£3,342 spent. Now on the market for £99,950.

Look at the state of this house when we got the keys. Most people would walk in and think it needed thousands spending on it before anyone would buy it.

It did not. The whole house needed £3,342.

Every room in this three bed semi on Eamont Road in Norton was full of rubbish and belongings. But underneath was a solid house with a decent kitchen and bathroom. It needed clearing, cleaning and painting, not ripping out.

Our in-house team did exactly that, for around 3% of the asking price.

Watch the video: https://youtube.com/shorts/YTAyFMEUBbY

What we did, room by room

Bedroom 3. Rubbish covered the floor and the carpet was beyond saving. We ripped it out, repainted the walls and woodwork, and fitted a new grey carpet.

Kitchen. We cleared and sanitised it, deep cleaned the cooker and fridge, and scraped back and sealed the window and door frames. No new units were needed.

Master bedroom. Clothes and belongings were piled high on the bed. We cleared it fully, painted the ceiling, and dressed the existing bed with a fresh white cover.

Living and dining rooms. We cleared both rooms, deep cleaned the carpets, and tidied and painted the media wall. We kept the sofas, dining table and chairs to show buyers how each room works.

Bathroom. We fitted a new vinyl floor, a new toilet seat and a chrome light fitting, and restored the nicotine stained ceiling and walls.

Outside. We weeded and swept the front, patch pointed the brickwork, jet washed the patio, and cut back the garden for kerb appeal.

Where the money went

Skip hire priced separately.

The seller takeaway

Buyers decide in seconds from the listing photos. That is why over half this budget went on paint.

Five ways to get the most from a pre-sale refurb

1. Clear it completely. Clutter hides the size of every room. Clearing is often the cheapest and most powerful thing you can do.
2. Paint everything neutral. Fresh white and light grey walls, clean ceilings and satin woodwork make a house look cared for in photos and at viewings.
3. Fix the small stuff. Loose sockets, missing screws, tired toilet seats and old pull cords cost very little to sort, but buyers notice them, and they add up in a buyer’s head.
4. Keep what works. The kitchen and bathroom here were deep cleaned, not replaced. Big-ticket items like these can easily cost more than they add to the sale price.
5. Dress it to sell. We kept the sofas, dining table and bed to show how each room works, and tidied the garden and front for kerb appeal.

Now for sale: offers over £99,950

Gross yield is based on the estimated rent and the asking price, rounded.

With a separate dining room, an enclosed rear garden and no onward chain, it suits investors and first time buyers alike.

View the property: https://nguhomes.co.uk/property/3-bed-semi-detached-house-for-sale-in-eamont-road-stockton-on-tees/750398

Thinking of selling a rental?

We can look at your property and tell you honestly what is worth doing before it goes on the market, and what is not. Then we’ll give you an itemised quote. Our in-house refurb team of 10 to 20 tradespeople covers the whole North East, we are competitive on price, and we send video updates throughout every job.

Email us at landlords@nguhomes.co.uk or call 0191 491 0344 for a pre-sale refurb quote, or to book a viewing on Eamont Road.