0:00:02 > 0:00:07We all dream of owning the perfect home but finding the right property isn't easy.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08I have a solution.
0:00:08 > 0:00:13Stop searching for something to buy and consider somewhere to build.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Every year, 20,000 people make the journey of a lifetime
0:00:18 > 0:00:20and opt to build their own home.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24And we'll be following some of them as they go from foundations
0:00:24 > 0:00:25to finishing touches.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26I was gobsmacked.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31I'd never realised that it would be the wow factor that it actually is.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Along the way, our brave self-builders will experience amazing highs.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41We could never have afforded to buy what we've built. That's why we built.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44And some frustrating lows.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48I've spoken to the council. They can help me pull it down if I have to pull it down.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52But if they can overcome these trials,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55they'll end up with the home they've always desired.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59So if you're looking for your perfect pad, the question is simple.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02To Build Or Not To Build?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Coming up. From public house to perfect home -
0:01:10 > 0:01:13the self-build in a former London beer garden.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15No. Am I imagining that?
0:01:15 > 0:01:19If you get down close enough, you can probably smell the beer.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21The young mum from Cambridgeshire
0:01:21 > 0:01:23who raised a family while building her own home.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28It's amazing, thinking that we've had the children and we've done this at the same time.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32It's lovely to think now that we can give them, hopefully,
0:01:32 > 0:01:33the life that we dreamt of, really.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38And I'm up on the roof at building college.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40I thought being a roofer was enjoying the view.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Ah, can I help you? How about a drop of To Build Or Not To Build?
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Today, we're in Barnet, North London.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53We're here to meet a couple pulling together and hoping to be drunk on success
0:01:53 > 0:01:56when they complete their self-build on an old pub beer garden.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59- Think we should meet them? I think it's about time! - BELL RINGS
0:02:03 > 0:02:07When Barry and Gill Deeks retired from jobs in property finance and local housing,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10they were in no hurry to leave bricks and mortar behind.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16It took them five years to find the ideal building plot in Barnet,
0:02:16 > 0:02:22a tough challenge in an area where average prices are in the region of £750,000.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26But when they heard that last orders had been called
0:02:26 > 0:02:28on a boozer near Barnet town centre,
0:02:28 > 0:02:34Barry and Gill bid a substantial £400,000 just for its beer garden.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37A week later, they were clinking glasses,
0:02:37 > 0:02:38toasting their first success.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Your beer garden. Explain all, Barry.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48The pub closed and it was put on the market with just a piece of the beer garden
0:02:48 > 0:02:52but it left the bulk of the beer garden unaccounted for.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57When we saw it, we thought, "Never mind the pub, what about the land at the back?"
0:02:57 > 0:03:00So we did a bit of investigating.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04We got on the Land Registry, found out who owned the pub,
0:03:04 > 0:03:07who had bought it from the brewery and he was a local developer.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11I think that the owner who bought it from the brewery had it mind
0:03:11 > 0:03:13to go for a small block of flats on it
0:03:13 > 0:03:18but it struck us immediately as a great one-house site.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Discovering plots of land in built-up areas isn't easy
0:03:25 > 0:03:29and it often involves some creative thinking to see a site's potential.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32These two have carved out a gem.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35However, to transform this space into a beautiful home
0:03:35 > 0:03:38is going to take some hard work.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41We're not getting any younger, you know,
0:03:41 > 0:03:48and a lot of people in your position, would they really want to get covered in cement
0:03:48 > 0:03:51and digging huge holes and all the problems that come with it?
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Surely we should be going on long holidays and that kind of stuff?
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Yeah, I think there's two different types of people.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00There are those that all they want to do is put their feet up
0:04:00 > 0:04:02and take life easier
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and there are those, like us, mad fools, really,
0:04:04 > 0:04:09that want to get up to our knees in dirt and carry on being creative.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13I can see the light in Gill's eyes. Who is the driving force?
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Oh, I think it's fair to say that Gill's driven it
0:04:17 > 0:04:19but I've very much been caught up
0:04:19 > 0:04:23in the wake of Gill's passion and commitment.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27She's certainly not dragging me kicking and screaming
0:04:27 > 0:04:29but would I do it on my own if I hadn't met Gill?
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Probably not, to be truthful.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Using a timber-framed kit system, Gill and Barry plan to build
0:04:35 > 0:04:39a gorgeous, Georgian-style detached home in five months
0:04:39 > 0:04:41for around £250,000.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46With a total estimated spend of £650,000,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48that's still around 100,000 cheaper
0:04:48 > 0:04:51than the average detached home in the area.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Because the plot's in a conservation area,
0:04:53 > 0:04:58they've worked closely with the planners to get permission for a three-bedroom house
0:04:58 > 0:05:01to ensure it will fit in with the neighbouring properties.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05With planning approved, they are ready to get stuck in.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09As planned, it's the first of March.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Beautiful weather has come as ordered
0:05:11 > 0:05:14and our set-out is starting.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19With the worst of the winter weather over,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23the site's prepped and Barry and Gill's build is ready to begin.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Once the house outline is laid out, the heavy stuff can move in
0:05:27 > 0:05:28and things quickly transform
0:05:28 > 0:05:31when a digger gets its teeth into a plot.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35So here we are, on site for the second day of building
0:05:35 > 0:05:38and yet again, we've ordered a beautiful day.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43It couldn't be nicer and they all seem to shifting at a rate of knots.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50But within three days, the diggers hit a significant problem.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56We had a quite interesting discovery yesterday, late afternoon.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58If you'd like to look, Barry.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03We think we have the remains of an air-raid shelter...
