- 01/05/2025
Selling Houses Australia S17E09
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FunTranscript
00:00I love this diverse country of reds, blues, golds and greens, where each and every sunrise
00:26is filled with hopes and dreams.
00:30But when the interest rate starts rising, like the tide often does, the cost of living
00:37starts to sting like a queenless hive abuzz.
00:41It's hard.
00:42Well, homeowners, they get nervous.
00:45Makes my gut churn a little bit.
00:46Yeah.
00:47Getting pretty desperate.
00:48It's a lot of pressure.
00:49With a market hard to woo.
00:53I love the feature lighting.
00:56I love it to feel like a sort of public toilet.
00:59Which could easily lead one paddling, well, up that very familiar creek.
01:04Angel!
01:06This is Sully Houses Australia.
01:11This is going to be a dramatic change.
01:14Hee hee hee!
01:16Ha ha.
01:17Look at this.
01:19Wow.
01:20Amazing.
01:21Amazing.
01:22Amazing.
01:23Oh my god.
01:24Oh, wow.
01:25Oh, look at this.
01:26It's out of a magazine.
01:27It's beautiful.
01:28Normally I make you cry at the beginning of the process and not at the end.
01:40It's beautiful.
01:41It's beautiful.
01:42It's beautiful.
01:43It's beautiful.
01:44It's beautiful.
01:45It's beautiful.
01:46It's beautiful.
01:47It's beautiful.
01:48It's beautiful.
01:49For every buyer, there's a lot to weigh up when you're searching for the right property.
01:54Obvious factors like layout, location and price.
01:58But buyers also need to feel inspired by what they see.
02:06And have their imaginations captured before they even step inside.
02:12So, if a facade does stand out, the question is always, is it for the right reasons or the
02:21wrong ones?
02:27Meet Cindy.
02:29Twenty years ago, she and her husband Jason's dream of living the country life came true when
02:34they bought a stunning one-acre property near the historic town of Camden, about an hour
02:40from Sydney.
02:43I met Jason when I was 30.
02:46We settled down and we decided that we'd like to have a baby.
02:52For them, Camden was the perfect place to raise a family.
02:56So when little Lily was born, life was complete.
03:00We were very happy.
03:03But sadly, the dream wasn't to last.
03:07At just 43, Jason was diagnosed with stage four cancer.
03:12You just cruise along and then you get this news that just changes your life so dramatically
03:18and forever.
03:21He fought the good fight for almost two years.
03:26Miss him every day.
03:33With Jason gone, staying in their dream home was too hard for Cindy.
03:38Needing a fresh start for her and Lily, she went looking for a new place in the heart
03:43of Camden.
03:44I decided to come along to an open house.
03:49It felt like home as soon as I stepped into it.
03:52On impulse, Cindy bought it there and then.
03:58I took a gamble buying before I sold and I knew that there was some risk attached to it,
04:05but it was time to start building a new life.
04:10But Cindy's luck just went from bad to worse.
04:13When the family acreage she bought with Jason sold for substantially less than she'd expected,
04:20meaning the mortgage for her new house is almost double what she had planned and interest rate
04:25hikes have made it impossible to repay on a single income, leaving her no choice but to sell the new house.
04:35I need to sell this house to make the money back that I paid for it.
04:41But after more than a year on the market, Cindy is now facing a dire financial crisis.
04:48And if she can't find a buyer soon, she could lose everything.
04:53It wasn't how I planned it to be.
04:56It's a lot of pressure and it's not nice.
05:12I'm about 65 kilometres south-west of Sydney and actually driving out here some lovely countryside.
05:22Once you hit Camden, which is where I am now, suddenly you are greeted with beautiful old houses.
05:29They're everywhere.
05:32It really does appear to be a great area to buy into.
05:36But there's obviously a reason why Cindy's house isn't selling.
05:41So, I'm on my way to meet her and her real estate agent and now very good friend, Meryl, to find out.
05:49Oh, my goodness.
05:51Ooh.
05:55What's that?
06:00Hello.
06:01Or should I say, hola?
06:07Well, Cindy?
06:08Yes.
06:09And I'm Meryl.
06:10Hello, Meryl. Lovely to meet you.
06:11Well, Cindy, are you responsible for this?
06:14Did you come back from a holiday in Spain and go, I want one of these?
06:19No, I didn't, Andrew.
06:20No, definitely not.
06:22Do you know what the history or what the thought of it was?
06:25Somebody thought, oh, let's stick up a Spanish art.
06:29They went to Torremolinos and came back with this concept.
06:32Yep.
06:33Fascinating.
06:34I mean, looking along the street, no, there's so much heritage property around here.
06:39So this, how do you get people inside?
06:42That Spanish feel is not really what buyers in Camden are after.
06:46No wonder poor Cindy's struggling to sell.
06:51Hideous facade aside, there's not one thing that would entice buyers out of their cars,
06:58much less through the front gate.
07:02So does España continue inside?
07:05No, it doesn't.
07:06You sure?
07:07I'll show you through.
07:08Okay.
07:10It's beautiful.
07:12They always are.
07:14Right.
07:15Let's have a look.
07:19Oh, not what I was expecting at all.
07:22No.
07:23You've got a lovely old heritage home here.
07:26Yeah.
07:27It's gorgeous.
07:29High ceilings, beautiful ceiling detail, lovely old fireplace, timber floors.
07:36Look at the space and light we've got out here.
07:38Yeah.
07:39It's a great space.
07:43Kitchen's dated.
07:44I'm looking at this thinking we're a little bit maybe late 90s.
07:47Yeah.
07:48It does hide the crumbs, but...
