0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to Escape To The Country.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06Today I'm in a county that is blessed, as you can see, with some glorious landscapes,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09but which also has some pretty impressive coastline.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14In fact, the coastline here was designated as Britain's first natural World Heritage site,
0:00:14 > 0:00:18and on top of that it's one of my favourite places to go house-hunting.
0:00:31 > 0:00:37Today we're helping a young family swap their urban estate for a rural outlook.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- Wow!- It's fantastic.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41That's pretty amazing, actually.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45- Yeah, really nice.- But will our houses have the right ingredients?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Hey!
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Now this is what I call a kitchen.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52And can we get the mix right with today's mystery house?
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- I could fall in love with that view but...- Yeah, some work.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58It would take some time to fall in love with the property.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Well, today we're in Devon. Or more specifically, East Devon.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09And as a county it's also famous for possessing some of the country's
0:01:09 > 0:01:12most impressive and extensive landed estates and country houses.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Like this one, Escot Park.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18When the grounds around here were laid out, back in the 18th century,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20it was a favoured haunt for the local nobility,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and on occasion royalty.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26It's said that poor old mad King George and Queen Charlotte dropped
0:01:26 > 0:01:30in for a cup of tea on their way to Plymouth back in 1789.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But the good news is that today, it's open to everyone.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38We'll be visiting Escot later in the show.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41But there's more to East Devon than country estates.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Sandwiched between Somerset and Dorset to the east, and Exeter to the west.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49At just 314 square miles East Devon isn't huge.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52But within its borders you'll find some of the UK's
0:01:52 > 0:01:54greenest and loveliest countryside.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And don't just take my word for it.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59There are two separate areas of outstanding natural beauty,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02which between them cover over 60% of the landscapes.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Both are shaped by centuries of farming activity.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09The south is home to a myriad of market towns and villages.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Not to mention 30 miles of the World Heritage coast
0:02:12 > 0:02:17charting 185 million years of the Earth's history.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25In the north are the Blackdown Hills - a truly unspoilt pastoral region,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29where you're more likely to come across four-legged residents than people.
0:02:29 > 0:02:35Its hills and valleys are dotted with isolated farms, hedgerow lanes and countless villages and hamlets.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37With not one single town,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40it really is a country escape.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43And if thatch is your thing, this is the place to come.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Devon accounts for 17% of the UK's total.
0:02:47 > 0:02:54And there are over 4,000 thatch properties here which come in every shape and size.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Now, there is a potentially endless list of reasons as to why you might want to move to Devon.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01But here are just three for you to think about.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The first is that nowhere in this county is further than 25 miles from the sea.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08The second is that is has a warmer than average climate.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13And the third is that house prices have dropped here a lot less than they have in other parts of the UK.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18So, not only is it a good place to move to, it's also quite a good place to invest in.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22And as ever there is plenty on the market to tempt you.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28For £1.3m you could be the proud owner of this five-bedroom
0:03:28 > 0:03:3116th century farm house near Axminster.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35It's crammed to its thatched rafters with character and comes with spacious rooms.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38The price also includes a separate three bedroom cottage.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42And a very large pond in nearly five-and-a-half acres of land.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48If you're looking for something with potential, then check out
0:03:48 > 0:03:51this four-bedroom thatch, also near Axminster.
0:03:51 > 0:03:57For the price tag of £625,000, you'll get a traditional Devon long house,
0:03:57 > 0:04:02but with planning permission in place to build three holiday cottages in an acre plot,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05it could also prove to be a real money spinner.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Or if you want to downsize on price but not on period features,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15how about this three bedroom barn conversion in the hamlet of Weston.
0:04:15 > 0:04:22For £385,000 you'll get a couple of reception rooms complete with inglenooks and beams.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24And a contemporary farm house kitchen.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29There's a small pretty garden, but at just a mile from the coast, who needs a lawn?
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Well, with a selection like that, it's no surprise that East Devon
0:04:34 > 0:04:37is one of my favourite areas to come house hunting.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42No surprise either that it's where today's buyers want to move to.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48Pharmaceutical execs Alison and Greg met at work ten years ago.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52They tied the knot in 2006 and have been living on a modern estate
0:04:52 > 0:04:55in Hatfield, Hertfordshire for the last six years.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00They share their four-bedroom detached house with their dog Murphy and their gorgeous son, Jake,
0:05:00 > 0:05:05whose recent arrival has prompted this rural escape.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08I was brought up pretty much in the countryside.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11And, you know, I loved every minute of it. I loved the environment, being outside.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14And as Jake gets older,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17we really want to give him the opportunity that I had really as a child.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21For Greg this move really will be a return to his rural roots.
0:05:21 > 0:05:26As they've decided to relocate to the county where he spent his formative years.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29The area of the country we want to move to is Devon.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Mainly East Devon, because we would still be working in Hertfordshire.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36And we want to be fairly near the M5.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37- Yeah.- So, we can whip up into work.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42But in a location that's rural enough so we can, you know, walk out our front door.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And walk along the fields and take Jake and Murphy out.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48A lot of my friends from school still live down there.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52So, it would be great to be in, you know, short driving distance from them as well.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56So, Greg and Alison have a very clear idea about their location.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58But what about their dream house?
