Episode 12 Homes Under the Hammer


Episode 12

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Transcript


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Hello and welcome to the show.

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We both enjoy investing in the property market and hope to

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get a deal or two along the way, but it's not as easy as you think.

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No, so what's the best way to potentially bag yourself a bargain?

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Head down to your local property auction.

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When it comes to buying property at auction, there's no messing about.

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When a hammer falls, you are exchanging contracts.

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Yes, and you'd normally expect to complete on the purchase

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in 28 days or less.

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So, what inspired the buyers on today's show?

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We start in Biggin Hill in Kent where the problem seems

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pretty obvious to Lucy.

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It's cold! It's actually colder in this house than outside.

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But in Princetown, Devon,

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this classic Dartmoor cottage requires more thought.

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It's just one of those ones you have to move in here

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for a little bit and just... Hmm, mull it over.

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Whilst in Stoke-on-Trent,

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problems could be avoided if the golden rules weren't broken.

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-Did you view this one?

-No. I did send Steve.

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All these properties have been sold at auction.

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And we'll find out who bought them and what they've paid

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when they went under the hammer.

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Sold, 279. Well done.

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MARTIN: Today, Lucy is in Biggin Hill,

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the only settlement of Greater London with a Kent county address.

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Believe it or not, this picturesque town is only 19 miles from London.

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The downside is there's no train station,

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which makes it more tricky to commute.

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But that has kept area prices relatively low,

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making it an affordable place to be.

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For London, that is.

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And the guide price for the property I'm here to see is £220,000 plus.

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Now, for that, you get a two-bedroom bungalow

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along this busy residential street.

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It's a convenient place to live and that's because it's on a bus route,

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which will take you to New Addington's tram link.

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The first thing I've noticed, these big old trees.

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Wow, they're huge and they're creating a loss of light.

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So, let's go inside and see if it's as dark as it looks on the outside.

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Well, I don't know about you, Lucy, but I'm scared.

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It looks like a Hammer House Of Horror!

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Well, this house is looking really sorry for itself on the outside.

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Huh! And really sorry for itself on the inside.

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But what I do like are the proportions.

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You've got a really nice, wide hallway here, a lovely big kitchen.

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Down this corridor, two huge bedrooms.

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I mean, the sizes are quite phenomenal.

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You've got a little bathroom tucked round there.

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And at the back of the property, again, look at the proportions.

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A really good-sized lounge.

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But it's a bit depressing coming in here because it's cold.

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It's actually colder in this house than outside.

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It feels and smells musty. I think there's a bit of damp up here.

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You can see a great big hole in the ceiling there.

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There's so much you need to do to give this place a face-lift.

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But what I love is this massive window here.

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I would love to put some sliding doors or some bi-folding doors

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on the back here, because what lies out there, well,

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that's a surprise and I'll tell you more about that later.

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Well, surprises are well and good.

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But does this house have any nasty ones lurking?

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It can do with new windows.

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A new kitchen wouldn't go amiss.

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And a blue bathroom suite won't be to everyone's taste.

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But the layout does work here.

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Although Lucy has something up her sleeve.

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Now, this is a big bedroom. You know what I would do?

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I would reinstate this, build up a partition wall here,

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divide this into two separate rooms.

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And that would leave you with two good-sized bedrooms.

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You could then go from a two to a three-bed bungalow.

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It would be a more flexible way of living

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and it would be worth more money, too.

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So, why not cash in?

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# I'm building a wall

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# A fine wall... #

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OK, Lucy. Time to unveil that surprise.

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Now, out here, there is a lot of garden. Look at this! Wow!

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It is so big. Gosh!

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There's one word ringing in my head right now - potential.

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There is easily the space to extend out the back here,

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giving you so much more internal space.

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And then, there'll be less garden to keep under control, too.

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And if you really wanted to take this bungalow to the next level,

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well, you could think about extending upwards as well.

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There are many options here.

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Big family home on a big kid-friendly plot being one.

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But that could cost a lot of money.

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Alternatively, there is a relative scarcity of bungalows

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and they are much sought after.

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A house on one level with a garden is preferred by many home-buyers.

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A smaller outlay could gain you more. So, swings and roundabouts.

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We asked a local property expert

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to take a look at this bungalow guided at £220,000 plus.

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What about extending? Is this a good idea.

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The ideal way to extend a bungalow would be to go both backwards

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and upwards to give it its full potential.

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There is an array of properties on the road already,

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so subject to relevant planning, it would be the best way.

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You could potentially create four bedrooms at the property

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and there's a huge demand for four-bedroom properties in the area.

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So, an extension might be desirable.

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But if you're a developer,

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it comes down to whether it's the most viable financial decision.

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Renovated as a two-bedroom bungalow,

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the property will probably sell for somewhere in the region of £300,000.

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As a three-bedroom bungalow,

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it will probably sell for somewhere in the region of £330,000.

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So, simply by reinstating the wall and a door,

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you could be increasing the value by around 30 grand. Amazing!

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Making it a four bed, you would have the time and costs of an extension

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but it would be worth it.

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So, as an extended four-bedroom property,

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it would fetch somewhere in the region of £380,000.

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Yes! This bungalow needs so much work.

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But it's an auction lot with potential.

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So, who thought this was too good to miss?

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Let's head to auction and find out.

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Two-bed detached bungalow. Obviously, it needs some attention.

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Start 200, go upwards from there. 200 in the front, 205 anywhere?

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I saw the gent first, 205. 210, 215.

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220, 225. 230...

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After a hesitant start, the bidding increases slowly but surely,

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and we return at 270,000.

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270, 271.

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Yeah? 272.

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271, 272.

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Back in, another crack, madam? If not, 271.

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First time, second time.

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Third and last time, 272. 273.

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Nearly there, yeah? 273. 274, sir.

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You hiding? 274.

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273, first time, second time, third and last time...

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Sold, 273, well done, you got there.

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Clearly delighted at getting the bungalow for 273,000

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were local couple Claire and Chris.

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They have two children, Eva, who's nine and Jack, who's six.

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And this is going to be their family home.

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Lucy met them to find out more.

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Chris and Claire, congratulations. Tell me about auction day!

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-How was it? I could see you got really excited, Claire.

-I...

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The guy before us bought his for, like, £1.9 million

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and he was like, "Sold for 1.9 million."

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And then he was like, "Fine."

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And then he was like, "Sold for 273," and I was like, "Yes!"

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He was like, "Grrr!" It was really embarrassing.

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Tell me, whose idea was it to buy this

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and why have you bought this? Chris?

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We bought this, we've been looking for a bungalow for a while

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-because Claire, unfortunately she's got MS and mobility problems.

-Yes.

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So, we've been looking for a bungalow

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and there was nothing in our price range, was there?

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No, not round here, it was too expensive.

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And then we came across this one. And...

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Well, you texted me a picture of it one night, when he was drunk.

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And well, I can't really say what I said about it.

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I thought he was actually joking.

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And then, we saw it about a week later and then

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a couple of days later, it went to auction.

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-So, it was all really, really quick.

-So, hold on a minute.

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So, late at night, he texted you a photograph

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-of the outside of the bungalow.

-Yes.

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And how did you react?

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-Erm, I said a bad word.

-Did it look awful?

-Two bad words, yes.

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-Did it look awful from the text?

-Yeah, it looked awful.

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-I said no way, and then we went and saw it a few days later.

-Yeah.

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-And he managed to make me calm down.

-It was still awful, wasn't it?

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It was still awful.

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So, now you've actually bought it and for the price you paid,

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-Claire, how do you feel now?

-Ecstatic.

-Are you really pleased?

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Yeah, really, really pleased. I can't believe it.

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We've wanted it for so long.

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Because obviously, I can't do my stairs at home anymore

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and things like that, so it's going to make life so much easier.

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So, for you guys, it's all about trying to give you

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as much independence.

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Because I know you're moving from a house

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to a bungalow because you need to have one storey, one-level living.

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Yeah.

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OK, so you've bought this bungalow in this condition.

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Did you blow all your money on auction day?