07:50Oh, does it?
07:51Yeah.
07:52Blue hides the crumbs.
07:53I'll remember that.
07:55At the end of the day, it's a big sort of kitchen, meals and living space that we've got here.
08:00Yeah.
08:03This is a lovely hallway.
08:04Look at the grandeur of it.
08:08Okay.
08:09Oh.
08:10It's very blue, isn't it?
08:11It's very blue.
08:12Blue floor.
08:13Blue walls.
08:14It's not a positive.
08:15I mean, I've got to say, it's in good condition, but it's just like a shrine to the 90s.
08:20Correct.
08:21Despite having a few different personalities, there's no question the inside of Cindy's house has most of the features of its Victorian heritage.
08:28It's also massive.
08:29On the entry level, there's the kitchen, dining and living area along with the family bathroom.
08:31A master with en suite and walk-in robe.
08:32A master with en suite and walk-in robe.
08:33As well as three good-sized bedrooms with built-ins.
08:34A master with en suite and walk-in robe.
08:35A master with en suite and walk-in robe.
08:36As well as three good-sized bedrooms with built-ins.
08:37Downstairs, there's a master with en suite and walk-in robe.
08:38A master with en suite and walk-in robe.
08:39As well as three good-sized bedrooms with built-ins.
08:44Downstairs includes another living area.
08:51ósbedroom, bathroom, fifth bedroom and laundry.
08:55But what we're at the top of the level is.
08:56That's the first place to watch and walk-in is a master with a master with a master with a master with a master.
09:05How much room is a master with a master?
09:06Downstairs includes another living area, bathroom, fifth bedroom and laundry.
09:14But wait, there's more.
09:16Oh.
09:24What's your block size here?
09:26980 metres. It's a big block.
09:28Yeah, it is. It's a good old-school nearly quarter of an acre block.
09:33Oh, my goodness.
09:36I'm going down the ramp.
09:41Whoa.
09:42It's massive.
09:44Yes.
09:46Goodness me.
09:48I think we'll go and have a little bit of a chat, shall we?
09:51So, the inside has some great selling points.
09:55Although it could certainly do with some Wendy magic.
09:57But unless Dennis can fix that god-awful facade,
10:02no buyer's coming near the property with a ten-foot pole.
10:05That's the problem Cindy's facing, and we need to somehow help turn it around for her.
10:11All right, so let's wind back.
10:14You had an acreage property that you no longer wanted.
10:17Yeah.
10:17You saw this before you sold.
10:19Okay, so what were you hoping to sell your acreage property for then?
10:21I got advice that it was worth around 2.5, 2.6.
10:26Right, and this was how much at the time?
10:28Just under 2 million.
10:29So, what happened?
10:30About a week or two after I bought it, interest rates started going up.
10:34And it took quite some time to sell it.
10:38So, your savings probably disappeared because you were holding on to two properties.
10:42Yes.
10:43Interest rates were rising.
10:44Yes.
10:44And your old property that you were hoping to get mid-twos for, you got what?
10:481.8.
10:51Sorry, 1.8?
10:53Yep.
10:53And you bought this on the proviso of getting mid-twos?
10:57Yep.
10:59So, now the mortgage is almost twice as large as before.
11:05Okay.
11:05All right.
11:07We've got to get you out of this.
11:08Yes, please.
11:09The lack of street appeal Cindy's house has is certainly a huge problem in getting her
11:25the sale she so desperately needs.
11:27But is it the only problem?
11:30I mean, if we can help turn this sow's ear into a silk purse, will that guarantee Cindy
11:36the sale she's after, or is the market simply not there?
11:41Time for a chat with Meryl.
11:44So, you could say that Cindy has found herself in a complete real estate pickle.
11:50Yeah, she really has, Andrew.
11:51She's had a pretty rough trot over, you know, the past couple of years.
11:55Let's talk about Cindy's property itself.
11:58Now, there's a few obvious negatives, the main one of which is that front facade.
12:04In fact, that's a huge one.
12:05But especially in Camden, people really want that old-school Victorian charm.
12:10So, you're telling me that as a local agent, buyers don't come knocking at your door saying,
12:15I really want a property locally with a Spanish facade?
12:17Correct.
12:18Okay, all right.
12:19So, that has to be addressed.
12:21How about the Camden market, though?
12:22This is interesting to me, because we're a regional town.
12:25Yeah.
12:25I know we're relatively close to Sydney, but we're not in Sydney by any means.
12:29Look, it's a little inconsistent due to interest rates, cost of living, etc.
12:35But overall, we have a lot of development happening around out of Camden.
12:39We've got the Badger Eath Creek Airport coming.
12:41It's a beautiful lifestyle.
12:43Okay.
12:44So, what that really comes down to is we're in a very good area,
12:47and there is genuinely a chance that the high ones could be achieved for Sydney.
12:52She's not chasing a ridiculous dream.
12:53No, definitely, and there's comparable sales to prove that.
12:56All right, well, I love your confidence.
13:00So, now we know that buyers are out there.
13:03They're just not buying Cindy's house.
13:05And I think I've got a pretty good idea why not.
13:09I found a property I want to show Cindy that's got lots of similarities to hers,
13:14but one massive difference.
13:16It's a very historic, beautiful Victorian home, like yours, just without the Spanish facade.
13:25We're right in the heart of the historic Camden here.
13:29Great location.
13:30Bit of a busy road, too.
13:32Busy road.
13:32And I'll tell you why else it's an interesting comparison.
13:35It's a renovator.
13:37Oh.
13:38And you saw the sold sign.
13:40Yes.
13:4116 days.
13:43Wow.
