THREE years ago, Jen Atkin thought her dream of renovating her first home was near-impossible - but by employing a series of savvy tricks she has knocked £15k off the cost. The 30-year-old bought her four-bed home in Grimsby last year with husband Chris, 33, for £165,000, but the place was a "dump" and needed a total makeover. 5 The admin worker has now become a bartering expert and saved £15k 5 Former beauty pageant contestant Jen Atkins was shocked at her builders' quotes 5 The couple have now renovated the 'dump' into their dream home However, the couple's dream renovation project quickly turned into a nightmare when eye-watering quotes from builders started coming in.
The escalating cost of living meant they were struggling to save and would never be able to foot the costs - but the house was practically unliveable. However, admin worker Jen and Chris, an electrical engineer, refused to give up on their "tumble down tip" of a house and set about scrimping and bartering to get the work they needed done for as little as possible. They've now got their dream home renovated for half the price they originally expected.
DREAM TO NIGHTMARE When the couple first found their first home, it seemed too good to be true for the price and they were excited at the prospect of a 'fixer-upper'. "We had planned to buy a new-build, but when the estate agent showed us the four-bedroom house ‘in need of attention’ for £165,000 with a garden we fell in love - it was twice the size of a.
