Hampshire Escape to the Country


Hampshire

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I'm in 627 square miles of prime countryside

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that has just been designated the UK's newest national park.

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So where am I? Find out in a moment as we escape to the country.

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'Today, I'll help a couple head out of the capital and find their first family home in the country.

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'But will they be able to agree?' Chalk and cheese!

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-This is exactly how I want my kitchen to be. It's perfect(!)

-Speak for yourself!

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-'We'll see how far we can stretch them with our mystery house.' Are you brave?

-I'll take anything on.

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I'm in Hampshire on the South Downs

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which, earlier this year, was awarded national park status,

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60 years after it was first proposed.

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Historically, national parks were created in wild, dramatic landscapes

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and areas of gentle, rolling, chalkland downs such as this were overlooked.

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However, over time, the consensus of what makes a national park has changed, and about time too

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because this area gets over 39 million visits a year.

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That's twice as many as the Lake District National Park.

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With around 120,000 residents, it's also the most populated national park,

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making Hampshire a sought-after location for London commuters looking for a bit of country life.

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The South Downs stretch for 106 miles across Hampshire and East and West Sussex

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and one of the main aims is to conserve its rich natural habitats

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while sustaining the farming landscape.

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Hampshire is surrounded by Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex

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and besides parks, offers up a whole host of charming towns on the coast and inland.

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There are plenty of desirable properties from timber-framed thatched cottages

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to large, detached period houses, making it an enduring favourite with escapees.

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National park status can be a real boost to the local economy,

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attracting new visitors, business and investment.

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Funding is now available to local entrepreneurs wanting to make their businesses more sustainable

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and for those wanting to make the most out of the diversity of this area.

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House prices may benefit too.

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Properties in the neighbouring New Forest National Park

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can be between 15 and 20% higher

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than similar properties outside the park boundary,

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so with that in mind, take a look at some of these great properties currently on the market.

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For top-notch splendour, how about this six-bedroom, Grade II listed country house in Rogate

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for £1.25 million?

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Its reception rooms retain their Georgian elegance,

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but is sympathetically extended to give an open-plan kitchen.

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Outside, the gardens look over fields to the South Downs.

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Or for £585,000, there's this four-bedroom renovated period cottage in Soberton,

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which is quaint with two reception rooms retaining their original beams and brickwork fireplace.

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The kitchen-breakfast room has French windows leading outside.

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But you could snap up all that period charm for £385,000

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with this three-bedroom cottage in Manleys Hill.

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The rustic kitchen-dining room gives a perfect space for open-plan entertaining

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and the exposed beams are a running theme through the sitting room and bedrooms.

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Some tempting properties there that might fit your bill.

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Let's hope the ones we've got for this week's couple fit their bill.

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Today's escapees are Will, a sales director in the wine industry,

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and Georgie, a fashion buyer, who, along with their son Charlie,

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live in a three-bedroom, rented flat in Earlsfield, south-west London.

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Having sold their two-bedroom flat, they want to take advantage of the downturn in the market

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and buy as soon as possible.

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But they can't find the right property and time is ticking.

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We've seen 15 to 20 properties

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and we've got close on a couple of occasions to buying two now.

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But I feel that, uh...you know, it's just the criteria hasn't quite been met as yet.

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And maybe we're being too picky. It's difficult to know.

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They've lived in London for nine years,

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but Will and Georgie were raised in Hampshire and Scotland respectively.

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Now they want their son to grow up in the country.

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We hope that Charlie will have a similar upbringing to what Will and I experienced as children,

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very much outdoors, enjoying walking in the hillsides,

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a bit of sailing, ideally, dinghy sailing.

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And obviously taking after his father and playing cricket would be what we hope.

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They're looking for a village location,

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but Mum and Dad still need to travel into London for work at least three days a week.

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I'm currently enjoying a very short commute. It's only about 25 minutes door to door.

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When we move to the country, we'd like no more than an hour and 20 minutes' commute door to door.

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Will and Georgie have drawn up a pretty extensive wish list for their family home.

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Ideally, for the new house, we'd need a minimum of three bedrooms. Four would be great.

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A bit of character, so period style.

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Close proximity to a station.

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And schooling is important as well, so close to a good primary school.

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They're up for a bit of renovating, but there are some things they can't do without.

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The living room is doubling as a study as well,

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so it's not ideal when you're being terrorised by a two-year-old infant.

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We need a bit of seclusion, privacy.

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The kitchen I'm looking for will be larger than this.

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I'd love to have a sofa in the kitchen, so we can just relax

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and entertain our friends and family.

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For me, the must-haves would be a garden area. Anything up to half an acre would be fantastic.

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They don't have a property to sell, but how much have they set aside for their dream home in Hampshire?

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If we found a house that ticked all the boxes,

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we could probably stretch to £465,000.

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Buying a house is, as we all know, one of the biggest decisions anyone can make

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and few of us expect to find the perfect property straight away.

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However, Will and Georgie have already seen nearly 20 properties

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and, by their own admission, they are maybe setting the bar too high.

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Does the couple's perfect home exist on their budget here in the South Downs?

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Well, we're going to find out over the next two days.

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'Will and Georgie have decided to return to Will's childhood stomping ground with son Charlie.

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'They want to be close to the grandparents in Hampshire,

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'so we're basing our search in the South Downs region,

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'taking in commuter train stations like Basingstoke and Haslemere

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'from where they can get into London in 50 minutes.

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'In today's show, we've lined up three fantastic properties which I hope fit the bill,

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'but I won't be revealing the price of each until they've had a guess first.

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'As always, the last of the three is the mystery house to challenge what they thought they wanted.'

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Will and Georgie, good morning.

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-You've managed to escape the Big Smoke for now.

-Yes.

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-But who's got Charlie?

-Granny's looking after Charlie this week.

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-So you can relax, concentrate on the search.

-Absolutely.

-Good news.

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You guys have looked at quite a few properties, nearly 20.

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-What was wrong with them?

-A number of things, really.

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Just not close enough to the station or they were too far out in the sticks,

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so there was no sense of community which is important for us. We haven't seen our ideal property yet.

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Do you think the perfect property is out there?

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We realise we're going to have to compromise somewhere,

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but the difficulty is knowing where the compromise is.

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Compromise - that's the magic word. Do you mind a little bit of a project?

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If need be, yes, indeed.

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So you're getting a little bit more flexible for me, which is good news with all that list.

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-We do have some great properties lined up, so shall we get started?

-Brilliant.

-Come on.

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For a maximum budget of £465,000, Will and Georgie have asked us

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to find them a three or four-bedroom period property.

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Georgie wants a big kitchen/diner with enough space for a sofa

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to laze away their Sunday mornings.

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A study for Will and a big garden for Charlie to run around in.

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They also need to be close to a train station

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for their commute to London,

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and to a primary school for their young son.

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Will, you're practically local to this area.

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Yeah, not far. Just ten minutes up the road, I was born and bred and went to school.

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Quite nostalgic coming back to this county and area.

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And also very good baby-sitting facilities on hand as well.

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Super Granny up the road, exactly!

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We kick off our property search in the rural hamlet of Empshott.

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Although there are few amenities here,

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just two miles down the road lies Selborne, a pretty village

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with two pubs, a local shop and post office, along with its own primary school.

