24 > 0:19:27This is a two- or three-bedroomed,

0:19:27 > 0:19:29vacant, ground-floor flat.

0:19:29 > 0:19:32Good residential area. 45 for it?

0:19:32 > 0:19:3542, start me where you like, it's where we finish that matters.

0:19:35 > 0:19:3742,000 I've got in the centre, thank you.

0:19:37 > 0:19:39At £42,000.

0:19:39 > 0:19:4143 is bid at the back.

0:19:41 > 0:19:4343, 44.

0:19:43 > 0:19:46At 44,000... 45, 46 is bid.

0:19:46 > 0:19:4846, 47?

0:19:48 > 0:19:4947, 48?

0:19:49 > 0:19:5148,000, 49?

0:19:52 > 0:19:55£48,000 here, seated bid. 49?

0:19:57 > 0:20:01At £48,000, then, going once,

0:20:01 > 0:20:03going twice, third chance, any higher bid for it?

0:20:05 > 0:20:07Sold at 48,000, thank you.

0:20:08 > 0:20:12So, just slightly above the guide price and for £48,000,

0:20:12 > 0:20:16the successful bid for the Mickleover flat was made by John.

0:20:16 > 0:20:19John, who has previously worked as a publican

0:20:19 > 0:20:23and is currently a catering steward at a golf club, bought the flat as

0:20:23 > 0:20:27a joint venture with his daughter, Kelly, who works for a charity.

0:20:28 > 0:20:31I met them both back at the flat to find out their plans.

0:20:33 > 0:20:37- Kelly, John, great to meet you both. - Hi.- And you, hi.- Congratulations.

0:20:37 > 0:20:39- Thank you.- Tell me why you wanted to buy this place.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42Mainly an investment for myself and Kelly.

0:20:42 > 0:20:45My first property, that I actually own, is just across the road.

0:20:45 > 0:20:46Oh, really?

0:20:46 > 0:20:49So I know the area well. Although I've had it for over 12 years,

0:20:49 > 0:20:51- I've lived in it for about six months.- Right.

0:20:51 > 0:20:54Because various pubs and moving around the country...

0:20:54 > 0:20:56- but I still own it and still rent it out.- Right.

0:20:56 > 0:20:59- So, it was this area of Derby specifically that you wanted.- Um...

0:20:59 > 0:21:03- Yeah.- This isn't the one I came for originally. In the auction I...

0:21:05 > 0:21:08- ..went for another one but it went too expensive.- Right.

0:21:08 > 0:21:11And I thought this would be really, really expensive but it was well

0:21:11 > 0:21:12within the budget I wanted

0:21:12 > 0:21:14and I thought, "Well, I'll have a punt at that one."

0:21:14 > 0:21:18So, we went to go for a house but instead Dad phoned us

0:21:18 > 0:21:19and told us he'd just bought a flat.

0:21:19 > 0:21:20LAUGHTER

0:21:20 > 0:21:22- And that was the first you knew of it?- Yeah.

0:21:22 > 0:21:25- So, when was the first time you saw it?- Today.- Oh, wow!

0:21:25 > 0:21:28Oh, gosh. Right. So, what do you think?

0:21:28 > 0:21:30Yeah, I think it's quite nice, actually.

0:21:30 > 0:21:31I think it needs a lot doing to it,

0:21:31 > 0:21:34but I think the area is fantastic

0:21:34 > 0:21:36so therefore I trust what he bought.

0:21:36 > 0:21:40Well, it might have been not quite what Kelly was expecting to get

0:21:40 > 0:21:42for her first investment property,

0:21:42 > 0:21:46but dad John does know the area and having bought property here before,

0:21:46 > 0:21:50hopefully knows a good investment when he sees one.

0:21:50 > 0:21:53And Kelly is hoping that not only will it generate some income

0:21:53 > 0:21:56but perhaps might be the start of a new career.

0:21:57 > 0:22:00- In terms of a project, it's going to be your project?- Yeah.

0:22:00 > 0:22:02So, are you financially involved in it?

0:22:03 > 0:22:04Sleeping partner.

0:22:04 > 0:22:07- LAUGHTER - What does that mean, Dad?

0:22:07 > 0:22:10That means she isn't putting any more money into it, that's what she means.

0:22:10 > 0:22:13- I'll be investing most of the money into it myself.- OK.

0:22:13 > 0:22:15And then if we ever sell it

0:22:15 > 0:22:18and move it on, then Kenny will get a percentage of that.

0:22:18 > 0:22:19What's the plans for it, then,

0:22:19 > 0:22:21what are you going to do to it to sort it out?

0:22:21 > 0:22:26- Well, I've got a budget of around £15,000.- To do what?

0:22:26 > 0:22:30Well, basically, knock the kitchen all through. Have one kitchen.

0:22:30 > 0:22:33And move the bathroom into a separate room.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36And two bedrooms on their own, keep the sitting room on its own.

0:22:36 > 0:22:39- And redec it all the way through.- But that's completely hands-off, is it?

0:22:39 > 0:22:41- That completely hands-off, yeah. - Right, listen,

0:22:41 > 0:22:43this is your investment so get some hands-on,

0:22:43 > 0:22:46- you can save your dad some money! - Yeah.

0:22:46 > 0:22:48I'll get my tools out right away!

0:22:49 > 0:22:50- I'll crack on with it.- Good.

0:22:50 > 0:22:52Well, you can do things, though, can't you?

0:22:52 > 0:22:55- Depends what the builders want us to do.- What do you mean?

0:22:55 > 0:22:57- You're not taking me seriously, are you?- No.

0:22:57 > 0:22:59- Do you want to be a property investor?- Yeah.

0:22:59 > 0:23:01- Do you want to be a property developer?- Yeah.- Right, then.

0:23:01 > 0:23:04Full-time job doesn't allow me to do that, unfortunately.

0:23:04 > 0:23:06- So, you don't want to have any involvement?- No.

0:23:06 > 0:23:09- Not even stripping wallpaper or doing a bit of painting?- No.

0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Oh, come on.- No, no.

0:23:11 > 0:23:15Look at them nails, they're not geared for that.

0:23:15 > 0:23:19- I probably will, I'll probably come along when I get the chance.- Right.

0:23:19 > 0:23:21I'll ask the builder what they want me to do.

0:23:21 > 0:23:24If he wants to strip out walls and knock walls down, I'll do all that.

