From squalid to stunning: The remarkable transformation of a dilapidated $800,000 shack known as the 'Hoarder House' into a property worth almost $3 million in just SEVEN months

  • Brothers Rob and Andrew Gray have transformed a property in Paddington, central Brisbane, Queensland
  • They bought it for $838,000 and in seven months work have added at least $2 million to its value
  • Their company, Graya Construction Builders, spent around $1 million on the renovations
  • The house was filled with rubbish, with a stench that stayed until they took the wall lining out
  • An elderly woman previously lived there for at least 40 years and the home was nicknamed 'Hoarder House'

By Rachel Eddie For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

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A squalid crumbling home filled with rubbish and an unrelenting stench has been transformed into a stunning multi-million dollar family home in a matter of months by two ambitious brothers.

The condition of the Paddington home, in central Brisbane, Queensland, was once so poor that neighbours nicknamed it the ‘Hoarder House’, but seven months later brothers Rob, 26, and Andrew Gray, 29, now have neighbours admiring the newly renovated home.

Rob Gray told Daily Mail Australia that they purchased the 600sqm property for $838,000 and have now added at least $2 million to its value thanks to their renovation work.

BEFORE: A squalid home with broken windows, crumbling walls and an unrelenting stench has been transformed into a multi-million dollar family home in a matter of months by an ambitious construction family

BEFORE: A squalid home with broken windows, crumbling walls and an unrelenting stench has been transformed into a multi-million dollar family home in a matter of months by an ambitious construction family

AFTER: Despite the ‘very big challenge’, Hoarder House is now instead known as the Hillview House. The glistening white Queenslander style home boastes a coveted location and city views

AFTER: Despite the ‘very big challenge’, Hoarder House is now instead known as the Hillview House. The glistening white Queenslander style home boastes a coveted location and city views

Rob Gray and his brother spent around $1million renovating the home, which was packed with old clothes and furniture - and he said it was well worth the expense

Rob Gray and his brother spent around $1 million renovating the home that was packed with old clothes and furniture, and he said it was well worth it

The kitchen was filled with old food and dirty pans that had piled up over the years

The kitchen was filled with old food and dirty pans that had piled up over the years

The condition of the home had been so poor that neighbours knew it as the 'Hoarder House', but brothers Rob Gray, 26, and Andrew, 29, now have Plunkett Street neighbours admiring the newly renovated home

The condition of the Paddington, central Brisbane, home had been so poor that neighbours knew it as the ‘Hoarder House’, but brothers Rob, 26, and Andrew Gray, 29, now have Plunkett Street neighbours admiring the newly renovated home

Unfortunately, though, the rubbish was inclusive in the price of $838,000. Rob Gray said the stench stayed around for months

Unfortunately, though, the rubbish was inclusive in the price of $838,000. Rob Gray said the stench stayed around for months

‘The hardest part [of the renovation] was definitely getting rid of the rubbish and dealing with the smell for the initial few months,' Rob Gray told Daily Mail Australia

‘The hardest part [of the renovation] was definitely getting rid of the rubbish and dealing with the smell for the initial few months,' Rob Gray told Daily Mail Australia

 Unfortunately, though, there appeared to be no hidden treasures within the rubble. ‘It was literally all junk,’ Mr Gray said, but added there was a tin filled with old coins which they’ve held onto

 Unfortunately, though, there appeared to be no hidden treasures within the rubble. ‘It was literally all junk,’ Mr Gray said, but added there was a tin filled with old coins which they’ve held onto

‘Even when the rubbish was taken out the smell stuck around until we took out the wall lining, then it was better,’ Mr Gray said

‘Even when the rubbish was taken out the smell stuck around until we took out the wall lining, then it was better,’ Mr Gray said

Unfortunately, though, the rubbish was inclusive in the price.

‘The hardest part [of the renovation] was definitely getting rid of the rubbish and dealing with the smell for the initial few months.

‘Even when the rubbish was taken out the smell stuck around until we took out the wall lining, then it was better,’ Mr Gray said.

Unfortunately, though, there appeared to be no hidden treasures within the rubble.

‘It was literally all junk,’ Mr Gray said, but added there was a tin filled with old coins which they’ve held onto.

