HOUSE THAT
We added more than £135,000 to our home’s value while spending just half that amount – here’s how we did it
A COUPLE have added more than £135,000 to their home's value while spending just half that amount.
Steph White, 34, from the Midlands, bought her first three-bedroom end of terrace house with husband James, 38, in 2013 for £150,000.
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When Steph and James, who both work in education, purchased the Victorian property, they didn't think that they would spend the next ten years renovating it.
Their hard work paid off when they got their home revalued this year and were told it was worth £285,000.
They spent just over £60,000 renovating their house, a sum larger than they had initially expected.
The couple fell in love with the property because of its high ceilings and other traditional features.
But they still wanted to make some changes to suit their own taste and style and make it a perfect home for them.
Steph and James have since added a driveway, re-landscaped the garden, added a new patio, re-plastered all the rooms, and installed new flooring and carpets.
"We bought to renovate ourselves but have got the renovating bug and have spoken about moving into the buy-to-let and flipping houses as a career," said Steph.
"My favourite transformation is the kitchen," she continued. "We opened it up but still kept the feel of a Victorian house.
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"I am pleased with the matches of the bricks and the fact it isn't a huge modern extension on the back of the house that it is in keeping with the period feel.
"We spent a lot of time, effort and money on the garden so it's nice to be able to see it from the kitchen.
"The previous conservatory was a useless space."
Their renovation journey had its difficult points throughout the decade, such as the rising cost of materials and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At times Steph and James were living without electricity and water, making it difficult to keep motivated.
She said: "After a full day at work, having to come home to clean all of the building work and cook meals with no real space too. It certainly took its toll.
"Also making sure we take the time to sit back and enjoy the house now that it's pretty much finished.
"We have looked at other projects very recently and it has made it difficult to want to leave the house now that it is exactly how we've always wanted it."
Although there have been ups-and-downs of their renovation journey, Steph still stands by that she would do it all over again for the end result.
"We would definitely do it again," she said. "We have decided that we're going to wait it out for the forever home and we want to possibly move out of the area into the countryside.
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"So it will depend on how the market is and finding the right project.
"We know it will be another period property and they are hard to find."
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