0:23:24 > 0:23:26- That's where you save your money, isn't it?- Yeah.

0:23:26 > 0:23:30- And then is the idea to rent it out? - Yes.- Yeah. What I said to Dad was,

0:23:30 > 0:23:34if we're going to stick two bedrooms in that have both got en suites in,

0:23:34 > 0:23:37then maybe it should be to two separate people.

0:23:37 > 0:23:39I think we've got to think about who we want to let it out to.

0:23:39 > 0:23:42Yeah, absolutely. Begin with the end in mind, and all that.

0:23:42 > 0:23:45But, again, it's how much money you want to chuck at it, you know.

0:23:45 > 0:23:48So, we've got to kind of keep our budget sensible.

0:23:48 > 0:23:51So, the timescale, then, is what sort of length of time?

0:23:51 > 0:23:54- I'd like it sorted out by... - Six months, at least.

0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Yeah, well, I want to before the end of summer.- Yeah.

0:23:57 > 0:24:00You know, while we still have the light and get it cleaned up.

0:24:00 > 0:24:02- The heat.- Yeah.

0:24:02 > 0:24:05Um. And I think things look better in the summertime.

0:24:05 > 0:24:09- Yeah, sure.- Than when it's dark and damp and miserable outside.

0:24:09 > 0:24:11Get somebody renting it at that point.

0:24:11 > 0:24:14- Congratulations to you. Good luck with it.- Thank you.

0:24:14 > 0:24:17- Look forward to seeing how you get on.- Thank you, Martin, cheers.

0:24:17 > 0:24:20Well, a slight hint of not being quite sure what they're going to do

0:24:20 > 0:24:22with this place from Kelly and John, there.

0:24:22 > 0:24:23But one thing for certain,

0:24:23 > 0:24:27I don't think Kelly will be getting her hands dirty.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30You can find out how it all turns out later in the show.

0:24:32 > 0:24:36Still to come, in Chatham, Kent, we find out if a plot of land

0:24:36 > 0:24:40we first visited over five years ago was worth the long wait.

0:24:43 > 0:24:45And in Mickleover, Derby,

0:24:45 > 0:24:48we get to see the renovations that John seems very happy with.

0:24:49 > 0:24:51Yeah, I'd live here.

0:24:56 > 0:24:59Before that, we head back to Plumstead, south-east London,

0:24:59 > 0:25:02a popular area, where I looked around this

0:25:02 > 0:25:06four-bed mid-terrace property that boasted three reception rooms

0:25:06 > 0:25:09and a guide price of £250,000.

0:25:11 > 0:25:15It had some great original features but signs of damp were worrying

0:25:15 > 0:25:18and a crack at the back of the house certainly needed attention.

0:25:18 > 0:25:21And, for me, the layout just didn't work.

0:25:21 > 0:25:24I'd be very inclined to take this wall out,

0:25:24 > 0:25:27have a nice dining room/kitchen as one.

0:25:27 > 0:25:31And there is a false ceiling here, a panelled ceiling.

0:25:31 > 0:25:32If you were to take that out,

0:25:32 > 0:25:34go back to the original height of the ceiling,

0:25:34 > 0:25:37the ceilings would match up, both sides,

0:25:37 > 0:25:40and you'd have a really, really nice dining room/kitchen area.

0:25:40 > 0:25:43It proved very popular at auction,

0:25:43 > 0:25:48selling for £56,000 over the guide price at £306,000.

0:25:48 > 0:25:50Sold, 306. Well done.

0:25:52 > 0:25:55The successful bidders were Guillaume, on the left here,

0:25:55 > 0:25:57and his partner Gabriel who, together,

0:25:57 > 0:26:01were venturing into property development for the very first time.

0:26:02 > 0:26:04Who's going to take charge of this project?

0:26:04 > 0:26:07- Are you going to do it together? - Yeah, we're going to do it together.

0:26:07 > 0:26:10And then I follow the building structure,

0:26:10 > 0:26:12he's going to follow all the design.

0:26:13 > 0:26:15OK, so, what's the first thing you're going to do?

0:26:15 > 0:26:21- I'm going to do a beautiful kitchen and a beautiful bathroom.- OK.

0:26:21 > 0:26:26And I'm going to keep half very Victorian and half very modern.

0:26:26 > 0:26:28And the dining room separate or are you going to make it one?

0:26:28 > 0:26:31It's going to be a big room, kitchen and dining area.

0:26:31 > 0:26:35So, big plans were afoot for these developer novices.

0:26:35 > 0:26:39They had a budget of £30,000 and a timescale of four to five months.

0:26:39 > 0:26:42And having originally considered living there themselves,

0:26:42 > 0:26:45they were planning to sell it once the work was done.

0:26:48 > 0:26:49It's just over three months later

0:26:49 > 0:26:52and we've returned to south-east London to find out how they got on.

0:27:06 > 0:27:09Removing the wall between the kitchen and third reception room

0:27:09 > 0:27:12has created a beautiful kitchen-diner,

0:27:12 > 0:27:16complete with French doors leading to the newly landscaped garden.

0:27:30 > 0:27:33With a keen eye on design and character,

0:27:33 > 0:27:37they've managed to marry together the modern and the traditional.

0:27:37 > 0:27:39Plus, signs of damp in here are all gone.

0:27:43 > 0:27:45In the transformed hallway,

0:27:45 > 0:27:48they've done very well to introduce a downstairs loo.

0:27:48 > 0:27:50Always appealing to buyers.

0:27:53 > 0:27:55I can't wait to see what they've done upstairs.

0:28:01 > 0:28:04Knocking the wall down between the bathroom and toilet

0:28:04 > 0:28:06has created a far more desirable space.

0:28:27 > 0:28:29This couple have done a fantastic job.

0:28:29 > 0:28:33Don't forget, Guillaume and Gabriel are novices...

0:28:35 > 0:28:38..making what they've each done here even more impressive.

0:28:44 > 0:28:47So, all the changes we did was to put a more

0:28:47 > 0:28:50sense of space in the kitchen, in the bathroom.

0:28:50 > 0:28:54So, everything had to be redone in the house, plastering,

0:28:54 > 0:28:56the flooring, ceiling.

0:28:56 > 0:29:01I wanted something pure, very simple but with a little bit of character.

