0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello and welcome. Now, when it comes to buying property,
0:00:04 > 0:00:06a lot of people don't even think
0:00:06 > 0:00:08about the auctions as a place to look.
0:00:08 > 0:00:09Yes, do your research,
0:00:09 > 0:00:11and the auction house can offer lots of options.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14So why don't you head down to your local auction house
0:00:14 > 0:00:16and see if you can find something to suit you?
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Bidding at auction can be such a surreal experience.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47There you can be putting your hand up, bidding,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49it can be over in a flash, but then you've bought a house!
0:00:49 > 0:00:53You have. When the hammer goes down, you are committed, so bid wisely.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Yes, did the buyers on today's show do just that?
0:00:55 > 0:00:56Let's find out.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02I'm in a tight spot at this two-bed terrace in North York.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05And this is it.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Well, as you can see, it's not exactly massive, is it?
0:01:08 > 0:01:13It looks like Lucy's lost the plot at this land in Kent.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16One thing I don't much like is that.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And I'm making some interesting discoveries in Carlisle.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25And here we've got an airing cupboard with a shower door on.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28No.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32All these properties have been sold at auction.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34And we'll find out who bought them and what they paid
0:01:34 > 0:01:37when they went under the hammer.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Well done.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45York is one of England's 12 Heritage cities,
0:01:45 > 0:01:47but it's not just about history.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Since the Millennium, its population has grown by nearly 10%,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57and I'm heading for the lovely city suburb of Clifton.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04So, a very desirable location,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06so it's really exciting to hear of a property that sounds like
0:02:06 > 0:02:09it could be, potentially, very good value.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Two bedroomed mid-terrace.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14£70,000 was the guide price.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15Let's have a look.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18OK, stairs up to the bedroom there.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21And then into your front sitting room.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Well, you know, nice, you've got an open fire.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Obviously boarded up at the moment, but it's a focal point.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28It's not huge, but then what do you expect?
0:02:28 > 0:02:30It is just a mid-terrace,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32and a fairly small mid-terrace at that.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33But it's kind of quaint.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36The moment you walk in, yeah, you get that feeling.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39What was probably a two-up, two-down at some point,
0:02:39 > 0:02:44and in its day would have definitely been heated by just coals -
0:02:44 > 0:02:47a coal fire there. A nice range which is still in existence there,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51which is good to see. Probably replaced by a kitchen, oh, yes.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55And this is it.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Well, as you can see, it's not exactly massive, is it?
0:02:57 > 0:02:59And I don't really know what you could do
0:02:59 > 0:03:01to make better use of the space.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04You're going to be very, very limited.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06I guess it is what it is.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11And just with some really, really clever design, perhaps...
0:03:11 > 0:03:14perhaps you - and a dishcloth -
0:03:14 > 0:03:18you could make it, you know, a usable space.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19Yes, it is small,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23but with some ingenious planning, it could be perfectly formed.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26# All the small things
0:03:26 > 0:03:29# True care, truth brings. #
0:03:29 > 0:03:33Well, I guess time will tell, but let's see how the rest shapes up.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37So, upstairs, two bedrooms.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39One really good bit of news is the bathroom is up here.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42You might not have expected that. That is definitely a bonus.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44I have got to show you this, though.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47You know, talk about stud partition walls, or partition walls,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49this is how they used to do it.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53Literally just bits of tongue and groove,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56board and then cover it with a bit of paper.
0:03:56 > 0:03:57Marvellous. Actually,
0:03:57 > 0:04:01strip it back and it can actually make a really nice feature.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Although, in terms of soundproofing,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06it's not that brilliant. There are some lovely features here, though.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08This is the bigger of the two bedrooms.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Look at that fireplace.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Really make the most of that, and maybe if it works,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15it's a lovely thing to have in the bedroom. Yeah.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18It is what it is. I like it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22# Groove is in the heart
0:04:22 > 0:04:25# Groove is in the heart. #
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Some things are not so groovy.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30For a start, those storage heaters need to go.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Then there is a second, much smaller, bedroom.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Very purple.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Very avocado.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Very '70s.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42It goes without saying that everything needs a refresh.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46So, at the back of the property,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48and you can see the little extension here,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50which the kitchen has been built into.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51And then a really nice surprise.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55We've got a garden, a pretty decent size.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56Obviously needs a bit of work to sort it out.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Bramble heaven, this is.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01But you've got a little door, gateway there.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02Is that access to a road?
0:05:02 > 0:05:05That would be good, cos you could then build some kind of a garage.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07If it's just a pedestrian, it's still a really nice thing to have.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10I mean, and it just sort of rounds off that whole feeling that,
0:05:10 > 0:05:12you know, from what at first glance
0:05:12 > 0:05:14was a relatively small, little terrace actually
0:05:14 > 0:05:16has a lot more to offer.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20And possibly all that for a £70,000 guide price.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22This York terrace seems like a real bargain,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24but what do the experts think?
0:05:27 > 0:05:30We invited a local estate agent to get her opinion on this property.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40The property requires quite a lot of work doing to it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42It is a traditional terrace property
0:05:42 > 0:05:44that were built far before the
0:05:44 > 0:05:46council houses arrived here.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48But they're still highly sought-after
0:05:48 > 0:05:50as good and well-constructed homes.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53It needs updating, but it sounds like there is a demand.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57So what are the selling points of this kind of property?
0:05:57 > 0:06:00The advantages are they are very good for first-time buyers.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02They tend to look out for these type of properties a lot,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05cos they still retain many of the original features, fireplaces, etc.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07The garden at the back is a good size garden,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09so it's ripe for extension to go out the back there, or even to have
0:06:09 > 0:06:12a terrace property with your own garden space at the back.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15That's quite rare in itself.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17It sounds like this could be a popular lot at auction,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20especially with that low guide price of 70,000,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23but what could it achieve once renovated?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Once renovated, I would expect this property to achieve
0:06:28 > 0:06:29in the region of £160,000.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31And what about the rental market?
0:06:33 > 0:06:36If the property was to be rented out, I would expect it to achieve
0:06:36 > 0:06:39a rental in the region of £600 to £650 per calendar month.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Well, it's a great location and a property that you could
0:06:44 > 0:06:46definitely add value to.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Let's see who it attracted when it went under the hammer.
0:06:55 > 0:06:5630. Thank you, sir.
0:06:56 > 0:06:5832 and a half, anyone?
0:06:58 > 0:07:01The house sold for 117,000,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03but unfortunately we didn't manage to catch the bidding.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08However, it turns out the successful bidders, Wim and fiancee Lisa,
0:07:08 > 0:07:09weren't there either.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16I caught up with Wim to find out more.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- Wim, good to meet you.- Hello.
0:07:21 > 0:07:22- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Tell me why you wanted to buy this place.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Renting is so expensive these days.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29My fiancee and I both need a place in the city centre,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and this just fell into our laps.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34It popped up at the right time.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37At the right price. And I think it's the last cheap house in England.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Oh, really? The auction, you weren't actually at the auction, were you?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43No, a friend of ours went down to London for us.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46You must have been a bit nervous then, sort of, as it was happening?
0:07:46 > 0:07:48That's right. We had absolute confidence in him.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- Really?- With our money. I think, perhaps,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55because the auction was so far away, down in London,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58a lot of the landlords around here who would have developed it didn't
0:07:58 > 0:08:01quite have enough profit in it to go down and nab it,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- so it's just fell through the net, really.- Right. But to your benefit.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- Yes, absolutely. - That's all good news.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09So you are from York, then?
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Yes. We've been renting in York city centre for about eight, nine years.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- So what do you do?- I am a freelance artist at the moment.
0:08:15 > 0:08:22- OK.- Lisa is a displays manager in a tourist attraction.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- OK.- So they are both very creative jobs.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25Brilliant. What kind of art do you do?
