A real estate investor from Pennsylvania’s Diversified Real Estate Investor Group (DIG) has won the annual Ugliest House of the Year 2016 contest for a renovation he did on a 1945 two-story home, according to a release put out by HomeVestors.
Tom Beerley, a HomeVestors franchisee in Pennsylvania, won the ugly house contest with his entry, a 1945 two-story run-down home with trash piled throughout.
The homeowner’s financial problems had led to the cancellation of trash services, creating hoarding living conditions. Other issues of the once beautiful home included exposed beams, a damaged ceiling, and no running water. Eventually the home was listed for tax auction and sold to Beerley, according to the release.
“It’s an honor to win the ugliest house contest – the home had a lot of things that needed to be fixed, replaced, and remodeled but I knew there was potential,” Beerley said in the release.
“It took $145,000 in renovations and six 30-yard dumpsters to rehab and restore it. While it was a lot of hard work, the toughest part for me was walking through the property after we purchased it, seeing such awful conditions and knowing that someone lived there. I’m glad we were able to make it a beautiful and livable place.”
Beerley’s entry was one of 35 in total from participating HomeVestors franchisees.
Beerley is an ex-Microsoft employee who has been the owner of a HomeVestors franchise, Harvest Properties, Inc., since 2012. His long-held passion for real estate isn’t just about houses – he truly cares about the people who live within them, according to the release.
“Tom is a great example of what HomeVestors is all about. Not only did he turn an ugly house into a beautiful home, but like every franchisee, he genuinely cares about his homeowners and their safe living conditions,” David Hicks, co-president of HomeVestors of America, said in the release.
“I want to thank every franchisee who entered the contest. We enjoyed seeing all of the before and after pictures, as well as reading the stories behind each entry. It spoke to how hard all of our franchisees work and the potential for beauty in every ugly house,” Hicks said in the release.
Beerley will receive a $1,000 travel voucher as his prize for winning. Entries for the contest were selected from a call-for-entries held last fall. Each entry had to be owned by the franchisee in 2016. Most of the homes nominated have been rehabbed, with some sold on the retail market and others maintained as rental properties.
Originally founded as HomeVestors of America in 1989, the We Buy Ugly Houses franchise model became available in 1996. Since then, HomeVestors and We Buy Ugly Houses franchisees have purchased 75,000+ homes nationwide.
Diversified Real Estate Investor Group is a chapter member of the National Real Estate Investors Association.
Click here to read the full release.
