Homes Under The Hammer fans were left in bits as a bloke was forced to flog his dream pad.
He was left in a vulnerable situation after costs spiralled out of control. First-time property developer Mohammad had BBC viewers reaching for the tissues when he had to put his newly built dream house on the market, having gone over budget due to escalating expenses.
He snapped up a 300 square metre plot of land at an auction, with the grassy space just a stone’s throw from Nottingham city centre boasting a guide price of £55,000 Mohammad bagged it for a nifty £60,000 back in February 2022.
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BBC’s very own Tommy Walsh rocked up to check out the site, which was a mere two-and-a-half miles from the hustle and bustle of town. Stepping onto the land, Tommy remarked: “Obviously, someone’s fenced a piece of their garden off and created this, this garden plot if you like.
(Image: BBC)
“At the moment, its just overrun with weeds and trees that need pruning back.” He noted that the plot was “more than adequate” for building, albeit requiring “a fair bit of work,” reports Nottinghamshire Live.
He added: “But the cherry on top? This little gem came with outline planning permission already in the bag.”
Mohammed, a local resident living with his wife Manija, had always harboured dreams of venturing into property. However, as Tommy pointed out, he had “jumped straight in the deep end” with his first project.
Although the initial permission was for a three-bedroom house with a garage, Mohammed altered the plans to include a rear extension and eliminate the garage. He stated: “I’ve always had it in mind to turn the three-bedroom into a five-bedroom.
(Image: BBC)
“I want to take it easy, put the three bedrooms plus the extension in first, if they approve it, then I might put another application in for a five-bedroom.”
Tommy queried: “Where would you put the extra two bedrooms, in the roof?” To which Mohammed replied: “In the loft yeah, with the dormers at the rear.”
Viewers were left on edge as Mohammed admitted he had no experience in building or renovations, but relished challenges and wanted to test himself with this project. He set an initial budget of £180,000 and aimed to complete the build within seven to eight months.
A year on, Tommy revisited the site, where “great progress” had been made thanks to builder Omar. Approval had been given for the additional two bedrooms and a bathroom in the roof space, and Mohammed and his wife decided they would move into the property as their dream home.
Mohammed found himself £20,000 over his initial budget but remained hopeful that the project would be completed within 12 weeks. However, it was a staggering 18 months later when Tommy returned to see the finished property, which boasted a grand hallway, an oversized lounge, a downstairs shower room, a modern kitchen and utility room all on the ground floor.
The first floor housed a family bathroom and three bedrooms, while the top floor offered another two bedrooms and a bathroom. The property also featured a rear garden, patio area, lawn and off-road parking for three cars.
(Image: BBC)
Mohammed revealed: “I’ve now spent £280,000. The reason for the increase is due to material prices going up by 30%. I didn’t know this at the time, but I had to borrow from friends and family to complete the project.”
Initially, the pair planned to move in, but given the amount of money invested, they decided to sell the house instead. He further added: “Now that I’ve spent well over the anticipated price and had to borrow money from friends and family, now I’ve decided to sell it, just to get my money back and pay off the people that I owe money too.”
Including the original purchase price of the plot, Mohammed had poured £340,000 into his dream home. In November 2023, an estate agent valued the property at around £350,000. Unimpressed with this figure, Mohammed sought additional valuations from other estate agents, receiving estimates ranging from £475,000 to £535,000.
Tommy hailed Mohammed and his builder Omar’s revamp as a “tremendous effort”. The gorgeous pad is now on the market with Springbok Properties, with bids starting above £460,000.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