0:08:25 > 0:08:29At the moment I'm doing re-creations of classical ceilings.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- Wow.- And anything else that comes my way.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33I like to...
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I like new things. Because every job that comes along,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39I say, "Yes!" and then quickly go away and learn how to do it.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44So, can we expect to find elaborate Sistine Chapel-esque type ceilings
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- when we come back?- If I think it will put the value
0:08:47 > 0:08:48of the property up, yes!
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Not sure. So, the stuff that's in here, then, is this all yours?
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Yes. We collect, kind of, almost antiques.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- You've moved in? - We hastily moved in yesterday.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- Yesterday?- Yeah.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02- OK.- The old place was empty and cold.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- Right.- We thought we'd jump in here.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07In an ideal world, of course, I guess you would have not moved in
0:09:07 > 0:09:09until you'd actually done the work, because it's a lot easier to do.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12It would've been nice to sit in a hotel for a week
0:09:12 > 0:09:15while we did the work or something, but the work's all my duty.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Right. What was it about this particular house,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19other than the price, that you liked?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Some of the unique features, some of the period features.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24And the size of the garden, I suppose, as well.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27- Yeah.- The bramble thicket was bigger than the house itself.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29We've slashed through it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32And at auction, had you been looking in, sort of, other routes?
0:09:32 > 0:09:33Estate agents and stuff?
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Yeah, we hadn't been looking at the auctions specifically.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39It's just this one was on auction,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41so we had to go for it because of the price.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- A very low guide price.- Were you happy with what you paid for it?
0:09:44 > 0:09:45Yes.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I think it'll increase in value rapidly
0:09:48 > 0:09:50and it is just on the edge of
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- what we could afford.- So, what are you planning to do to sort it out?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Well, obviously decorate, a new carpet.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57A new bathroom. A new kitchen.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Everything, actually. She wants everything.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Are you the man who's got to deliver on that?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06That's right. I've been given a bit of a reprieve from work while I get
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- the house done.- Now,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12you would not expect a straightforward magnolia renovation
0:10:12 > 0:10:15from a guy who channels his inner Michelangelo, would you?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17So what is the vision?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22We're going to try and restore this room into something Victorian.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- OK.- Well, partly because of, well,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29the features and some of the furniture we have would lend itself
0:10:29 > 0:10:31very well to having a very nice Victorian dining room.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- Oh, nice.- The front room,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37I'm going to make as modern as we can,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39cos we've got some very modern furniture too,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41and we have some very modern habits, you know.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Media and this kind of thing, you know.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Watching movies on a projector screen.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50We like having USB sockets within an arm's reach.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52- Right.- So a very modern room, then.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55And out the back, of course, we're going to be decking,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57having a vegetable garden,
0:10:57 > 0:11:01a bit of lawn, and I need to build a workshop for the both of us.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03- OK.- So, an enormous shed at the bottom of the garden
0:11:03 > 0:11:07for messy stuff - painting and prop-making, that kind of thing.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10That's all good. So, no internal modifications in terms of structure
0:11:10 > 0:11:12- or anything like that?- No.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15We like the shape of the house, and it's standard for around here.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17The bathroom upstairs is a bonus.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- Yeah.- People don't like tramping all the way through the house in their
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- slippers.- And is the plan, then, obviously for you to live in it?
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Yes. Us and our friends.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- Hmm?- Well, there's always people popping in for tea.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32All day long.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35So it's nice to be a, kind of, hub for that.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37- Oh, great.- And of course they can help paint the place.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Yeah. Right, OK, so kind of an extended painting party?
0:11:40 > 0:11:42- Yes.- What's the budget for the work?
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Altogether, over six months, about £4,000.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- OK.- Which is why we're doing a lot of the work ourselves.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- Right. But are you relatively handy? - I've been trained well.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57The actual practical application of that is yet to be seen.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Fitting kitchens and things like that?
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Yeah, I can do all the labouring work.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04It's all the complicated bits, of course, well, safety certificates,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06things like that that we'll have someone in.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08So you'll get people in as and when?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11- Yeah, a lot of our friends are tradesmen.- Oh, right.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12So it's all very friendly.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Great stuff. And if this inspires,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18do you think you might do it again, or is this it?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20I think you're right. It would lead onto something else.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23We joke that once we've had our Victorian terrace,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25then we're going to get a Georgian townhouse,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28and move on from there. To a Tudor mansion perhaps.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31And your partner, is she going to get involved in, sort of,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- the work as well? - Yeah, she's very handy.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35She goes to work with a tool belt on and steel toe caps.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Oh, really? - Well, she does that at work.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40At home, she can't plug the stereo in.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43And in terms of timescale, six months you mentioned?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Yeah, yeah. About six months, we'd like to get a revalue
0:12:45 > 0:12:47- and see what we've done. - Well, listen, congratulations.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Good luck with it. I can't wait to see how you get on,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51- and maybe doing the ceiling. - Thank you very much.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52My pleasure.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Well, Wim certainly seems delighted with his purchase,
0:12:57 > 0:13:02and quite rightly too. I... I just can't wait to see if...
0:13:03 > 0:13:07..the ceiling is indeed elaborately decorated when we return.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09How will he get on with everything else?
0:13:09 > 0:13:11You can find out later in the show.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Lucy's in Kent, and the lot she came to see is in Rainham.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24A great place for commuters with its fast train link to London and its
0:13:24 > 0:13:27close proximity to Gillingham and Chatham.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33The lot I'm here to see is in fact a plot of land right in the middle of
0:13:33 > 0:13:35this well-established housing estate.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39And it's got planning permission for three three-bedroomed houses,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41which is fantastic.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46And all for a guide price of 140 to 150,000.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Now, if there is one thing I love,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52it's land with planning in an area already popular with the locals.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- One thing I don't much like is that. - CARS IN THE DISTANCE
0:13:56 > 0:13:58No, not the sky.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01That constant hum of the M2 motorway.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08# Get your motor running Head out on the highway! #
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Well, there had to be some kind of catch.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14And the motorway noise coupled with the other busy road right next door,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16well, that's a catch and a half.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20It'll bother some people more than others, but it's ever present.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23So, enough with the noise for now.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Plenty of people live with it.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26And back to the land.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28What have we got?
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Well, it's 0.09 hectares, if you want to know.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35You're surrounded by all these trees, which is nice.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Look, it's flat. There is easy access and it's a decent size.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43Now, the plans that have been passed are for a sort of mini-terrace.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47All three houses the same size, all the same layout, with a kitchen,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50diner, living room and loo on the ground floor,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53and three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Now, they won't be massive,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but they'll be plenty big enough for a growing family.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58But what do I like most?
0:14:58 > 0:15:01The fact that somebody has done all the hard work for you,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03and you can just get building.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Buy the land, hire the builders and boom -
0:15:10 > 0:15:14you could have houses to rent or sell in a very short space of time.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18But it does look like an extremely large plot for just three houses.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Is there anything else you could do here to make more of the site?
0:15:24 > 0:15:26This area has a real mix of houses,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29maisonettes and, perhaps surprisingly, flats.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33And you could probably get maybe six two-beds in a block on this
0:15:33 > 0:15:36site. Now, that sounds appealing.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40You'd substantially hike up your profit when you came to sell,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42but it's selling that could be the issue.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Now, I know you'd rent them in a flash,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47but mortgages for first-time buyers are so hard to come by,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50and even harder on leasehold new-builds.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Of course, there's the issue
0:15:51 > 0:15:53of getting the permission in the first place.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55In fact, a couple of years ago,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58plans were submitted for five two-bedroom flats,
0:15:58 > 0:16:00and the application, well,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03it sort of trailed off into nowhere.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07I think, in this market, I would go with what sold with the site -
0:16:07 > 0:16:11think safe, think easy and in this case, think houses.