13:44Go in and have a look, and I'm going to meet you up on that amazing veranda afterwards.
13:47Off you go.
13:48Wonderful.
13:48Enjoy.
13:49You'll love it.
13:54Oh, she's green.
13:58Just like Cindy's place, there's plenty to like inside.
14:02Details are amazing.
14:07Over two floors, there are five good-sized bedrooms with three well-appointed bathrooms.
14:14Oh, look at that window.
14:19However, it does need more work than Cindy's.
14:23It is a fixer-up rock.
14:26And the block is about half the size.
14:30Despite all this, it has retained its classic heritage charm, and that's what buyers are clearly
14:37after.
14:38Ah, there you are.
14:42What do you think?
14:43She's a grand old lady, isn't she?
14:45Oh, yes.
14:46Absolutely stunning.
14:47But a renovator.
14:49Oh, yeah.
14:49Heaps of work.
14:51The purchaser bought it because it was a renovator and because it was a rare commodity.
14:56And even more interesting is he looked at your house.
15:00Oh, did he?
15:01Yeah.
15:02Any ideas on what it sold for?
15:05It's a tricky one.
15:07Essential Camden, but needs heaps of work.
15:10Maybe 1.6?
15:13Ready for this?
15:14Go on.
15:151.94.
15:16Wow.
15:18Really?
15:20That's showing me that the historical element and uniqueness is something that plays a major
15:25role in the Camden market.
15:27That's something that your house does have.
15:29It's still a hundred-year-old home, and buyers in this market love that.
15:33You only need somebody to potentially fall in love with your house, a bit like you did.
15:38Yep.
15:39Yeah, after you.
15:41We'll have to leave this lovely house now.
15:46Hold your horses.
15:58We are in the beautiful, historic town of Camden, where widow Cindy has been trying to
16:04sell her unique house.
16:06But its rather hideous Spanish facade has had buyers running like the proverbial bull for
16:13over a year.
16:14And a single income can't keep up with the debilitating mortgage, which is fast sending
16:20her broke.
16:22Suddenly I went from a mortgage that I could afford to owing a lot of money.
16:29The question is, can Wendy and Dennis work their magic and get Cindy's house sold before
16:34she loses it all?
16:36You don't feel like you're only an hour from Sydney, do you?
16:43No.
16:44It's like this hidden little pocket of country.
16:47It's actually a really lovely spot.
16:51So you know, I was born here in Camden.
16:54You were?
16:55I was.
16:56Wow.
16:57It's one of those unusual places that hasn't changed that much.
17:02They've celebrated their heritage rather than modern lives.
17:05They raised it out.
17:06Yeah.
17:07Just such quaint cottages, this federation colonial style of architecture.
17:13Oh, I think we're here.
17:15I think this is us.
17:16Oh, my goodness.
17:20Is that really it?
17:32Not quite what I was thinking.
17:33Let me out!
17:34When you were driving around.
17:35Let me out!
17:36Absolutely not.
17:40Let me out!
17:41Oh, okay.
17:43I'll come around.
17:44I can repair that.
17:46Oh, goodness.
17:47Of course he can.
17:50We have literally just been driving around, admiring all these beautiful, original, colonial
17:56style homes, and you bring us to a Spanish villa.
17:59Yeah.
17:59Well, on that note, Wendy Moore, are you ready?
18:02Because you are going to be shocked by the inside.
18:04I'm just...
18:05No.
18:05I don't like your shocks, Andrew.
18:07I'll stay outside with our new lumberjack here.
18:11Good luck.
18:12Oh, goodness.
18:16Adios.
18:16Adios.
18:18Do you want to explore in here a bit?
18:20Well, not really.
18:21I bought a tape measure.
18:24I really probably should have bought a jackhammer because that is not a great look at the front
18:31of the house.
18:31The bars on the openings as well.
18:35Like, it actually makes it feel quite prison-like.
18:38Not to mention, there's nothing soft about the garden whatsoever.
18:41No.
18:41I mean, they've got this eclectic mix of plants.
18:43Then you've just got these hard surfaces everywhere.
18:46So it's just...
18:47And this surface doesn't match that surface.
18:49No.
18:51And you've got a seating area and this vine that's just not looking great.
18:56No.
18:57But you see, when I look at that in isolation, it's actually quite nice, but it has no link
19:02to the heritage house that's there.
19:04No, it doesn't.
19:07I'll leave you to it, pal.
19:08Yeah, thank you.
19:08I'm going to go and see what Wendy's up to.
19:10Okay.
19:10Okay.
19:10Okay.
19:10Okay.
19:10Okay.
19:17It's so lovely.
19:20I feel like I'm getting tricked.
19:26Wow.
19:30Oh, fancy meeting you here.
19:32Fancy meeting you here.
19:34Wow.
19:36Look, I feel like you're gaslighting me.
19:39The rooms are large and decorated ceilings.
19:43Very well maintained.
19:45Very original.
19:46Yep.
19:47Now I'm in here, it does look a bit tired, but it's a good size and it's open plan.
19:55Should we go and explore the master suite?
19:59Oh, Andrew.
20:02It's a good size.
20:06I'm just waiting for something to jump out at me.
20:10And the main family bathroom.
20:12Well, the colour is really dated, but it's also dominating.
20:20Everything just feels like a bit faux.
20:23So some of these fixtures, they're cheap imitations of what is a beautiful original house, which really brings it down.
20:30It's definitely the worst room in the house.
20:32It's definitely the worst room in the house, but it's not that bad.
20:36It's just unlike you.
20:38Because I just, every single corner I've turned, I've expected something hideous to jump out.
