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00:00Putting your house up for sale can be very stressful.
00:02And it's an absolute nightmare when you have a house that you can't sell, but must sell.
00:07Our mortgage is now nearly £4,000 a month.
00:10If you don't sell this house...
00:12It would be repossessed.
00:13Some homeowners just cannot see what is staring them straight in the face.
00:17Oh, the smell.
00:18It's like wet dog.
00:19And some buyers just don't have the vision.
00:22No way would I spend £1.3 million on this.
00:25I feel like I'm in a chip shop.
00:26God, I would never buy a house looking like this.
00:29That's where we come in.
00:30My brother Stuart and I have been working together in property for years.
00:33That is very therapeutic.
00:36Scarlett and I know what attracts buyers.
00:38Wow.
00:39These are features that people would pay extra for.
00:41And what sends them running.
00:43Oh, God.
00:44This carpet on the floor.
00:45I hear that.
00:46Every week, we will be given a house each.
00:48And we will transform them from unsellable to unbelievable.
00:52Oh, wow.
00:54This kitchen now looks...
00:56Like a million-pound house.
00:58It's gone from drab to fab.
01:01Wow.
01:02I'd definitely be interested in something like this.
01:04Oh, I can't believe this is my house.
01:06And prove you can turn can't-sell houses into must-have homes.
01:10This week, we're on the England-North Wales border, where we'll be taking on two houses that can't sell.
01:23A pink property even Barbie would find too much, and a quaint cottage drowning in clothes and clutter.
01:29Wow.
01:31There are so many clothes.
01:34Stuart and I are going head-to-head to transform these houses with only £3,000 and in just two days,
01:40in order to shift these properties and get them sold.
01:44We could be running out of time.
01:46Wow.
01:53Look at this view.
01:55These views are amazing.
01:56But that drops, Scarlet.
01:58Scarlet, Scarlet.
02:00Yeah, not for the faint-hearted, is it?
02:01No, it's not.
02:02Where we are now, North Wales meets England, right on the border.
02:06Right on the border.
02:07Liverpool, Chester, Wrexham, all within an hour of each other.
02:10Yep, all have a joint population of around a million people.
02:13Which suggests that the market should be thriving.
02:16Yes.
02:16But the houses that we've come to see have not been the case.
02:19No.
02:19There must be a problem.
02:20Yes.
02:21And it's down to us to find out what it is.
02:27Our first property this week is in the small town of Chirk, just nine miles outside of Wrexham.
02:33It takes around 62 days to sell a property here in this part of Wales,
02:36with the average house price just over £198,000.
02:42But Sarah and Alan have had their property on the market for 12 months, and they don't know why.
02:52Oh, you're a lovely birth.
02:53You're gorgeous.
02:55They're melting off with the hair just dropping off them.
02:58Got a hairy house.
03:01And you're gorgeous as well.
03:02Yes, ma.
03:03Meet husband and wife, Sarah and Alan.
03:06They live with their two dogs, Bert and Brian.
03:09No, you can't go back to sleep.
03:11Come on.
03:11Get off.
03:12Come on, Bray.
03:13In this quirky two-bed cottage.
03:16A lot of these marks are dogs slathering.
03:21And after calling this cottage home for over 20 years,
03:24Sarah has it looking just the way she likes it.
03:27The style in this house is all my style.
03:31Yeah, and you're telling me.
03:35This 120-year-old cottage has two large bedrooms that are bursting at the seams.
03:41Love clothes, handbags, shoes, jewellery.
03:44I love everything, really.
03:48The dining and living rooms are also drowning in two decades' worth of collecting.
03:53And even the compact kitchen doesn't escape the clutter.
03:57Yeah, I'm an impulse buyer.
03:58Definitely an impulse buyer.
04:00If I see something, even if I don't want it or like it, I'll still buy it.
04:04Sarah and Alan put their house on the market 12 months ago for £240,000,
04:13but they've only had three viewings and no offers.
04:17When I put the house on the market, I actually said to the estate agent
04:20I was worried because it was going to go too quickly
04:23and I was going to sell it within the week.
04:24And I'm still here 12 months later and I'm baffled as to why it hasn't gone at all.
04:30I'm just absolutely dumbfounded, really.
04:34The stress of being on the market for so long
04:36is taking its toll on their 40-year marriage.
04:39It is not helping our situation together.
04:43We are arguing more than ever.
04:45Personally, I don't think we're going to last much longer if we can't sell it.
04:49The frustration of living on top of each other in cramped conditions
04:53and not being able to move on is pushing the couple to breaking point.
04:58Our dream is to sell a house and we can buy a nice house,
05:03perhaps overlook in the sea, instead of being here and being miserable.
05:06Because we are, aren't we?
05:07We are.
05:09Very miserable.
05:12There's a lot riding on getting this cottage sold.
05:15So it's time we sat down with Sarah and Alan.
05:18I mean, this is a bit tight getting through here, isn't it?
05:20It is very tight.
05:21Look at this, though.
05:22This is cute.
05:24It's a lovely cottage.
05:24Oh, oh, oh.
05:29OK, first of all, it's very dark.
05:33And it smells of wet dog.
05:38Hello.
05:39Hello.
05:39Hello.
05:39Alan, are you OK?
05:40Yes, fine, thank you.
05:41Hiya.
05:42Why do you think it's not selling?
05:44We really don't know.
05:45I can't just baffle the way it hasn't gone.
05:47Right.
05:48Why do you want to move?
05:50To be near the sea.
05:51Are you waiting for money from this to be able to do that?
05:54Yes.