'I really enjoyed it. It was awesome looking back at what you've achieved,' said renovator Rob Gray

‘I really enjoyed it. It was awesome looking back at what you’ve achieved,’ he said

The condition of the home saw it become known to neighbours as the 'Hoarder House', with its prior owner, an elderly woman, residing there for at least 40 years

The condition of the home earned itself the title Hoarder House, with its prior owner, an elderly woman, residing there for at least 40 years

The ordeal took just seven months, and Mr Gray estimated this kind of large-scale renovation would normally take 12 months

The ordeal took just seven months, and Mr Gray estimated this kind of large-scale renovation would normally take 12 months

Mr Gray said it was the most challenging renovation he's ever done, but that it was all worth it

Mr Gray said it was the most challenging renovation he's ever done, but that it was all worth it

The location and city views made the $838,000 price tag worth it, even with the piles of rubbish and horrible stench, Mr Gray said

The location and city views made the $838,000 price tag worth it, even with the piles of rubbish and horrible stench, Mr Gray said

Hoarder House had earned its name under the ownership of an elderly lady who’d lived at the home for at least 40 years, Mr Gray estimated, before she moved to a psychiatric hospital in Sydney.

‘She’s still alive and kicking,’ Mr Gray said. ‘She’d be pushing about 80.

‘She’d been there for a long, long time, so everyone in the street knew her.’

Mr Gray said they’d spent around $1 million renovating the home, which is now a sprawling, modern-day Queenslander with 3.6m tall ceilings.

Of Graya Construction Builders, Mr Gray said the work was well worth it.

‘I really enjoyed it. It was awesome looking back at what you’ve achieved,’ he said.

‘Building a new house [from scratch] is a good feeling. But being what it was [Hoarder House] and changing it is probably better.’

Despite the ‘very big challenge’, Hoarder House is now instead known as the Hillview House boasting a coveted location and city views.

‘We’ve had some appraisal from real estate agents,’ he said.

Rob Gray's brother Andrew Gray will move into the new and improved home.

‘We’ve had some appraisal from real estate agents,’ Rob Gray said of the property which has gone up in value around $2 million

‘We’ve had some appraisal from real estate agents,’ Rob Gray said of the property which has gone up in value around $2 million

‘Building a new house [from scratch] is a good feeling. But being what it was [Hoarder House] and changing it is probably better'

‘Building a new house [from scratch] is a good feeling. But being what it was [Hoarder House] and changing it is probably better'

Rob Gray's brother Andrew Gray will move into the new and improved home, which took just under seven months to renovate

Rob Gray's brother Andrew Gray will move into the new and improved home, which took just under seven months to renovate

You wouldn't recognise it now, but the multi-million-dollar family home was once filled with junk so smelly, the Gray brothers had to pull of the wall lining

You wouldn't recognise it now, but the multi-million-dollar family home was once filled with junk so smelly, the Gray brothers had to pull of the wall lining

The 600sqm property had been bought seven months earlier for $838,000. The renovations have added at least $2 million to its value

The 600sqm property had been bought seven months earlier for $838,000. The renovations have added at least $2 million to its value

The condition of the Paddington, central Brisbane, home had been so poor that neighbours knew it as the ‘Hoarder House’, but brothers Rob, 26, and Andrew Gray, 29, now have Plunkett Street neighbours admiring the newly renovated home

The condition of the Paddington, central Brisbane, home had been so poor that neighbours knew it as the ‘Hoarder House’, but brothers Rob, 26, and Andrew Gray, 29, now have Plunkett Street neighbours admiring the newly renovated home

The sprawling modern-day Queenslander has 3.6 metre tall ceilings

The sprawling modern-day Queenslander has 3.6 metre tall ceilings

Rob and Andrew Gray of Graya Construction Builders in the renovated home on Plunkett St in Paddington, central Brisbane

Rob and Andrew Gray of Graya Construction Builders in the renovated home on Plunkett St in Paddington, central Brisbane

Despite the ‘very big challenge’, Hoarder House is now instead known as the Hillview House boasting a coveted location and city views

Despite the ‘very big challenge’, Hoarder House is now instead known as the Hillview House boasting a coveted location and city views

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