0:06:03 > 0:06:05running right through the foundations.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Which in my mind will only help to solidify the whole thing.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Unfortunately, the local building inspector didn't agree
0:06:16 > 0:06:20and the World War II relic has to be broken up and removed at added cost.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Only days into the build
0:06:23 > 0:06:27and Gill and Barry have had to fork out around £2,000
0:06:27 > 0:06:32for specialist equipment and labour to dig out the solid concrete structure from beneath the site.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36And that means they're already behind schedule
0:06:36 > 0:06:40because of the additional time taken to clear the muddy trenches,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42ready for pouring the concrete foundations.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48With true Brit spirit, Gill's determined that this early bombshell won't set them back.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52It's Monday morning on the second week.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56The weather's still brilliant, although it's absolutely freezing -
0:06:56 > 0:06:58about three degrees below at the moment,
0:06:58 > 0:07:00just after eight in the morning.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02The builders have just come on site
0:07:02 > 0:07:07and we're fingers crossed for a better week of building the foundations.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10We're three days behind but we should be able to get on this week.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17But the massive hole left by removing the 70-year-old bunker
0:07:17 > 0:07:20means extra concrete is required for the foundations
0:07:20 > 0:07:25and that means pouring a few hundred pounds more into the groundworks.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33To keep the budget under control,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Barry and Gill have opted to project manage themselves,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39overseeing all aspects, from the foundations...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43to the fitting of the block and beam floor system.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47It's a big job
0:07:47 > 0:07:50but if they can handle the pressure, it will pay off.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54Project managing yourself can save around 10% of the build budget.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58In Gill and Barry's case, that's a handy £20,000.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Less than a month later and the floor slabs are done and dusted
0:08:05 > 0:08:09and I'm back on site to inspect progress at the former pub garden.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14The first thing that strikes me is what a fabulous location.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Yeah. I couldn't agree more.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19To get a site this big here on the edge of London.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Yeah, it's quite a site. We're really pleased with it.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25The slabs are in, it's starting to look very impressive.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29But the other thing that jumps out at you is the caravan.
0:08:29 > 0:08:30LAUGHTER
0:08:30 > 0:08:34- Our pride and joy.- Your home, I'm guessing.- Our home, yes.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Tell us about that.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38No, no. Over to you.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41We bought it on eBay for £257,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44which based on the rent we're paying in our rented flat
0:08:44 > 0:08:47is equivalent to about ten days rent, so it was a very quick pay-back.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Because that can be a problem.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52When you're doing a self-build and you put your money into it,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54you end up with no home
0:08:54 > 0:08:58and every day that you're in rented accommodation, it's a cost on this.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- Absolutely.- Exactly. It's less you can spend on your house.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05To me, it's all about how I can finish it and what we can do,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07so every penny has to be spent on this.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11Gill and Barry have opted to rough it in this temporary on-site home
0:09:11 > 0:09:13once major building work starts.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Joining the caravan club might not suit everyone
0:09:16 > 0:09:20but it will save them £3,000 on renting alternative accommodation.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25It's not the only way this plot's helping them save hundreds of pounds.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29They threw out a load of tongue and groove oak flooring from the pub.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31They just threw it onto a rubbish pile.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34We reclaimed it and we're going to lay it on our kitchen floor.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38And then that ties in with the history of the site, doesn't it?
0:09:38 > 0:09:41There's also a pile of bricks that I reclaimed
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- that we're going to use for garden walling.- I love that.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48So you're tying in with the history of the place
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- and what it once was. - Yeah, exactly.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- And good for you. Very environmental.- Absolutely.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- Don't just recycle, reuse.- Yep.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Striking a bargain is often about being in the right place at the right time.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Barry and Gill saw a golden opportunity to get something for nothing
0:10:05 > 0:10:09and when it comes to recycling, it's often a case of if you don't ask, you don't get.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15- Any other finds you've had?- Well, I suppose the only other thing is,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18being an old pub, we do come across the odd bottle.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23- In fact, I've got one here to show you...- No.- ..that we dug up.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- This isn't opened.- Not yet.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- Someone must have been very upset when they lost this one.- They must.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- Have you found many that are full? - No. The odd one or two.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36But that's the most recent one.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38So we're saving that for a special occasion.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43- You know what the special occasion's going to be?- It will linked to this house.- Yeah, I guess so.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46So how long till the special occasion, then?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48When are we going to see this house finished?