05:54OK, so we need to get this sold as soon as possible.
05:57Yes.
05:57Urgent.
05:58Yeah.
06:01With both Sarah and Alan clueless as to why the cottage isn't selling,
06:05we need to identify what is putting potential buyers off.
06:09Bring on our local property enthusiasts and their very honest opinions.
06:17Wow.
06:18OK.
06:19Fussy fiancés and property addicts, Matt and Elliot.
06:23Where's the house?
06:25Oh, my God.
06:27Lindsay and her best friend, professional declutterer, Kerri-Ann.
06:31It looks like a car boot sale.
06:35There's everything, everywhere.
06:37Property developer, Sadia.
06:39Like, there's stuff up there, there's stuff here, there's stuff there.
06:44It doesn't feel homely.
06:45And picky mum of three, Marie, on the lookout for a family home.
06:49It feels really uncomfortable.
06:51This cross-section of local property brains will tell us exactly what issues we need to fix if we've any chance of getting a sale.
07:01Here we go.
07:02So, first of all, that caravan is slap-banging in the middle of the driveway.
07:05It's really bad curb appeal.
07:08It smells like a caravan.
07:09It smells like a caravan.
07:10It smells like a caravan.
07:10Yeah, it smells like a caravan, yeah.
07:12And it smells, can you smell it?
07:14Yeah, I can smell dog.
07:15Yeah, it does smell dog.
07:16It's literally like a charity shop has just exploded across this entire room.
07:22Ha, ha, ha.
07:23I don't know why I'm laughing, but...
07:24Oh, the wallpaper matches the carpet, doesn't it?
07:30Look at the cabinet.
07:32Oh, whoever this person is loves cats.
07:34It's like Charity Shop Sue lives here.
07:37What would you do in here?
07:40Rip it all out.
07:40There's just far too many pigs and too much clutter in this kitchen.
07:46How can you cook in there?
07:48There's just no way.
07:49I haven't got loads of pigs.
07:51It's very, very cluttered.
07:53There's just too much going on.
07:56Like, why is there a Buddha?
07:59Oh, I love me little Buddha.
08:01The clutter, the smell, the amount of stuff that's just in the way.
08:06No-one can even see what they can do with it.
08:08It's a lovely space.
08:10We just need, I think, to get rid of the clutter and the dog smell,
08:14and you'll be good to go.
08:15There we have it.
08:17Yeah, we have it.
08:17And we are immune to the dog smell, aren't we?
08:20These people here, they've said clutter and smell.
08:23Right.
08:24So they're the first two things you must deal with
08:26to give this property any chance of being sold.
08:31In this area, there are currently 17 properties on the market.
08:34Are there?
08:35Yeah.
08:35That means there's a lot of competition,
08:37so we have to get some fresh eyes on this.
08:39And the only way we're going to do that
08:40is if we listen to what these potential buyers have said
08:43and if you listen to what Stuart and I are saying
08:45about how we can make this more appealing.
08:47OK.
08:49Some of the comments.
08:50It's been a bit of a wake-up call.
08:52We've been going for this for 12 months now,
08:55and we're hoping it's going to come to an end,
08:57and we'll be able to sell the house.
08:59Yeah.
09:00At last.
09:00At last.
09:01Got to say, it's a really cute cottage.
09:08It is.
09:08Three viewings in 12 months, that's not good enough.
09:11So let's see what we can do.
09:12Yeah.
09:13And hang on one second.
09:14Can you smell that?
09:16Fresh air?
09:16Oh, yeah.
09:17No wet dog.
09:18The second home we're tackling this week
09:22is across the border in Liverpool.
09:24The average house price here is just over £215,000,
09:29and they take around 50 days to sell.
09:31But that's not the case with the house we're here to see.
09:35This 1920s property has some unusual features.
09:38A downstairs bathroom without a door,
09:41unfastered kitchen walls, limited furniture,
09:44and it's pink.
09:46Very pink.
09:47Something tells me the owner of this property
09:49is not shy of colour.
09:52This is my Chanel jacket.
09:54This jacket goes at anything.
09:59I love this house because every room,
10:02it's a good one of me.
10:07After a whirlwind romance,
10:09Michelle met her prince, Steve,
10:11and they recently tied the knot.
10:13Never thought to get married.
10:15Family never thought to get married.
10:17Well, I just knew I'm going to start getting into tears.
10:21It's like time, it's here, isn't it?
10:23You know, when you find the one,
10:25it makes you feel tech-complete.
10:26Do you know what I mean?
10:27This house, what I can say, is full of flowers, hearts, butterflies.
10:34That's what every room's about.
10:37It's a princess home.
10:38King to start their newlywed bliss in a new home,
10:43Michelle and Steve have removed a lot of stuff from the property
10:46and are spitting their time between here and Steve's.
10:50Hoping for a quick sale,
10:52they priced their house at a competitive £140,000.
10:56But despite being on the market for seven months,
10:58it's only had three viewings and no offers.
11:02We just don't know why we're not getting the views.
11:06That's our main concern.
11:08We don't know why we're not getting the views.
11:11Hopefully, we can help and get them the viewings they so desperately need.
11:15Michelle, Steve, from the outside, standard terrace house.
11:23But then we come through the front door.
11:29There is quite a lot of pink in here.
11:31I know.
11:32Yeah.
11:33I can live in a doll's house.
11:35I'm not in a doll's house.
11:36Right, OK.
11:37I'll do anything for Michelle, so it doesn't matter.
11:39Oh, I love that.
11:40That is sweet.