0:05:58 > 0:06:03Our perfect house would be a lovely character cottage.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06In a lovely village with a pub down the road.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09A roaring fire in the living area.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12A lovely large kitchen area for entertaining.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Yeah, really nice views as well.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18I love to go out in the garden and just look out over the countryside.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Big established garden.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25Whilst Alison is a self-confessed shopaholic, Greg is a bit of a petrol head.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30But once they've made the move to East Devon, they're hoping to spend more time as a family outdoors.
0:06:30 > 0:06:36The lifestyle we dream of is long country walks at weekends.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Then pop into the local pub for a roast.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42I do a lot of running and triathlons.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45So, I'd just like to, just to run in the fields for a change. You know, instead of running round the block.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47I used to try a bit of surfing.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49I'd like to continue to do that.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Get that in. I'm sure Jake would like that.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- I might have a go as well.- Yeah.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Before Greg and Alison can realise their dream, they need to know
0:06:57 > 0:07:00exactly how much money they'll have to play with.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04So, we've invited around a local estate agent to value their current property.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09The property's six years old. It's in quite a sought-after family location.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Offering good size living accommodation.
0:07:11 > 0:07:18Therefore we'd be looking to market the property at around £350,000.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21350 is pretty much what we were expecting.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- Yeah.- We would like to, you know, to sell it for that amount.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28But that's, as I said, that's pretty much what we wanted to spend in the country.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32So, for their £350,000,
0:07:32 > 0:07:37Greg and Alison are after, I think, quite a lot.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42They want a nice characterful detached property with a minimum of three bedrooms.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45A nice big farmhouse kitchen... well, let's face it, who doesn't?
0:07:45 > 0:07:50And enough of a garden so that son Jake and dog Murphy have got some room to play in.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52But on top of that they also need some office space.
0:07:52 > 0:07:57So the pair of them can work from home to pay for this big adventure.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Not much to ask, is it?
0:07:59 > 0:08:04As Greg will need to commute to Hertfordshire for work a couple of times a month,
0:08:04 > 0:08:09we're focusing today's search just to the north of Ottery St Mary.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11We've lined up three stunning homes to view.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16But as always, I won't be revealing the price tags until they've had a good look around.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18The last of the three will be the mystery house,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21which should give our house hunters a bit of a challenge.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- Well, guys, here we are back in Devon. Greg, this is where it all started for you.- Yeah, it did.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Yeah, when I was a little boy.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32So, time for a new chapter.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- You're doing this really for Jake, aren't you?- Yeah, yeah.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37We want him to be able to grow up somewhere in the country.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40You know, enjoy the fresh air and very close to the coast as well.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- So, we don't have that back home at the moment.- Well, your budget now.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46What's the very, very top end?
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Well, we were looking round about 350.
0:08:48 > 0:08:55- Yup.- £350,000 and... But I mean, if the perfect property came up, we may be able to stretch a little bit.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- Maybe 360, maybe 370.- Yeah.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- But that would be top end. - OK. Well, let's see if we can find you a house.- Excellent.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02Fantastic.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11So, Alison and Greg have a top budget of £370,000.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14They want a character cottage in a central village location.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18And their must-haves include three bedrooms, office space, a big kitchen diner,
0:09:18 > 0:09:23and an equally big garden with countryside views.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Whilst it's by no means a totally unachievable wish list, their budget
0:09:27 > 0:09:29isn't huge for this highly sought after neck of the woods.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33So, they may need to make compromises in one or two areas.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36But I'm confident we'll find them something special.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41How much effort are you prepared to put into your new home?
0:09:41 > 0:09:43To really make it your own.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50We're flexible. I mean, it really depends on what sort of property we see.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52I mean, we wanted a character property.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- Yeah.- And we understand that not all character properties are going to be completely done up for us.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01And ready made as such. So, you know, if there's a little bit of work to do then, then fine.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Well, our first house needs no work whatsoever.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09And for that we're heading to the village of Monkton,
0:10:09 > 0:10:14which is situated just ten miles from the coast and a 20 minute drive to the M5.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17So, easy access for travelling back to Hertfordshire for work.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21But it's Monkton's rural setting, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24that I think will really appeal to Alison and Greg.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29It's a small community village with a church. And one hotel with a pub and restaurant.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33So, they shouldn't have any problems getting to know potential new neighbours.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38And if it's a taste of East Devon life Greg and Alison want,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42they could do worse than drop in at the nearby village winery.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46One of a handful of vineyards that have cropped up in East Devon in recent years.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Our first property is near the centre of the village in a tucked away position.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55And I have to say when it comes to character this cottage will take some beating.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- Wow.- Come on in.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00- Very pretty. - It's really, really cute.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Isn't it?- Yeah, I like that.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06I think it's a real kind of classic Devon picture, actually.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09It is, yeah. Very quaint. And it's got the thatch roof as well.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Which we weren't, you know, we were kind of 50-50.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- But it looks really, really nice. - Yeah, no. It's really... I like it.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- It's really pretty.- It is pretty. The only big drawback...
0:11:16 > 0:11:18- and you can probably hear it... - Yeah, is the road.- Is the road.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Is the road.- Yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- The upside to that is that it takes you to Honiton.- Right. - In about five minutes.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Yup.- Which is great shopping, restaurants, etc.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- It is a bit noisy. And we've got cats as well.- You can hear the lorries. - So, that could be a problem.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34Well, I do want Greg and Alison to keep an open mind.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Because this Grade II listed cottage is definitely worth seeing.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Originally built around 1600, it's recently been refurbished,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44with what I think are great results.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- Wow.- Come on in.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- What do you think of this?- Very, very nice.- It's exactly what...