0:16:11 > 0:16:17# And make it easy on yourself
0:16:17 > 0:16:23# Make it easy on yourself. #
0:16:23 > 0:16:26So going with the flow seems like the best option.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28However, regardless of the plan,
0:16:28 > 0:16:31it was the traffic flow behind the copse
0:16:31 > 0:16:32that was the really big negative.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36This is a real problem.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39If you had the house nearest the motorway,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41on a lovely sunny day like today,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43you'd be reluctant to open the windows,
0:16:43 > 0:16:45and your evening barbecue with your family,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47well, it would be so loud!
0:16:47 > 0:16:50This will put people off and it will lower the value
0:16:50 > 0:16:53of anything that's built here.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00With the traffic whizzing by on both sides of this plot,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02it's not going to be for everyone.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05So we invited a local estate agent to give us
0:17:05 > 0:17:08his assessment of the situation.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11My first impression of the plot of land is that it's a very
0:17:11 > 0:17:13good size. However,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17my concern is it's sandwiched between two quite big roads and,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20therefore, the noise level is going to be very high.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24At this part of Rainham is a mixture.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28There are properties, apartments
0:17:28 > 0:17:29and there are houses.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32They're not very big houses,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36so they would probably be an ideal first-time buyer area, really.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40So maybe flats would be a better option after all.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44The traffic noise might not be such an issue if the only outside space
0:17:44 > 0:17:46you're interested in is for parking.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I think the idea of building more,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53maybe going for apartments on the site, is appealing,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57especially when you consider that you're very close to some
0:17:57 > 0:17:59blocks of apartments.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01But I just don't think it would work
0:18:01 > 0:18:04in this current economic environment.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07The agent thinks that a two-bed flat
0:18:07 > 0:18:11would sell for up to 110,000 and rent for £600 per month.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15So if you had five of them, as suggested by the previous plans,
0:18:15 > 0:18:20that would be a total of £550,000, minus building costs.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21So how about the houses
0:18:21 > 0:18:24as the current planning permission suggests?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Once built, I think the value of each property
0:18:28 > 0:18:34would be in the region of £175,000 to maybe £195,000.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39As much as a building plot can be, I think this is a reasonably safe bet.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43It's not an easy market and the road and noise, well,
0:18:43 > 0:18:47they will always be an issue, but nice family homes should sell well.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Let's see who went for it at the auction.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53It's a good-looking quarter acre site with planning permission for
0:18:53 > 0:18:54development with the three houses.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58140 to start me. Start at 130. I don't want to go less than that.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01130,000. 130 I've got, standing at the back.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04£130,000. 135. 135 sitting.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Although the bids were slow to start,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10there turned out to be some very hot competition in the room.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13We rejoin at 190,000.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15190. Get there first.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18190. 190. 195.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21195. And 200.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23200,000.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26At 195, I've got, standing on my right.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28200?
0:19:28 > 0:19:33It's a long think. 197,050.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Make it 200. Straight away.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38202? It might have been his limit.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41At £200,000 and standing over on the right-hand side I've got.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44It's obviously in the room. To sell it for first time at 200...
0:19:44 > 0:19:45You've got a bit of time, if you want it.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Second time at £200,000.
0:19:48 > 0:19:49Everybody else is out.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Are you sure you're done? Third and final time at £200,000.
0:19:53 > 0:19:54Well done, sir.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Getting the plot for 200,000 was Ricky -
0:19:57 > 0:20:00wearing the orange jumper and aided by his brother-in-law and business
0:20:00 > 0:20:05partner Paul. So why were these two prepared to pay so much over that
0:20:05 > 0:20:10original £140,000 to £150,000 guide price for this noisy lot?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Lucy met up with them to find out.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Paul and Ricky, congratulations!
0:20:16 > 0:20:17You got the plot of land
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and you paid a fair bit over the guide price on auction day.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Now, Ricky, what was your plan?
0:20:23 > 0:20:28Our plan was we we'd join on a fee that would go to at the auction...
0:20:29 > 0:20:30But we had...
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Although it was planned for three terraced houses,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36we thought the potential of the land, there was more in it.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37So you paid £200,000,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40did you walk away feeling like you might have paid a little too much,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- Paul?- For the basis of the planning that was in place,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46but for our future plans, no.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49If we got the planning through, then it works out quite a good buy.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- Yeah. It's a gamble.- A little bit. A little bit of a gamble.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53A little bit of a gamble, yeah.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55So you obviously did your research.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57You looked at this, you saw this plot comes with planning
0:20:57 > 0:20:59for three houses.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01- Yes.- You obviously don't want to do that.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- No.- What do you want to do here?
0:21:04 > 0:21:08We've put in plans for eight two-bed flats.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12We've got a preplanning consultation going on.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14So hopefully we'll get the eight flats past.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17So why do you think eight flats will work, Paul?
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Well, it's more beneficial for the land.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I think the land, as you can see, it's a nice size of land.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24It will take eight flats comfortably.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25In my opinion, a few more.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29But obviously parking restrictions and amenity space...
0:21:29 > 0:21:31I just think eight flats will work better, financially as well.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34So what experience have you two got of building and developing?
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Tell me a bit about yourself.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38I'm a carpenter by trade.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41I've a dry lining company, which is plasterboard and plastering.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43I've done a lot of flats acoustically,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45a lot of acoustics in them.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48So from that field, I can put that in.
0:21:48 > 0:21:49Ricky's a plumber by trade.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52He's got his own building company, and we have done a new build before,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54which we've currently finished.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56It's up for sale, so a little bit of experience between us.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00# People try to put us down
0:22:00 > 0:22:03# Talkin' 'bout my generation. #
0:22:03 > 0:22:04Age is meant to bring wisdom,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07so why are these two prepared to have all the hassle
0:22:07 > 0:22:09in changing the plans?
0:22:09 > 0:22:12We want to sort of maximise our profit, really, end of the day.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15We know we can do the three terraced houses,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19we know we can do that, but we think there's more in it, you know?
0:22:19 > 0:22:20And...
0:22:20 > 0:22:22It would give us more work
0:22:22 > 0:22:24and obviously we'd get more money out of it.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26I suppose that is the reason.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Well, the end return is better.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Yeah. The value of the land works better with eight flats.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32My only concern with that is
0:22:32 > 0:22:35that then you're going to have eight units to sell on.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39First-time buyers at the moment are really struggling getting mortgages
0:22:39 > 0:22:40with lease-hold properties.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44I would be worried that you would just have a bit of delay in selling
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- those units.- Well, we don't really have to sell them.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50The idea thinking forward is, if we couldn't sell them...
0:22:50 > 0:22:53We sell one or two to cover building costs, then we'd rent the rest.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55It's not a financial thing we have to get out of them.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57So you're looking at building a portfolio?
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Possibly, yeah. If they sell, they sell.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02We're not in it for the short term.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04This is probably into our retirement,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07hopefully, or pay for our retirement, you know?
0:23:07 > 0:23:09We've got family on board helping us,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12so we're keep family members employed as well.
0:23:12 > 0:23:13It ain't a quick thing.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16We know that, we're not going into it with our eyes shut.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19We know we're going to be a year doing it, basically.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21So if you do build the eight flats here,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23what sort of profit are you looking at?
0:23:23 > 0:23:27About 350. We believe it's 200 for the land, about a 450 build,
0:23:27 > 0:23:28leave it at about 350.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31And if you have to fall back on the plans that you have?
0:23:31 > 0:23:34These three houses, we believe, would retail about 172-180 each,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38so 510-540, with a 200 build cost on that.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41So around about 110-140 profit there.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43OK, so you're literally looking at doubling your profit
0:23:43 > 0:23:45- if you can build the flats. - If, yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47This is something you really want to do,
0:23:47 > 0:23:49you want to tick this off, don't you?
