Buying a house without ever seeing its interior is a risky decision, especially when you’re tackling your first renovation project. But in August 2024, Michigan couple Thomas and Kristin Fletcher spotted an opportunity at a tax auction. They purchased a property for just $20,000 that many other buyers might have avoided.
“We’re very hands-on and like the idea of taking something old or run-down and turning it into something beautiful,” Kristin, 32, told PEOPLE exclusively. “We knew we were taking a risk buying a property sight unseen, but the price was low enough that we felt it was worth a shot.”
With limited renovation experience, a restricted budget, and a baby on the way, the couple took on a project that would challenge their patience, determination, and DIY abilities. However, they had no idea how much work was waiting for them once they finally opened the front door.
At the time, the Fletchers couldn’t comfortably afford a traditional home listed on the market. The auction gave them an opportunity to purchase a property within their financial limits.
They had only a short description and a handful of photographs before deciding to place a bid. They were not permitted to inspect the property beforehand. All they knew was that the house had no siding, the front entrance was almost impossible to access, and its interior remained a mystery.
After winning the auction for $20,000, they finally had the chance to explore the house and surrounding property.
What they discovered was quite a surprise. Six refrigerators were still filled with food that had been left without electricity for two years. The house also contained plenty of garbage that needed to be removed.
Despite the unpleasant discovery, the couple admitted they had expected the property to be in much worse condition.
“We were surprised at how good of shape it was actually in once we bought it and cleaned it out,” they said. “All the utilities worked, the structural components were great, and no mold!”
That discovery was a major relief, but the couple still had an entire house to renovate.
Their original renovation budget was approximately $25,000. However, the final remodeling expenses came to just under $35,000. Including the $20,000 purchase price, their total investment remained just below $55,000.
Hiring professional contractors was not financially possible, so the renovation became a family effort that largely depended on Thomas.
Kristin was pregnant when the project began and later gave birth to their son. As a result, Thomas, who is known as “Fletch,” handled most of the demanding physical work.
“Fletch did everything on his own,” Kristin emphasized in one of their video series. “From the roof to the windows to the walls, to the floors, to the doors, room by room, he turned this s—hole into something beautiful.”
The ambitious renovation took approximately eight months to complete, with much of the work happening during a Michigan winter. Normally, the family would spend that season in Florida.
Kristin and Fletch were also caring for their newborn while trying to keep the renovation on schedule.
Around four months into the project, they decided to move into the house. This helped them avoid making daily trips back and forth while giving them more time together as a family.
“With our budget, we couldn’t afford hiring anyone to help, so it just made sense for us to do it all ourselves,” the couple told PEOPLE. “It’s not always easy balancing everything, but we’re building something for our future, and we want to show that you don’t have to have a huge budget or hire everything out to make it happen.”
Even after the major renovation work was finished, the property still needed landscaping and several finishing touches.
Limited funding and the demands of everyday family life slowed their progress. Eventually, the couple moved out to give Fletch more room to complete the remaining work.
They also began furnishing and decorating the house, combining secondhand finds from thrift stores with new purchases to prepare it for future guests.
By May 2025, the renovated property, which sits on two acres of land, had become known as “The Comeback Cabin,” the Fletchers’ new rental property.
After years of effort, the couple welcomed their first guests in August 2025. It was an important milestone for a property they had originally purchased without ever seeing its interior.
“Fletch did this entire house completely on his own with his two bare hands. No contractors, no help from friends or family, just some determination, a little bit of stubbornness, and a dream of settling down one day,” Kristin said in a video. “But this is where the value gets built, through sweat equity and smart choices. Fletch is living proof.”
Apparently, the couple’s first auction experience did not satisfy their appetite for renovation projects.
They are already working on another fixer-upper after accidentally purchasing a second property at auction for only $8,500.
This time, they have a little more experience and a better understanding of what such a project can involve. They are ready to take on another renovation challenge.
“[The Comeback Cabin] is now worth 10 times what we originally paid for it,” the Fletchers told PEOPLE. “It was 100% worth it, and that’s why we’re doing it again.”