0:11:50 > 0:11:54- Yeah.- We kind of stipulated on... The beams...- The beams.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56Dining-room-wise, this is it.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59- Yeah, that's fine. I mean. - That's perfect, yeah.- Our table will fit in there quite nicely.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- Because we like open plan, anyway. So...- Yeah.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06I'd say kitchen diner sort of thing. But this, it leads onto the lounge anyway. So, it's...
0:12:06 > 0:12:07it's not an isolated room as such.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10But this I love. I mean, the fireplace is what really, really makes it.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Yeah. Without a doubt. I can see our sofas are going to fit quite nicely.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15That is... Absolutely. It's a nice big area, actually.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- It's huge.- Yeah.- Well, let's have a look at the kitchen.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20- OK.- Because remember... I know you wanted kitchen-diner.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- Yeah.- That's the diner bit.- Right. - Come and have a look at the kitchen.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26It is separate through here.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30- OK.- So, this is the reverse of the dining room wall.- Oh, right.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Lovely mixture of plaster and wood and so forth.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34- Yeah.- No, I like it. - And then this is the kitchen.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Yeah, not a bad size.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- Yeah. Not too bad actually, yeah. - It's not the kitchen diner.- No.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46- But bearing in mind, you've got the dining room just there anyway. - Yeah, yeah.- Sure.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- In an ideal world, we're looking for something a little bit larger.- Yeah.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54But the fact that the dining room goes onto the lounge. You know, if this was just the kitchen then...
0:12:54 > 0:12:56It's still, still a good size.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Yeah. It's kind of a modern kitchen. But it doesn't look too modern.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- If you see what I mean.- No, exactly. It's not out of place at all.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07Well, I think that's the tale of this place. It's that nice mix of all the original features.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09With a kind of modern twist.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- Sure.- Shall we have a look upstairs?
0:13:11 > 0:13:13- Yeah.- Let's talk about bedrooms.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15- Yeah, why not.- We have got you three.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- OK, cool.- Let's go have a look at that.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23I'd say we're off to a good start. And I think upstairs should get a positive reaction too.
0:13:25 > 0:13:31- And this is two of three. And I think this really is your sort of guest room, effectively.- Yes.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33OK. It's perfect size, actually.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- Little bit of storage.- Yeah, double room. Get a double bed in fine.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40But let's go out through here and see what we can find you.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44On this level, there's also a single room. Which probably has Jake's name on it,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48and a pretty bathroom complete with a rolltop bath.
0:13:48 > 0:13:55Now on the way to the master is this little space. Which they've currently got set up as an office.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- OK.- Yeah, could be useful, actually.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Or, given that it is next door to the master bedroom, it could be...
0:14:00 > 0:14:05Just an idea... A dressing room.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I think I like that idea.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I think I like that idea.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- Oh, let me gamble on that one. - Oh, yeah. Dressing room, office...
0:14:11 > 0:14:16Is it going to be full of computers and books, or clothes and shoes?
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- Yes.- I think the bet's on clothes, actually.- Yup, yup.- To be honest. - I would say so.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24- But let's have a look at the master. Because I think you'll like this. - OK.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- There we are.- Wow, yeah.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31- Interesting feature there. - Do you know what that is?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33- Ah, chimney?- Chimney, yeah.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Exactly. It's the top of the inglenook.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39- OK.- And that's a very traditional feature in a cottage of this period. - Right.
0:14:39 > 0:14:45- You can't take it out. - No, no, no. True.- And especially not as it's listed either.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47But I think it's really lovely. You get a lot of space.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49- Really quite lovely and light in here.- It is beautiful, yeah.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52It's beams again. This, you know, this is what we're looking for.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Good. So, you know, inside, I think this is...
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- this is getting there, isn't it? - Definitely. Yeah, it's 99% there.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Well, let's see if we can make it 100% outside.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07The whole plot comes in at just under a quarter of an acre,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10and enjoys a fantastic rural outlook.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Although the lawn is in need of some TLC.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17So, you've got this very nice little conservatory
0:15:17 > 0:15:19that draws you out into the garden.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22And what you see is famously what you get.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Yeah. No, that's...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- It's not a bad size.- It's not bad.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28I mean, the lawn could do with a bit of attention. But apart from that...
0:15:28 > 0:15:31In terms of outbuildings now, that's what I want to talk about.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- You may have noticed on the way in, there's the garage.- Yeah.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37- OK, wooden garage. Which you could use for the bike?- Yeah.- OK.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Now, out here we've got two doors.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- That one on the right is a tool shed.- Right, OK.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44- OK.- But you see that little door on the left?
0:15:44 > 0:15:48- Yeah.- You would think that it would go into a very small space.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- It actually goes into an enormous room.- Oh, right.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52I think, relatively speaking, in terms of it being an office.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- OK.- Now, it does need a bit of renovation.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59- But you've got to have something to do.- You know, we said we wouldn't mind doing a bit. So...
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Well, that's what you can do as and when.
0:16:01 > 0:16:07I think it's a really interesting project. And there are additional costs to consider.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Thatched roofs require maintenance, which does come at a price.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Many may need completely replacing every 20 or 30 years.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18But of course, during that time they also need regular maintenance.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22And the costs of that can vary considerably.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- There we are. - Wow.- It's fantastic, yeah.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- That's pretty amazing, actually. - Really nice.- Nice, isn't it?