0:23:49 > 0:23:51Yeah, I do. Yeah. I've done...
0:23:51 > 0:23:54I've done masses of extensions, which I really enjoy.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56I like going to work, believe it or not.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59People think I'm probably a bit of a freak but I enjoy it, really.
0:23:59 > 0:24:00I like the camaraderie,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02the mucking about and putting
0:24:02 > 0:24:04buckets of water on tops of doors, you know?
0:24:04 > 0:24:05- You've put what?!- I put buckets
0:24:05 > 0:24:07of water on tops of doors and things like that.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09So when people walk in, the water falls on them?
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- Yeah.- So you're a bit slapstick?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Yeah, yeah. I do all silly little things, you know?
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Fill the cups up with unknown substances and make them drink it.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18- Paul...- I'm not like that, no.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Watch out! Guys, it's been fantastic meeting you today.
0:24:22 > 0:24:23I hope you enjoy your development.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26I'm sure you're going to have a good old laugh along the way.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28- We will.- Good luck, and it's going to be really interesting
0:24:28 > 0:24:30- to see the outcome of this site. - Thanks very much.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Paul, lovely to meet you. - All right.- Thank you so much.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Take care. Thanks very much.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So I would love to think that Ricky and Paul will get the planning they
0:24:37 > 0:24:42want here, but they're playing the long game with this one, and I hope
0:24:42 > 0:24:44they're prepared to be very patient.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Join us later in the show to find out what has been built and if Ricky
0:24:48 > 0:24:49still enjoys going to work.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53Coming up...
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Things are deceptively spacious in this terrace in Carlisle.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01I just had to show you how long this house is.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07And we'll find out if success is in Ricky and Paul's nature.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10What with things like lizards and reptiles and birds...
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Back now to the historic walled city of York and the area of Clifton,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22where I looked around this charming two-bed terrace.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Inside needed updating, but it was chock-full of period features,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31not to mention some very traditional building techniques.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35This is how they used to do it -
0:25:35 > 0:25:38literally just bits of tongue and groove,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41board, and then cover it with a bit of paper.
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Marvellous. Actually,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46strip it back and it can actually make a really nice feature.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52This character-full property also featured a garden
0:25:52 > 0:25:54bursting with potential.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00It was snapped up by artistic couple Wim and Lisa for 117,000,
0:26:00 > 0:26:02and I definitely got the impression
0:26:02 > 0:26:05that we weren't going to see any magnolia here.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09What kind of art do you do?
0:26:09 > 0:26:11At the moment, I'm doing re-creations of classical ceilings.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16So can we expect to find elaborate Sistine Chapel-esque type ceilings
0:26:16 > 0:26:17when we come back?
0:26:17 > 0:26:21If I think it will put the value of the property up, yes!
0:26:21 > 0:26:24The couple had hoped that, with four grand and six months,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27they could create a home and a studio.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Well, we came back 19 months later
0:26:34 > 0:26:36to see if Wim is our Renaissance man.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Come on, you knew it would be different, didn't you?!
0:26:45 > 0:26:49That front reception room has had a psychedelic makeover and is now
0:26:49 > 0:26:53functioning as a lounge and a music room.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54# Cos I like you
0:26:54 > 0:26:56# Yeah, I like you
0:26:56 > 0:27:00# And I'm feelin' so Bohemian like you
0:27:00 > 0:27:02# Yeah, I like you
0:27:02 > 0:27:03# Yeah, I like you
0:27:03 > 0:27:07# And I feel Whoa, whoo! #
0:27:07 > 0:27:11As promised, the rear room is a cosy Victorian-style dining room, and I'm
0:27:11 > 0:27:14delighted to announce that the range has not been taken out and,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17even better, it's being used!
0:27:17 > 0:27:18I love it!
0:27:22 > 0:27:27And we're moving through time and space into the futuristic kitchen.
0:27:36 > 0:27:37# Spaceman
0:27:37 > 0:27:42# I always wanted you to go into space, man
0:27:44 > 0:27:46# Spaceman
0:27:46 > 0:27:50# I always wanted you to go into space, man. #
0:27:50 > 0:27:54What we've done is a full central heating system,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56radiators in all the rooms,
0:27:56 > 0:28:00thorough rewiring of all the electrics throughout,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04double glazing all throughout the house and all new doors,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06this gorgeous kitchen.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09We've put a lawn in where before there was just a wilderness.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13Lisa, my fiancee, turfed a little lawn for us
0:28:13 > 0:28:15and dug a vegetable patch,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18which is providing us with potatoes and strawberries.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20And I've built a shed.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24The room with the range in it, we've styled a bit like
0:28:24 > 0:28:27the era it was built - the Victorian era.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29The range still works, we still use it.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31In our first winter, last year,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34we were actually burning the floorboards in it to keep warm
0:28:34 > 0:28:36while I was building the central heating system.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Now, that's one creative way of keeping warm -
0:28:38 > 0:28:41though I'm not sure I'd recommend it!
0:28:41 > 0:28:44But upstairs, Wim and Lisa have used their artistic licence
0:28:44 > 0:28:46to great effect.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Above the stairs, when we moved in, there was an enormous space,
0:28:54 > 0:28:59so I put in a ceiling just above the stairs so that there's access up to
0:28:59 > 0:29:03the attic through a cupboard in the bedroom, behind the bed,
0:29:03 > 0:29:06like a kind of Narnia up to the attic.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10It's eventually going to be some kind of a calm, quiet place
0:29:10 > 0:29:12beyond the bedroom,
0:29:12 > 0:29:15but at the moment it is a painting workshop.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20Well, in the meantime, they can wash the paint off in their brand-new
0:29:20 > 0:29:22bathroom, complete with roll-top bath.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28The former back bedroom is now a bright and airy studio
0:29:28 > 0:29:31for Wim to paint in.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Wim and Lisa have done most of the work themselves,
0:29:34 > 0:29:37with the more complicated tasks being overseen by friends
0:29:37 > 0:29:39who are qualified tradespeople.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43So why has it taken so much longer than they thought?
0:29:44 > 0:29:49Mainly because I didn't really give up working.
0:29:49 > 0:29:55It was very hard to back away from keeping taking work on.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Well, it's important to keep that money coming in,
0:29:58 > 0:29:59but how much went out?
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Have they spent their £4,000 or more?
0:30:04 > 0:30:06We've spent about £12,000 or so.
0:30:07 > 0:30:13Because with the remortgage of the house from a private
0:30:13 > 0:30:17to a bank mortgage, it was valued
0:30:17 > 0:30:19a little higher than we bought it for,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22so we were able to release more funds than we expected
0:30:22 > 0:30:25and get a little more stuck into some of the rooms.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28I love this couple's take on this house,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30but I have to confess a little disappointment
0:30:30 > 0:30:33that I don't even see the genesis of a painted ceiling.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38I was hoping to be able to paint some of the ceilings
0:30:38 > 0:30:41because that's what I kind of do as a day job,
0:30:41 > 0:30:45but having learnt to build them and plaster them,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48it's going to be a while before I paint one.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53So there are no masterpieces as of yet.
0:30:53 > 0:30:54But will the professionals think
0:30:54 > 0:30:56this house is a work of art?
0:30:57 > 0:31:01We invited two local estate agents to give us their opinion on Wim and
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Lisa's £129,000 investment.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10First impressions are that it's just a nice little two-bedroom terrace.
0:31:10 > 0:31:11The benefit of having a garden.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15But all the remedial work, etc, has been done.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19So new boiler, new electrics, new fitted kitchen, bathroom.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21So all the basics are there.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25Well, my first impressions of being in the property, it's fantastic.