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Well, it's a 16-week time-frame for the build.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Touch wood, even with having found the remains of the bunker,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56we've caught up on ourselves
0:10:56 > 0:10:59and we're on target still for that 16 weeks.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02So we've got about another 11 weeks to go.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Well, I look forward to coming back and helping you reclaim this.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Good luck with your build.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Keep looking, keep looking.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Project managing your own self-build can be a rewarding experience.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23But when Rebecca Stenson took on building a cottage in Cambridgeshire,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27she managed to deliver a lot more than just the finished house.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Owning an old-fashioned cottage in the country
0:11:34 > 0:11:36had been a long-time ambition
0:11:36 > 0:11:38of recruitment company director Rebecca.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42So when her husband Matt spotted a run-down bungalow for sale
0:11:42 > 0:11:45in the village of Tilbrook, near Huntingdon, four years ago,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48the couple jumped at the chance to redevelop the plot
0:11:48 > 0:11:51and build the quaint cottage Rebecca had always wanted.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Got back from work one night, saw the plot for sale.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56We came and looked at it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59It was a sealed bid, so we put a bit of a gamble bid in and we won.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03And looking at the house, that was some victory.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11The plot cost them £213,000
0:12:11 > 0:12:15and they allocated a similar budget to knock down the bungalow
0:12:15 > 0:12:18and build a four-bed, timber-framed home with a vintage feel.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20I've always loved old houses
0:12:20 > 0:12:22and when we first said about doing a build
0:12:22 > 0:12:25the one stipulation was that we made it feel old and cottagey,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28which is quite difficult when you're building it from scratch.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35This is my favourite room of the house,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37probably because of the beams in the ceiling.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41I've always wanted a cottage with beams in the ceiling,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44so when we planned it, this was the one thing
0:12:44 > 0:12:47that I just wouldn't have compromised on, really.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51You can have as much oak or as little oak as you want, depending on your budget.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Our budget was quite small
0:12:53 > 0:12:57so this was the only room that we could have as much exposed oak as this.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00All the marks in the oak that they use, it's just so unique.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03No-one else has got the exact same house as you have.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09Rebecca took on the role of project managing the five-month build herself
0:13:09 > 0:13:11and she's done a fantastic job,
0:13:11 > 0:13:15especially as she knew nothing about construction before she started.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23But what makes her achievement more remarkable is that as well as building,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Rebecca was also starting a family.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28First came Molly, when they were buying the bungalow.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32When we saw this, I was seven months pregnant
0:13:32 > 0:13:35and then when it completed, she was about two weeks old.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39We moved out of our house into the bungalow when she was two weeks old.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45And then, in the middle of building, along came Archie.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51That left mum Rebecca with a newborn, a toddler and a build to juggle
0:13:51 > 0:13:54but by that stage there was no turning back.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Because we were so far into it, we just had to keep going.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06We were building and that was it, so we just had to make it work.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Rebecca's secret to managing a successful build
0:14:12 > 0:14:16and raising a family is simple - reliable baby-sitters.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Just sort of help from my mum.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23If I needed to come onto site, to drop Molly down there for a sleep in the afternoon,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27whizz up to the site, work out what needed doing - it was just step by step.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Every day, we had to overcome certain challenges
0:14:29 > 0:14:33but we took it a day at a time and eventually, we got in.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35And she certainly did that.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38When it comes to creating her home from heaven,
0:14:38 > 0:14:42some of the negatives of being pregnant at the planning stages turned into positives.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46I didn't get much sleep because you're up and down all night,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48so had lots of time to think about how I wanted it.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Every night, I'd choose a different room to picture what I wanted.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57While the house might be stunning,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00it was the large garden and beautiful country view
0:15:00 > 0:15:01that also drew Rebecca to the site.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Just to wake up in the morning and look at that,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08we never dreamt that we would have anything so lovely.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13But one very innocent looking tree actually caused the most problems.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17It's a lovely tree, it's very pretty and it's lovely on the street
0:15:17 > 0:15:19but we were told it was an ash tree,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22so we thought that our foundations wouldn't have to be so deep.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26In fact, it's a much deeper-rooted elm tree,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29so the foundations had to go down a further two metres.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I think it probably cost us about £15,000.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36So it's a very, very expensive tree.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Talk about nightmare on Elm Street!
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Self-building can be tough at the best of times,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48never mind with two small children to care for.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52However, Rebecca believes all the hard work was definitely worth it.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58It's amazing that we've had the children
0:15:58 > 0:16:01and we've done this at the same time as having the children.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04It's lovely to think now that we can give them, hopefully,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06the life that we sort of dreamt of, really.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12And with house valued at around £600,000,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15by opting to build, Rebecca saved nearly a third
0:16:15 > 0:16:17compared to buying a similar home in the area.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23We just never would have been able to afford to buy what we've built.
