- 6 hours ago
- #auctionhouse
- #renovationproject
- #sarahbeeny
Welcome to the first episode of "Help! I Bought It at Auction with Sarah Beeny"! Join Sarah as she dives into the exciting world of auction properties, uncovering hidden gems and the challenges that come with them.
This episode explores the thrill of finding a bargain and the potential pitfalls of buying unseen. Discover what it takes to transform a neglected property into a dream home, and learn valuable tips for navigating the auction process.
Sarah shares her insights on the renovation potential of seemingly unlovable spaces and the creative solutions needed to bring them back to life. Get ready for a journey filled with inspiration, practical advice, and the satisfaction of a successful auction buy.
#AuctionHouse #RenovationProject #SarahBeeny
This episode explores the thrill of finding a bargain and the potential pitfalls of buying unseen. Discover what it takes to transform a neglected property into a dream home, and learn valuable tips for navigating the auction process.
Sarah shares her insights on the renovation potential of seemingly unlovable spaces and the creative solutions needed to bring them back to life. Get ready for a journey filled with inspiration, practical advice, and the satisfaction of a successful auction buy.
#AuctionHouse #RenovationProject #SarahBeeny
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Let's get on with the auction today.
00:03235, 240.
00:04Every year, tens of thousands of properties
00:07are sold at auction.
00:09Meredith Bidder, well done.
00:10From modest two-up, two-downs to waterfront mansions.
00:14We are throwing the kitchen sink at this now.
00:19More and more first-time buyers are seeing it
00:22as their golden ticket onto the property ladder.
00:25Oh, it's so to me!
00:26Woo!
00:28But these quick buys are often far from perfect.
00:32Hiding some nasty surprises.
00:35You haven't been in?
00:35No, not yet.
00:36Hey, let's go in.
00:38I'm Sarah Beeney, and I've been buying, building,
00:40and transforming homes for 35 years.
00:43And I'm fascinated by the world of auctions.
00:46In this series, I'll be offering a dose of realism.
00:49We've got all these lovely, flamey ideas
00:51that I'm pouring water on at that.
00:53As brave new owners take their homes
00:55from sterling to diamonds.
00:57I will be moving in at the end of this month.
01:01What I'll be moving in to, of course, remains to be seen.
01:05And we'll go behind the scenes of some of the country's biggest auction houses.
01:11Great bidding, guys. Perseverance paid off.
01:13Discovering whether property auctions are a risk too far...
01:18...or a great way to get the home of your dreams.
01:22I am really proud of myself. This is my first home.
01:30This week, every penny's on the line for two couples under pressure.
01:37I see you snapped it.
01:39A 1930s house desperately in need of revival.
01:43Unfortunately, they've discovered that the floor is horrendously rotten.
01:46You suddenly realise the benefit of a contingency.
01:50Which we don't have.
01:52And a Victorian restoration by the sea.
01:55Make it work for you.
01:56Make it a home that you really like being in.
01:59And at a specialist auction house in London.
02:02What a great battle. 237.
02:03Good.
02:04A sail that has the potential to do a huge amount of good.
02:08We're really, really hoping we can get a big result for them today.
02:15First, I'm in Guildford.
02:18Here, the attraction of green spaces and fast commuter links to London
02:22can see a three-bed, semi-detached family home go for in excess of half a million pounds.
02:29Many date from the 1930s suburban building boom.
02:32And this one is urgently in need of renovation.
02:37Bought by social worker Alison and business development manager Michael,
02:41this wasn't part of their plans for them and their two sons, Josh and Lucas.
02:49Nine years ago, they bought their dream home.
02:52It's a home with so many memories and, like, love, because that was our family home.
02:57That was where we had our second son, Joshua.
02:59We spent a lot of money on that, doing it up.
03:01Made it really lovely, lovely house for the kids to bring two boys up in.
03:04And then everything changed.
03:06Yeah.
03:08Liz Truss and her mini budget, unfortunately, spiked the mortgage rate somewhat.
03:13Our mortgage went up by 825 pounds a month.
03:18So, I said to Mike, what is the point in this?
03:21Yes, we love our home, but actually, a home is where we are together.
03:25A home is where we are with our children.
03:28Oh, I'm going to get emotional.
03:32So, let's just move, get rid of this burden and start afresh.
03:36And it happened really quickly.
03:38We went to see quite a few different houses, didn't we?
03:41We went to see a lot of houses.
03:42And then this one came up on the market.
03:45This is our 1930s fixer offer.
03:47I just really can't wait for the project to start.
03:53Alison and Michael bought their house in a nerve-wracking process called a hybrid auction.
03:59In this case, the property goes to the person who can exchange first.
04:03So, there's a race to get your mortgage offer and legal work done as quickly as possible.
04:09If more than one person is able to exchange on the same day, then bidding takes place online.
04:14And whoever is prepared to pay the most gets the property.
04:18We made an offer and literally within six weeks we'd moved in.
04:24Yeah.
04:24It happened so fast.
