Yaaay, it's the David Baddiel-a-like with the attitude and builder dispute again. I enjoyed this one.

How beautiful is their second development????? I want it.

I didn't like Mark at first but they definitely have great taste. I do want their second development, understated outside and big wow inside.

I have to say that David Baddielisms, bad bathroom ideas and dodgy holidays apart, I liked this couple's work. I'd forgotten how fantastic the kitchen-diner was and how there was only one bathroom but.... but..... I still liked their result. They actually acted professionally - employed tradesmen, reduced costs where it didn't matter (lighting) and spent it where it did (garden). Fair play to them.

They admitted they learnt a lot, they took on board their mistakes (3 beds, 3 baths in the second development) and they had fantastic design ideas. If I had £800,000 I would be tempted because that house was unique.

Nice house, but jeez 800k for a 3 bed, I'm emmigrating.

Don't like the guy, he's pretty full of himself.

Not sure about the 800K development, It'll date really quickly, but thats not his worry, i guess

Anyone know if it's still on the market? The problem with development two is that the location is a bit suburban and tends to appeal to the family market wanting to be almost London but not too gritty. Additionally people with 800k in the back pocket tend to want a fab interior AND a bit of bang for their buck on the way down the driveway. I thought the inside was great, but I wouldn't personally want to live in it (whoever buys it I am happy to come over for drinks). The exterior was dull-a-rama and people do pay for a knockout first impression.

It seemed to me more a development to live in yourself than to sell. It would be heartbreaking to leave!

I didn't like the guy either but the 2 developments were A1! Not sure about the propertys' values though.

The first property was valued at £499,950 and £500K respectively by two of the eas, and yet the third ea valued it at £525K. Bit of a difference there. And they sold at £535K. Amazing. Just shows how you should never take the valuation of just one ea.

I took a violent dislike to Mark, his manner towards the builder was unforgiveable, as it was his (Mark's) stupidity in going away at the crucial moment which led to the trouble with the steel beam. They did have good taste, as we all agree. But I wouldn't buy a property from him on principle. Nasty person.

the second house was OK but a bit OTT for my taste, and definitely put far beyond its intrinsic value for the area. All right if you like the kind of house you can show off to your friends, but somewhat lacking in homely qualities. If I had £800K to spend on a house (I wish!) it would be something very different from that one.

I loved the first house but thought the second development looked more like a cross between an office and a hotel. Definitely not "a home".

quote:

Originally posted by SAH:
...there is no way that we would have spoken to them as he did to his builder - neither would we have gone away as he did.

Especially not in front of the cameras..

I agree - although the first place was very nice, I thought the second place looked like a bar dwnstairs and an office upstairs. I suppose they were very different projects, but personally, I thought their design ideas for the first house were constrained by a desire to complement the original features. The second house seemed to have been gutted before they bought it - and with nothing but an empty shell to work on I think their previous experience as bar/restaurant designers showed through a little too much.

Interesting second house, but waaaaaaaaaaaaay out for the price range of the area.

I missed the total figures, but did they say they would make £200K if they sold for £400K over the top price for that area?

In other words, they need to sell for £200K over the top price, just to break even?!?!

Oh dear.....

I thought they were both great results, and the second home was just inspired, they are a talented design couple, no doubt about it. Although the second property was well pricey, isn't that just the sort of pad a popstar type person would want? Looks like any ordinary pad but inside, unbelievable - and not much need for any more than 3 bedrooms anyway - I think that's the sort of market they were looking at.

I didn't like their attitude with the first development, but they learnt from their mistakes, and although there was no admittance of it, the bloke there I am sure would've had a look at his attitude when he saw the first programme.

Bad idea to take a holiday in the middle of such a development though, really bad planning as it wasn't going to take them long to do anyway.

And what were they living off? They must have masses of savings, with the second development before they started they'd spent £8K on mortgage payments as it was. They both gave up their jobs didn't they?

But on the whole, a good outcome for a couple with a definite eye for the business.

It was a good one this one. I really did like the first one. Lovely, well finished and they did sell at £535k so profitable as well.

However, the second one. I had four thoughts in quick succession which have been echoed by other posters.

