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00:12This season, as we celebrate our 200th episode,
00:17the house has literally soiled itself.
00:20You're really very rude.
00:22It takes years of practice, Lynn.
00:23Even the agent has given up.
00:26Look, these homeowners really need our help.
00:29We're a bit lost.
00:32Can we just stop this?
00:34This is pretty exciting.
00:36We will tackle our toughest challenges yet.
00:39It is crazy.
00:41I need more.
00:42You always want more.
00:43And with them...
00:44This is amazing.
00:46...will come our greatest rewards.
00:48Oh, my.
00:51Stunning.
00:52Just incredible.
00:54This is insane.
00:56To see all this kindness and generosity,
00:58we're just really grateful.
01:10They say timing is everything in real estate.
01:14Right house.
01:15Right location.
01:18Right market.
01:19And you're all set.
01:21But...
01:24If you let panic take over...
01:29You could be in for the perfect storm.
01:36Wrong house.
01:38Wrong location.
01:41Wrong market.
01:43And before you know it,
01:45you're in a right puddle.
01:47Oh, my God.
01:49Oh!
01:52Meet Stacey, Corey and their young family.
01:57Five years ago,
01:58they were looking at a bright and sunny future.
02:01Young love embracing that great Aussie dream,
02:05they decided to buy their first home.
02:07We wanted that family sort of picture.
02:10Yeah.
02:11The search began and then COVID hit
02:15and the first storm clouds began to gather.
02:18Almost overnight, the market exploded.
02:22Prices were increasing dramatically weekly
02:24and we felt like we were almost rushed and panicked into,
02:29we've got to get something.
02:30In desperation,
02:31they bought the only place they could afford
02:34in a location they would never have chosen.
02:38To find something at that time in budget,
02:41we had to make compromise
02:42and so we found the ugly duckling.
02:45It is just an ugly coloured sandstone block.
02:48It's just a bit of a toaster, isn't it?
02:50Toaster is what we call it.
02:52They did the sums.
02:53If they tackled the Renault themselves,
02:56they might just make it work.
02:58We were so enthusiastic at the beginning
02:59that we were like,
03:00we'll get through them all,
03:01we're going to do this,
03:02we're going to do that,
03:02all these grand plans.
03:04But the storm kept rolling on in.
03:07Another child.
03:08And they didn't have the time or money
03:11to finish what they'd started.
03:13So they put it back on the market.
03:16We had one offer come through
03:18which was substantially less
03:20than what we paid for the place.
03:22That's when we realised that we needed to tackle,
03:24I guess, a couple of these items
03:26to try and sell it.
03:28In went more money.
03:30They poured in well over $100,000.
03:33But things just went from bad to worse.
03:36We kind of would start one area
03:37or the next room
03:39and then realise,
03:40OK, now we've got to do this,
03:41now we've got to do this.
03:42And suddenly our budget was doubling.
03:45On just one salary,
03:48with paediatric nurse Stacey
03:49staying at home to look after the kids,
03:51they are now drenched in debt.
03:54With a crippling mortgage that's closing in on them
03:58and a house that still looks like a building site
04:01and is starting to fall apart.
04:03The deck is ageing.
04:05The steps are breaking.
04:06We've had Camilla tumble down the stairs
04:08before a couple of trips to the hospital.
04:10You look so strong, Dad.
04:13With little left to draw on,
04:14they are terrified if they keep going.
04:17They could lose everything.
04:19There's, I guess, a bit of resentment
04:21of how much we've put into it
04:23that it's just, it's not enough.
04:26I'd say it's quite deflating and overwhelming.
04:30This one's not just a reno for us.
04:32It's a rescue mission.
04:40Yarrawarra is a small suburb
04:42on the outer edge of Sydney's Sutherlandshire,
04:45about 30 kilometres south of the CBD.
04:48A secret little hideaway
04:51surrounded by the stunning Royal National Park.
04:54Probably an area you haven't heard of.
04:56That's because it's quite small.
04:57I have to confess,
04:58I hadn't heard of Yarrawarra either
05:01until I came here, of course.
05:03The 70s architecture says it all.
05:05A sleepy suburb that hasn't seen much change.
05:09There's a certain nostalgia to it.
05:12Ugly nostalgia, but nostalgia all the same.
05:16Still, it's quiet and peaceful.
05:19So there's a good chance Corian Stasis' house
05:22is at least on a lovely leafy block.
05:25I think our house is on this road
05:28somewhere on the left.
05:31It is literally on a roundabout.
05:36Taking my life in my own hands here.
05:39Oh, God, a car!
05:41I'm going in the driveway!
05:45That was close.
05:53Some slope.
05:55And who'd buy a house on a roundabout?
06:00Ah, hello there.
06:01Hi.
06:01Ah, you're the one.
06:05Go, tell me more.
06:07What made you fall in love with this home?
06:09Oh, I don't think fall in love is the right word.
06:11No.
06:12Low set on the road, roundabout,
06:14and then this.
06:16This.
06:17Was a panic buy, wasn't it?
06:19Absolutely.
06:21Something's happened to that part of the house.
06:27Yeah, we've made it a bit worse.