11:41Newlywed Bliss may be leading this pair
11:44to view the house through rose-dinted glasses.
11:47Time to see what our straight-talking property enthusiasts make of it.
11:51Let's have a little look at what the prospective buyers
11:54have said about your house.
12:00Wow.
12:00This house is very pink, isn't it?
12:03Oh, God.
12:04They've got the Live, Laugh, Love wallpaper.
12:07That needs to go.
12:07Is that a bench just covered with some towels?
12:13There's just cabinets everywhere.
12:15There's, like, no furniture, really.
12:17It's very dead.
12:18Like, there's nothing in here.
12:21Yeah, I don't know what's happened to the cupboard.
12:23I'm wondering why they fell off the wall.
12:25Because nobody wants me making a toasty.
12:29We sat about this.
12:30Or having a bath.
12:31Either.
12:32Look at the...
12:33Oh, God.
12:33...tiles.
12:34It's not grass, it's weeds.
12:36No, you'd think it was grass, looking out the window.
12:38You'd think, oh, I've got a lovely lord.
12:43Oh, wow.
12:44It's like if Mariah Carey was on a budget.
12:47There's open-plan living, and then there's open-plan living.
12:51This is taking it to the next level.
12:52Let me show it.
12:55There we have it.
12:56I sit on the toilet and talk to you in the kitchen.
13:01We're married now.
13:02It doesn't matter.
13:04So, all these negatives, we have to take away.
13:07We don't want to give anybody any excuses.
13:10We've got rid of some stuff, because when we do finally move out, we want to start again.
13:15But by the sounds of things, you've maybe gone too far, because now there's actually not enough stuff here.
13:19Not maybe.
13:20Yeah.
13:20Right, that would not be my fault, then.
13:22We are here to help you get this house ready to be freshly seen with, hopefully, a sale.
13:29Oh, amazing.
13:30Take care.
13:30Thanks very much.
13:31Have a nice day.
13:32Bye, now.
13:35Scarlett and I will take on one house each, with two days and a £3,000 budget to make them sellable.
13:41And, of course, as his little sister, I want to do a better job than him.
13:47Scarlett, we have two houses that need a lot of work.
13:50Yes.
13:51Which house are we going to get?
13:53All right, let's do it.
13:56Oh!
13:58So, I have got Sarah and Alan's cluttered cottage.
14:02Which means I have Michelle and Stephen's pink house.
14:06This is going to be a lot of work.
14:08It is.
14:09But I am determined to get that house sold for them so they can move to the coast and enjoy a new life there.
14:15Listen, we're here to help.
14:16We're here to offer our expertise and our know-how.
14:19Correct.
14:19So, let's do this.
14:20We got it.
14:21Stuart and I are on a mission to help two properties achieve the sale their owners desperately need.
14:39Stuart is taking on this extraordinary pink property in Liverpool.
14:43They have taken the word minimalist to different levels.
14:46And I'm tackling Sarah and Alan's quirky cottage in Wrexham.
14:50This is cluttered.
14:53There is a lot to do.
14:55Now, I want to help Sarah and Alan get this place sold so they can get out of their nightmare and I want to help them realise their dream of living by the coast.
15:03When our property enthusiasts viewed this cottage, they were overwhelmed by the jumbled kitchen, the dog smell and the huge amount of clutter.
15:14It's literally like a charity shop that's just exploded across this entire room.
15:18Yeah.
15:19And it smells.
15:19Can you smell it?
15:20Yeah, I can smell dog.
15:21The main mission here is to unveil the beautiful cottage hiding under all the mess.
15:29So, I'm making a start on Sarah's extensive clothing collection.
15:34How do you think you'll feel once all of this has been cleared away?
15:38I don't know, actually, you know, because it's a long time since I've seen the wall.
15:42It'll be weird, won't it?
15:43It will be.
15:44I'm so used to being surrounded by stuff.
15:46Yeah.
15:47It's probably going to feel quite bare.
15:48Yeah.
15:49It will.
15:50Yeah.
15:50I've already noticed there's tags on this one, so that means you've not worn it.
15:54There's tags on lots of them, actually.
15:55So, what are you buying for?
15:57Have you got so many clothes already?
15:58Well, I just love clothes, so...
16:01Sarah loves shopping.
16:04She would buy clothes every day the rest of her life, I think.
16:08Isn't that right, too, Sarah?
16:10But, no.
16:12Well, maybe.
16:14I think you are what they call a shopaholic.
16:16I might be a shopaholic.
16:17I will admit that.
16:18I'm a shopaholic.
16:19But we've made a start.
16:22Yes.
16:23Got a long way to go.
16:24Oh, my God, there's loads there, isn't there?
16:26Yeah.
16:26But it's just about taking that first step, and we've done it.
16:29Let's go and get some more boxes.
16:30Okay.
16:31After you.
16:32Right.
16:35Sarah's clothes and collections are taking over this house.
16:39Rooms crowned with your personal possessions look smaller than they really are.
16:42So, this is a great opportunity for Sarah to clear some things before moving, either reselling or gifting to charity.
16:54Another box in there.
16:55We're getting there.
16:56This period cottage has two bedrooms, a mature garden, and plenty of original features that should be appealing to buyers, but at the moment, it's completely covered in flowers, clothes, and clutter.
17:10To get the problems fixed in two days, I've got some extra pairs of hands to help, including stylist Natalie and handyman Scott.
17:21There's a lot to do here.
17:24So, clothes, thank goodness, pretty much gone.
17:27We need to get the smell out of here, the kitchen.
17:30We need to try and fix some of the doors.