0:29:01 > 0:29:02My taste.

0:29:02 > 0:29:06So, to add character in the house I wanted to keep the Victorian style,

0:29:06 > 0:29:08so we kept all the coving

0:29:08 > 0:29:11and the ceiling rose.

0:29:11 > 0:29:16And I removed the old fireplace and I look for two new fireplaces.

0:29:16 > 0:29:20The most important thing for me was to have two identical ones.

0:29:20 > 0:29:24And we changed the whole bathroom, obviously.

0:29:24 > 0:29:27I wanted to go downstairs Victorian

0:29:27 > 0:29:29and upstairs completely modern

0:29:29 > 0:29:33with a modern kitchen, as well, and modern toilet.

0:29:33 > 0:29:36So, whilst Guillaume was in charge of all things design,

0:29:36 > 0:29:39it was down to Gabriel to oversee the day-to-day.

0:29:41 > 0:29:44Well, I follow the builders,

0:29:44 > 0:29:46I make sure everything was done properly.

0:29:46 > 0:29:49I organise the delivery, rushing delivery.

0:29:51 > 0:29:52And that's it.

0:29:53 > 0:29:55The crack at the back of the house, thankfully,

0:29:55 > 0:29:57turned out to be historical.

0:29:57 > 0:30:00But the damp wasn't so easily dealt with.

0:30:01 > 0:30:04Well, the damp was caused by the roof,

0:30:04 > 0:30:06so we repaired the roof,

0:30:06 > 0:30:10plus we... we need now all the plaster inside.

0:30:10 > 0:30:14We need to redo all the ceiling, the kitchen, and the bedroom upstairs

0:30:14 > 0:30:18was collapsing down, so we need to change both of them.

0:30:18 > 0:30:21Well, with all those repairs, plus the high-end finish,

0:30:21 > 0:30:26they did go over their £30,000 budget by £9,000, but they kept

0:30:26 > 0:30:29within their timescale, completing the job in just over three months.

0:30:29 > 0:30:31Not too shabby.

0:30:32 > 0:30:38The total investment plus purchase price, here, has been £345,000.

0:30:38 > 0:30:41So, with Guillaume and Gabriel eager to sell,

0:30:41 > 0:30:43it'll be interesting to hear

0:30:43 > 0:30:46the opinions of two local property experts.

0:30:47 > 0:30:49I think the house is very, very nice.

0:30:49 > 0:30:51It's been done to a nice, high standard.

0:30:51 > 0:30:53Very neutral.

0:30:53 > 0:30:56It's also got a contemporary feel to the property,

0:30:56 > 0:30:59as well as having the original Victorian features,

0:30:59 > 0:31:02like the original cornicing and nice cast-iron fireplaces.

0:31:02 > 0:31:05So it's got a mix of both, which I think is extremely nice.

0:31:05 > 0:31:09I think the layout works really well within the property,

0:31:09 > 0:31:11especially on the ground floor, it flows really well.

0:31:13 > 0:31:17Shows what a great job Guillaume did sourcing those fireplaces.

0:31:17 > 0:31:20Even the experts thought they were original features.

0:31:20 > 0:31:23So, time to find out what their valuations are.

0:31:23 > 0:31:25The resale value of the property would be

0:31:25 > 0:31:28between £480,000 and £500,000.

0:31:28 > 0:31:32I think this property would resell in the region of £500,000.

0:31:32 > 0:31:34Well, we are happy with that.

0:31:34 > 0:31:37It is what we were expecting,

0:31:37 > 0:31:41so we're definitely going to put it on the market as soon as possible.

0:31:41 > 0:31:45I think it's a great investment. Amazing.

0:31:45 > 0:31:46Amazing is right.

0:31:46 > 0:31:54That top valuation would mean a huge pre-tax profit of £155,000,

0:31:54 > 0:31:57making this a great success for Guillaume and Gabriel.

0:31:59 > 0:32:01But after all the hard work

0:32:01 > 0:32:04and initially thinking they'd live there themselves,

0:32:04 > 0:32:06will they be sad to see it go?

0:32:08 > 0:32:10Well, I think it's always sad to leave...

0:32:10 > 0:32:14to leave one house, that you've been working at that long,

0:32:14 > 0:32:18but it's...it's part of the job, so it's fine.

0:32:18 > 0:32:21For myself, it's going to be very sad to sell this house, because I

0:32:21 > 0:32:27put all my design, my heart into it, to give the property a personality.

0:32:27 > 0:32:29So, I hope the new owner will enjoy it.

0:32:36 > 0:32:39Time to turn back the clock and returned to Chatham in Kent.

0:32:40 > 0:32:44It was here, way back in 2009,

0:32:44 > 0:32:46that I originally looked around this plot of land.

0:32:46 > 0:32:50It had planning permission for a two-bedroom chalet bungalow,

0:32:50 > 0:32:53and a guide price of £65-£70,000.

0:32:55 > 0:32:59Now, straight away, I can see that this was part of somebody's garden.

0:32:59 > 0:33:02I think it used to belong to this house, here,

0:33:02 > 0:33:05because you can see, there's a fairly new fence that's been put up.

0:33:05 > 0:33:07What I do like is that there are lots of trees here,

0:33:07 > 0:33:10so it's shielding you from the road, although you will have to

0:33:10 > 0:33:13take some of those out to create that entrance.

0:33:13 > 0:33:14And now I'm standing here,

0:33:14 > 0:33:17I can see that this plot of land is on a slight gradient,

0:33:17 > 0:33:20so that's something for the builders to think about, as well.

0:33:20 > 0:33:24You've also got views over the Medway, which is really nice,

0:33:24 > 0:33:25so, all in all,

0:33:25 > 0:33:28I can imagine this would be quite a nice place to live, and surely,

0:33:28 > 0:33:33that's all you're looking for, when you're looking for a plot of land.

0:33:33 > 0:33:35Yes, good views and a nice neighbourhood certainly ticks

0:33:35 > 0:33:38a few boxes, and the fact the planning permission was

0:33:38 > 0:33:41already approved was also another bonus.

0:33:44 > 0:33:48Now, these are quite basic, but it does demonstrate the floor space.

0:33:48 > 0:33:52Now, I can see that the downstairs has got a kitchen/diner,

0:33:52 > 0:33:55which runs into the lounge, two lovely big double doors which

0:33:55 > 0:33:59lead out onto the garden, which make the most of the downstairs space.