0:31:25 > 0:31:26I mean, there's a really good use
0:31:26 > 0:31:30of original features in here and a mix of modern appliances
0:31:30 > 0:31:31and fittings as well.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36- So it's very nice.- So it sounds like this house could be hot property.
0:31:36 > 0:31:37But what do they think it's worth?
0:31:39 > 0:31:44I think this property would achieve between £170,000 and £175,000.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49I think this property could probably achieve about £175,000 in the sales
0:31:49 > 0:31:50- market.- I'm quite surprised.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54We've moved in line with the other houses on the street
0:31:54 > 0:31:56but also at the top.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59That's a lot more than what we paid for it.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01That's a nice surprise.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05So he's happy with that, but what's next for Wim and Lisa?
0:32:05 > 0:32:08Well, Lisa's just got her dream job
0:32:08 > 0:32:10and,
0:32:10 > 0:32:12after several successful promotions,
0:32:12 > 0:32:19I've got opportunity to work just on my doorstep with people who know me
0:32:19 > 0:32:21and they now know where I live,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24so we're getting on with things in a lovely house.
0:32:28 > 0:32:33Off to the northwest of England now, to the city of Carlisle.
0:32:33 > 0:32:38Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in this impressive castle in 1568.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40She was permitted to walk,
0:32:40 > 0:32:44ride and watch her retinue play football on the green.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Small concessions for a queen who was undoubtedly accustomed
0:32:48 > 0:32:49to greater comforts.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53I'm feeling quite comfortable today because Carlisle Rugby Club
0:32:53 > 0:32:56is three miles away, Carlisle United Football Club,
0:32:56 > 0:32:58a ground I have played at many, many times before,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01is only a five-minute walk away from today's property.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04And here it is, it's a two-bed,
0:33:04 > 0:33:09terraced house with a guide price of in between £50,000 to £60,000.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12If you listen as well, there's works going on all over this area.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16The reason being, this is one of the houses that was hit by the recent
0:33:16 > 0:33:17floods here in Carlisle.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Let's find out how bad.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26Right, OK,
0:33:26 > 0:33:31it's kind of what I expected to see, but a lot of people will come into
0:33:31 > 0:33:33this house and think... HE GASPS
0:33:33 > 0:33:35And panic. There's no need to panic.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Firstly, I've seen a lot worse than this.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41You have got floorboards down, so you have got something to walk on.
0:33:41 > 0:33:46Get the professionals in, they'll get this sorted straightaway.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50That aside, you've got a really nice front room here.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52High ceilings, and look at the size of that window.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56And it is relatively new as well.
0:33:56 > 0:34:02So a really good start in this front, sort of, living lounge area.
0:34:02 > 0:34:03What else is there on offer?
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Into the second reception room,
0:34:08 > 0:34:14and flood damage is evident throughout the whole of downstairs.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18OK, lack of stairs as well, but I'll get back to that.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21A good size second reception room, nice high ceilings.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Getting into the kitchen area,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26and you can see that the damage is here as well.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29We're now down to the bare breeze block in the kitchen.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32This would have been an extension, and even further,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35right to the end of the downstairs property,
0:34:35 > 0:34:37you have got this small extension.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39What it was used for,
0:34:39 > 0:34:43I'm not quite sure, but it could be a wet room,
0:34:43 > 0:34:45it could be a downstairs bathroom.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49But I just have to show you how long this house is.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51It's a real, good sized terraced house,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54and you get a lot more for your money down here
0:34:54 > 0:34:56than I was expecting.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01It's such a shame to see first-hand the devastation here.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06This was until recently a much-loved home, and the emotional and physical
0:35:06 > 0:35:09damage the Cumbrian floods have caused shouldn't be forgotten.
0:35:10 > 0:35:11There are, of course,
0:35:11 > 0:35:13practical issues when it comes
0:35:13 > 0:35:15to dealing with flood damaged properties,
0:35:15 > 0:35:20such as potential problems getting insurance and obtaining a drying out
0:35:20 > 0:35:23certificate before you can do any work at all.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27It can also be an idea to raise the sockets above the possible water
0:35:27 > 0:35:30levels to protect the electrics against it happening again.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34Right, upstairs.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38HE SIGHS
0:35:45 > 0:35:48OK, this is not going to be pretty.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51So look away now and I'll meet you upstairs.
0:35:51 > 0:35:52Goodbye.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56# Just out of reach
0:35:56 > 0:35:58# Time has changed you
0:35:58 > 0:36:00# I can see
0:36:00 > 0:36:03# Try to remember how we used to be. #
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Yes, the flooding has even destroyed those steps,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09but I could do with the exercise.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Right.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13That was a chore, but I made it.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17Now, upstairs hasn't been affected by the floods.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19It's in much better condition.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23This is the front bedroom looking out onto the front of the house.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25A double bedroom, not a problem at all.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28It looks a bit dated and could do with a bit of a freshen up.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Down the hallway, we've got the family bathroom just there
0:36:32 > 0:36:35and the second bedroom looking at the back of the property.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Both, good-sized bedrooms.
0:36:38 > 0:36:39The family bathroom, for me,
0:36:39 > 0:36:43I'd want to change and put something nice and white and bright in there,
0:36:43 > 0:36:46just to liven that up, and here we've got an airing cupboard
0:36:46 > 0:36:47with a shower door on.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51No... We've actually got...
0:36:51 > 0:36:52HE LAUGHS
0:36:52 > 0:36:55A shower where the airing cupboard should be.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59They've tiled it from top to bottom as well.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01That is bizarre!
0:37:03 > 0:37:04Each to their own.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09It's strange, but it's not a deal-breaker.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12More importantly, will that flood damage put buyers off?
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Time to hear from a professional.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18We invited an expert from the auction house
0:37:18 > 0:37:20that sold the property to tell us
0:37:20 > 0:37:24about how the floods have affected the housing market in Carlisle.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29The floods have affected the housing market quite a bit because we're in
0:37:29 > 0:37:31unknown territory.
0:37:31 > 0:37:37It remains to be seen how the market will recover in the future because
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Carlisle has been flooded in this area twice now
0:37:40 > 0:37:42in the last ten years.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46Until the flooding issue has been resolved more widely in the city,
0:37:46 > 0:37:49the market here is going to be uncertain.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51But once renovated,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54what does the agent think the property could achieve?
0:37:54 > 0:37:56On the rental market,
0:37:56 > 0:37:58I would expect this property to achieve
0:37:58 > 0:38:03between £475 to £500 per calendar month.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06The flood hasn't affected the rental value of the property,
0:38:06 > 0:38:13but the pre-flood sale value of this house was around 110,000 to 115,000.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15So what could it be worth once renovated?
0:38:15 > 0:38:17After the flood, done up,
0:38:17 > 0:38:22I would expect this property to achieve around £90,000 to £95,000.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Yes, it's an odd shaped house
0:38:26 > 0:38:28with a very odd shower upstairs,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31but I've got to be honest, when I walked through this door,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34I wasn't expecting that much space.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37First things first, get that flood damage sorted
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and then start to create a home for someone.
0:38:40 > 0:38:41Let's see who the last person was standing
0:38:41 > 0:38:43when it went under the hammer.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Two-bedroom terraced house.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Start me where? 55?
0:38:53 > 0:38:5550 then.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Need a bid.
0:38:57 > 0:38:5945? At £45,000.
0:38:59 > 0:39:0145 bid.
0:39:01 > 0:39:02After a very hesitant start,
0:39:02 > 0:39:07the bidding does slowly climb with the hammer almost falling several
0:39:07 > 0:39:11times. We rejoin the bidding at 49.5 grand.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15At £49,500 then, for the first time...
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Back in at 50. Half.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20Shake of the head. Back with you at the back wall with 50.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Here to sell. Don't lose it.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24At £50,000 then.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27Take a half, if not, I'm selling.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29All done. All out.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Well done, sir. Can I have your paddle number, please? Cheers.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34Can't believe it, can you?