0:16:23 > 0:16:28That's why we built, because we knew that to have a detached house,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32a bit of space around it and have a garden and have ducks and chickens,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36we would never, ever have been able to buy that, so it's brilliant.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51In Barnet, it's five weeks since work got underway
0:16:51 > 0:16:53on the Deeks' former beer garden
0:16:53 > 0:16:55and there's about to be a massive transformation.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02The team are on site building the scaffolding
0:17:02 > 0:17:05ahead of the arrival of Gill and Barry's timber-framed kit.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11We woke up this morning and thought, our house is being delivered today.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13It's not often you can say that.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16It's coming on a couple of lorries. One's outside already.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21The Deeks' decision to choose a timber-framed home
0:17:21 > 0:17:25means once all the bits are on site, the structure goes up quickly.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30In just four days, the ground floor shoots up
0:17:30 > 0:17:32and after a quick pause for breath...
0:17:32 > 0:17:37Every day, there's something happening - another window up, another door in.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41..it's time to power on with the first floor bedrooms and bathrooms.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43The Deeks have four grown-up children
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and although they've fled the nest, the three bedrooms here
0:17:47 > 0:17:49will be handy when any of them come to stay.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57They've only been on site exactly five days today,
0:17:57 > 0:18:02which is madness, because yesterday, we didn't have a first floor
0:18:02 > 0:18:04and now we have a first floor.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09So if you'd like to pan around, you can see how much they've done.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Bedrooms. This is the big double bedroom.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17This is the front of the house with all the five Regency windows in,
0:18:17 > 0:18:21which I'm so, so delighted with - better than my expectation.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Day eight of the kit construction
0:18:24 > 0:18:27and the pace of this Georgian-inspired self-build is relentless.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33As a lorry arrives with beams for the roof,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Barry can feel his life going past in a blur.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40It takes up all your waking thoughts, really.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I don't know what's going on in the world.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47So just two months in and, amazingly, the roof's going on.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53After all those years of searching for the right plot,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57the clouds on Barry and Gill's self-build dream have well and truly lifted.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03That's the joy of timber-frame. It goes together amazingly quickly.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10This build certainly seems stress free
0:19:10 > 0:19:15but midway through the frame construction, there's a major upheaval off site.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19The lease on their rented flat is finally up
0:19:19 > 0:19:22and it's time to downsize to their on-site caravan.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Well, today it's all go because we've got to move out of the flat -
0:19:25 > 0:19:28well, by Friday of this week.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Today's our last day for clearing out the flat.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It's a lot of pressure on top of everything else.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35HAMMERING
0:19:35 > 0:19:38So while they wait to move into their Georgian grandeur,
0:19:38 > 0:19:42they're going to have to make the best of it in this cosy caravan.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45This will be our home for the next two months or so
0:19:45 > 0:19:46during the build.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49It's actually on site. There's Gill. Morning!
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Gill's done a wonderful job in refurbishing it.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56And though it may take some adjustment,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59their caravan compromise is a canny move.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03By living on the job, they can act as 24-hour security guards
0:20:03 > 0:20:06and make sure the various tradesmen can get access to the site
0:20:06 > 0:20:08whenever they need to.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12It's build month three and the Deeks' house is taking shape.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18With Gill's boundless energy and Barry's willingness to get stuck in,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21they're coping well with the project management
0:20:21 > 0:20:26and the whole build's got a real feel-good factor.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30- Say hello, Steve.- Hello. - Hello, Alistair.- Hello.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32- Morning, guys.- Morning.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35- Hello, Tom. Hi, Nick. - Hello!
0:20:38 > 0:20:43I think you plan the house and you know, objectively, how long things are going to take.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47But when you're here day after day and seeing it just come alive,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51what you plan on paper has no resemblance to how it works.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55I never imagined it would be that quick in terms of going up
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and just day-on-day progress.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58It's been stunning.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01But as the building site begins to look more like a home,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Gill's starting to feel under pressure.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08I feel a great responsibility to get the end product right
0:21:08 > 0:21:09and get it as we both want
0:21:09 > 0:21:13and so really, Barry's been very good in leaving it up to me
0:21:13 > 0:21:16to choose all the finishes, the light fittings,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18the bathrooms, the tiles.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21And as time gets nearer to having to actually order them,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24I'm just a bit stressed that I've made the right choices.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And that's not to mention the hundreds of window beads
0:21:27 > 0:21:29that urgently need painting,
0:21:29 > 0:21:33another job that Gill has taken on herself.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38To be absolutely honest, I thought they were going to come white. I thought they'd be pre-painted.
0:21:38 > 0:21:44The glazier said, "You'd better make sure they're painted white before I put the glass in,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48"otherwise, you'll look through the double glazing and see brown."
0:21:48 > 0:21:51I said, "Oh, that won't do. We've got to paint them white."
0:21:51 > 0:21:52So we've been a week at it so far
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and there's another few days to finish this 1,100 beads.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01It's build month four and the roof slates are going on.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03With a need to keep their budget under control,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Gill and Barry call in some family favours.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11It's Sunday 6th June and we've enrolled the services
0:22:11 > 0:22:13of various members of the family.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- Hello, Nick.- Hello, Dad. How are you doing?- I'm good.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- And James.- Afternoon.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21- Gemma.- Hi!