04:26We sold ours for 600,000 and we purchased this property for 415,000.
04:33We were left with about 95,000.
04:36That's the budget that we now have to be able to do this house up and make it our home.
04:43We are planning to knock down this wall.
04:45This is all going to be open space.
04:49And then the extension will come out here.
04:53We're literally camping out in the house.
04:56We've got bare minimum furniture.
04:58Lucas starts secondary school in September and we don't want the chaos part of the build to be happening when
05:05he's starting secondary school.
05:08It's a tough challenge with the potential to disrupt an important moment for their son Lucas.
05:14And they've already been through so much.
05:19This was really bad, wasn't it?
05:22Yeah, exactly.
05:22It would get to the middle of the month previously when we were in our old house and we would
05:29be, like, putting our food bill on credit cards.
05:33Somebody else had almost made the decision for us.
05:35Yeah.
05:35We weren't able to afford that home anymore.
05:37Yeah.
05:38They had, hadn't they?
05:39But actually, we don't have any sadness about leaving it, do we?
05:43No, no, no.
05:43Oh, my God, this is just such an exciting...
05:46Exactly that.
05:46Brilliant.
05:47Life and opportunity.
05:48You're saying that, you know, it's fine because it's all fine now.
05:51Yeah.
05:51It wasn't fine at the time for either of you, was it?
05:53No, it was tough.
05:54It was tough.
05:54Yeah.
05:54It's going to make us cry now.
05:55Oh, no!
05:58Oh, look.
05:59Big Greek hug.
06:00Big Greek hug.
06:02Tell me the plans for here.
06:03We're going out.
06:04How far at the back?
06:05Uh, six metres out the back.
06:07Blimey.
06:08And seven metres wide.
06:09Yeah.
06:09It's a big extension.
06:10It's a good size extension, yeah.
06:11Yeah, you're kind of doubling the size of, like, all of that space.
06:15Of the whole ground floor, basically, yeah.
06:16Yeah.
06:18To create their new extension, Alison and Michael plan to bring down the wall between the dining
06:24room and kitchen, creating a big open-plan space, which will feature a dining area at
06:29the back and a seating area facing the garden.
06:33But there are other ways they could lay it out.
06:38So, you're going to have this massive space, which is enormous.
06:41And I just think in a family of four, the way to make all that space function better is
06:48to have an engine room where everything goes.
06:52The rest is free to enjoy.
06:54Yeah.
06:54And if you have the sitting room at the back of the space, it's a very light garden.
06:57And you don't really want a telly where you've got lots of light because it's quite difficult
07:01to watch it.
07:02Yeah.
07:02Yeah.
07:02Makes sense.
07:03Makes good sense, yeah.
07:05They could save money by leaving the old kitchen wall where it is, and then turn this
07:10space into a functional utility room.
07:14And swap the dining area with the sofas to create a cosy snug.
07:19Yeah, interesting.
07:20We have to look at the plans a bit more and…
07:21And saves money.
07:23And saves money, yeah.
07:24I mean, I say, the build will be over the moon.
07:26It might mean that we can actually afford the kitchen.
07:28Yes, exactly.
07:29Yeah.
07:32Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and a small family bathroom.
07:38There's going to be four of you sharing that bathroom.
07:40It's going to get quite heavy wear, to be honest.
07:42Yes, it's going to get dirty.
07:44Yes.
07:44So I would be brave about that bathroom, and I would avoid just plain white tiles that
07:51will not make it look bigger.
07:53I'd avoid white grout because it will get dirty, so I'd use a darker grout.
07:58Yeah, that's cool.
07:59That's a really good idea.
08:00Yeah, yeah, yeah.
08:00There's some amazing tiles that you can get, and I would really consider tiling right
08:05up to the ceiling in an amazing pattern.
08:08Just play with it.
08:09Yeah.
08:10It's quite a small space, and you can make it really immersive and really quite exciting.
08:16Yeah.
08:17Also, if I was you, I'd lose the radiator and put an electric underfloor heating in there.
08:21Okay.
08:22Now, electric underfloor heating is brilliant because it's easy to lay.
08:26It'll cost practically nothing because it's a tiny space.
08:28You can do it yourself.
08:29And then you put a thermostat on the outside, and it will just be for that room, and it's
08:34a really nice way of keeping the moisture down, to be honest.
08:37Yes.
08:37We're really struggling with the bathroom, and I think probably left to our own devices,
08:41we might actually end up with a boring...
08:43You're not going to.
08:45So their mission is clear.
08:47Create a living space and bathroom that works well for all the family, starting before
08:53the new school term and without breaking the budget.
08:56Alison and Mike have definitely got resilience.
08:59I mean, they've had some really, really hard times.
09:03And by working together and making a plan, they're in a good place.
09:10But there's a lot of work to do to get to the finishing line.
09:14We need to revisit the plans.
09:15I think that's what the visit has given us.
09:21Coming up, a big buy at auction leads to an epic challenge.