0:16:28 > 0:16:30- Yeah.- And actually in terms of Jake playing around it's quite nice.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- It's quite enclosed, isn't it? - Yeah, it is actually. It's not bad.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Yeah, it's safe. And you know we'd spend a lot of time in the garden.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37- Yeah.- So, this is ready-made.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Entertaining. It's perfect, isn't it really?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Good. So, there are the views.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44There's the house. That's what it's all about.
0:16:44 > 0:16:50That's what we've brought you here to actually have a look at. Well, let's have a think about the price.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Go on, Alison, you start.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I reckon this is probably top end.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- 370.- 370.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Yeah, OK.- I'm not sure.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- I'd take into consideration the road. - Yeah.
0:17:03 > 0:17:08But I'll say 359,950 or something.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Oh, ha! OK. So, 360?
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- Yeah, go on then.- Thereabouts. You said 360. You said three...
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- 370.- 370.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17- Not bad, guys.- Yeah?
0:17:17 > 0:17:22Yeah. Not bad at all. This is on the market now for 365.
0:17:22 > 0:17:23Ha!
0:17:23 > 0:17:27- All right, yeah. Midway then.- Yeah, OK, OK.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30So, I get the feeling that you wouldn't be too disappointed at 365?
0:17:30 > 0:17:35No. And the size of the house and what you actually get is, is
0:17:35 > 0:17:37- I think, pretty good for that price. - Well, look, go have a good old explore.- OK.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Check out the potential office space and some of the rooms upstairs.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46- I'll catch up with you a bit later. - Great.- OK, great. Thanks. Thanks very much.- Enjoy. Off you go.
0:17:48 > 0:17:54At £365,000 this listed character cottage is 5,000 under budget,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and has period features and space a plenty.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02There are three bedrooms. It already has one office with the potential to create another.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05And the rural outlook is truly impressive.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08In fact the only disadvantage I can see with this house
0:18:08 > 0:18:10is its proximity to the road.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13So, will they be able to live with it?
0:18:13 > 0:18:17This house is absolutely gorgeous. It looks quite quaint on the outside but it is quite spacious.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22We love beams and that's really what we wanted.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Cor, this is deceptive, isn't it?
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- Yeah, deceptively big. - It's huge, yeah.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- That would make a fantastic office, for both of us. It's got the window there, hasn't it?- Yeah, yeah.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33So maybe you could set the computer up there and look out over the field.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- Nice view while you're working. Fab. - Gorgeous.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I thought the inside was, was really nice. You know, I love the beams.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41I love the fireplace. The only drawback is the road.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45And that's a big, you know, a big issue for me. Apart from that, yeah, great start.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48It's got potential for us to move here.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50- Enjoying the sunshine obviously. - I certainly am.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- This is all very lovely, isn't it? - It's gorgeous.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- Am I enjoying your garden, I wonder? - Well, yeah. Well, maybe.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00- Possibly, possibly.- Maybe. - So, it's a contender? - Yeah. Yeah.- Definitely, yeah.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- Brilliant. Well, there's plenty more to come.- Brilliant.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12As Alison and Greg are looking forward to lots of family days out with Jake,
0:19:12 > 0:19:17once they're settled in East Devon, we're scouting out some fun locations for them.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23A must-visit is Escot Park, where I've returned for a guided tour with owner John-Michael Kennaway.
0:19:24 > 0:19:31Tell me a little bit more about the house and the estate itself. Your family came here in 1794?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Well, we bought it in 1794 from Sir George Young,
0:19:33 > 0:19:38who was a Conservative MP who bankrupted himself bribing his electorates. So...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Ha, ha!
0:19:40 > 0:19:45Over 200 years on and the family is in charge of a huge estate.
0:19:45 > 0:19:471,200 acres in all.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50The gardens were laid out by the famous landscape architect Capability Brown in the 18th century
0:19:50 > 0:19:54and are home to an array of native and exotic flowers,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and vast oak and beech woodlands.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02Back in the 1700s they were called The Pleasure Grounds
0:20:02 > 0:20:07and John-Michael is very much keeping the tradition of fun alive today.
0:20:07 > 0:20:08This is our fallen tree.
0:20:08 > 0:20:14It was one of the casualties of the early 90s hurricane that we had in Devon.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18We lost 5,000 trees. But this one's happily growing and we left
0:20:18 > 0:20:21it there as a climbing tree.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- And as a monument to the storm really.- But what have you done here?
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- You've framed it...- Well, this is an idea we pinched from New Zealand.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31And this is a picture frame and here we go.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36So, have you ever seen a bottle tree before?
0:20:36 > 0:20:41- A bottle tree? No, I haven't.- Well, look up and you'll see your first.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Ha!
0:20:44 > 0:20:45It's yet more madness, John-Michael.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48I love it. You've bedecked it with bottles and corks.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- That's because it's a cork tree. - Oh, it is. It's cork, yeah. Look at that.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Do you ever get the sense that your forebears are wandering around here?
0:20:55 > 0:20:57I hope they're watching us and hope they approve.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Well, I certainly think they'd approve of your sense of humour. I absolutely love it.
0:21:02 > 0:21:08But it's not all about fun. The name of the game for John-Michael is really conservation and education,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12which isn't confined to flora. In conjunction with The Tale Valley Trust
0:21:12 > 0:21:16he's reintroducing animals that back in the day would have roamed the estate freely.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19But are now largely endangered.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24Species like wild boar, birds of prey, beavers and otters.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- They're really quite cheeky things, aren't they?- They're lovely.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30They're integrated and they're part of our education programme.