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- Claire.- Hello.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26- Whoo!- Hello, Gill.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29With Barry's beer-garden brigade marching on,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31it's about time I visited the troops
0:22:31 > 0:22:33to see how much progress they've made.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39We have a front door and someone's got carried away -
0:22:39 > 0:22:42brass door furniture, ready to go and it's still a building site.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- Hello!- Hello! Hi! We're in the kitchen.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- Hello, hello, hello.- Hello, Simon.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54- Are you all right? Hello, Barry. - Good to see you.- And you.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57- Someone's been busy.- Yeah. - Just a bit.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Amazing. Absolutely. I'm gobsmacked, actually.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05- This is a very impressive building. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08I know that stage you're at now. You're going to make me laugh
0:23:08 > 0:23:13- because the chandelier's up...- Yes. - ..there's a brass door knocker,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15there's half a floor down...
0:23:15 > 0:23:19It's kind of stuck between being a house and a building site.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21It's almost there.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23- You've got your cooker in. - No pots and pans yet.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- Come on - who's getting overexcited? - Very much - all the time.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30We've been this excited all the time.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34When I first met them, it was clear Gill was the inspiration behind the build,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36so how is Barry coping?
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- My skill set is certainly expanding. - It has, it has.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Fitting kitchens, tiling bathrooms, flooring -
0:23:42 > 0:23:44the reclaimed oak flooring from the pub.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48- So I'm learning a bit.- You'll be able to build a house, soon.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52What do you mean?! He hasn't done bad this time.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55So has it been easier or harder than you thought?
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Erm... To be honest,
0:23:57 > 0:24:01I would say it's been pretty much as I expected it to be.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03It's certainly been relentless.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06You don't get any time off for good behaviour.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10You're always having to do something for the trade who's coming the next day.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13There's always something to prepare and that's critical
0:24:13 > 0:24:17because you don't want them getting here and saying we can't do it
0:24:17 > 0:24:21- because you haven't done so-and-so. - And that becomes a domino effect.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25Once one trade's waiting, bang, bang, bang - the build starts to slip.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31I'm quite looking forward to the point we're quite close to now,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- where the last trade has gone. - And we close the door.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37We'll have a lot of work to do, it'll be at our own pace,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40rather than someone being reliant on us to do something.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42I'm looking forward to that.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Now, these two may have been able to take the house out of the pub
0:24:47 > 0:24:52but my nose tells me they haven't quite been able to take the pub out of the house.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- HE SNIFFS - No! Am I imagining that?
0:24:54 > 0:24:57If you get down close enough, you can still smell the beer.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00This floor literally used to be in the bar of the pub,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04so there's many decades of split ale down there.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07So not only is it seasoned, it's preserved as well, isn't it?
0:25:07 > 0:25:11- Yeah, pickled.- I don't think we'll have any infestations in it.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20'If the floor still has the temporary whiff of the boozer,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24'the wide open spaces everywhere else feel more suited to a flute of champagne.'
0:25:24 > 0:25:29- My favourite part of your house is your landing.- Really?
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Well, do you know why?
0:25:31 > 0:25:34When you try and recreate something as grand as a Georgian house,
0:25:34 > 0:25:40it's tempting to kind of squeeze the rooms out and get rid of this space here.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- Yeah. Yeah.- But this space is what it's all about, isn't it?
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Yes, it's not being mean with this floor space.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50A lot people would think it's useless but it plays a bit part.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Let's just look at this space here, right?
0:25:53 > 0:25:58Now, why don't you take that room to there and that room to there?
0:25:58 > 0:25:59What's this space for?
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Because it gives you that feeling of spaciousness,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06just like you're saying - it gives you that Georgian feel.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07Fantastic.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12So this is the master bedroom, Simon.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Much of the house looks to be nearing completion
0:26:15 > 0:26:17but there's no danger these two are going to relax.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22There's an energy about you, Gill. I would be knackered by now.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24But you're like, "Come on, here we go, here we go."
0:26:24 > 0:26:29- "Ooh, tap! Let me at it!"- It's infectious.- It is infectious, yeah.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32But I do crash at about five o'clock.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36- Do you?- Yeah. The energy is seeming to get less each day,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39although I still get really excited when things happen,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42but by the end of the day, I get more and more tired.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45It's no wonder she's exhausted.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49As well as the build, Gill's also been busy with her landscaping.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Oh, and speaking of the green stuff, how are the finances doing?
0:26:54 > 0:26:58So with a place like this, it would be easy for the budget to run away.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00How have you kept the lid on things?
