FINAL 2018 hot pick property for auction

Hey folks... it's getting closer and closer to Christmas now, so there's not long left if you're hoping to grab a bargain property at auction this year!

My final hot pick property of the year is this rather fabby property in Derbyshire that's ideally suited to investors, developers, and owner occupiers who are hunting for a fantastic project property. It's perhaps a little overwhelming for the beginner, but for anyone that brings a little time and experience with them, it's an amazing opportunity to fully renovate a wonderful Grade II Listed historic property that can be taken in multiple potential directions during the restoration.

At first glance you quickly realise this gorgeous big stone property is in the perfect rural setting and benefits from extensive views across the surrounding countryside. As far as I can tell, this one appears to have two bedrooms to the first floor and a further 3 rooms in the attic, so it's a diverse property that could provide from 2-5 bedrooms so as to suit a variety of owners. Additionally a property in such an idyllic setting, and with that stunning stone facade, will lend itself to use as a B&B, small hotel, or division into apartments for holiday let or selling on. I personally hope it won't be divided as it's such a unique property that exudes historic character by the bucketload!

Now, normally I'd be about to take you all on a bit of a virtual tour to check out the interior now... but not this time as the property has been stripped out fully so it's largely just a helluva lot of stone walls on show throughout. What I can say for certain is that there's some rather lovely looking fireplaces in there, and I'm seeing lots of lovely ceiling beams on the ground floor too. There also appears to be a great wood burning stove that will keep everyone cosy and warm in the colder months. The one other thing jumping out at me is how light and spacious the attic rooms appear to be, making them ideal for bedrooms or some kind of work/activity space.

Right... this is where things get a little more quirky and interesting. There's quite a lot of additional buildings on this 2 acre site, most of which are outbuildings, but in addition there's also a three bedroom dwelling here. It appears that has been the residence of the current owners during works carried out so far on the main farmhouse, however there has been no planning permission approved for that property so anyone planning to buy this one will need to check out where things stand with regards the smaller three bedroom property. They haven't included any internal images of that building, but the exterior gives the impression that it's well cared for and probably hasn't been there for too many years (that's just my thoughts though, and I may be wrong, but it looks new-ish to me!).

So, that's a potential home base for any owner occupiers considering taking on this large listed Edwardian style project property. You'll need to check where you stand with the planning side of things, but I'm optimistic that it could be seen as ok in a temporary sense while the main property is restored to it's former glory given that the farmhouse is not liveable in it's present state. Plus, whether or not the smaller home is permissible on the site, there's loads more potential on offer here thanks to the various mainly stone built outbuildings which are also included with this property. Each and every one of them comes with further development potential. From a former pig shed, to a stone built garage, and a large barn/stable, they're all in various conditions and each brings their own individual quirks, character, and possibilities for transformation. Lastly there is a dilapidated second barn which has lapsed planning permission granted for further ancillary and holiday accommodation.

This is one of the most spectacular development/project properties I've seen in a long time. Admittedly it's only really suited to the most brave and experienced of owner occupiers given that it's rather enormous in scale... but it is not beyond the abilities of an owner with skills, experience, and contacts in the right fields to being about that dream transformation from stone shell into perfect family home. For the right owner, this has endless potential to be moulded and shaped into a live/work environment. Those outbuildings could be used for a bed and breakfast, cattery/kennel, holiday lets, workshops and studios for creative pursuits... set in 2 acres and with such pretty landscaped gardens this setting is really quite special, so it's well worth considering taking on such a big project when the long term rewards will be equally epic!

Obviously there's significant appeal for investors and developers too. The end result could be multiple residential dwellings for selling on or retaining to let for investment income from either tenants or short holiday letting. Properties with such diverse scope are a rare find... so if you find you're drawn to a quirky project property then you might want to check out this one further before it's snapped up as the perfect Christmas pressie for someone at auction :-)

Oh... and probably the most important 'need to know', it's for auction this FRIDAY (14th) with SDL AUCTIONS DERBYSHIRE.