20:43Oh, well, no, he's waiting for us outside.
20:45Come on, Dennis.
20:52Oh, hello.
20:53There he is.
20:54There he is.
20:54So, Dennis, Scott, what do you think of the outside, especially the back?
20:59Honestly, it is a great backyard.
21:00There's a bit of grass area.
21:02Yes, the garden beds are a little bit blank.
21:05Unfortunately, what I'm standing on at the moment...
21:07Oh, yeah, so we notice this.
21:09...is probably a little bit odd.
21:11Yep.
21:11But that is not what's detracting from the sale of the house.
21:15Correct.
21:16It's an awful Spanish faux façade.
21:20Yes.
21:21And then you come inside and you're back in a beautiful, original building.
21:26The kitchen is a bit dated.
21:27The decor isn't celebrating the heritage home that we've got.
21:31Yeah.
21:32It is a little bit out of keeping.
21:34The main bathroom is not pretty.
21:38But to keep a sense of perspective, I think in this case, this is a one-off.
21:44Never to be repeated.
21:49We've got to focus on the outside.
21:51Are you...
21:52Just this once.
21:56Don't make a habit of it.
21:58Hang on.
21:58I've just got to hold on to this handrail here because, oh, my God.
22:02Can I just bring you guys into the mix a little bit more?
22:08Wind the clock back a couple of years ago, our lovely homeowner, Cindy, and her daughter,
22:12we're living on an acreage property.
22:14Beautiful.
22:15Unfortunately, she lost her husband, which is obviously a very sad event.
22:19So sensibly decided to downsize.
22:22Came into town and saw this, 1.9-ish, and bought it.
22:28Without selling the other one.
22:30In desperation, it's eventually sold after holding costs of two properties for 1.8.
22:37Less than what she paid for this one.
22:39Less than what she paid for.
22:40It's a massive financial gap.
22:44Massive gap.
22:46It's not just money.
22:47It's that whole well-being factor.
22:50So we need to go and meet her.
22:52Yeah.
22:52Let's get going.
22:53Come on, then.
22:54You come up your ramp.
22:55Take it easy, son.
22:58One thing's for sure.
23:00As long as that front facade remains, Cindy is not getting any buyers through the door.
23:04But with Cindy already struggling to repay the mortgage, where the budget for this one is
23:11coming from, I have no idea.
23:14So, Wendy and Dennis meet Cindy, out of the homeowner.
23:20Hello.
23:21And Meryl, friend and real estate agent.
23:23Hey, guys.
23:24How are you?
23:24Great spotless tea house, isn't it?
23:26Yeah, I was hoping you were going to introduce me to the food.
23:30Once we've done the real estate bit, then I think we can tuck into this.
23:33So let's get on with it.
23:35Should we start with the buying public?
23:36You ready for this?
23:37Yep.
23:38Okay.
23:44It's unusual.
23:46Mediterranean, would you say?
23:47Yeah, it looks really out of place.
23:49It doesn't strike me as Camden character.
23:51Yeah.
23:53Yeah, it's got a Spanish kind of feel to it, doesn't it?
23:56It doesn't mend the source of the area, it really doesn't.
23:59Wow.
24:00Beautiful.
24:02This is completely different to what I expected from looking outside.
24:05See, they're all surprised by what it is inside.
24:10Well, the kitchen needs to be updated.
24:14I want to change bench tops.
24:18The roughness area here, this doesn't actually really work.
24:24Oh, wow.
24:25That's really blue.
24:28Take me to Greece.
24:30Yeah.
24:30With this colour.
24:31Doesn't tie in.
24:33No.
24:34It's too disconnected.
24:36There's too many styles.
24:38Probably wouldn't offer more than about 165 to 17.
24:41I probably would have said closer to 1.6.
24:45Yeah.
24:46As it stands right now, 1.5, I would have thought it would have stayed right now.
24:50Yeah.
24:53What's your reaction to the numbers, Cindy?
24:56Oh, it shocked me.
24:571.5, yeah.
24:59Almost land value at 1.5, in my opinion.
25:03Right.
25:03But that's obviously an impression that the buyers are getting here.
25:07As soon as they see that Spanish facade, they're walking in and their surprise is like, oh, hang on, this doesn't match with what's going on at the front.
25:14Do you think there's something you can do to make it look less what it is now?
25:20In the perfect world, I would get the jackhammers and the sledgehammers, and I think we would make a huge difference.
25:26But because we are in such a heritage area, I'm going to have to talk to council to actually make sure that that can actually come down.
25:35Yeah, look, I do think that we need the front to do a better job of getting people in the door.
25:40Once they're in the door, the work is pretty simple.
25:44I think the kitchen is actually letting you down a little bit because it is actually a great size.
25:49It's very functional, but it does feel a bit dated.
25:53And the same with the bathroom.
25:55It's a good size, but it just feels dated.
25:57Yeah.
25:58We can do styling things that celebrate the heritage of the home.
26:03And at the moment, I don't think that we're making the most of that.
26:06So the question these guys need to know is not really what they want to spend.
26:10Yes, where does that mean?
26:10Because what have they got to spend?
26:12What's in the pot?
26:14What's in the pot?
26:15Yes.
26:18Um, nothing for me.
26:23I'm a bit broke at the moment.
26:27My lovely friend and real estate agent, Meryl, here, has been my fairy godmother.
26:33Oh.
26:34So I'm going to help with the budget so we can get a really good result and she can get
26:42her money back and live happily ever after.
26:44Wow.
26:45Wow.
26:46Gosh, and they say real estate agents are awful.
26:48I mean, obviously, no one ever said that of me.
26:50Not very often.
