In February 2020, I officially received the keys to my new home: a 796-square-foot, two-bedroom Victorian house that I bought for £1.
The sale was part of the ‘houses for a pound’ scheme set up to revive the Webster Triangle, a small run-down area in Liverpool. But there was a problem: the house was in complete disrepair. To qualify, you had to be a first-time homeowner and be able to fix your home within 12 months.
The council estimated that the renovations would cost $61,400.
When I applied for the program in 2015, I was a 28 year old graduate student without much in the way of savings. I didn’t have all the funds I needed, but I applied anyway.
I changed the configuration of my house so that I could maximize natural light. Now the bedrooms are on the first floor, and the kitchen and living room are upstairs.
Photo: Maxine Sharples
When I got off the waiting list, my financial situation had changed. I inherited a property from my dad, who had recently passed away, and sold it to raise funds for the renovations.
Today my house has been redone to maximize light and has made headlines in the UK for its novel use of space.
turning my house upside down
I knew I had my work cut out for me. The house had been abandoned for 15 years. The windows were boarded up, there was a leaking roof, an infestation of rats, asbestos, and there was no electricity or heating system.
But I loved it. Was my pile of crumbling bricks.
When I started the renovations, there were crumbling bricks everywhere.
Photo: Maxine Sharples
Managing a comprehensive reform is not for everyone. Having enough money is only the first hurdle; You need the right people to get things done successfully.
Photo: Maxine Sharples
I realized that I could change the original design of the house to get more natural light. So I moved the bedrooms to the first floor and the kitchen and living room to the second floor. Then I added skylights to the roof.
I paid an architect $1,064 to do the plans. The contractors I spoke with laughed at my house reconfiguration proposal. The cheapest quote I got was $37,600 over my budget, which was all of my savings. But I didn’t flinch.
In May 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I quit my job as a project officer at a university and started doing the renovations myself, with limited tools.
Due to lockdown restrictions, I was granted a 12 month extension. But I was also dealing with unemployment and a breakup. It was clear that she couldn’t do it all alone.
The community that helped me build my urban paradise
I started to blog about the renewal process in August 2021. When I got discouraged, looking back at my Instagram and taking stock of what I actually accomplished renewed my vigor.
I am very grateful for the help of my friends. I know that I could not have finished the project without them.
Photo: Maxine Sharples
This was especially helpful to my resolve, since most of that summer I lived in a caravan at a local park in Liverpool.
The open kitchen and living room are one of my favorite places in the house. The natural light makes it the perfect place for my plants to thrive.
Photo: John O’Mahony for CNBC Make It
But with my story, I was able to take readers to my instagram account and build a community of followers. Some companies even contacted me with discounted products, like 50% off underfloor heating.
In May 2022, after 27 months of work, they gave me the house. I was the last owner to complete a renovation. I spent a total of $74,000 in labor and materials.
The dining room is now my bedroom. I also replaced the windows with patio doors, giving me direct access to the garden.
Photo: John O’Mahony for CNBC Make It.
I now pay $119 a month in city taxes and $218 a month in utilities, which includes electric, heat, water, internet, and phone bills.
I’m glad I had the conviction and persistence to stick to my vision. I learned how to lay bricks, tile, install underfloor heating, and refinish floors, and it saved me a lot of money.
The kitchen island, which I bought used, gives me plenty of space to cook and entertain.
Photo: John O’Mahony for CNBC Make It
Currently, my part-time jobs as a project officer, yoga teacher, tutor, and online dominatrix bring in $2,505 a month. I work at a leisurely pace and can use that money to slowly decorate the house.
I love using this living space to read and practice yoga.
Photo: Maxine Sharples
This house is now worth much more than what I paid in renovations. A 2-bedroom house on my street recently sold for $137,000. But if I ever decided to leave, I would just rent it out. I’ve invested too much in this place to sell it.
My laundry room is compact, but very useful. I was even able to add a washer and dryer.
Photo: Maxine Sharples
With just one room to renovate, I’m taking my time to finish building my dream home and live happily in a community once destined to be rubble.
Maxine Sharples is a yoga teacher and project manager at Liverpool John Moores University. She has a master’s degree in International Business and Chinese, and has spent time living and working in Africa and Asia. She likes to blog about her income streams, field trips, and DIY design projects of hers. Follow her on Instagram @homesforapound.
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