0:21:30 > 0:21:36Showing people, you know, about the real wild otters that we have on the rivers and around the estate.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- Well, they're a great welcome to the garden.- They're lovely.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42And, of course, no country estate would be complete without a maze.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46The classic hedgerow version is thought to date back 600 years.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Although this one is slightly more recent.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Made from beech trees, it's just five years old.
0:21:52 > 0:21:58- John-Michael, thank you very much. - You're very welcome.- If I don't come out by sunset, come and get me.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- No.- Cheers! Here we go.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03Now then...
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Well, I think I could lose myself in this place for hours.
0:22:18 > 0:22:24As the sun sets over the East Devon countryside, our first day of property hunting is at an end.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32The arrival of baby Jake has prompted Alison and Greg to swap
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Hatfield for a healthy lifestyle in East Devon.
0:22:36 > 0:22:42They have up to £370,000 to spend on a character home with a big garden.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46So, can we get the balance just right with our next property?
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I didn't expect that at all.
0:22:48 > 0:22:54- Or will today's mystery house come up smelling of roses?- Yeah, amazing.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Well, it's the beginning of our final day's house hunt here in East Devon.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01Now, yesterday, I think it was pretty successful.
0:23:01 > 0:23:06We certainly found lots of period charm. But in trying to find a house within a village location,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09we did of course come up against the issue of road noise.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11So, I think the message for today is simple
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Keep up with the character and charm.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16But just a bit more peace and quiet.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20For our first viewing of the day we're heading to Smeatharpe
0:23:20 > 0:23:22in the Blackdown Hills.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27Location-wise it's just nine miles to the M5 and 17 miles to the coast.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32And I think this is the typical Devonshire village that Alison and Greg have in mind.
0:23:32 > 0:23:38It's positively tiny and its church and pub are very much the home of the community.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43Close by is a decommissioned airfield that played an important part in World War II.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Our property sits between that and the village.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48And I think it has a real wow factor.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51And the kind of garden they have in mind.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Let's start today with this one.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01- It looks lovely from the outside. - Very nice.- Gorgeous on the inside as well, I can tell you.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03In it's more recent past it was a pub.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07- Oh, right.- We're right on the edge as well of the airfield.- OK.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12- Right.- Which during the Second World War was a real hub for the D-Day operations.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And this would have been the local for many a serviceman way back when.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Now it's a lot more peaceful here, as you can probably tell.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- Yeah, it's lovely and quiet. - The road that way goes nowhere.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- OK.- Just to the old airfield.- Yeah.
0:24:25 > 0:24:30So, the peace and quiet you are experiencing now should be yours forever more.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Fantastic.- Brilliant.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35There's no denying this property has an interesting past.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38But will it feature in Alison and Greg's future?
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Well, I have very high hopes for this one.
0:24:41 > 0:24:42Grab the door, Greg.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- Not a problem.- Come on in, Alison.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46- Wow.- Come on in.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49- Hey, hey.- Now, this is...
0:24:49 > 0:24:51this is what I call a kitchen.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54- It's lovely, yeah. Got the island. I like the island.- Definitely.- Yeah.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Now all of these movements are free standing. They all move.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59- Right, OK.- Oh, right, OK. - With the exception of the sink.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01- Right.- For obvious reasons.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04But yeah, if you want to reconfigure it, you just got to pick them up.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08- Fantastic.- Yeah, do you want to have it over here today, shall we?
0:25:08 > 0:25:13- Brilliant.- But through here, look at this, your kitchen diner.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- Oh, right. Fantastic! - Hey! Great little space there.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Our table would fit in there quite nicely.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- I like that.- And through that door
0:25:20 > 0:25:23at the end, that takes you out to a lovely little, sort of, gravelled courtyard.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28- So, if you want a bit of outdoor eating, etc, that's immediate to the kitchen.- Oh, OK. Yeah.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30- You've got that there.- Excellent.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35The entire house was renovated in 2006.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39And I think decoratively, it will be exactly to Greg and Alison's taste.
0:25:39 > 0:25:45There are plenty of character features but they're set within a very light contemporary finish.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47OK, come through.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Ha, ha! What do you think?
0:25:50 > 0:25:52- I like this.- It's stunning.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- Yeah, I love it.- Now, the kitchen was the heart of the pub.- Right.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01As it was, all right? And this was a little snug attached to the pub.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- Oh, right.- So, many a good night would have been had in here.- Yeah.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05- I can imagine.- Clearly. I love it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I think the finish is fantastic.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Yeah, I love... I love the finish.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- It's clean, it's not cluttered.- Yeah, it's very nicely done actually.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15This is, this is exactly what I want my house to look like.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18But of course the owners of the pub lived here too.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21And their bit of the property was originally in this half, OK?
0:26:21 > 0:26:27So, imagine a wall here where this beam is now. But it does now give you this interesting space here.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- Oh, it's looks gorgeous. - Gorgeous. I do like this. - That stunning fireplace.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Yeah, I can't fault it at the moment.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- To be honest.- No, not at all.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Well, I think I can safely say that's a thumbs-up for the downstairs.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43I hope upstairs won't be a let down.
0:26:45 > 0:26:51OK. Well, let's start up here with the bathroom. What do you think?