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Well, mainly through sourcing cheap materials.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07We bought stuff at auction. We went up to Bolton to buy the gates.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11We've been the length and breadth of the country for good bargains.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- We've been on eBay.- It must have saved us...- Thousands.- Thousands.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Amazing. Right, listen. I know what's going to happen here.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Next time I come back here, you are going to be living in there
0:27:22 > 0:27:25but you'll be in one tiny room because you're used to that.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- Yes!- I mean, look at the difference.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Yeah, it is from the ridiculous to the sublime.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33- It's incredible, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Well, you've worn me out, just talking to you.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39I'll let you get back to it, so you stay on schedule.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- I'll be back very shortly, I think. - Lovely to see you, Simon.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44To sit in that kitchen and have a coffee
0:27:44 > 0:27:47- and just smell the beer.- Oh, right.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49- Cheers, all.- Bye-bye.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59If you're self-building your own home,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02you might have to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06When it comes to DIY, I reckon I'm reasonably handy
0:28:06 > 0:28:09but to make sure my skills are up to scratch,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12I'm taking a crash course of classes at building college.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Today, I'm aiming for the top of the class
0:28:18 > 0:28:21with roof tiling teacher Terry Chiswell.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36All right, now, roofing is possibly the most mysterious of all the building skills,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39simply because we can't see you up there.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44So, give us a demo, let's see how it should happen before I have a go.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- Is that possible?- OK, yes.- Go on.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51Just for that cheeky comment, Terry is not letting me near a tile yet.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Instead, he's making me do the maths,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58to work out exactly where I need to place the tiles on the roof.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03So if you measure from the bottom of there to the bottom of the tile,
0:29:03 > 0:29:04it's 400mm.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07It wants to be 50mm into the gutter,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11so basically, you're just taking that 50mm off.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13290, I made it.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17I saw you when you were a kid. You never did go to school, did you?
0:29:18 > 0:29:21'The felt underlay goes down first...'
0:29:21 > 0:29:23About there, guv?
0:29:23 > 0:29:26'And thanks to the trusty chalk line...'
0:29:28 > 0:29:30I like that. That's clever.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33'..the battens on which the tiles hang go on nice and straight.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35'Usually.'
0:29:35 > 0:29:37- You've missed.- You did it!
0:29:37 > 0:29:39'You've missed - you did it!
0:29:39 > 0:29:43'This is all very well inside a nice warm building school.'
0:29:43 > 0:29:47- So you just stand on them?- As long as you've nailed it up correctly,
0:29:47 > 0:29:50if you stand where the nails are, you know it's solid.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53- I nailed it. I wouldn't stand on that one.- Exactly.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56I wouldn't fancy it so much 30 foot up.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58This is where roofing feels wrong, doesn't it?
0:29:58 > 0:30:01That's dangerous enough, let alone... Ugh.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06'Chances are, most people will leave roofing jobs to the professionals
0:30:06 > 0:30:09'but it's always handy to know what's going on up top.'
0:30:09 > 0:30:12And then basically, it's just a case of...
0:30:12 > 0:30:16laying them on top of each other.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19It's important that they are laid straight.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22There's nothing worse than looking up onto a roof
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- and you can see they're all over the place.- Yeah.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29'That's enough theory, Terry. Time for me to go solo.'
0:30:29 > 0:30:32OK, Simon, and in classic television terms,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35- here's one we prepared earlier. - Ah, right, OK.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38- My challenge to you...- Yeah?
0:30:38 > 0:30:41..is to lay all those tiles that are flat on that roof.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45Basically, as long as you put those tiles on
0:30:45 > 0:30:49- and your leading edge is hitting that line...- Yeah.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51- Then you should go along...- Yeah.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56- It should run up against your next line. - It should run up against that.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00'Not all roof tiles are nailed down
0:31:00 > 0:31:03'and Terry said I don't have to nail any this time.'
0:31:03 > 0:31:07It's ten to eleven. Let's have it done for 11 o'clock.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09'It's still harder than it looks, though.'
0:31:09 > 0:31:13- You're going off, Simon. - How am I...? I am. Oh, no.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15- But why?- Ah, that's why.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21I thought being a roofer was sitting and enjoying the view.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25'But I'd been enjoying the view from the floor for far too long.'
0:31:25 > 0:31:29I've just realised that it's not good practice to stand on these.
0:31:29 > 0:31:30No, not really.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32So I should already be on the roof.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34'So I can't delay any longer.'
0:31:34 > 0:31:36I'm going to do this.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39'Time to get up on the roof.'
0:31:39 > 0:31:42I'm going up, guv. Excuse the end one.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46'All those Spider-Man comics haven't left me with any spider skills.'
0:31:46 > 0:31:49It suddenly gets a bit trickier, boss.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53You should be a bit more nimble.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56'After a few minutes like a cat on a hot tin roof...'
0:31:58 > 0:32:00You don't look very comfortable up there, Simon.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04'..I finally realise that moving less is better.'
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Tell me if I'm cheating by doing this.
0:32:06 > 0:32:11- No.- Am I not? Ah! - That's how I would actually do it.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12Hey!
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Then the question is, why didn't I think of this earlier?