06:29Oh, so you...
06:29We've mismatched bricks, that's all us.
06:31Right.
06:33White the eyesore.
06:35Shall we go and have a look?
06:36Yes, we might as well.
06:37Come on in.
06:38Yes.
06:43Thanks, guys.
06:44What, nice door.
06:46Oh.
06:48Totally different feeling in here.
06:51From what you expected?
06:52Someone's been busy.
06:53Yep.
06:55Bit of finishing off, if I'm going to be critical,
06:58around skirtings and joins and things like that.
07:00Yep.
07:01This is lovely.
07:02It is.
07:03And we've got a nice view.
07:04We do.
07:05We have a wonderful view.
07:06Okay.
07:06So living through here?
07:08Yes.
07:09Living, dining, playroom.
07:10Right.
07:11Okay.
07:12So you've done the floor in here.
07:13You've definitely had a go.
07:15The facade isn't great and the roundabout's awful.
07:18But inside, there's nothing terrible.
07:22Maybe I should show you upstairs.
07:24Yes.
07:24Oh.
07:25Yes.
07:26Okay.
07:26We were doing so well.
07:29Corey and Stacey have definitely made some great improvements downstairs,
07:33with a lovely open-plan kitchen, living and laundry.
07:39Upstairs, not quite as free-flowing.
07:42Though they've managed to cram in four bedrooms, two bathrooms and even a third toilet.
07:49That's got to be a positive, right?
07:52Oh.
07:53Okay.
07:53Cool.
07:54Not very family-friendly.
07:55Please don't fall.
07:57Wow.
07:58Oh, look at this carpet.
08:00That's seen better days.
08:02Okay.
08:03So I'm starting to get the picture.
08:05A bit of a dangerous staircase.
08:07There's gaps in the skirt in the architrave.
08:10There's marks on the wall.
08:12It's a little pokey.
08:14Oh.
08:17Yeah.
08:18This reno's gone down the proverbial toilet fast.
08:22Buyers won't love that.
08:23Just a little hint there.
08:25Lucky you've got two bathrooms.
08:27Shall we take a look?
08:29I'm not sure you want to see this one.
08:31That looks like a crime scene.
08:34So there's actually no working bathroom in there.
08:36Nothing.
08:39Please say you do have a toilet in the house somewhere,
08:41because I had a coffee before I came here,
08:43only in a mic, you know.
08:44I don't know how long I had a glass.
08:46Okay, lead the way.
08:47More than one toilet for a growing family is overrated anyway.
08:53Behold, the royal throne in this mighty castle,
08:56with the royal blue to match.
08:58What a letdown.
09:03So we've got this very dated but big bathroom.
09:07What happened to all the shower screens?
09:09Oh, and no, no door.
09:11No.
09:11That's lovely with the young kids, isn't it?
09:13Driving you mad.
09:13All right, let's go down.
09:20Gosh, you'd never believe that the house from the front
09:23has that out the back.
09:26Oh, so that's interesting.
09:28There's more.
09:29Yes, I thought that would be your entertaining deck.
09:31It's all out here.
09:33Wow, yeah, it's a bit of a mess, isn't it?
09:35It is.
09:36Goodness knows what's going on with those walls.
09:39Okay, I'll just go and have a look at your garden.
09:43These steps aren't in great condition, are they?
09:45No.
09:46Right.
09:47Oh, look at this.
09:53Do you still get the view even from here?
09:55Yep.
09:56Sadly, now I'm looking at the back of your house.
09:58Wow, that's brown.
10:00Very.
10:00It's just ugly.
10:01Just ugly, isn't it?
10:04Overall, any bar would just see this as a massive,
10:07massive long list of to-dos.
10:10Yeah.
10:10Now, you paid for it, what, five years ago?
10:12We paid $1 million.
10:13Okay, and you're chasing now what?
10:16We need about $1.7.
10:18Oh, gosh.
10:20Corey and Stacey's dream of $1.7 million
10:23might remain just that.
10:25Sure, they've sunk a hell of a lot of money into this house,
10:28but all buyers can see is a massive money pit.
10:32They are blinded by what hasn't been done,
10:35and that's set Corey and Stacey further back than ever.
10:38They bought the worst house in the worst bit of the street
10:43and then made it even worse.
10:53As beautiful and bushy as Yarrawarra is,
10:57it's so far off the real estate radar,
11:00no-one's even searching for it.
11:02Add to that an ugly 70s house on a busy street
11:05with a roundabout for an entrance,
11:08and I'm guessing the market shrinks from small
11:11to just about non-existent.
11:13There's only one way to find out.
11:15I've come to the bustling nearby suburb of Engadine
11:18to meet their agent, Georgie.
11:21I mean, how many properties sell in one year in the area?
11:24I can be as low as seven transactions at Yarrawarra.
11:27The whole suburb in a year.
11:28I know, in a year.
11:29Oh, my goodness.
11:29We have had that before.
11:30At the moment, there's only one house on the market there.
11:33The position isn't amazing
11:34just in terms of traffic flow and accessibility.
11:38They have spent real money on the property.
11:40What do you honestly think their property is worth right now
11:43as it is, negatives and all?
