Wreck of the Week

A semi for you today. I know, I know - I don't usually 'do' semis but we can't always live in the middle of a field, sometimes neighbours are good for us. This weird and wonderful five-bed semi in Standish , near Wigan, was sent to me by reader Alison. She'd looked at the property when it was priced £55k higher! Alison wrote: It's not entirely what I'd call a wreck, but we viewed in over 12 months ago at £265k, and it was in much better condition, and was lived in. It's been on the market for years, with at least 3 agents, and once up for auction.  Me suspects there are problems with surveys that are making sales fall through!  It has three 'stables' which the agent wouldn't even let us look in because they were so dilapidated.   I'd absolutely love to buy it... but hubby says No!  I'm just picturing converting one of the attic rooms to a beautiful bathroom, with roll-top bath below the round window. ...I'd love...

  This Lincolnshire cottage was sent to me by regular reader Liz - who has been positively love-bombing me with gorgeous properties this month. Mill House, at Mumby, comes with the remains of a cottage garden, orchard and five acres of  land. It's a bit of an odd, long shape. Downstairs are three reception rooms, including what the agents have called a central dining hall, three smaller rooms, a garden room, and a downstairs loo. The only access to the upstairs is via the ladder in the scullery (you'll need to add stairs but that does give more options for remodeling): Upstairs are three decent size bedrooms and a bathroom, of sorts, with all rooms dipping into the eaves: The property clearly needs a lot of work. A structural survey was done in 2014, no idea what it said but judging by the tools scattered around the rooms it looks like someone considered starting the job but gave up. And I'm always a bit worried when the agent signs off the details ...

Definitely Good Life potential here - tho' by the time you've finished renovating Merriotts Farm, you'll probably be too cream-crackered to plant spuds! A fabulous, three-bedroom Somerset farmhouse with attached two-storey workshop and a separate barn. Plus just over five acres of adjoining land (and the option to buy more). It needs a fair bit of work and modernisation (there's no bathroom, for instance; just a downstairs shower room) and you'll want to knock through walls and generally extend the house space into the work space: However, the views are fabulous and it's in a nice location on the edge of Wearne, about a mile from  Langport . Looks like the last chap to live here probably spent more time in the workshops than the kitchen. And I found the walking stick resting against the exercise bike a bit sad. Even sadder that all the tractors and farm machinery were auctioned off last week, and now the house is off to auction. An...

Two chunky Cumbrian cuties for you today.  First up is Rose Hill - a five bedroom, grade II-listed, detached cottage about four miles from Penrith . It was sent to me by regular Wreck reader Keith, who pointed out the estate agent's warning: "Buyers beware, this is not a weekend DIY project". Indeed. Rose Hill is substantial house with lots of gorgeous original features (look at those fab stone floors!) but clearly a substantial amount of work to do to. Note the ceilings and walls... Downstairs are two reception rooms, kitchen, utility and larder. I was blown away by the crockery and oddments piled up in the larder - has the family just not had a clear out or was someone actually living here? Upstairs are three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and two further bedrooms on the second floor. Outside is a garden area and a couple of stores, plus the start of a new drive. And some stunning views: It's on the market through Wilkes...