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We may be within commuting distance to London, but you wouldn't think it

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from the array of beautiful thatched cottages and large rural properties in the area.

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On the outskirts of the village, set back from the road, is this cottage, dating back to the 1860s.

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So, guys, here is your first property.

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-Very pretty.

-Very attractive.

-Very nice indeed.

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I like the fusion of the brickwork using the local stone. It looks very striking.

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Now, the property is semi-detached.

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So do you mind a semi-detached property?

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No, like we said, we're going to have to compromise somewhere.

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-So, you know, I think we're...

-That's a very good start, yes!

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It's quite quiet at the moment, but we are on quite a busy main road.

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Yes, I'm quite mindful of the fact it's busy and that does concern me.

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-We'll see.

-We'll see. We'll see the inside of the house. That's my cue to take you in, isn't it? Come on.

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Well, maybe they'll forget about the road

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if the inside of the cottage impresses them.

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So come on straight through into the sitting room.

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-Nice?

-Yes. The fireplace is lovely.

-Yeah, very pretty. Presumably it's a working fireplace?

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It is, you can have a real fire in the winter. What about the size?

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-It feels slightly on the small size, I'd say.

-Do you have a lot of stuff?

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Yeah, but I mean, the sofas and chairs would easily fit in here.

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-And as we walked in, there's a shower room behind us.

-OK.

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-And to the left, off the hallway, the family bathroom, with a huge bath.

-Right.

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-And is there a bathroom upstairs?

-I knew that was coming, I could hear ticking.

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-No, that is the family bathroom.

-OK.

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-Let's take you through to the kitchen.

-OK.

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'And I'm sure they'll get a good feeling when they see it.'

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So it is practically brand new, it's only about four years old.

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-Really done well, I think.

-Gosh, it's stunning.

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It's immaculate, isn't it? Very pristine. Quite sociable, though.

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You can have your breakfast in here with the whole family around the table.

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-And I can actually see myself cooking here.

-Can you?

-Yeah.

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-Has a very nice feel to it.

-An unusual layout.

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Yes, I'm mindful of the fact I did want a very big kitchen where we could have a sofa and entertain.

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However, I can't help but like the feeling of this kitchen.

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I know you're a very social couple. You do have your breakfast bar here.

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-Yeah.

-However, it does have a dining room just through here.

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-OK.

-It's not massive.

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But it's big enough to take eight chairs there, around that table.

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It feels very separate to the kitchen.

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I don't think it flows terribly naturally from the kitchen into here.

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-I'm not sure I entirely agree. I quite like the room.

-Do you?

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-Are you missing that sofa you wanted in the kitchen?

-I think I'm missing the sofa!

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Yeah. I'm not feeling it at the moment, certainly.

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Be one big sofa at this rate.

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Behind us there's a utility room - enough space for your white goods,

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buggy, Wellington boots, perhaps even the toddler's bike.

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-Perfect.

-Everyone needs a utility room.

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-Let's take you upstairs and see what you make of that.

-OK.

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Well, the dining room seemed to divide them. Will's being quite pragmatic,

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while Georgie has a very fixed idea of what she wants.

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Will she be prepared to compromise upstairs once she's seen where they'll be sleeping?

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-So here's the master bedroom, your bedroom.

-OK. Again, very pretty.

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In keeping with the rest of the house.

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But I think that it's quite small in terms of how we're going to fit our furniture in here.

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-Our bed is bigger than the one that's here.

-Right.

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And we do have a wardrobe

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and a chest of drawers which would have to fit in here.

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And I think with the sloping eaves, we would struggle.

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There are lovely features in here, with that fireplace, which is what I like.

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-Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it?

-Very pretty.

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'With three bedrooms in all upstairs, there's also a small single room,

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'but let's see what they think of their guest room.'

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-So this is the other double bedroom.

-OK. Yep. Very nice.

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As a spare room, we don't really need an awful lot of space,

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as long as there's space for the bed and chest of drawers, which is what they have already.

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Other than that, I think it looks lovely.

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-My concern is we haven't seen a study.

-Ah.

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-Well, this cottage does have options.

-OK.

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-Shall we go outside and take a look?

-Yeah.

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'Georgie really wants it all,

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'but I think this cottage can deliver because down at the end of the garden

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'there's this rather useful outbuilding.'

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-So I know accommodation was really important for you both.

-Yes.

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-So this cottage has this additional outbuilding.

-Amazing.

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-It's a bit of a curveball.

-You've got a downstairs shower room there.

-OK.

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-You've got all this space, which could be a study.

-Yeah.

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-It could also be a bedroom.

-Yeah, yeah.

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And not only that, above us, the same footprint,

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you've got that again upstairs, which could be a study or could be another bedroom.

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Amazing. Wow.

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So when your guests come to stay, they've got their own lodge.

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-Yeah. I really like that, actually. Nice, isn't it?

-Very good.

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-That's given you something to think about, hasn't it? You're looking very surprised.

-We are!

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-Let's go into the garden, because you've got to think how much all this is worth.

-Yes.

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Charlie would have lots of space to run around in this lawned garden, which is safely enclosed.

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But now we've got to talk money.

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The big question is how much does it all cost? Who wants to go first?

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-Ladies first.

-Erm... I think it's difficult.

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I think, with the added cottage, and the garden, 465?

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-So the top of your budget.

-Yes.

-OK. Will?

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I was thinking 425 until you threw in the curveball of the cottage.

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So...450?

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OK. The current asking price for this cottage...

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-is £395,000.

-No way! That's amazing.

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Your face says it all, you're really surprised, aren't you?

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-I think that's amazing. Yeah. Wow.

-Shocked.

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So why don't you go and have a wander,

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-have another look around and I'll catch up with you in a while.

-OK.

-OK, see you in a bit.

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Well, Georgie certainly had her reservations about the cottage,

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but Will seemed very taken with it.

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But at that price, they were both so surprised,

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and I think it really has put things in a spin in a very positive way.

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Under budget at £395,000,

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this cottage would be a great first home

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in this popular and pricey area.

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And Will's parents are just up the road.

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It has some great selling points, including two reception rooms,

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a very high-spec kithcen, three bedrooms -

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two with those lovely period fireplaces - a large garden

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with a fantastic outbuilding which could be a study

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and guest suite, and they could catch the train from Alton,

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just seven miles away,

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and be in London in under an hour and a quarter.

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I think, although it's a very beautiful property,

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I think that it's actually too small.

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-Enough space for your desk and everything?

-Storage, filing, yeah, it's perfect.

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Georgie probably feels she couldn't live here. But I could if I made a few adjustments.

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I think we will differ on this one.

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-Have we seen enough?

-Yes.

-Indeed.

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OK, because there's plenty more to see. Let's go.

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Will and Georgie have chosen to escape to Hampshire

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because of the good connections to London and to be close to Will's parents.

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But they also want all the charms that come with living in this part of the country.

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12 miles east of Winchester lies the town of Bishop's Waltham.

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Today the village is teeming with specialist shops

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and traders selling local produce.

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But the legacy of the bishops lives on through the town's architecture.

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Local historian Peter Watkins is taking Will

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and Georgie to the bishops' palace to find out more.

