Episode 20

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0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello, and welcome to the show.

0:00:03 > 0:00:05Now, auction properties come in all sorts of shapes

0:00:05 > 0:00:09and sizes, from tiny terraces to massive mansions.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12Yeah, and the auction room is often the place to get a very good deal.

0:00:12 > 0:00:14Yeah, so why not head down to your local auction

0:00:14 > 0:00:16and see what's on offer.

0:00:41 > 0:00:44Well, it's at all go at an average property auction.

0:00:44 > 0:00:46And I'll tell you what, the bidding can sometimes go at quite

0:00:46 > 0:00:49- a frantic pace.- Yes, you have to keep on your toes to keep up.

0:00:49 > 0:00:52But make sure you don't let things run away with you.

0:00:52 > 0:00:55Yeah, let's hope today's buyers took that advice onboard.

0:00:55 > 0:00:58How did they get on? Let's find out.

0:00:58 > 0:00:59In Farningham, Kent,

0:00:59 > 0:01:03there's plenty of room on this plot, with a bizarre bonus.

0:01:03 > 0:01:08You get a high-end motor too. No, seriously, you do.

0:01:09 > 0:01:13In Aspatria, Cumbria, a hidden house with obvious problems.

0:01:13 > 0:01:15Big rooms, um...no floors.

0:01:15 > 0:01:17HE LAUGHS

0:01:17 > 0:01:18Yea... Right.

0:01:19 > 0:01:25And in Wallington, London, well, this flat is a tad tight for space.

0:01:25 > 0:01:28This is the one room. This is it!

0:01:30 > 0:01:33All these properties have been bought at auction. We'll find out who got them

0:01:33 > 0:01:36and how much they paid when these homes went under the hammer.

0:01:36 > 0:01:38GAVEL BANGS Yours!

0:01:42 > 0:01:46Farningham in Kent is a quaint village complete with pretty river,

0:01:46 > 0:01:51pub and local shops. With good transport links direct to London,

0:01:51 > 0:01:54it's no surprise that this is a sought-after village.

0:01:56 > 0:01:58The ducks seem to like it, too.

0:01:59 > 0:02:02Slap-bang right in the heart of this beautiful village and

0:02:02 > 0:02:05a few minutes' walk from the local shops

0:02:05 > 0:02:07is the lot I'm here to see today.

0:02:07 > 0:02:09Now, it's in a conservation area

0:02:09 > 0:02:14and it is sat right next to this beautiful 13th-century church.

0:02:14 > 0:02:16It's gorgeous!

0:02:16 > 0:02:19But it's not a house I've come to look at. Nope, it is a plot of land.

0:02:19 > 0:02:23And it is right at the back here. And it's huge!

0:02:23 > 0:02:26Wow, what an opportunity.

0:02:26 > 0:02:28# When I saw you, yeah, when I saw you

0:02:28 > 0:02:33- # I said - Ooh...

0:02:33 > 0:02:37# I'm living in a box but I'm out when opportunity nox

0:02:37 > 0:02:39# Ooh... #

0:02:39 > 0:02:44Well, this is a huge site and I just love this wall attached.

0:02:44 > 0:02:46Now I happen to know it's about 300 years old

0:02:46 > 0:02:49because one of the local villagers told me earlier.

0:02:49 > 0:02:50It must belong to the church.

0:02:50 > 0:02:54I mean, how lovely having that church dominating this site?

0:02:55 > 0:02:59It looks like some work has already started and as the plot is

0:02:59 > 0:03:03just under half an acre, not everything you see here is for sale.

0:03:04 > 0:03:07The plot adjacent was purchased a year ago,

0:03:07 > 0:03:09so this here, not for sale.

0:03:11 > 0:03:14This is. That isn't.

0:03:14 > 0:03:17Got it? Good.

0:03:18 > 0:03:23Now, the guide price was £850-£900,000,

0:03:23 > 0:03:27which sounds like a lot, but it's big enough to get a few houses on.

0:03:27 > 0:03:29I did say it was an opportunity,

0:03:29 > 0:03:33and even more so because it comes with planning permission.

0:03:33 > 0:03:35So, that's good news, I suppose.

0:03:35 > 0:03:39Now, dating back to the 2012 plans - they were approved and the

0:03:39 > 0:03:43original buildings that were here on the site were then demolished.

0:03:43 > 0:03:46You can see the remnants just laying around.

0:03:46 > 0:03:51Now, planning permission is for the building of four detached houses.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54So, ready to go, I suppose.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57# Baby, I'm ready to go

0:03:57 > 0:04:00# I'm back and ready to go... #

0:04:00 > 0:04:01REWIND NOISE

0:04:01 > 0:04:03Wait a minute - hold on, because

0:04:03 > 0:04:06there is more to the history of this plot.

0:04:06 > 0:04:10And more restrictions than the conservation area.

0:04:10 > 0:04:12Let me explain.

0:04:12 > 0:04:15So, previously, this site housed a metalworks.

0:04:15 > 0:04:18Taking on a plot like this, well, tests

0:04:18 > 0:04:21will need to be done before any building can even take place.

0:04:21 > 0:04:25There'll need to be a contamination study and a soil report.

0:04:25 > 0:04:29That'll need to be done. And anyone taking on this site will be

0:04:29 > 0:04:33bound by Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act

0:04:33 > 0:04:36which among other things requires

0:04:36 > 0:04:38a sum to be paid to the council

0:04:38 > 0:04:42and that is based on the projected profits of this lot.

0:04:43 > 0:04:46So, it's beginning to seem like the dark clouds are rolling in.

0:04:48 > 0:04:51But, hey ho, there's always a silver lining.

0:04:51 > 0:04:55With this, you get a high-end motor, too.

0:04:55 > 0:04:57No, seriously - you do!

0:04:57 > 0:04:59This is part of the deal.

0:04:59 > 0:05:02# The best things in life are free

0:05:02 > 0:05:04# Now that we've got each other

0:05:04 > 0:05:07# The best things in life are free... #

0:05:07 > 0:05:10Another thing you can't put a price on is advice.

0:05:10 > 0:05:13And we're about to get some from a local estate agent.

0:05:15 > 0:05:18I want to know what she thinks about this piece of land.

0:05:19 > 0:05:21The plot is a good size

0:05:21 > 0:05:25and I understand it comes with planning, which is excellent.

0:05:25 > 0:05:28It's a sought-after area, and being a conservation area,

0:05:28 > 0:05:32it's very rare that you get opportunities like this one.

0:05:32 > 0:05:36I think that this is a fantastic opportunity for whoever

0:05:36 > 0:05:38purchases it.

0:05:38 > 0:05:41The other development in the area is an old mill,

0:05:41 > 0:05:44and all these properties are going to sealed bids, so that

0:05:44 > 0:05:46just gives you an idea of the demand

0:05:46 > 0:05:49for property in this popular village.

0:05:49 > 0:05:53The plans are for four five-bed detached houses.

0:05:53 > 0:05:56What could each one achieve on the market?

0:05:56 > 0:06:00I think from the plans that I've seen and knowing the area,

0:06:00 > 0:06:06how sought-after it is, between £795,000-£895,000.

0:06:08 > 0:06:11Well, this certainly is a decent sized plot in a beautiful area,

0:06:11 > 0:06:13with planning permission,

0:06:13 > 0:06:16all the demolition has already been done for you, and don't forget

0:06:16 > 0:06:20you've got that development up the road, apparently in huge demand.

0:06:20 > 0:06:25Let's see who saw this as a great opportunity when it went to auction.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27Ladies and gentlemen, start me if you will.

0:06:27 > 0:06:30Shall we say £800,000? You say

0:06:30 > 0:06:33800. Thank you, sir. 800, I am bid.

0:06:33 > 0:06:35810, anywhere? Over at the doorway, 810.

0:06:35 > 0:06:40820? 820, 830? 830. 840?

0:06:40 > 0:06:42You distracted me there, 840. Thank you.

0:06:42 > 0:06:47850? 850, 860? 860, 870? 70, 80.

0:06:47 > 0:06:51880, 890. Right, new bidder, thank you, at 890. Make it 900.

0:06:51 > 0:06:58900, 910, 20. You say 20, thank you. And 30, and 30 and 40.

0:06:58 > 0:07:02940 and 50. 50 and 60. And 60 and 70.

0:07:04 > 0:07:06There's no. 960,000 sitting down.

0:07:06 > 0:07:11He's back at 970. 980. 980, 990.

0:07:11 > 0:07:13No?

0:07:13 > 0:07:15I'd have said a million pounds at this stage,

0:07:15 > 0:07:16just to frighten him off!

0:07:16 > 0:07:18First time, second time,

0:07:18 > 0:07:22your good self sitting down with the glasses, don't worry. I've got you.

0:07:22 > 0:07:27£980,000 then for the third and final time. Yours, sir. Well done.

0:07:27 > 0:07:29980. Thank you.

0:07:29 > 0:07:30The successful bidder was Mike,

0:07:30 > 0:07:34who has bought this in partnership with his friend Steve.

0:07:34 > 0:07:37They're full-time property developers who purchased

0:07:37 > 0:07:40this lot for almost a million pounds.

0:07:40 > 0:07:43But do they have a million reasons for buying it?

0:07:43 > 0:07:45I'm keen to find out.

0:07:45 > 0:07:47- Mike and Steve, congratulations. - Thank you.- Thank you.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50What a lovely part of the world Farningham is.

0:07:50 > 0:07:51So you've got some exciting plans.

0:07:51 > 0:07:56Now, I know this site already came with plans to build four houses.

0:07:56 > 0:07:59- Four detached houses, yes.- Are you going to be going with those plans?

