{"id":3297,"date":"2025-12-27T09:06:38","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T09:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=3297"},"modified":"2025-12-27T09:06:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T09:06:38","slug":"what-i-own-we-bought-our-yorkshire-home-for-73000-now-its-worth-five-times-as-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/badvibes.live\/?p=3297","title":{"rendered":"What I Own: We bought our Yorkshire home for \u00a373,000 \u2014 now it\u2019s worth five times as much"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Welcome back to\u00a0<\/strong>What I Own<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Metro\u2019s property series where we speak to\u00a0homeowners<\/a>\u00a0about\u00a0getting on the ladder.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joanne Hardcastle has always had an eye for bold colours and vintage pieces \u2014 so when she moved into her four-bedroom, four-storey home in Batley, West\u00a0Yorkshire<\/a>, she had a vision.<\/p>\n

Since buying the\u00a0Edwardian property<\/a>\u00a0in 2000, the interior designer has transformed her home, doing much of the hard work herself \u2014 or roping in her husband, Tim.<\/p>\n

Now, she documents her interior projects on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and her efforts got her noticed by the team behind the BBC\u2019s Interior Design Masters.<\/p>\n

After being rejected for her original application, Joanne landed a spot on series four \u2014 and still considers her fellow Masters her pals, two years on.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what Joanne had to say about her property journey\u2026<\/p>\n

Tell us about yourself!<\/h3>\n

My name is Joanne, I\u2019m 54, and I\u2019m Yorkshire born and bred. I\u2019m married to my husband, Tim, and I\u2019m a mum to three grown-up girls and three cats.<\/p>\n

I appeared on series four of the\u00a0BBC<\/a>\u2019s Interior Design Masters. Like so many interior content creators, the team sent me a DM and asked me to apply. I got right up to the final selection, and then I was rejected by the BBC and told to come back next year. I was very reluctant to do so, but the production caster was very persuasive!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so grateful that I finally did the show. It taught me I\u2019m so much more than just a mum, and that it\u2019s time to put myself first now.<\/p>\n

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\"Joanne<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The best thing about the show was the wonderful friends that I made, who were all so supportive, and I\u2019ve learnt so much from them all. We\u2019re still really close and meet up all the time.<\/p>\n

What kind of property do you own, and how long have you been there?<\/h3>\n

I live in a four-story, four-bedroom end terrace Edwardian house. We moved here in February 2000.<\/p>\n

How much do you pay to live here?<\/h3>\n

We bought it for \u00a373,000 and have borrowed a further \u00a330,000 to extend 10 years ago, and spent \u00a360,000 to renovate the basement three years ago. We paid our\u00a0mortgage<\/a>\u00a0off last January.<\/p>\n

We bought our first house in 1992 for \u00a337,000 with a \u00a32,000 deposit. I worked for an insurance company and had to wait until I was 21 before I could get a staff mortgage. We moved to this house seven years later and sold that one for \u00a345,000 using the equity as a deposit.<\/p>\n

And what do you get for what you pay?<\/h3>\n

Four bedrooms, two reception rooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, snug and utility\/office. We have a very small garden to the front and rear.<\/p>\n

Do you feel like you have a good deal?<\/h3>\n

We got it for a good price, and it has increased considerably in value.\u00a0It\u2019s hard to price it because it\u2019s such an unusual property, but from my experience with property and interiors, I think it\u2019s now worth between \u00a3300,000 and \u00a3350,000. Before we paid off the mortgage, we were paying around \u00a3900 per month towards it.<\/p>\n

What do you love to do in your house?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s the perfect family home with lots of space to entertain guests. I work from home and love spending time there.<\/p>\n

Where is your home based? What do you think of the area?<\/h3>\n

Upper Batley, West Yorkshire. I love the rural aspect of where we are, but I feel that the local town is run down, with not very many local amenities.<\/p>\n

However, I love the countryside I\u2019m surrounded by; I\u2019ve cows at the back and horses at the front and can see green as far as I can see out of all the windows.<\/p>\n

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\"Joanne<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How did you find this property?<\/h3>\n

We had a little cottage, and when we put it on the market, a lady came to view it. I knew her son, and where she lived, and asked if we could view her property; we fell in love instantly.<\/p>\n

What made you want to buy rather than rent?<\/h3>\n

I think it was quite normal to buy a house back in the 90s; it was so much easier.<\/p>\n

I really worry for my daughters about getting onto the housing ladder, one of them lives in\u00a0London<\/a>, and the cost of houses there is so expensive.<\/p>\n

How have you made this place feel like home?<\/h3>\n

It was so run-down and in a terrible state of repair. We\u2019ve slowly renovated it as and when funds have allowed.<\/p>\n

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\"Joanne<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We\u2019ve replaced the windows with reproduction double-glazed windows and restored\u00a0all the fireplaces and plasterwork.\u00a0In terms of\u00a0interiors<\/a>, I love bold colours and textures, and I collect vintage pieces too.<\/p>\n