09:27I still feel like, oh my God, what have we done?
09:36250,000, the third and final time.
09:39Your property welcome.
09:41Around the UK are homeowners who bought at auction, and are now hard at work realising
09:47their property dreams.
09:56So we've had the foundations dug.
09:59We've had building control come in and clear us.
10:01We are good to go.
10:02So this is the first day of proper construction.
10:06In Guildford, the building work is in full swing on Alison and Michael's 1930s house renovation.
10:13The stud work is up to create a separate front living room.
10:17And they've decided to push ahead with their original plan to demolish the old kitchen wall
10:22to create a large open-plan living space.
10:281930s houses can be a great buy at auction.
10:32Due to the suburban building boom in the interwar years,
10:36they were often built on generous plots with lots of outside space,
10:40and so the potential to extend.
10:43And built with the modern family in mind,
10:46the living areas and bedrooms are usually well proportioned.
10:49But nearly a hundred years on, they're not always in the best condition.
10:54And some problems won't be visible in a survey.
10:58What lies beneath can create a whole world of pain.
11:02Unfortunately, they've discovered that the floor is horrendously rotten.
11:07You suddenly realise the benefit of a contingency, which we don't have.
11:12If it does start to be more and more of these kind of findings,
11:15that could start to impact our financial situation.
11:19Yeah.
11:20Unexpected repairs can be a drag on a renovation schedule.
11:23So consider adding a 10 to 20% contingency to both time and cost estimates.
11:32For Alison and Michael, the structural work has ended up happening bang in the middle of their son's start at
11:38secondary school.
11:39And the whole family has had to move out.
11:42We're now living with my mum.
11:44And whilst it's great that we're living with her, we'll want to come back as soon as possible.
11:47So any kind of delay, it's just something we could do without really.
11:53Next, I'm heading to the Cornish town of Hale.
11:57A prime location for this dilapidated seven bedroom, 4,500 square foot Victorian mansion.
12:06Treve House dates back to the 1800s and had a past life as a B&B.
12:13Now the challenge is on for entrepreneur Al and bridal beautician Jules to transform it into a dream home for
12:21them and their children, Madison and Freddie.
12:24We met when we were both travel reps in Benidorm.
12:30Leave it there?
12:31Yep.
12:31My supervisor came to me and said that there's two new reps that have arrived in resort and they're going
12:37to come today and you need to choose which one's going to work with you.
12:40Jules was one of those.
12:42Lucky me.
12:43I chose her.
12:45So I sold my business last year.
12:48I was looking for something like a two bed property that I could maybe spend a bit of time on.
12:53And then it all went a little bit pear shaped, didn't it?
12:57We saw this massive great house with scaffolding in the pictures, but there was something about it that attracted us
13:04both.
13:05This auction was a nerve wracking event because I knew that I was playing with real money.
13:10This is hard earned cash at the end of the day.
13:12And every time I pressed the button to bid a little bit more, that was more money that I was
13:17basically committing.
13:18As soon as the hammer went down, you were like, oh my goodness.
13:23I did think, what have we done?
13:25I'm reliving it now.
13:26I know.
13:28I still feel like, oh my God, what have we done?
13:33We prepared ourselves to bid up to the 515 and we were very fortunate that we won it at 510
13:41,000.
13:43There's so much to do.
13:45You're like, Jules, this is horrendous, aren't you?
13:48Well, it is.
13:51The family must move out of their old house in a week, but kids Madison and Freddie have their doubts.
13:57We only just got a flushing toilet, so that would have been fun if we had to move in without
14:01that.
14:03There's no beds.
14:06So what started as an idea to find a two bed doer upper is now a supersized dream home renovation.
14:14And with a lot more space than they've ever had before, they're a bit stumped on how to use it.
14:20Let's be honest, it's enormous, isn't it?
14:23So you went to auction?
14:24Yeah.
14:24We decided to do a proxy bid, so anyone else who's bidding against me, I will automatically match them.
14:31Proxy bidding means that you tell someone what you're willing to pay and instruct them to bid on your behalf
14:37until either you win or it goes beyond your maximum bid.
14:42How much is your budget on it?
14:45Our budget is 150.
14:47And you've been doing work for a year.
14:49Yeah, we have had some issues in the past that has delayed things for us, which is why we're still
14:55at this stage a year on.
14:56One example of trouble that we've had is that when we took the property on, we had a lot of
15:02the original detail in the property, which we really wanted to try and keep as much as possible.
15:06So things like cornicing, the builders would go into a room, would be knocking it to pieces.
15:11You can cheap cornice and you can get cornice back in.
15:14If you wanted to put it back, it wouldn't have to cost a fortune.
15:19Traditionally made from plaster, cornicing is now often made from lightweight and durable polymer.
15:26It can be bought off the shelf or made bespoke to match an existing design.
15:31Elsewhere, luckily, some original features have survived.
15:35So the tiles are under here, are they?
15:37Yes.
15:38Take a look at these.
15:39They are.
