Woman Buys House for $1.20

In a Nutshell:

• Maxine Sharples, a daring individual from Kent, purchased a house in Liverpool for just $1.20 through the Homes For a Pound scheme in 2019.
• Despite having no experience in DIY, Maxine took on the challenge of renovating the abandoned house, but faced unexpected hurdles such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of funds.
• Through sheer determination, resourcefulness, and a sense of humor, Maxine persevered through the challenges, enlisted the help of friends and family, and successfully transformed the house into her dream home in February 2022 after almost two years of hard work.

In a tale that seems straight out of a wild reality TV show, Maxine Sharples, a spunky gal from Kent, took on the challenge of a lifetime when she bought a house for just $1.20 (£1) in Liverpool. But little did she know that her journey would be filled with unexpected twists and turns, including a global pandemic and a crash course in DIY renovation!

It all started in 2015 when Maxine learned about the Homes For a Pound scheme, a crazy deal offered by the Liverpool city council to sell abandoned houses for just $1.20 with the condition that the buyer renovates the property within a year. Maxine, being the adventurous soul that she is, applied for the scheme despite not having the funds for renovations at the time, and forgot all about it.

Fast forward four years, and Maxine got a call from the council in 2019 asking if she was still interested in buying a house for $1.20. With her financial situation improved, Maxine jumped at the chance and was awarded the house at 100 Webster Road. And that’s when the real adventure began!

When Maxine first set foot in the house, she was greeted by a total fixer-upper. The place had been abandoned for 15 years and was in shambles, with missing windows and doors, and a pile of bricks. But Maxine wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. She boldly decided to quit her job and take on the renovation herself, despite having zero experience in DIY.

But just as Maxine was getting started, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the UK went into lockdown. Talk about bad timing! With no income and her savings drained, Maxine faced an uphill battle to complete the renovation. But she was determined to make her dream home a reality, no matter what!

Living in a camper van she had bought earlier as a temporary solution, Maxine faced all sorts of hilarious and heartwarming challenges along the way. From learning brickwork from scratch to enlisting the help of friends and family, she became a bona fide DIY queen. She even tried her hand at electrical and plumbing work, with some comical results!

Despite the setbacks and obstacles, Maxine’s can-do spirit never faltered. She persevered through the pandemic, navigating through ever-changing rules and restrictions, and kept chipping away at the renovation. And finally, in February 2022, after almost two years of blood, sweat, and tears, Maxine’s hard work paid off. The once-dilapidated house was transformed into a cozy home that she could proudly call her own.

Maxine’s incredible journey with the Homes For a Pound scheme is a story that’s as bizarre as it is inspiring. Her determination, resourcefulness, and sense of humor in the face of challenges are a testament to her adventurous spirit. She’s proven that with a little bit of grit, determination, and a $1.20 house, you can overcome any obstacle and achieve your dreams.

Source: Newsweek