Suffolk Escape to the Country


Suffolk

Similar Content

Browse content similar to Suffolk. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

There's an 18th-century saying that when God created the human race,

0:00:020:00:05

he made men, women and the Harveys,

0:00:050:00:08

and this is where they lived, an unconventional family home

0:00:080:00:11

with a colourful history filled with eccentricities

0:00:110:00:14

and the occasional scandal.

0:00:140:00:17

This county is where they called home,

0:00:170:00:19

but will I be able to find a rural pad for today's buyers?

0:00:190:00:22

Join me in a moment to find out.

0:00:220:00:24

Today, we're helping a young family find a slice of rural life,

0:00:370:00:41

but we have a big challenge on our hands to find a minimalist, character home.

0:00:410:00:47

I'm not sure about the beams.

0:00:470:00:49

I'm not a massive fan of sloping ceilings. I know it's part of the character.

0:00:490:00:53

Property prices come as a real eye-opener.

0:00:530:00:57

-And that property's on the market at £565,000.

-Oh, wow.

-No way.

0:00:570:01:03

So will we ever find what they're looking for?

0:01:030:01:06

-Buying it now!

-Yes!

0:01:060:01:09

Today, we're exploring all that Suffolk has to offer,

0:01:120:01:15

and where better to start than here at Ickworth House?

0:01:150:01:17

Built by the eccentric 4th Earl of Bristol 200 years ago,

0:01:170:01:21

this Italianate rotunda is testament to his outlandish lifestyle.

0:01:210:01:26

Not only was he a womaniser, agnostic and famously vain,

0:01:260:01:30

he also spent the latter part of his days

0:01:300:01:33

masquerading as a spy in France, for which he was imprisoned.

0:01:330:01:37

And if that's not enough, he was also the Bishop of Derry.

0:01:370:01:40

He was certainly a colourful character, but he obviously had

0:01:400:01:43

a great eye for architecture,

0:01:430:01:46

inspired, no doubt, by this county's magnificent landscape.

0:01:460:01:49

Nestling in the southern corner of East Anglia and bordered by Norfolk,

0:01:500:01:54

Cambridgeshire, Essex and the North Sea,

0:01:540:01:57

for urban escapees, Suffolk delivers unspoilt

0:01:570:01:59

coast and countryside in equal measure.

0:01:590:02:02

It's hard to believe that 600 years ago,

0:02:040:02:06

this charming rural backwater

0:02:060:02:08

was one of the wealthiest counties in the UK

0:02:080:02:10

and a powerhouse of the booming wool trade.

0:02:100:02:13

The merchants are long gone, but they've left behind

0:02:130:02:16

a legacy of impossibly pretty medieval towns and villages.

0:02:160:02:20

The beautiful Stour Valley in the south is a mecca for art fans

0:02:230:02:26

looking to follow in the footsteps of Britain's

0:02:260:02:28

most famous landscape artist, John Constable,

0:02:280:02:31

and to get a glimpse of the idyllic country scene he immortalised on canvas.

0:02:310:02:35

And it's not just the scenery that's intoxicating -

0:02:370:02:40

with more breweries per capita than any other English county,

0:02:400:02:44

it's a very merry place to live too.

0:02:440:02:46

As a whole, Suffolk property prices aren't overly expensive.

0:02:480:02:52

The average detached house here

0:02:520:02:54

will set you back 4% less than the national average.

0:02:540:02:57

Now, unsurprisingly, the coastline does command a higher budget,

0:02:570:03:01

so houses there are about £50,000 more than the rest of the county.

0:03:010:03:04

If you travel northwest towards Cambridgeshire,

0:03:040:03:07

well, prices here drop considerably.

0:03:070:03:09

To really get a feel for this county, you have to travel north and south,

0:03:090:03:14

east and west, so let's do that.

0:03:140:03:16

And when it comes to character properties,

0:03:160:03:18

there's lots to choose from.

0:03:180:03:20

If money is no object, how about this

0:03:200:03:22

seven-bedroom Georgian manor house near Bury St Edmunds?

0:03:220:03:26

There's plenty of period splendour and space throughout

0:03:260:03:29

with four reception rooms and two-and-a-half

0:03:290:03:32

acres of land, but it will set you back a stately £1.45 million.

0:03:320:03:39

For a fraction of the price at £550,000, you could buy this

0:03:390:03:43

five-bedroom Victorian family home on the outskirts of Bedingfield.

0:03:430:03:48

It's been beautifully restored

0:03:480:03:49

and comes with three reception rooms and a country-style kitchen.

0:03:490:03:53

Or you could be looking at this pretty, three-bedroom,

0:03:550:03:58

18th-century cottage and self-contained annex near Diss.

0:03:580:04:00

£400,000 will purchase three cosy reception rooms

0:04:000:04:05

and a very impressive 1.2 acres of land.

0:04:050:04:10

Well, some wonderful properties there,

0:04:100:04:12

but let's meet the buyers who are going to make their escape.

0:04:120:04:16

Nicola and Malcolm have been married for seven years,

0:04:160:04:19

and for five of those, have lived in their current home

0:04:190:04:22

in Worthing, West Sussex, with their two children, Cameron and Lori.

0:04:220:04:26

An escape from their seaside town has been on the cards for some time.