0:07:59 > 0:08:01We're not going to go with the original plans,

0:08:01 > 0:08:07we secured some land on an option behind the site before the auction,

0:08:07 > 0:08:10to enable us to build four bigger houses.

0:08:10 > 0:08:14- So, wait a minute, so you've already got the land behind here?- Yes.

0:08:14 > 0:08:16Which is fantastic. And now I can

0:08:16 > 0:08:18- see why this was worth so much to you.- Yeah.

0:08:18 > 0:08:21So how long ago did you buy the land?

0:08:21 > 0:08:23- We secured it about a year ago, didn't we?- A year ago, yes.

0:08:23 > 0:08:26So really, this was only valuable to you guys in that auction room,

0:08:26 > 0:08:30- wasn't it?- Yes.- Yes, it was. - So you had to get this on the day. - Yes.- Yeah.

0:08:30 > 0:08:33So, has that now enabled you to build some bigger, better houses?

0:08:33 > 0:08:35- Yeah, much bigger.- Much bigger, yeah.

0:08:35 > 0:08:38I think the original planning was for 6,000 square feet.

0:08:38 > 0:08:41And I think we're going to manage 10,000 square feet,

0:08:41 > 0:08:42so it's quite a lot bigger.

0:08:42 > 0:08:45So let's talk about what you're actually going to be building here.

0:08:45 > 0:08:49- Four houses.- Yeah, four houses in the form of a courtyard,

0:08:49 > 0:08:52with a large house on the left running up the side of the wall,

0:08:52 > 0:08:56two more in the middle, and one on the right running up the side.

0:08:56 > 0:08:59However, as I mentioned, there were conditions attached to the

0:08:59 > 0:09:04building here, including that Section 106, and as it turns out,

0:09:04 > 0:09:06the lovely church is going to

0:09:06 > 0:09:09be the beneficiary instead of the Council.

0:09:09 > 0:09:10As part of this development,

0:09:10 > 0:09:15we have to build them a Sunday School which we're quite

0:09:15 > 0:09:19excited about and that's in lieu of a Section 106 agreement.

0:09:19 > 0:09:21So tell me a little bit more about the Section 106 agreement?

0:09:21 > 0:09:24Because that means that you just have to give something back, don't you?

0:09:24 > 0:09:27- Yeah.- A Section 106 agreement on a site like this would be

0:09:27 > 0:09:30a contribution to local infrastructure - schools, libraries.

0:09:30 > 0:09:34In this case, it's very unusual that they allowed us to contribute

0:09:34 > 0:09:37- and build a Sunday school. - Yeah.- Wow.

0:09:39 > 0:09:41Well, that has to be a win-win.

0:09:41 > 0:09:45Conservation regulations mean adhering to strict rules on materials.

0:09:45 > 0:09:48Building these houses to a high standard,

0:09:48 > 0:09:51that meets all these conditions will not be cheap.

0:09:51 > 0:09:54Their estimated budget is, wait for it...

0:09:54 > 0:09:58between 1 to 1.2 million.

0:09:58 > 0:10:02And how long do you think this is going to take you to build?

0:10:02 > 0:10:04- Um...- 12 months?- Nine months.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07- THEY LAUGH - I LOVE it!

0:10:07 > 0:10:09- A year...nine months. - Yeah, nine months.

0:10:09 > 0:10:12- The optimist, the pessimist.- Yeah.

0:10:12 > 0:10:15Well, of course either time scale could face readjustment if those

0:10:15 > 0:10:17soil tests for contamination

0:10:17 > 0:10:19turn out to be problematic.

0:10:19 > 0:10:23In the worst-case scenario, it could mean removing the soil.

0:10:24 > 0:10:28As if that wasn't enough, it turns out that house-building goes

0:10:28 > 0:10:29back a long way on this site

0:10:29 > 0:10:34because there was, once upon a time, a Roman villa here.

0:10:34 > 0:10:35Another complication!

0:10:37 > 0:10:39We have to have an archaeological report on the site.

0:10:39 > 0:10:42So they'll come down and do trial pits

0:10:42 > 0:10:44to see if there's any remains, which we hope not. And um...

0:10:44 > 0:10:47Well, look at my face, I got quite excited.

0:10:47 > 0:10:49I was like, "Wow, you might find something!"

0:10:49 > 0:10:53- Well, hopefully not.- Hopefully not. - Because obviously, it would slow the progress.

0:10:53 > 0:10:55I mean, that REALLY can slow it down, can't it?

0:10:55 > 0:10:57Yeah, it can stop us completely.

0:10:57 > 0:11:00And of course there is one other relic that did come with this plot.

0:11:02 > 0:11:04So what're you going to do with the Bentley, then?

0:11:04 > 0:11:06Well, we're going to return it to its original owner

0:11:06 > 0:11:08and we're going to get it lifted off the site.

0:11:08 > 0:11:12See, I think that would really suit you. I can see you behind that wheel.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15- THEY LAUGH - Thank you!

0:11:15 > 0:11:19OK, let's now steer this conversation back on track.

0:11:19 > 0:11:21I want to see those plans.

0:11:22 > 0:11:24This is the front elevation of the property.

0:11:24 > 0:11:28- It shows you what it's going to look like.- It's quite exciting, isn't it?

0:11:28 > 0:11:32- Wow.- It is.- Absolutely beautiful, and so traditional.

0:11:32 > 0:11:35- I can see that it's really going to tie in with the church.- Yeah.

0:11:35 > 0:11:39The front elevations are all flint with brick quoins which will be

0:11:39 > 0:11:43handmade bricks and then handmade tiles on the roof,

0:11:43 > 0:11:46so, yeah, it'll be really... It'll fit in perfectly.

0:11:46 > 0:11:50Absolutely beautiful building and I am so excited to see this go up

0:11:50 > 0:11:53- in either nine months or a year. - Nine months.- Nine months!

0:11:53 > 0:11:55- Nine months.- 12. - THEY LAUGH

0:11:55 > 0:11:57It's good that you've allowed for 12.

0:11:57 > 0:11:59Guys, I'm so excited, it's been fabulous meeting you

0:11:59 > 0:12:03- and I'm really excited, well done. - Thank you.- Thank you.- Thank you.

0:12:04 > 0:12:09There is just so much to do in 12 months. Or is it going to be nine months?

0:12:09 > 0:12:15I can't wait to see the finished product of this magnificent site.

0:12:15 > 0:12:18Join me later in the programme, and you can see how it's all gone.

0:12:30 > 0:12:34I'm on the edge of the small market town and farming community of

0:12:34 > 0:12:37Aspatria, on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria.

0:12:37 > 0:12:39You've got Carlisle 20 miles away,

0:12:39 > 0:12:43the seaport of Maryport close by, and the name Aspatria actually comes

0:12:43 > 0:12:48from the Scandinavian and Celtic meaning ash tree of St Patrick.

0:12:48 > 0:12:49Well, that's interesting,

0:12:49 > 0:12:51but what are the properties around here like?

0:12:56 > 0:12:59Well, there are quite a few character houses round here,

0:12:59 > 0:13:02for sure. And plenty of the kind of amenities you'd hope for

0:13:02 > 0:13:06in an agricultural town in the heart of the Cumbrian countryside.

0:13:06 > 0:13:09You've got shops, schooling, a post office, and a train station,

0:13:09 > 0:13:12so you can commute to the neighbouring towns,

0:13:12 > 0:13:15or even Carlisle from here, fairly easily.

0:13:15 > 0:13:20But one of Aspatria's greatest advantages is its setting.

0:13:20 > 0:13:24From the top of the town you can enjoy these panoramic views

0:13:24 > 0:13:28over acres and acres of farmland and natural beauty.

0:13:31 > 0:13:34Well, the properties that tend to come up for sale around here

0:13:34 > 0:13:39are generally terraces or ex-local authority houses, which makes

0:13:39 > 0:13:43the auction lot I'm here to see really interesting.

0:13:43 > 0:13:47Because it is a three, possibly four-bedroom, detached

0:13:47 > 0:13:49property in a secluded spot

0:13:49 > 0:13:51with its own grounds...

0:13:51 > 0:13:53Sounding great so far.

0:13:53 > 0:13:55The only negative

0:13:55 > 0:13:59could be the words in the auction catalogue

0:13:59 > 0:14:04which say that, "it is requiring complete renovation throughout."

0:14:04 > 0:14:08Guide price was £45,000 +

0:14:08 > 0:14:11and somewhere behind all this...

0:14:11 > 0:14:13DOG BARKS

0:14:13 > 0:14:15..foliage is the house.

0:14:18 > 0:14:21Well, it's worth noting that the Ownership and Access Rights

0:14:21 > 0:14:25relating to that grassy route I've just walked up

0:14:25 > 0:14:30are pretty vague and even the title deeds don't shed any light.

0:14:30 > 0:14:34So, you'd be advised to get your solicitor to clarify your legal

0:14:34 > 0:14:39position, as this is the only way in and only way out.

0:14:39 > 0:14:40- ECHOING:- Help!

0:14:43 > 0:14:46So what on Earth am I going to find in here?

0:14:46 > 0:14:51Well, love the flagstone floor. That's nice.

0:14:51 > 0:14:54Going to be a bit of an issue because it's definitely not going to

0:14:54 > 0:14:58have a damp proof course. So, unfortunately that is going to have

0:14:58 > 0:15:00to come up, to get some kind of damp proof course in.

0:15:00 > 0:15:02Big rooms, no floors!

0:15:02 > 0:15:04HE LAUGHS

0:15:04 > 0:15:05Yea... Right.

0:15:05 > 0:15:09So we're getting a flavour straight away of the kind of renovation

0:15:09 > 0:15:11project that's going to be involved here.