0:33:59 > 0:34:02You've also got a bedroom, here, which is bedroom two.

0:34:02 > 0:34:06So, the main bedroom is on the top floor of the bungalow,

0:34:06 > 0:34:08which is upstairs in the eaves.

0:34:08 > 0:34:12Now, I can see that there is a huge storage space

0:34:12 > 0:34:15running all the way around the outside.

0:34:15 > 0:34:17Now, surely, that is a bit of a waste of space.

0:34:17 > 0:34:21Do you think, possibly, we could squeeze another bedroom out of that?

0:34:21 > 0:34:22I think, by doing that,

0:34:22 > 0:34:26you would then really appeal to the family market.

0:34:26 > 0:34:28I didn't think a two-bed chalet bungalow would represent

0:34:28 > 0:34:31a big enough return in profit,

0:34:31 > 0:34:33but creating a third bedroom would have increased the value

0:34:33 > 0:34:36by more than the work would have cost,

0:34:36 > 0:34:38so perhaps, whoever purchased this property

0:34:38 > 0:34:41would have to think outside of the plans.

0:34:43 > 0:34:45So, it's a climb to get to it,

0:34:45 > 0:34:47but it's no stretch of the imagination to see that

0:34:47 > 0:34:50this plot could be a good development,

0:34:50 > 0:34:53but spend too much on the purchase or the build, well,

0:34:53 > 0:34:56you're then leaving yourself with a tight profit.

0:34:56 > 0:34:58Let's find out what it went for at the auction.

0:35:01 > 0:35:04Lot 25. Start me where you will on that one.

0:35:04 > 0:35:07Erm... £65,000 anywhere?

0:35:07 > 0:35:0965,000 anywhere?

0:35:09 > 0:35:13I'm looking for £50,000 opening bid. 50, I'm on the way.

0:35:13 > 0:35:14And five now, do I see?

0:35:14 > 0:35:17Five, I'm obliged. That's 60. At 60.

0:35:17 > 0:35:1962? 62.

0:35:19 > 0:35:2265? 65.

0:35:22 > 0:35:2467? 67.

0:35:24 > 0:35:27And 70, and two.

0:35:27 > 0:35:30And two I'm looking for. 72.

0:35:30 > 0:35:34And five? And seven. 77.

0:35:34 > 0:35:3777. And 80, and two.

0:35:37 > 0:35:40At 82. And five and seven.

0:35:40 > 0:35:42At 85... 87.

0:35:42 > 0:35:4490 to the original bidder.

0:35:44 > 0:35:46At £87,000 bid on my right.

0:35:46 > 0:35:49It's against you in the blue on my left.

0:35:49 > 0:35:51First time then at £87,000.

0:35:51 > 0:35:53Second time at £87,000.

0:35:53 > 0:35:56Third and final time at £87,000.

0:35:56 > 0:36:00You're all done. It's all yours. £87,000.

0:36:02 > 0:36:05The successful bidder on the day with a bid of £87,000

0:36:05 > 0:36:07was Frank from nearby Sittingbourne.

0:36:09 > 0:36:11Frank was a self-employed builder

0:36:11 > 0:36:14and developer who had already built around 35 homes.

0:36:15 > 0:36:19I met him back at his newly-acquired plot of land to find out his plans.

0:36:21 > 0:36:23- Frank, congratulations! - Thanks very much.

0:36:23 > 0:36:26How did you feel on auction day when the hammer went down

0:36:26 > 0:36:30- and you'd won this plot? - Fantastic. Really fantastic.

0:36:32 > 0:36:35To be honest, it was only between me and the other man.

0:36:35 > 0:36:38If he had gone over the top of my last bid,

0:36:38 > 0:36:40I would have bowed out as well.

0:36:40 > 0:36:42- Really?!- Yes, so that was very good.

0:36:42 > 0:36:47- So, were you happy with the price you paid, 87,000?- Absolutely.

0:36:47 > 0:36:50Yes, I didn't think I would get this at that price, to be honest.

0:36:50 > 0:36:53- But, there you go.- So, how much do you know about building plots

0:36:53 > 0:36:55and what were you doing at the auction in the first place?

0:36:55 > 0:36:57I'm a builder anyway.

0:36:57 > 0:37:01I do loft conversions, extensions, that type of thing.

0:37:01 > 0:37:04And I used to work for a developer and I was, if you like,

0:37:04 > 0:37:06kept down there, but now,

0:37:06 > 0:37:11managed to get a bit of money and bought the odd plot here and there.

0:37:11 > 0:37:12That type of thing.

0:37:12 > 0:37:15So, you used to work for a developer, but are you saying

0:37:15 > 0:37:17- that you're doing it for yourself? - Absolutely, yes.

0:37:17 > 0:37:20# You can go your own way

0:37:20 > 0:37:23# Go your own way... #

0:37:23 > 0:37:26Frank was clearly delighted with his purchase

0:37:26 > 0:37:28and I really could sense his passion

0:37:28 > 0:37:30and enthusiasm for property development

0:37:30 > 0:37:32and he'd need every bit of experience he had

0:37:32 > 0:37:35to deal with this uneven plot of land.

0:37:36 > 0:37:40If it had been a flat site, it would have been hunky-dory.

0:37:40 > 0:37:42There's a bit of work to be done on it...

0:37:42 > 0:37:43How are going to overcome this?

0:37:43 > 0:37:46- Is there going to be an awful lot of excavation...- No.

0:37:46 > 0:37:50- ..to get down onto the lower level? - No, it will stay.

0:37:50 > 0:37:52I will level it off slightly.

0:37:52 > 0:37:54Obviously we've got to take the soil off the front

0:37:54 > 0:37:59because the house to the right is at that level and I will keep to that.

0:37:59 > 0:38:04Then we've just got to ramp from the pathway up to this level.

0:38:04 > 0:38:07Frank certainly didn't seem fazed by the work ahead of him

0:38:07 > 0:38:09and after studying the plans,

0:38:09 > 0:38:12he'd seen the opportunity to add that extra bedroom.

0:38:13 > 0:38:17If you look, that seems to me to be wasted space.

0:38:17 > 0:38:19Look at the wasted space they've got there.

0:38:19 > 0:38:22- That's just the loft storage space. - Exactly.