0:04:260:04:31

We've always wanted to move to the country,

0:04:310:04:33

and I used to live in the country myself,

0:04:330:04:35

and my family's all in the country,

0:04:350:04:37

and since we got married down in Suffolk,

0:04:370:04:40

it's something that we've dreamed of going back to.

0:04:400:04:42

But it's not just romantic impulses driving this big move to Suffolk -

0:04:420:04:47

Nicola's parents live there, and Malcolm's job has recently relocated to bordering Essex,

0:04:470:04:52

so it makes practical sense too.

0:04:520:04:54

And with two young children to consider, location will be all-important.

0:04:540:04:59

I would like to have some neighbours.

0:05:010:05:03

I'd definitely like things like a few local shops,

0:05:030:05:06

need a primary school nearby,

0:05:060:05:08

and I like things like maybe a playground or something like that.

0:05:080:05:12

Despite trawling the internet for suitable homes,

0:05:120:05:16

Nicola and Malcolm haven't viewed a single house.

0:05:160:05:19

We don't necessarily agree. The properties I keep ear-marking,

0:05:190:05:23

he keeps looking at them saying he doesn't like them.

0:05:230:05:26

Mmm, and I think it's because I don't necessarily know

0:05:260:05:28

what my dream house is until I walk into it.

0:05:280:05:31

But there is one property Malcolm is more than happy with.

0:05:310:05:35

If we could like pick the house up and move it to the country,

0:05:350:05:39

it'd be perfect for us, so it's hard to leave it.

0:05:390:05:42

Before they can home in on a new house,

0:05:420:05:45

Nicola and Malcolm will need to sell up.

0:05:450:05:47

So we've invited an agent in to give them a valuation.

0:05:470:05:51

This is a spacious, very well presented

0:05:510:05:53

four-bedroomed detached family home in a sought-after location.

0:05:530:05:58

For that reason, I would place a value on it of £450,000.

0:05:580:06:02

With that in mind, what's the final spend for Suffolk?

0:06:030:06:07

The absolutely maximum budget we have for our move is £500,000.

0:06:070:06:13

Well, it looks like we might have a bit of a fight on our hands,

0:06:160:06:19

although I don't think it will be too bad.

0:06:190:06:21

The thing I have to remember is that Malcolm wants a big wow, something different,

0:06:210:06:26

whereas Nicola, she's thinking from a much more practical point of view.

0:06:260:06:30

But fundamentally, they do both agree -

0:06:300:06:32

they want four bedrooms, a separate study and space for the kids' toys,

0:06:320:06:36

and they're even willing to give up their dining room

0:06:360:06:40

for a kitchen/diner.

0:06:400:06:42

With family near Sudbury

0:06:440:06:46

and Malcolm's offices in Bishop's Stortford,

0:06:460:06:48

Nicola and Malcolm want to concentrate their search

0:06:480:06:51

in the villages around the south Suffolk/Essex border.

0:06:510:06:54

We'll be viewing three impressive family homes,

0:06:540:06:57

but, as always, I'll be staying tight-lipped

0:06:570:06:59

on the prices until the end of the tours.

0:06:590:07:01

And will the last of the three, our mystery house, have them converted?

0:07:010:07:06

Hello! Welcome to sunny Suffolk.

0:07:060:07:10

-Brilliant day, isn't it?

-Beautiful.

-Stunning.

0:07:100:07:12

Part of the key to this move is keeping the children happy -

0:07:120:07:16

what are factors for that?

0:07:160:07:18

Cameron is desperate for the biggest garden in the world -

0:07:180:07:21

he wants a football pitch in his garden,

0:07:210:07:23

but space, being close to the family is one of the main things.

0:07:230:07:26

And schools as well, got to have some really good schools for them.

0:07:260:07:30

-Yes, definitely.

-All of that means that you're looking

0:07:300:07:33

at some pretty popular areas - how much money have we got to play with?

0:07:330:07:36

We've got £500,000 to play with.

0:07:360:07:39

Ordinarily, that would be so good, but we're into some popular areas

0:07:390:07:43

to get you the right location - is there any movement with that budget?

0:07:430:07:47

If we found something, could you stretch?

0:07:470:07:49

Well, certainly...there's a little bit of flexibility but not too much.

0:07:490:07:53

That's the key word there, flexibility - keep that in mind.

0:07:530:07:57

There's lots to see and we should get moving.

0:07:570:08:00

So for a flexible half million-pound budget,

0:08:000:08:03

Nicola and Malcolm are after an unusual property,

0:08:030:08:07

a minimalist character home, and they want a lot of it -

0:08:070:08:11

four bedrooms, a big kitchen/diner, a separate study,

0:08:110:08:14

a playroom, a large back garden, and an annexe would be good.

0:08:140:08:19

That's quite some wish list. Finding all this,

0:08:190:08:22

as well as Malcolm's must-have wow factor, is a huge ask

0:08:220:08:25

in rural Suffolk, so I hope they'll be realistic

0:08:250:08:28

and willing to embrace some compromise along the way.

0:08:280:08:31

For our first property, we're heading to the outskirts

0:08:340:08:37

of the picturesque village of Long Melford.