0:15:11 > 0:15:15New joists, new timbers. I mean, THAT is potentially quite expensive.

0:15:15 > 0:15:18It's the same story over there, but again a good-sized room

0:15:18 > 0:15:20and I like the layout of the property.

0:15:20 > 0:15:23In its day, this would have been a very grand house.

0:15:23 > 0:15:27And then down as you pass into the property, the area that was

0:15:27 > 0:15:30probably used as the kitchen.

0:15:30 > 0:15:34This one could definitely do with expanding, for sure.

0:15:34 > 0:15:36And, probably needs a new sink.

0:15:38 > 0:15:40Let's face it, it needs a new...

0:15:40 > 0:15:45basically everything to bring it up to modern habitable standards.

0:15:45 > 0:15:47But this place is full of fascinating features

0:15:47 > 0:15:51and historical character too that you don't often see these days.

0:15:51 > 0:15:53It's like stepping back in time.

0:15:53 > 0:15:57Well, up this really lovely wide staircase

0:15:57 > 0:16:02onto a nice-sized landing and lots of space.

0:16:02 > 0:16:06Good-sized double bedroom there, another double bedroom here.

0:16:06 > 0:16:09Very interesting little experience going down some

0:16:09 > 0:16:11steps into that little part of the property.

0:16:11 > 0:16:15What isn't possibly so lovely,

0:16:15 > 0:16:16is the bathroom, here.

0:16:16 > 0:16:21Now, if you're eating anything at the moment, you might want to

0:16:21 > 0:16:24put it down temporarily or turn the TV off, cos this is the bath.

0:16:24 > 0:16:29It's a lovely bath in principle, could do with a bit of a clean.

0:16:29 > 0:16:34And can you imagine what the loo will be like? Shall we take a look?

0:16:34 > 0:16:37HE CACKLES

0:16:37 > 0:16:40Oh, are you leaving? Oh, how surprising.

0:16:40 > 0:16:42OK, then. Let's go with the flow, so to speak,

0:16:42 > 0:16:45and focus on the lovely old features.

0:16:45 > 0:16:48Some ripe for reviving, and some not.

0:16:48 > 0:16:52But before you get distracted by the cutesy museum pieces,

0:16:52 > 0:16:54there are some more pressing matters.

0:16:59 > 0:17:01Well, as you might imagine,

0:17:01 > 0:17:04some of the foliage from outside

0:17:04 > 0:17:07has made its way into the property, coming through the windows.

0:17:07 > 0:17:12Well, I mean you are going to have to budget for replacing all these windows, of course.

0:17:12 > 0:17:14And what you're going to have to do with this place

0:17:14 > 0:17:15is get your shell sorted out.

0:17:15 > 0:17:19Make sure the roof is good, make sure the walls and the windows are all watertight.

0:17:19 > 0:17:21And then at least you can start

0:17:21 > 0:17:24on the internal renovations.

0:17:24 > 0:17:27And the major step in that is to get rid of all the foliage.

0:17:27 > 0:17:30I think this place is literally a hidden gem.

0:17:30 > 0:17:33Especially when you consider that

0:17:33 > 0:17:36attractive guide price of £45,000+.

0:17:37 > 0:17:40We asked the auctioneer who sold it to come along and give us

0:17:40 > 0:17:44- his assessment.- Well, isn't this a really interesting property?

0:17:44 > 0:17:47This is what you call a full renovation job.

0:17:47 > 0:17:51You'll certainly spend a lot more refurbing it than you would

0:17:51 > 0:17:54buying it in the first place. It needs everything, of course.

0:17:54 > 0:17:56It's certainly not for the faint-hearted.

0:17:56 > 0:17:58It's a full-on project.

0:17:58 > 0:18:01I'm very interested to see what the end result is.

0:18:01 > 0:18:05What kind of value could this old house achieve once it was restored?

0:18:05 > 0:18:09Well, I think if this property was done up to a really good

0:18:09 > 0:18:15standard, I think it would make a figure in excess of £200,000.

0:18:15 > 0:18:18Would it be worth considering renting this place out?

0:18:18 > 0:18:24The rental income would be probably £550-£600 per calendar month,

0:18:24 > 0:18:26so it doesn't offer a great yield.

0:18:26 > 0:18:29So I would expect somebody to buy it to live in,

0:18:29 > 0:18:32or to buy it to renovate and flip over and sell on.

0:18:34 > 0:18:37Well, you will sit in one of two camps

0:18:37 > 0:18:39when it comes to this property.

0:18:39 > 0:18:42The "I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole" camp or the,

0:18:42 > 0:18:46"Oh, wow, what an amazing opportunity" camp.

0:18:46 > 0:18:50Clearly, whoever bought it was in the latter.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53Let's find out who that was when it went under the hammer.

0:18:53 > 0:18:54Spacious detached property.

0:18:56 > 0:19:02In need of total renovation. At £40,000. Anybody here at 40?

0:19:02 > 0:19:03At 40, I'm bidding at seats.

0:19:03 > 0:19:08At 40, here? 41, 42, 43...

0:19:08 > 0:19:13From the start, the auction was between two determined bidders.

0:19:13 > 0:19:18We rejoin it as the bidding reaches 66,000.

0:19:18 > 0:19:21With you, Sir, at 66.

0:19:21 > 0:19:24At £66,000, are we all done?

0:19:24 > 0:19:25You're back in at 67, Madam.

0:19:25 > 0:19:2968, 69.

0:19:29 > 0:19:33Shake of the head at 70. With you, madam, at £69,000.

0:19:33 > 0:19:37At £69,000 then, for the first time.

0:19:37 > 0:19:41At £69,000 for the second time, I'm selling it.

0:19:41 > 0:19:44Third and final time to you, madam, selling away.

0:19:44 > 0:19:46- GAVEL BANGS - Well done.

0:19:48 > 0:19:52And so for £69,000, the dilapidated house was

0:19:52 > 0:19:56bought by Hazel. Hazel is a support worker helping people with

0:19:56 > 0:19:59learning difficulties to live independently.

0:19:59 > 0:20:03And this was bought as a family project with husband Ian

0:20:03 > 0:20:05and their children Hayley and Thomas.

0:20:07 > 0:20:11- Hazel, congratulations. - Thank you. I think!

0:20:11 > 0:20:14Tell me why you wanted to buy this place.

0:20:14 > 0:20:18- It's my son and daughter who's actually buying it.- Right.

0:20:18 > 0:20:20- And we're just going to help them out with the work.- Right.

0:20:20 > 0:20:25- So, is it their house to live in? - Possibly. Could be us.

0:20:25 > 0:20:28- All of us.- What?- And selling our house.- Wow.

0:20:28 > 0:20:30But we're not sure.

0:20:30 > 0:20:33We're just going to wait and see what it's like when we've finished

0:20:33 > 0:20:38- and if we want to come in.- Gosh, was that the original plan?- No.

0:20:38 > 0:20:41They were just wanting a house to get on the housing market and do

0:20:41 > 0:20:45one up and make some money, and then they can buy a house each then,

0:20:45 > 0:20:48- a bit more comfortably.- Right.

0:20:48 > 0:20:50But then we found this and we all love it.

0:20:50 > 0:20:54- We've done a house up before in similar conditions.- Right.

0:20:54 > 0:20:57- So tell me a bit about you and... Is it your husband?- Yep.

0:20:57 > 0:21:00Experienced in this kind of thing, or...?

0:21:00 > 0:21:03- My husband's a builder.- Oh, is he? Oh, right.- And my son is as well.

0:21:03 > 0:21:06Ah. Suddenly it all falls into place.

0:21:06 > 0:21:10Phew! That's a relief. Hazel had me worried for a moment.

0:21:10 > 0:21:13I thought this was a "heart leading the head" decision.

0:21:13 > 0:21:16But she's clearly under no illusion about the task in hand.

0:21:16 > 0:21:20She's confident that her husband and son have the experience

0:21:20 > 0:21:23to turn this derelict building into their family home.

0:21:23 > 0:21:27But where do you begin on such a project?

0:21:27 > 0:21:30We'll start with outside first.

0:21:30 > 0:21:32Cos we'll need a base to put things.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35And then, obviously, we'll start chipping the walls off,

0:21:35 > 0:21:39replastering, damp course, and electrics, plumbing.

0:21:39 > 0:21:43- Roof, walls, windows.- Well, the roof we think's all right.- Right.

0:21:43 > 0:21:45Really pleased with the roof. And there's going to be a

0:21:45 > 0:21:48single-storey extension downstairs, so it's more square.

0:21:48 > 0:21:49So the house is more square.

0:21:49 > 0:21:53- So, do you have a budget for those kind of works?- 40,000.- 40.

0:21:53 > 0:21:57- And what's the timescale? - About 18 months, we're hoping.- 18?

0:21:57 > 0:22:00Well, it's a weekend job. It's just going to be Saturdays if they're

0:22:00 > 0:22:03- not at work, or Sundays, if they don't work.- How is that going to be?

0:22:03 > 0:22:06Cos they're working as builders during the week - are they really

0:22:06 > 0:22:10going to want to come in and do this on the weekend, in the evenings?

0:22:10 > 0:22:15- Oh, yeah, my husband's done our house twice.- Oh, has he? So was he happy to get this place,

0:22:15 > 0:22:17or was he going, "Oh, no, here we go again?"

0:22:17 > 0:22:20- He didn't actually see it until we got the keys.- He didn't?

0:22:20 > 0:22:23- Right. And what did he say? - "What have we done?"

0:22:23 > 0:22:25LAUGHTER

0:22:25 > 0:22:27And what about you and your daughter?