17:31We've got to try and sort those things out and just basically bring back the charm this cottage once had.
17:36All we have to do is just make some really small changes.
17:39We don't have to spend a lot of money.
17:40This cottage has so many beautiful features, and they're just not being enhanced with all the clutter, and so we want to strip that all back.
17:46You're up for the challenge?
17:47I'm up for it.
17:47You know I'm always up for a challenge.
17:49Of course you are.
17:49We've got this.
17:49Hands in.
17:49Of course you are.
17:50Let's do it.
17:50Team Scarlet all the way.
17:51Let's go.
17:51Yes, team.
17:55Clutter is the least of my problems, Scarlet.
17:58This house has barely anything in it.
18:00It's empty, soulless, and pink.
18:03It's going to be a big challenge for me and my design team.
18:07Carpenter Tibby and stylist Lucy.
18:11We don't want this house to look like a little doll's house, do we?
18:14No, which it does at the moment.
18:15It does, it does.
18:16This house is unloved.
18:18Now, for me, each room, it needs an identity.
18:22Dining room.
18:23Yes.
18:23Yes.
18:23The moment there's nowhere to sit and eat your dinner.
18:25Now, what I cannot understand, I get my head around, is the bathroom has no door, and there's a window between the bathroom and the kitchen.
18:32That needs to be addressed.
18:34No privacy.
18:34It's all about fixing the superficial defects.
18:37Yeah.
18:37So, where we're standing now, it's a good-sized garden.
18:41This is a great selling point, right?
18:42Absolutely.
18:43Got a lot of boxes that need to be ticked, and there's no time like the present.
18:46Let's crack on.
18:46Let's go.
18:48Michelle and Steve's two-bedroom, 1920s house has been stagnant on the market for over seven months.
18:54This home's loud pink and soulless decor is the first thing that greets you, so we're going to start by tackling the living room.
19:03Steve, Michelle, first and foremost, I did not expect you to be in the pink high-vis.
19:11There's some hairs.
19:11It does match the house.
19:13It does.
19:14But I want to talk about this in the living room.
19:17Do you want to keep this?
19:19No.
19:20It's a nightmare of my life.
19:21As much as it's killing me now.
19:23Steve?
19:24Yeah?
19:24Do the honours.
19:25Right, no problem.
19:27Oh, God.
19:29With the dressing table gone, it's time to start dialing down the pink with a quick and simple remedy.
19:36Emulsion paint straight on top of the wallpaper.
19:39Cheap, quick, and transformational.
19:41This room looks totally different.
19:45It's a lot lighter.
19:46If it wasn't, wasn't married to Michelle, I'd marry you, because this is what I've been wanting since we've been together, so...
19:54Yeah.
19:54I always knew it would be easier for Steve than you.
19:58This was your house.
19:59Yeah.
20:00For 20-plus years?
20:01Yeah, 20-plus years, yeah.
20:02So you've got a lot of memories in here.
20:05I've accepted that we're going on to new beginnings and adventures.
20:10Yeah.
20:10Before you have a change of heart...
20:12Yeah.
20:13Carry on painting.
20:14Yeah, I'm painting.
20:15This is my heart.
20:17Next, I want to get some storage in this room.
20:20Always a feature buyers look for.
20:22Michelle had stuffed an ill-fitting dresser across the alcove, but Tibby is making much better use of this space, creating a smart and stylish built-in cupboard and shelves.
20:32That looks 100 times better than the dressing table.
20:39And also, it's somewhere to put the TV.
20:41It's not been painted yet.
20:43No.
20:43And it still looks better.
20:44That's great.
20:46Tibby, love your work.
20:48Cheers.
20:48Back in North Wales, Sarah and Alan's cottage could be cosy, but at the moment, it's anything but.
21:00Their living dining room is separated by two archways, but currently, one is blocked with a bookcase, making each of the rooms full dark and dingy.
21:08Yeah, we're going.
21:12I feel like I just need to...
21:13Yeah, kicking.
21:14Get it there.
21:15One thing I know that can really help sell a property, let there be light.
21:20Yes!
21:21Ah!
21:22Look at that.
21:23Amazing.
21:24Oh, my gosh, the amount of light.
21:26Yeah.
21:26That instantly floods through into this room.
21:29Next, we get to work on brightening up this cottage with a quick paint job.
21:35Oh, Nat, I love this colour.
21:37Isn't it beautiful?
21:39Yeah, see, this is what I think of when I think of a cute cottage.
21:42Really traditional.
21:43Yeah.
21:44So the wallpaper is going.
21:46Yeah.
21:47There's no need to strip all that back.
21:48You can just paint over the top and you get a fresh new look without all the added expense.
21:52Yeah, I hear you.
21:53And especially if you're renovating a house to sell.
21:57The cost of just a few tins of paint can instantly transform the feel of your house and allow prospective buyers to see themselves living in your home.
22:05It's an easy fit.
22:09Lovely jubbly.
22:10That looks so good.
22:12I know, it looks amazing.
22:13Honestly, the flow through the two rooms, the sight lines.
22:17Yeah.
22:18Look, look, look.
22:18What about this?
22:21Perfect.
22:21As well as changing the colour scheme, adding a day-day rail can help give the illusion of space by lengthening the walls and making ceilings seem higher, as well as adding to the cottage's period character.
22:35Look at that, then.
22:36Look at that already.
22:37So simple.
22:38So simple.
22:39So quick.
22:39Cost effective.
22:41Yeah.
22:42Just gives a little bit of something to the wall.