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- Very nice.- It's a good size.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56- Still got that lovely cottagey feel, hasn't it?- Yeah, it has.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Now, in all there are three bedrooms up here.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Not the biggest in the world. But certainly big enough for Jake.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03I think he'd be happy in there.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07- Perfect.- Perfect size.- Yeah. - OK. And then moving on we've got...
0:27:07 > 0:27:09again it's a very similarly sized room.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11These aren't in fairness doubles.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13That's a... yeah, that's more a single.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17But the master is plenty big enough for you.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Have a look at this.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21I think this is very sweet.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Oh, yeah. That's absolutely fine, isn't it?
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- It's lovely.- Perfect size.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Now, you haven't got an en suite.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- OK.- Bathroom is that one down there. - Yeah. Well, it's not too far.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Well, it's only you and Jake, isn't it really?
0:27:33 > 0:27:35- At the moment. So...- Yeah.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38That's perfect. We wouldn't need to do anything, would we?
0:27:38 > 0:27:39- No.- Absolutely not.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- You've just got to pay for it, Greg. - THEY LAUGH
0:27:42 > 0:27:45- Yeah.- Hmm.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Whilst Alison and Greg obviously love this house,
0:27:49 > 0:27:53I think they could potentially outgrow it in just a few years.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56But there may be a solution outside.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Right.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Let's start out here, shall we?
0:28:03 > 0:28:06So, there's the back of it.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10There are plans and planning permission to extend this...
0:28:10 > 0:28:12- Oh, OK.- ...this way.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16- So, the new footprint of the building would effectively come out toward the edge of the grass.- Yeah.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19And then it goes up two storeys.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21- Oh, OK.- That's, yeah, interesting.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Because I was concerned about the smaller...
0:28:24 > 0:28:27- two single rooms.- Yeah.- At the moment, I don't think you need to.
0:28:27 > 0:28:34- No.- But if you felt like it, effectively you would get a nice big new chunk of building right there.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37The extension could incorporate office space, almost certainly.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41But if you wanted to do something more immediate, how about in the garden?
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Yeah, that's what our initial thoughts were.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48- A separate free-standing nice timber build. Do it really pretty.- Yep.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51You know, nice little country... little cottage of its own.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Something of a work room out here in the garden.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57You've got loads of space. Let's have an explore.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59All in all about half an acre.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02- You could achieve something really beautiful here.- Yeah.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Nice free-standing garden office.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- And of course views out over the old historic airfield.- It's lovely.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Let's have a think about the money, shall we? What do you think?
0:29:12 > 0:29:16- OK. It's pretty perfect, I think. - It's pretty much there.- Yeah.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19- 375.- 375, yep.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23Yeah. I would say it was probably very top end. 370 then.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25370.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28If it was 370,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30would you do it?
0:29:30 > 0:29:35- Potentially. We'd have to have a discussion.- We'd have to sit down and look at...- Check our finances.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39But, you know, it's pretty much there on our spec, so...
0:29:39 > 0:29:43So, if it was £350,000, you'd probably really do it?
0:29:43 > 0:29:46- Is it?- Really? 350.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50- £350,000.- Blimey!- Right, OK.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Pretty good, hey?- That's very good.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55- Yeah.- Are you a bit stunned?- I am, yeah. I didn't expect that at all.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59- That gives us a bit of cash to build the outbuilding, then.- Yeah.
0:29:59 > 0:30:00- Exactly.- Wow.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02I think it's exceptionally good value.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06- Go and look around, I'll catch you later.- OK.- Enjoy.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10Well, you can't ask for better reactions than that.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15At £350,000, this old pub comes in £20,000 under budget.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19So, money in the pot for extensions or outbuildings.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22It has Alison's dream kitchen/diner, three bedrooms.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24And with half an acre of garden,
0:30:24 > 0:30:27I think we've got the outside space right too.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31So, can I hear the sound of popping champagne corks?
0:30:31 > 0:30:35I absolutely loved this house. It was pretty perfect to say the least.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37Beautiful kitchen.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40The lounge area was huge. We could get all our furniture in.
0:30:40 > 0:30:45Fireplace, gorgeous. And the garden area is just, you know, brilliant.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48I couldn't believe that it was 350.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52So, I'm pleasantly, pleasantly surprised at that.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54Ah, this is gorgeous.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56I do like this.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59- It's like a little secret garden. - Out here with a glass of wine.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02- I was just about to say that. - Summer's evening.- Beautiful.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- Like it.- It's fantastic.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07It's beautifully done out and it's got that country feel to it.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11The upstairs space was a little bit less than I wanted.
0:31:11 > 0:31:16But the fact that there is permission to, you know, build on the existing property,
0:31:16 > 0:31:19at a later date, if we wanted to extend, then we could.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- Hiya.- Ah, never thought I'd get you out of there.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24I'm just considering this extension.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- I think it's well worth thinking about.- Yeah, I agree.
0:31:27 > 0:31:32- Well worth thinking about. - Definitely something we'd look into. - Yeah.- Just that extra space.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36- Yeah.- OK. Don't make your minds up just yet.- OK.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Well, our property search is very nearly at an end.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50And I have a sneaking feeling we may have found Greg and Alison their ideal dream home.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53But of course it's never over until it's over.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57And no programme would be complete without the mystery house.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03OK, it's mystery house time. The moment you've both been waiting for.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06What do you think we've got in store for you?