0:22:27 > 0:22:29Well, we'll be helping as well. Yeah.

0:22:29 > 0:22:31I won't be on the roof or anything like that,

0:22:31 > 0:22:34- but my daughter was on the roof when we done our house.- Oh, really?

0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Yeah.- Helping tiling and stuff?

0:22:36 > 0:22:38Kicking ceilings in. She says it's very good!

0:22:38 > 0:22:41- Really? All right, OK. A bit of therapy.- Yep.

0:22:43 > 0:22:46Well, I don't think there'll be a shortage of opportunities to knock

0:22:46 > 0:22:48things out and bash in ceilings in this place.

0:22:48 > 0:22:52And it sounds like the whole family will be throwing themselves into the

0:22:52 > 0:22:57renovating work, which might make it hard to let the finished house go.

0:22:58 > 0:23:02At what point will you decide whether or not you're all going to move in as a family or

0:23:02 > 0:23:06- whether they're going to... - I think it's as we're going along and doing things, I think.

0:23:06 > 0:23:09Now, how are they about the thought that on the one hand they've got their own place

0:23:09 > 0:23:12and then suddenly Mum and Dad like it so much they're going to move in as well?

0:23:12 > 0:23:17Well, we'll probably sell ours and then they'll buy one with our money that we get off ours.

0:23:17 > 0:23:20Oh, OK. So it all works out in the end.

0:23:20 > 0:23:22- Yeah.- Well, I'm sure it's going to be dramatically different

0:23:22 > 0:23:26- when we come back. Look forward to seeing it. Good luck.- Thank you.

0:23:26 > 0:23:28LAUGHTER

0:23:28 > 0:23:31I think we need it! No, it'll be fine.

0:23:32 > 0:23:35Well, there you go. Funny, isn't it?

0:23:35 > 0:23:39There was a potential that people would absolutely run

0:23:39 > 0:23:42a mile from this place, but like me,

0:23:42 > 0:23:46Hazel and her family absolutely fell in love with it.

0:23:46 > 0:23:48The challenge now is to sort it out, but with two

0:23:48 > 0:23:53builders in the family, hopefully it won't be too much of an issue.

0:23:53 > 0:23:56But doing it on the weekends and in the evenings?

0:23:57 > 0:24:00Never going to be easy. You can find out how it turns out -

0:24:00 > 0:24:02can't wait - later in the show.

0:24:04 > 0:24:06Still to come, I'm having a very,

0:24:06 > 0:24:10very quick look around a studio flat in Wallington, Surrey.

0:24:11 > 0:24:14I don't think it's going to take very long.

0:24:15 > 0:24:18And there's no pain, no gain back in Cumbria.

0:24:18 > 0:24:21Ian actually fell and broke his ribs

0:24:21 > 0:24:23while he was putting in the new door.

0:24:26 > 0:24:28CHURCH ORGAN PLAYS

0:24:28 > 0:24:32Back to Farningham in Kent where we were looking at THIS.

0:24:32 > 0:24:33RECORD SCRATCHES

0:24:33 > 0:24:35No, next to the church!

0:24:35 > 0:24:37JAZZY MUSIC PLAYS

0:24:40 > 0:24:45Yes, for a guide price of 850,000 to 900,000, you could have this

0:24:45 > 0:24:49large plot of land in a highly desirable Kent village.

0:24:49 > 0:24:53Not only that, but the land had planning permission for four

0:24:53 > 0:24:56detached houses. So, easy peasy, then?

0:24:56 > 0:25:00Of course not! Not on this show.

0:25:00 > 0:25:03Previously, this site housed a metalworks.

0:25:03 > 0:25:07There'll need to be a contamination study and a soil report,

0:25:07 > 0:25:11that'll all need to be done before any building can even take place.

0:25:12 > 0:25:16Not only that, the site bore a Section 106,

0:25:16 > 0:25:20which meant the builders had to contribute to the community.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23There had to be an archaeological report on what had been

0:25:23 > 0:25:25the site of a Roman villa

0:25:25 > 0:25:29and on top of that, this is, not surprisingly, a conservation area.

0:25:29 > 0:25:33So that meant there would be restrictions on style and materials.

0:25:33 > 0:25:37Oh, and a classic motor that came as part of the lot, too.

0:25:37 > 0:25:42A bit random. None of that put off Mike, on the left, and Steve -

0:25:42 > 0:25:46two developers who purchased the land for 980,000.

0:25:46 > 0:25:50They were happy to tackle all these obstacles and have found

0:25:50 > 0:25:56a very pleasing solution to the Section 106 community contribution.

0:25:56 > 0:25:58Section 106 agreement on a site like this would be

0:25:58 > 0:26:02a contribution to local infrastructure - schools, libraries.

0:26:02 > 0:26:06In this case, it's very unusual that they allowed us to contribute

0:26:06 > 0:26:09- and build a Sunday School.- Yeah. - Wow.

0:26:09 > 0:26:11# Hi, hi, hi

0:26:11 > 0:26:15# Beautiful Sunday... #

0:26:17 > 0:26:20The budget for building four mews-style houses

0:26:20 > 0:26:24and the Sunday School was around 1.2 million

0:26:24 > 0:26:27and a timescale of between nine and 12 months.

0:26:28 > 0:26:31We're back after 18 months to see if Mike and Steve

0:26:31 > 0:26:36managed to make any progress in the face of adversity.

0:26:36 > 0:26:38MUSIC: That's Progress by Nik Kershaw

0:26:38 > 0:26:41# That's progress, that's progress

0:26:41 > 0:26:44# That's progress

0:26:44 > 0:26:48# They tell you, they tell you

0:26:48 > 0:26:52# That's progress

0:26:52 > 0:26:57It certainly is. All four houses are looking great from the outside.

0:26:57 > 0:27:00Not only that, but the finished building of what will become

0:27:00 > 0:27:04the Sunday School next to the church for the moment is acting as

0:27:04 > 0:27:08site office for Mike and Steve's account manager, Michelle.

0:27:08 > 0:27:10We dragged Mike away from his desk

0:27:10 > 0:27:12to talk us through the exterior layout.

0:27:17 > 0:27:22Right, what we've done, we've built four houses, five-bed houses,

0:27:22 > 0:27:24in a terraced formation courtyard.

0:27:24 > 0:27:26We've got two very similar ones in the middle

0:27:26 > 0:27:31and then two completely individual houses on the end.

0:27:31 > 0:27:33Each house has got its own double garage.

0:27:33 > 0:27:37The bricks are handmade and we've used traditional flint

0:27:37 > 0:27:40panelling to fit in with the village setting.

0:27:40 > 0:27:42And I think this is going to be one of those projects that

0:27:42 > 0:27:45in three or four years, you'll never know it was a new-build.

0:27:45 > 0:27:48And that's what we tried to achieve.

0:27:48 > 0:27:51And if you think these terraces look a little small to have five

0:27:51 > 0:27:54bedrooms, wait till you get inside.

0:27:54 > 0:27:58Each is unbelievably spacious, with multiple bathrooms

0:27:58 > 0:28:00and several living areas.

0:28:01 > 0:28:04- # So much more to you - Ooh...

0:28:04 > 0:28:07- # So much more to you - Ooh...

0:28:07 > 0:28:09# So much more to you

0:28:09 > 0:28:12# Than I ever realised... #

0:28:12 > 0:28:17I don't have any doubt that these houses are going to be beautiful,

0:28:17 > 0:28:21but there still is a bit of work to do, especially in the fourth house.

0:28:21 > 0:28:24However, one thing I wonder is if Mike

0:28:24 > 0:28:28and Steve feel they've been right to build these mews houses rather

0:28:28 > 0:28:31than the original plans for detached houses.

0:28:32 > 0:28:35We were very limited on the site space

0:28:35 > 0:28:38and we originally had detached houses.

0:28:38 > 0:28:40Now detached houses means we had gaps in between,

0:28:40 > 0:28:42which was a waste of space.

0:28:42 > 0:28:45Someone saying that we've changed it from a detached to a terraced,

0:28:45 > 0:28:48they might think we're crazy, but actually it's worked.

0:28:48 > 0:28:51Well, I think they've done really well to even get to this point,

0:28:51 > 0:28:54because there were a number of obstacles to overcome

0:28:54 > 0:28:56such as soil reports and archaeology.

0:28:58 > 0:29:01A small amount of contamination from the factory that was here

0:29:01 > 0:29:04originally, which we had to clear, which was no problem at all.

0:29:04 > 0:29:07- There wasn't really any archaeology problems at all.- No.

0:29:07 > 0:29:08They checked that out.

0:29:08 > 0:29:12That obviously all took the initial stages of the project.

0:29:12 > 0:29:15- But, no, everything's gone OK. We've had...- Service problems.

0:29:15 > 0:29:18We had some electric wires that were found. There used to be

0:29:18 > 0:29:22a substation on site and they were high-voltage and it took a lot of

0:29:22 > 0:29:26time to establish whose responsibility they were to remove.

0:29:27 > 0:29:31And after all that, then there was our old friend, Planning Permission.

0:29:34 > 0:29:37- It's added considerably, hasn't it? - 6 to 9 months.

0:29:37 > 0:29:39Sevenoaks is a conservation area.

0:29:39 > 0:29:42Very, very difficult to get the amendments we wanted.

0:29:42 > 0:29:44And it's caused us severe delays.

0:29:44 > 0:29:48But we have got the result we wanted in the end.

0:29:48 > 0:29:53So Steve's guess of a nine-month development wasn't quite right.

0:29:53 > 0:29:57- Steve always underestimates the time.- Yes, Steve's an optimist.