22:45At a cost of around £5 per two metre length, this feature gives you maximum impact at a minimal cost.
22:54That laser literally looks like it's about to cut through your face.
22:57I know, yeah.
22:58Yours is going through your teeth.
22:59Is it?
22:59Nice, nice.
23:00Natalie is getting to grips on tackling another issue our local property enthusiasts hated, the smell.
23:10OK.
23:12I have got to get these sofas clean, and I don't know when they were last hoovered.
23:17I'm going to.
23:18I'm going to go in.
23:19We've already professionally cleaned the carpet, but smells can linger on other soft furnishings, too.
23:25It's dog.
23:26It's just dog.
23:27It's like tangy.
23:28I'm going to go in.
23:30Carla!
23:32Hello, yeah.
23:34Oh, what?
23:35Look at this.
23:37So we need to give the sofas a really good deep clean.
23:39We're going to use some bicarbonate of soda.
23:41OK.
23:42Sprinkle it over, and then hoover it up again, and hope that that can neutralise some of the odour.
23:48Bicarbonate of soda is alkaline, so when it comes into contact with acidic odours, it neutralises and stamps them out.
23:54The longer you can leave it, the more effective it will be.
23:59A bad-smelling property puts off almost 80% of buyers, so if you've got pets, then it might just be worth trying out this trick.
24:08We'll just have time for the best.
24:10In Liverpool, I've headed outside.
24:18Gardens are consistently one of the most searched-for assets on property websites, so it's worth thinking about how your home and garden complement each other.
24:26Now, if anybody knows me, they know that I do not like gardening.
24:32This isn't me, but I've got a spade.
24:35It was a mess, and it would put buyers off.
24:38We need to make this house sellable.
24:41Filling your borders with plants doesn't have to be expensive, and the little splash of colour goes a long way.
24:47I'm going to take credit for this one.
24:49It's the best one.
24:52I'll make a gardener out of you yet.
24:54As well as bringing colour into the garden, Tibby and I will also be building a DIY seating area to really make this space stand out.
25:03I'll do one at a time, I think.
25:04One at a time?
25:05Guns on you.
25:06Come here, give me another one.
25:07Give me another one, then.
25:10All right, I'm good.
25:11Good manager.
25:12Yeah, I'm good, I'm good.
25:13I'll be back in a minute.
25:14We're making great progress in both houses, and after lots of hard graft, we're well on our way to getting these unsellable homes looking their best.
25:23Lucy, you're a clean freak, aren't you?
25:25Always cleaning, I love it.
25:31There's no way Stuart is working as hard as me.
25:34I'm old school.
25:35That's cheating.
25:36Coming to the future.
25:38You could be running out of time.
25:42Yesterday, that will work.
25:44Today's been a good day.
25:46My hands are grey and dirty, my lips are dry, I'm filthy.
25:51We've worked hard.
25:52We've still got a lot to do, but progress is good.
25:56Look, we push on, we kick on, and we go again.
25:59Scarlet and I are transforming two homes that just can't sell.
26:14She's transforming a cluttered cottage in Wrexham.
26:17There's far too many pigs and too much cluttered in this kitchen.
26:21Whilst I'm in Liverpool, de-pinking a two-bed terraced house.
26:25Oh, God.
26:29They've got the live, laugh, love wallpaper.
26:31After getting some honest feedback from our local house enthusiasts, with one house each, we have two days and just £3,000 to show that you don't have to spend a lot of time or money to dress your home to sell it quickly.
26:44I can see the size of it now.
26:48At Sarah and Alan's Wrexham bungalow, we're stripping back the overbearing patterns that were making the main bedroom a garish nightmare.
26:59So, we've got the old wallpaper, which, as vibrant as it is, doesn't really give that calm cottage feel.
27:08So, we've gone for this nice patterned leaf wallpaper, got the colours that are going to just tie around the rest of the house, and it's just a lot more of a calm, zen film.
27:21Using a patterned wallpaper in cool colours such as blue and green can help make a small room feel larger, and a lighter colour helps reflect light to brighten up the room.
27:34Sarah and Alan have called this house home for over 20 years, but rather than a sanctuary, it's become a burden.
27:40It has been a while now that this house has been on the market. It must be difficult for the two of you.
27:46It has been. It has been depressing, hasn't it?
27:48Yeah, but how can I explain it? It's put us more apart from each other than we were before.
27:53Yeah.
27:54Why is that, do you think?
27:55You're getting more annoyed with each other because the house isn't going, is it?
27:58Yeah.
27:59So, it has been quite depressing, hasn't it, really?
28:01Yeah.
28:02And we thought we were stuck here, didn't we?
28:04Yeah.
28:04Forever.
28:05Forever.
28:05He's happier today, though, aren't he?
28:06Oh, I'm a lot more happier.
28:08Oh, that's cool.
28:08Yeah, I'm a lot more happier to see it coming closer.
28:11See it coming together?
28:12Yeah.
28:13Yeah.
28:13We are so close, and the first thing, once this house is done, is that you need to get that photographer around from the estate agents.
28:19Once these photos are up and people see the beautiful cottage that you have here, with no clutter, no clothes.
28:25And no pigs.
28:26No pigs.
28:27Then hopefully we'll have people queuing up around the corner to get in, viewing this place.
28:31Yeah, I get so.
28:33Shall we get this up on the wall?
28:34Okey-dokey, we'll have a go.
28:35Great.
28:35Alan, I've got to say, you're doing a great job watching there.
28:40I'm expert.
28:41Yeah.
28:41You are very good at that.
28:43I've had years of experience.
