A mould-ridden and rotting property in one of Stoke-on-Trent’s nicest neighbourhoods property had Dion Dublin “excited” about its “absolutely huge” potential on today’s episode of Homes under the Hammer. The popular presenter and former Premier League footballer visited the rundown three-bed detached house in Trentham in the latest instalment of the hit BBC daytime show.
Dion said the property – located on a “lovely tree-lined street” – was “looking a bit sorry for itself” from the outside and needed “some TLC”. Boasting a garage and off-road parking, the house was given a guide price of £140,000.
The inside of the property – much like the outside – showed more signs of neglect. Dion told viewers: “It’s been left for a long time – cobwebs everywhere, mould as well.”
After walking through the spacious hallway he entered the kitchen which was a “nice size” but needed to be ripped out. The rest of the ground floor boasted two good-sized rooms but there was one major issue.
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The back room featured a flat roof which had rotted and caved in. “A lot of work to be done,” said Dion, who still managed to stay positive about what he was seeing.
“I’m getting a bit excited because the potential here – just on the ground floor – is absolutely huge,” he added. Three good-sized bedrooms were found upstairs along with a separate bathroom and toilet, offering scope for a possible en-suite.
Outside the cameras showed a “totally overgrown” garden that Dion described as “massive” and “a showstopper” if cleared away.
The presenter concluded: “Don’t be put off by what this place looks like – be positive about what it could be. It’s got everything. If you’ve got the right plans, the right budget and the right team – this could be the one for you.”
After being snapped up at auction for £221,000, it turned out 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 the builder, I’m the designer,” she joked.
Kate told Dion of their plans to build a four metre extension at the back of the property to replace the rotting flat roof, as well as creating an open plan kitchen and dining area that incorporates the extension.
They also planned to create a fourth bedroom by utilising some of the generous landing space and put in a family bathroom and en-suite. The couple set a £100,000 budget and hoped to have the project completed in eight months with the intention of selling the property.
Dion told Kate: “I can’t wait – it’s going to be a beauty.” The BBC cameras returned five months later check on the progress.
The new-look home was certainly starting to take shape, although the project was initially hit by a delay due to there being an underground sewer pipe where the extension was going. Work eventually started on the extension after an agreement was struck with the water company, viewers were told.
Kate said: “We’ve completely gutted every single room and we’re in the process of renovating everything.”
Presenter and voiceover Martel Maxwell told viewers that although the renovation was still in its early stages, you could see how the changes would give the property the “wow factor”.
As part of the revamp to the ground floor, a utility room and downstairs toilet had also been created. That floor just needed to be plastered and decorated to complete the transformation.
The back garden was virtually cleared ready to be landscaped. Upstairs, although there was still a lot of work to be done, the layout had been reconfigured.
The couple had managed to create an en-suite and an extra bedroom. Kate explained that at this stage they were about £40,000 into their budget and remained “on track”.
With the likely total outlay being £321,000, Martel asked if it was “shaping up to be a savvy investment?”. Paula Jane Tinsley, of estate agent Whittaker and Biggs, said: “I really like the layout, it’s very on trend. 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 renovation was complete.
“Oh wow – really pleased!” beamed Kate. “That would be amazing”. If they managed to achieve the top figure it would represent a whopping pre-tax profit of £154,000 for the couple.
Laura Adams is a tech enthusiast residing in the UK. Her articles cover the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