15:41Oh, cool.
15:43I do really like them.
15:44I'm thinking that it would be really nice to match the woodwork with a colour in there.
15:50Yeah, I mean, this would be amazing.
15:54Jules and Al have no plans to change the structure of their grand Victorian house, but it's a 15-room
16:01door-upper with six bedrooms upstairs and not one but two large living rooms downstairs.
16:10Two enormous living rooms.
16:12We're kind of in a bit of a quandary because…
16:15It's a nice problem to have.
16:16I know, yeah, it is.
16:18You know, we do feel really lucky to be going, oh, what are we going to do with two living
16:21rooms?
16:22But we do want to make them work.
16:23You know, what's the point in having a room where the door's shut and no one ever comes in?
16:27OK, so the first thing that I'd say, looking at this, these two rooms don't have access to the garden
16:33and that is the south-facing side of the garden.
16:36And to get outside, you either have to go out of the kitchen door and all the way around the
16:39house, or you have to go out of the front door and round to outside.
16:45So it feels sort of a bit trapped.
16:48I would be tempted to put a set of French doors here and another set of French doors in the
16:54other room.
16:55It will completely transform these rooms to be able to get outside.
16:58Yeah.
16:59And the furniture needs to be big.
17:01Yeah.
17:01Have you got lots of furniture?
17:03No, not big furniture.
17:05So auctions are amazing for big furniture.
17:08We've almost been scared sometimes about doing certain things because maybe it doesn't fit the house.
17:13You know, and everyone's like, oh, it's Victorian.
17:14And it does make you sort of feel like you shouldn't do something because, you know, you don't want to
17:19take away sort of like the history of the house or, you know, make it look too different.
17:24You've always wanted a sports room, but how can you make something that's so grand, I don't know, into a
17:30sports room?
17:30When we say sports room, it's somewhere where I can watch sport.
17:33So you actually want a snug, so you could have a really big screen that comes down with a projector
17:39and make that the kind of games room, TV room, cinema room, film room, and then have this as a
17:47bit less gamesy.
17:50Yeah.
17:51And then see how you use them both.
17:54Make it work for you.
17:55Make it a home that you really like being in.
17:57But I also think you need to put the corner suit back.
18:00Yeah.
18:00I think that's inspiring.
18:02I think it's really good.
18:03Yeah.
18:04So a modern family want to break with tradition and put their stamp on a massive Victorian home.
18:11It's a bit of a blank canvas and that's quite a luxury, really, because go anywhere, do anything.
18:18It was good and sort of opened our eyes up to the fact that we can do what we want.
18:24One of our ideas was making a cinema room in one of the lounges, so I'll be talking to George
18:29about that later.
18:30I'll be convincing her that it's the right way for us to move forward, so looking forward to that.
18:38Behind 40, 40 for the hand.
18:40If you're looking for a speedy sale, then selling at auction is the way to go.
18:45And that can be particularly important when a property is left in someone's will.
18:50Your property, sir. Well done.
18:51In North London, probate.auctions specialise in helping families and charities to sell houses left to them after losing a
19:00loved one.
19:01Oh, hi there. It's Isaac here. The auction starts at 10th Verity.
19:05Auctioneer Russell Taylor is gearing up for a busy day on the rostrum.
19:10It's what you live for as an auctioneer. Auction day is amazing.
19:14Who else gets to sell 60, 70 properties in the space of two or three hours?
19:18It's great. I love it.
19:19We're live in a couple of minutes. We're just doing our final pre-prep.
19:22And then we're ready to go. Start selling some houses.
19:25Every year, more than $4 billion is left to charities.
19:29But these donations are often tied up in property.
19:32And the charity doesn't get their money until the house is sold.
19:36And that's where Head of Partnerships Dan Marsden comes in.
19:41We've got some properties coming up today for some of the charities that we support.
19:45Lot 28 in Brentwood in Essex.
19:47We were talking to Essex Wildlife Trust about this a while ago now.
19:51They trusted us with this today.
19:52This two-bed flat, now with a guide price of $180,000, was originally put on the open market two
19:59years ago, probably rather overpriced at $300,000.
20:04It didn't sell.
20:06I think it's going to be a very popular lot, so I'm hoping for a real result here.
20:10And he's not the only one.
20:13Lizzie and Becky, who look after gifts and wills at Essex Wildlife Trust, will be viewing the auction online.
20:21Essex Wildlife Trust is the leading conservation charity in our county.
20:25We look after 1% of the land in Essex, which includes over 100 nature reserves.
20:31Part of the proceeds of the property was gifted to them by a supporter called Jean, who left the vast
20:37majority of her estate to charity.
20:41Jean was one of our life members.
20:43The trust started 66 years ago, and Jean joined us 52 years ago, so a really valued supporter.
20:49The property had been sat on the open market for a long time, not doing anything.
20:54With an auction, it's a very quick process, and solicitors can release the money very quickly from the estate.
21:00Hey, good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
21:03Gifts and wills account for one in every £3 of charity fundraising.