0:29:57 > 0:30:00- Yeah.- I think, we didn't realise the amount of changes

0:30:00 > 0:30:02we were going to do and we didn't realise how difficult

0:30:02 > 0:30:04they were going to be to get through.

0:30:04 > 0:30:07I think if the market was not

0:30:07 > 0:30:11so attractive, we would've considered making no changes at all.

0:30:11 > 0:30:15How did those delays affect their £1.2 million budget?

0:30:15 > 0:30:20- I think we going to top out at 1.35 million.- Mm.

0:30:20 > 0:30:23But we have increased the square-footage, which is quite fundamental, really.

0:30:23 > 0:30:27And more importantly, we've produced a product that we're proud of.

0:30:27 > 0:30:31Add that to the cost of the plot and the extra parcel of land

0:30:31 > 0:30:36bought beforehand and the build cost comes to 2.48 million.

0:30:36 > 0:30:38A huge investment.

0:30:38 > 0:30:42So, what will a local estate agent make of these four houses?

0:30:42 > 0:30:45I think these properties are absolutely fantastic.

0:30:45 > 0:30:47The two end properties are the special ones,

0:30:47 > 0:30:50obviously they're slightly larger. I mean, these houses are obviously

0:30:50 > 0:30:53brand-new, but they look like they've been here for ages.

0:30:53 > 0:30:56They really blend in with the village and the local church.

0:30:56 > 0:31:02We're agreed, they look lovely, but with over 2.4 million quid at stake,

0:31:02 > 0:31:07it's the numbers that will decide if this development is a real success.

0:31:07 > 0:31:09What could the houses sell for?

0:31:09 > 0:31:13OK, price ranges. There's four units here, and I would suggest

0:31:13 > 0:31:16that the bottom ones would probably go for 950,000

0:31:16 > 0:31:17or something of that order,

0:31:17 > 0:31:22with the larger one probably going for as much as £1.3 million.

0:31:22 > 0:31:23- Great, Yeah.- Yeah, reasonable.

0:31:23 > 0:31:26We may even get a higher bid on it, but, yeah, it's good.

0:31:26 > 0:31:30Yeah, that's great, it's made the changes worthwhile.

0:31:30 > 0:31:33A total combined price the estate agent gave us

0:31:33 > 0:31:37was a whopping 4.4 million.

0:31:38 > 0:31:41That would give Steve and Mike a profit of two million quid,

0:31:41 > 0:31:44minus the usual taxes and expenses.

0:31:44 > 0:31:47But if you think making that kind of money is easy,

0:31:47 > 0:31:49you should probably have a few words with Mike.

0:31:52 > 0:31:56Yeah, definitely. We've made more money, but I've gone grey.

0:31:56 > 0:31:58THEY LAUGH

0:31:58 > 0:32:01Aw! You don't look any different to us, Mike!

0:32:05 > 0:32:08Wallington in Surrey was once the centre for the production

0:32:08 > 0:32:10of lavender oil.

0:32:10 > 0:32:14Although it is still a green area, nowadays, the fields of lavender

0:32:14 > 0:32:18have been turned into a busy town centre, a train station,

0:32:18 > 0:32:21and plenty of new developments.

0:32:21 > 0:32:25So I say Wallington still smells pretty sweet to me.

0:32:25 > 0:32:28No pretty purple flowers at this time of year.

0:32:28 > 0:32:31But this road is less than a ten-minute walk from the train station,

0:32:31 > 0:32:34so THAT is definitely a good thing.

0:32:34 > 0:32:38And I'm here to see a property that went to auction with a guide price

0:32:38 > 0:32:42of £70,000 and it's just up there on the first floor.

0:32:43 > 0:32:47It's a studio flat conversion in a Victorian villa

0:32:47 > 0:32:49with off-road parking.

0:32:49 > 0:32:52Ooh, well, I really like the nice red front door

0:32:52 > 0:32:55and I've got to say, I'm not too disappointed by the communal areas.

0:32:55 > 0:32:59Really well kept and the good thing is, with this whole building,

0:32:59 > 0:33:02there's only four flats in here, so that door is not going to be

0:33:02 > 0:33:05banging every ten minutes with people coming and going.

0:33:05 > 0:33:07I'd see that as a real bonus.

0:33:07 > 0:33:09Not that I'm knocking this front door,

0:33:09 > 0:33:12which closed very quietly, but you get my drift.

0:33:12 > 0:33:15Anyway, two flights of stairs later...

0:33:17 > 0:33:19Well, let's have a look around inside

0:33:19 > 0:33:22and I don't think it's going to take very long.

0:33:22 > 0:33:25So, walking straight into the property, you've got a really

0:33:25 > 0:33:30nice little bathroom there, and in here, well, this is the one room.

0:33:30 > 0:33:31This is it!

0:33:31 > 0:33:34It's a studio flat and you just get this.

0:33:34 > 0:33:38So, a little bit on the small side. I know you expect that with studios.

0:33:38 > 0:33:40Here's the kitchen.

0:33:40 > 0:33:43Here's the lounge. That was the bathroom.

0:33:43 > 0:33:47So, I suppose you could think about getting a bed that maybe

0:33:47 > 0:33:50flips up onto the wall or maybe a sofa bed in here.

0:33:50 > 0:33:52You'd need to change the carpet,

0:33:52 > 0:33:55but I think you could leave the white paint on the walls.

0:33:55 > 0:33:56I'd even leave the kitchen.

0:33:56 > 0:33:59So that'd probably cost you 50 quid to change.

0:33:59 > 0:34:02There you go. I think that's all you need to do with this property.

0:34:02 > 0:34:06I just wish it were a little bigger, perhaps.

0:34:06 > 0:34:11Apart from the kitchen, the only storage is this small cupboard in the hallway.

0:34:11 > 0:34:14However, the bathroom is big enough to accommodate

0:34:14 > 0:34:17the washing machine, but only a shower.

0:34:17 > 0:34:20The living-bedroom does have nice, bright sash windows.

0:34:21 > 0:34:24# In a small world... #

0:34:24 > 0:34:26And a word of warning.

0:34:26 > 0:34:29If you don't want to inadvertently end up in a small world...

0:34:29 > 0:34:33As well as doing your pre-auction homework,

0:34:33 > 0:34:34don't forget that on the day,

0:34:34 > 0:34:38there's often a late-announcement sheet, which might affect

0:34:38 > 0:34:43the property you're viewing and you must always make sure you read this.

0:34:43 > 0:34:48In this case, well, it tells you the flat is actually a studio flat

0:34:48 > 0:34:52and not a one-bedder, as it says in the catalogue.

0:34:52 > 0:34:55So let's say you hadn't viewed the property before the auction

0:34:55 > 0:34:57and you didn't read this addendum sheet.

0:34:57 > 0:35:01Well, you might have bought less than you bargained for.

0:35:01 > 0:35:05We've asked a local estate agent to give us her opinions.

0:35:05 > 0:35:08First, the flat has only a 70-year lease,

0:35:08 > 0:35:11but it does have a share in the freehold, which means...

0:35:11 > 0:35:13It should be the case that the lease can be

0:35:13 > 0:35:15extended for costs only,

0:35:15 > 0:35:17without having to pay a freeholder

0:35:17 > 0:35:19quite a large sum of money to extend.

0:35:19 > 0:35:22That's something that I think is very, very important, because most

0:35:22 > 0:35:27buyers will want to know that the lease has at least 99 years left.

0:35:27 > 0:35:31Good news. But is there a market for studio flats in Wallington?

0:35:31 > 0:35:34There is a market for studio flats and I think it's very up-and-coming now.

0:35:34 > 0:35:37Lots of buyers are finding that one-bedroom flats are becoming

0:35:37 > 0:35:39out of reach with the rising market,

0:35:39 > 0:35:43so studio flats are definitely coming into their own now and prices

0:35:43 > 0:35:47are going up, so they're selling way easier than they used to.

0:35:47 > 0:35:50But somebody buying here wouldn't be buying a "forever home",

0:35:50 > 0:35:51so how's the commute?

0:35:53 > 0:35:55Wallington is great for commuters.

0:35:55 > 0:35:58There's a few stations.

0:35:58 > 0:36:01This flat is very, very close to Wallington train station,

0:36:01 > 0:36:04which takes commuters into London in about 35 minutes.

0:36:04 > 0:36:07There is also the choice of using Carshalton station, which has

0:36:07 > 0:36:11a quicker route and takes commuters into London in about 30 minutes.

0:36:11 > 0:36:13What would the value of the flat be,

0:36:13 > 0:36:16having been refurbished with an extended lease?

0:36:16 > 0:36:18Once this property's renovated,

0:36:18 > 0:36:21I would suggest it would achieve in the region of £160,000.

0:36:21 > 0:36:24If the owners decide to let the property,

0:36:24 > 0:36:27I would suggest it's worth in the region of £750 per calendar month.

0:36:28 > 0:36:30Yes, it's small.

0:36:30 > 0:36:32Well, it's VERY small, actually!

0:36:32 > 0:36:34But the good news is,

0:36:34 > 0:36:37it shouldn't take much time and money to turn this place around.

0:36:37 > 0:36:40So let's see who wanted it when it went to auction.

0:36:40 > 0:36:42Lot 184.

0:36:42 > 0:36:46We've got two reserves. It's in the same place as the last one, £80,000.

0:36:46 > 0:36:4880 I've got. 85?

0:36:48 > 0:36:52I've got 80 down at the front here. Looking for 85,000?

0:36:52 > 0:36:5385.

0:36:53 > 0:36:5585, sat down at the middle there, 85.

0:36:55 > 0:36:58Considering it's lot 184,

0:36:58 > 0:37:02'there's still plenty of bidders in the depleted auction room.