Do you feel like you have enough space?<\/h3>\n

I love the space, the high ceilings and large rooms, but I\u2019d love a bigger garden.<\/p>\n

What would you like to have but don\u2019t with this house?<\/h3>\n

I\u2019d love it to be in a nicer area in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside.<\/p>\n

Is this your favourite home you\u2019ve ever lived in?<\/h3>\n

I adore this house; it feels like home, and we have so many memories here. I love that it\u2019s the family base and that my girls have a safe place that\u2019s always here and they can come back to.<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s made them confident to go and take adventures and move away. I can\u2019t wait until it\u2019s full of little grandchildren running around.<\/p>\n

Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?<\/h3>\n
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\"Joanne<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our neighbours have access across our garden, and this can be annoying when we\u2019re enjoying time outside in the summertime.<\/p>\n

What are your biggest property non-negotiables when looking?<\/h3>\n

My biggest property non-negotiables are for it to be a period property and to be surrounded by countryside.<\/p>\n

What do you want people to know about buying a home?<\/h3>\n

This house was in a really bad state when we bought it, but it\u2019s all we could afford in the area we wanted to live in.<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t expect our renovation to happen overnight. I think if you\u2019ve got your heart set on doing something a certain way, it\u2019s better to save up to do it rather than to make a compromise because you\u2019ll only end up doing it the right way in the end.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t follow the latest fashions; go with what your heart loves.<\/p>\n

Do you have plans to move again anytime soon?<\/h3>\n

Our children are older now, and the next move will be to downsize, so yes.<\/p>\n

Shall we take a look around?<\/h3>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne and her family have lived here since 2000 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

They originally bought it for \u00a373,000 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

\u2026and it\u2019s since accrued value (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne says she learned that she\u2019s \u2018so much more than a mum\u2019 from her time on Interior Design Masters (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

She also made friends for life (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

We\u2019re enjoying this pink and green theme (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Feeling festive? (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne bought her first house in 1992 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

At the time, it cost \u00a337,000 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

\u2026and her deposit was \u00a32,000 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

She was working for an insurance company (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

\u2026so she managed to get a staff mortgage (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

They managed to buy their current home using the equity from their previous home (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne says it was \u2018normal\u2019 to buy a house in the 90s (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Mince pie, anyone? (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne and her husband paid off their mortgage last year (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Beforehand, they were paying around \u00a3900 per month for it (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

We\u2019re a fan of this funky hallway (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne says she worries that her daughters won\u2019t be able to get on the housing ladder (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

One of her daughters lives in London, and she\u2019s concerned about how expensive things are (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Breakfast in bed, anyone? (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

It\u2019s a blue mood in the main bedroom (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne adores this house (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Together, the family have so many memories here (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne is glad that her girls have a \u2018safe place they can always come back to\u2019 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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(Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

She loves the colour scheme throughout the house (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

There\u2019s enough room for four bedrooms here (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Even the bathroom is beautifully decorated (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\u2026and there\u2019s a Christmas bathmat too (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Exactly (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Scrub a dub dub (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

It wouldn\u2019t be Christmas without the What I Own toothbrush pic (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

The tiling in here is gorgeous (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

You make the seun shine brighter than Doris Day, it\u2019s true (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

The couple have converted the cellar, too (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Joanne describes her home as \u2018peaceful and relaxing\u2019 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Meow (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

We love the knick knacks in here (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

When they first bought their home, Joanne says it was in a \u2018bad state\u2019 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

The couple renovated it slowly, as they could afford to (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

The house was what they could afford in the area they lived in (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne says \u2018if you\u2019ve got your heart set on doing something a certain way, it\u2019s better to save up to do it\u2019 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

\u2026rather than make a compromise (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

She also advises against \u2018going with the latest fashions\u2019 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

\u2026and instead recommends going with \u2018what your heart loves\u2019 (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

This is a beautiful festive touch (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne loves the rural aspect of where she lives (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

It\u2019s a think pink vibe inside this bathroom (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Even the towels match the kitchen tiles (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Before they moved here, they lived in a little cottage (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

They knew the previous owners of the home (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

There\u2019s even a festive touch down in the cellar (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Now this is a camp rug (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

We\u2019re enjoying the pop of colour from the yellow sofa (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne would love to live right in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"The<\/div>\n<\/div>

They currently share garden access with their neighbours (Picture: Andrew McCaren for Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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In the future, they might look to downsize (Picture: Joanne Hardcastle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>

Joanne loves to collect bold colours and textures (Picture: Joanne Hardcastle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to\u00a0What I Own\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Metro\u2019s property series where we speak to\u00a0homeowners\u00a0about\u00a0getting on the ladder. Joanne Hardcastle has always had an eye for bold colours and vintage pieces \u2014 so when she moved into her four-bedroom, four-storey home in Batley, West\u00a0Yorkshire, she had a vision. Since buying the\u00a0Edwardian property\u00a0in 2000, the interior designer has transformed her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3299,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t