21:08The sale of Lot 28 will be keenly watched.
21:12We go to Lot 28, over in the place of Manhattan, which is in Brentwood.
21:17Also glued to the unfolding drama are Dan and boss Nick Combs.
21:22Let's see what happens. Fingers crossed.
21:24Should we kick this off with the guy? 180.
21:27Let's watch that all day long.
21:29I know they're watching the auction, so it's very exciting.
21:31So we're really, really hoping we can get a big result for them today.
21:34190. 195.
21:38With the bidding fast and furious, the flat quickly reaches its reserve price of £195,000.
21:44That's the lowest figure it has been agreed it can be sold for.
21:47The only question now is who will get it and for how much.
21:53I'm watching with trepidation.
21:55210. No hanging about.
21:57Oh, we've got another bid coming.
21:59Thank you. Welcome. 212.
22:01After an early flurry of bids, the hopeful buyers slowly drop out.
22:06Finally, it's down to Mr G and Mr S to battle it out.
22:10It's 221. He's not letting this go, Mr G.
22:13What a great battle. 237.
22:16238.
22:17Mr G, what are we going to do? 239.
22:19Russell to sort of generate will ultimately talk about closing, bringing the hammer down.
22:25And it just kind of propels people to sort of make sure they put their next bid in.
22:29The final time. 3, 2.
22:34He's coming back. Come on, Mr G.
22:35He's coming back.
22:37239.
22:38We're sold.
22:40Yes.
22:41Wow. Great bidding, guys. Perseverance paid off.
22:45He's done it. 239. That is a monster, monster result. That's amazing.
22:49It exceeded our expectations. That money will go to funding what Jean loved, wildlife. And especially in her home county
22:59of Essex as well.
23:00These charities work seriously hard. They deserve every penny they can get. So we make sure we get that for
23:06them.
23:11In Cornwall, it's been a hectic week for Jules and Al, as they race to move into their rare auction
23:17find, a seven bed Victorian home near the sea.
23:21We put bags, and bags, and bags, and more bags of building materials and literally nowhere to put anything. Panicking
23:35a little.
23:37We've got this massive unit that Sarah suggested buying at auction, buying large furniture.
23:45After a year, they're finally in.
23:48Yeah.
23:50But the renovation of this huge house still has a long way to go.
23:57What are these things for?
23:58I've got no idea.
24:02No idea.
24:04One of the biggest jobs is replacing 80 metres of Victorian cornicing that was destroyed in the early stages of
24:10the renovation.
24:12Even the builders that were here were like, oh my goodness, you're really going to put the Covid out?
24:17We were like, well, yeah, do you want to do it? And they were like, no, thanks.
24:22With two thirds of the budget already spent, Al's determined to keep costs down wherever he can.
24:28I haven't done it before.
24:30Never done it before.
24:40That's it, you snapped it.
24:42See, this is why I'm not good at helping.
24:45While Jules conveniently busies herself with the lock burner delivery, Al ropes in daughter Madison to help with the cornicing.
24:52I think just try it and then hopefully it'll be okay.
24:56She's saying try it, she doesn't have to pay for any of the Covid, so she's like, yeah, just give
25:00it a go.
25:02Al will get the hang of it on the last piece, we'll have one piece of Covid up.
25:06It'd be really handy to have Jules's feedback, because she's always got a couple of tips for us.
25:14Not very good tips, usually.
25:16Usually discounted tips.
25:19It's a big job, but one that's worth mastering.
25:23There we go.
25:24Even in smaller rooms, cornicing can create the illusion of greater ceiling height, making spaces feel more expansive.
25:36We've got a corner. Well done.
25:38There we go.
25:40Not a quick job.
25:41I'm just thinking how many sheets of this I've got to stick up, how many metres of it I've got
25:46to put up.
25:47It's going to take me forever.
25:49Luckily, I've got Madison here, my helper, who's going to become an expert at this, because we've got plenty to
25:56work on.
25:56Yeah, lucky me.
26:02Coming up, a new lease of life for an old Victorian loo.
26:07It was used for shooting up drugs and other things, and the roof was missing.
26:12So, properly derelict?
26:13Properly derelict.
26:14Den of iniquity.
26:23It's been three months since work started on Alison and Michael's 1930s Dua Upper.
26:29The old white bathroom is out, and the block work for the walls of the extension is in.
26:35We've got the floor being levelled off today.
26:37The back wall is being readied to receive the rafters for the roof, the first part of the roof build.
26:43First Fix Electrics is all complete, which is great.
26:46First Fix Plumbing is starting today as well, so the radiators are coming out.
26:50It's definitely all go.
26:52Let's see what else has been going on.
26:55This is what was originally the kitchen.
27:00I do really understand why they want this really big open space, but if you don't have anywhere to put
27:06anything, it's a bit like going caravanning.
27:09The caravan looks great until you start to use it.
27:12What we have decided, however, is, as you mentioned, the middle of the house was going to be the darkest
27:17area.