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Do you have a contingency fund? How are the finances bearing up?

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We've... We've got nothing at the moment.

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But we've got a house to sell.

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So, once we've sold that, will have funds to do our...

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-We've got bits, we can start.

-Yeah, we can start.

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But obviously, we can't do the extension.

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We'll probably renovate what's here but we can't extend...

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Until we've sold.

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So, the bigger plans for an extension are for

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after their current house is sold.

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In the meantime, they're going to finance what they can

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with help from family and a bridging loan.

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And they hope that over the next four months,

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they can get this place into a habitable state.

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So, what sort of budget do you want to spend on your Plan A?

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Which is coming in and refurbing it.

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And to what level are you two going to refurb this property?

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-So, over to you.

-Over to me, right.

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About 20,000 initially, just to redo what's here.

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-And then...

-Kitchen and bathroom.

-Kitchen, bathroom.

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Plastering, electrics, plumbing, new central heating. The lot.

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Eek! That's quite tight. How do you feel about that?

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-Do you think that's realistic?

-Yes.

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Can you do a lot of the work yourself?

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Yeah, I can do all the electrics.

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And I've got builder friends

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that are going to do a lot of work for us.

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Mates rates.

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-And plumbers.

-Hopefully.

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We've got lots of good friends that are going to help us out.

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Our friends have been incredible, already, just mucking in

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and saying they'll help whenever we need them.

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So, it's really, really good.

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Chris used to be a theatre electrician,

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so his skills are going to be handy, as are their friends'.

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Maybe that £20,000 will eke out for the first stage.

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But time is another issue.

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How are you going to squeeze all this in

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with your very demanding jobs?

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Because Claire, I know that you're a busy acting

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-and you're teaching at the moment, aren't you?

-Yeah, so I teach drama.

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Because of that, I get the holidays off.

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So, we're going to have a good, have the whole summer, summer holidays.

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And Chris works in a school, so he's the same.

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So, that's absolutely fantastic

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-that you both get the holidays off together.

-Yeah.

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-And the kids will be around.

-Exactly.

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-You're really going to have to use that time wisely.

-Yeah.

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So, what do the kids think of this house?

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Because it's very strange when you bring little ones

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to a property like this. They can't see beyond what's here now!

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I bet it's quite scary for them, isn't it?

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-Eva wasn't impressed, was she?

-No.

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She walked in, she was like, "I've got to sleep in here?!"

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Our little boy when we came down to see it,

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he said, "But if we like it and want to buy it, how will we get it home?"

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-Did he?

-Yeah, so I was like,

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"We don't have to just put it in a bag and take it back."

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Yeah, but I think they're coming round to the idea of it.

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And we've taken them the shops and said like, "What colours do you like

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"for your bedrooms?" And things like that, so they're getting excited.

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And they've enjoyed working in the garden, haven't they?

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Yeah. We've put them to work.

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So, you've got a bit of a journey ahead.

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-You've got to sell that house of yours.

-Yeah. Oh, fingers crossed!

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Guys, it's been such a pleasure seeing you today and hearing

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your lovely story and I know this is going to be a huge success.

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-So, congratulations.

-Thank you very much.

-Well done.

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-Thank you.

-Chris, lovely to see you.

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I'm so happy that Chris and Claire have finally found

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a property that they can adapt and call home.

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But there are some financial concerns here and a lot hinges

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on them selling their current house.

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Join me later in the programme and you can see if they've had an easy ride.

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Off to Devon now and Princetown.

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It's the highest village in Dartmoor National Park,

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which might account for some slightly unseasonable weather.

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Well, it has literally just finished snowing, which might not be

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that surprising, apart from the fact it is the end of April.

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However, we are on Dartmoor, and absolutely beautiful it is, too.

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Here to see a three-bed detached house. Guide price, 140-160,000.

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Now, this house is in a designated area of outstanding beauty.

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However, there is one thing on the landscape

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that not everyone will appreciate.

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Dartmoor Prison, which is visible from the back of the property.

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So, what have we got?

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It has a feel of straightaway of a classic Dartmoor cottage.

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I mean, look at that fireplace in there.

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Absolutely magnificent, but straightaway,

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you get the impression,

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as with those stairs and everything you're looking at,

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it hasn't had much tender loving care for quite a while.

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So, let's focus a little bit more on the fabric of the building.

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And what we've actually got in terms of space.

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Well, there's one room over the side,

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another room over this side which is currently laid out as the kitchen.

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There are some utterly charming features that you would want...

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Want to keep.

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You know what, that's like a mini Stonehenge, isn't it?

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How heavy would that piece of granite on the top there

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have been when they were installing it? But it's absolutely majestic.

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Obviously, if you could get that range cooker sorted out,

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it would be an absolutely amazing feature.

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And then, through that to the rear of the property where you've got...

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Well, a sort of single-storey extension thing with

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a vaulted ceiling in certain parts.

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So, that has scope for expansion into.

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And all in all, it's just one of those ones where you have to

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move in here for a little bit and just hmm, mull it over.

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Though a decent footprint, it's not really using the space well.

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It's so ramshackle and higgledy-piggledy.

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But changing things around might be a Herculean task,

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judging by the thickness of the walls.

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-# What am I gonna do?

-# What am I gonna do with you?

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-# What am I gonna do?

-# What am I gonna do with you? #

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Well, upstairs, well, up some very rickety stairs, actually.

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To the first floor, and again, a bit of a rejiggling required.

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But you've got this room here which is above that bit

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which has got mostly vaulting, and it's just doesn't,

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where you've got this ridge you have to cross over to get to.

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And like the rest of the place,

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it's in a terrible state in terms of damp.

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Obviously, you're going to have to do some major refurbishment

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in terms of the roof, perhaps,

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and stuff like that to get rid of all that.

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But just in terms of the layout, it's not working for me.

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This staircase is too narrow, too rickety.

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You've then got your three bedrooms.

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That's a good-sized one there,

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smaller one there and another one just there, which is not bad.

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Bathroom's a nice size, which is a bit of a bonus.

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But all in all, again, piece of paper...

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..come up with some plan that's better than this.

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The stairwell and the stairs seem to me

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to be the starting point for any redesign.

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And perhaps, if they came more centrally,

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the three bedrooms and the bathroom would flow better off it.

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And I can't help but feeling

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that covered space could be utilised better.

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Perhaps a breath of fresh Devon air will clear my thoughts?

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Well, at the back of the property,

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a really impressive view across Dartmoor and across to the prison.

0:16:430:16:47

But you've also got a really nice sized garden.

0:16:470:16:51

It comes all the way down there, there's a little pond.

0:16:510:16:54

And you might think this is the end of it, but no.

0:16:540:16:57

Swizzle round a bit and it continues all the way down to the bottom.

0:16:570:17:01

And one slightly unusual thing you get as well is that,

0:17:010:17:05

which is a well.

0:17:050:17:06

Well, well!

0:17:070:17:09

And along with the fantastic garden, there is a useful outhouse,

0:17:100:17:14

which perhaps could be combined into the living space.

0:17:140:17:17

And surprisingly, the property isn't listed or in a conservation area.

0:17:170:17:21

So, an extension could be possible.

0:17:210:17:24

Subject to planning, of course.

0:17:240:17:26

What does a property expert from the auctioneers that sold it

0:17:260:17:29

think about the house?

0:17:290:17:31

Could it be transformed into a nice little nest egg?

0:17:310:17:34

The property benefits from a huge rear garden, so naturally,

0:17:340:17:37

some people may see there's graphic scope to extend out the back,

0:17:370:17:40

whether it be single-storey or two-storey.

0:17:400:17:42

I think if you were going to extend,

0:17:420:17:43

probably a single-storey would be more beneficial to create

0:17:430:17:46

a large kitchen breakfast room that sort of splays out onto the garden

0:17:460:17:50

because a two-storey extension, in my eyes, would be overkill

0:17:500:17:53

for the area and the ceiling limit of the price values.

0:17:530:17:56

Yes, overdevelopment is a consideration in this area.

0:17:560:17:59

Its location and proximity to the prison will not be for everyone.