0:08:370:08:40

In 2008, in a nationwide poll by a reputable firm of estate agents,

0:08:400:08:44

it ranked seventh as the most desirable place to live in Britain.

0:08:440:08:48

It's two-and-a-half-mile high street puts the long into Long Melford,

0:08:480:08:54

and it's home to four pubs,

0:08:540:08:56

a huge variety of independent and traditional retailers,

0:08:560:09:00

and the all-important primary school

0:09:000:09:02

has an Ofsted rating of good to outstanding.

0:09:020:09:04

So let's see if Nicola and Malcolm will rate our first house as highly.

0:09:040:09:09

It's situated just a couple of minutes' drive away

0:09:090:09:12

in the tiny village of Borley.

0:09:120:09:14

Now, this is the property that I want to show you - what do you think of that?

0:09:140:09:18

I'm not used to a house on the road, but I suppose it's a quiet road.

0:09:180:09:22

-It was a small cottage to start with, they've extended it.

-Right.

0:09:220:09:26

About six years ago, and it's very modern and updated,

0:09:260:09:29

it's got some wonderful character features.

0:09:290:09:31

-Oh, brilliant.

-Let's have a look inside.

0:09:310:09:33

I'm hoping this Victorian cottage will have enough character to appeal

0:09:330:09:37

to Nicola but deliver the modern minimalistic look Malcolm is after.

0:09:370:09:42

I think it definitely has wow factor, but will they?

0:09:420:09:45

In you come, come through.

0:09:470:09:49

So, we're in the old part of the house - this is the traditional cottage.

0:09:510:09:55

I'm not sure about the beams.

0:09:550:09:58

But they're lovely! So many people will be going,

0:09:580:10:01

"They're perfect - what a lovely bit of tradition in there."

0:10:010:10:04

They just look a bit out of place against the kitchen.

0:10:040:10:08

See, I don't mind them.

0:10:080:10:09

I think that's quite nice, cos the kitchen's modern,

0:10:090:10:12

but it still gives it a bit of character,

0:10:120:10:15

and the fact that you can see through them rather than them being

0:10:150:10:18

like a big wall that brings the room in.

0:10:180:10:20

I don't mind those, actually.

0:10:200:10:22

Let's have a closer look at that kitchen.

0:10:220:10:24

So from the traditional part of the house

0:10:250:10:28

into a very, very sleek and modern kitchen

0:10:280:10:31

and then just at the back there, there's a utility space

0:10:310:10:34

where we've got space for the fridge/freezer,

0:10:340:10:37

your washing machine, and then there's built-in appliances.

0:10:370:10:40

-OK.

-Plenty of drawer space,

0:10:400:10:43

and that oven is huge - you'd fit a nice big turkey in there.

0:10:430:10:47

Who will be in the kitchen most?

0:10:470:10:48

-Definitely Nicola.

-The most.

0:10:480:10:50

There was no hesitation, he didn't even think about it.

0:10:500:10:53

-All the time.

-This will be the only time I'm in here.

0:10:530:10:56

-You don't collect your meals in here, a bit of washing up?

-No.

0:10:560:11:00

-No.

-He's a modern man. You lucky girl.

0:11:000:11:03

Well, next door is a room I think Malcolm will enjoy spending lots of time in.

0:11:030:11:08

Right, here's your treat, more space for you.

0:11:080:11:13

-Yeah.

-What do you think? Yeah, that's all I get for this huge room.

0:11:130:11:18

-It's really airy and light.

-Definitely like the wood floor.

0:11:180:11:22

Oak throughout. We've got oak beams, oak floor.

0:11:220:11:25

-It's lovely and spacious.

-It's very bright as well.

0:11:250:11:27

-It's not just these windows that's letting light in. Come with me.

-OK.

0:11:270:11:32

Quirky indeed is this property - have a look at that.

0:11:330:11:38

-Oh, wow.

-Wow, look.

0:11:380:11:40

You're looking into the master bedroom,

0:11:400:11:43

which we'll come back to later on.

0:11:430:11:44

So we've given you extra space here,

0:11:440:11:46

nice family room, but there's even more on this floor.

0:11:460:11:50

OK.

0:11:500:11:51

We're back into the older part of the property -

0:11:560:11:59

what do you think?

0:11:590:12:02

-I think I can guess what you're going to say.

-Small.

-Small.

0:12:020:12:05

Well, I don't we'd fit all our furniture in actually,

0:12:050:12:08

the sideboard and the table.

0:12:080:12:10

No, you'd struggle, yeah.

0:12:100:12:12

At the moment, on our lounge, we also have a playroom

0:12:120:12:14

where all the toys and everything are kept...

0:12:140:12:17

Funny you should say that. That's not a cupboard door -

0:12:170:12:20

it leads through to a bathroom and what could be

0:12:200:12:22

a fourth bedroom or playroom for the children.

0:12:220:12:25

Let's have a look upstairs.

0:12:250:12:27

'Wow, mixed reactions so far, which has really surprised me,

0:12:270:12:30

'because I thought this blend of contemporary and character would be spot on.

0:12:300:12:35

'Let's see if upstairs will make a bigger impact.'

0:12:350:12:40

Upstairs, we've got more quirky little features.

0:12:400:12:42

This isn't wall art, these are all storage cupboards.