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Here we are, this is the Palace of the Bishops of Winchester.

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One of them, in fact. He had a large number and he was an extraordinarily rich man

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throughout the whole of the Middle Ages and indeed afterwards, too.

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The palace was first of all built well before the Norman conquest.

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But it was rebuilt by Henry of Blois,

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a bishop from about the middle of the 12th century.

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At what stage did the palace fall to ruin?

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In 1644, it was attacked by the parliamentary army in the Civil War.

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And it was damaged so badly that in 1660, when the bishops

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of Winchester came back, they decided not to try to rebuild

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here at all, and they made their headquarters at Farnham

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and took stone from here to Farnham for rebuilding.

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At the same time,

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the bishops also founded St Peter's Church in the town.

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Despite the alterations that have been made over

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the past 800 years, it still holds on to some unique treasures.

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The most distinguished piece of architecture in the church is

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the pulpit, I suppose.

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It was given in 1626 by Bishop Lancelot Andrews,

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who was one of the translators of the King James Bible.

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And he gave the pulpit, which is an Italian one,

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and is one of the glories of the church.

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Well, they may be escaping the Big Smoke,

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but Will and Georgie will still have plenty of cultural hotspots

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to discover when they move to Hampshire.

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'We're going back to Will's roots for our next property, to Headley Down,

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'only a mile away from his parents, so baby-sitting couldn't be easier.

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'For facilities, Grayshott two miles away has all handy shops they would need.

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'There's a village primary school.

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'Good news for commuting too.

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'Haslemere train station is only six miles away with a 50-minute train journey into London.

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'Our property is located on a quiet country lane and is a 100-year-old cottage.'

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So what are your thoughts as we stand here in the pouring rain?

0:20:010:20:06

I love the fact that it looks out on to the common. That is fantastic.

0:20:060:20:10

I love the idea of just being able to walk out your door and go for a walk with dogs, children, what have you.

0:20:100:20:17

-So that's a positive.

-Shall we take a look inside?

-Yeah.

-Come on.

-Thank you.

0:20:170:20:22

'Even on a rainy day like this, the location certainly hasn't dampened their spirits.'

0:20:220:20:28

Oh, that's better - warm and dry!

0:20:300:20:34

Come on in, Will.

0:20:360:20:38

So...what are your first impressions as you walk through the door?

0:20:380:20:43

-What about the hallway? Welcoming?

-It's a good size.

-I was feeling the opposite.

0:20:430:20:49

-LAUGHTER

-Chalk and cheese, OK.

0:20:490:20:52

So, down the hallway, you've got a study, the magic words, "a study", which is for you.

0:20:520:20:58

-We've also got a utility room and a downstairs shower room.

-OK.

0:20:580:21:02

But I want to take you straight in here.

0:21:020:21:05

This is the sitting room.

0:21:050:21:08

-Nice size.

-Yeah.

-I like the fact that quite a lot of natural light comes in here.

0:21:080:21:14

Fantastic open fire and lovely, lovely slate around it which looks great.

0:21:140:21:19

-And some storage.

-And also recesses either side.

0:21:190:21:22

-That magic word.

-So we can have storage for our CDs and books. I like it.

-Good.

0:21:220:21:28

-So this would work for you?

-It would for me, yes.

-Yeah, I think so.

-Good.

0:21:280:21:33

-Yeah.

-Better than the hallway then. It's a positive. I'm going to keep positive. Let's keep going.

0:21:330:21:39

'There's more space on offer in the second reception room.'

0:21:390:21:42

Through here is the dining room.

0:21:420:21:45

-Good size?

-Yeah, definitely.

-Feels a good size, yes.

0:21:460:21:49

Nice view, good light.

0:21:490:21:51

-Excellent. And behind you is a wood-burning stove.

-Which I love.

0:21:510:21:55

-Nice little feature.

-That's great for heating the house.

0:21:550:21:59

-And big enough for the family?

-Yeah.

0:21:590:22:02

Through there is... I can only say this is a very small kitchen.

0:22:020:22:06

However, we do have some ideas on that, so, Will, if you lead the way, I'll explain.

0:22:060:22:11

I think it's fair to say it's a bit bijou.

0:22:120:22:16

"Nicki, where is my sofa going?"

0:22:160:22:19

I think your sofa would take up the whole of the kitchen.

0:22:190:22:22

-This is an extension, so not workable for the two of you with little Charlie.

-No.

0:22:220:22:28

However, you have mentioned you're quite happy to take on a project.

0:22:280:22:32

If you look to the right, there's a patio, so you can extend the kitchen

0:22:320:22:37

and have a large kitchen extension at the back of the house.

0:22:370:22:41

-You've got plenty of land and you'd have a fantastic kitchen.

-OK.

0:22:410:22:45

-That's what I would consider doing.

-Sounds like a good idea.

0:22:450:22:49

There's a project for you and there'd be enough room at the back for the sofa.

0:22:490:22:54

'Now we know where the sofa's going, let's head upstairs to check out the three bedrooms.

0:22:540:23:01

'First up, we'll take a peek at where they would sleep.'

0:23:010:23:05

-Come through to the master bedroom.

-OK.

0:23:050:23:09

-It's not a bad size.

-That's good. Again good light.

0:23:090:23:12

-Good storage. Fantastic cupboards along the whole side...

-Great cupboards.

0:23:120:23:18

-My wife needs storage for her clothes.

-We definitely need storage.

0:23:180:23:22

-Find me a woman that doesn't need storage!

-This'll be all me. I don't know where you'll put your clothes!

0:23:220:23:28

'There is another double room with yet another built-in wardrobe if Will needs it

0:23:280:23:34

'and a single room with nice views out over the garden.

0:23:340:23:38

'Next door, there's a bright family bathroom. Georgie and Will have very high expectations,

0:23:380:23:44

'but with some refurb and extending, this could be the family home they're after.

0:23:440:23:49

'Let's see if the garden and price can convince them.'

0:23:490:23:52

Here we have a rather delightful garden, even in this damp weather.

0:23:520:23:57

It's very nice. It's a great size.

0:23:570:24:00

It's in segments, so you can have various themes as you go down the garden.

0:24:000:24:05

It's over 100 foot long, you've got a greenhouse at the back, a garage and a shed.

0:24:050:24:11

-Big enough for your vegetable plot?

-Absolutely.

-Good, good.

0:24:110:24:14

You like the garden. I'm not too sure what you think about the house. I'm sure you'll tell me later.

0:24:140:24:20

How much do you think it's worth?

0:24:200:24:23

I reckon it needs quite a lot of work inside,

0:24:230:24:26

so I'd hazard a guess at 425,000.

0:24:260:24:29

That's so cheeky! That was going to be my number.

0:24:290:24:32

-You snooze, you lose.

-You can agree.

-I think I'll go for 420.

0:24:320:24:37

-425, 420...

-Yeah.

0:24:370:24:39

One of you is on the nose.

0:24:390:24:42

Will. £425,000.

0:24:420:24:45

-Spooky!

-Yeah.

-Which means you would have £40,000 change.

0:24:450:24:51

-Yeah.

-To have your dream kitchen and the proper extension at the back of the house.