11:45It's sitting around 125.
11:47You know what figure they want, 1.7.
11:50That's a big gap.
11:51It is a big gap.
11:52Right, OK, that's a little bit worrying.
11:55Hope you're a good agent.
11:56Oh, we are.
11:59For Corey and Stacey, 1.7 isn't about greed.
12:03They need to get on top of their crippling debt
12:06before it's too late.
12:08But the reality is that magic figure might be out of reach.
12:13At least, it's a possibility I need to prepare them for.
12:17So we're going to take a little bit of a wander,
12:19get a bit of an idea of what's actually happening in your market.
12:23Right, this house here.
12:26The comparisons are incredible.
12:27First of all, steep driveway, no garage.
12:31So that's the same.
12:32However, no roundabout, nice houses.
12:35It's a lot quieter.
12:37Yes.
12:37The block size is a little bit smaller.
12:39It's in the 600s.
12:41However, inside, four big bedrooms, three bathrooms,
12:46and two to three living areas.
12:48It's probably a third, 35, 40% bigger.
12:52It's also been renovated.
12:54So on that basis, it was on the market for only 24 days.
12:58It sold really recently for 1.495.
13:02Oh.
13:02Wow.
13:03Did you realise things are selling at that level?
13:06No.
13:07No.
13:08You didn't?
13:09No.
13:13I think we're a little bit over-optimistic.
13:16Yeah.
13:18Let's carry on, have a walk, and we can have a little cry after that.
13:20Come on.
13:21Yep.
13:21Yep.
13:22It's a tough pill to swallow.
13:23Even tougher, they are going to have to dig deeper into debt
13:27to get the job finished,
13:29or no buyers even going near it.
13:32At least this time, they've got Wendy and Dennis
13:36to help weather the storm.
13:49Corey and Stacey bought into the perfect storm.
13:52At the height of the COVID property boom,
13:55they took on a massive mortgage
13:57for an ugly fixer-upper in a terrible location.
14:01Fast forward five years, interest rates have tripled
14:05and their mortgages blown out of control.
14:08Add to that, three kids to support on a single income
14:12and a never-ending reno.
14:14That's just a big money pit.
14:17They're drowning in debt,
14:18and the only way out is a decent sale.
14:21But that's not happening without some expert help.
14:27This is quite lovely, isn't it?
14:29Maybe.
14:30Nice lady, some room.
14:31Yeah.
14:32Lots of big brick houses, eh?
14:35They're coming up to it.
14:36It's close.
14:37Yeah, it says we're close.
14:38At the roundabout, take the third exit.
14:43That's it.
14:45It sits right there.
14:47Oh, my...
14:49They missed the driveway.
14:55It's actually in the roundabout.
14:58This must be a nightmare for people to get in and out of.
15:01I've never seen this before, actually.
15:04Where is Andrew?
15:06Ah.
15:06Ah, there he is.
15:10Goodness, make sure we put the park right there.
15:11Yeah.
15:12Thanks.
15:15Wow.
15:19Seriously.
15:20You weren't really expecting it to be in the roundabout.
15:24I wasn't expecting it to actually be on the roundabout.
15:26And there's foliage that, like, really hides the house.
15:29Now you know why there's foliage.
15:30Mmm.
15:33Do you see theme park, fake cave?
15:35Yes.
15:36Like when you're in the queue, waiting to get on the ride.
15:38Yeah.
15:38Yes.
15:39Yes.
15:39I just see headaches.
15:41Yeah.
15:43Well, that's because you were driving around the roundabout so many times, Dennis.
15:46You actually look worried.
15:48I'm a little bit worried because, can I tell you, these guys need to move.
15:51Okay.
15:51As soon as possible.
15:53Debt issues.
15:54Three kids under five.
15:56They need to move on with their lives.
15:58So, Dennis, I reckon you start that side, then you'll know what you're in for.
16:02Ah.
16:04Wendy?
16:05Yes.
16:05Why don't you go inside and there's some nice features featuring you around.
16:08He's not going with either of us.
16:09No, you're not coming with either of us.
16:10No, I'm going to look at the roundabout.
16:12Not good.
16:20Ah.
16:22Well, this is not very Andrew.
16:26This is lovely.
16:35I'm sensing a trick.
16:46Ah.
16:50And now the true story begins to unfold.
17:07The cubby house is better than the real house.
17:17Oh.
17:18Whoops.
17:24Wow, it's not just unfinished.
17:26It's small.
17:27It doesn't work.
17:35Oh.
17:37What is going on here?
17:45Wow.
17:57Where are you?
17:59Oh, I'm here.
17:59There you are.
18:00Hello.
18:00Have you looked at the other end of the house?
18:02Well, I have.
18:04It's very downhill from upstairs.
18:06Oh, yes.
18:07There's something weird about the proportion of all the space.
18:09This amount of space, it does feel kind of reasonable for a master suite until you compare it to the
18:16amount of space in the rest of the house.
18:18If that's the family bathroom, it's half the size of the other suite.
18:21I know, and you would expect it would be the other way around.
18:24And I hope you noticed this one.
18:26You may not have vistas of the rear, but you do look directly at the roundabout from the toilet.