0:12:420:12:45

Cupboards?

0:12:450:12:47

You've got a bedroom here.

0:12:470:12:49

Come this way

0:12:490:12:51

-and watch your head.

-Right.

0:12:510:12:54

We've got another bedroom here.

0:12:540:12:56

-It is small, isn't it?

-It is small. I feel quite confined.

0:12:560:13:00

For a child's bedroom?

0:13:000:13:01

I'm not a massive fan of sloping ceilings.

0:13:040:13:06

I know it's all part of the character.

0:13:060:13:08

Well, if this room is just too traditional

0:13:080:13:11

and has too many beams for you,

0:13:110:13:13

let's have a look at something a bit more modern. Come on.

0:13:130:13:16

'Hang on a minute -

0:13:160:13:17

'isn't Nicola the one that's supposed to like character features?

0:13:170:13:21

'Just as well this house comes with plenty of contemporary ones too.'

0:13:210:13:26

-That's quite funky.

-This is funky and modern.

0:13:260:13:28

Cute little windows.

0:13:280:13:30

-It's nice.

-That's nice. That's kind of our thing, that bath's really nice.

0:13:300:13:35

-Yeah, definitely.

-Good.

0:13:350:13:37

Well, you've got a nice bathroom here,

0:13:370:13:39

-but you get your own shower room in the master.

-Oh, lovely.

0:13:390:13:43

So a bit more space here, and definitely,

0:13:460:13:48

I think, more modern for the master bedroom.

0:13:480:13:51

Definitely. The window is fantastic.

0:13:510:13:54

Imagine lying in bed with a wonderful window like that.

0:13:540:13:56

I think they've framed the outlook so well there.

0:13:560:14:00

It's really beautiful.

0:14:000:14:01

It's a lovely room, and I like the idea of the light,

0:14:010:14:04

but I'm wondering where I'd put everything, especially all your clothes.

0:14:040:14:07

You have more clothes than anyone.

0:14:070:14:10

-So we need a separate walk-in wardrobe for you.

-I think so.

0:14:100:14:13

That was not on the checklist.

0:14:130:14:16

Come and have a look at this - we looked at it from downstairs.

0:14:160:14:19

You can even stand on it from up here.

0:14:190:14:22

I think I'll give that a miss.

0:14:220:14:24

You're not brave enough, are you? What about you, Nicola?

0:14:240:14:27

-OK.

-It's an interesting feature.

0:14:270:14:29

I think, as I've said, you can really see the purpose of it

0:14:290:14:33

is to get the light coming through there

0:14:330:14:35

-and then heading straight down into the living room.

-That's really nice.

0:14:350:14:40

'I thought that might impress Malcolm and I don't think either

0:14:400:14:43

'of them will be disappointed by the garden -

0:14:430:14:45

'at around quarter of an acre, it's a great space for the children.'

0:14:450:14:49

We've got a fairly large garden with this property -

0:14:510:14:53

lovely patio area here and then all of this lawned.

0:14:530:14:57

It's quite sizeable, isn't it?

0:14:570:14:59

To play, kick a ball, have a barbecue -

0:14:590:15:02

it could be quite pleasant out here for all of you if you were to buy it.

0:15:020:15:06

So let's go and have wander into this garden

0:15:060:15:09

and finally talk about money.

0:15:090:15:11

Well, they've been impressed by parts of the house

0:15:110:15:13

and slightly underwhelmed by others,

0:15:130:15:16

so I wonder what they'll make of the price.

0:15:160:15:19

Deceptively small from the front, but from the back you can see

0:15:190:15:22

you get two houses for the price of one,

0:15:220:15:24

but the crucial question is, with this location,

0:15:240:15:27

double-sized property, how much do you think it's on the market for?

0:15:270:15:31

I think cos it's quite unusual and the amount of work that's been done, maybe £450,000?

0:15:310:15:36

I'm thinking cos it's as quirky as it is and so unusual,

0:15:360:15:40

probably not many other properties like it,

0:15:400:15:43

it could be a little bit more than that, probably 475?

0:15:430:15:46

-OK, the property's on the market at £565,000.

-Oh, wow.

0:15:460:15:51

-No way.

-Wow.

0:15:510:15:53

That's the biggest reaction I've had from you so far.

0:15:530:15:57

That's shocked you.

0:15:580:16:00

-Yeah, it has.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:16:000:16:01

So putting into perspective for you a little bit

0:16:010:16:04

what you might get for your money in the area?

0:16:040:16:06

I think it's an unusual property, so it may have an unusual

0:16:060:16:11

value against it, but that's surprised me, that has.

0:16:110:16:15

It's been on for six months, and the sellers are willing

0:16:150:16:18

to accept some offers around the 500 mark -

0:16:180:16:20

remember that is the stamp duty threshold.

0:16:200:16:23

-So have another wander round, and I'll see you later on.

-Thanks.

0:16:230:16:26

Big shock for them. I think this really does

0:16:270:16:30

test the waters for what they can get for their money in this area.

0:16:300:16:33

And for them, we're going to have to consider

0:16:330:16:36

where they're willing to compromise.

