A moldy and rotting property in one of Stoke-on-Trent’s prettiest neighborhoods had Dion Dublin “excited” about its “absolutely huge” potential in tonight’s episode of Homes under the Hammer. The popular presenter and former Premier League footballer visited the dilapidated three-bed family home in Trentham in the latest installment of the hit BBC daytime show.
Dion said the property – located on a “beautiful tree-lined street” – was “looking a bit sorry” from the outside and needed “some TLC”. The house, which boasts a garage and off road parking, has been given a guide price of £140,000.
The interior of the property – much like the exterior – showed more signs of neglect. Dion told the audience: “It stayed for a long time – cobwebs everywhere, mold too.”
After walking down a spacious hallway, he entered the kitchen, which was a “nice size” but needed tearing out. The rest of the ground floor boasted two large rooms, but there was one major problem.
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The back room had a flat roof that was rotting and sagging. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” said Dion, who still managed to stay positive about what he saw.
“I’m a bit excited because the potential here – just on the ground floor – is absolutely huge,” he added. Upstairs, three spacious bedrooms were found along with a separate bathroom and toilet, offering space for a possible en-suite.
Outside, cameras showed the “completely overgrown” garden, which Dion described as “massive” and “showy” if removed.
The presenter concluded: “Don’t be put off by how this place looks – be positive about what could be. It has everything. If you have the right plans, the right budget and the right team – this could be the one for you.”
After it was auctioned for £221,000, it proved to be the one for Kate and her builder husband Simon, who together had plenty of experience when it came to property development. “He’s a builder, I’m a designer,” she joked.
Kate told Dion of her plans to build a four-metre extension at the back of the property to replace the rotting flat roof, as well as create an open-plan kitchen and dining room which includes the extension.
They also planned to create a fourth bedroom using part of the generous landing area and fit a family bathroom and en-suite. The couple set a budget of £100,000 and hoped to complete the project in eight months with the intention of selling the property.
Dion told Kate: “I can’t wait – it’s going to be beautiful.” The BBC cameras returned five months later to check the progress.
The new-look house has certainly begun to take shape, although the project was initially hit with delays due to the underground sewers leading to the extension. Work on the extension finally began after a deal was struck with the water company, onlookers said.
Kate said: “We’ve completely gutted every room and are in the process of refurbishing everything.”
Presenter and commentator Martel Maxwell told viewers that although the renovation was still in its early stages, you could see how the changes would add a “wow factor” to the property.
As part of the reconstruction of the ground floor, a technical room and a toilet were also created on the ground floor. That floor just needed plastering and decorating to complete the transformation.
The back garden was practically cleared and ready for landscaping. Upstairs, although there was still much work to be done, the layout had been reconfigured.
The couple managed to create an en-suite and an extra bedroom. Kate explained that they had about £40,000 in their budget at this stage and were staying “on track”.
With a likely total spend of £321,000, Martel asked if it was “building up to be a savvy investment?”. Paula Jane Tinsley, of estate agency Whittaker and Biggs, said: “I really like the layout, it’s very trendy. The open plan kitchen is perfect.”
She added that it was a good decision to add a fourth bedroom. Paula valued the property at £450,000 to £475,000 once the refurbishment was complete.
“Oh wow – really glad!” Kate beamed. “That’d be amazing”. If they managed to reach the top figure, it would represent a whopping £154,000 pre-tax profit for the couple.
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