0:39:36 > 0:39:38And that cheerful looking bidder,
0:39:38 > 0:39:42who paid bang on the guide price of 50 grand, was Mick, on the right,
0:39:42 > 0:39:46who was at the auction with his friend and co-worker Chris.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Mick owns a property maintenance business but has been buying
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and selling properties in the last couple of years.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54- Chris, nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you, Dion.
0:39:54 > 0:39:55Mick, nice to meet you too, pal.
0:39:55 > 0:39:57- Nice to meet you, Dion. - Congratulations, chaps.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- Thank you very much. - Congratulations.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Were you looking for one of these properties?
0:40:01 > 0:40:02We were looking for a flooded one.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05We were actually after another one, we weren't after this one.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08We never really looked at this one before we bought it.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10But Chris assured me the picture was nice.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Did he?! It was down to you, then, was it?
0:40:12 > 0:40:14I said, "You can't go wrong, can you?"
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Since I've had a look, I'm not sure he was right about the picture,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19- but there you are. - So, Chris, did you spot this?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Yes... The house we originally looked out, you know,
0:40:22 > 0:40:25it was sold at a higher price than we thought, and I looked in the
0:40:25 > 0:40:27catalogue and the auction was going so...
0:40:27 > 0:40:30You know, this caught our eye, so...
0:40:30 > 0:40:32- Two bedroom terrace.- Your eye!
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Says to me, "Just get it," and we got it.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36He's passing the buck now. It's all your fault, you know,
0:40:36 > 0:40:38if this doesn't go right.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41Now you've seen it, Mick, did he do a good job for you?
0:40:41 > 0:40:43He's done a very good job.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45It'll be even better when he's finished it.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49So what do you have to do then when you come into a property like this?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52First of all, make sure you've got all your drying certificates,
0:40:52 > 0:40:53so it's all dry, ready to work on,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55and then we'll look at the walls -
0:40:55 > 0:40:57cement render all the walls, waterproof retardant on them,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01skim them all back in, new doors, floors if necessary.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04New kitchen downstairs, new utility downstairs,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06the radiators will probably want changed,
0:41:06 > 0:41:07the sparks will all want done.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10We may have this wall out here. I've not quite decided.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14- OK.- To open it up a little bit more down here.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Maybe a staircase there.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Yes, I was going to come to the lack of...the lack of...
0:41:18 > 0:41:20There's lack of plaster, obviously, that's your water damage.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23You know, you've lost four stairs as well.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Yeah, that'll have to get made and put back in.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Where are you going to start?
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Hopefully, we're going to start within the next three weeks,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33and we're hoping it will take about two months to sort it.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36OK, when you've got it to where you want it to be,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39are you renting it, or are you going to sell it?
0:41:39 > 0:41:41No, it will be rented.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43I've got a potential...
0:41:43 > 0:41:44Someone who wants it already.
0:41:44 > 0:41:45Have you really?
0:41:47 > 0:41:51They have a budget of 12 grand, but as Mick and Chris are both joiners,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53they'll be doing most of the work themselves.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Where's the majority of that 12 grand going to be spent?
0:41:57 > 0:41:59- On what?- Kitchen, plastering.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- And that's...?- The decorating, you know, is quite simple, isn't it?
0:42:02 > 0:42:03New carpets right the way through.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Obviously, upstairs will get decorated.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07A new bathroom going in upstairs as well.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Upstairs... Now, I've had a little look upstairs and possibly seen the
0:42:11 > 0:42:14strangest shower I've ever seen.
0:42:16 > 0:42:17I...
0:42:19 > 0:42:20It's a very good shower.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22- Yes!- But it's not if you're small.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27I don't quite know how that's come about in there.
0:42:27 > 0:42:28What will you do with that area?
0:42:28 > 0:42:31- It won't be a shower. That's coming out.- Take it out
0:42:31 > 0:42:33- and make it into a cupboard again, will you?- Yes, that'll be back
0:42:33 > 0:42:36- into an airing cupboard. - Who's going to do the work?
0:42:36 > 0:42:38HE CHUCKLES That will be done to you, then.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41You found it, you deal with it!
0:42:41 > 0:42:43No, we'll both sort of put it together.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45We'll both put it together ourselves.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47All the work we do ourselves, apart from the electrics.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49- Get the pros in for that. - Yeah, we have a fella in for that.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52He signs it all off and that's it.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54- Everything else you two do?- Aye.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56- It's a one-stop shop, then. - Basically.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57It's a one-stop shop.
0:42:59 > 0:43:00- Chris, good luck.- Lovely.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02Good spot, by the way, good spot.
0:43:02 > 0:43:03- Mick, good luck. - Thank you very much.
0:43:06 > 0:43:11If ever there was a two-man dream team, Mick and Chris are it.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13There's a lot of work that needs to be done in there
0:43:13 > 0:43:16and the two of them will be doing the majority of it
0:43:16 > 0:43:18with a 12 grand budget,
0:43:18 > 0:43:19which I think is more than enough,
0:43:19 > 0:43:23but they've put themselves under a little bit of pressure
0:43:23 > 0:43:25with that three-month timescale
0:43:25 > 0:43:28cos they potentially have a tenant waiting.
0:43:28 > 0:43:29Let's see how they get on.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31You can find out later in the programme.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38Earlier we saw how one property got on, but what about the other two?
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Did our buyers end up sticking to their plans?
0:43:41 > 0:43:42Let's go back and find out.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45Back to Rainham in Kent,
0:43:45 > 0:43:48where Lucy saw a plot of land sandwiched between a
0:43:48 > 0:43:50busy road and the M2 motorway.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54But that wouldn't put the brakes on the interest for this lot because it
0:43:54 > 0:43:55also came with planning permission,
0:43:55 > 0:43:59which means you could be in the fast lane to the building stage.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Now, the plans that have been passed are for a sort of mini-terrace,
0:44:04 > 0:44:06all three houses the same size,
0:44:06 > 0:44:08all the same layout with a kitchen, diner,
0:44:08 > 0:44:10living room and loo on the ground floor
0:44:10 > 0:44:14and three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first. Now,
0:44:14 > 0:44:17they won't be massive, but they'll be plenty big enough for a growing
0:44:17 > 0:44:19family. And what do I like most?
0:44:19 > 0:44:22The fact that somebody has done all the hard work for you
0:44:22 > 0:44:24and you can just get building.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27Good thing then that the brother-in-laws who paid £200,000
0:44:27 > 0:44:31for this at auction have plenty of experience in the building trade.
0:44:31 > 0:44:33Ricky, in the lilac jumper,
0:44:33 > 0:44:37runs a building company and Paul is a carpenter by trade.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40So you'd think ready-made plans for new builds would be ideal,
0:44:40 > 0:44:42but they had other ideas.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45So you paid £200,000.
0:44:45 > 0:44:46Did you walk away feeling like
0:44:46 > 0:44:50- you might have paid a little bit too much, Paul?- For the basis
0:44:50 > 0:44:53of the planning that was in place, but for our future plans, no.
0:44:53 > 0:44:54What do you want to do here?
0:44:54 > 0:44:59We've put in plans for eight two bed flats.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02If we got the planning through, then it works out quite a good buy.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04- Yeah, it was a gamble. - A little bit of a gamble.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06A little bit of a gamble, yes.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09Ricky and Paul were rolling the dice by going for eight flats
0:45:09 > 0:45:12rather than the planned houses that came with the plot.
0:45:12 > 0:45:17So time to see if their number came up over four and a half years later.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21# Roll the dice for me
0:45:21 > 0:45:26# Roll the dice for me. #
0:45:26 > 0:45:28Sadly for them, it hasn't,
0:45:28 > 0:45:31and after two years of various rejected planning applications,
0:45:31 > 0:45:35they were finally given the all clear to build a terrace of
0:45:35 > 0:45:37four three-bedroom houses.