0:16:360:16:38

At £565,000, this contemporary-styled character cottage

0:16:380:16:43

is definitely a reality check, but there is room to negotiate

0:16:430:16:48

a significantly reduced price,

0:16:480:16:50

and on paper this has nearly everything

0:16:500:16:52

Nicola and Malcolm have asked for -

0:16:520:16:54

three to four bedrooms, a huge living room,

0:16:540:16:56

an open plan kitchen/breakfast room and a big garden.

0:16:560:17:01

It's a unique property in a highly sought-after location,

0:17:010:17:05

which is of course reflected in the price.

0:17:050:17:07

-That's a good little playroom.

-It's really nice.

0:17:070:17:10

-Plenty of room for the toys, isn't it?

-Yeah, it's really sweet.

0:17:100:17:15

I think the main positives of this house are definitely the look -

0:17:150:17:19

it's a very nice-looking house.

0:17:190:17:21

I think the house is really quirky.

0:17:210:17:23

Some of the rooms are fantastic, and other rooms are quite small.

0:17:230:17:28

I think I could probably see this room working for us.

0:17:280:17:31

Upstairs rooms are way too small -

0:17:310:17:35

there's just nowhere to put anything.

0:17:350:17:37

Come on, you two, we've got a lot more to do, so let's go.

0:17:370:17:42

Our next property is situated in the Stour Valley,

0:17:480:17:52

just over the border into Essex.

0:17:520:17:54

It's in the tiny village of Ashen.

0:17:540:17:57

With a population of just 315 people,

0:17:570:17:59

it's about as quiet as villages come.

0:17:590:18:02

However, just a few minutes' drive away is the beautiful Suffolk town

0:18:020:18:06

of Clare, which comes with all the amenities

0:18:060:18:09

Malcolm and Nicola could need, including plenty of pubs

0:18:090:18:12

and restaurants, a good selection of shops, a popular primary school

0:18:120:18:17

and Clare County Park, which provides a perfect spot

0:18:170:18:20

for the family to get outdoors and active.

0:18:200:18:22

There's a wealth of period properties,

0:18:220:18:24

but since we know Malcolm and Nicola would love to be able to pick up their 1950s house

0:18:240:18:30

and plonk it in the country, we're sticking to the 20th century with our next viewing.

0:18:300:18:35

Right, just round here, this is the house I want to show you.

0:18:360:18:40

First impressions?

0:18:400:18:41

Wow, that looks really grand.

0:18:410:18:43

-I like it, it looks really quite big.

-Grand and big, both good?

-Very good.

-Yeah.

0:18:430:18:48

It's a modern house in a quiet village.

0:18:480:18:50

It doesn't look modern, though - I like that.

0:18:500:18:53

-It looks like it's got a bit of character.

-Fits in nicely.

0:18:530:18:56

Because it's a modern property, it does come with a fair amount of space.

0:18:560:19:00

-Not one, not two, not three, not four but five bedrooms!

-Oh, right!

0:19:000:19:04

I knew that'd impress you.

0:19:040:19:06

Come on, let's have a look.

0:19:060:19:08

Built in the '70s, this is a big family home.

0:19:080:19:12

Decoratively, it probably will need some updating, but it has bags of potential,

0:19:120:19:16

and they could really put their own stamp on the place.

0:19:160:19:19

So in we come. Nice big hallway.

0:19:210:19:24

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yeah.

-Down here you can see

0:19:240:19:27

lots of doors leading to lots of rooms that we'll investigate.

0:19:270:19:30

-Behind me here we have a downstairs cloakroom, but first of all, let's have a look at the kitchen.

-OK.

0:19:300:19:36

Here we go. It's a nice big kitchen. What do you think in terms of size?

0:19:360:19:41

It's not entirely... I mean, obviously, taste doesn't really come into it,

0:19:410:19:45

but it's the kind of thing I look at it and think I'd want to start again,

0:19:450:19:48

because I like to have a big range cooker.

0:19:480:19:51

A redesign from our point of view, but it's a big enough space to do something with it.

0:19:510:19:56

Behind here leads you to the utility room - just poke your head in it.

0:19:560:19:59

-Oh, that's quite big, isn't it?

-It is.

-Nice and big.

-OK.

0:20:000:20:05

-Now think about that, and I think you start to see what I'm saying about options.

-Yeah.

0:20:050:20:10

Maybe you'd want to knock through and make something bigger there, or you've got that extra storage space.

0:20:100:20:16

-Definitely.

-It's a good definitely, I think.

-I think so.

-You're starting to think now.

0:20:160:20:20

Right, let's keep exploring, then. After me.

0:20:200:20:23

-Here's the dining room.

-It's really big, actually.

0:20:250:20:29

-And really airy, isn't it?

-It is. There's a lot of light coming in.

0:20:290:20:33

-A lovely big window coming all the way through looking out onto the garden.

-Yeah.

0:20:330:20:38

-As it is, obviously, it needs some updating and refreshing to your tastes.

-Yes.

0:20:380:20:42

But could you see this working for your family?

0:20:420:20:45

-I think I could.

-Oh, yeah, at the moment just thinking about the work that we'd have to do as well.

0:20:450:20:49

We are prepared to do work on a property and we've done it in our previous houses,

0:20:490:20:54

but it very much depends on how much we've got to play with.