0:32:06 > 0:32:12I think it might be a property in need of a little bit of work, maybe.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16Maybe something we can make our own perhaps.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20- Yeah, something that needs a little bit of work on it.- Not too much.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- No.- Ha-ha! But a little bit wouldn't be out of the question?
0:32:23 > 0:32:26- I'm not living in a caravan.- No, it wouldn't be out of the question, no.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30Well, I think Alison's been consulting a crystal ball.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33As indeed the mystery house will be a little bit of a project.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36And for that we're staying in the Blackdown Hills
0:32:36 > 0:32:39and heading to the tiny hamlet of Blackborough.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42Although there's an active community in this hamlet,
0:32:42 > 0:32:45there's little in the way of amenities. For a pint of milk
0:32:45 > 0:32:50Alison and Greg will have to head to the pretty village of Kentisbeare, four miles away.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54The mystery house itself is set on the outskirts of Blackborough.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58And when it comes to the all-important outside space
0:32:58 > 0:33:00and rural location they're looking for,
0:33:00 > 0:33:03I don't think they'll do much better than this place.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07But to turn it into their dream home will take some vision and some work.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10So, will they buy into its potential?
0:33:12 > 0:33:14So, there we are.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16That's the mystery house. What do you think?
0:33:16 > 0:33:19- Looks really nice from the outside. - Looks all right.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22- The views are absolutely breathtaking.- They are amazing.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24That is what this property is all about, really.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26Blackdown Hills, Somerset over there.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29- The Quantocks stretching into the distance.- Yeah.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- You can see literally for miles. - That is awesome.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- The property does make the best of that.- Yeah.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37As you would imagine, in this elevated position.
0:33:37 > 0:33:43- But it's all about whether the space is going to work for you guys as a family.- Sure.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46The setting and view obviously works for them.
0:33:46 > 0:33:52Now let's see if they have the vision to turn the mystery house into their dream home.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56- Right, in you come.- Thank you.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01OK. Now, understanding this house does take a bit of doing.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03- OK.- Geography is kind of interesting.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07But let's start in here in the kitchen.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10So, what do you think of this?
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Yeah, it's not a bad size.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16- No.- It's probably less farmhousey than what we have seen.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18- Yeah, yeah.- In some respects.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- You would a find a kitchen like this almost anywhere.- Yeah.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25Arguably. I think the key thing is how it's arranged
0:34:25 > 0:34:29and what it gives you in terms of the patio doors out to the garden.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33- Yeah, that's a nice feature. It's always nice to have that. - That is quite nice.
0:34:33 > 0:34:38- There is the dining area where you can sit and eat.- The size is OK. - Slightly smaller than I wanted.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42- Yeah.- Hmm.- Hmm, hmm.- OK.
0:34:42 > 0:34:47Let's see if we can improve on a "Hm" on our little tour.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Come on, follow me through here.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Now this, I think, works quite nicely actually.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00- Again, you know, it's a good size. - Yeah.
0:35:00 > 0:35:05- At its core it's probably 200 years old this building. So we're into the kind of older bit.- Yeah.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07And this is kind of interesting.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09It's a sort of snug kind of arrangement.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11They've got it as a little bit of a study.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15Yeah. It's potentially office space as well.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19Sat there, I'm not sure I'd get a lot of work done.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22- Well, yeah. - That is...yeah.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Nice view while you're working. I must admit.
0:35:27 > 0:35:32This house may not have all the period features of our other properties, but it is 200 years old.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37So, character could easily be created with some reclaimed floorboards and doors.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Upstairs is definitely more traditional,
0:35:40 > 0:35:42so maybe it'll help them visualise.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48OK. So, of your three bedrooms, this is one of the bigger ones, I think.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Again the beams giving away
0:35:51 > 0:35:55some of the heritage that goes with this 200-year-old property.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58- Yeah.- Yeah. No, I like this room.
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Well, the beams are certainly a nice touch.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03Next door is a guest room with en suite shower.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06And a small but perfectly formed family bathroom.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09There we are.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12OK.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14No en suite in here.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17So, how's our mystery house doing?
0:36:17 > 0:36:20- Not bad.- Not bad, yeah.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23At the moment I could fall in love with that view.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26But it would take some time to fall in love with the property.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29- Some work needed, I think.- I'm basing it on what I've seen earlier.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32This is the mystery house because of not only where it is,
0:36:32 > 0:36:36- but because of the view and the gardens in particular.- Yeah.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40We haven't yet shown you a big, formal, mature garden.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42That's what you get here.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44- OK.- Let's see how green fingered you are.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48- OK.- Let's go outside and see what you make of that.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52Well, they may not be seeing the possibilities inside,
0:36:52 > 0:36:55but I'll be amazed if they don't fall in love with the garden.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59They've said the outside space is as important as the interior.
0:36:59 > 0:37:00So, maybe this will swing it.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03There's well over half an acre to explore.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- Nice bit of decking. That's quite new.- It looks new.- Looks lovely.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12- Making the best of the views. - Yeah, that's exactly what I'd...
0:37:12 > 0:37:15Let's continue because there's so much of it.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20- It's incredibly mature. Very pretty. - Yeah, it is, um...
0:37:20 > 0:37:24You wouldn't need to do a lot. It's all been grown.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29- Well, yeah, it's ready for you. - There's a lot to discover in it. It's huge.- I like it.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32For a kid growing up, this would be a great garden to play in.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34- Yeah.- Yeah, I agree.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39So, you can see. It just goes on and on.