28:47In Liverpool, at Michelle and Steve's pink doll's house, their kitchen had fallen into disrepair.
28:52So we've been updating this room.
28:57By refreshing the tiles, mending the cabinets, and fixing the unplastered walls, to turn this room into the heart of the home.
29:05I don't feel sad that the pinks go, but I thought I'd be dead, like, well, I'm all right.
29:10I'm all right.
29:11I'm getting there.
29:12I'm getting there.
29:13One problem in urgent need of fixing is the window in Michelle and Steve's indecently exposed downstairs bathroom.
29:23Should fit in your shoe.
29:25Yeah.
29:26I trust you to be.
29:27You trust me?
29:27I trust you, yeah.
29:28Like a glove.
29:33Don't press it too hard.
29:34It's got one.
29:37Nice.
29:38Yeah.
29:39Privacy.
29:39Privacy.
29:40At last.
29:41We've got to get this feeling more like a modern bathroom and less like a public toilet.
29:46So, as well as the window, Carpenter Tibby has a smart solution for that missing door.
29:52Tibby, Tibby, the toilet is very close to where the door is, right?
29:54Exactly, yeah.
29:55And I think that's the reason why they took the door off.
29:57Not right, is it?
29:57Not right, no.
29:58And potential buyers, did they want to see that?
30:00That's a no, no.
30:00That's a no.
30:01Because you need privacy in the bathroom, definitely.
30:03As you know, we're very tight for space.
30:04Yes.
30:05So, if I fold in door, and when it's so open, it's still a lot more spacious as well.
30:12With privacy restored, Tibby and I are back outside, starting work on a show-stopping garden seating area.
30:20Hey, Stu.
30:22Listen, I love the idea of using pallets.
30:24These pallets, they look great.
30:27They're actually printing pallets, and all in all, it's cost around £50 to £60.
30:32For all of this?
30:34For all of these pallets, yeah.
30:36Yeah, you don't need much of a gap behind.
30:38You're not going to be walking around it that often.
30:40Yep.
30:40So, that's fine, I'd say.
30:41Making your own pallet furniture might seem daunting, but it's one of the more simple DIY jobs you can do, and on a budget too.
30:48The middle of the pallet line needs to be in line with...
30:52In the middle of that.
30:53That, yeah, of the paving.
30:56Nice.
30:57You know what?
30:58You could sit in the summer, good conversation.
31:02That's it.
31:03And transform garden.
31:04Perfect.
31:05And it's not just the back garden that was in need of a makeover.
31:12When you walk up to a house, the first impression is paramount.
31:17It's so, so important.
31:19This is a reflection of what's inside.
31:23And if you can't be bothered to look after the front of your house, why are you going to be bothered to look after the inside of it?
31:28Yeah.
31:28Yeah?
31:29We're going to de-weed and get rid of this.
31:32Start as you mean to go on.
31:33There you go.
31:34You can pick.
31:36Even if you're not green-fingered, spending a bit of time sprucing up the front of your home will massively improve its curb appeal.
31:47Michelle and Steve's house was bare, soulless and pink.
31:51And because of that, only had three viewings in seven months.
31:56And prospective buyers only book viewings if they like what they see in the photos.
32:01Estate agents' pictures are so important.
32:04It can literally be the difference between a potential buyer looking and walking away or looking and booking a viewing.
32:12A big turn-off for buyers is an untidy home with 73% of house hunters reluctant to even view a messy-looking property.
32:20The only way you're going to sell your house is if people walk through the front door.
32:25That can only happen if they like the pictures that they see.
32:29Your house has to stand out.
32:31If it doesn't, you won't sell it.
32:33Up to three-quarters of buyers say they're actually put off by a listing with poor-quality photos, so getting your images right is key.
32:45Be there when they're taking their photos.
32:48Look at the pictures that they take.
32:49If you don't like it, get them to take it again.
32:52You have to make sure that you showcase your house, and who knows the house better than you?
32:58No-one.
33:00Help the estate agent.
33:01In Wrexham, Sarah and Alan's kitchen is far from making a good impression, with broken cabinets and clutter on every surface.
33:14But with just a little paint and a few screws, this kitchen can be transformed.
33:18Kitchens are such an important part of any home.
33:23You don't need to spend a huge amount of money.
33:25This is a few hours, a tub of paint.
33:28And just by renovating an old kitchen, you can add up to 7% onto the value of your home.
33:35That's good.
33:36As well as painting the cupboard doors, respraying the existing door handles is a quick and instant way to update a tired kitchen.
33:45Do you want to get one of those screws in there?
33:47OK, once this is done, literally the kitchen is pretty much sorted.
33:55Look at that.
33:58This kitchen now looks like an inviting, functional kitchen.
34:03I just love it. It looks ace.
34:04And for, what, about £100 for the pot of paint, spray for the door handles, new light fitting, and a good spruce up.
34:11A full transformation for less than £100.
34:13It's unreal.
34:15Right, come on, team!
34:19In Liverpool, we've brought back privacy to the bathroom, warmth to the living room, and thoroughly transformed the front and back gardens.
34:28And in Wrexham, we've got through 12 and a half litres of paint, three pots of bicarbonate of soda for the smell, and a major decluttering, and dismantling operation.
34:42Yes!
34:43Whee!
34:45Scarlett and I have both had just two days to turn around the fortunes of these properties and the future of their owners.
34:52There?
34:53Yeah.
34:54Are we done?
34:55We're done.
34:56Let's see, let's see.
34:57Yes!
34:57And tomorrow, the local property enthusiasts will give us their opinions before these houses get relisted for sale.