0:17:590:18:03

So, what is the ceiling level

0:18:030:18:05

for a property that was guided at 140-160,000?

0:18:050:18:10

Keeping the format and structure of the building the same,

0:18:100:18:12

just refurbishing it, you could probably expect to achieve

0:18:120:18:15

somewhere in the region of £250,000, once done.

0:18:150:18:18

If you extended the property on a single-storey basis at the rear,

0:18:180:18:21

you could probably expect to achieve somewhere in the region of £275,000.

0:18:210:18:26

A single-storey extension

0:18:260:18:27

on a building of this sort of square footage,

0:18:270:18:29

you could be somewhere in the region of about £40-45,000.

0:18:290:18:32

And its rental value?

0:18:330:18:35

You could put the property on the rental market for somewhere

0:18:350:18:38

in the region of £700-725 per calendar month.

0:18:380:18:40

Well, it's a house that obviously needs a lot of work,

0:18:440:18:47

but that is what a lot of auction buyers look for -

0:18:470:18:51

a property they can put their stamp on.

0:18:510:18:53

So, I'm sure it was very popular!

0:18:530:18:54

Let's find out what happened when it went under the hammer.

0:18:540:18:57

Lot 128, residentially,

0:19:020:19:04

is an absolute diamond.

0:19:040:19:06

So, it's a properly handsome, detached three-bed cottage

0:19:060:19:10

for refurbishment.

0:19:100:19:11

Big garden, off-street parking. Dartmoor on your doorstep.

0:19:110:19:15

What do you want me to ask? 120?

0:19:150:19:17

At 120. 120 I've got, at 120.

0:19:170:19:20

At 120, at 120...

0:19:200:19:22

If you are happy for that lady to have that for 120,

0:19:220:19:25

I'm going to sense she'd be smiling.

0:19:250:19:27

Yes, she would be, at 120.

0:19:270:19:30

Anybody want to wipe the smile off that lady's face?

0:19:300:19:33

At 120.

0:19:330:19:34

Oh, you will, sir? Sorry, 122.

0:19:340:19:37

122, 124, 124, 126? 126.

0:19:370:19:41

Corking house. Sorry, I've got to do this, madam, forgive me.

0:19:410:19:45

126. At 126.

0:19:450:19:48

At 126...

0:19:480:19:50

First time, at 126. Second time...

0:19:500:19:54

At 126, you sure and done?

0:19:540:19:57

We know where it's going. At 126.

0:19:570:20:00

And third row back.

0:20:000:20:02

126. Well done, you.

0:20:020:20:03

The hammer fell for £34,000 less than the top-end guide price.

0:20:030:20:08

And for 126,000.

0:20:080:20:11

The smiling successful bidder was Jacqui and her husband Bob.

0:20:110:20:15

And all wrapped up from the unseasonably cold weather,

0:20:150:20:19

they joined me back at the house.

0:20:190:20:21

-Jacqui, Bob, good to meet you both!

-Hi, there.

0:20:250:20:27

-Now, you paid quite a lot less than the guide price, didn't you?

-We did.

0:20:270:20:31

What did you put that down to?

0:20:310:20:32

Just the fact that people were put off by the state or what?

0:20:320:20:35

Didn't really understand it.

0:20:350:20:37

I mean, it is quite remote up here,

0:20:370:20:38

I think you do either love it or hate it, maybe.

0:20:380:20:40

-And also at the back, we're looking over Dartmoor Prison.

-We are.

0:20:400:20:45

Was that an issue for you?

0:20:450:20:47

While we drove into the town, I got told to get out of the car

0:20:470:20:49

and take a picture of that old mill.

0:20:490:20:51

Well, it does look like an old mill, actually!

0:20:530:20:56

Tell me why you wanted to buy this place, then.

0:20:560:20:58

Well, we basically wanted another renovation project.

0:20:590:21:02

We just finished one in Devon.

0:21:020:21:04

And we were just looking for another one,

0:21:040:21:06

so we popped our heads into the auction and we secured this place.

0:21:060:21:08

-Is this something you've done a lot of?

-We've done a few.

0:21:080:21:11

-We've built our own house at one point.

-Oh, wow.

0:21:110:21:14

Which we've just sold, actually, to move on.

0:21:140:21:16

Erm, we did a house up last year down in Dawlish.

0:21:160:21:21

And we've now moved onto this one.

0:21:210:21:23

So, you've both got building experience?

0:21:230:21:25

Erm, well, I used to work for a large retailer

0:21:250:21:28

as a project manager, doing supermarkets.

0:21:280:21:30

-Right.

-On the construction side.

0:21:300:21:33

We had our own company doing refurbishing works.

0:21:330:21:39

-And we've now moved on to doing houses.

-Doing this kind of stuff?

0:21:390:21:42

Rather than employing people in the company,

0:21:420:21:45

-we now just employ subcontractors.

-And what about you, Jacqui?

0:21:450:21:47

What is your experience?

0:21:470:21:49

Well, we've had, I've had 25 years in construction as well.

0:21:490:21:53

Worked for the same company as Bob did and then we set up on our own

0:21:530:21:57

when Bob left that company.

0:21:570:21:58

And managed a company, carrying on doing the same thing

0:21:580:22:01

but actually on a self-employed basis.

0:22:010:22:03

Oh, great, fantastic.

0:22:030:22:05

Well, there's no doubting Jacqui and Bob's credentials

0:22:050:22:07

for taking on a house like this.

0:22:070:22:09

It certainly seems it couldn't be in better hands!

0:22:090:22:13

So, tell me what you're going to do to it, then.

0:22:130:22:16

Well, right, erm...

0:22:160:22:18

-Basically change everything.

-Oh, OK.

-Yeah.

0:22:180:22:22

The rooms out the back at the moment,

0:22:220:22:24

we intend to knock them through, vault the ceiling up,

0:22:240:22:26

-make it as a kitchen diner.

-Oh, right.

0:22:260:22:29

The staircase we're going to take out, put a different type of

0:22:290:22:32

staircase in, which will allow us to reconfigure upstairs.

0:22:320:22:35

-And reconfigure down here.

-What it will be when you've finished, then?

0:22:350:22:38

How many bedrooms?

0:22:380:22:39

It will stay as a three-bedroom house and the main bedroom

0:22:390:22:42

-will have an en-suite.

-OK.

-With a family bathroom.

0:22:420:22:45

-So, what's the budget for all your planning, then?

-If...

0:22:450:22:48

Really, if we go over 40,000, we'll be really upset.

0:22:480:22:52

So, I think 35-40 because we'll be doing quite a lot of it ourselves.

0:22:520:22:56

Along with the £35-40,000 budget,

0:22:560:22:58

they hope to complete the work in four months

0:22:580:23:01

and then plan to sell it on.

0:23:010:23:03

And the project is to be a family affair.

0:23:030:23:06

-Our children will all be involved in this.

-Will they? What do they do?

0:23:070:23:11

Well, there's... We've got five and they're 31 down to 10.

0:23:110:23:16

And the older two, one's a management accountant,

0:23:160:23:19

my son does design.

0:23:190:23:21

The three girls are still at school.

0:23:210:23:23

Our 17-year-old, she's a bit of a tradesman, a bit of a carpenter.

0:23:230:23:26

-She's studying engineering, she helps her dad a lot.

-Oh, great.

0:23:260:23:29

The next one down's a painter and decorator

0:23:290:23:31

and the youngest sweeps up and makes the tea. So...

0:23:310:23:33

-You've planned that well.

-Bit of a...

0:23:330:23:35

He's a technical guy and I'm the project manager and the donkey.

0:23:350:23:38

Basically.

0:23:380:23:39

Apart from the family team, then,

0:23:390:23:41

are you going to get builders in to do stuff?

0:23:410:23:43

Yeah, we want to put a new roof on.

0:23:430:23:46

So, scaffolding is going up, starting this week, basically.

0:23:460:23:51

-Well, listen, congratulations to you both.

-Thank you.

0:23:510:23:53

Could be a real fascinating reveal when we come back.

