“Break It All Off”: Couple Shows Off an Abandoned House They Bought to Renovate in KZN, SA Stunned
- A young couple shared a tour of the dilapidated half-acre property they purchased due to financial constraints
- The property features two rundown structures, including a rondavel filled with clutter and an overwhelming stench
- South Africans flooded the comments with questions and advice about the couple's bold renovation plans
- Briefly News reached out to @drowzydrewzie for an exclusive look inside the ambitious hands-on renovation of a neglected property
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Source: Instagram
A young couple has gone viral after giving the internet a raw, unfiltered look at the abandoned property they bought in KwaZulu-Natal, and plan to renovate it into their dream home. TikTok user @drowzydrewzie posted the video on 31 August 2026, and it quickly caught fire online.
In what the couple called a "speed tour," they walked viewers through a half-acre plot that had clearly been left to nature for some time. The overgrown yard was strewn with rubbish, and the property itself held two structures: a rundown main cabin cluttered with debris, and a round rondavel that came with its own challenge — a powerful stench of dog urine that hit the moment you stepped inside.
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A bold bet on a neglected plot
Despite the scale of the work ahead, the couple appeared upbeat and determined throughout the tour. They bought the property within their budget, accepting its condition as the trade-off for getting onto the property ladder. Many viewers picked up on this, noting that the location was likely the real drawcard behind the purchase.
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Watch the couple's speed tour of their abandoned KZN property in the TikTok video below:
Inside the hands-on journey to revive a neglected property
The Briefly News team spoke with the determined DIY builder to discuss the motivations behind tackling a massive fixer-upper, the financial strategy of doing the work themselves, and where the transformation begins.
Explaining the true context of the property and what drove the decision to buy a fixer-upper in today's housing market, he shared:
"Let me start off by saying that when we say 'abandoned', we mean neglected and no longer cared for, rather than no one living there anymore. The previous owner was still living there, but didn't have the means to care for it anymore. We were looking on the local property websites for land and came across this gem. We decided to take on this project because let's be real—the housing market SUCKS. Young people are finding it harder and harder to buy a house in this economy. That being said, we are extremely lucky and privileged to have this fixer-upper. So many people can't afford land or a house, even in this condition, so we really see the property and the opportunity to fix it up as a blessing. We decided that if we were ever able to afford to buy a house, it would have to be a fixer-upper that we would renovate with our own 2 hands and not spend thousands on labour costs.
So that's what we did! We also wanted the freedom of designing it however we want. We wanted to document our journey so that one day we could look back and show our future kids what it used to look like (almost like a video diary) and show them that they can do anything if they put their mind to it. I know a lot of people are asking, 'Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy a house, instead of spending all the money to fix this one up?' We don't really see it that way, because we will be doing most of the work ourselves with once-off labour costs when necessary and a cheaper bond, rather than having to pay a much higher bond per month for 15/20 years."
Addressing the timeline for completion given their DIY approach, he revealed:
"We have no timeline, because we are doing all the renovating ourselves, with the help of family and friends and only getting professionals in when it's absolutely necessary and when we've saved up enough money. So naturally it's going to take longer. We will take it one day at a time!"
Outlining the very first steps of the project outdoors before tackling the structure itself, he added:
"We plan to tackle the driveway first and clear out most of the trees in the yard. This way, we can actually get a dump/skip into the yard to then start getting rid of some of the previous owner's things. We're going to make separate piles of things that are trash, things that we can salvage, and things that we can sell. I think once we clear out a lot of the overgrowth and the litter, it will already start looking so much better!"
Mzansi weighs in on the renovation plans
The video struck a chord with South Africans who recognised the ambition it takes to take on a project like this, particularly in a tough economic climate. Commenters were quick to weigh in with both encouragement and practical advice.
@T Zombie noted:
"The address/neighbourhood must have great potential."
@ratz85 advised:
"Best to throw everything down and build from scratch."
@NicoNax cheered:
"Coming along for the ride. Cannot wait for the final reveal 🙌🙏"
@RaisingTheBar asked:
"How did you find this kind of place for sale? Was it online?"
@Que Rossi offered a detailed tip:
"Break it all off. Build a double garage and live in that while you build a good house. You will have to do many structural issues; that will cost you more in the long run."
@Taz_Law added:
"Are you going to live on the property when redoing it all. Best of luck 😳."
3 Briefly News articles about home renovations
- Two property investors amazed social media users by using AI to inspire the stunning transformation of a rundown home within 60 days.
- A local woman shared a vlog of the start of her kitchen renovations in her fixer-upper Johannesburg home from the 1980s, leaving viewers anxious to see the final result.
- A South African woman inspired social media users after sharing the impressive transformation of a rundown home in the Karoo.
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Source: Briefly News