35:09We've done it.
35:10I can't believe that.
35:12We have actually done it.
35:13I know, it's crazy.
35:14It is not the same house at all.
35:16Completely different.
35:16Complete transformation.
35:17There's no way Sarah and Alan's not going to love this place, and there's no way prospective buyers are not going to come in and think,
35:22I can see myself living there.
35:23Fingers crossed.
35:24Now, can we get to the bar?
35:25100%.
35:26Brilliant.
35:26Please.
35:26Let's do it.
35:26I'll see you.
35:27Follow me.
35:37In Liverpool and Wrexham.
35:39...to why their properties weren't selling.
35:44It's literally like...
35:46...no one's thieves, very pink two-bed terrace in Liverpool.
35:53After seven months and only three viewings, the lack of interest was stopping them from moving on to their newlywed home.
36:01But in just two days, and on a limited budget, we've worked our magic.
36:06Oh, this is good.
36:07Time to show Scarlett what we've done.
36:09Stuart, I am very much looking forward to seeing what you've managed to do with this place.
36:17We've pretty much changed and transformed the entire house.
36:20Really?
36:21Yes.
36:21All right, come on then.
36:22Before, Michelle and Steve's home was saturated in pink, feeling more like a doll's house than a place you could call home.
36:31And with little to no furniture, the living and dining room felt bare and soulless.
36:36Wow, I like this cabinet.
36:48That was a Tibby special, that was.
36:51Now, a neutral colour scheme runs throughout the downstairs.
36:55And with the addition of practical furniture, each room has a purpose.
36:59There's still a nod to pink, but not a huge amount of pink, and I now feel as though I'm walking into a living room.
37:06Exactly. It's a designated room now, right?
37:08Yeah, this makes sense.
37:10Oh, I love this.
37:12This is really cute.
37:14I now know this is a dining room, because there's actually a dining table in here.
37:17Yeah, yeah.
37:17I think this is an appealing space now.
37:19Absolutely.
37:22Michelle's kitchen was empty with missing cabinets, dated tiles, and a window overlooking the bathroom.
37:29Now, the tiles have been painted, the cupboards updated, and the intrusive window gone.
37:38The addition of a breakfast bar has transformed this once drab kitchen into the heart of the home.
37:44Oh, okay.
37:46This now feels like a kitchen.
37:50That's clever.
37:50We've covered the glass with just a bit of MDF, and we've painted it with black chalk paint.
37:56That's really clever.
37:57Yeah, so now, when you're in the kitchen, having a croissant, you don't have to worry about who's in the toilet.
38:03Correct.
38:06The dated bathroom was not only overlooked by the kitchen, but missing a door.
38:12With new flooring and a fresh coat of paint, the bathroom feels modern, and with the addition of the bi-fold door, finally private.
38:20Upstairs, Michelle's old bedroom was overrun with slogans, stickers, and pink.
38:27Now, it's a peaceful retreat, showcasing this home's full potential.
38:32Oh, this is cute.
38:34I really like it.
38:37Well done.
38:41Outside, the garden was an uninspiring concrete jungle.
38:47Now, it's completely transformed, with new planting, and crucially, no more weeds.
38:58Tibby has built a simple seating area at the end of the garden, creating a focal point and showing off the garden's potential and size.
39:05Ooh.
39:09Okay.
39:10I'm looking out, and I'm seeing that section at the back.
39:13This is lovely.
39:15A low-cost way of having an outside seating area.
39:19It is.
39:20It's a great selling point.
39:21It really is.
39:22I'm confident in our transformation, and I hope our local property enthusiasts agree.
39:30This once-pink palace is now a cosy haven, fit for any family.
39:35But first, let's see what Michelle and Steve think.
39:39I've got to say, I was really impressed with the transformation.
39:42It's like walking into Dallas.
39:45So, obviously, we did have a few people come in and give their honest opinion on what they thought of the house.
39:50They have come back since it's been redone.
39:53All right, yeah.
39:53Okay.
39:54Are you ready?
39:56I can't wait to see this.
39:57That's all, mate.
39:58Come on, let's have a look.
40:00Oh, wow.
40:01Oh, wow.
40:02Look at this.
40:02That is such a change.
40:04Wow.
40:05I really like how the living room is a living room.
40:07Like, it's nice, peaceful vibes.
40:09Like, you can chill in here.
40:10I really like it.
40:12Yeah, I could see myself sitting here with a night by the two is cooking.
40:15We've got a door.
40:16Oh!
40:18Oh, my word.
40:20I love it.
40:22This looks mint.
40:24I love it.
40:24And the stick has gone.
40:25And the butterflies have gone.
40:26There's still a little pop of pink, but not too much now, is there?
40:29Yeah, I could see myself living in the house really later.
40:33I'd put, like, full asking price on their house.
40:35It's quite nice, yeah.
40:38There we go.
40:39Hey, promise me...
40:41Yeah.
40:41...that this will stay as it is.
40:43I will.
40:43Promise you.
40:44This is going as hell.
40:45Yeah.
40:45I'm pinkie, promise you, this is going as hell.
40:47And you can move on with your married life.
40:48Promise you.
40:49Yeah, pinky promise.
40:50Pinky promise.
40:51Okay, cool.
40:53We do think we are one step closer to our dream property.
41:00We just need this house sold now.
41:02Sarah and Alan's bungalow had been on the market for 12 months and had just three viewings.
41:14Their marriage at breaking point, the couple were desperate to sell their house so they could move on to their happy place by the sea.
41:20What have you got in store for me, Scarlett?