0:38:22 > 0:38:25The thing is, you're pitching the roof and that is quite a wide area.

0:38:25 > 0:38:27You could get another bedroom in there,

0:38:27 > 0:38:30but perhaps the planners don't want that particular situation.

0:38:30 > 0:38:34But it does lend itself to another bedroom in that area there.

0:38:34 > 0:38:36That will really affect the saleability.

0:38:36 > 0:38:40- I really hope that does go your way. - I would like that as well, yes.

0:38:40 > 0:38:45It wouldn't have been a disaster if he didn't get planning permission

0:38:45 > 0:38:49for a third bedroom, but it would certainly help his profit margins.

0:38:49 > 0:38:54He estimated that the build would cost 80-90,000 and,

0:38:54 > 0:38:56along with a two-month wait on planning permission,

0:38:56 > 0:38:59he envisaged the work taking around six months.

0:39:00 > 0:39:02It wasn't until two years later,

0:39:02 > 0:39:05in 2011, that we returned to find

0:39:05 > 0:39:07that Frank had put his plans on hold

0:39:07 > 0:39:11due to the unstable property market.

0:39:11 > 0:39:14The economic turmoil at that time meant that Frank

0:39:14 > 0:39:17wasn't prepared to invest in new build.

0:39:17 > 0:39:22But he had got himself ready for future work with new footings made.

0:39:23 > 0:39:27Due to other business commitments, Frank waited a year-and-a-half

0:39:27 > 0:39:29before starting work on the site.

0:39:29 > 0:39:32But he needed to dig foundations and lay the footing

0:39:32 > 0:39:34so that planning permission didn't expire.

0:39:37 > 0:39:40What Frank had essentially created was the floor plan of his property

0:39:40 > 0:39:44and he was able to talk us through what eventually he would build.

0:39:48 > 0:39:50As we come in the front door,

0:39:50 > 0:39:54we do a left into double doors into the lounge.

0:39:54 > 0:39:56Within the lounge, we've got

0:39:56 > 0:40:00a nice bay window with some patio doors out onto the patio there.

0:40:00 > 0:40:03We then come out into the hallway,

0:40:03 > 0:40:07come into the kitchen here, which is a nice kitchen in regard to

0:40:07 > 0:40:11a window over the unit there, another patio door there.

0:40:14 > 0:40:18Going back to the plans, the ground floor would have a downstairs loo,

0:40:18 > 0:40:21utility room and an en-suite bedroom.

0:40:21 > 0:40:23Upstairs, along with the second bedroom,

0:40:23 > 0:40:26Frank still planned to create a third,

0:40:26 > 0:40:30although he still needed to submit planning permission.

0:40:30 > 0:40:33It may not look like Frank did much here, but he's actually removed

0:40:33 > 0:40:39450 cubic yards of soil in order to level the plot.

0:40:39 > 0:40:40It was no easy task!

0:40:43 > 0:40:45# Can you dig it? Oh, yeah!

0:40:45 > 0:40:49# Can you dig it? Oh, yeah!

0:40:49 > 0:40:53# Can you dig it? Oh, yeah! #

0:40:53 > 0:40:56Obviously not knowing what the ground conditions were like,

0:40:56 > 0:41:00perhaps I should have had a soil sample, but I didn't.

0:41:00 > 0:41:03I chose to go down the road of getting a five-tonne digger

0:41:03 > 0:41:07which would normally have gone through anything.

0:41:07 > 0:41:10This was our problem. Flint.

0:41:10 > 0:41:13And then clay within that and there was loads of it,

0:41:13 > 0:41:15as you can see behind me.

0:41:15 > 0:41:16And we had to go through this

0:41:16 > 0:41:20in order to get to a decent footing, being chalk.

0:41:24 > 0:41:27Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place, literally!

0:41:27 > 0:41:31On top of a year-and-a-half of the land lying untouched,

0:41:31 > 0:41:35it took Frank and his team five months to get to this point.

0:41:35 > 0:41:40Plus, he'd already spent 20,000 of his 80-90,000 budget,

0:41:40 > 0:41:42meaning that, along with his purchase price,

0:41:42 > 0:41:46he'd invested £107,000.

0:41:46 > 0:41:50However, he hadn't been put off and was planning for the future.

0:41:50 > 0:41:52Batten out the site and then I would have said

0:41:52 > 0:41:54about eight months' time,

0:41:54 > 0:41:59have a reassess of the situation and what the market is doing

0:41:59 > 0:42:04to whether we actually go ahead or we prolong it a little longer.

0:42:04 > 0:42:07It had certainly been a roller-coaster for Frank

0:42:07 > 0:42:10up to that point and if he were to spend his entire budget

0:42:10 > 0:42:14of 80-90,000, that would mean an investment of around £180-£200,000.

0:42:19 > 0:42:20Would he be able to make a profit?

0:42:20 > 0:42:24We asked to local estate agents for their evaluations.

0:42:24 > 0:42:27If I had to put this property up as a two-bedroom property,

0:42:27 > 0:42:32I'd be looking to market this property in the region of £210,000.

0:42:32 > 0:42:33If this property was to be sold

0:42:33 > 0:42:35as a three-bedroom property,

0:42:35 > 0:42:39I would be looking to market it in the region of £250,000.

0:42:39 > 0:42:41If I was going to market it as a two-bed,

0:42:41 > 0:42:47I'd look at marketing it at around £210,000-£230,000.

0:42:47 > 0:42:48If it was a three bed,

0:42:48 > 0:42:52I'd be looking at around £250,000 for the property.

0:42:52 > 0:42:55So, clearly, it would pay dividends to get planning permission

0:42:55 > 0:42:56for a three-bed,

0:42:56 > 0:42:59but would Frank get the permission?

0:42:59 > 0:43:01And, after all the problems he had to overcome,

0:43:01 > 0:43:04would it be plain sailing from thereon in?

0:43:05 > 0:43:08You can find out how Frank got on later in the programme.

0:43:13 > 0:43:17- Shall we check on progress?- Yes, we've seen how one developer got on.

0:43:17 > 0:43:18What about the other two?

0:43:18 > 0:43:21Did they manage to stick to their timescales and budgets?

0:43:21 > 0:43:23How did they get on? Let's find out.