0:24:510:24:56

-Are you happy with that?

-Yeah. Good price.

-Pleasantly surprised.

0:24:560:25:00

Why don't you have another wander around the house? I'll catch up with you in a while.

0:25:000:25:05

-OK.

-See you later.

0:25:050:25:08

Well, Will certainly knows this area, it's his old stomping ground,

0:25:080:25:12

and very close to his heart by the sounds of it.

0:25:120:25:15

I wasn't quite sure what they thought about the property,

0:25:150:25:18

but at that price, with that money left over to make it right for them,

0:25:180:25:22

it could be a goer.

0:25:220:25:24

Under budget at £425,000, this is a great period property.

0:25:240:25:30

And they've got £40,000 left,

0:25:300:25:33

so they could make a good start on that extension.

0:25:330:25:36

It offers two reception rooms,

0:25:360:25:38

three bedrooms,

0:25:380:25:39

a large zone garden - so lots of space for Charlie to run around in,

0:25:390:25:43

and Will's vegetable garden.

0:25:430:25:45

And it's just a stone's throw away from Ludshott Common

0:25:450:25:48

and an easy commute to London.

0:25:480:25:51

I do like it.

0:25:510:25:52

We've got three good-sized bedrooms, but it feels quite compact.

0:25:520:25:55

I agree. It all seems quite confined, but with the extra money,

0:25:550:25:59

maybe the extension could be the answer.

0:25:590:26:01

This property you can put your own stamp on. It's got high potential.

0:26:010:26:05

I can really see us sitting here on a cold winter's night, with the fire lit.

0:26:050:26:10

-It would be nice, actually.

-We have some storage as well.

-Yeah.

0:26:100:26:13

It has the potential for us to put our mark on it

0:26:130:26:16

and for it to become our family home for years to come.

0:26:160:26:19

Unfortunately, guys, it is still pouring with rain.

0:26:230:26:27

-So, come on. Let's go somewhere dry, shall we?

-Yes.

-Good idea.

0:26:270:26:31

'When Will, Georgie and their two year-old son Charlie

0:26:360:26:39

make the move to the South Downs,

0:26:390:26:41

they want to take full advantage of the great outdoors.

0:26:410:26:44

so I've brought the couple to Hyden Wood

0:26:440:26:46

to meet Annette Stickler, a bushcraft instructor

0:26:460:26:49

who has worked with the king of survival skills, Ray Mears.

0:26:490:26:52

'She's got some fun tips to spark up any family camping trips they might make in the future.'

0:26:520:26:58

We're here to learn a little bit about bushcraft.

0:26:580:27:00

So what are we going to learn?

0:27:000:27:02

First, I think we should do some fire-lighting,

0:27:020:27:05

-but we need to do a bit of preparation.

-Right.

0:27:050:27:07

As you can see, I've collected some firewood, but we need some more.

0:27:070:27:12

-What we need is sticks - pencil-thickness.

-Yeah.

0:27:120:27:17

And you'll see them hanging from the dead beech trees around here.

0:27:170:27:21

-OK.

-So that'd be great, if you could get some.

0:27:210:27:23

-OK, off we go.

-Great.

0:27:230:27:24

'It's important only to light a fire where you have landowner permission

0:27:240:27:29

'and where the terrain is suitable.

0:27:290:27:31

'It must not be too near trees or their roots

0:27:310:27:33

'which fire can travel along underground

0:27:330:27:35

'and always have water to hand to extinguish it properly.'

0:27:350:27:39

-Here we go.

-Wa-hey!

-Just down here?

-I've got one.

0:27:390:27:43

-Thanks, Nicki. Every one counts!

-Good.

0:27:430:27:47

'With the kindling sticks gathered in, it's time to strike a light

0:27:470:27:51

'with Annette's trusty flint and curled steel

0:27:510:27:54

'and create a spark

0:27:540:27:55

'which will fall onto the black char cloth and ignite.

0:27:550:27:58

'That's the theory anyway!'

0:27:580:28:00

-Keep going.

-Oh, nearly, then!

-Yeah.

0:28:000:28:04

It doesn't want to work for me.

0:28:060:28:08

Go on, I'm going to let the expert do it.

0:28:080:28:11

Let's have a look.

0:28:110:28:14

I got a few sparks, but obviously not enough.

0:28:140:28:17

-There we go. Can you see that?

-Yeah.

0:28:190:28:22

-If you get the bracken...

-All of it?

-Yeah. Make a bird's nest with it.

0:28:220:28:27

-Like there's a baby bird in there.

-Yeah.

0:28:270:28:31

I'm going to place that in.

0:28:310:28:33

You don't want to squash it,

0:28:330:28:36

but you need the bracken in contact

0:28:360:28:38

and you need to have it up above your head

0:28:380:28:40

and blow from the bottom up.

0:28:400:28:42

Go on.

0:28:420:28:44

-There we are.

-Goodness, that's impressive!

-Yeah.

0:28:520:28:55

'Next up, it's time to lay the sticks in a criss-cross formation

0:28:550:28:59

'and then get lunch on the go.'

0:28:590:29:03

OK, so now we've got a nice established fire going,

0:29:030:29:07

we're going to go and collect some wild food to make a bannock,

0:29:070:29:11

which is basically a wild bread, traditionally from Scotland.

0:29:110:29:15

-There you go.

-Home from home.

0:29:150:29:17

'So time for the gang to go gathering nuts

0:29:170:29:20

which is something kids would love to get stuck into.

0:29:200:29:23

The woods are the perfect place for them to get to know about their natural world,

0:29:230:29:28

from tree-spotting to animal-tracking.

0:29:280:29:31

But it's a bit spooky being alone here,

0:29:310:29:33

I hope they're back soon.

0:29:330:29:34

-Hello!

-You're back, I was getting a bit nervous here on my own.

0:29:340:29:38

-You've got a lovely fire now.

-Thank you.

0:29:380:29:40

Fruitful labours?

0:29:400:29:42

Yes, very good.

0:29:420:29:44

'Annette's making her bannock with flour, milk powder,

0:29:440:29:47

'baking powder, sugar and water,

0:29:470:29:49

'with a scattering of beech nuts.

0:29:490:29:51

'After mixing together all the ingredients,

0:29:510:29:53

'the dough cooks on the skillet for seven minutes each side.

0:29:530:29:57

'Once the bannock is cooked, it's time to taste it.'

0:29:570:30:02

-Mmm! That is delicious!

-That is good.

0:30:020:30:06

-What does it taste of?

-Sugar.

0:30:060:30:09

-It tastes really sweet.

-Like a doughnut.

-Mmm.

-Mmm.

-Exactly.

0:30:090:30:12

'Well, I'm sure Charlie would be very proud of his parents

0:30:120:30:16

'if they could rustle up a meal like this from the forest floor.

0:30:160:30:21

'As the first day of our house search draws to a close,

0:30:210:30:25

'Will and Georgie reflect on the properties they've seen so far.'

0:30:250:30:28

What are your thoughts on the house by the road?

0:30:280:30:32

First thoughts when walking in - it was quite small, compact,

0:30:320:30:35

-but immaculate and really pristine the way they've laid it out.

-Yeah. They were very clever about that.

0:30:350:30:40

Very good use of space.