26:50Mine was lovely.
26:51That's so lovely.
26:53Well, Cindy deserves a break.
26:54Oh, yeah, you've done.
26:55Oh, she definitely deserves a break.
26:56She does.
26:57She's been such an old couple of years.
26:59Things will get better.
27:00Yeah.
27:00Yeah.
27:01Everything happens for a reason.
27:02With you on my side, for sure.
27:03All right.
27:05Okay, so, not going to cry, are you?
27:08Oh, I do feel a bit...
27:09She's getting a bit teary.
27:10It is lovely.
27:11She's pretty wonderful, isn't she?
27:15Okay, so, I hate to go back to money.
27:18What's the budget?
27:23So we're looking around the $40,000 mark.
27:26Oh, you are a good friend.
27:27Yes.
27:29Jeez, okay.
27:30All we can do is do our very best
27:32and do as many tweaks as humanly possible
27:34with that budget
27:35and get you the best chance
27:36of getting top dollar for you.
27:37Yeah.
27:39It's a big deal.
27:40Yeah.
27:41Definitely for a big deal.
27:44Could we have cake now?
27:46Yeah.
27:46Yeah.
27:46Yeah.
27:56It's Renault Day in Camden
28:02and, boy, have I got my work cut out for me.
28:06Widow and single mum, Cindy,
28:08has been trying to sell her house for over a year,
28:11but right now,
28:12she can't even get people through the front door.
28:16I know a lot of people,
28:17when we talk about exteriors,
28:19think that it's all about the landscape,
28:20but in this scenario,
28:23I have been handed this.
28:27There's no beating around the bush.
28:29I'm not even getting near the backyard this Renault.
28:33This hideous Spanish facade
28:35is the number one reason
28:38Cindy's house hasn't sold
28:40and it's going to take
28:41almost our entire $40,000 budget to fix it.
28:44Yep, we need to rip it down ASAP.
28:47Now, my issue there is
28:49all the houses in this area,
28:51including Cindy's,
28:52are in a heritage conservation register,
28:55which means I need to develop an application
28:57to do anything to the front of this house.
29:01But there's an upside.
29:03That nib wall will stay.
29:05It's actually the original facade
29:07behind this awful addition
29:09that's heritage protected.
29:11So the local council's given me an exemption.
29:15I think we've got to get this vine off.
29:17and try and get this framework out of the...
29:20So the frame doesn't...
29:21So the frame then doesn't come down.
29:23The downside...
29:26If we damage any part of the original facade,
29:29we are in deep...
29:32Come to the side so there's a crack.
29:41Wish me luck.
29:42Inside, the house is gorgeous,
29:50but I have to say it is suffering
29:52a little bit of an identity crisis.
29:56I mean, this is stunning.
29:57All these beautiful original period features,
30:00high ceilings,
30:02ceiling roses that are actually supposed to be here.
30:05This is absolutely beautiful.
30:06But there are a few things
30:10that are creating a lack of cohesion,
30:13which I'll need to address.
30:15Dennis has taken most of the budget,
30:17so I'm going to have to get creative.
30:19But with a classic like this,
30:21you'd be surprised at how much can be done
30:23with so little.
30:25A fresh look of paint and clever styling
30:28will enhance the charm of the rest of the house.
30:31And a cosmetic update to the existing kitchen
30:36will create a new dimension
30:38to the open-plan living space.
30:44And then there's the main bathroom.
30:48If I have to pick on one room,
30:50this is the room.
30:51The blue tiles are completely
30:53out of the era of the rest of the house.
30:55To bring cohesion to Cindy's bathroom,
30:59the wall and floor tiles are getting a makeover.
31:03I'm replacing the old vanity
31:05with a beautiful heritage-style one
31:07along the length of the wall
31:09and installing some well-chosen new fixtures.
31:14And it's going to feel like it fits
31:16with the rest of the house.
31:18But first,
31:19let me introduce you to the spray gun.
31:23The budget bathroom renovator's best friend.
31:27Blue tiles, big on.
31:32Push.
31:35Out the front.
31:37It's hosta la vista to the old facade.
31:43This has been one of the most stressful
31:49demolition jobs I have ever done.
31:52I mean, even the excavator driver's
31:54pulling his hair out.
31:55Seriously, this luckily has gone to plan.
31:59So I can now concentrate on this front garden
32:03and an entrance that is going to wow the new buyers.
32:10Starting with the pathway,
32:11I'm laying beautiful tiles
32:13that will draw the eye right up
32:15to the front door and beyond.
32:16Then I'm going to divide the rest of the space
32:19into symmetrical sections
32:21to house a lush green lawn
32:24and heritage-style gardens
32:26to highlight the era of the house.
32:30And to make it look sophisticated,
32:32I've got a secret weapon.
32:35I'm putting in this metal garden edging
32:37which will give us some nice crisp lines
32:40and define our garden beds.
32:41It's going to be a beautiful sea
32:43of green on green on green.
32:45It is going to make the front of this house
32:47so much more attractive to the future buyer.
32:49My mission to relieve this house
32:58of its identity problem
32:59is coming along very nicely.
33:04The difference a coat of paint can make
33:08is incredible.
33:09All that blue that dated the whole bathroom
33:12is completely gone.
33:13It's a really inexpensive way
33:16of having a big impact.
33:19The next step is new floor tiles.
33:22And to save money,
33:23they're going straight on top
33:25of what's already there.
33:28These mosaic tiles
33:30are just such a perfect choice
33:32for a couple of reasons.
33:34A very simple black and white theme
33:36means that a small bathroom like this
33:38doesn't feel crowded by too much colour.
