'Eyesore' Glasgow house transformed after being abandoned for a decade

A home in Glasgow that was abandoned for nearly a decade has been completely transformed after a £100,000 renovation.

The derelict property in Croftfoot Road was covered in graffiti and overrun by vermin after being boarded up and left to decay for nearly a decade after it was inherited by its owner.

To add to that, hundreds of rubbish, kids toys and household goods had been “left to rot” in the middle of the house.

Described as an “eyesore”, neighbours had been left fearing that the derelict property would decrease the value of their own homes.

However, property renovator Connaire McGuinness managed to reach an agreement with the owners to empty and renovate the building back in May 2022 – in a deal that would see them both split the profits from a future sale.

The property was left covered in rubbish. Connaire McGuinness via Supplied

Just under two years and £100,000 later, the renovation is now complete with an open house planned for prospective buyers.

Ahead of it’s opening, Connaire told STV News: “This has been our Grand Designs opportunity. A chance to make something amazing.

“The job was massive – we went through 10 to 14 skips just for clearing the stuff out of the house. That alone took around two weeks solid.

“Once it was emptied, we stripped it back to the bare bones and got rid of everything to the point it was just walls. We knew what we wanted and we knew what buyers were interested in.

The garden had been abandoned for nearly a decade. Connaire McGuinness via Supplied

The garden has been completely renovated. Ronald Ross via Supplied

“It had a really tiny, tiny kitchen, so we knocked walls down and created an open-plan kitchen and dining room.

“We also flipped the staircase, put in a new floor and carpets and created a third bedroom upstairs. It’s been a massive job.”

The renovation work itself took just over six months to complete, but the entire process took Connaire nearly two years to finish once he purchased the property in May 2022.

The 29-year-old admitted that it’s a “strange feeling” now that the project is complete.

He said: “It’s been such a long process, I mean it’s been occupying my brain everyday for the last two years.

“So it’s going to be strange.

“It will be someone’s family home now, not somewhere where I’ll be popping down to work. I’ll definitely miss it.

“When I saw this, I knew it would be a massive job, and I knew would need a lot of help with it.

“I need to thank all the other guys involved, Barry Wilson, the partner I’m doing it with, Iain McGill and the team at Kraken Property Group.

The entrance to the property before the renovation. Connaire McGuinness via Supplied

The home now has an open plan kitchen. Ronald Ross via Supplied

“We got a lot of good press last time this story was run, and even on social media everyone has been patting us on the back for a job well done, but this entire project would not have been possible without the input of Ronald Ross estate agents and So Staged.”

The home is now on the market, with offers starting at £245,000 – £15,000 more than Connaire was expecting.

He added: “It’s now ready to go on the market, and the estate agent has said they’re expecting a lot of interest.

“It’s amazing.”