27:18That might be the best place to have the snug.
27:20So, that is what we have decided to do.
27:23That's going to be great.
27:24I mean, if you've got a dark area that's already dark, don't fight it.
27:28Go with it.
27:29This is the bathroom. As you can see, we've had most of it ripped out now.
27:34It's just as tiny as it always was.
27:37What we've decided to do in there is to tile most of it, just as you suggested to us.
27:43We're supposed to be moving back in about three weeks' time, and hopefully the build will be complete in about
27:48five weeks.
27:49So, that's what we've been told. Fingers crossed.
27:52I really admire Alison and Michael. You know, they were in a hole, they dug themselves out of it, and
28:00they're going through a journey with their family, and they're going to end up with a beautiful home.
28:04I'll be really honest, three weeks is deeply optimistic.
28:09Finished in five weeks is not happening.
28:12201, what a gentleman.
28:14At property auctions, you come across all sorts of interesting buildings that you wouldn't necessarily find on the open market.
28:22Meredith Spitter, well done.
28:24From former libraries to decommissioned water towers.
28:29And with councils across the country happy to sell off their crumbling assets, more and more old loos are being
28:35sold off at auction.
28:39They've been converted into cafes, bars, even offices, but not this one.
28:44This grade two listed Victorian men's toilet in Newport, South Wales, was destined for a different future.
28:53Derelict for years, it's now been transformed into a performance space by Janet Martin, a gallery owner and lifetime champion
29:02of the local art scene.
29:03People used to go in there to shoot up heroin and pee and have sex, really.
29:07And then I saw it was up for sale.
29:09And I thought, I wonder if I could do something with it.
29:11Never been in a gent's toilet before, I hasten to add.
29:15This story has definitely grabbed my attention.
29:19Time for a visit.
29:22OK, here we are.
29:24Oh my goodness.
29:26Wow.
29:28OK, you definitely wouldn't expect that from the outside, would you?
29:31No.
29:32What an amazing space.
29:35I love it.
29:38Was it in good nick?
29:40It was used for shooting up drugs and other things, and the roof was missing.
29:46Oh, so properly derelict?
29:47Properly derelict.
29:48Den of iniquity.
29:49That's right.
29:52The disused Lou was put up for auction in 2017, with a guide price of just £4,000.
30:01I had a limit of £15,000 in my head, because I knew I'd have to spend a lot of
30:07money on it.
30:08OK. And where did you get the money from? Is this saving?
30:10Phyllis Maud. That's why it's called Phyllis Maud. My aunt had died, and she left me some money.
30:16So tell me about Phyllis Maud, your aunt.
30:19She always took a shine to me, and she was, you know, quite a mother figure.
30:24So tell me, what happened? You went to the auction.
30:27So I went to the auction, and the man at the back of the room bought it for £30,000.
30:32And I was gutted, and I came away, and I started driving here again, looking at it from the outside,
30:38thinking,
30:38oh, my name was on that building.
30:40I felt really sad.
30:42About three weeks later, auction house rang me up.
30:44Do you still want to buy the toilet? I said, you've sold it.
30:47And they said, oh, not to that man. There's been a change of plan.
30:51Oh, and so how much did you go into the cup?
30:53Fifteen. That's how much I'm prepared to give, and you know that I'll turn it into something wonderful for Newport.
30:59So I'd like to get my hands on it.
31:02Flipping love it.
31:05And that's what a real woman's like.
31:08Where there were once urinals, there is now a stage, and space for 35 seats.
31:16Ah, look at that. That's so magic.
31:19It's like the dress circle in a theatre.
31:21It is.
31:22Most expensive seats in the house.
31:23Indeed.
31:24So how much did you spend on the renovation here?
31:27£70,000.
31:28So what did you have to do for your £70,000?
31:31Okay, round the edge where the brickwork is, that's where the stand-up urinals were, and they went as high
31:37as the brickwork.
31:37They're like Daleks.
31:38So where did they go?
31:39If they'd have been in good order, I could have got a lot of money for them, but they weren't.
31:43Okay.
31:43So they went in the back of my two CV.
31:46We have no skips for this renovation. I did all the skip work.
31:50Janet raised the roof to create a second floor, and replaced the crumbling Victorian cast-iron beams with new steel
31:58ones.
31:59That was quite a costly business.
32:01Yeah.
32:01And obviously there was no electricity in here, so there were things like that that had to be done from
32:08scratch.
32:09This eclectic space also features a small kitchen bar.
32:14And there are some heartfelt touches to this very special building.
32:21Such as the hand-painted signs designed in the colours that Janet's aunt loved.
32:26It's a unique building that's left a fabulously positive mark on the community.
32:32I know of someone who used to just play for his own enjoyment at home, and had never ever played
32:38in public.
32:39And then he came here, and he played, and now he's a regular.
32:43And he's got confidence, and he's writing lots of music, and yeah, it's wonderful to see.