33:41But more importantly,
33:42because we're going over the top
33:43of the existing tiles,
33:45having mosaics like this
33:47gives us a little bit of room to play
33:49just in case this floor
33:51isn't perfectly flat.
33:54This is good.
33:58A great facade is arguably
34:01one of the most important features
34:02when selling a house.
34:05And in this street,
34:06lined with beautiful Victorian-era houses,
34:09Cindy's house definitely leaves
34:11a big impression
34:12for all the wrong reasons.
34:17So it's up to me
34:18to create the right impression
34:20that will have buyers
34:21lining up at the front door.
34:24Starting with the fabulous centrepiece,
34:26the pathway.
34:29So I'm laying some beautiful travertine
34:31in a French ashler pattern.
34:33French pattern in tiling
34:34means tiles of different sizes
34:35creating a geometrical feature,
34:37which will really give
34:39the front of this house
34:40a bit of punch.
34:46When it comes to a beautiful
34:48heritage house like this,
34:49it's all about elegance.
34:52And using a white colour palette
34:54as the foundation
34:55creates a sense of serenity
34:57and sophistication
34:58without overwhelming the space.
35:03Allowing the detail
35:04and styling elements
35:06to do the rest.
35:09This kitchen benchtop
35:11I've chosen
35:11is a perfect example.
35:14Adding a little bit
35:15of extra detail
35:17in the finishing
35:17is what makes this feel like
35:20it's got that heritage charm
35:22that we're looking for.
35:22And this double lambs cut
35:24on the edges
35:25really adds that detail.
35:27I love it.
35:29To further enhance the charm,
35:32I'm using the same
35:33hexagonal tiles
35:34for the splashback
35:35as I've used in the bathroom.
35:36It just feels like
35:39these tiles
35:39were always meant
35:41to be here.
35:43And just connecting
35:44the pewter handles
35:46that we've added here
35:47with the benchtop
35:48feels so quiet
35:49and elegant
35:50and that's what
35:51this kitchen needed.
35:52The front of Cindy's house
36:08is already
36:09unrecognisable.
36:11As a nod to
36:12its Victorian era,
36:13I'm painting
36:14a lintel design
36:15above the windows.
36:16And to keep
36:19cost to a minimum,
36:20we've matched
36:21the existing
36:22earthy tone
36:22of the house exterior
36:23to paint out
36:24every trace
36:25of the former facade.
36:29And now,
36:29time to bring
36:30in the green.
36:33Now,
36:33I wanted a formal garden,
36:35but I didn't want
36:35all the maintenance,
36:36so I've been wise
36:37with my plant choices.
36:38Things like this
36:39Krishula Bluebird,
36:40they'll give me
36:41the domed-like feel,
36:42but you don't have
36:43the constant trimming.
36:45We've got some daisies,
36:46beautiful pink ones
36:47and we've got
36:47the white ones.
36:48That'll give us
36:49a real pop of colour
36:50and give this house
36:51some character.
36:52And then,
36:53we've got the hellebores.
36:54Lovely,
36:55soft tone
36:56that matches in
36:57with the house perfectly.
37:03Right,
37:04I'm leaving Cindy
37:04to plant the lavender
37:05while I tend
37:08to something
37:08more important.
37:10Woo!
37:11Turf time!
37:13I'm using a
37:27Tif Tuf
37:27hybrid Bermuda turf.
37:29It has a beautiful
37:30fine leaf,
37:30but it's got a nice
37:31soft feel
37:32under your foot.
37:34Not to mention,
37:35it is one of
37:36the only grasses
37:36that has a
37:37WaterSmart mark
37:38for drought tolerancy,
37:40making it perfect
37:41in this scenario.
37:43All the simple,
37:54inexpensive improvements
37:55I've made inside
37:57have really brought
37:58Cindy's Victorian-era
37:59house back to life.
38:02The blue bathroom
38:03is now a clean white.
38:05And the new tiles
38:10and fixtures
38:10give off
38:11an old-world charm
38:13with a modern vibe.
38:19For the styling
38:20of the house,
38:21it was important
38:22for me to choose
38:23elements that would
38:23give a sense of
38:24quality and sophistication.
38:27A nice big rug
38:28hides a multitude
38:30of sins.
38:30I've kept some
38:32of Cindy's
38:33beautiful wooden
38:34furniture
38:35and rented
38:36some extra pieces
38:37to really accentuate
38:39the heritage feel.
38:40for the soft furnishings,
38:45neutral tones
38:46and warm lighting
38:47create a sense
38:48of coziness.
38:49But most importantly,
38:55I've made sure
38:56every single design
38:57element pays homage
38:59to this stunning
39:00old house.
39:03We've deliberately
39:04designed these curtains
39:05so that they sit
39:06both above
39:07and on the outside
39:08of the window frame
39:09so you get the full benefit
39:11of all the natural light
39:12coming in
39:13and it's a perfect way
39:14to accentuate
39:15the beautiful
39:16high ceilings
39:17all to bring back
39:22that timeless
39:23classic look
39:24buyers are sure
39:25to fall in love with.
39:43How amazing
39:56does this place
39:57look now?
39:58You've done such
39:58a good job.
39:59It looks beautiful
40:00and so elegant.
40:03It actually feels
40:04as if it's meant
40:05to be in the landscape
40:05now.
40:06Yeah.
40:07I really do think
40:08that for Cindy
40:09we've given the house
40:11the charm
40:12that her buyers
40:13are looking for.
40:14Fingers crossed
40:15now she can get this
40:16sold.
40:16Move on to the next
40:17phase of her life.
40:19Well done.
40:20Good on you.