18:33For a family of five, this is the only functioning bathroom.
18:37This is it.
18:39Okay, well, I'll leave you to it.
18:44I thought you'd be right down there.
18:46No, the back of the back is actually really good.
18:49It's lovely.
18:49But you do look back at the house, and it does feel like it's a massive, big span of brick.
18:55Yeah.
18:55Just be careful.
18:57Don't lean there, because that is a little bit dangerous.
19:01And then we get to the outside living area, which doesn't really want you to do much living.
19:11Look at all this bit here.
19:13Oh, there she is.
19:14Oh.
19:15Hi.
19:16Hello, Wendy.
19:18That's a good addition.
19:19Yeah.
19:19This, to me, looks like hope that I might have some budget, because you don't need a new kitchen.
19:25And you've got this beautiful window that opens up, but it doesn't really then go, oh, I want to go
19:31out there, which that's what it should be.
19:33This should be an invitation to go, oh, look at this beautiful space.
19:36And then you come out here and sit and soak up the sun.
19:38But it just doesn't have that feel.
19:40Yeah.
19:41There's a lot of things on the outside that you can see have started but haven't been finished.
19:47Upstairs, it's...
19:51Yes.
19:51Yeah.
19:52It's...
19:52Yeah.
19:58It's one ageing, not very well bathroom and one non-existent, demolished bathroom.
20:03It's a four-bedroom family home that's actually quite small in square metres.
20:07Yeah, there's pretty much no storage.
20:10Very little storage for a family home on that bedroom.
20:13And we all know that with young kids.
20:15Yeah.
20:15Yes.
20:16But, of course, money's being spent and now they're in financial you-know-what.
20:20They have to sell.
20:21It's not a choice thing.
20:22They are surviving in this.
20:23That's literally all they're doing.
20:25Shall we go and meet them?
20:26Yes.
20:27All right.
20:28Hang on.
20:29Do I close this?
20:30Yes, please.
20:33Corey and Stacey have thrown everything into this house, only to be dragged further backwards.
20:39And with the dark cloud of debt closing in, the only way forward is straight through the eye of that
20:46storm, to draw down every last cent from their already overextended mortgage.
20:51With Wendy and Dennis steering their lifeboat, it is their best chance, if they're prepared to get on board.
21:00Stacey and Corey meet Dennis and Wendy.
21:03Hello.
21:03How are you?
21:04I'm a real estate agent.
21:05Can't make it today.
21:06So you're the only expert.
21:07So I'm the only expert you've got.
21:09So you're really in trouble.
21:10Help us, please.
21:12Who wants to start?
21:13Oh, look, I'll start.
21:14It's a strange location, right on the roundabout.
21:17So I ended up having to do another loop.
21:21And then we actually got down your driveway.
21:24It's a bit of an ugly duckling down there, isn't it?
21:26Very much.
21:26There's a few things that have been started.
21:28Probably for anyone that does come to look at it, they start to look at the rubble on the side
21:32as they're coming through and they're like, oh, what's going on here?
21:35And then it sets the tone.
21:36The back is actually quite pleasant.
21:38The view over top of all those houses, over the trees, is actually really quite delightful.
21:44Thankfully, I didn't fall down the balcony because the balustrades are a little bit light.
21:47It's really bad, isn't it?
21:49Yeah, how are you going?
21:50And then you've got the outdoor area, which just doesn't feel like it's had much love.
21:55Meanwhile, inside.
21:56Meanwhile, inside.
21:57Look, the kitchen's lovely and everything's quite modern.
22:02Then you kind of walk upstairs.
22:03Like, I started to feel a little bit tense and then I got to the top and it felt a
22:07bit squeezy.
22:08It's very overwhelming.
22:10I can imagine.
22:11I mean, what I felt is I saw that and I just felt stress.
22:15And then I saw the only kind of functioning bathroom with no showers.
22:21No privacy.
22:22And no privacy, no door.
22:24And I just, like, I just thought, three young kids.
22:28Three young kids.
22:29And I just, like, I really started to feel for you.
22:32Yeah.
22:33I guess cost of trades, materials, interest rates, everything's snowballing.
22:39I don't know how you've been living with that.
22:46Prisoners to the house.
22:50Should we just, I mean, I think we know what it's going to say.
22:53But let's just listen to the general feedback.
22:57All right.
23:02Very ugly.
23:03It looks like a bookend to me.
23:04Just a big flat wall.
23:07Yeah, the gardens out front need a lot of tidying up.
23:11Ooh.
23:13Half finished job here.
23:15It is narrow up here, isn't it?
23:18They're little.
23:19They're small.
23:20Ooh.
23:20Again, it's a really bad use of space.
23:22Yeah.
23:23The use of that space could have been betterly designed.
23:26You're looking at a family of five with a small bathroom,
23:29then the en suite is essentially double the size.
23:34It's like they forgot to renovate the rest of the house.
23:39Not a great use of space, I reckon.
23:41You'd do more with it.
23:42It is.
23:43And what you would have to spend?
23:451.25.
23:47Probably 1.2.
23:49In its current condition, I would definitely pass on it.