0:23:530:23:56

-I look forward to see how you get on.

-Thank you very much.

0:23:560:23:59

Well, Jacqui and Bob like a property challenge,

0:24:010:24:05

which is just as well, because they've certainly got one here.

0:24:050:24:08

However, they paid a good price for it at the auction.

0:24:080:24:11

So, I think there is money to be made and I like their ideas.

0:24:110:24:16

You can find out how they transform this place later in the show.

0:24:160:24:19

-DION:

-Still to come in Stoke-on-Trent,

0:24:210:24:23

I've spotted my pet peeve.

0:24:230:24:26

I'm not a fan of downstairs bathrooms,

0:24:260:24:28

but a bathroom off the kitchen is not for me.

0:24:280:24:31

MARTIN: While in Princetown, Devon,

0:24:330:24:35

Jacqui and Bob may have done too good a job.

0:24:350:24:37

If I had my way, we wouldn't be selling this place!

0:24:370:24:40

Back to Biggin Hill in Kent where Lucy saw a two-bedroom bungalow.

0:24:460:24:51

The guide price of £220,000 plus was attractive. The house...

0:24:510:24:56

..sadly wasn't.

0:24:560:24:58

Well, this house is looking really sorry for itself on the outside.

0:24:580:25:02

Huh! And really sorry for itself on the inside.

0:25:020:25:05

Yes, not only was it difficult to spot

0:25:070:25:10

because of the surrounding trees.

0:25:100:25:11

Inside, it was tired and forgotten and in need of a total face-lift.

0:25:110:25:16

However, thanks to great room proportions and not to mention,

0:25:180:25:21

a huge back garden, Lucy could see the wood for the trees.

0:25:210:25:26

Or should I say, house for the trees?

0:25:260:25:28

There's one word ringing in my head right now - potential.

0:25:290:25:33

# You got potential!

0:25:330:25:34

# In my life, yeah! #

0:25:370:25:41

And the bidders agreed on auction day,

0:25:410:25:43

with the property being snapped up for 273,000

0:25:430:25:48

by a rather delighted Claire.

0:25:480:25:50

Sold, 273. You got there, well done.

0:25:500:25:53

Along with her husband, Chris,

0:25:570:25:58

not to mention their two kids - Jack aged six, and Eva aged nine,

0:25:580:26:03

Claire couldn't wait to move into what would be their family home.

0:26:030:26:07

But she wasn't always as keen.

0:26:070:26:08

-Well, you texted me a picture of it.

-And how did you react?

0:26:110:26:14

Erm, I said a bad word.

0:26:140:26:16

-Did it look awful?

-Two bad words.

-Did it look awful from the text?

0:26:160:26:19

Yeah, it looked awful, and I said no way.

0:26:190:26:21

And then we went and saw it a few days later

0:26:210:26:23

-and he managed to make me calm down.

-And it was still awful, wasn't it?

0:26:230:26:26

It was still awful.

0:26:260:26:27

Claire, however, was persuaded by the bungalow's practicality.

0:26:270:26:30

She has mobility issues due to multiple sclerosis, so a bungalow

0:26:300:26:34

promises to make life easier after the hard bit, renovating it.

0:26:340:26:38

So, now you have actually bought it and for the price you paid,

0:26:400:26:42

-Claire, how do you feel now?

-Ecstatic.

-Are you really pleased?

0:26:420:26:45

Yeah, really, really pleased. I can't believe it.

0:26:450:26:47

We've wanted it for so long.

0:26:470:26:49

Because obviously, I can't do my stairs at home any more

0:26:490:26:51

and things like that, it's going to make life so much easier.

0:26:510:26:54

They plan to do the work in stages.

0:26:540:26:56

Phase 1 was to make the place habitable with £20,000,

0:26:560:27:00

and they hope to get it done in four months.

0:27:000:27:03

Just over 20 months later and we're back,

0:27:040:27:07

to see what progress they've made with their new family home.

0:27:070:27:10

Wow!

0:27:180:27:20

Thanks to an extension on the back of the property,

0:27:200:27:22

they have created a stunning living-dining area.

0:27:220:27:26

Plus, it's meant they've been able to extend

0:27:260:27:28

this fully refurbished kitchen.

0:27:280:27:30

And what was once a two-bed bungalow now boasts three beds,

0:27:340:27:39

with a bedroom for little Jack created out of the old living room.

0:27:390:27:42

Marvellous!

0:27:420:27:43

At the front of the property, the two bedrooms have been transformed.

0:27:450:27:49

Plus, they've pinched some space from the garage to create

0:27:490:27:52

an en-suite bathroom utility room for the stunning master bedroom.

0:27:520:27:56

And an extended hallway gives the property a natural flow.

0:28:010:28:05

The exterior of the property isn't too shabby either.

0:28:080:28:11

The back garden is a work in progress at the moment

0:28:150:28:18

but the decking to the rear really brings out that fantastic extension.

0:28:180:28:22

The front is unrecognisable from how it was.

0:28:250:28:29

Taking down those trees has opened it up and brightened it also.

0:28:290:28:33

Claire and Chris have created a wonderful new home with Phase 1

0:28:340:28:39

and that £20,000 budget a distant memory.

0:28:390:28:42

It was a case of ripping everything back.

0:28:420:28:44

The ceilings came down.

0:28:440:28:47

All the plumbing came out,

0:28:470:28:48

all the electrics came out and it was all rewired, replumbed.

0:28:480:28:52

-And it was just getting it into a state we could live in.

-Yeah.

0:28:520:28:55

Until we...

0:28:550:28:57

So, we had somewhere to go after we sold our property.

0:28:570:29:00

So, Phase 2 was the extension of the property and we got a builder in

0:29:000:29:04

to do that because we couldn't do that ourselves, unfortunately.

0:29:040:29:08

We had problems with planning permission.

0:29:080:29:10

We got turned down for our first one and we had to resubmit,

0:29:100:29:13

so it kind of delayed things for a while.

0:29:130:29:16

Yeah, because we asked for it to be too big.

0:29:160:29:18

So, in the end, we took a little bit off of the bedroom

0:29:180:29:20

and made the lounge the same size we wanted it.

0:29:200:29:23

But instead of going out into the garden,

0:29:230:29:25

we took a little bit off of Jack's room. And then...

0:29:250:29:28

Yeah, we're happy with it. I just feel so at home here now.

0:29:280:29:31

Like, not having any stairs obviously has really helped me.

0:29:310:29:34

I can do so much more. I'm not as tired.

0:29:340:29:37

I love having this all on one level as well,

0:29:370:29:39

which is really nice, all the time.

0:29:390:29:42

But, yeah, it's just an easier nicer life,

0:29:420:29:44

I feel a lot more at home here, which is good.

0:29:440:29:46

Excellent.

0:29:460:29:47

Well, that was the original mission,

0:29:470:29:49

to make things easier for Claire and create a lovely family home.

0:29:490:29:53

However, all this work doesn't come cheaply,

0:29:540:29:56

with a budget coming in at £80,000.

0:29:560:29:59

And the timescale also had to change a bit.

0:29:590:30:02

So, the timescale was initially three months

0:30:030:30:06

to get the original building refurbished

0:30:060:30:09

and in a suitable condition to live in.

0:30:090:30:12

-And after that, I was exhausted.

-Yes!

0:30:120:30:16

So, we thought we'd take some time out, so we took a year out,

0:30:160:30:18

lived in it as it was and then we started the building work,

0:30:180:30:21

yeah, after 12 months rest, we started.

0:30:210:30:24

I think that took about four months.

0:30:240:30:26

Yeah, so it's been about 18 months in all, from getting it in to now.

0:30:260:30:29

This is of course Claire and Chris's family home

0:30:300:30:33

and they have no intentions of selling.

0:30:330:30:35

But with an investment of around 353,000,

0:30:350:30:38

it will be interesting to hear the thoughts and the valuations

0:30:380:30:42

from two local estate agents.

0:30:420:30:44

I think the property is lovely.

0:30:470:30:48

It's very light and airy and it's been renovated

0:30:480:30:51

to a really good standard.