0:43:25 > 0:43:26We now head back to Derby

0:43:26 > 0:43:29and the leafy, residential suburb of Mickleover

0:43:29 > 0:43:32where earlier, in this grand Victorian house,

0:43:32 > 0:43:34we saw a two/three-bedroom ground floor flat

0:43:34 > 0:43:38that wasn't so much run down and tired, more dead on its feet.

0:43:39 > 0:43:43The place had a messy layout and lack of external windows which

0:43:43 > 0:43:46meant there was a real shortage of natural light about the place.

0:43:46 > 0:43:50But looking on the bright side of this investment opportunity

0:43:50 > 0:43:52were father and daughter team, John and Kelly,

0:43:52 > 0:43:56who bought the flat at auction for £48,000.

0:43:56 > 0:43:58John is a catering steward for a golf club

0:43:58 > 0:44:00while Kelly works for a charity.

0:44:00 > 0:44:04And this was going to be their first joint property development,

0:44:04 > 0:44:05although something told me

0:44:05 > 0:44:09Kelly wasn't exactly enthusiastic about doing any DIY.

0:44:09 > 0:44:11- Do you want to be a property investor?- Yeah.

0:44:11 > 0:44:14- Do you want to be a property developer?- Yeah.- Right then.

0:44:14 > 0:44:17Full-time job doesn't allow me to do that, unfortunately.

0:44:17 > 0:44:20- So, you don't want to have any involvement?- No.

0:44:20 > 0:44:25No, look at them nails. They're not geared for that, no.

0:44:25 > 0:44:28Well, fortunately, the team plan to get tradesmen in

0:44:28 > 0:44:30to turn this into a two-bed flat

0:44:30 > 0:44:35with ensuite bathrooms all in six weeks and on a £15,000 budget.

0:44:35 > 0:44:41But it was seven months later that we returned to see the final result.

0:44:41 > 0:44:44The tiny courtyard has been spruced up and a new double-glazed window

0:44:44 > 0:44:48and front door lead into a transformed entrance hall...

0:44:51 > 0:44:54..helped no end by the new roof with windows.

0:44:54 > 0:44:57Already this place is far more inviting.

0:44:58 > 0:45:01Overlooking the entrance to the left is a wonderfully warm,

0:45:01 > 0:45:02stylish new kitchen.

0:45:05 > 0:45:10Which, in turn, leads on to a stunning new bathroom suite.

0:45:11 > 0:45:15Due to work commitments, Kelly wasn't able to meet up with us,

0:45:15 > 0:45:16but John was there

0:45:16 > 0:45:19to take us through his favourite changes to the flat.

0:45:19 > 0:45:22This is the bathroom and the kitchen, which flows into one.

0:45:22 > 0:45:25We were very, very pleased with the result here.

0:45:25 > 0:45:30We put in new porcelain tiles down here, and a new kitchen installed.

0:45:30 > 0:45:32We decided to make it floor all the way through,

0:45:32 > 0:45:33so the flooring's exactly the same.

0:45:33 > 0:45:35But I think it gives a lovely finish.

0:45:35 > 0:45:38You know, we're very, very pleased with it.

0:45:38 > 0:45:41And the living room has had its makeover too,

0:45:41 > 0:45:44complete with new doors, flooring and a fire.

0:45:48 > 0:45:50And while the front bedroom has also been renovated,

0:45:50 > 0:45:53the big change is at the rear.

0:45:53 > 0:45:57The main bedroom had a partition through the middle of it,

0:45:57 > 0:45:59but we decided that wasn't going to work,

0:45:59 > 0:46:01there wasn't enough light coming into the place,

0:46:01 > 0:46:05so we stripped all that back and made it one big bedroom

0:46:05 > 0:46:08and enclosed a little storage room in there as well.

0:46:08 > 0:46:11And despite losing a bedroom, it's a definite improvement.

0:46:11 > 0:46:15But with one of their objectives achieved, another had to be ditched.

0:46:15 > 0:46:20Our main design when we first came here was to en suite both bedrooms

0:46:20 > 0:46:22and make the kitchen all in one,

0:46:22 > 0:46:26but the cost was horrendous for digging up floors,

0:46:26 > 0:46:29putting drainage in, so we decided it wasn't cost-effective enough,

0:46:29 > 0:46:31so we decided to leave the kitchen and the bathroom where it was

0:46:31 > 0:46:36and leave the bedroom as one big bedroom, which I think works well.

0:46:37 > 0:46:39This flat has seen a total renovation,

0:46:39 > 0:46:41from wall-to-wall, top to bottom,

0:46:41 > 0:46:43from new electrics to gas pipe works,

0:46:43 > 0:46:45plumbing and new central heating.

0:46:45 > 0:46:49And those skylights in the entrance hallway only came into being

0:46:49 > 0:46:52when the original plastic roof became leaky.

0:46:52 > 0:46:54But it's another big improvement

0:46:54 > 0:46:57on what was originally a grubby entrance.

0:46:57 > 0:46:59Contracted builders did the major renovations,

0:46:59 > 0:47:02while friends and family helped out with the rest,

0:47:02 > 0:47:04so did that include Kelly?

0:47:04 > 0:47:05No.

0:47:05 > 0:47:06HE LAUGHS

0:47:06 > 0:47:09Very supportive, though, very supportive.

0:47:09 > 0:47:13Every now and again she would say... I'd moan about how much work I've done, and she would say,

0:47:13 > 0:47:17"Oh, Dad, you're doing too much, you want to take it a bit more easier."

0:47:17 > 0:47:20That's about the only support I got from Kelly but, apart from that, she was great.

0:47:21 > 0:47:24From what could have been a troublesome project,

0:47:24 > 0:47:27John and Kelly's only major problem was the walk-out

0:47:27 > 0:47:30of their contracted builder midway through the renovations.

0:47:30 > 0:47:33Fortunately, they were able to find somebody

0:47:33 > 0:47:34to finish off the main build,

0:47:34 > 0:47:38but those delays meant the flat took six months to transform.

0:47:38 > 0:47:41Was that delay reflected in the budget?

0:47:41 > 0:47:43We planned to spend £15,000, but we hadn't really

0:47:43 > 0:47:47budgeted for central heating as such, and then when the roofing...

0:47:47 > 0:47:49we found out it was leaking,

0:47:49 > 0:47:52it added another couple of thousand pounds to the job.

0:47:52 > 0:47:55And the finish, we decided on a better finish than the builder quoted us for.