23:50No, I wouldn't buy this house in the current condition.
23:54Ooh.
23:56Even knowing what you know, is it really hard watching?
23:59We've spent time and money trying to fix it and do things.
24:02And that's all lost in what you haven't done?
24:04Yeah.
24:041.2 seems pretty low to me.
24:07What were you hoping for?
24:08Like 1.7.
24:10Wow.
24:11Okay.
24:11So that was a bigger gap than I was expecting.
24:13Huge gap.
24:15Look, for me, I think I want to create some more warmth and intimacy and welcome into the
24:22house.
24:23Functionally, we need to address the layout, particularly upstairs.
24:26The proportion of the bathrooms and the way they sit and how they relate to the rest of
24:30the house is just, it's not working.
24:32I need to take the stress out of the house.
24:34Yeah.
24:34The chaos starts as soon as you get to that roundabout and you come down.
24:37Like, so if I can instantly get the buyers into a calm state by looking at those gardens
24:44and really trying to make those more appealing, and therefore their stress level is already
24:48down.
24:49We've got to do something with the facade.
24:50Something.
24:51Anything.
24:52To say it's an ugly luck thing is probably the nicest way of explaining it.
24:57But then they've got the outdoor living area, which is a space that really doesn't feel
25:01like it's loved.
25:02They're the three things that I think will really go a long way.
25:05You've come this far?
25:06Yep.
25:07We're almost there.
25:08There's no going back now.
25:08So, money.
25:09Yeah.
25:17We can probably stretch to 90,000.
25:2090.
25:21Okay.
25:23Two bathrooms is definitely possible.
25:25Well within that.
25:26Yeah, I could do two bathrooms for that.
25:28Absolutely.
25:29I could put a couple of daisies in, it's fine.
25:31They're very good at this, by the way.
25:32They get very little money and they get a lot out of it.
25:35Yeah?
25:35Happy to hand that over then.
25:36Good luck, you guys.
25:38Well, on that note, I've ordered us cake.
25:41Lovely.
25:41On your credit card.
25:42Yeah, I was going to say, who's paying for that one?
25:45There's no point sugarcoating it.
25:47An ugly house on a roundabout in a suburb nobody's heard of, with half-finished jobs everywhere
25:54you look.
25:55Corey and Stacey have thrown caution to the wind with their last 90k in a desperate gamble
26:01to clear their crippling debt.
26:03It's a massive roll of the dice.
26:05And they bet the lot on Wendy and Dennis.
26:10Good luck!
26:11Well, good luck.
26:11Good luck to you guys.
26:12To the beginning!
26:12Yeah.
26:13New beginnings and new starts.
26:15No pressure at all?
26:18my heart goes out to Stacy and Corey three little kids in that house it's
26:25tough unfortunately this situation is not unique and my advice is always
26:31bring in the professionals to help guide you through it in the Aussie app you can
26:36easily find and connect with your local Aussie broker your Aussie broker can plan
26:41how to fund any renos to get you say already and they can handle any of your
26:46current and new home loan details so you can move with confidence and let's face
26:52it these big life decisions like buying and selling your home it'll never be
26:56stress-free but Aussie can make it a lot easier
27:10we're in Yarrawarra in Sydney's Sutherland Shire where Corey and Stacy landed themselves in the
27:16perfect storm when they panic bought the worst house in the worst location in the worst market
27:23our job not just get this place sellable but sold before they max out their mortgage and the hole
27:32they've dug themselves in is too deep to climb out of so first out back all that hideous brown
27:41that's overshadowing the great view that's going as well as a few key fixes around the side there's
27:48a fantastic kitchen window that currently has zero purpose I need to update this deck it needs to be a
27:56real
27:56family zone and show some outside inside living then out the front it's been hanging its head in a foliage
28:03of shame behind a busy roundabout but not for much longer the one thing that I cannot do is change
28:09its location but what I can do is make sure the exterior actually works with the house instead of against
28:17it
28:18we're giving it a facelift that'll stop traffic in a good way it'll be standing proud before you know it
28:28the big ugly block of boring brown brick is getting the full makeover
28:33I'm going to open up the gardens by clearing out the overgrown trees that act as a barrier and block
28:40the view
28:41with the house itself I'll lean into that 70s facades clean lines and tie it together with a cohesive
28:48light sandy tone I'll then reshape the garden beds with plants that will soften and enhance the space
28:54rather than overcrowded and after all that no matter which angle you look at this house it is going to
29:00look awesome
29:08even though Cory and Stacy have done a lot of work there's a lot of unfinished jobs that are really
29:14scaring buyers off when you've got a four bedroom house you're marketing to a growing family that means
29:22space safety and functionality are key three things lacking here on every level we're going to pop
29:30these yeah I think so then we're going to measure overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of incompletion
29:37I'm starting from the ground up let's have a look at some options and work out what Adam's just doing
29:43a cutting list then with only 70 square meters to work with upstairs we'll need to get creative
29:49so I'm in the midst of tackling this layout so it works better for the house and more importantly
29:55for the new family which brings me to the bathrooms floor plan wise it's just all out of whack the
30:04main
30:04bathroom's tiny for a four bedroom house and weirdly the ensuite off the main bedroom is massive by