0:37:02 > 0:37:05'We rejoin the bidding at £99,000.'

0:37:05 > 0:37:0999? 100,000. Round it off, 100? 101?

0:37:09 > 0:37:11102?

0:37:11 > 0:37:14No? Bid's at the back, 101 - 102?

0:37:14 > 0:37:17Looking for £102,000, Lot 184.

0:37:17 > 0:37:21If not, 101 for the first, 101 for the second...?

0:37:22 > 0:37:24102.

0:37:24 > 0:37:28102, 103, 104, 105, 106.

0:37:30 > 0:37:33108, 108, 109,

0:37:33 > 0:37:35110.

0:37:37 > 0:37:41110, no? We've got 109 down here, looking for 110 elsewhere.

0:37:41 > 0:37:45If not, I'm selling at £109,000.

0:37:45 > 0:37:51Lot 184, 109 for the first, 109 for the second, 109 for the third and final time.

0:37:51 > 0:37:53If we're all done... Sold. 109,000.

0:37:55 > 0:37:58The purchasers were three brothers in the second row.

0:37:58 > 0:38:01They'd avoided our auction camera until the end,

0:38:01 > 0:38:04but two of them met me later at the studio flat

0:38:04 > 0:38:06they'd bought for £109,000.

0:38:08 > 0:38:11Lukas and Marcin, lovely to meet you both. Congratulations!

0:38:11 > 0:38:14- Thank you very much.- Thank you. - Now, interesting one, this.

0:38:14 > 0:38:16A rather small studio flat.

0:38:16 > 0:38:20- Did either of you view this prior to the auction?- To be honest, no.

0:38:20 > 0:38:22It wasn't our first choice.

0:38:24 > 0:38:28We were interested in a few other properties,

0:38:28 > 0:38:31but finally all of them...

0:38:31 > 0:38:34- Yeah?- ..went over our budget,

0:38:34 > 0:38:39so we decided to go through the catalogue and we spotted this one

0:38:39 > 0:38:44and we thought, it's a nice location, with links to London,

0:38:44 > 0:38:46very attractive guide price,

0:38:46 > 0:38:48so we started bidding.

0:38:48 > 0:38:52- So you didn't see the addendum? - We saw the addendum, we knew. - So you saw that?

0:38:52 > 0:38:55- So you knew this was a studio flat? - Yes, yes.

0:38:55 > 0:38:58- But you didn't view the property? - No.

0:38:58 > 0:39:01OK. So what's done is done. How do you feel now?

0:39:01 > 0:39:04- Marcin, how do you feel, now you've seen it?- Well, yes.

0:39:04 > 0:39:07We walked through the door and then we said,

0:39:07 > 0:39:10"Oh, my Gosh! Well, we bought it!"

0:39:10 > 0:39:13It's a really, really small area. But, um...

0:39:16 > 0:39:19We quite believe that we can manage something with this,

0:39:19 > 0:39:22- to do with the place.- Yeah. So, happy with the price you paid?

0:39:22 > 0:39:25I mean, I suppose it all depends on what you get it for

0:39:25 > 0:39:27and what you want to do with it.

0:39:27 > 0:39:29I mean, how do you feel now you've got it?

0:39:29 > 0:39:34- If I could give you £109,000 back, would you walk away?- Ah!

0:39:35 > 0:39:36Not really.

0:39:36 > 0:39:38Well... We understood this question,

0:39:38 > 0:39:40but I'm just thinking, "How do I answer it?"

0:39:40 > 0:39:42THEY LAUGH

0:39:42 > 0:39:46Um... Well, no, we'll still try and make a bit of money off it.

0:39:46 > 0:39:48- So you're still thinking...? - Yes, yes, we will still keep it.

0:39:48 > 0:39:50So you can still add value?

0:39:50 > 0:39:53- You still feel confident that you can add value...- I think so.

0:39:53 > 0:39:55..to £109,000?

0:39:55 > 0:39:59We strongly believe that the best investment is to invest with...

0:40:00 > 0:40:02..bricks and mortar, I will say,

0:40:02 > 0:40:05so it does definitely give us a profit.

0:40:05 > 0:40:07So what is the plan with this property?

0:40:07 > 0:40:12Well, the chief is to make this property

0:40:12 > 0:40:17quite nice place to live for a couple or young professionals.

0:40:17 > 0:40:20We've got a few options, actually.

0:40:20 > 0:40:24One of this is to change the layout, erm, perhaps.

0:40:24 > 0:40:26Erm...

0:40:26 > 0:40:28How? I'm really intrigued to know.

0:40:28 > 0:40:30Well, we started to think about it today, actually.

0:40:30 > 0:40:33- We think...- We'd like to remove the kitchen from this room.

0:40:33 > 0:40:35OK. So, you're going to get rid of the kitchen here?

0:40:35 > 0:40:39- So, perhaps we're going to knock down the part of this wall.- Yeah?

0:40:39 > 0:40:41Move this part little bit farther in here.

0:40:41 > 0:40:44- So, we change the shape of the bathroom.- Yes?

0:40:44 > 0:40:48Which give us a space for the kitchen behind this wall.

0:40:48 > 0:40:51OK. So, you're going to tuck the kitchen away,

0:40:51 > 0:40:55- so there's a separate kitchen, a separate bathroom.- Yes.

0:40:55 > 0:41:00Still might be open-plan, but at least we can use this wall for a storage or something like this.

0:41:00 > 0:41:03OK, because, at the moment, this is the problem.

0:41:03 > 0:41:04One of the walls is taken up.

0:41:04 > 0:41:07You can't put your storage and your units...

0:41:07 > 0:41:09That's true.

0:41:09 > 0:41:13Although, it does lend itself to being a nice, open-plan space,

0:41:13 > 0:41:16and I think it is what it is. You know, whoever's going to be

0:41:16 > 0:41:19using this property is not going to be coming along

0:41:19 > 0:41:21- with loads and loads of stuff. - Exactly.

0:41:21 > 0:41:23I mean, it's quite a big bathroom, when you actually go in there.

0:41:23 > 0:41:25I would say that's a luxury.

0:41:25 > 0:41:28You could maybe change that and just have a wet room.

0:41:28 > 0:41:30Something very small, with a really good shower,

0:41:30 > 0:41:33and then use the rest of the space to open the flat up.

0:41:33 > 0:41:36Yeah. That's why we are going to do the kitchen over there,

0:41:36 > 0:41:39- in the corridor, actually.- Yeah.

0:41:39 > 0:41:42Tell me what your speciality is. What do you like to do?

0:41:42 > 0:41:46Do you actually build or do you like to refurb inside?

0:41:46 > 0:41:48- Refurb, mainly.- Refurb insides.

0:41:48 > 0:41:52So, we can do carpentry, we can do tiling, we can do plastering, whatever we need.

0:41:52 > 0:41:56- Except the electric and plumbing. - Electrician and plumbing, that's...

0:41:56 > 0:41:59So, guys, what do you think you might want to do with this flat when it's finished?

0:41:59 > 0:42:01Sell it or rent?

0:42:01 > 0:42:03Our priority is to sell it, er,

0:42:03 > 0:42:06but depends on the value. If we have to,

0:42:06 > 0:42:09we're going to keep it for a year or two and then try to sell it.

0:42:09 > 0:42:13- OK. But sell at a profit, if possible?- Yes.

0:42:13 > 0:42:16Yes, absolutely. So, if we're not going to get a profit,

0:42:16 > 0:42:18we will rent it out.

0:42:18 > 0:42:22So, guys, how long do you think it's going to take you to do what you need to do here?

0:42:22 > 0:42:25Well, as you said, we've got a few options.

0:42:25 > 0:42:27If we choose to, erm...

0:42:28 > 0:42:31the longest option, which is to change the layout,

0:42:31 > 0:42:33we reckon about two weeks.

0:42:33 > 0:42:35Two to three weeks, something like that.

0:42:35 > 0:42:38Do you have any structural walls to deal with?

0:42:38 > 0:42:40- It's a partition wall... - Everything is OK.

0:42:40 > 0:42:43So, you don't have to worry about any permissions and RSJs.

0:42:43 > 0:42:45Great. Good news. Woohoo!

0:42:45 > 0:42:47OK. So, two weeks if you're going to do the layout change.

0:42:47 > 0:42:49- To three weeks.- To three weeks.

0:42:49 > 0:42:52- Let's say three weeks, because, you know...- Just in case.

0:42:52 > 0:42:54And if you're not going to do the layout change?

0:42:54 > 0:42:56The refurbishment downstairs?

0:42:56 > 0:42:59- One week.- One week.- Just a week. Just a new kitchen and a new bathroom.

0:42:59 > 0:43:01Well, obviously, yes.

0:43:01 > 0:43:03New, modern unit kitchen.

0:43:03 > 0:43:04New floor.

0:43:04 > 0:43:08Well, shouldn't be more than...one week.

0:43:08 > 0:43:10- Good luck with it and lovely to meet you both.- Thank you very much.

0:43:10 > 0:43:12- Congratulations. - Thank you very much.

0:43:13 > 0:43:17So, Marcin and Lukas didn't see inside the flat before the auction,

0:43:17 > 0:43:20but at least they knew it was a studio -

0:43:20 > 0:43:24but maybe not quite how small it actually is.

0:43:24 > 0:43:26What will they decide to do about the layout?

0:43:26 > 0:43:29Can they really improve what's here?

0:43:29 > 0:43:32Join me later on in the programme and you can find out.

0:43:36 > 0:43:39Well, we've seen what one of our buyers has managed to achieve. What about the other two?

0:43:39 > 0:43:43Yes, will it be a case of mission accomplished or back to the drawing board?