0:30:510:30:53

I think the layout of the property is absolutely perfect.

0:30:530:30:56

It flows brilliantly and the rooms are very spacious.

0:30:560:30:59

So, I think the extension has been done really nicely.

0:30:590:31:02

It's opened the property up nicely at the back with great views

0:31:020:31:05

over the rear garden.

0:31:050:31:07

So, we're agreed it's a great family house and it's not for sale.

0:31:070:31:11

But just for nosiness,

0:31:110:31:12

what return could they get on their £353,000 investment?

0:31:120:31:17

I think this property could re-sale for £450,000-£475,000.

0:31:170:31:23

I think this property could re-sale for somewhere around

0:31:230:31:26

the £475,000-£500,000 mark.

0:31:260:31:29

Wow!

0:31:290:31:30

That top figure of 500,000 could mean a potential profit of 147,000,

0:31:300:31:37

minus taxes and fees.

0:31:370:31:38

What do Claire and Chris make of that?

0:31:380:31:42

-Oh, really pleased with that, yeah.

-That's a lot higher than we thought.

0:31:420:31:45

Yeah, we didn't think it would be that at all. So, that's great.

0:31:450:31:48

-Brilliant.

-Yeah, brilliant.

0:31:480:31:50

So, Chris and Claire are delighted. They've certainly come a long way.

0:31:500:31:55

Never in a million years did I think I'd like this property

0:31:550:31:57

as much as I do now.

0:31:570:31:58

Looking back to the picture that you sent me of it, and I was like,

0:31:580:32:02

"Absolutely no way.

0:32:020:32:03

"There's no way on earth that I could ever imagine living here."

0:32:030:32:06

I can't believe it's the same house, but no,

0:32:060:32:09

I'm just so pleased we did it.

0:32:090:32:11

-It's the best thing we've done I think, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:32:110:32:14

DION: Polycentric isn't a term I've used too often.

0:32:230:32:26

But Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire is an area that the term

0:32:260:32:30

polycentric can be applied to, meaning it's got many centres.

0:32:300:32:34

Consisting of six towns and multiple suburbs,

0:32:350:32:38

today I'm in one of the northern suburbs, Sandyford.

0:32:380:32:42

# I'm waiting

0:32:440:32:47

# At the end of the road. #

0:32:470:32:48

Property I'm here to see is in this very pretty cul-de-sac.

0:32:500:32:54

Normally, you've got the odd car,

0:32:540:32:56

which is parked in the cul-de-sac, makes it hard to park.

0:32:560:32:59

But every single house, bar one, has its own parking space.

0:32:590:33:03

And our house is no exception.

0:33:030:33:05

It's got a guide price of £55,000,

0:33:050:33:08

plus it's an end terrace and it's got three bedrooms.

0:33:080:33:12

Let's have a look, shall we?

0:33:120:33:13

OK, we are...straight in the door, you've got a bit of a porchway

0:33:180:33:22

and the stairs are right in front of you.

0:33:220:33:24

And then you're into the first reception room.

0:33:240:33:27

Nice high ceiling, which I've noticed.

0:33:270:33:29

You've got a fireplace, quite dated fireplace.

0:33:290:33:32

I'd want to get rid of that.

0:33:320:33:34

Saying that, I can't see any central heating anywhere.

0:33:340:33:37

Lovely big window as well.

0:33:370:33:40

Looks like there's been a bit of damp there

0:33:400:33:42

but it doesn't feel damp at all.

0:33:420:33:43

Not a bad-sized room to start off with. What have we got in here?

0:33:430:33:47

We've got a little bit of storage under the stairs.

0:33:470:33:50

And then into a very blue kitchen.

0:33:500:33:54

But it's very, very small.

0:33:540:33:57

And round the corner, you've got a very pink downstairs bathroom.

0:33:570:34:01

Now, I'm not a fan of downstairs bathrooms anyway.

0:34:010:34:05

But a bathroom off the kitchen is not for me.

0:34:050:34:08

So, depending on what I'm going to find upstairs...

0:34:080:34:11

..that's got to go.

0:34:120:34:14

Big kitchen diner for me.

0:34:140:34:16

That's the way I would change things around.

0:34:160:34:19

# Oh, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh... #

0:34:190:34:24

Kitchens and bathrooms sell properties these days

0:34:240:34:27

and neither of these cut the mustard.

0:34:270:34:29

But it might be worth bearing in mind that a downstairs bathroom

0:34:290:34:32

could come in handy for visitors who maybe can't use the stairs.

0:34:320:34:36

Most modern buildings have to have them.

0:34:360:34:39

Anyway, the 64,000 question will be

0:34:390:34:42

is there room upstairs for a bathroom?

0:34:420:34:45

So, up here, we've got one, two, three bedrooms, no bathroom.

0:34:450:34:52

We've got a double bedroom there, double bedroom there,

0:34:520:34:54

and a smaller single bedroom just behind me

0:34:540:34:57

in a lovely shade of yellow.

0:34:570:34:59

So, what I was saying downstairs, get that bathroom up here.

0:34:590:35:03

And I would use this small bedroom here to create

0:35:030:35:07

a family bathroom up here.

0:35:070:35:08

Then you can do what you want to do with the kitchen downstairs.

0:35:080:35:12

This first bedroom is a decent size.

0:35:120:35:15

Now, people at auction, they buy to rent out, they buy to sell.

0:35:150:35:20

Some people buy to live in as well.

0:35:200:35:22

If this is the case, with this property,

0:35:220:35:25

I would consider popping the toilet and the sink in here.

0:35:250:35:29

Make this the master.

0:35:290:35:31

Got your toilet there, you haven't got to travel to the family bathroom

0:35:310:35:34

in the middle of the night.

0:35:340:35:35

And...job's a good 'un.

0:35:350:35:37

Well, that's the upstairs sorted, what about the outside?

0:35:390:35:42

So, out in the back garden, there's more here than I was expecting.

0:35:430:35:47

Yeah, it's a little bit overgrown and it's a bit of a

0:35:470:35:50

wraparound garden as well.

0:35:500:35:51

It just goes around the side of the house. So...

0:35:510:35:54

Lots of space to put a dining table and all that kind of stuff.

0:35:540:35:57

But what I've seen is another toilet.

0:35:570:36:00

It's just an outside toilet, unfortunately.

0:36:000:36:02

But what you could do is get rid of that, knock that wall down,

0:36:020:36:06

create some more inside space for the kitchen.

0:36:060:36:08

That's definitely the way I would go.

0:36:080:36:10

So, shuffle a few things around, knock some walls down and...

0:36:100:36:14

# That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh

0:36:140:36:18

# That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it... #

0:36:180:36:21

But what does a property expert from the auction house who sold it think?

0:36:230:36:27

Are we on the same page?

0:36:270:36:29

First impressions of the property is that

0:36:320:36:35

it's mainly cosmetic improvements. There's nothing major.

0:36:350:36:39

I think the biggest job would be possibly looking to put the bathroom

0:36:390:36:42

on the first floor and make the kitchen a larger area downstairs.

0:36:420:36:46

Yes, great minds do think alike. It might make the house work better.

0:36:460:36:51

But losing a bedroom for a bathroom, how much might that affect

0:36:510:36:55

the value of the property that was guided at 55 grand plus?

0:36:550:36:59

I think as a two-bedroom property with a first-floor bathroom,

0:36:590:37:03

I would anticipate a resale value in the region of £90,000.

0:37:030:37:08

If it was retained as a three-bedroom

0:37:080:37:10

with a bathroom downstairs,

0:37:100:37:12

I would also imagine that the value would be similar at £90,000,

0:37:120:37:16

but certainly more saleable with a first-floor bathroom.

0:37:160:37:19

And what about rental?

0:37:190:37:21

I would anticipate a rental income for even a two-bed

0:37:220:37:25

or a three-bedroom property

0:37:250:37:27

in the region of £450-500 per calendar month.

0:37:270:37:30

I think this is a very pretty house in a nice location.

0:37:350:37:38

One thing I'd definitely want to change, though.