0:47:55 > 0:47:59In total we spent around £18,500.

0:47:59 > 0:48:02Having bought the flat for 48,000,

0:48:02 > 0:48:08that renovation cost of £18,500 has pushed their total spend to £66,500.

0:48:08 > 0:48:11John and Kelly aim to put this flat on the rental market,

0:48:11 > 0:48:14and while the finish and style here is excellent,

0:48:14 > 0:48:17I'm worried their new investment might not pay for itself.

0:48:20 > 0:48:21But it's time to find out

0:48:21 > 0:48:23what two local property experts think of the new flat,

0:48:23 > 0:48:25starting with the auctioneer

0:48:25 > 0:48:29who originally sold the flat to John and Kelly.

0:48:29 > 0:48:31The standard of the property they have achieved is good.

0:48:31 > 0:48:35It looks very clean, tidy and of good specification.

0:48:35 > 0:48:38And I think, you get people through the door,

0:48:38 > 0:48:40and they will be impressed by what they find.

0:48:42 > 0:48:45This is my first time inside the property,

0:48:45 > 0:48:49but I understand it was a little bit scruffy the first time around.

0:48:49 > 0:48:52So they've done a very good job of smartening it up to make it

0:48:52 > 0:48:55quite appealing. Selling points are a smart new kitchen,

0:48:55 > 0:49:00lovely new bathroom and two decent sized bedrooms.

0:49:00 > 0:49:02So, with the flat bound for the lettings market,

0:49:02 > 0:49:06what sort of rental return could John and Kelly expect?

0:49:06 > 0:49:08If this was rented out, there's no doubt about it,

0:49:08 > 0:49:12you'd achieve at least £550 a calendar month.

0:49:12 > 0:49:14You might even get £575.

0:49:14 > 0:49:18I would expect a rental value of up to approximately £600 per calendar month.

0:49:18 > 0:49:22We are in the market at the moment for 595, so it is in the ballpark, yes.

0:49:22 > 0:49:24We are very happy with that figure, yes.

0:49:24 > 0:49:29Well, if John and Kelly get that rental figure of £595

0:49:29 > 0:49:34per calendar month, it would mean a fantastic yield of just under 11%.

0:49:34 > 0:49:37It's easy to see why they plumped for the rental option,

0:49:37 > 0:49:39but if they decide to sell,

0:49:39 > 0:49:44the agents reckon they could expect to achieve from £60-£70,000.

0:49:45 > 0:49:49Well, all I can say is you won't get much for a makeover at that price.

0:49:49 > 0:49:51But I'm happy with those values.

0:49:51 > 0:49:54As long as I get what I paid for back again, I'm happy with that.

0:49:54 > 0:49:58It is a rental, so it was an investment,

0:49:58 > 0:50:01it is a long-term rental. I am happy with that.

0:50:01 > 0:50:04Well, with their spend of 66,500,

0:50:04 > 0:50:07there wouldn't be much profit to be made from selling the flat.

0:50:07 > 0:50:10And with that incredible yield of just under 11%,

0:50:10 > 0:50:13it's easy to see why they're going down the rental road.

0:50:13 > 0:50:18And in fact it sounds like John is so taken with it, he might be its first tenant.

0:50:18 > 0:50:23Very, very pleased with the finished product. Surprised myself, actually, when it was finished.

0:50:23 > 0:50:26When all the...paint goes on, the gloss goes on...

0:50:26 > 0:50:29and you touch up the bits and pieces, clean the windows,

0:50:29 > 0:50:33then you look at the finishing on the doors, etc, and think,

0:50:33 > 0:50:34"Yeah, yeah, I'd live here."

0:50:40 > 0:50:42Back to Chatham in Kent now.

0:50:42 > 0:50:45It was way back in 2009 that

0:50:45 > 0:50:47I first visited a plot of land

0:50:47 > 0:50:51situated in a highly desirable residential area, that had

0:50:51 > 0:50:54a guide price of £65-£70,000

0:50:54 > 0:50:58and, crucially, already had planning permission

0:50:58 > 0:51:00for a two-bedroom chalet bungalow.

0:51:00 > 0:51:04Now, I can see that there is a huge storage space

0:51:04 > 0:51:07running all the way around the outside.

0:51:07 > 0:51:11Now, surely that is a bit of a waste of space. Do you think, possibly,

0:51:11 > 0:51:13we could squeeze another bedroom out of that?

0:51:13 > 0:51:15I think by doing that,

0:51:15 > 0:51:18you would then really appeal to the family market.

0:51:18 > 0:51:21It was certainly a popular lot on auction day, and it eventually

0:51:21 > 0:51:26went for £87,000 to experienced property developer Frank...

0:51:27 > 0:51:30..who, like me, had spotted the issue with the approved plans.

0:51:32 > 0:51:35- That seems to me to be a waste of space.- That is just the loft storage.

0:51:35 > 0:51:38That's... Exactly. The thing is, you are pitching the roof,

0:51:38 > 0:51:41and that is quite a wide area. You could get another bedroom in there.

0:51:41 > 0:51:45But perhaps the planners don't want that particular situation,

0:51:45 > 0:51:49but it does lend itself to another bedroom in that area there.

0:51:49 > 0:51:53Adding a bedroom would need further planning permission, but Frank was confident

0:51:53 > 0:51:56and had earmarked an £80-£90,000 budget

0:51:56 > 0:52:00and a timescale of six months, once planning permission was granted.

0:52:02 > 0:52:05Well, fast forward two years,

0:52:05 > 0:52:08and we return to the site to find that, thanks to the financial

0:52:08 > 0:52:11instability of the property market at that time,

0:52:11 > 0:52:13Frank had decided to put his plans on hold

0:52:13 > 0:52:16and had only dug the foundations and laid the footings

0:52:16 > 0:52:19so that the original planning permission wouldn't lapse.

0:52:22 > 0:52:25He'd spent £20,000 of his original budget

0:52:25 > 0:52:27and was going to wait eight months

0:52:27 > 0:52:30to see how stable the property market was

0:52:30 > 0:52:33before making a decision about when to complete the build.

0:52:33 > 0:52:37It's almost three-and-a-half years since our last visit,

0:52:37 > 0:52:39and I can barely look!

0:52:39 > 0:52:42Has Frank finally completed the property?