30:10comparison so I'm flipping them I'm moving the doors and reshuffling things now the family
30:18gets a proper sized bathroom and the master gets an ensuite that actually makes sense and that serves
30:26a family home much better than the previous layout it's all happening I've got soil delivered I've got
30:37the arborist in here and already it looks so amazing
30:53with the trees gone you can now actually see the house once a mix of brick and unattractive faux sandstone
31:00making it the one color will instantly create a more polished look but because the bottom half's
31:07been given the corey diy treatment it's a bit patchy so that's being rendered and the genius part of my
31:15plan no need to paint it afterwards the save on painting I have decided to color match my render
31:24I'm using the color buff tone same as the top but I've doubled the strength that and the texture of
31:31the render will create an interesting contrast while still giving it that cohesion I'm after
31:37honestly by color matching your render it saves so much more time and if you want to save money as
31:44well have a crack at it yourself start with the right tools get yourself a hawk and a nice flat
31:50trowel
31:50get yourself a little bit on your hawk not too much or else it's going to go everywhere hold your
31:55trowel
31:55however you feel comfortable and it's all in the flick of the wrist flick up flick down now without
32:02dropping it on the ground
32:06in a nice smooth motion easy honestly
32:16there are so many trades in here trying to get up and down the pretty skinny staircase so I'm going
32:23to make it a bit easier for them we've already got a banister here that we're going to add some
32:30ballast egg to so I'm actually just going to remove this it's unnecessary and it makes the whole space feel
32:36even more narrow the truth is the whole house is tight but there are tricks to making a space feel
32:46bigger without picking up a sledgehammer before this hallway felt really quite pokey and messy
32:54but bringing in a really simple color and actually doing the ceiling in the same color has made the
33:00whole area just feel light and airy and spacious it's a great example of how a simple diy job can
33:08completely change a space
33:11speaking of completely changing spaces it's what's down the end of the hallway that's going to blow
33:17buyers away the ugly blue ensuite is making way for a luxe bathroom the entire household can enjoy
33:26creating a family bathroom is about servicing lots of different needs so I want the space itself to feel
33:32warm and calming having a double vanity along this wall with this gorgeous feature wall behind it
33:39the toilet stays here a nice big freestanding bar and most importantly a shower recess
33:46this is going to be a bathroom that's worthy of a family that lives here
34:15this has to be the most stylish mulch delivery I have ever seen isn't it a ripper Kia Tasman Ute
34:22and
34:22look designed to fit an Aussie palette in the back tub uh-huh right you kidding me this will move
34:29anything that matters 2.2 turbo diesel one ton payload 240 volt power outlet in the back and
34:35there's one in the front not only does it get you to the job site but you can put it
34:39to work when you
34:40get here
34:42don't let me get in the way of a blossoming new love
34:46you know real world
34:47with beautiful new soil and mulch waiting in the wings
34:51introducing the main act
34:55once you're in the ground these new plants are gonna make this place sink
35:03Now that the pines have been removed, this garden space is actually really huge.
35:07Now it's very easy to get caught up in garden design.
35:09You can select one of this, one of that, one of this, but it's very hard to make that work.
35:14So I've chosen large numbers, but minimal species.
35:18I've gone with the likes of the Nandina for the red flush, and then I've got the grey
35:21green foliage of the Westringa and the beautiful yellow of the kangaroo paw.
35:25Now it is going to look fantastic, especially against the new colour of that house.
35:32The expansive view from the back of this house is spectacular, but when you're catering
35:38to a family, pretty on its own just doesn't cut it.
35:43Upstairs is sadly lacking any kind of storage, but I've got a plan.
35:49Now that we've redone both of those bathrooms, we don't need an extra toilet on this level.
35:56By boarding up the window and putting floor to ceiling shelving in, this is going to be
36:01the perfect solution for a linen cupboard or anything else that needs a home.
36:06It's a really good use of space for this house.
36:10But that's not all.
36:12I'm making the most of every square centimetre of this house.
36:16Next stop, the master.
36:25The walk-in wardrobe is the luxury of the main bedroom and this space, although is actually
36:32good, before it just wasn't utilised really well.
36:36The cabinetry felt really temporary and it just didn't make the most of the space.
36:41You don't always need to change a floor plan to create more space.
36:45A well-configured wardrobe can more than double its capacity.
36:49So I'm getting new cabinetry that will immediately make this wardrobe feel so much bigger and add
36:56even more of that much needed storage.
37:00It's incredible how a solid paint job and new garden beds can absolutely transform a property.
37:08There's just one thing missing now.
37:10And here it comes.
37:13There it goes.
37:14Come back.
37:16I'm here.
37:23Now let's get this turf in the ground.
37:31You can pick up a roll too and help me.
37:33Yep.
37:34Good thing Corey's a hard worker.
37:35I could use the help.
37:37A few changes happening.
37:39Yeah.
37:40It's looking very good.
37:42It happens pretty quickly.
37:43It does, definitely.
37:44Mate, you actually did a lot of the hard work, mate.
37:46You really did.
37:47You set the foundation.