0:37:380:37:40

Get that bathroom upstairs and then use that space that's left

0:37:400:37:44

to create a bigger kitchen.

0:37:440:37:45

Let's see who wanted to take this end terrace on

0:37:450:37:48

when it went under the hammer.

0:37:480:37:49

Lot 24 is three-bedroom end townhouse. Popular spot.

0:37:540:37:58

Does need modernising. 50 to start me here?

0:37:580:38:02

50 on the front row, thank you. At 50,000, looking for 52 now. 52.

0:38:020:38:07

54, sir? 54.

0:38:080:38:10

56. 56...

0:38:100:38:13

Well, there seemed to be plenty of interest in the Stoke house.

0:38:130:38:16

We rejoin the bidding at £60,000.

0:38:160:38:19

60, 61. 61.

0:38:190:38:22

62, madam? A half, 61.5.

0:38:230:38:26

62. Another half?

0:38:260:38:29

Yeah, 62.5. 63. Another half?

0:38:290:38:33

63.5. 64.

0:38:330:38:35

Another half?

0:38:350:38:37

Yeah, 64.5, 65.

0:38:370:38:39

Another half? 65.5.

0:38:400:38:42

No. 65.5, still with you, madam, at £65,500.

0:38:420:38:47

66 anywhere else?

0:38:470:38:48

If not, 65,500 once, 65,500 twice,

0:38:480:38:53

third and final time, £65,500...

0:38:530:38:57

You bought it, madam. Well done.

0:38:580:39:00

So, for 65.5 grand,

0:39:000:39:02

the hammer fell on the three-bed semi in Staffordshire.

0:39:020:39:05

And the successful bidder was Alison, and I've met Alison before,

0:39:050:39:10

when back in 2015, she bought another property in Stoke-on-Trent.

0:39:100:39:14

Along with her partner, Steve, she completely transformed it.

0:39:150:39:19

# Hello again!

0:39:200:39:22

# Hello again... #

0:39:240:39:26

I met her back at her latest purchase to find out what magic

0:39:280:39:31

she had planned for this new place.

0:39:310:39:34

-Alison, it's nice to see you again.

-And you too.

-Good to see you.

0:39:340:39:36

Congratulations. How did the first project go?

0:39:360:39:39

It went really well,

0:39:390:39:40

we sold the property within one month of it being on the market.

0:39:400:39:43

-So, we did fine, we got what we wanted.

-Really?

0:39:430:39:46

Yeah, so we're very happy about that.

0:39:460:39:47

-And you didn't view that first property, did you?

-No.

0:39:470:39:50

-Did you view this one?

-No.

0:39:500:39:53

I did send Steve to look through the window.

0:39:530:39:56

Well, not send him, but he came and had a look through the windows.

0:39:560:40:00

But no, I didn't view it.

0:40:000:40:01

It was a last-minute decision.

0:40:010:40:03

Alison, Alison.

0:40:030:40:05

Viewing properties is Hammer's number-one golden rule.

0:40:050:40:10

She did at least read the legal pack, though.

0:40:100:40:12

And Steve did see this one.

0:40:120:40:15

But one of these days, Alison. One of these days.

0:40:150:40:18

# Things go wrong

0:40:180:40:20

# Things go wrong... #

0:40:220:40:24

What are you going to do to it now it's yours, what's your plans?

0:40:250:40:28

Erm, hopefully, we're going to knock this wall through

0:40:280:40:31

from the kitchen into the bathroom.

0:40:310:40:33

Perhaps make a toilet off the kitchen,

0:40:340:40:37

because there is an out...

0:40:370:40:38

Yeah, the outside toilet's just through that wall there.

0:40:380:40:41

In here, you're looking to create a sort of kitchen...

0:40:410:40:44

-Kitchen diner, yes.

-Kitchen diner area.

0:40:440:40:46

From the last property,

0:40:460:40:47

we learned that a lot of people who came to view it,

0:40:470:40:50

although they liked two bedrooms, they also liked a kitchen diner.

0:40:500:40:53

So, that's what we hope to do with this.

0:40:530:40:55

Are you finding that's the first thing you look to do?

0:40:550:40:58

Erm, yeah, it is, really. Yes, the kitchen and the bathroom.

0:40:580:41:02

As long as you can do the kitchen and the bathroom and give it

0:41:020:41:05

that bit of wow, then I think you can't go wrong.

0:41:050:41:08

And what else are you doing?

0:41:080:41:10

Move the bathroom, obviously, upstairs.

0:41:100:41:13

Whereabouts are you putting it?

0:41:130:41:14

Into the little bedroom upstairs at the back, the small bedroom.

0:41:140:41:18

I think that will give us enough space to put

0:41:180:41:21

quite a nice suite in there, maybe a stand-alone shower.

0:41:210:41:23

We'll see what space there is.

0:41:230:41:25

And that won't affect your plans for this house,

0:41:250:41:27

going from a three-bed to a two?

0:41:270:41:29

No, I think, er, saleability wise,

0:41:290:41:31

it will actually make it more attractive.

0:41:310:41:33

The downstairs bathroom is just a slither of a room, really.

0:41:330:41:37

There's nothing you can do to make that nice.

0:41:370:41:40

So, I think that's the best thing to do.

0:41:400:41:42

How much is that going to cost you? What is your budget?

0:41:420:41:44

We've probably got between about 8-10,000.

0:41:440:41:48

I have got a bit of contingency, but I think that should do it, yes.

0:41:480:41:53

And who's going to do the work for you?

0:41:530:41:55

Erm, my other half, Steve, is going to do a lot of the work! Hopefully.

0:41:550:42:00

But I'll be knocking walls down.

0:42:000:42:03

Erm, we will get somebody in to do the electrics.

0:42:030:42:06

But the majority of the work we'll do ourselves between us.

0:42:060:42:09

Is this full-time now, nearly full-time? What's your day job?

0:42:090:42:13

It is full-time now, although not every day. But, er, yeah, full-time.

0:42:130:42:17

I used to work in banking but now I've taken early retirement and...

0:42:170:42:21

-Hold it, retirement?!

-Yeah.

-Steady on!

-Early retirement.

0:42:210:42:25

I should think so.

0:42:250:42:26

And yes, I'm going to concentrate

0:42:260:42:28

on doing things like this in the future.

0:42:280:42:31

-Good luck, I wish you all the best.

-Thank you.

0:42:310:42:33

-Please view your next property.

-I will do, I promise.

0:42:330:42:36

-Alison, good luck.

-Thank you!

0:42:360:42:37

So, Alison is definitely pushing her luck.

0:42:390:42:42

She didn't view the first property and she didn't view this one.

0:42:420:42:45

But I think she's got away with it.

0:42:450:42:46

It's a nice, quaint little house

0:42:460:42:48

with a few things that need to be done.

0:42:480:42:50

The bathroom needs to be taken from downstairs to upstairs

0:42:500:42:53

and she's got to reconfigure

0:42:530:42:55

that kitchen dining area she wants to sort.

0:42:550:42:57

I think she'll be fine.

0:42:570:42:58

You can find out how she does later in the programme.

0:42:580:43:01

Well, earlier we saw how one of the properties turned out

0:43:040:43:06

but what about the other two?

0:43:060:43:08

Have they been pressing on with the work or has it ground to a halt?

0:43:080:43:12

Yes, all sorts of problems can arise.

0:43:120:43:14

What have our buyers had to cope with? Let's find out.

0:43:140:43:17

Back to Devon now and the highest village in Dartmoor National Park.

0:43:200:43:25

Princetown.

0:43:250:43:26

Where we came across a traditional two-storey,

0:43:260:43:29

three-bed old stone-built cottage.

0:43:290:43:32

It certainly had character and interesting features.

0:43:320:43:36

It has a feel straight away of a classic Dartmoor cottage.

0:43:360:43:40

I mean, look at that fireplace in there. Absolutely magnificent.

0:43:400:43:43

But straight away, you get the impression,

0:43:430:43:46

with those stairs and everything you're looking at,

0:43:460:43:49

it hasn't had much tender loving care for quite a while.