0:45:37 > 0:45:41Although not quite complete, there is certainly a big change here.
0:45:41 > 0:45:42What do we have inside?
0:45:45 > 0:45:48Well, in all the houses, the downstairs is similar
0:45:48 > 0:45:51with the living rooms, the front downstairs toilet
0:45:51 > 0:45:54off the hall and a kitchen dining off the back,
0:45:54 > 0:45:56which has French doors which lead out to the garden.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03In the bigger two middle houses, you get a bonus.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08Paul's on holiday, so it's up to Ricky to fill us in.
0:46:08 > 0:46:12Here we have the master bedroom.
0:46:12 > 0:46:13It's plaster finished.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16We've got the electrics first fix,
0:46:16 > 0:46:19shortly to be second fix completed.
0:46:19 > 0:46:25Here we have the en-suite with a shower tray, shower,
0:46:25 > 0:46:28toilet and basin.
0:46:28 > 0:46:32Yeah, I think it will make a nice young family's ideal major bedroom.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35It may take a bit of imagination just now,
0:46:35 > 0:46:37but I'm sure that this family team
0:46:37 > 0:46:40will do a bang-up job of finishing these houses.
0:46:41 > 0:46:44It's a family business, we've all chipped in, in one way.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46We've got Chris, who's a site agent.
0:46:46 > 0:46:50He looks after the general day-to-day run of the operation.
0:46:50 > 0:46:54My son, he comes down to help us out with the manual work.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57We've got Grandad Ron, he comes down.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59He's more of a sort of overseer.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01He sorts of keeps them shipshape.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05Paul's down once a week, moreso than I am.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08You know, we knew at the beginning it was going to be like this,
0:47:08 > 0:47:11so if it takes another six months, then I'm not that worried, really,
0:47:11 > 0:47:12personally.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17What was a worry was the lengthy back and forth with the council's
0:47:17 > 0:47:19planning department.
0:47:19 > 0:47:24The biggest issue for us was, once we got the planning approval,
0:47:24 > 0:47:25it was the conditions.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29There were so many conditions that we had to do and also we had to get
0:47:29 > 0:47:30professional people in to do this.
0:47:30 > 0:47:36What with things like lizards and reptiles and birds, etc, you know?
0:47:36 > 0:47:37As we put the conditions in,
0:47:37 > 0:47:40and it was costing us time to put them in each time,
0:47:40 > 0:47:43it was like a month process before you got back, you know,
0:47:43 > 0:47:46so it was a little bit of a hard troop for us, really.
0:47:46 > 0:47:50You're probably aware that bats and toads are protected by law,
0:47:50 > 0:47:55but so are some plants, wild birds and reptiles like the adder,
0:47:55 > 0:47:57common lizards and the slowworm.
0:47:57 > 0:47:58At the end of the day,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01it's really important to protect the environment,
0:48:01 > 0:48:03but it might feel a bit frustrating for a developer.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Sometimes you think, if you knew all this,
0:48:05 > 0:48:07you might not have started in the first place,
0:48:07 > 0:48:09but you've got to put your toe in the water
0:48:09 > 0:48:10to get a slice of the pie, so...
0:48:10 > 0:48:14Now it's time to see just how much that slice could be worth.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17We've asked along two local estate agents
0:48:17 > 0:48:19to see what they think of the houses.
0:48:19 > 0:48:23I first saw the property about four, four and a half years ago,
0:48:23 > 0:48:26and I believe at the time they were hoping for flats.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28What they've achieved, I've seen,
0:48:28 > 0:48:29is a fair compromise,
0:48:29 > 0:48:31and perhaps they might have got
0:48:31 > 0:48:32one extra property,
0:48:32 > 0:48:35but the properties they've got are very nice.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37In terms of the layout,
0:48:37 > 0:48:40the two bigger properties have both got en suites,
0:48:40 > 0:48:43so that will make them more appealing.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47It's the kind of feature that people demand in a property,
0:48:47 > 0:48:51so I was pleased to see that they've included that in them.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53I think the layouts are fine.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56Possibly the bedrooms upstairs could be slightly bigger.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59Basically, we've got the two inner terraces and the two end terraces.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01And they all work.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04The houses are yet to be finished off, but to what standard
0:49:04 > 0:49:07should Ricky aim for in this market?
0:49:07 > 0:49:11Given where it is, they don't have to be high-end,
0:49:11 > 0:49:15top-spec property, but it would still need to be a nice finish.
0:49:15 > 0:49:19I always think any property does have to be finished well anyway,
0:49:19 > 0:49:23but we wouldn't have to see perhaps granite worktops,
0:49:23 > 0:49:25that kind of feature in this property.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28I think the more they spend on the property, the greater the return.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31I personally would put granite tops in the kitchens and just go for a
0:49:31 > 0:49:33slightly higher specification.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36So some differing opinions there.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38The sales values vary as well.
0:49:38 > 0:49:43Ricky and Paul will have spent £650,000 in total
0:49:43 > 0:49:44when this development is complete.
0:49:46 > 0:49:53I would value the slightly larger properties at £250,000 to £290,000.
0:49:53 > 0:49:59The smaller ones, I would value at £240,000 to £280,000.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02I think the ends are worth slightly more.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05Having said that, the middle have got the en-suite showers,
0:50:05 > 0:50:07so I think one plays off the other.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11I think all the units you would sell for approximately £300,000,
0:50:11 > 0:50:13depending on the finish.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15I'm a little bit surprised.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17It's much more than I thought personally.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21I was thinking along the line of 250-255 for the end two,
0:50:21 > 0:50:27the smaller ones, and 260-265 for the middle two,
0:50:27 > 0:50:28which are bigger, larger.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32Well, if it goes to that, I'll be over the moon.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Thank you very much!
0:50:34 > 0:50:37With the total ranging between 1 and 1.2 million
0:50:37 > 0:50:39for all four houses,
0:50:39 > 0:50:41it's easy to see why.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43Once they're sold, what's next for Ricky?
0:50:45 > 0:50:47Next for me is retirement!
0:50:49 > 0:50:52Well, he's clearly looking forward to that by the sound of it.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54- I'll live on the proceeds! - Best of luck, Ricky.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Back now to the historic city of Carlisle,
0:51:02 > 0:51:05where I looked around this two-bed terrace guided
0:51:05 > 0:51:07at £50,000 to £60,000.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10Unfortunately, like many properties in Carlisle,
0:51:10 > 0:51:13it was badly damaged by the 2015 floods.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18Downstairs, the plaster had mostly been stripped back
0:51:18 > 0:51:21and the kitchen had completely gone.
0:51:21 > 0:51:25But the consolation was that upstairs was untouched by water.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27Well, floodwater anyway.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31Here, we've got an airing cupboard with a shower door on.
0:51:32 > 0:51:35No... We've actually got...
0:51:35 > 0:51:36HE LAUGHS
0:51:36 > 0:51:39A shower where the airing cupboard should be.
0:51:39 > 0:51:42And they've tiled it from top to bottom as well.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44That is bizarre.
0:51:45 > 0:51:50It was a bit odd, but this house had lots to offer.
0:51:50 > 0:51:53And come auction day, it didn't put off Mick
0:51:53 > 0:51:55who, accompanied by his colleague Chris,
0:51:55 > 0:51:59got this property for bang on the guide price of £50,000.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03And they already had plans in mind for upstairs.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09Upstairs... I'VE had a look upstairs
0:52:09 > 0:52:12and possibly seen the strangest shower.
0:52:14 > 0:52:16- Bizarre, isn't it?- I don't quite know how that's come about.