40:21And I'm done.
40:22Yeah.
40:25And there we go.
40:27A lifetime.
40:28A lifetime.
40:41I'm back in a rather
40:44beautiful Camden
40:46on a lovely day.
40:49The challenge
40:50with Cindy's property
40:51though is a bit
40:52different to normal.
40:53Really it all depends
40:54on whether Dennis
40:55has been able
40:56to get approval
40:57to remove
40:58that front facade.
41:00And of course
41:01what has Wendy
41:02done on the inside
41:03with a minuscule budget?
41:08We're back to find out.
41:09Why are you two
41:14loitering here
41:15and not outside
41:16the house?
41:17Is there bad news
41:18for me?
41:18You have to wait
41:19and see Andrew.
41:20Okay.
41:21Come on hurry up.
41:24Oh.
41:25It's gone.
41:26Yes.
41:27It has actually
41:28gone.
41:28Look at that.
41:31It's absolutely
41:31totally
41:33totally
41:34different.
41:36What was
41:37a frightful
41:38facade
41:38Dennis has
41:40transformed
41:41into a showpiece
41:42that stands out
41:43for all the
41:44right reasons.
41:47Stunning isn't it?
41:48Absolutely.
41:50This is all new.
41:52Yeah.
41:53The front garden
41:55with elegant new
41:56tiling
41:56and a beautiful
41:58selection of plants
41:59now beckons you
42:01into the home.
42:02It's Victorian heritage
42:05no longer feels
42:06hidden
42:07and I no longer
42:09feel like I need
42:09a sombrero
42:10out here
42:11maybe a top hat
42:13instead.
42:13I've got a bit of a
42:17confession to make.
42:18I was worried
42:19that the removal
42:21of the structure
42:22would leave a very
42:23plain facade.
42:25Yeah.
42:25But this is the
42:26real estate version
42:27of the eyebrow.
42:28This is a house
42:30with designer eyebrows
42:31because without
42:32those lintels
42:33it would look so
42:34plain.
42:35Yeah.
42:35That is amazing.
42:36So how's this look
42:38now for real estate?
42:39Oh look
42:40the facade was
42:40probably the
42:41problem.
42:42Yeah.
42:42It didn't fit in
42:43with the streetscape
42:44but now
42:44it's very inviting.
42:48Okay here we go.
42:51There you go.
42:52Welcome.
42:53Oh.
42:54Oh look at this.
43:00Wendy's made this
43:01an old school
43:01formal dining room
43:02there.
43:03Yeah it looks
43:03great doesn't it.
43:04Because Wendy's
43:06lift the curtain
43:08rail way above
43:09the height of the
43:09window just pushes
43:10the ceiling height
43:11even higher.
43:12Yeah.
43:12Looks fantastic.
43:14Yeah.
43:16I mean this was
43:17always gorgeous
43:18your hallway Cindy.
43:19Yes.
43:20But this new
43:21lighting is just
43:22setting it off a
43:23treat isn't it?
43:25It's really given
43:25this grandeur.
43:27It's just warmed
43:27it up.
43:28It all goes with
43:29everything.
43:29Yeah.
43:31With just a few
43:33cost effective
43:33changes Wendy
43:35has so far
43:36managed to
43:36showcase this
43:37home's beautiful
43:38heritage.
43:40But with such
43:40a restricted
43:41budget can the
43:42same be said
43:43about the
43:44kitchen?
43:45Oh my goodness.
43:47This was always
43:48a little bit of a
43:49concern for me
43:50because what can
43:51you do to a
43:51kitchen when you've
43:53got no money?
43:54You do this
43:55don't you?
43:55You do this?
43:56It is the same
44:03kitchen isn't it?
44:04Yeah.
44:04Yeah it looks
44:05amazing.
44:06Yeah it really
44:07does.
44:08Yeah.
44:08We've got these
44:09beautiful new tiles
44:11sink and taps
44:13obviously.
44:14Handles they're new.
44:16Yeah.
44:16And then of course
44:17there's the beautiful
44:18new bench top.
44:20Very nice.
44:20Beautiful isn't it?
44:22This is perfect.
44:23It is absolutely
44:24glorious.
44:25It suits the house
44:26doesn't it?
44:26Yeah it really does.
44:28Bye is going to love
44:29it.
44:32I'm astonished by what
44:34Wendy's achieved in
44:35here with almost no
44:37money.
44:37And she's managed to
44:41work her frugal magic
44:42in the living room
44:44as well.
44:46This feels a lot
44:47bigger than before.
44:48Wendy's created this
44:49to be the living space
44:50and separated the
44:51dining room and
44:52that's why it feels
44:53so much bigger now.
44:55I tried because there
44:55was a meals area here
44:56which is now just a
44:57breakfast bar.
44:59The transformation's
45:00huge yet the actual
45:02amount of work is
45:05minimal.
45:05Yeah.
45:06Yeah.
45:06The country home
45:10styling has been
45:11thoughtfully replicated
45:12right throughout the
45:13house including in
45:16the bedrooms where
45:17updated lighting and
45:19soft new furnishings
45:20continue to flaunt
45:22this prestige country
45:23lifestyle.
45:26But there is one room
45:28in particular that
45:29previously stuck out
45:31like a sore thumb.
45:33Oh my God look at
45:36this.
45:39Stunning isn't it?
45:40Yes it is absolutely
45:42stunning.
45:44This was a Rhapsody in
45:47blue.
45:47But now the main
45:49bathroom has gone from
45:49complete mismatch to
45:52magnificent.