0:20:540:20:57

Of course. The other consideration is that this is a property

0:20:570:21:01

-that you're going to move to and not move again.

-Correct.

0:21:010:21:03

So even if work needs doing, you can take your time.

0:21:040:21:06

-Yeah, you could do.

-You've got plenty of years left. Come on, let's keep looking round.

0:21:060:21:11

Here's the living room, which is another big room, I think.

0:21:170:21:21

-Well, it's definitely got the size.

-Yeah, it's fine and it's that kind of shape

0:21:210:21:25

where you haven't got to worry about awkward spaces, and I like the fact it's nice and bright as well.

0:21:250:21:30

-Let's have a look at the five bedrooms.

-OK.

0:21:300:21:33

'I'm really pleased Nicola and Malcolm are seeing past the wallpaper

0:21:330:21:35

'and visualising what they could do with the house.

0:21:350:21:38

'I know Malcolm loves his wow factor, but that can easily be created.

0:21:380:21:43

'What this offers them is a space they can grow into and really make their own.

0:21:430:21:47

'And there's lots more of it upstairs.'

0:21:470:21:50

Plenty of space up here as well in the master bedroom.

0:21:500:21:53

Oh, yeah, definitely.

0:21:530:21:55

Lots of room for your clothes.

0:21:550:21:56

LAUGHTER

0:21:560:21:59

-Definitely possible.

-And you could maybe fit a king-size bed as well.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

0:21:590:22:03

An improvement on your current bedroom is there's an en suite with this one. Let's have a look.

0:22:030:22:09

-It's like a family bathroom, really.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:22:090:22:11

Shower and a huge bath with all the bubbles going if you want them to.

0:22:110:22:15

Yeah, we've got a spa bath at the moment, haven't we?

0:22:150:22:17

-Yeah, not quite like that.

-No, very true.

0:22:170:22:20

Come on, let's keep looking round.

0:22:200:22:22

Here we've got the family bathroom, which is another really good size with bath and shower.

0:22:240:22:29

I said this is a five-bedroom property, so two good-size doubles,

0:22:290:22:33

lots of space in them, two singles.

0:22:330:22:35

In fact, that single over there's got stairs leading up to the attic, lots of space.

0:22:350:22:40

-When I said somewhere else for the children to play...

-Oh, right.

-I'm thinking put them upstairs.

0:22:400:22:46

-You won't hear any noise.

-Lovely.

0:22:460:22:48

-And the other one leads out onto a lovely patio, let's have a look at that.

-OK.

0:22:480:22:53

-This is one of the smaller bedrooms.

-I see, yeah.

0:22:540:22:56

So about a single, as I said. The big draw is the patio area.

0:22:560:23:01

-OK.

-Have a look.

0:23:010:23:04

I think you'll see what I mean as you step out

0:23:040:23:08

and take a look at the view.

0:23:080:23:10

-That's really nice.

-I think you can spy the other big surprise.

0:23:100:23:13

Yeah, that's what I was looking at, not the view.

0:23:130:23:16

-A pool.

-Amazing.

0:23:160:23:18

-Kids will be happy.

-Yeah.

-I think so.

0:23:180:23:20

'I thought the pool would get a reaction,

0:23:200:23:22

'but let's take a closer look at what else the garden has to offer.'

0:23:220:23:26

-Is it big enough for you?

-Oh, definitely, yeah.

0:23:260:23:28

-You're not big gardeners, are you, at all?

-No, no, not at all.

0:23:280:23:32

No. I mean in terms of the kids, the only think I would say is that Cameron loves to play football,

0:23:320:23:39

and we've got this idea of having a nice sort of football pitch,

0:23:390:23:42

and as it is at the moment, it might be a bit too ornate,

0:23:420:23:45

but again the actual space is there, just not as it is at the moment.

0:23:450:23:50

-So you mean the fountain?

-The fountain.

-Yeah.

0:23:500:23:53

'Well, who needs a water feature when you have an outdoor pool?

0:23:530:23:57

'And I'm sure their son Cameron will be happy to give up a football pitch for some summer swimming.'

0:23:570:24:02

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

0:24:050:24:06

We could take some time off, soak our feet

0:24:060:24:09

and forget property hunting, but we need to find you a house.

0:24:090:24:13

How much do you think it's on the market for?

0:24:130:24:15

I think it's worth £525,000 - there's a lot of house there.

0:24:150:24:20

I'm thinking more around sort of £500,000 mark.

0:24:200:24:23

Well, you are almost there.

0:24:230:24:26

-£5 out - it is actually on the market at £499,995.

-Oh, OK!

0:24:260:24:32

-Just under your budget.

-OK.

0:24:320:24:34

-But it's been on the market for 12 months.

-Oh, really?

0:24:340:24:38

Oh, has it? That's interesting.

0:24:380:24:40

-Yeah.

-So there's an opportunity there, it's been a slow market, things are picking up now.

-Yeah.

0:24:400:24:44

But it could be an opportunity if it's the house for you.

0:24:440:24:47

-If you had a good offer accepted, you might have some money to make the changes you want.

-Yeah.

0:24:470:24:52

You head back in there now and start working out what changes you'd make, and I will cool down by the pool.

0:24:520:24:57

-See you later on.

-OK.