0:43:490:43:51

So, all in all, it's just one of those ones...

0:43:510:43:54

I think you'd have to move in here for a little bit

0:43:540:43:56

and just, hmm, mull it over.

0:43:560:43:58

With odd utility areas,

0:44:010:44:03

outbuildings and a great-sized garden,

0:44:030:44:05

higgledy-piggledy layout wasn't really doing the cottage justice.

0:44:050:44:09

There was definitely scope for improvement.

0:44:090:44:11

It was bought at auction for 126,000

0:44:130:44:16

by property developers Jacqui and Bob,

0:44:160:44:18

who had a different outlook on the...

0:44:180:44:20

..outlook.

0:44:210:44:23

While we drove into the town,

0:44:240:44:25

I got told to get out of the car and take a picture of that old mill.

0:44:250:44:28

Well, it does look like an old mill, actually.

0:44:300:44:33

Tell me why you wanted to buy this place, then.

0:44:330:44:35

Well, we basically wanted another renovation project.

0:44:360:44:39

We just finished one in Devon.

0:44:390:44:41

And we were just looking for another one,

0:44:410:44:43

so we popped our heads into the auction and we secured this place.

0:44:430:44:46

They thought the key to unlocking the cottage's potential

0:44:460:44:49

was by spending £35,000-£40,000 on it.

0:44:490:44:52

And they hope to have it ready to sell on

0:44:520:44:54

after four months' hard labour.

0:44:540:44:56

Now, seven months later, we're back.

0:44:580:45:00

New front door, windows reroofed, the cottage is looking pretty fine.

0:45:050:45:10

But what about inside?

0:45:100:45:11

When you first came into the building, you were just faced

0:45:140:45:17

with these stairs going upstairs and a very narrow entrance.

0:45:170:45:21

So, what we've done is put a new staircase in,

0:45:210:45:23

which has allowed us to open up that area and reconfigure the room,

0:45:230:45:27

so you've got, instead of a kitchen,

0:45:270:45:29

you're coming into a first reception room.

0:45:290:45:32

We've now got a more isolated lounge.

0:45:370:45:41

Rooms out the back which were an old utility room,

0:45:430:45:47

and another room, provided a kitchen and utility room.

0:45:470:45:50

Considering this was a hotchpotch of out rooms, this area is fantastic!

0:45:530:45:57

There's even a downstairs cloakroom.

0:46:010:46:03

And upstairs is no less impressive.

0:46:060:46:08

First is a master bedroom ensuite.

0:46:080:46:11

And two double rooms, which are not huge,

0:46:120:46:15

but this is a cottage, after all.

0:46:150:46:17

And these two bedrooms share a good-sized family bathroom.

0:46:170:46:21

With the outside area and the old outbuildings

0:46:260:46:29

given a new lease of life, this cottage is looking great.

0:46:290:46:32

But making the structural changes were far from straightforward.

0:46:320:46:36

The major, major job was the removal of the wall

0:46:370:46:42

between the workshop and the rest of the space.

0:46:420:46:46

And also knocking through to create the entrance to the utility room.

0:46:460:46:49

I mean, it's what, about two foot thick.

0:46:490:46:53

And I shudder when I think we were actually going to do that ourselves.

0:46:530:46:57

And I thank the Lord that we didn't.

0:46:570:47:00

Because we ended up with a very personal small quarry out the back.

0:47:000:47:04

Which, you know, we are so grateful to the Parks Department

0:47:050:47:08

for all their help in helping us to remove the stone.

0:47:080:47:11

And in turn, using some of their specialist tools to create holes

0:47:110:47:16

in the stonework, which we could never have done

0:47:160:47:19

with ordinary power tools.

0:47:190:47:21

This is a classic case of cooperation and recycling.

0:47:210:47:24

Council Parks Department lent specialist tools in return

0:47:240:47:27

for the stone, which will be used for projects in the area.

0:47:270:47:30

It's a perfect solution.

0:47:300:47:32

Jacqui and Bob tackled an amazing array of jobs themselves.

0:47:320:47:35

No mean feat when you remember what a wreck this was.

0:47:350:47:39

We basically rejigged the internal layout.

0:47:390:47:42

Bob put the staircase in and the walls up, and the children helped,

0:47:420:47:47

right down to our 11-year-old putting up plasterboard.

0:47:470:47:50

Once they checked the damp and cracks, they had the roof,

0:47:500:47:53

plumbing and electrics sorted out by professionals.

0:47:530:47:56

But they also decided to call in other professionals,

0:47:560:47:58

like decorators and plasterers.

0:47:580:48:00

Normally, we would do most things ourselves.

0:48:000:48:03

Erm, but with the scale of the project here,

0:48:030:48:06

we wanted to move it on fairly quickly, so we did, actually.

0:48:060:48:09

We got plasterers and decorators.

0:48:090:48:12

However, plastering in one of the highest locations in England

0:48:120:48:15

wasn't so straightforward.

0:48:150:48:16

Low cloud in the summer months meant a lot of moisture in the air,

0:48:160:48:20

so it took ages to dry out for the painters.

0:48:200:48:23

So, with all the challenges and having changed strategy

0:48:230:48:26

and calling in more professionals than they'd originally planned,

0:48:260:48:29

have they managed to keep to their £35,000-£40,000 budget?

0:48:290:48:33

It doubled, basically, it went to 80.

0:48:330:48:35

But that said, I still think that that's good for this property.

0:48:350:48:39

Was this a case of money well spent?

0:48:400:48:42

Even with their total spend of 206,000,

0:48:420:48:45

I think they should be OK for a resale valuation,

0:48:450:48:48

as they've done a cracking job.

0:48:480:48:51

Will two local property agents agree?

0:48:510:48:53

It's a lovely, good-sized detached house, double-fronted.

0:48:530:48:57

They're always the best.

0:48:570:48:58

This is one of the oldest houses in Princetown

0:48:580:49:01

and it's been beautifully done.

0:49:010:49:02

Well, clearly the house is a few hundred years old originally.

0:49:020:49:06

But the way that they've rejigged it with open-plan living at the back,

0:49:060:49:10

particularly for the kitchen-breakfast room,

0:49:100:49:12

is just what people are looking for these days.

0:49:120:49:15

They've worked the layout really well.

0:49:150:49:17

Classic upstairs, and downstairs, the two reception rooms,

0:49:170:49:20

the walk through to the lovely...

0:49:200:49:22

And the first hit, as you just drop down to the kitchen breakfast room,

0:49:220:49:25

is straight down the garden.

0:49:250:49:26

The garden isn't quite world-class at the moment.

0:49:260:49:30

But when it is, that will be a superb view straight down,

0:49:300:49:34

all the way. Well, it's beautiful.

0:49:340:49:36

Jacqui and Bob renovated this property to sell on.

0:49:370:49:40

They paid 126,000 and have spent 80,000 on it.

0:49:400:49:44

A grand total of 206,000.

0:49:440:49:46

So, what do the agents think it could sell for?

0:49:460:49:49

We'd expect this house to sell for in the region

0:49:500:49:53

of £265,000-275,000 at the moment.

0:49:530:49:57

I would see it at £285,000.

0:49:570:50:01

285 for me is probably the starting point.

0:50:010:50:05

265 is a bit low.

0:50:050:50:07

If Jacqui and Bob were to even get what they considered to be

0:50:070:50:10

the starting point of 285,000,

0:50:100:50:13

that would mean a profit of 79,000 minus any taxes and fees.

0:50:130:50:17

And should they have chosen to rent it out,

0:50:170:50:20

the agents reckon a figure of around £800 per calendar month,

0:50:200:50:25

which would generate a yield of around 4.5%.

0:50:250:50:28

How do they now feel about what they've achieved here?

0:50:290:50:31

If I had my way, we wouldn't be selling this place!

0:50:320:50:35

I would live here tomorrow, but unfortunately,

0:50:360:50:40

our plans in life mean that we do need to sell it.

0:50:400:50:43

Oh, I think Jacqui's rather fallen for this place.