0:30:400:30:41

And then they chucked in that quite cheeky curveball of the house outside,

0:30:410:30:46

which I wasn't really expecting. It's a real bonus, having that as an additional bedroom.

0:30:460:30:51

-And also a study.

-It makes a great office for you, doesn't it?

0:30:510:30:54

Having that upstairs and being away from the rest of the house.

0:30:540:30:57

Peace and quiet.

0:30:570:30:58

Yeah. Slightly detached, which is nice. And a nice garden as well.

0:30:580:31:02

-Yeah.

-Flat, quite a big area.

-Yeah. However...

-The road...

0:31:020:31:05

-It's just too noisy.

-I think so.

0:31:050:31:08

-What about the house overlooking the common?

-My initial thoughts were it wasn't the most attractive of houses.

0:31:080:31:14

However, I think when we got inside, I thought the sitting room was a good size.

0:31:140:31:18

I like the fact that it had an open fire

0:31:180:31:21

and I thought I could see ourselves sitting there in front of it on a dark winter's night.

0:31:210:31:26

I like the fact that there's lots of opportunity to develop it -

0:31:260:31:29

put the extension onto the kitchen,

0:31:290:31:31

make it the kitchen that I've always wanted.

0:31:310:31:34

You can see the promise.

0:31:340:31:35

You've got the common, it's got a lot of potential, I think.

0:31:350:31:38

-So are you looking forward to tomorrow?

-Definitely.

0:31:380:31:41

Today was exciting. It was great, wasn't it?

0:31:410:31:44

So hopefully there'll be more of the same.

0:31:440:31:46

-Fingers crossed.

-Yeah.

0:31:460:31:47

Will and Georgie want to quit the rat race of London

0:31:510:31:54

and find a family home in rural Hampshire

0:31:540:31:57

in which to raise their two year-old son Charlie.

0:31:570:32:00

For £465,000, they're not just looking for

0:32:000:32:03

a three-bedroom property with a large garden.

0:32:030:32:06

They also need good train connections to London for work

0:32:060:32:10

and to be near a primary school for their son.

0:32:100:32:12

They've seen two properties so far,

0:32:120:32:14

but coming up, Will gets down with contemporary living.

0:32:140:32:18

It's quite cool down-lighting. It's a cool barn. Very funky.

0:32:180:32:21

But our mystery house could shake things up.

0:32:210:32:24

Despite having seen so many properties over the last few months,

0:32:240:32:29

I think yesterday brought Will and Georgie back down to earth

0:32:290:32:33

with a bit of a bump.

0:32:330:32:34

Now, remember, this couple are cash buyers,

0:32:340:32:37

so are in a position of strength in the current market.

0:32:370:32:40

However, they do need to be realistic

0:32:400:32:44

about what type of property they can afford with that cash.

0:32:440:32:47

So, it's a new day, let's see what it brings.

0:32:470:32:51

Our house hunt continues in the market town of Whitchurch

0:32:540:32:57

from where they would have an hour and a quarter train journey into London.

0:32:570:33:01

Set mostly within a conservation area,

0:33:010:33:04

Whitchurch has its fair share of beautiful listed buildings

0:33:040:33:08

and the last working silk mill of its kind in southern England

0:33:080:33:11

sitting by the River Test.

0:33:110:33:12

Along with the local pub,

0:33:120:33:15

there is also that all-important primary school for Charlie.

0:33:150:33:18

And just outside Whitchurch, is our next property, a rather unique conversion.

0:33:180:33:24

So, it's a lovely new day.

0:33:240:33:25

-It's a beautiful day.

-And here is your property.

0:33:250:33:29

Have you ever fancied living in a barn?

0:33:290:33:32

I think it's a cool barn.

0:33:320:33:33

Yeah, I like the slate, I like the brickwork.

0:33:330:33:37

-And you've got the benefits of the stunning views.

-It is beautiful.

-Absolutely beautiful.

0:33:370:33:41

-It's very rural here.

-Yeah.

-Keen to get inside?

-Yeah, I'd love to have a look.

-OK.

0:33:410:33:47

'This former cow shed has been given a new lease of life

0:33:470:33:51

that I'm sure our couple will be impressed by.'

0:33:510:33:53

So how do you both fancy open-plan living?

0:33:560:34:01

-Wow, it's stunning. It looks great.

-Very cool.

0:34:010:34:05

-I love the beams.

-They've done it extremely well.

0:34:050:34:08

-Has it surprised you from outside?

-Very much so.

0:34:080:34:11

You just don't expect to come into this beautiful, open living room

0:34:110:34:16

with the lovely beams.

0:34:160:34:18

It gives it such character. Really lovely.

0:34:180:34:20

-Have you been in a barn conversion before?

-No, I haven't. Never.

0:34:200:34:25

-No.

-So you're pleasantly surprised?

-Very much so, yeah.

0:34:250:34:29

It's crying out for a wood-burner there

0:34:290:34:31

-which would be really easy to do.

-Would it?

-Yeah.

-Lovely.

0:34:310:34:35

You've got limestone flooring, underfloor heating.

0:34:350:34:39

-Lovely.

-That's very nice.

-Yes.

0:34:390:34:41

-You've got the ash staircase up to the mezzanine floor.

-That's stunning.

0:34:410:34:46

Let me show you the kitchen.

0:34:460:34:48

You've got gorgeous quartz worktops,

0:34:500:34:52

which you don't often see in a kitchen, which really works well.

0:34:520:34:56

Although it's not massive,

0:34:560:34:57

you've got all this storage, top of the range appliances.

0:34:570:35:01

It's a good size. I like the way they've laid it out, as well.

0:35:010:35:05

-It's very modern.

-It is.

0:35:050:35:07

It also benefits from a utility room which is just next door.

0:35:070:35:12

Down the hallway, you've got two bedrooms on the ground floor and family bathroom.

0:35:120:35:16

-Let me show you one of the bedrooms.

-OK.

0:35:160:35:18

This is the bigger of the two bedrooms.

0:35:190:35:23

-It's a generous size.

-Good size.

-Yeah, it's a great size.

0:35:230:35:27

Good spare room.

0:35:270:35:29

Yeah, probably a spare room. There's plenty of space, storage.

0:35:290:35:33

lots of cupboards.

0:35:330:35:35

-Look at that for cupboards!

-It looks good.

-Quite cool down-lighting.

0:35:350:35:39

'And there's light streaming into the single room next door.

0:35:390:35:44

'Across the hallway, there's a brand-new fitted family bathroom.

0:35:440:35:47

'Will and Georgie are shocked by the spectacular blend of old and new in this conversion.

0:35:470:35:54

'I wonder what they'll think of the upstairs?'

0:35:540:35:56

I really like this little galleried area,

0:35:590:36:01

because this could be your office, your study.

0:36:010:36:04

-Oh, yeah, I forgot about that!

-He hadn't.

0:36:040:36:07

-Certainly not.

-I forgot that was quite important.

-It's a good size, a little sort of nook and cranny.

0:36:070:36:13

You could tuck a desk away there, yeah.

0:36:130:36:17

I'm going to show you the master bedroom. You haven't seen that yet.

0:36:170:36:21

-Wow! Good size.