0:24:570:24:58

So at just a snip under £500,000, this property is bang on budget,

0:25:000:25:05

but there's still room for negotiation,

0:25:050:25:07

which should leave spare change to tackle the interior work.

0:25:070:25:10

This is a real family home and offers Nicola and Malcolm space galore.

0:25:100:25:15

There are two reception rooms, five bedrooms,

0:25:150:25:18

plus the enormous attic room,

0:25:180:25:20

and it comes with the added bonus of an outdoor pool.

0:25:200:25:23

I know they can see the possibilities,

0:25:230:25:26

so I wonder if they'll take the plunge.

0:25:260:25:28

It reminds me a lot of when we moved into our property that we're in at the moment.

0:25:280:25:34

I know there's work that needs to be done,

0:25:340:25:37

but it's something that we could do if we had the budget available.

0:25:370:25:42

Come on, Denise, you enjoying yourself? Time to go.

0:25:440:25:46

It's so gorgeous out here. I really do hope you buy this property! Please get it.

0:25:460:25:51

But you're right, there's more to do.

0:25:510:25:53

As the sun starts to set over Suffolk, the first day of our property tour is over.

0:25:570:26:02

Malcolm and Nicola want to swap the south coast for the Suffolk countryside.

0:26:070:26:11

For £500,000 they're looking for a spacious, rustic, modern home,

0:26:110:26:16

which on any budget is hard to find, but with these two, it's even harder.

0:26:160:26:20

-It is small, isn't it?

-It is small. I feel quite confined.

0:26:200:26:24

-For a child's bedroom?

-Er...

0:26:240:26:28

So will we ever find them this tricky mix?

0:26:290:26:32

Wow, it's a bit of a thriller.

0:26:320:26:34

Well, we started this journey thinking that Malcolm and Nicola's property search

0:26:360:26:41

would be relatively straightforward -

0:26:410:26:43

they want a four-bedroom detached house in a rural setting -

0:26:430:26:48

but the challenge here is going to be finding all of that

0:26:480:26:51

with the elusive wow factor.

0:26:510:26:52

Let's see how we get on today.

0:26:520:26:54

We're rounding up Malcolm and Nicola's property search

0:26:540:26:57

here in Suffolk by heading to the ancient village of Cockfield.

0:26:570:27:00

With a population of around 830 people, Cockfield has everything a small country village should.

0:27:000:27:07

Medieval church - check. Pub - check. Post office and stores - check. Primary school - check.

0:27:070:27:14

And the pretty green comes complete with a playground for Lori and Cameron.

0:27:140:27:19

Although when they see the amount of land they'll get,

0:27:190:27:22

I'm not sure they'll need a village green at all.

0:27:220:27:24

What they will need however is a big dose of design inspiration,

0:27:240:27:28

because this mystery house is a project, so will they be up to the challenge?

0:27:280:27:33

A barn conversion for you.

0:27:360:27:39

-Wow.

-Right.

0:27:390:27:40

Yes! Yes!

0:27:400:27:43

I got a wow. I got a wow from Malcolm.

0:27:430:27:45

-You did remember our budget?

-It's a bit of a thriller.

0:27:450:27:51

Excellent. We have 1.5 acres with this property,

0:27:510:27:54

which is why it's the mystery house, because land was not big on your list.

0:27:540:27:58

If you want the space for the kids to play football -

0:27:580:28:01

they've got a couple of football pitches there.

0:28:010:28:03

I think you're right.

0:28:030:28:05

You'd need to have the imagination going when we get inside.

0:28:050:28:08

-It will need a bit of work...

-Yes.

-Yes.

0:28:080:28:10

-..but I definitely think it's worth showing you.

-OK.

-Lovely.

-OK? Let's go.

0:28:100:28:14

Getting a wow from Malcolm is like gold dust - let's hope he thinks the same inside.

0:28:140:28:19

Originally a threshing barn to the nearby farm, it was converted 20 years ago.

0:28:190:28:24

It has stacks of potential, so will Malcolm and Nicola have the vision to turn it into their dream home?

0:28:240:28:30

We're starting off in the extension to the barn.

0:28:300:28:33

Come on into the newer side of the barn conversion.

0:28:340:28:38

-The couple who own this have lived here a very long time.

-Yeah.

0:28:380:28:42

-They converted it in the '90s.

-Yes.

0:28:420:28:44

-And so it hasn't been updated since.

-OK.

-Right.

0:28:440:28:48

I'm thinking fantastic kitchen/family room,

0:28:480:28:50

and you can just make a completely modern new kitchen here

0:28:500:28:53

without any problem at all.

0:28:530:28:55

-Yeah.

-Right.

-It's totally square, isn't it?

0:28:550:28:58

And you could just do whatever you wanted.

0:28:580:29:00

Malcolm isn't having any problems visualising the potential here.

0:29:000:29:05

Also in the extension are two good-sized doubles

0:29:050:29:08

and a family bathroom, but we're moving on to the original part of the barn.

0:29:080:29:14

So, one of the reception rooms that come with this property...

0:29:140:29:18

-I think it's like a small reading room at the moment.

-Yeah.

0:29:180:29:21

What's your imagination saying to you?

0:29:210:29:23

It's quite intimidating, the beams, but not in a negative way,

0:29:250:29:30

because I would imagine that they could be taken away, potentially.