0:43:43 > 0:43:45Let's not wait any longer to find out.

0:43:45 > 0:43:47MUSIC: Look Away by Big Country

0:43:49 > 0:43:52Earlier, I was in Aspatria in Cumbria to see a three-bed,

0:43:52 > 0:43:56detached property guided at £45,000+.

0:43:56 > 0:44:00That was, if you could find it, with the exterior looking like

0:44:00 > 0:44:02something out of a Grimms' fairy tale -

0:44:02 > 0:44:05and inside was just as grim.

0:44:06 > 0:44:07Especially the bathroom.

0:44:08 > 0:44:11If you're eating anything at the moment,

0:44:11 > 0:44:13you might want to put it down temporarily or turn the TV off,

0:44:13 > 0:44:15cos this is the bath.

0:44:16 > 0:44:19It's a lovely bath in principle, could do with a bit of a clean.

0:44:19 > 0:44:23And can you imagine what the loo will be like?

0:44:23 > 0:44:24Shall we take a look?

0:44:24 > 0:44:28# Now look away, look away

0:44:28 > 0:44:32# Hide your eyes from the land where I lie cold... #

0:44:35 > 0:44:38Yes, avert your eyes, those who appreciate hygiene.

0:44:39 > 0:44:43Hazel, though, didn't turn a blind eye when she bid £69,000.

0:44:43 > 0:44:47But, with her husband Ian and son Thomas both builders,

0:44:47 > 0:44:50this house wasn't quite so scary for them.

0:44:50 > 0:44:52And it was definitely a family project.

0:44:54 > 0:44:58- It's my son and daughter who's actually buying it.- Right.

0:44:58 > 0:45:00And we're just going to help them out with the work.

0:45:00 > 0:45:02Right. So, is it their house to live in?

0:45:02 > 0:45:03Possibly.

0:45:05 > 0:45:08It was moot whether siblings Thomas and Hayley would actually get

0:45:08 > 0:45:12possession of his house, because Mum and Dad had their eyes on it.

0:45:12 > 0:45:15One possibility was selling their current house

0:45:15 > 0:45:18and giving the kids some of the profits for deposits.

0:45:18 > 0:45:22They planned a 40-grand renovation budget,

0:45:22 > 0:45:26but they were going to be working on it at weekends and evenings.

0:45:26 > 0:45:29Three and a half years later, we're back to see

0:45:29 > 0:45:32if the nightmare house has become a dream home.

0:45:34 > 0:45:36MUSIC: Back To Life by 3OH!3

0:45:37 > 0:45:40Wow! What a difference on the outside.

0:45:40 > 0:45:42You can actually see the house now,

0:45:42 > 0:45:45and the family took away over 40 trees from the front.

0:45:46 > 0:45:49And what a grand exterior it is -

0:45:49 > 0:45:51matched on the inside.

0:45:51 > 0:45:54# Cos if the party is dead

0:45:54 > 0:45:57# We can bring it back to life

0:45:57 > 0:46:00# Yeah, we can make it through the night #

0:46:00 > 0:46:05The family are builders by trade and you can really see their handiwork

0:46:05 > 0:46:07on those original flagstones

0:46:07 > 0:46:10that have been recut and reshaped.

0:46:10 > 0:46:14Handiwork that is obvious in the two new living rooms.

0:46:14 > 0:46:18They have also added to the square footage with a brilliant extension.

0:46:19 > 0:46:23By using original materials salvaged from the house and the area,

0:46:23 > 0:46:27it's all very in keeping with what was here previously.

0:46:29 > 0:46:31Originally, it was a glass lean-to,

0:46:31 > 0:46:33tin shed type of thing,

0:46:33 > 0:46:36and it's now a single-storey extension.

0:46:36 > 0:46:39Luckily, there was enough sandstone in the house.

0:46:39 > 0:46:41When we knocked things down, er,

0:46:41 > 0:46:45there was enough sandstone there to rebuild, so, we didn't have to buy any sandstone.

0:46:45 > 0:46:47We did have to buy some slates.

0:46:47 > 0:46:48We got that off a local farmer.

0:46:48 > 0:46:51He had some of the slates,

0:46:51 > 0:46:52so, we could put them back on

0:46:52 > 0:46:54and keep it as original as we could.

0:46:54 > 0:46:57We've tried to re-use as much as we could.

0:46:59 > 0:47:03The sympathetic nods to the house's history continue upstairs,

0:47:03 > 0:47:08where the family have added a fourth bedroom by raising the roof in this room.

0:47:08 > 0:47:12They've added two additional bathrooms, with one being an en-suite.

0:47:15 > 0:47:16# Whoa!

0:47:16 > 0:47:18# We can bring it back to life #

0:47:19 > 0:47:23Thankfully, the hideous bathroom has been consigned to history,

0:47:23 > 0:47:27and it certainly shows off the handiwork of Hazel's husband Ian,

0:47:27 > 0:47:29son Thomas and nephew Ennis.

0:47:33 > 0:47:36Obviously, we've all pitched in, but we've had joiners in,

0:47:36 > 0:47:38plumbers, electricians.

0:47:38 > 0:47:41But everything else we've just done ourselves.

0:47:41 > 0:47:43It's been hard, but we've got there.

0:47:43 > 0:47:44Or getting there!

0:47:44 > 0:47:47Well, we had a lot of health problems in the family.

0:47:47 > 0:47:49Ian actually fell and broke his ribs

0:47:49 > 0:47:52while he was putting the new door

0:47:52 > 0:47:53in at the back there.

0:47:53 > 0:47:55He tried to lift the heavy sandstone on his own

0:47:55 > 0:47:57and he had a little wobble and

0:47:57 > 0:47:58fell and broke his ribs.

0:47:58 > 0:48:00Then, he got back to work,

0:48:00 > 0:48:03and then he fell again and broke them again at work.

0:48:03 > 0:48:04The same two ribs.

0:48:06 > 0:48:09Oh, Ian must have got a ribbing at work for that.

0:48:09 > 0:48:12Sorry, Ian! We do hope you get well soon.

0:48:12 > 0:48:15Between accidents and other setbacks, it's taken them

0:48:15 > 0:48:20two years more than their 18-month timescale, but it looks great.

0:48:20 > 0:48:22What about that budget?

0:48:22 > 0:48:25We were about 40,000. We've hit that.

0:48:25 > 0:48:26We're not quite finished yet,

0:48:26 > 0:48:29but we've hit the 40,000 spend in money, yeah.

0:48:30 > 0:48:32The family fell in love with the house,

0:48:32 > 0:48:34but they've decided against moving in

0:48:34 > 0:48:37and reverted to the original plan of selling on.

0:48:42 > 0:48:45So, they'll be keen to know what value it could attract

0:48:45 > 0:48:49on the sales market, which is where two local property experts come in.

0:48:50 > 0:48:53First, their thoughts, starting with the auctioneer,

0:48:53 > 0:48:56who saw it before the family made a few changes.

0:48:58 > 0:49:02Well, a few changes is an absolute understatement.

0:49:02 > 0:49:04We see a lot of houses, before and after,

0:49:04 > 0:49:08and I think this wins the prize.

0:49:08 > 0:49:10I've never seen such a transformation.

0:49:10 > 0:49:13It was hard to find, because it was overgrown with trees, you know,

0:49:13 > 0:49:15and there were trees going through the roof,

0:49:15 > 0:49:18there were no floors and earth floors... And look at it now!

0:49:18 > 0:49:21It's absolutely amazing. It's very impressive.

0:49:21 > 0:49:22It a beautiful property.

0:49:22 > 0:49:25It's kept its original features and characteristics,

0:49:25 > 0:49:27but it's also incorporated

0:49:27 > 0:49:31really well with the new kitchen and the bathrooms.

0:49:31 > 0:49:33I think the standard of finish is very high.

0:49:33 > 0:49:36I think it'll appeal to a larger family in the local area.

0:49:38 > 0:49:41The family have spent £109,000 buying

0:49:41 > 0:49:43and practically rebuilding the property.

0:49:43 > 0:49:46So, can they make a profit on the sales market?

0:49:47 > 0:49:50I think the owners will achieve in the sales market

0:49:50 > 0:49:55between £245,000 and £250,000.

0:49:55 > 0:50:00I'm fairly comfortable with maybe an asking price of £250,000,

0:50:00 > 0:50:05with a view to maybe negotiating south of that slightly.

0:50:05 > 0:50:07I'm happy with that!

0:50:07 > 0:50:09No, that's good.

0:50:09 > 0:50:10More than good, I'd say.

0:50:10 > 0:50:11At 250 grand,

0:50:11 > 0:50:16it'd be to the good of £141,000 profit,

0:50:16 > 0:50:18before the usual taxes and expenses.

0:50:18 > 0:50:22The experts also thought £600 per calendar month

0:50:22 > 0:50:26would be the rental figure, giving them a 6.5% yield.

0:50:26 > 0:50:28Hazel plans to look both markets

0:50:28 > 0:50:31and see which one gets the tails wagging.

0:50:31 > 0:50:32Whatever way they go,

0:50:32 > 0:50:35it will be sure to get her kids on the property ladder.

0:50:42 > 0:50:44It'll get them their first home.

0:50:44 > 0:50:46They bought their first home with that amount of money, really.

0:50:49 > 0:50:51MUSIC: Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck

0:50:52 > 0:50:55We're heading back to Wallington in the London borough of Sutton,

0:50:55 > 0:50:58where famed guitarist Jeff Beck was born.

0:50:58 > 0:51:01It's also where I looked at a first-floor studio flat

0:51:01 > 0:51:02in this Victorian villa.