32:49Amazing. Well, what a legendary place, and a legendary woman, so thank you.
32:58You know, when I first met Janet and heard her story, I thought, gosh, you must be completely mad.
33:02But it just goes to show that if you buy the right property in auction, for the right reasons, and
33:08you're the right person,
33:09and you put all that together, you can do something quite incredible.
33:14Well, I've been holding on for some day
33:23So I'll let you
33:27Cheers!
33:34200 miles away in Cornwall, Jules and Al are wrestling with the challenges of a period home renovation in their
33:42master bedroom.
33:44I don't remember a time without any sanding.
33:47But we'd rather try and keep it, and it be a character part of the house, than whip it off
33:54and then put some new one on.
33:59Victorian properties like Jules and Al's were designed to be what's called vapour open.
34:06They were built from materials that allowed moisture to enter, but also leave,
34:11which when paired with good ventilation, minimises dampened mould inside.
34:17Lime-based render and plaster were used on internal walls to help the building breathe.
34:25In keeping with the period feel, Jules and Al have decided to use traditional plaster and paint,
34:31because most modern equivalents aren't breathable.
34:36This paint is a specialist for lime walls because it actually lets the lime breathe.
34:44I'm impressed to see Jules has done her homework.
34:48The reason why I'm spraying the wall with water prior to painting is so that the wall absorbs the water
34:56and doesn't absorb the paint, making it dry out too quickly.
35:02They look very surgical, Al.
35:06Al's very good, actually. He does wear gloves for everything, don't you?
35:09Well, not everything, but...
35:15I'll clean the rollers.
35:17I'll get you a beer.
35:20I'm also keen to see what's been happening downstairs.
35:24First, the snug.
35:26It's a building site, basically.
35:28Um...
35:30We've got the fireplace almost ready for the fire to go in.
35:36The woodwork's been taken off around the windows where we're going to put in the patio doors.
35:41Patio doors there are going to completely transform how they live in this building.
35:46As you can see, it's really bad.
35:51Really, really bad.
35:52Panicking.
35:54It's really hard often with a really big project to manage your stress levels.
35:58But the two bits of advice I always give to people.
36:02One is think about how far you've come rather than where you're trying to get to.
36:07Also, break it down into bite-sized chunks and just think about one project or one room at a time
36:12and complete that.
36:14So, in here, we've more or less finished the bit that we did the other day, which we absolutely love,
36:25is our wall mural.
36:27It might feel like they're drowning, but to be honest, I think they're making really great progress.
36:33Coming up, as the jobs continue to pile up...
36:37Well, we've only got another 10 pieces that size to go.
36:40So do the expenses.
36:42We set out at 92 in total. We've now got just over 10 left.
37:02Well, I didn't expect to reveal such dark wood.
37:06In Guildford, it's four weeks since Alison and Michael's last update and they're nowhere near moving back in.
37:13How does it make you feel that you have to do all of that, like, cabinet downstairs?
37:18I'm not thinking about it.
37:20The reality of living elsewhere, work and children is having an impact on how much they can do themselves.
37:28And that's slowing things down.
37:32Now, I need to go and pick up Joshy in half an hour.
37:37It's annoying.
37:39You barely get started on something and then you have to go.
37:41We'll have to get in contact with the carpet people and see if we can move the carpet back to
37:45the weekend after.
37:45Yeah, we're never going to be ready by Wednesday or Thursday or whenever it's coming in.
37:50Are we?
37:52Ain't gonna happen, man.
37:54And there's not much left of the budget either.
37:57So the budget has been causing me sleepless nights.
38:00We set out at 92 in total.
38:02That was including contingency.
38:04We've now got just over 10 left.
38:09There's a lot of things needing to be done and the budget is nowhere near enough for it.
38:16So we are going to have to do a bit of thinking over the course of the next couple of
38:21days to see what's really important and what can wait.
38:32Last point.
38:33Painting with hair is not an ideal recipe really.
38:39In Cornwall, the more formal of Jules and Al's living rooms is finally taking shape.
38:46We have decided that we are going to keep the original flooring or reveal the original flooring.
38:52We've got to update the skirting boards because some of the skirting boards have been removed.
38:57But there's lots happening at once.
38:59Al is also determined to restore the original hallway tiles.
39:03This is the first time we'll have had a look at a whole section of the tiles.
39:12It looks pretty good.
39:14Victorian tiles are hard-wearing and will create a strong first impression in the hallway.
39:21All that's needed to bring them back to life is a scrub with an alkaline cleaning solution.
39:27It's coming up already.
39:32They look really good.
39:34Really, really good.
39:36Is it hard work?
39:38It is quite hard work, yeah.
39:39Out of breath and sweating.
39:41That is good, really good.
39:43I like it. I think it's brilliant.
39:46Good.
39:47Yeah.
39:48Only got another ten pieces that size to go.
39:51It's alright.
39:51We're away.
39:55Alison and Michael bought their 1930s three-bed in Guildford after being priced out of their previous home.