-Yeah.

-Great features.

0:36:250:36:29

Lovely as well. Just a few more beams as well.

0:36:290:36:32

They've done it, again, extremely well.

0:36:320:36:35

-I'm afraid I have a negative point, though.

-Go on. Hit me with it.

0:36:350:36:39

Because of the sloping ceilings,

0:36:390:36:41

you wouldn't be able to get any furniture in here.

0:36:410:36:44

You could get chairs and you could get a fabulous sofa there.

0:36:440:36:48

But the good news is, just round the corner,

0:36:480:36:50

you've got your dressing area, so your clothes can go there.

0:36:500:36:54

It's really unusual, especially if you're used to living in a flat.

0:36:540:36:58

-This is completely different.

-It has a very nice, light, airy feeling to it.

0:36:580:37:03

-That's great.

-So you like the contemporary feel?

0:37:030:37:06

Yeah, I like the mix of old and contemporary.

0:37:060:37:09

I think you're going to love this next room.

0:37:090:37:13

-Wow!

-Wow!

0:37:200:37:22

-It's pretty cool.

-What a shower!

0:37:220:37:24

-Here is your en-suite.

-Very nice.

0:37:240:37:27

-That wasn't on the wish list.

-No, it definitely wasn't.

0:37:270:37:31

But such a lovely thing to have though.

0:37:310:37:33

-Very funky, isn't it?

-A real added bonus.

0:37:330:37:37

It's a great walk-in shower.

0:37:370:37:38

That's a power shower, I presume. It looks pretty powerful.

0:37:380:37:43

Again, you could have storage either side.

0:37:430:37:45

-Shall we head outside?

-Brilliant.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:37:450:37:49

'"Wow, funky, cool"?

0:37:490:37:52

'Will seems to like it, but Georgie has got her practical head on.

0:37:520:37:56

'Let's find out what she's thinking as we step outside.'

0:37:560:38:00

Here you have the gardens and, luckily, south and west-facing,

0:38:000:38:04

-so you'll get sunlight all afternoon, into the evening.

-Which is lovely.

0:38:040:38:08

So what do you think of the property?

0:38:080:38:10

It's beautiful, absolutely stunning,

0:38:100:38:13

but I'm struggling with the practical side of things.

0:38:130:38:17

Where do I put my Hoover,

0:38:170:38:18

where do we put our welly boots and our outdoor jackets?

0:38:180:38:22

We're coming from a small flat in London which has very little space

0:38:220:38:26

-and I'm just not sure we want to move to a place which lacks the space as well.

-Storage?

-Exactly.

0:38:260:38:32

-What about you, Will?

-I love it.

0:38:320:38:35

Yeah, practicality, I mean...

0:38:370:38:39

Gumboots, coats could all go in the garden shed, as far as I'm concerned.

0:38:390:38:44

But I do appreciate where Georgie is coming from. It's very minimalist.

0:38:440:38:48

And you don't want too much clutter on display

0:38:480:38:52

and we do have a fair degree of clutter.

0:38:520:38:54

But you've got to make allowances,

0:38:540:38:57

you've got to compromise.

0:38:570:38:59

So just build an extra-large garden shed, I'd say.

0:38:590:39:02

-Open-plan living, eh?

-I don't know.

-How much is open-plan living going to cost?

0:39:020:39:06

-435,000.

-OK. That was very definite.

0:39:060:39:11

It was a stab in the dark.

0:39:110:39:14

-Georgie?

-Oh, no. Erm...

0:39:140:39:17

440. I don't know.

0:39:170:39:20

OK, it's a bit higher than that.

0:39:200:39:22

-It is at the top of your budget.

-OK.

0:39:220:39:25

-It's £465,000.

-OK, OK.

-Oh!

0:39:250:39:29

It's quite a lot, isn't it? For what you get.

0:39:290:39:32

-A lot, but it's all done.

-Yeah, true.

0:39:320:39:35

-You walk straight into it.

-Mm-hm.

0:39:350:39:37

Everything is to the highest spec possible.

0:39:370:39:40

It has been finished to a very high standard.

0:39:400:39:43

-It is beautiful.

-You can't dispute that.

0:39:430:39:46

-Anyway, go and have a chat.

-OK.

-Have a wander round that barn

0:39:460:39:50

-and I'll see you in a while.

-OK.

-See you later.

0:39:500:39:53

At £465,000, this cow shed conversion is incredibly high-spec

0:39:540:40:00

and a fabulous space for open-plan living.

0:40:000:40:03

As Will said, they could move straight in.

0:40:030:40:07

It would give them an enormous kitchen/living area with underfloor

0:40:070:40:10

heating and limestone flooring,

0:40:100:40:13

three bedrooms with a superb master en-suite,

0:40:130:40:16

a large lawned garden and, despite its rural setting,

0:40:160:40:20

London is just an hour and a quarter

0:40:200:40:22

away from Whitchurch station.

0:40:220:40:24

-What are you thinking?

-I love it. I think it's really, really cool.

0:40:240:40:29

-They've done it superbly well.

-It's absolutely stunning. But where are we going to put all our clobber?

0:40:290:40:36

We're getting carried away with how beautiful the property looks

0:40:360:40:40

and we have to think about the more practical side of living.

0:40:400:40:44

Something this amazing, you'd love to try and make a concession

0:40:440:40:48

or some sort of compromise to try and accommodate everyone.

0:40:480:40:51

-Could you see yourself living here?

-I'm not sure.

0:40:510:40:55

I could.

0:40:550:40:57

-Happy?

-Yes, yes.

-Have you sorted out the storage issues?

-We're working on it.

0:40:590:41:04

-Working on it?

-Yes.

-That sounds positive. Come on, let's keep going.

0:41:040:41:10

'Will and Georgie are, by their own admission, "outdoorsy" people,

0:41:130:41:17

'so we thought they might like a chance to get to grips with the country pursuit of fly-fishing.

0:41:170:41:23

'Who better to introduce them to it than Ed Stebbins

0:41:230:41:27

'who's been fishing this stretch of the River Test since he moved here in the mid-'70s?'

0:41:270:41:32

What's the history of the river?

0:41:320:41:35

The river was actually a swamp in its beginning. It was never a river.

0:41:350:41:41

What you see is essentially man-made.

0:41:410:41:44

When the Romans conquered Britain, they took the chalk off the hillsides

0:41:440:41:49

and laid it on top of the swamp to force the water into a channel.

0:41:490:41:54

-And what other fish are we fishing for today?

-The river is quite rich in grayling and pike.

-Right.

0:41:540:42:00

'While we're over-fishing our seas,

0:42:000:42:03

'there are plenty of freshwater fish living in our local rivers that we don't know how to cook.

0:42:030:42:08

'Besides brown trout, perch, eel, roach, dace and crayfish all thrive in the River Test.

0:42:080:42:14

'Pike are normally thrown away, but local French chef Germain Maquis is a dab hand at turning these fish

0:42:140:42:20

'into a culinary masterpiece.'

0:42:200:42:22

-Hello. I'm Georgie. GERMAIN: Germain. Nice to meet you.

-Pleasure.

0:42:220:42:26

-Hello, Ed.

-Hi, Germain.