0:52:16 > 0:52:18What are you going to do in that area, then?
0:52:18 > 0:52:21- It won't be a shower.- Take it out and make it back into a cupboard,
0:52:21 > 0:52:24- then?- Yeah, that will be back into an airing cupboard.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27It's all in a day's work for Mick and Chris,
0:52:27 > 0:52:31who are professional joiners, and after the work is complete,
0:52:31 > 0:52:32plan to rent it out.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37They had a budget of 12 grand and a total timescale of three months.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46We return three months later to see how the professionals do it.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52What a difference!
0:52:52 > 0:52:55The destruction caused by the flood is a distant memory
0:52:55 > 0:52:59and the house has been restored to its former glory, and then some.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10Mick and Chris have pulled down the dividing wall between the two
0:53:10 > 0:53:13reception rooms to open up the downstairs area,
0:53:13 > 0:53:15and it lets loads of light in.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25And in the kitchen...
0:53:25 > 0:53:27Well, there's a kitchen.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30They've opted for a striking monochrome look
0:53:30 > 0:53:34with LED low lighting to add a touch of luxury.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36But it's not just about looking good.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39The guys have taken some preventative measures
0:53:39 > 0:53:41in case of any future flooding,
0:53:41 > 0:53:45such as adding waterproof render to the walls and opting for
0:53:45 > 0:53:48easily replaceable wooden floors and tiles throughout.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52So let's see how they've got on upstairs.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55And, yes, there's stairs.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01One of the bedrooms upstairs - it was quite a narrow door,
0:54:01 > 0:54:04so we've changed that and made it a little bit wider because that was no
0:54:04 > 0:54:05good. Unfortunately,
0:54:05 > 0:54:06we had to get rid of the shower
0:54:06 > 0:54:09and put that back into an airing cupboard.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11We just basically put a bit of lino in the bottom of it,
0:54:11 > 0:54:13done away with the pipes,
0:54:13 > 0:54:15so that everything was disconnected and tidied it up a bit from what it
0:54:15 > 0:54:17was, cos the way it was, was...
0:54:17 > 0:54:19- HE SIGHS - Ridiculous, you know?
0:54:19 > 0:54:20- You said you liked it!- No.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25It's no great loss,
0:54:25 > 0:54:28particularly as they've refurbished that old family bathroom
0:54:28 > 0:54:30in a stylish black and white,
0:54:30 > 0:54:34complete with wet wall and colourful light feature.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37They've really pulled this one out of the bag.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39But was it all straightforward?
0:54:40 > 0:54:43I broke my collarbone, this one, in three pieces
0:54:43 > 0:54:45due to jacking my van up at home.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48It skidded off the jack and it repelled the jack
0:54:48 > 0:54:49off the back of the vehicle
0:54:49 > 0:54:53and the handle on the jack hit me in the collarbone,
0:54:53 > 0:54:57so I was unconscious and had a broken collarbone in three bits.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00The hospital said it's about a month, you'll have to be off
0:55:00 > 0:55:02a month, six weeks. It was about a week, wasn't it?
0:55:02 > 0:55:06- It was only a week.- I took one week off and got back into it, like.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10I can manage. The left-hand seemed to do more.
0:55:10 > 0:55:12At that point, we'd had the plastering done, hadn't we?
0:55:12 > 0:55:15Yes, the plastering was done, thank God. The hard bit was done.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17But just basically moving the radiator when we
0:55:17 > 0:55:18first got set off,
0:55:18 > 0:55:21- I overstretched and... - HE SNAPS
0:55:21 > 0:55:24..out went my back. That wasn't much fun, but there you go.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27We struggled through and got it done in the end.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30Remind me not go to work with you two!
0:55:30 > 0:55:32I've already suffered more than enough injuries
0:55:32 > 0:55:34on the football pitch,
0:55:34 > 0:55:36thank you. Despite their ailments,
0:55:36 > 0:55:38the duo came right on budget at 12 grand
0:55:38 > 0:55:43and completed in their predicted timescale of three months,
0:55:43 > 0:55:45while fitting it in around their regular work.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47So, how did the guys do it?
0:55:50 > 0:55:52- With a lot of difficulty, weren't it?- We just kept going.
0:55:52 > 0:55:53Kept driving. You do one task
0:55:53 > 0:55:57and you see a little bit of light at the tunnel, you do another task
0:55:57 > 0:55:59and the light's getting bigger and bigger.
0:55:59 > 0:56:00We wanted to push it, like.
0:56:00 > 0:56:02- You really wanted to get it done. - Yeah,
0:56:02 > 0:56:05there were quite a few late nights involved and every weekend,
0:56:05 > 0:56:09- more or less, wasn't it?- Yeah. - Yeah, we got through it in the end.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14Well, time to see if their hard work has paid off.
0:56:14 > 0:56:17We invited along two local estate agents to get their opinions on this
0:56:17 > 0:56:20property, starting with the agent who saw it first.
0:56:24 > 0:56:29I think the boys have done a good job in renovating the property.
0:56:29 > 0:56:34They've used good quality materials in the kitchen and they've decorated
0:56:34 > 0:56:36it to a nice high standard.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38First impressions of the property are good.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41The finish is to a good standard.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44The opening up of the reception rooms into one large room
0:56:44 > 0:56:46really enhances the property
0:56:46 > 0:56:49as it makes what could potentially be a rather small property
0:56:49 > 0:56:50feel much more spacious.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53All the evidence of flood damage has gone.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56But it's had a lasting effect on the property market
0:56:56 > 0:57:01and the agents agreed it's difficult to value properties in this area
0:57:01 > 0:57:04as there hasn't been many on the market since the flooding.
0:57:04 > 0:57:07Bearing that in mind, the agents valued the property
0:57:07 > 0:57:10at between 90,000 to 100,000 grand.
0:57:10 > 0:57:14That top value could mean a potential profit of 38 grand.
0:57:14 > 0:57:17But as Mick plans to rent it out,
0:57:17 > 0:57:19what kind of income could he be getting?
0:57:19 > 0:57:22If this property were to go on the rental market currently,
0:57:22 > 0:57:25we'd be looking at a rent somewhere in the region of £495 per month.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27On the rental market,
0:57:27 > 0:57:30I would expect this property to achieve around about
0:57:30 > 0:57:34£475 to £495 per calendar month.
0:57:34 > 0:57:39That's a potential yield of just over 9.5%.
0:57:39 > 0:57:43What do Mick and Chris think about those valuations?
0:57:44 > 0:57:46Yeah, it's good.
0:57:46 > 0:57:47- Good.- Pleased with that.
0:57:47 > 0:57:49I've got people ready to move in.
0:57:49 > 0:57:52They'll be moving in within the next fortnight, I should think.
0:57:52 > 0:57:54The first people that viewed it, wanted it, didn't they?
0:57:54 > 0:57:57Yeah. They wanted it before it was finished, really.
0:57:57 > 0:58:00It's all come together nicely.
0:58:00 > 0:58:02But have they enjoyed working together?
0:58:02 > 0:58:05- Brilliant.- Aye, we have a good laugh, don't we?
0:58:05 > 0:58:06Yes, we do have a good crack on the jobs.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08You've got to have a bit of fun, otherwise it's a long day.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11Yeah, we do have a good working relationship, don't we?
0:58:11 > 0:58:12Yeah, yeah, very good, aye.
0:58:12 > 0:58:15- Happy.- But I'm better. - A little bit.
0:58:18 > 0:58:22Well, sadly that's all the time we've got for auction action today.
0:58:22 > 0:58:25Yes, but don't worry, we've got loads more stories where they came from.
0:58:25 > 0:58:26We look forward to seeing you next time
0:58:26 > 0:58:28- for more Homes Under The Hammer. - ALL: Goodbye.