Is it a house or a maze? Quirky terrace with more than 20 ROOMS going under the

An ordinary-looking terraced house going up for auction next month could take prospective buyers by surprise once they take a peek inside. 

The inside of the house has been described as ‘maze-like’, with more than 20 rooms spread across two main floors. Only three are currently used as bedrooms. 

The house has been in the same ownership for 50 years and is being sold at auction with vacant possession. 

Located in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, it has a guide price of between £100,000 to £110,000, excluding fees. 

The mid-terrace house was originally used as a fisherman’s smoke house.

For around 150 years, the house was also used as the headquarters of Bloomfields Marquees, a marquee business, with the marquees initially transported to their new owners via horse and cart. 

Unique: A three-bed terraced house in Great Yarmouth is headed to auction in September 

Now the house has CCTV, an intruder alarm, solar panels, gas-powered central heating, a garage and is ‘mostly’ double-glazed, according to Auction House, the auctioneer selling the property. 

On the ground floor there is a bar area, with a sign above providing a nod to the house’s history as a former marquee business.  

According to Auction House, the terraced property is ‘deceptively spacious, incorporating a range of buildings to the rear.’ 

It said the extra buildings at the back could be used for storage or, subject to getting planning permission, turned into further bedrooms or even a new development.  

While the property will need reconfiguring and updating, many of the rooms are in good order. One of the living room spaces has mint green walls, comfortable cream armchairs and a small chandelier-style light. 

The property has one spacious bathroom featuring a bath and separate shower. 

For creative people, the house would provide a number of spaces to develop for an artist’s studio, pottery studio or other workshop. 

The house is being sold freehold and has an energy performance certificate rating of D. 

Look closer: The garage space used to be an entrance for horses and carts

Hidden history: The living area features a sign showing the house’s former life as the headquarters of a marquee business

So many rooms: The terraced house in Great Yarmouth has more than 20 

Get creative: The property could be ideal for a workshop or artist’s studio

Living quarters: Internally, the living spaces in the house have been well maintained 

Possibilities: The house has an auction guide price of between £100,000 to £110,000

Comfortable: The Norfolk house has one spacious and well-appointed bathroom

History: The property used to be the headquarters for a marquee business 

Back in the day: In a former life, the mid-terrace house was originally used as a fisherman’s smoke house

Particulars: The property has gas power and a handy kitchen 

Options: One of the three bedrooms in the Great Yarmouth property 

Floor plan: The floor plan of the property shows just how many rooms it has 

The unique property is going under the hammer on 10 September. Seven viewing days are being arranged, but must be booked in advance. 

Robert Hurst, auction surveyor at Auction House East Anglia, said: ‘It looks like a standard terrace house, but when you enter you realise it’s a lot more than that. 

‘A multitude of rooms with adjoining buildings behind offer great space and potential.’

How to buy at auction  

Auctions are one area where good deals still come up. Properties sold this way can, in some cases, be substantially cheaper than on the open market.

According to Property Auction News, the average price properties sell at auction for is around £166,000.

However, properties sold in this way often – though not always – come with added complexities for the buyer.

It is therefore important to do as much research as possible before buying any property at auction.

Where possible, always visit the property in person before the auction.

Do not underestimate how much renovation work or reconfigurations could cost if you are taking on a project property.

Read legal documents for the property carefully and, when possible, get advice from a solicitor before heading to the auction.

Sometimes, the legal pack includes ‘special conditions’ that mean you might also be liable to pay an additional three per cent fee to a sales agent.

Before submitting any bids, always check what sort of price similar properties in the area have sold for. This will, of course, be harder if it is a more unusual property that you are after.

If you do bid, do not get carried away and bid more than you can afford.

Most properties bought via auction have a 28-day competition date and home loans for auction properties can be harder to get.