0:42:260:42:28

-So what two fish do we have here today?

-A small one, a grayling.

0:42:280:42:32

And you have here a pike from the River Test which I think Ed will cut it for me.

0:42:320:42:39

And over there, we've got some freshwater crayfish

0:42:400:42:44

from the river as well which we use to make sauces and all kinds of things.

0:42:440:42:51

'It's best to use a specialist knife or get a fishmonger to remove all the bones.

0:42:510:42:56

'After filleting the fish, it's time to make the dish.'

0:42:560:43:00

Right, from the fillet we have this product now,

0:43:010:43:06

which is the meat, which has been chopped very fine.

0:43:060:43:11

And we make certain there is no bones.

0:43:110:43:16

We fill a terrine with it.

0:43:160:43:20

We cook it in the oven in a bain-marie.

0:43:200:43:23

Now, this is the end product when we serve it after the terrine has been cooked.

0:43:230:43:29

You've got the sauce made with the freshwater crayfish which is around it.

0:43:290:43:34

Some of the tails we kept as a decoration and some heads as another decoration,

0:43:340:43:39

some watercress from the river.

0:43:390:43:42

And all this is a dish made with products from the River Test.

0:43:420:43:46

Now, if you take a fork, please just taste it.

0:43:460:43:50

Hmm!

0:43:560:43:57

I believe that dish, served cold or warm, should become a speciality of the area.

0:43:570:44:05

'Will and Georgie seemed hooked by this unexpected local delicacy.

0:44:050:44:10

'Let's see if our house hunt can serve up a surprise for them to chew over.'

0:44:100:44:15

It's time for the mystery house

0:44:150:44:17

and I know that Will and Georgie are prepared to take on a bit of a project.

0:44:170:44:22

Let's see how far we can stretch their imagination.

0:44:220:44:26

We're on our way to the mystery house. Are you both excited?

0:44:280:44:32

-Very much so. Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:44:320:44:35

What are you hoping to see, or perhaps I should ask what you don't want to see?

0:44:350:44:39

Initially we said we were quite happy for a project

0:44:390:44:42

so maybe it could be a completely dilapidated property

0:44:420:44:45

that needs complete renovation or maybe it's going to be a plot of land

0:44:450:44:49

with a barn that needs complete conversion -

0:44:490:44:52

a real start from scratch project, I guess.

0:44:520:44:55

Taking a wild stab in the dark.

0:44:550:44:57

Not a bad guess. Let's see if you're right.

0:44:570:45:01

'Our mystery property takes us just over the border into West Sussex

0:45:010:45:06

'to Lurgashall in the northern part of the Sussex Downs.

0:45:060:45:08

'Will could play cricket on the village green, surrounded by some charming period properties,

0:45:080:45:16

'the local pub and a village shop.

0:45:160:45:18

'Just a couple of miles down the road in Northchapel is a highly regarded primary school

0:45:180:45:23

'and Haslemere train station is only two miles away for that quick commute into London.'

0:45:230:45:29

So, Will and Georgie, here is your mystery property.

0:45:290:45:33

-LAUGHTER

-You're both laughing at me.

-OK...

0:45:330:45:38

-You did say you wanted a bit of a project.

-Yeah.

0:45:380:45:41

-This certainly is a project.

-OK.

0:45:410:45:44

This cottage does need complete modernisation and refurbishment,

0:45:440:45:48

-but it is in a great location.

-OK. Yeah.

0:45:480:45:51

It's whether you fall in love with this.

0:45:510:45:54

-What are you thinking?

-Interesting.

-What do you think, Will?

0:45:540:45:58

I think there's projects and there's projects.

0:45:580:46:01

-Are you a brave man?

-I'm willing to take anything on, but you know, why not?

0:46:010:46:07

-Shall we go in?

-Yeah.

-Let's start the tour.

-OK.

0:46:070:46:11

'The location is wonderful, so let's see if they are up for our mystery project.'

0:46:110:46:16

Come on through. You might have to mind your head, Will. Not the highest of ceilings.

0:46:190:46:25

-But here you have the sitting room. Imagine this as your sitting room.

-I'm struggling.

0:46:250:46:30

It probably wouldn't look quite like this, but you've got the original beams

0:46:320:46:37

-and as you can see when you come inside, it needs complete refurbishment.

-Yes.

0:46:370:46:43

Someone who buys this house has got to absolutely love it. Could it be you two?

0:46:430:46:48

I think I'd need some persuasion. I'm a half-full rather than a half-empty person, but...

0:46:480:46:54

-It's a challenge.

-Are you good at DIY?

-Awful.

0:46:540:46:58

OK. On that note, let me show you the kitchen. That will really excite you.

0:46:580:47:03

'Well, I wonder if Georgie has any creative thoughts about this room?'

0:47:030:47:08

This is exactly how I want my kitchen to be(!)

0:47:080:47:12

-It's perfect(!)

-Speak for yourself!

0:47:120:47:15

Yes, it needs a little bit of work, I think it would be fair to say.

0:47:150:47:20

Yeah, I wouldn't disagree there.

0:47:200:47:22

It is a huge job. We've just gone past the sunroom. This property has the original outside toilet.

0:47:220:47:28

-Good for ventilation.

-Very good. But you would have to completely gut it and start again.

0:47:280:47:35

-Have you ever taken on a project like that?

-On a much smaller scale.

0:47:350:47:39

Yeah, in London, our flat in London, but this is on the extreme end of that scale.

0:47:390:47:45

-What was it like doing up your flat in London?

-Hard work.

0:47:450:47:49

-It tested our patience and relationship, I think.

-Yes, it really did.

0:47:490:47:54

To buy this cottage, everything needs so much work, it would have to be a labour of love.

0:47:540:48:00

-But the property has potential. It's whether it's something that you guys really want to do.

-Yeah.

0:48:000:48:06

Not many answers there, so I think I know what's coming, but let me keep showing you around.

0:48:060:48:13

'Our mystery house is going to push them to the limit.

0:48:130:48:17

'Will they go there when they see the bedrooms?'

0:48:170:48:20

The cottage has three bedrooms and a family bathroom,

0:48:200:48:25

but this is the largest bedroom, so not huge.

0:48:250:48:28

-Proper cottage sizes, I think.

-Yeah.

-Bijou.

0:48:280:48:32

For somebody who has lots of time and energy, they could really make this into a fantastic place,

0:48:320:48:38

but I'm not sure that you and I have that at this moment.

0:48:380:48:42

It would be a monster project, which would be pretty exhausting.

0:48:420:48:46

-A step too far perhaps with the little one and working?

-Several steps too far.

0:48:460:48:51

'They probably can't see it yet, but there is serious potential

0:48:510:48:55

'which will become clear when we step outside.

0:48:550:48:59

'One of the other rooms could be a good study and there's a double with lovely views.

0:48:590:49:04

'Next door is the family bathroom which would also need an overhaul.

0:49:040:49:08

'We'll head outside and examine that potential and the price.'

0:49:080:49:13

So coming here to the back of the property, looking at the cottage, we know it needs a lot of work inside,

0:49:130:49:20

but you could put a fantastic extension on the back over two levels.

0:49:200:49:25

It lends itself and it makes the most of that amazing view.