37:48I know it doesn't feel like it.
37:49This would have taken us something like five to ten years to probably achieve what you guys have done.
37:53Just the weight lifted off the shoulders.
37:55Fresh start.
37:57Yeah.
37:57It means a lot.
37:58That's everything.
37:59Let's get this turf down and then we can get onto the next job.
38:22There is a lot going on in here, but you're starting to see how this bathroom is going to come
38:27together.
38:28As an ensuite, it is super functional.
38:31We've got a generous shower with large neutral tiles that make it feel even more spacious.
38:37And still plenty of room for a toilet and vanity to match the main bathroom.
38:43It's exactly what you need all on one line.
38:46And that gorgeous feature tile in the background just brings it all together.
38:57I would like to say that when I pot up the plant, it's coming to an end of the renovation,
39:02but seriously, there is so much to do.
39:20Now, this is a space that I think is a huge selling point for this house.
39:25And it was underutilised.
39:27The huge survey window Corey's installed is fantastic and the key to bringing the inside out.
39:33I've picked up these beautiful feature lights to go either side.
39:37They'll frame it perfectly, making the whole area feel way bigger.
39:42We're going to have a nice lounge area here, which has got a beautiful north facing aspect
39:47and a lovely view. Instantly, this area is going to feel so much more welcoming.
39:53We've just got to get it all done.
40:00My carpet's finally arrived and it's been worth the wait.
40:04The pale tones add to the feeling of openness,
40:08while the durable finish makes it perfect for a growing family.
40:13Now to downstairs.
40:14Pendants in the kitchen will add warmth to the white.
40:20For the front room, it was important to create a space where the lounge and dining can coexist
40:25without overcrowding each other.
40:28And that's always about finding the right furniture pieces
40:33that complement each other while still making their own statement.
40:40Now to bring it all together.
40:48Upstairs, the light floors and walls have definitely created that sense of space I was after.
40:54To soften the look, I've added in warmth and comfort.
40:58Textured fabrics, soft furnishings and a dash of colour.
41:03Enough to keep it minimalist yet inviting.
41:05The final touches that make this house a true home.
41:14Hello.
41:15What are you doing out here?
41:17Well, I'm just getting in everyone's way.
41:19Yeah, come and join the cool kids.
41:21It'll get.
41:23And then I saw you doing this with that teeny tiny little and I thought you need some help.
41:28Why is yours bigger than mine?
41:29Because, because this makes more sense.
41:33Unless you want to be still working in the dark.
41:35It's going to be a long day.
41:53I'm back in the Arawara in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney.
41:57Heading to Corian Stacey's house to see if Wendy and Dennis have managed to turn the ugly duckling on the
42:02roundabout into a swan.
42:16And that's a lot better.
42:23Wow.
42:25What it looks like from the street.
42:28This is the important test.
42:37Oh, it's so much better.
42:40Hello, you two.
42:41Hello.
42:42You spotted me then.
42:43So, what do you think?
42:45Hi.
42:45How are you both?
42:46We're good, thank you.
42:47It's amazing, isn't it?
42:49Someone's replaced your house with a new one.
42:50It's completely different, isn't it?
42:53No ugly duckling anymore.
42:55This is looking really, really sharp.
42:59Well, let's head on in.
43:01Let's go and have a look.
43:03It's landscaping so much.
43:05I love all this.
43:06Yes.
43:09Let's go.
43:11How good is this?
43:13Oh, yes.
43:14It's finished.
43:15It is.
43:19Jessie looks really nice, guys.
43:22The pendants, the bar stools.
43:24It's luxe now.
43:25Yeah, oh, yeah, okay.
43:27Yeah.
43:27I'll take that.
43:29Corey and Stacey had already put a lot of time and money into downstairs,
43:34but Wendy has done what Wendy does.
43:38Oh, I say.
43:41She's dolled it up a few notches with her perfect styling and finishings.
43:50It's the proper function.
43:51This is the living.
43:53That's the meals.
43:54Both spaces are a decent size.
43:56It just works so much better.
43:56Yeah.
43:58It's inviting.
43:59It's a home.
44:00Yes.
44:01I love it.
44:02This is really, really nice.
44:05But the biggest challenges were...
44:07Upstairs.
44:08Oh, yes.
44:09Hang on.
44:10This is new.
44:11Completed stairs.
44:12Safe now.
44:13Yes, that's right.
44:17I love the way Wendy's put the nod to timber here.
44:21Very nice carpet.
44:23So what did Wendy do with the old, uh, toilet room?
44:27Ah!
44:28Storage!
44:29Yeah, so needed.
44:31Yeah, you're absolutely right.
44:32Supposedly a family home.
44:34Okay, let's carry on.
44:37Okay, let's carry on.
44:37Ah!
44:38Ah, the murder scene bathroom.
44:43So, if that's not the main bathroom, it must be...
44:48Ah!
44:49Oh, yes!
44:56Wow.
44:57This is where the budget's gone.
44:59Yep.
45:00Smart move by Wendy.
45:02By simply creating a new entrance, she's converted that huge, and dare I say ugly,
45:08en suite into a beautiful family bathroom.