0:52:48 > 0:52:52Well, it looks like a fabulous new home from the outside.

0:52:52 > 0:52:54Let's take a look inside.

0:53:05 > 0:53:07Wow! It has been worth the wait.

0:53:07 > 0:53:10After almost five-and-a-half years,

0:53:10 > 0:53:14we now have a beautiful, bright and spacious property,

0:53:14 > 0:53:17absolutely ideal for the family market.

0:53:24 > 0:53:28Moving upstairs, and I'm delighted to report that not only did

0:53:28 > 0:53:31Frank get planning permission for a third bedroom,

0:53:31 > 0:53:34but he also got permission for a fourth bedroom, making this

0:53:34 > 0:53:38a brilliantly proportioned four-bed chalet bungalow.

0:53:44 > 0:53:48Time to hear from Frank exactly how it's been and what he's done.

0:53:49 > 0:53:52We've got a chalet bungalow.

0:53:52 > 0:53:56On the ground floor, we've got a bedroom and an en-suite.

0:53:56 > 0:53:59We've got a wide hall.

0:53:59 > 0:54:04A very nice lounge with a bay in it.

0:54:04 > 0:54:07You move back, you've got a big kitchen.

0:54:07 > 0:54:11And then you've got a downstairs loo, the stairs,

0:54:11 > 0:54:16and equally you've got a utility room.

0:54:16 > 0:54:19Upstairs, you've got...

0:54:19 > 0:54:23three beds upstairs, er, one en-suite,

0:54:23 > 0:54:25one family bathroom.

0:54:25 > 0:54:28Whilst there are still a few finishing touches needed,

0:54:28 > 0:54:31particularly outside where the lawn is still to be laid,

0:54:31 > 0:54:33Frank is almost finished.

0:54:33 > 0:54:38But how is his original budget of £80-£90,000 looking?

0:54:38 > 0:54:41We're at about 150,000.

0:54:41 > 0:54:43And...obviously we've got...

0:54:43 > 0:54:46extra on the bedroom,

0:54:46 > 0:54:49which we wouldn't have had to do,

0:54:49 > 0:54:51so, yes, there's certain things.

0:54:51 > 0:54:55I've put, er, some, um, good fittings in there, and so on.

0:54:55 > 0:54:59So roughly about 150,000, I suppose.

0:54:59 > 0:55:02£150,000 is almost twice his original budget,

0:55:02 > 0:55:07although he does say that was before he budgeted for the extra rooms.

0:55:07 > 0:55:10So with the project all but complete,

0:55:10 > 0:55:13what is he most pleased with?

0:55:13 > 0:55:15Well, the whole thing, to be honest.

0:55:15 > 0:55:19The...the style, I like the style, from the beginning.

0:55:19 > 0:55:25The gentleman I bought it off actually had the plan done, outline.

0:55:25 > 0:55:30And, um... we tweaked it a bit, but nothing much. And I do like it.

0:55:30 > 0:55:34Everyone around seems to like the style of it as well, you know.

0:55:35 > 0:55:38Well, it has taken just about five-and-a-half years

0:55:38 > 0:55:40and, along with the purchase price,

0:55:40 > 0:55:43Frank has invested 237,000 into this property.

0:55:45 > 0:55:48And with him eager to sell, it's going to be interesting to hear

0:55:48 > 0:55:51the thoughts of two local estate agents,

0:55:51 > 0:55:54both of whom visited the site last time we were here.

0:55:54 > 0:55:56Yes, I'm very surprised to see it,

0:55:56 > 0:55:58it's much bigger than I thought it was,

0:55:58 > 0:56:00and I think they've made a real good job of it.

0:56:00 > 0:56:03It's amazing, the changes. The last time I came, it was just a base.

0:56:03 > 0:56:07And now that the chalet bungalow is on here,

0:56:07 > 0:56:10it is so much bigger than it was.

0:56:10 > 0:56:13The base looked so tiny, but now the house look so big.

0:56:13 > 0:56:16I think, for the person who bought it, it was the right move to

0:56:16 > 0:56:19move from a two-bed to a four-bed.

0:56:19 > 0:56:21Two bedrooms is just not enough for a family,

0:56:21 > 0:56:25and this design just asks for a four-bedroom.

0:56:26 > 0:56:29So the estate agents are sounding pretty impressed

0:56:29 > 0:56:32and are particularly keen on the addition of the fourth bedroom.

0:56:34 > 0:56:37Back in 2011, with just the plans to go by,

0:56:37 > 0:56:41they both predicted a resale value of around £250,000

0:56:41 > 0:56:44for a three-bed chalet bungalow.

0:56:44 > 0:56:48So how does this completed four-bed compare?

0:56:48 > 0:56:50If I was going to put this on the market,

0:56:50 > 0:56:52I would be looking in the region of

0:56:52 > 0:56:56£350,000-£375,000

0:56:56 > 0:56:58for the property.

0:56:58 > 0:57:01If he was to sell this property, I think he would achieve

0:57:01 > 0:57:02a price in the region of

0:57:02 > 0:57:07£350,000-£375,000.

0:57:07 > 0:57:09That's more than I thought.

0:57:09 > 0:57:12Yeah. Absolutely.

0:57:12 > 0:57:15That is very good, very good indeed, yes.

0:57:16 > 0:57:20Well, that top valuation of £375,000

0:57:20 > 0:57:24would mean a pre-tax profit of around 138,000...

0:57:26 > 0:57:29..meaning Frank's decision to wait out the financial crisis,

0:57:29 > 0:57:33and to add a fourth bedroom has been a huge success,

0:57:33 > 0:57:37making him a very happy man.

0:57:37 > 0:57:40Over the moon, absolutely over the moon.

0:57:40 > 0:57:42It's been a joy to do. The...

0:57:42 > 0:57:44the value of it now is, um...

0:57:44 > 0:57:48You know, when we're coming to the end and the value is that, well, that's good.

0:57:48 > 0:57:52You've got two agents with a similar figure, that's good.

0:57:52 > 0:57:54Yeah, very good.

0:57:56 > 0:57:59Well, that's it for today's show, but we'll have plenty more

0:57:59 > 0:58:02stories from the auction rooms for you next time.

0:58:02 > 0:58:04Yes, you can join us for the ups and downs

0:58:04 > 0:58:07- of property developing! - See you then. Bye.- Goodbye!- Bye.