0:49:250:49:29

-The view really is sensational.

-It's gorgeous.

-Really amazing.

0:49:290:49:33

Not only that, but all this land right to the back, over half an acre, is included with the cottage.

0:49:330:49:40

-Wow, that's a lot!

-It is, yeah.

0:49:400:49:43

Are you warming to it slightly?

0:49:430:49:45

I am, I am. I mean, the view is sensational. It is amazing.

0:49:450:49:49

I suppose the downside of having half an acre on the Three Counties

0:49:490:49:53

of Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, it's got to be quite expensive.

0:49:530:49:58

How much is it worth?

0:49:580:50:01

I think it's worth 350.

0:50:010:50:05

OK.

0:50:050:50:07

I'd like to say £200,000,

0:50:070:50:10

but it's on the Three Counties...

0:50:100:50:13

I'd say it's slightly less. I'd say it's probably 320.

0:50:140:50:18

OK, it's offers in excess of £395,000.

0:50:180:50:24

WILL LAUGHS

0:50:240:50:26

But if it was £200,000, would you buy it?

0:50:260:50:30

I would do and then let the wrecking ball do its worst.

0:50:300:50:34

That's honest!

0:50:340:50:36

-Because of the location?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:50:360:50:38

-I think I know where you're going to go with this, but have another look around.

-OK.

-OK.

0:50:380:50:44

-See you in a while.

-Great.

-Thanks.

0:50:440:50:46

For £395,000, our mystery property offers up a great development project in a prime location,

0:50:470:50:54

slap-bang on the Three Counties border.

0:50:540:50:57

-Stunning, isn't it? Half an acre of land. Just think what we can do.

-I know. Amazing.

0:51:140:51:19

-Whoever builds the house here will be very lucky.

-It would be amazing to take on this property.

0:51:190:51:25

-I'm slightly warming to the idea of it.

-But we'd be financially ruined.

0:51:250:51:30

That's true, yeah.

0:51:300:51:32

I'd love to say that this is the house for us.

0:51:320:51:36

Once we heard the price, we realised there was far too much work to be done with the budget that we have

0:51:360:51:42

and sadly, I think it's going to be a "no" on this one, which is such a shame.

0:51:420:51:47

-Well, you two have got a lot to think about now, haven't you?

-Yes.

-Sure do.

0:51:510:51:56

-Shall we find you somewhere quiet and you can sit down and gather your thoughts?

-Yeah, sure.

0:51:560:52:02

'Well, our house hunt is at an end and I think our properties have given them a lot to think about.'

0:52:080:52:14

We've given Will and Georgie time to think about all the houses that they've seen

0:52:190:52:25

and I hope the pieces of this particular property puzzle are falling into place for both of them.

0:52:250:52:31

Let's hear what they've got to say.

0:52:310:52:34

Will and Georgie, it's been a great two days. I've really enjoyed showing you around.

0:52:370:52:42

-How has it been for you, Will, coming back home?

-It was wonderful.

0:52:420:52:46

A certain element of nostalgia. It's brought back some lovely memories.

0:52:460:52:51

We started off with a house that actually had an additional cottage in the grounds,

0:52:510:52:55

although I don't think you both spotted that one straightaway.

0:52:550:52:59

-What did you think of that house?

-I think our first impressions were very positive.

0:52:590:53:03

They'd done it so beautifully. But then, when we started to think about where we'd put our furniture

0:53:030:53:09

and how our bits and pieces would fit into that particular house,

0:53:090:53:12

we felt that it was just going to be too small for us,

0:53:120:53:15

even with the additional space of the cottage.

0:53:150:53:18

The down side was always going to be the road, the danger element combined with the noise.

0:53:180:53:23

We looked at a house overlooking a common, a very, very quiet road.

0:53:230:53:28

-You knew that area very well.

-It was spooky,

0:53:280:53:31

having gone to school just literally two miles down the road.

0:53:310:53:36

-Very strange, almost surreal.

-What about the house for you both?

0:53:360:53:41

On first impressions, I didn't think it was too bad, but when we went inside,

0:53:410:53:46

it had a very family-orientated feel to it

0:53:460:53:49

which I certainly liked.

0:53:490:53:52

I couldn't get my sofa in the kitchen, but we could build an extension

0:53:520:53:57

and with the price, an extension would be quite feasible.

0:53:570:54:01

So I think there were some pluses to it. More pluses than there were negatives.

0:54:010:54:06

So, a new day, and we looked at the barn conversion, 200 years old,

0:54:060:54:10

but certainly very contemporary inside.

0:54:100:54:14

I loved it. Absolutely loved it.

0:54:140:54:16

Once you went in, the decor and the design was to such a high spec,

0:54:160:54:20

it was...it was really cool, yeah.

0:54:200:54:24

I totally agree with everything that Will says. It was an amazing house

0:54:240:54:28

and I did love it too for all the same reasons.

0:54:280:54:31

However, my head and my heart were saying totally different things.

0:54:310:54:35

Where will I put the gumboots, the coats, the vacuum cleaner,

0:54:350:54:40

all the boring, practical things that you have to think about?

0:54:400:54:44

It was such a beautiful house.

0:54:440:54:46

I wouldn't want any of our clobber lying around and making the house look untidy.

0:54:460:54:52

So, lastly, we saw the mystery house.

0:54:520:54:55

Very different from any of the other properties. What were your first thoughts when you saw it?

0:54:550:55:01

It took us by surprise because we thought from the outside, "Yes, quite pretty,"

0:55:010:55:06

went inside and thought, "This is a big project!"

0:55:060:55:10

We didn't think we could take it on and then you showed us the garden

0:55:100:55:15

and we thought, "Wow, this is amazing!"

0:55:150:55:18

The view was sensational and suddenly we began to think, "Hmm, maybe.

0:55:180:55:22

"Actually, this possibly could be us."

0:55:220:55:26

But unfortunately, I think the price has probably made it too tricky

0:55:260:55:32

for us to even think about.

0:55:320:55:34

So what's the next step going to be?

0:55:340:55:37

I think we need to go back and have a look at the properties.

0:55:370:55:41

Will is very interested in the barn and I am too. I don't want to discount it completely.

0:55:410:55:47

But equally, I think that I need to show Will the positives of the house on the common

0:55:470:55:54

and really look at that and see if it's something we can make into our family home.

0:55:540:55:59

-And have a second viewing when the sun is shining.

-Exactly.

-We did see it in the pouring rain.

0:55:590:56:05

-That's going to be quite critical.

-It does make a difference.

0:56:050:56:09

-You will keep in touch?

-Of course.

-Let us know how you get on.

0:56:090:56:13

-Thank you both. It has been such an enjoyable time.

-Thank you. It's been great.

-Thank you.

0:56:130:56:19

Well, how about that?

0:56:220:56:25

When we began this house hunt, I was concerned that Will and Georgie's expectations were just too high,

0:56:250:56:32

given their long list of requirements and their budget here in the South Downs.

0:56:320:56:37

However, over the last two days, this smashing couple have discovered the magic word - "compromise".

0:56:370:56:44

And I really hope the house by the common or the barn is the home for them.

0:56:440:56:49

See you next time.

0:56:490:56:52

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0:56:520:56:58

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