45:53with a crisp colour scheme,
45:57new floor tiles and
45:59refreshed tapware, Wendy's
46:01made this bathroom feel
46:02like it truly belongs in
46:04this home.
46:06What do you think of this?
46:08Oh it's beautiful.
46:09I love it.
46:09What Wendy's done in here
46:10it's really classic.
46:13It's a classic style of
46:14bathroom which lends itself
46:15with the character home.
46:16There's such a small budget
46:18with this house.
46:20Trying to find a solution
46:21for a bathroom like this
46:22on that kind of budget
46:24is incredible.
46:28I had my doubts but
46:29Wendy and Dennis have taken
46:30their modest budget and
46:32managed to draw out every
46:34bit of character and charm
46:36just begging to be
46:37extracted from this
46:38beautiful house.
46:39But will all that be
46:42enough to help Cindy get
46:44out of trouble?
46:47Let's wind the clock back
46:48a little bit.
46:49You paid a couple of
46:50years ago.
46:511.97.
46:53Right.
46:53So what do you think
46:55it's worth now?
46:58So now obviously we've got
46:59to let the market dictate.
47:01There has been comparable
47:02sales in the area.
47:03I would be guiding probably
47:04somewhere between that
47:051.9 to 2 and hope we can
47:07get almost Cindy's money
47:08back.
47:09So Cindy you could be
47:11minimising a loss.
47:13You're not going to be
47:14sorry it's not going to be
47:15profit but we're talking
47:16about minimising a loss
47:17and getting you out and
47:18getting all that financial
47:20stress away.
47:21That's real estate isn't it?
47:23It is real estate.
47:23There's ups and downs.
47:24So the next purchase you
47:25make you will listen to
47:27your good agent here.
47:28I will be coming with it.
47:30Yes.
47:30And you will buy right.
47:32I really hope there's a
47:33sole board and a strong
47:34price.
47:35Thanks Andrew.
47:39What Wendy and Dennis have
47:41done is pure genius.
47:44All we've got to do for
47:44Cindy now is try and
47:46mitigate her losses.
47:54Thanks to Meryl's
47:56generosity, Cindy's property
47:57now puts its best foot
47:59forward in the market.
48:02Time to find out if the
48:04public agree.
48:06Hi, how are you?
48:07Hi.
48:07How are you?
48:08Welcome.
48:09Come on through.
48:10Wow.
48:11Oh yeah.
48:13The Mediterranean arch has
48:15gone.
48:16It's exactly what the front
48:17needed.
48:18It doesn't look like a
48:19little Spanish Hacienda
48:20anymore.
48:21It looks like it should be
48:22in Camden.
48:23Oh wow.
48:25Yeah, this is different.
48:27More light coming in too I
48:29think with the arch and that
48:31porch gone.
48:32Yeah.
48:33Oh.
48:35Love it.
48:36They've changed those blue
48:37bench tops.
48:39It's brightened it up.
48:41The tiles, the handles, it's
48:43made all the difference.
48:44You don't have to do a lot to
48:45make a difference.
48:47Oh, thank God.
48:49The blue bathroom has gone.
48:52What a difference.
48:53I love the black and white.
48:56There's not that clash anymore
48:57of that Mediterranean versus
48:59Victorian.
49:00It matches the area now.
49:02It does, yeah.
49:04With these changes I think
49:05you're going to be looking at
49:06like 1.9 maybe?
49:08Definitely around that 1.9 set of
49:10mile.
49:10I would think it's somewhere
49:11close to 2 mil.
49:12It's certainly a better value for
49:14money now.
49:14Yes, I think so too.
49:22And after just a few opens, I
49:24find myself back here.
49:25Oh, and those boards, they make
49:30me very happy.
49:36Hello.
49:37Nice to see you.
49:39Obviously, there's a great result
49:41here because I can see two sole
49:42boards.
49:43Yes.
49:43I love your touch.
49:44Nice, strong marketing that.
49:45So, let's hear the story about
49:47this because this time I'm seeing
49:50you, Cindy, with a very big smile
49:51on your face.
49:52You weren't quite so happy when we
49:53first met.
49:53There was a lot of stress going on
49:54with the scenario.
49:55Yeah.
49:56So, how long did it take to sell?
49:58So, we were on the market for
49:59four weeks.
50:00How long were you on the market
50:01before?
50:01Fifteen months?
50:03Yep.
50:04So, from fifteen months to four
50:06weeks.
50:06That's incredible.
50:08I know before you were chasing
50:09the high one nines.
50:12Did we get that?
50:13No, but I'm happy with what we
50:15got.
50:15Yeah.
50:16Yeah.
50:17So, what did we end up with
50:18sale price?
50:19One eight fifty.
50:20Reading between the lines,
50:22that's because the market has
50:23done a bit of flattening out.
50:25Yeah.
50:25So, that's only a problem if
50:28you're moving to another area.
50:29If you're staying within the area,
50:31you can reap the rewards and
50:33buy lower.
50:34Yes.
50:35So, have you been able to do
50:36that?
50:37Yeah, I've got a beautiful house
50:38around the corner.
50:39You have?
50:40Yeah, I've got a perfect house
50:41for the great price.
50:43That's amazing.
50:44So, in fact, it's an amazing
50:45result.
50:46Yes.
50:46So, is life feeling a lot more
50:48financially comfortable?
50:49Oh, it's such a relief.
50:50And did you have a hand in the
50:52new house?
50:52Ah, no, yeah.
50:54Yeah, I thought you might have
50:55done.
50:55Well, that's brilliant.
50:56I'm so delighted about it.
50:57That's a real, a real success.
50:59Look at that.
51:04Cheers, guys, and congratulations.
51:06Congratulations.
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