> At a Glance
> – Johnny and Abby Yousef bought a 7,000-sq-ft historic Kansas City mansion for $400,000
> – Renovation ran $350,000 over budget after break-ins, storm damage, and 27 window restorations
> – Property still sold above asking during the worst selling season
> – Why it matters: Their TikTok chronicle proves restoring historic homes can pay off-even when everything goes wrong
Three days after closing on a crumbling 1900s mansion, Abby Yousef gave birth to their first child. What followed was a year of sleepless nights, second mortgages, and viral videos.
The Dream Purchase
Johnny Yousef, 39, had driven past the boarded-up estate near the Nelson-Atkins Museum for years. When it listed for $400,000, he and Abby, 30, saw a chance to rescue a piece of Kansas City history.
They planned a six-month gut-and-restore, documenting every step to 100 k+ TikTok followers.
The Chaos
The timeline collapsed almost immediately.
- Multiple break-ins and vandalism forced midnight security runs
- A storm snapped a tree, crushing part of the original wrought-iron fence
- Historic-preservation rules meant all 27 windows had to be hand-repaired, not replaced
- Structural surprises stretched the schedule past a year
The Money Crunch
Budget line items ballooned:
| Category | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | $25 k | $65 k |
| Kitchen | $35 k | $80 k |
| Contingency | $40 k | $0 |
In total, they blew $350 k past the original budget.
> Johnny remembers:
> > “I had to put our own house up as collateral. We really wondered if we’d made a huge mistake.”
The Gamble That Paid Off
Abby refused to cut corners, installing a 10-foot kitchen island and importing Spanish tile. Listed during the slow season, the mansion still fetched more than expected-while a larger historic neighbor sat unsold.
> Abby says:
> > “It made us stronger as a couple and business partners. We were in it together.”
Key Takeaways
- A 15-year renovation résumé didn’t shield them from cost overruns
- Social-media transparency built a following that later helped the sale
- Historic homes can deliver profits-but only if you’re ready for surprises
The Yousefs are already scouting their next “deserves-another-chance” property.