0:51:04 > 0:51:07Walking straight into the property, you've got a really nice

0:51:07 > 0:51:10little bathroom there, and in here,

0:51:10 > 0:51:12well, this is the one room.

0:51:12 > 0:51:16This is it. It's a studio flat and you just get this.

0:51:16 > 0:51:19109 for the third and final time. All done.

0:51:19 > 0:51:24The tiny flat went for a not-so-tiny 109,000,

0:51:24 > 0:51:27and it sold to brothers Michael, Marcin and Lukas.

0:51:28 > 0:51:29They bought the flat blind,

0:51:29 > 0:51:33but at least they had read the auction addendum on the day.

0:51:33 > 0:51:36So, Marcin, here on the left, and Lukas knew

0:51:36 > 0:51:41they were buying a studio, not a one-bed, as the catalogue suggested.

0:51:41 > 0:51:43Well, every cloud and all that...

0:51:44 > 0:51:48# And it's hi ho silver lining... #

0:51:48 > 0:51:50We walked through the door and then we said, "Oh, my gosh!

0:51:50 > 0:51:52"What have we bought?"

0:51:53 > 0:51:56It's a really, really a small area, but, erm...

0:51:59 > 0:52:03We quite believe that we can manage something with this, erm,

0:52:03 > 0:52:05to do the place better for living.

0:52:05 > 0:52:06So, you can still add value?

0:52:06 > 0:52:08You still feel confident that you can add value...

0:52:08 > 0:52:09I think so, yeah.

0:52:09 > 0:52:11..to £109, 000?

0:52:11 > 0:52:16We strongly believe that the best investment is to invest with

0:52:16 > 0:52:18bricks and mortar, I would say.

0:52:18 > 0:52:21So, does definitely give us a profit.

0:52:21 > 0:52:23But, in such a small space,

0:52:23 > 0:52:26I was curious to know how they were going to add the value.

0:52:26 > 0:52:28We'd like to remove the kitchen from this room.

0:52:28 > 0:52:31OK. So, you're going to get rid of the kitchen here?

0:52:31 > 0:52:34- So, perhaps we're going to knock down the part of this wall.- Yeah.

0:52:34 > 0:52:36Move this part a little bit further in here.

0:52:36 > 0:52:40- So, change the shape of the bathroom.- Yes.

0:52:40 > 0:52:43Which give us a space for the kitchen behind this wall.

0:52:43 > 0:52:46Optimistic, but when we returned four months later...

0:52:46 > 0:52:48MUSIC: Nothing Like This by Blonde and Craig David

0:52:48 > 0:52:51# I ain't felt nothing like this, like this

0:52:51 > 0:52:55# I ain't felt nothing like this, like this... #

0:52:55 > 0:52:58The brothers clearly had vision and imagination,

0:52:58 > 0:53:01because their changes are nothing short of TARDIS-like.

0:53:08 > 0:53:13I have to admit the use of the high ceiling to create a platform bed

0:53:13 > 0:53:16is a bit different to my fold-against-the-wall idea.

0:53:22 > 0:53:26Personally, although the laminate floor looks great,

0:53:26 > 0:53:28I prefer carpet on the first floor.

0:53:28 > 0:53:31Much more friendly to the neighbours below in high-heel season.

0:53:33 > 0:53:37# I ain't felt nothing like this, like this

0:53:37 > 0:53:41# I ain't felt nothing like this, like this

0:53:41 > 0:53:45# I ain't felt nothing like this, like this

0:53:45 > 0:53:48# No, I ain't felt nothing quite like this

0:53:48 > 0:53:49# Ooh, yeah. #

0:53:49 > 0:53:52The new door at the back of the lounge takes us

0:53:52 > 0:53:53to the new shower room.

0:53:56 > 0:54:00Well, hats off to the design of the available space.

0:54:00 > 0:54:03A fantastic job. But how did the brothers get on working together?

0:54:06 > 0:54:09Ah, always having arguments,

0:54:09 > 0:54:11because we've got different ideas, but, finally,

0:54:11 > 0:54:15we always get a compromise.

0:54:15 > 0:54:16So, that's fine.

0:54:16 > 0:54:19We have to go ahead, through the problems.

0:54:19 > 0:54:24So, no problems working in such a confined space then, eh, lads?

0:54:24 > 0:54:26There was no issue, to be honest.

0:54:26 > 0:54:29- We divide the work.- We handle it!

0:54:29 > 0:54:32Everyone stand in a corner and do something, so we handle it simply.

0:54:32 > 0:54:34No issue.

0:54:34 > 0:54:37The initial plan was for a £5,000 budget to do the

0:54:37 > 0:54:40reconfiguration and renovation,

0:54:40 > 0:54:41but they did obtain permission

0:54:41 > 0:54:43to change the windows from the landlord.

0:54:43 > 0:54:45So, how was the budget?

0:54:47 > 0:54:49We spent slightly higher, about £6,500.

0:54:51 > 0:54:52But,

0:54:52 > 0:54:54because of the windows, we wasn't sure

0:54:54 > 0:54:57if we going to replace the windows or not.

0:54:57 > 0:55:00That was extra cost, but the budget is still all right for us.

0:55:01 > 0:55:05The guys reckon they've completed the work - overall - within

0:55:05 > 0:55:08a three-week timescale, which was spread out while they waited

0:55:08 > 0:55:12for permission to change the windows and took a couple of holidays.

0:55:12 > 0:55:16They feel their property development company has only one option

0:55:16 > 0:55:18when it comes to cash flow.

0:55:18 > 0:55:21Yeah, we're going to have to sell it. Definitely to sell it.

0:55:21 > 0:55:24So, hope there will be someone who will love this flat.

0:55:27 > 0:55:31Well, let's see if two local estate agents love this flat.

0:55:31 > 0:55:35They have all the necessary local knowledge to value the new rooms,

0:55:35 > 0:55:36and this lady has seen it before.

0:55:38 > 0:55:40I'm really impressed with the changes they've made to the flat.

0:55:40 > 0:55:43Um, very surprised about the change of layout,

0:55:43 > 0:55:45but I think it works really, really well.

0:55:45 > 0:55:48They've utilised the space well, which is very good.

0:55:48 > 0:55:51The finish is, well, second to none. It's very, very good.

0:55:51 > 0:55:55Erm, yeah, it's a lovely flat that will attract quite a wide market, which is very good.

0:55:57 > 0:55:59What about, shall we say, unconventional features,

0:55:59 > 0:56:03like the bed platform and the lights?

0:56:03 > 0:56:06The suspended bed is probably going to have mixed reviews,

0:56:06 > 0:56:09depending on how tall you are,

0:56:09 > 0:56:12but again, it utilises the best of what you've got.

0:56:12 > 0:56:15Someone could easily change it, obviously, if they wanted to.

0:56:15 > 0:56:18I think the finish is very nice. They've kept it bright.

0:56:18 > 0:56:22The white is a good idea, cos it makes the smaller space look bigger.

0:56:22 > 0:56:25I like the lights under the bed. I think they're a really sweet idea

0:56:25 > 0:56:28and just gives it a little bit of something extra.

0:56:28 > 0:56:32The boys are in the process, with the owners and with the rest of the flats in the house,

0:56:32 > 0:56:36of extending the lease, which is currently only 70 years.

0:56:36 > 0:56:39It'll just cost the solicitors' fees to renew.

0:56:39 > 0:56:42So, is that something that would have a bearing on the value?

0:56:43 > 0:56:45It is important to extend the lease.

0:56:45 > 0:56:48Mortgage lenders aren't too keen on lending with a lease under,

0:56:48 > 0:56:50probably, around 65 years,

0:56:50 > 0:56:53so, buyers would be concerned buying a lease with around 70.

0:56:53 > 0:56:58Solicitors would also advise them to get costs on extending the lease themselves,

0:56:58 > 0:57:01and first-time buyers are normally quite stretched financially,

0:57:01 > 0:57:04with their deposit and everything, so, it's a very good idea

0:57:04 > 0:57:06for the sellers to extend the lease.

0:57:06 > 0:57:09So, what's it worth, with an extended lease,

0:57:09 > 0:57:11in the condition that it's in now?

0:57:12 > 0:57:17If we were listing this property today, it would go on the market for £189,950,

0:57:17 > 0:57:20but we'd expect to achieve a minimum of £180,000.

0:57:20 > 0:57:22If I was to put this on the market for sale,

0:57:22 > 0:57:25I would now look at figures in the region of 175,000.

0:57:26 > 0:57:29The total spend so far, including the windows,

0:57:29 > 0:57:31comes out at £115,500.

0:57:33 > 0:57:35Take that from the top figure,

0:57:35 > 0:57:39and you're left with 73,500 quid,

0:57:39 > 0:57:41minus whatever it costs to lengthen the lease.

0:57:44 > 0:57:45We're so surprised with that.

0:57:45 > 0:57:49We never expect this value, to be honest.

0:57:49 > 0:57:53Well, all we can say, we're so proud what we've done,

0:57:53 > 0:57:56and so happy that someone appreciate our work.

0:57:57 > 0:58:00Yeah, were definitely very happy with this completion.

0:58:00 > 0:58:03That's what we expect, but we're really, really happy.

0:58:03 > 0:58:05Aww, happy chappies.

0:58:12 > 0:58:15Hopefully, you've enjoyed what you've seen on today's show.

0:58:15 > 0:58:18And maybe even learned a trick or two along the way.

0:58:18 > 0:58:20Yes, well, there are plenty more auction properties out

0:58:20 > 0:58:21there for us to show you.

0:58:21 > 0:58:24So, make sure you join us next time here on Homes Under The Hammer.

0:58:24 > 0:58:26- Goodbye.- Bye-bye.- Goodbye.