40:03Let's just move, get rid of this burden and start afresh.
40:07But they were hit by unexpected problems.
40:11Unfortunately, they've discovered that the floor is horrendously rotten.
40:15And struggle to fit the work around family life.
40:18You barely get started on something and then you have to go.
40:22Two months on, and they've finally got the bright, open-plan kitchen living area they've been dreaming of.
40:29It just feels like a really warm, welcoming space, doesn't it?
40:33Yeah.
40:34It's just a really nice place to be.
40:37I think we're really happy aren't we?
40:39Yeah, definitely.
40:39And we can see, we can see the end and we can see the real potential of the house now.
40:43Yeah.
40:43With a cosy snug in the middle part of the house.
40:48It was Sarah's advice, because originally we were going to have the dining room in the middle of the house.
40:56And she advised us to lean into the fact that it was a darker room.
41:01And actually that's more appropriate for a snug and have the dining space out here.
41:05And I think we're really pleased with how it's worked out.
41:08The upstairs floor needed a lot of work, but they persevered.
41:15Prioritising the bedrooms for their two boys, Lucas and Josh.
41:19I think most importantly the children have started to feel really comfortable in their space.
41:24It's my first ever bedroom for myself and it's a really good one.
41:28Like it's so cool.
41:30The family bathroom needed a full remodel.
41:34Now it's transformed with luxurious marble effect porcelain tiles.
41:41We thought if we incorporated this tile floor to ceiling, we thought it would be quite a bold move for
41:48us.
41:49So yeah, we're really pleased with how it turned out.
41:53It was Sarah that said in a space this small, we should go as bold as we can.
41:57But actually it was the right thing to do, wasn't it? And go bold in here.
42:00It's my favourite room. I love it.
42:04It may have taken more time and cost more than anticipated, but the results are exactly what they'd hoped for.
42:11So we started out the budget with around about £90,000 to do the whole build.
42:16We blew that quite significantly.
42:17We had to borrow an extra £30,000 to get the project completely, well, finished to a point where it
42:23was livable and we were comfortable.
42:24Yes, it went over budget, but we've cleared our debts, we've reduced our mortgage and actually we're in a better
42:31house than we had previously.
42:34It's all a work in progress, but actually, even though it's in its current state, it's starting to feel like
42:40home.
42:41It's starting to feel like a place where we want to spend our time and be.
42:45We've got a lovely house now, but importantly, we're in a better financial position to be able to provide some
42:51experiences for the boys as well.
42:53And for us.
42:54Yeah.
43:01It's three and a half months since I first met Jules and Al who bought this large Victorian house at
43:08auction.
43:10There's so much to do. And you're like, Jules, this is horrendous, aren't you?
43:15Well, it is.
43:15Their challenge? To renovate a huge period property, respecting its heritage features while making it a home that suits their
43:25family.
43:26Well, I'd say they've achieved that and more.
43:33The hallway, so recently a building site, now acknowledges the property's past.
43:40The hidden tiles restored by Al are now on full display, complemented by the detail of the paintwork on the
43:48stairs.
43:50And reinstating the cornice has brought back period character.
43:56It does feel like a home now. It's really nice.
44:01The kitchen is stylish and fun.
44:05And in the main bedroom, their choice of traditional lime paint works brilliantly with the contemporary design.
44:14Back downstairs, they had the enviable dilemma of what to do with two living rooms.
44:21We haven't had anywhere to sit and watch TV for six months, maybe longer. Long time.
44:28So, yeah, this room I'm really excited about.
44:35It looks great. Big furniture for a big room.
44:40Tonight, we're planning on sitting on this sofa.
44:44It'll be really nice instead of our bed, won't it?
44:46Sounds odd, but just being able to use a lounge is quite exciting for us now.
44:51It's nice, nice feeling.
44:54Next door, their snug is also finished.
44:58The door's installed, ready to open up onto their south-facing garden.
45:03I think Sarah's idea to put the doors in is brilliant because we can use the other side of the
45:08garden,
45:08which I think, actually, we probably wouldn't have used as much because it wouldn't have been as easy to get
45:15outside.
45:15And I think just her idea of using it as a family room, just a veg-out room, will be
45:19really nice.
45:23Jules and Al followed their hearts and took the initiative to create a home they'll love living in for years
45:29to come.
45:30What they've achieved is impressive.
45:35Some of the ideas that Sarah gave us enabled us to be a little bit freer.
45:41Every room that we've done, our confidence has grown and we've gone, oh, we can do it.
45:45I feel really, really positive about it.
45:48Really, really lucky. I love the house and no regrets.
45:58Next time, from an overgrown bungalow...
46:00There was literally ivy under the wallpapers on the inside.
46:03..to a defunct Victorian library, two brave souls have all their savings at stake.
46:09And what people pay on the day at auction can be a big surprise.
46:14Gets a round of applause from the team and the management as well.
46:17The people who come to the world is me.
46:19The people who come to the field.
46:35The people who come to the world.
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