0:32:18 > 0:32:23- Ah, I see. That's got to go. - You've three minutes left, Simon.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28I'm starting to sweat, Terry. I'm starting to sweat.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Come on. Time's money.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33I'd have been quicker but I just spotted her sunbathing in the garden.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36One minute left.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39That's the one.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44- Guv, how have I done? - They're not totally straight,
0:32:44 > 0:32:46so it's a good first attempt.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48I'd give you eight out of ten.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53Eight out of ten? I'll have that.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56One other question. How do I get down?
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Use your initiative. I'm off for a cup of tea.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08Back in Barnet, the house that Barry and Gill have been building
0:33:08 > 0:33:12in the beer garden of a former pub is starting to raise their spirits.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15They're now five months into the construction
0:33:15 > 0:33:16and within a few weeks,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19they're hoping to finally call time on the builders.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23The house has been built in a Georgian style
0:33:23 > 0:33:26to fit in with the local conservation area
0:33:26 > 0:33:30but until now, no-one's had a clear view of what it looks like.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32It's quite a momentous day today
0:33:32 > 0:33:38because, if you remember, the scaffolding went up before we had any building,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41so the scaffolding stood there as it went up inside.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44So we've never seen the actual building without scaffolding
0:33:44 > 0:33:46and today is the day it's coming down.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54With the scaffolding gone, you can appreciate the beautiful facade.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Inside, the floorboards they salvaged from the bar are buffing up nicely.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06And Barry's urge to save money
0:34:06 > 0:34:08means he's taking on more and more of the jobs himself,
0:34:08 > 0:34:10such as tiling the hallway.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16It's stuff I've either never done before or I haven't done for a decade,
0:34:16 > 0:34:24so it's good, it's nice to sort of, you know, acquire a few new skills.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27We're saving ourselves a lot of money, of course, by doing it ourselves.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30It's rewarding. Very rewarding.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36It's now August, six months since they started,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38and as the build accelerates towards completion,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42there's something else Barry and Gill are grateful for.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Now the house is habitable,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47they've flogged the caravan they've been roughing it in
0:34:47 > 0:34:50- for about the same price they bought it...- Off it goes.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54..and can now enjoy the luxury of clean, running water.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55SHE LAUGHS
0:34:55 > 0:34:58A very common commodity but if you haven't got it,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00it makes all the difference when you get it.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03We've only had this for about a week and it's hot.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05And the electric's on.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07To suddenly have the ability to just have a hot shower
0:35:07 > 0:35:09whenever you want it,
0:35:09 > 0:35:13rather than perhaps every third day, going down to the gym,
0:35:13 > 0:35:14it's wonderful.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17It's only when you've been without something that you realise
0:35:17 > 0:35:19how lovely it is to have water on tap.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21It's bliss. It's bliss.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30But Gill and Barry have all but spent their £250,000 budget
0:35:30 > 0:35:33and are running out of cash for the finishing touches,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36so they are taking on more of the final jobs themselves.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Are we running over time? Yes, we are.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42But that's because we're trying to do nearly everything ourselves
0:35:42 > 0:35:45and that will help claw back some of the overrun on the money.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50Not being afraid to tackle some of the jobs yourself is a sure way of saving money
0:35:50 > 0:35:54but you have to be prepared to put in the hours.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58Barry and Gill are now working from dawn till dusk five days a week
0:35:58 > 0:36:00completing the painting and woodwork themselves.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03This will save them an estimated £5,000 a month
0:36:03 > 0:36:07that it would cost them to have two tradesmen working full time.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12I'm a very enthusiastic, buoyant person about everything
0:36:12 > 0:36:15but the odd morning I wake up and think,
0:36:15 > 0:36:19"Oh, I'm daunted by the thought of another 10-hour working day."
0:36:19 > 0:36:22It's been really physical out the front.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25It's tested me, as a woman, physically.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31Gill and Barry have saved £20,000 by project managing the scheme
0:36:31 > 0:36:35and have trimmed at least another five grand by sourcing their own materials.
0:36:37 > 0:36:38I'm happy to go on record
0:36:38 > 0:36:42and say we'll have finished the house - not the garden, the house -
0:36:42 > 0:36:45by the end of March 2011.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48I may live to regret that but that's my current thinking.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'A year since I first visited Gill and Barry,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55'I'm back in Barnet to view their finished home.'
0:36:55 > 0:36:59And well, well, well. I'll drink to that.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04With their fabulous Georgian design,
0:37:04 > 0:37:08there's no doubt Gill and Barry have brewed up something special.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11From its clean classical lines to its cool cream facade,
0:37:11 > 0:37:15this sparkling home looks every inch to the manner born.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19So come on in, Simon.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Ah, wow.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25First things first, I do like a grand hall.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28You know that, we've discussed that. This really, really works.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30That's what we wanted, wasn't it?
0:37:32 > 0:37:35When Gill and Barry dreamed of this house,
0:37:35 > 0:37:38it was clear from the start there would be no compromise.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40They set the bar high from day one
0:37:40 > 0:37:44and through Gill's tireless energy and Barry's painstaking work,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47they've been able to create exactly what they set out to achieve.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54We're near the lounge, first on the left, so come on in here.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58This is gorgeous. It's so bright and light.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01It encapsulates everything about you two in this house.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05You have driven the design and you have made the design a reality.