41:24I am so excited for you to see what is no longer a cluttered cottage, but a beautiful, cosy abode.
41:32Oh, really?
41:32Yes.
41:33So it's risen like a phoenix on the flames.
41:35Oh, it really has.
41:39Just a few days ago, this cottage was filled floor to ceiling with clutter.
41:44And the main bedroom, a hodgepodge of patterns.
41:50After a lot of hard work removing Sarah's clothes and the clutter, the house now feels bright and airy.
41:56And by choosing one colour scheme, the bedroom is now a haven of relaxation.
42:04Scarlet, Scarlet, Scarlet.
42:07Look at this.
42:08The clothes have gone.
42:11And the day-day rail?
42:12New day-day rail that got put up.
42:14Didn't take very long at all, didn't cost too much.
42:16So you spent money on smaller things that don't cost a lot but have a big impact.
42:21Exactly that.
42:22I am shocked at the difference in this room.
42:26So far so good, Scarlet.
42:29All right, let's keep going.
42:31Before, the dining room was dark and uninviting and the kitchen awkward and cramped.
42:40With the bookcase removed, the room is now flooded with light.
42:45And the kitchen has been transformed into a functional space with repaired and repainted cabinets.
42:53Oh, yeah.
42:53Again, you've maintained that cottage feel.
42:57Mm-hm.
42:57It's really nice, Scarlet.
42:59Yep.
43:00The kitchen looks a lot better.
43:02Yes.
43:03But we put the doors back on after we primed them, painted them, sprayed the handles.
43:08So what, they're the same handles that you sprayed?
43:11Same handles.
43:11A lot of clever little tricks done there.
43:13Exactly that.
43:15No one wants to spend a fortune doing up their house just to sell it.
43:19But simple solutions like these can instantly change the look and feel of a space.
43:25Sarah and Alan's living room felt busy and chaotic.
43:28Now, it's been transformed into a relaxing and calm space.
43:36Oh, yes.
43:38Scarlet, well done.
43:39Take a seat.
43:40Take a seat, Stuart.
43:41Well done.
43:41Look at this.
43:42Nice.
43:45It really is good.
43:47It's comfortable.
43:48It's cosy.
43:49It's inviting.
43:51It's all the things that it wasn't before.
43:53Literally, Stuart, this has been done with mainly a lot of paint.
43:57And look at it.
43:58I'm so glad Stuart is impressed, and I hope our property enthusiasts are too.
44:04But first, it's time to catch up with Sarah and Alan and see what they think.
44:08Sarah and Alan.
44:09Hello.
44:10Are you happy with the transformation of your cottage?
44:12We are definitely.
44:13It's fantastic.
44:14I love it.
44:15Yeah.
44:15Delighted.
44:16I can't believe.
44:17Oh, it looks.
44:17Oh, definitely it looks.
44:18Yeah.
44:19I'm not going to live in it, actually, because it's too posh to live in it.
44:20It's too posh to live in it.
44:22We really want to know what the house hunters that initially came now think of it.
44:26So let's have a little look and see.
44:30Wow, what a gorgeous main bedroom.
44:33I absolutely love the green.
44:35I absolutely love the wallpaper.
44:37I really like the rail.
44:38It's nice and spacious as well.
44:40Yeah, I definitely could see myself living here.
44:42I think it's much more appealing than it was before.
44:45I love it.
44:46It no longer smells as well.
44:47It smells lovely.
44:48This open plan is really, really, really good.
44:52What I love, it's gone from drab to fab.
44:54And the colours are just perfect.
44:57Yeah.
44:57There we go.
44:59Nice.
45:00Wow.
45:00Yeah.
45:01What a difference.
45:02Yes.
45:03Huge difference.
45:04When I was last here, you said that you'd lost hope.
45:09Yeah.
45:09You did.
45:09Definitely lost hope.
45:10Definitely lost hope.
45:11Now I'm on the other end of the scale, and I think they're going to be queuing to get into this house and wanting to buy it.
45:16I think I would buy it myself if I didn't do it here.
45:19One thing I need you to promise me, Sarah, is you're not going to buy any more clothes.
45:25Okay.
45:26Promise.
45:27For how long?
45:28A week.
45:29I'll tell you what, we've done good.
45:37We've got happy homeowners, happy house hunters.
45:41What we've managed to achieve is out of this world.
45:44Both of these houses look great.
45:47Yeah.
45:48And both are now in a much better position to be sold.
45:51Absolutely.
45:51Sarah and Alan have already had two viewings and are happier in their clutter-free cottage.
46:03And within just weeks of relisting, Michelle and Steve finally sold their house for the full asking price.
46:11Next time, we're in West Sussex.
46:14Taking on a polka dot disaster.
46:16I don't know what I have to say about this horrible, horrible room.
46:19And a drab period property, not living up to its premium price.
46:23No way would I spend 1.3 million on this.
46:26Both are in serious need of a sale.
46:28Let's rush, rush, rush, let's get it done.
46:29Which must happen soon.
46:31We're just getting desperate now.
46:33We're running out of time to sell it.
46:34There's a lot at stake here.
46:40They're a 24-7 enterprise and they're getting even bigger.
46:43Behind the scenes of the holidays on the waves.
46:45New super cruisers, life at sea at 8 o'clock tomorrow.
46:48Then back for some fancy dinner this Friday at 10.
46:51Good food, good company, maybe a kiss and cuddle at the end with first dates.
46:55Next, can you shift a £2 million property on the socials?
46:58They're giving it a go.
46:59Britain's most expensive houses coming up.
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