Homes Under The Hammer’s Jacqui Joseph opened the front door of a property in Norfolk and instantly knew there was a major problem
Before even setting foot inside the property, Homes Under The Hammer presenter Jacqui Joseph encountered a significant problem that could deter potential buyers.
In the opening sequence of the repeat episode broadcast on BBC One on Monday, August 4, Jacqui was seen exploring the seaside resort of Hunstanton, situated on the north-western shoreline of Norfolk and famed for its stunning beaches.
Jacqui informed viewers that the seafront was merely a short stroll from the semi-detached Victorian, four-bedroom house she was featuring on the programme.
Initially, she was impressed by the property’s “grand” appearance, noting that it had an auction guide price of £200,000 plus. After offering her expert opinion on the exterior and praising the Victorian features, off-road parking, and the considerable size of the red brick, Jacqui was eager to see the interior.
But upon opening the front door, she noticed something unusual. Stepping through the entrance, she pointed out the brick at the bottom of the white PVC front door and remarked, “Oh, that’s not a good sign. You’ve got some dry rot there, but that could be because of the step outside,” reports Norfolk Live.
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Venturing further into the hallway, Jacqui quickly realised the problem was more extensive than she initially thought. Attempting to enter the front room, she exclaimed in shock, “Oh, wow, there are no floors.”
The property expert confessed, “I’m not sure what has happened here, but obviously the floors had to be removed for a reason.
“It could have been due to some serious damp, it could have just been rotten floorboards, it could be woodworm. But also, the plaster has been taken off the walls here.”
Upon further inspection of the house, Jacqui concluded: “There was obviously some serious damp here.”
Despite the significant challenges presented, Jane managed to secure the property at an online auction with a winning bid of £232,000, marking her first foray into auction buying.
Jane admitted that upon initial viewing, she and her family – her husband and son – had underestimated the extent of work required on the property.
The new owners of the semi-detached house had no intention of flipping or renting it out; they envisaged the Victorian dwelling as their future holiday home.
During their appearance on the show with local builder Ben, they confirmed Jacqui’s earlier concerns, noting that the property suffered from damp issues due to cracked external render.
They further discovered that the lack of ventilation beneath the floorboards was another significant and expensive issue that needed rectification.
With Ben’s assistance, Jane realised that the house required a complete overhaul, far beyond the simple updates of a new kitchen, bathroom, and a fresh coat of paint they had initially planned.
Fresh flooring, skirting boards, plastered walls, exterior rendering, a complete electrical rewiring, new radiators, and a boiler.
Jane had allocated £50,000 for all the renovation work, but owing to some significant complications, she revealed: “The budget was significantly exceeded. We were about £20,000 over, and there is a bit more to pay for yet.”
She continued: “I guess we’re going to end up about £30,000 over budget.”
Homes Under The Hammer airs weekdays from 11:15am on BBC One and can be streamed via BBC iPlayer.