0:50:430:50:46

# It must be love Love, love

0:50:460:50:49

# It must be love Love, love... #

0:50:510:50:54

DION: It was in the Sandyford district of Stoke-on-Trent

0:50:580:51:01

that we first saw this three-bed semi that was certainly colourful.

0:51:010:51:06

A very blue kitchen. But it's very, very small.

0:51:070:51:11

And round the corner you've got a very pink downstairs bathroom.

0:51:110:51:16

Now, I'm not a fan of downstairs bathrooms anyway.

0:51:160:51:20

But a bathroom off the kitchen is not for me.

0:51:200:51:23

So, depending on what I'm going to find upstairs...

0:51:230:51:25

..that's got to go. Big kitchen diner for me.

0:51:270:51:30

There are times when downstairs bathrooms are fine,

0:51:300:51:33

but this isn't one of them.

0:51:330:51:35

# It's not right, it's not right for you. #

0:51:360:51:38

There was also an outside loo that seemed perfectly placed

0:51:400:51:43

to come in from the cold

0:51:430:51:45

and be incorporated in a redesigned downstairs.

0:51:450:51:48

Perhaps space upstairs for a bathroom?

0:51:480:51:51

This was like one of those puzzles where you've got all the pieces

0:51:510:51:54

but they're in all the wrong places.

0:51:540:51:55

It was bought at auction for 65.5 grand

0:51:580:52:00

by former banker turned property developer Alison.

0:52:000:52:03

Although she broke one of the cardinal rules by not viewing

0:52:050:52:07

the house, she was pretty clear on what she wanted to do.

0:52:070:52:10

From the last property,

0:52:120:52:13

we learned that a lot of people who came to view it,

0:52:130:52:15

although they liked two bedrooms, they also liked a kitchen diner.

0:52:150:52:19

So, that's what we hope to do with this.

0:52:190:52:21

Are you finding that's the first thing you look to do?

0:52:210:52:24

Erm, yeah, it is really, yes. The kitchen and the bathroom.

0:52:240:52:27

As long as you can do the kitchen and the bathroom and give it that

0:52:270:52:31

bit of wow, then I think you can't go wrong.

0:52:310:52:33

Oh, brave words! Can't go wrong, eh?

0:52:330:52:36

But to make sure this refurbishment went to plan, she had partner Steve

0:52:360:52:40

by her side, who was a gas engineer and an all-round handyman.

0:52:400:52:44

And together with a budget of £8,000-£10,000,

0:52:440:52:47

they hoped to turn it all around within three months and sell it on.

0:52:470:52:51

Four months later and we're back. Alison is a fast mover.

0:52:530:52:57

They've sold this house already. So, let's get in quick.

0:52:570:53:01

In the front reception room, Steve has installed central heating.

0:53:020:53:06

But has Alison delivered on the kitchen?

0:53:060:53:08

In the kitchen, we started there,

0:53:100:53:12

we knocked down the wall between the bathroom and the kitchen.

0:53:120:53:16

Opened up the outside storage areas,

0:53:270:53:30

the outside toilet, into the kitchen.

0:53:300:53:33

Originally, we had three bedrooms upstairs.

0:53:360:53:38

Erm, the smaller bedroom at the back,

0:53:380:53:41

we moved the bathroom into there.

0:53:410:53:43

There are the odd snagging jobs to finish off.

0:53:570:53:59

The garden, for one, needs a bit of a tidy-up. But it's not bad.

0:53:590:54:03

Not bad at all.

0:54:030:54:04

I was responsible for choosing the paint,

0:54:110:54:15

choosing the tiles for the kitchen and the bathroom.

0:54:150:54:18

I did the painting, all the wallpaper stripping,

0:54:180:54:22

cleaning, everything like that.

0:54:220:54:25

All the heavy works, my partner Steve did that.

0:54:250:54:28

He's been great, I really couldn't have done this without him.

0:54:280:54:31

One job they did need to get a builder in for

0:54:310:54:34

was to block up a window and a couple of doorways.

0:54:340:54:37

But finding the materials was a bit of a challenge.

0:54:370:54:40

# Hunting high and low

0:54:410:54:45

# High... #

0:54:460:54:47

We originally scoured the reclaim building yards

0:54:470:54:51

to get the bricks to brick up the doorways outside and the window.

0:54:510:54:56

Erm, we did that so that outside looks nice and neat.

0:54:560:55:01

We're quite pleased with that.

0:55:010:55:02

Yes, it's not a bad match.

0:55:020:55:04

Not maybe a match made in heaven but pretty good.

0:55:040:55:07

# We go well together... #

0:55:080:55:10

But with property developing being relatively new to Alison,

0:55:110:55:15

is she finding she's suited to her new career path?

0:55:150:55:18

I'm learning each time we do something

0:55:180:55:21

and I like to be my own boss.

0:55:210:55:24

And it's just something else to do.

0:55:240:55:25

I'm a bit too young to retire completely and I like to have

0:55:250:55:29

a challenge and I thought this was an opportunity to get that.

0:55:290:55:33

It certainly is.

0:55:330:55:34

But one area where banking skills should come to the fore

0:55:340:55:38

is managing that budget.

0:55:380:55:40

We did have a budget of 8-10,000, we have exceeded that slightly,

0:55:400:55:45

up to a figure of about 12,000.

0:55:450:55:48

But we are pleased with that and we're happy with the result.

0:55:480:55:51

£12,000 on top of her 65.5 grand purchase price

0:55:520:55:57

takes her total spend here

0:55:570:55:59

to £77,500.

0:55:590:56:02

But moving the bathroom has turned this house from a three-bed

0:56:020:56:06

to a two-bed house.

0:56:060:56:07

So, are the changes for the better?

0:56:070:56:10

What did two local estate agents think?

0:56:100:56:12

The general look, it's beautiful, very well presented

0:56:120:56:15

and I think everything's being done to a really good high standard.

0:56:150:56:19

It's an excellent standard of finish.

0:56:190:56:22

Erm, it's been updated throughout

0:56:220:56:24

and it's ready to move straight into.

0:56:240:56:26

I think the layout flows really well.

0:56:260:56:29

You've got a nice open-plan lounge

0:56:290:56:30

going into the beautiful fitted kitchen.

0:56:300:56:32

And handy to have a separate toilet downstairs.

0:56:320:56:35

I particularly like where it's situated, in the cul-de-sac.

0:56:350:56:39

I like the open aspect at the back.

0:56:390:56:41

Currently, Alison's model is to buy and sell on.

0:56:440:56:46

And given that she's sold this one already,

0:56:460:56:48

this seems to be working for her. But is it profitable?

0:56:480:56:51

She's invested 77.5 grand,

0:56:510:56:54

so what do the estate agents think this house could sell for?

0:56:540:56:57

The resale value of the property will be between sort of £90-95,000.

0:56:590:57:04

I would recommend a figure in the region of £93,000.

0:57:040:57:08

We have actually sold the property to our electrician, actually.

0:57:080:57:13

The selling price is 94,000.

0:57:130:57:16

So, we've made a profit on that,

0:57:170:57:19

which suits us and suits him as well.

0:57:190:57:22

So, well within the estate agents' valuations, good stuff.

0:57:220:57:25

And with a 16.5 grand profit, minus taxes and fees, of course,

0:57:250:57:30

Alison is ready to carry on with her flourishing property career.

0:57:300:57:33

She's already bought two properties since we saw her last.

0:57:330:57:36

Two properties at the same time? She loves a challenge!

0:57:360:57:40

It could be a bit busier than doing one, but until I try it,

0:57:400:57:44

I won't really know what it will be like.

0:57:440:57:47

But I'm looking forward to the challenge.

0:57:470:57:49

Well, that's another set of property owners that have enjoyed

0:57:510:57:54

the highs and lows of buying at auction.

0:57:540:57:57

Yes, that is it for today's show, but before you sob

0:57:570:57:59

into your morning coffee, don't panic,

0:57:590:58:01

we will be back with more action from the auction

0:58:010:58:04

-very soon here on Homes Under The Hammer.

-Goodbye.

0:58:040:58:07

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