A MUM who bought a house without seeing it said she wouldn’t change it for the world despite the grim interior.
Jill purchased her “hidden home” and moved her family to a different country to start her renovation journey.
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After getting a divorce and becoming a single mum to a four-year-old, Jill never thought she would be in a position to live in her dream property.
But a few years later, she met her now-husband Noel and had another child while searching for somewhere to live.
Now a family of four with a joint income, Jill stumbled across a huge property in Cork, Ireland, that she fell in love with.
Unfortunately, this was in 2020 when the UK was in lockdown – meaning Jill and Noel couldn’t go and view it while it was on the market.
Despite only seeing a picture of it online, the couple decided to take the leap.
The house had been empty for 25 years and needed tonnes of work doing to it but that didn’t deter them and they started their “self-build journey”.
Jill and Noel were finally able to collect the keys and visit the house for the first time once restrictions were fully lifted.
Jill said: “I actually felt quite emotional seeing the house there at the bottom of the lane.
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“It was almost as though I felt a sense of compassion for it. Like ‘here we are, we’re going to look after you – we’ve arrived home’.”
Surrounded by forests and six acres of land, the pair were happy that they took the risk.
Inside was completely outdated and so far from being liveable that they quickly got to work.
Old milk cartons were still in the kitchen with dirty dishes piled up in the sink.
The toilet was cracked while wallpaper next to it had started peeling off.
Ancient furniture still sat in the lounge with dusty curtains hanging in the background.
Jill and Noel are now documenting their renovation journey on YouTube.
It comes after a couple added more than £135,000 to their home’s value while spending just half that amount on a reno.
And on DIY fanatic managed to transform her kitchen worktops in just a few hours for less than £15.
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