Although run-down and abandoned, Trey and Abby Brothers knew it would be their forever home when they first saw the dilapidated brick mansion in North Carolina.
Abby, 33, and her husband Trey, 35, transformed the old mansion into an incredible modern home, increasing the value of their once run-down home by a whopping $745,000.
The couple, who have two children together, bought the run-down property in June 2018 for $155,000 after discovering it online.
They spent nine months completely renovating the villa and moved in shortly before their son was born in December 2020.
When Trey and Abby Brothers first saw their run-down and abandoned brick mansion in North Carolina, they knew it would be their forever home
The couple purchased the property in June 2018 for $155,000 and their extensive renovations increased the value of their once run-down home by $745,000
Built in 1913, the mansion had remained untouched for over 30 years and they knew it would take a lot of hard work to repair.
“When we saw the house in person we knew it was our home but it looked so sad and run down,” Abby, a trained nurse, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“A lot of people told us we were crazy to buy a house this size that required so much work,” she admitted.
The massive 6,000 square foot space is located in Aberdeen, North Carolina. The colonial-style brick mansion features six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a large foyer with a grand staircase, as well as a kitchen that opens to the dining room, a study, a living room and a large attic.
The house was originally built for a family and the brothers wanted it to stay that way.
“We wanted to make our home just that – a home,” Abby said.
However, the task ahead was a huge undertaking that required everything to be updated. The plumbing, electricity, windows and walls were all from 1913.
“There was no central air conditioning, which is crucial for North Carolina's hot summers.” “There was radiator heat, but it was extremely difficult to heat the house, so that too was replaced and the radiators removed,” explained Abby.
The couple shared their DIY journey on Instagram (@turningthepagemansion), where they now have over 24,500 followers.
The couple, who have two children together, were told they were “crazy” to buy a home that “requires so much work.”
The brothers spent nine months completely renovating the mansion, built in 1913 (pictured before renovation).
Couple Transformed Abandoned Mansion Into Incredible Modern Home (Pictured After Renovation)
The house was originally built for a family and the couple wanted to keep it that way
They carried out many of the renovations themselves with the help of family and friends
The couple shared their DIY journey on Instagram (@turningthepagemansion), where they now have over 24,500 followers
The property also suffered major damage after years of disuse, meaning some rooms were completely unusable.
'[The house] “There were a lot of leaks in the roof that caused severe water damage, the worst of which was in the dining room,” recalls the mother of two.
Rags to Riches: The Cost Breakdown of Reviving the Brothers' Mansion
Masonry: $5,000
Siding: $3,600
Roof: $27,900
Windows: $22,800
Partition: $24,100
Plaster/Drywall: $32,000)
Wood paneling: $2,500
Hardwood floors: $28,200
Plumbing: $26,600
Electrical: $30,000
Heating: $44,800
Insulation: $13,000
Cleanup: $10,700
Other: $2,000
Total: $268,400
“We couldn’t fully access the dining room because the floor had given way and was in the basement. “As a result, new floor joists and flooring were required on this entire side of the house, and the roof was repaired and replaced,” she added.
With the help of family and friends, the couple did as much of the renovation work themselves as possible.
“We helped with the demonstration and were also involved in every project, in some form or fashion,” she said.
“Trey redid the terrazzo floors in the bathrooms and did the concrete countertops in the kitchen/pantry,” she continued.
“Trey, his mother and stepfather laid all the tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms except one bathroom.” My family and I laid the tiles and that was enough for me, but we did all the interior painting ourselves.
In total, they spent $268,494 on renovations, so the property is now worth $900,000.
The family is thrilled with their “warm and cozy” home, although there is still some work to be done.
“Our home is priceless to us.” “We loved our home when it was falling apart, but that love has grown even greater,” Abby gushed.
“Because we live here, we see all the flaws, but knowing how far our home has come, the flaws can be overlooked,” the mother said proudly.
The family is looking forward to spending Christmas indoors and has decorated the spacious room with four large and two small trees.
“We lit up the stairwells, the windows and even the porch,” the mother said.
“We'll have some work to do once the holidays are over, but for now we're just enjoying the holidays as a family.”