0:37:41 > 0:37:42I love it. These are terrific.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47- These great big huge skunk cabbage. - Wow!- Mad sort of prehistoric plants.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51- Yeah.- And then you've got this very mature vegetable area here.
0:37:51 > 0:37:57- That's brilliant.- Well, you said you wanted to grow some vegetables.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- It just seems to go on. There's like little secret pockets.- Yeah.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02- Yeah.- Yeah, amazing.- And no noise.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06- None at all.- I know. It's so quiet. - Let's have a think about the money.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08Given the views...
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- Yeah.- 365.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13365, yeah. Alison?
0:38:13 > 0:38:19I think, because it needs a little bit of work doing to it, a bit less.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21Maybe 355.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24355. OK.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29It's on the market at 375.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- Is it?- OK.
0:38:31 > 0:38:36- But the reason behind it is the peace, the quiet, the views, the space.- Yeah.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40- This gives you more of that than any other property. - Yeah.- I appreciate that.
0:38:40 > 0:38:46- Go and explore this wonderful garden.- We will.- And I'll try and find you later.- OK.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49- Get lost!- If you don't come back I'll send out a search party.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Well, there we are. That was the mystery house.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56You get these wonderful views, these extraordinary gardens.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00But you do also get a little bit of work to go with it.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Is that work they want to do, I wonder? Who knows.
0:39:03 > 0:39:09At £375,000 this is £5,000 over budget
0:39:09 > 0:39:13but it comes with bags of potential that could be tackled over time.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16It has three bedrooms, a sizeable living room and a garden.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19And it's all in a pretty countryside setting.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22But will it be a winner for Alison and Greg?
0:39:22 > 0:39:24It's not particularly to our taste.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28I think a little bit of work would have been required.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Obviously the selling point is the views.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33No-one can deny they're absolutely stunning.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36The view from here is just spectacular. Look at that.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- It is. You wouldn't tire of that, would you?- No.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42I think I'd sit out here when it's raining too, if I'm honest.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43Yeah. Gosh!
0:39:43 > 0:39:45The gardens were amazing.
0:39:45 > 0:39:50But Greg and I would perhaps struggle a little bit to maintain these gardens.
0:39:50 > 0:39:54- There you are. Isn't this just a fantastic place to explore?- Amazing.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59- It's gorgeous.- I absolutely love it. But I'm afraid, guys, that's it.
0:39:59 > 0:40:00House tours are now over.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04We've got to get you somewhere to think about everything you've seen so far.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06- OK.- Ready to do that?
0:40:06 > 0:40:07- Yeah, definitely.- Come on then.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Well, that's it for our property tour of East Devon.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22I think there's a clear front runner.
0:40:22 > 0:40:29But after a good chat, will Alison and Greg have come to a different conclusion? Time to find out.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37Now then, you two. That's it.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41The question is have we found you a house in which to come back to?
0:40:41 > 0:40:46It started with the pretty thatched cottage, albeit by a busy road.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48I liked the thatched cottage, I must admit.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Yeah, I agree, it was a very, very pretty house.
0:40:51 > 0:40:56But I loved the inside of the property. It was modern in a kind of character property.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Gorgeous inglenook fireplace.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01That was the main feature for me, in the lounge.
0:41:01 > 0:41:05The views were stunning. But it was too close to the road for my liking.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09OK. The final day of our property search began with,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12what I have to say I think was, an absolutely gorgeous property.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14The old pub on the side of the airfield.
0:41:14 > 0:41:19Walking through that door straight into our ideal kitchen/diner,
0:41:19 > 0:41:22I couldn't have asked for a better entrance.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25And the house just got better, really. It was perfect.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30OK, some of the bedrooms upstairs were on the small side. But that garden was just huge.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34Yeah, you could probably make a football pitch on that one.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- And you could extend the property. - Yeah, with that planning permission in place.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41- That was something we could certainly...- Added bonus.- Yeah.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45Maybe not straightaway, But something we could do in the future.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49Perhaps we spoilt you a bit there, because we took you to the mystery house,
0:41:49 > 0:41:53- which gave you the views you were after.- Oh, without a doubt.
0:41:53 > 0:41:58But probably a little more to take on than you wanted, I suspect.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02I mean, those views were breathtaking, absolutely...
0:42:02 > 0:42:04But it was top end of our budget.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07And for me I think needed some work inside,
0:42:07 > 0:42:09which we just wouldn't have had the budget to do.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13We'd have had to change the kitchen. Made it more modern to our taste.
0:42:13 > 0:42:18- The garden would have been too high maintenance.- Yeah. - But I can't fault the views.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20I mean, they were fantastic.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23The best views you can get in Devon, as far as I'm concerned.
0:42:23 > 0:42:28OK. Well, I have a fairly good idea of what is going to happen next.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31But you tell me, go on.
0:42:31 > 0:42:36- I would really like to go back to the pub house.- Yep.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40- Yeah.- Just look at the area around the house, I think. And just take it from there really.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43- Great. - Tops.- Let us know how you get on.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Thank you very much for being on the show. Best of luck.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54You know, the more I think about it, no house search is ever the same.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56They all have their little twists and turns.
0:42:56 > 0:43:01But the thing I really like about this one is that in finding a very viable property for Greg and Alison.
0:43:01 > 0:43:06We found a home not just for them but importantly for young Jake as well.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10So, that he can grow up in Devon just like his dad did.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11I'll see you next time.
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