1) Wow, knock-out beautiful house - well finished, luxurious, lovely design

2) More a Grand Designs house designed for yourself than a Property Ladder house

3) Hmm, looks a bit like a shopping arcade/bar/hotel/office - so the commercial parts of their design experience showed up strongly. Not saying this is good or bad, but it was there - I expected an escalator behind the glass balustrades...

4) Bl00dy expensive and where do you park the car???

Brilliant if they can pull it off though, they had balls and really went out on a limb to do that one.

quote:

Originally posted by Connie:

I took a violent dislike to Mark, his manner towards the builder was unforgiveable, as it was his (Mark's) stupidity in going away at the crucial moment which led to the trouble with the steel beam. They did have good taste, as we all agree. But I wouldn't buy a property from him on principle. Nasty person.

Yeah, but I got to laugh at his dancing-on-holiday footage again

quote:

Originally posted by Connie:

I took a violent dislike to Mark, his manner towards the builder was unforgiveable, as it was his (Mark's) stupidity in going away at the crucial moment which led to the trouble with the steel beam.

Am I the only person who thought the builder was a total plonker for placing the beam as he did without checking? If he'd done a straw poll amongst passers by in the street 99.9% of them would have told him that they wouldn't want a 15 foot wide, six inch high lump sticking up in the middle of their bedroom floor. As he spoke to Mark several times during the course of their holiday he could have at least explained what was going on and how he was thnking of approaching it. Mark may have totally lost it and perhaps his reaction was extreme, but I have to say if it was me I'd have been incredulous too.

On the point about dodgy dancing, why were they all dressed in white? Are they part of a coven?

I agree the builder's decision seemed daft, but to be fair it had been impressed upon him they must not have a bulkhead in the kitchen. Of course he should have discussed it on the phone with the owner.

Just shows you should never leave them to their own devices. I would never leave tradesmen alone for more than a day or two - the 'decisions' they take on your behalf can be staggering. I once arrived home to find a plumber preparing to take out my traditional boiler and install a combi ("you don't want a header tank in the loft" - don't I? did I say that?). And when we had our kitchen extended, I came home to find the cabinet maker had made the cabinet doors in a design of his own choosing "you'll like them better this way". Oh no we won't!

Anyway, back on topic - I loved the first house except the stupid decision not to have a second bathroom. But I really disliked the second one - as someone else said, very officey and impersonal.

I can't find it for sale anywhere online but I can't believe they sold it at that price.

I agree with you, susiecam, that the builder should have phoned Mark to doublecheck, even if Mark's 'friend' had assured him it would be ok. (Who did he think he was, changing their ideas anyway?) For the builder to say he thought a lump of steel running from wall to wall could be 'designed out' was absolute nonsense, and personally I thought he got away lightly.

Re the holiday, it was Mark's 40th birthday celebration which they'd planned a year or so in advance. Surely they could have delayed the start of the build until after they'd returned. Bet they won't do that again!

It's perfectly true that the builder should have checked first about the beam, but the whole point is that no trouble would ever have arisen if they hadn't gone away and left him to it. So they are the ones at fault.

Never ever leave workman on their own. I wouldn't even leave one for more than a couple of hours. If there's a way to b*****r things up, they will find it.

I may be wrong but I have a vague recollection from the original broadcast (ie not shortened to fit in the update) that the builder did try to contact them about positioning the steel but that they weren't answering the phone and the builder couldn't delay putting in the steelwork owing to the hiring of materials and people specifically for that job. So I think he did do his best to get instruction before making his decision. And the guy's reaction was well out of order, in my view - I reckon a lot of builders would have chinned him, fussy beard or no fussy beard...

quote:

Originally posted by BertieWooster:
I may be wrong but I have a vague recollection from the original broadcast (ie not shortened to fit in the update) that the builder did try to contact them about positioning the steel but that they weren't answering the phone and the builder couldn't delay putting in the steelwork owing to the hiring of materials and people specifically for that job. So I think he did do his best to get instruction before making his decision. And the guy's reaction was well out of order, in my view - I reckon a lot of builders would have chinned him, fussy beard or no fussy beard...

I seem to remember that too.

The guy (Mark) came across as a bit up himself, didn't he?

"I'm seriously thinking about what I'm going to do about this"

He was utterly obnoxious, I thought the builder was absolutely saintly, he can work for me any time.