45:13So, in theory, that means you must have a new en suite for your main bedroom.
45:17We do.
45:17We do.
45:19Wow.
45:22Another amazing bathroom.
45:27It's really worked well.
45:29There's no clues that this house wasn't designed like this, and it's better designed like this.
45:33It works so much better.
45:34We've got a shower screen there, too.
45:36Yes, you, you, you, honestly, you are living the dream.
45:39Shower screens, doors.
45:41All the luxuries.
45:41I mean, whatever next.
45:43Walk-in wardrobe.
45:44Oh, yes.
45:44Let's have a look at that.
45:46Ooh.
45:52It's more functional, of course, and it adds to that feeling that you've got lots of storage.
45:57It's a bit more high-end, isn't it?
45:59That looks really smart.
46:02It's very nice.
46:02What was a run-down main bedroom with a hideous en suite is now a spacious and luxurious master.
46:12In fact, Wendy has brought a fabulous sense of light and space into this entire area.
46:21No mean feat.
46:23Did Dennis get around to the side area?
46:26He did.
46:26He's been busy.
46:27Ah, look at that.
46:30This is so much nicer, isn't it?
46:32It is.
46:33Wow.
46:34Because you'd already put that wonderful servery window in.
46:37But it's a job that's being finished now.
46:39Yes.
46:40It's such an inviting space now.
46:42It's really nice.
46:48Please?
46:48Absolutely.
46:49Yeah.
46:50How much do you want to hear what your agent thinks?
46:52Very much.
46:53Just really.
46:54Come on.
46:55Well, Wendy and Dennis have certainly delivered, but is it enough to overcome the dreaded roundabout
47:02and get Corey and Stacey anywhere near that dream figure of $1.7 million?
47:09Ah.
47:10Ah.
47:10Okay.
47:11Well, this is always the tense moment, isn't it?
47:13Georgie, what do you think?
47:15I love it.
47:16It's come up so much nicer than I thought.
47:18I really am impressed.
47:21How are you two feeling now?
47:22It's all done.
47:22Still blown away.
47:25Less stressed.
47:27Yeah.
47:27It was a weight on the pair of you, wasn't it?
47:29Absolutely.
47:30Absolutely.
47:30Yeah.
47:30You can feel it lifting off the shoulders.
47:32So remind us where we were before any of the works were done.
47:37Realistically, the market was saying?
47:391.25.
47:40You were chasing?
47:411.7.
47:43But I think you came to realise that 1.7 was a bit of a dream.
47:47But now it's all done, what are you hoping for?
47:51I think we're looking for a mid-1.6.
47:54Okay, so now we've got to look at your agent.
47:57What do you honestly think you could get for it now?
48:00I'd be confident that we could get 1.6.
48:03Maybe a bit more.
48:04Okay, good.
48:05That's good.
48:05Hang on a minute.
48:06We've got homeowners and agent almost within a couple of percent in agreement.
48:14Well done, guys.
48:15That's really realistic.
48:17And you know what?
48:18It does look great and I'm sure you'll do your absolute best
48:22to get the best price for them.
48:24Absolutely.
48:25How exciting.
48:26Are you ready for this?
48:27Yes.
48:27Fingers crossed.
48:28Because you want out of here, don't you?
48:30Oh yes, we're done.
48:33So many times at this stage in the house selling scenario,
48:36the agent and homeowner's price expectations are still far apart.
48:41But I'm very proud of Corey and Stacey because in this instance,
48:45they're listening to the agent's advice and the market.
48:48So I hope they'll sell for that price or maybe even a little bit more.
48:56Now, if I could just get out of this driveway.
49:10My God, what a change.
49:12The street appeal's changed completely.
49:14The gardens, the wall, the colour of the house just completely changed this place.
49:19Oh, that's a lot of pressure.
49:21Nice.
49:22There's a balustrade.
49:23Yeah, it's a bit saucy now with the kids.
49:26Oh, wow.
49:27Look at that.
49:29Was this the ensuite?
49:31Yes.
49:32Wow.
49:33Oh, what?
49:35I never would have thought of that.
49:39Reconfiguration of the bathroom, swapping the ensuite,
49:41I think was the stroke of genius to be honest.
49:44Oh, wow.
49:45Yeah, that's really nice.
49:46Nice.
49:47It's a good use of the space now.
49:49Oh, this looks so much nicer.
49:52It's really relaxing out here.
49:53It's beautiful.
49:54It's a moving ready home now.
49:56Before, it's just needed too much work.
49:59Whereas now, I would consider buying it.
50:01The value I would put on the property now, I think 1.6 upwards.
50:061.6, I think, would be right up there.
50:08With these changes, I would be willing to pay mid-1.6s.
50:12Yeah, I agree.
50:13I think it ticks a lot of our boxes for what we're looking for,
50:17so I'm excited.
50:19You're not the only one.
50:23The storm has finally lifted.
50:25Corey and Stacey sold at auction for $1.66 million.
50:31They can finally move forward with a manageable mortgage
50:34and a bright family future.
50:36Congratulations.
50:40Proves once again, with Wendy and Dennis on your side,
50:43every cloud has a silver lining.
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