0:38:05 > 0:38:10- I guess that's a way of putting it. - That's how the whole house has worked.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Inside, it's Georgian influences everywhere.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Light floods through the panelled windows,
0:38:20 > 0:38:23bathing everything in a classy costume-drama glow.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26But although they've been sticklers for period detail,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28this is also a working family home.
0:38:32 > 0:38:37- And this is the kitchen cum... - Diner.- ..dining room.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39- Cum...- Family room.- Yes. - Family room.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43This is the living space, isn't it, really, I guess?
0:38:43 > 0:38:46I'd say it's my favourite room. It's the one I most wanted.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51I don't know why but in previous houses, I've never quite attained
0:38:51 > 0:38:54having a room we could all be in at the same time
0:38:54 > 0:38:57and it was one of my aims, so I love this room.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02Upstairs, the spacious landing has certainly captured
0:39:02 > 0:39:05the grandeur of the Georgian era.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Although there's still one or two on-going projects
0:39:10 > 0:39:13lurking behind closed doors.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16- And through here? - A work in progress.- Yeah.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20- Definitely a work in progress. - Nice en-suite, though.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22Barry, come on, pull your finger out.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28The stylish finishes on the bedrooms and family bathroom
0:39:28 > 0:39:32show how hard they've worked to create their dream.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35Really, the designing of it, the making of it, has been such fun,
0:39:35 > 0:39:37a real privilege to do, really.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40It's probably the most satisfying thing I've done, really.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45- It's sort of...- Surely the most creative?- Absolutely.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47It's been very, very satisfying.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Barely a year old, and this house is, incredibly,
0:39:52 > 0:39:54already steeped in its own history.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Barry and Gill's character is etched in every nook and cranny
0:40:00 > 0:40:03and the fact that it's sitting on a pub garden
0:40:03 > 0:40:05only adds to its sense of relaxed charm.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11And that reminds me - all those months ago at the start of the build,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14didn't Barry promise to pour me a rather special pint?
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Do you remember when you were first digging up the beer garden?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- I do.- You don't still have a certain bottle of beer, do you?
0:40:22 > 0:40:25- I believe I do, actually.- Have you? - Yes.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29If you get the bottle of beer, I've got a present for you two.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34No small beer this process, you know.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40I'm sure I made a promise that if and when you finished your house
0:40:40 > 0:40:43I would see if this was still drinkable, didn't I?
0:40:43 > 0:40:45- Shall we find out? - There's only one way to do it.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49And to help us do that, we've got you this.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53- Oh, how very nice. - It's a Georgian-style tankard.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57"To Build Or Not To Build, Gill and Barry Deeks, Barnet."
0:40:57 > 0:41:00- Isn't that lovely? Thank you. - "2010-2011." How lovely.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06- Well, here goes then! - WHOOPING
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Don't worry if it spills on the floor. It just adds to it.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13'A vintage beer dug from the garden of this very house.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17'What a lovely way to celebrate such a heady success.'
0:41:17 > 0:41:21- Mm.- I'm going to get the shovel out when you've gone.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25There's plenty of fizz left in the beer
0:41:25 > 0:41:28but what about the value of the house?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30The plot cost £400,000
0:41:30 > 0:41:34and they've worked wonders to stick to their build budget of £250,000,
0:41:34 > 0:41:38making a total outlay of £650,000.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41So has the whole project left them with any financial hangovers?
0:41:43 > 0:41:47As you know, there's been an estate agent snooping around
0:41:47 > 0:41:51to give the place a valuation of between 975 and £1 million.
0:41:51 > 0:41:52- Really?- Yeah.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55- Well, that's very encouraging, isn't it?- Really?
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- That's a surprise. - I'm pleasantly surprised.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02It's academic because we don't plan to move but it's nice to know
0:42:02 > 0:42:05that your efforts have been rewarded.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Well, that's great news, yes!
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Gill's gone quiet.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14I think we should sell up tomorrow and do the next one. Only joking!
0:42:14 > 0:42:16- Only joking.- That's the temptation. - Wow.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21Hitting the magical £1 million mark with the valuation
0:42:21 > 0:42:24means they're £350,000 up
0:42:24 > 0:42:28and Barry and Gill could be popping champagne corks on this boozy site
0:42:28 > 0:42:30for many years to come.
0:42:32 > 0:42:36I think you've demonstrated two incredibly important things.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38That's why you've done so well here.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40First of all, spotting this site,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44in this area, just round the corner from everything - incredible.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46So all to power to you for that.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48And I think that sticking to budget
0:42:48 > 0:42:51and not being afraid to get your hands dirty
0:42:51 > 0:42:53is an absolute credit to you
0:42:53 > 0:42:56and your house, I think, is now your home
0:42:56 > 0:42:59- because you are part of it.- Yes.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- So well done, you two. - Thank you. Thank you very much.
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