0:29:300:29:34

-Yeah. I think our vision of something like that would probably be more open plan, wouldn't it?

-Open plan.

0:29:340:29:40

And this would open onto a whole area, rather than being a sort of separate room.

0:29:400:29:45

-But it's not putting you off?

-Not yet.

-No.

0:29:450:29:47

-Of course not.

-Not yet.

0:29:470:29:49

He says, "Not yet." More positivity.

0:29:490:29:52

-Let's hope it doesn't at all.

-Very good.

0:29:520:29:55

The good news for Malcolm is this property isn't listed,

0:29:550:29:58

so they could make internal alterations quite easily.

0:29:580:30:01

Plastering the beams and knocking through the walls

0:30:010:30:04

shouldn't be a problem, but they will need advice from a structural engineer.

0:30:040:30:09

So this is a lot more open and certainly gives you higher ceiling space.

0:30:090:30:16

Well, it is a lot more open, isn't it?

0:30:160:30:18

It's massive. I'm just thinking how high that ceiling is.

0:30:180:30:22

Certainly, you don't have to worry about beams being close to your head in here.

0:30:220:30:26

No, I totally agree.

0:30:260:30:28

You could open it out, because that's not structural. That's good.

0:30:280:30:32

-I could kind of see the kids playing out here...

-Yeah.

0:30:320:30:35

..with all their toys and all their fun stuff - there's enough room, it wouldn't really matter.

0:30:350:30:40

Mmm, big Christmas tree there.

0:30:400:30:43

-Now, that would be good.

-It's the Christmas room.

0:30:430:30:46

-Can you see that?

-Mmm, definitely.

0:30:460:30:48

You're really starting to see yourselves here, aren't you?

0:30:480:30:52

We'll wait and see.

0:30:520:30:54

He's getting all tentative and shy over there, but we're getting there.

0:30:540:30:59

Come on, let's have a look at the living room.

0:30:590:31:02

Your third reception room - currently, obviously, the living room set-up.

0:31:030:31:08

It's plenty light enough in here as well.

0:31:080:31:11

There seems to be a lot of space - we could put all of our furniture here.

0:31:110:31:14

-Yeah, you could really organise it.

-Yeah, definitely.

0:31:140:31:17

Very good. Let's look at the bedrooms.

0:31:170:31:20

We're definitely on a roll, but I think the bedrooms upstairs on either side of the galleried hallway

0:31:200:31:25

will really need some creative input.

0:31:250:31:28

This could be the master bedroom.

0:31:280:31:30

Nice light coming in, but it's a small room.

0:31:300:31:34

-Too small, definitely small.

-Can't get away from that.

0:31:340:31:37

There is an en suite there, just tucked behind - you could just knock all of that out.

0:31:370:31:42

I think this would definitely have to go.

0:31:420:31:44

I agree.

0:31:440:31:46

It's small anyway and for storage and stuff which we've said before.

0:31:460:31:50

-It'll take some designing, I think.

-Yeah.

0:31:500:31:54

It's definitely a challenge this house.

0:31:540:31:56

-But it gave you the wow factor outside.

-Agreed.

0:31:560:31:58

On the opposite upper-level gallery are two further single bedrooms - one is currently used as a study.

0:31:580:32:05

The bedrooms may have dampened Malcolm's spirits a tad,

0:32:050:32:09

but if anything can put the smile firmly back on his face, it's the garden.

0:32:090:32:13

They haven't asked for 1.5 acres, but I'm sure Cameron and Lori will be more than happy with it.

0:32:130:32:19

Let's see what you get.

0:32:190:32:21

You've got all that land on the drive on the way in.

0:32:210:32:24

You've got an orchard,

0:32:240:32:26

-a vegetable patch, plenty of space for football.

-Definitely.

0:32:260:32:32

To get all of this house and do all of that work, we need to talk about cold, hard cash.

0:32:320:32:37

-So let's head over that way, take a closer look and get thinking.

-OK.

0:32:370:32:43

Well, Malcolm and Nicola certainly aren't short on ideas how to transform this house,

0:32:430:32:48

but will they have the money to make the changes?

0:32:480:32:51

Well, this is the big moment -

0:32:510:32:54

we've got to talk about whether you can actually afford this kind of property.

0:32:540:32:58

I know it's your dream to have something of this grandeur and size, great location,

0:32:580:33:04

but, really, is it an affordable one?

0:33:040:33:06

Let's find out, shall we? Give me a number.

0:33:060:33:09

Got to be thinking around £575,000.

0:33:090:33:12

600, maybe 620.

0:33:120:33:16

-It's on the market at £525,000.

-Is it really?

-Is it?

0:33:160:33:23

Yeah, that's £100,000 less than you thought.

0:33:230:33:26

-It is.

-And we're reliably told that the owners will take some offers as well.

0:33:260:33:31

-Right.

-On the market three months.

-OK.

0:33:310:33:33

Lots and lots for you to think about, so off you go inside,

0:33:330:33:36

-have a think, and I'll talk to you later on.

-OK.

0:33:360:33:39

Finally, I got the big wow from Malcolm.

0:33:400:33:43

This is the kind of property that he's dreamed of and thought he couldn't afford,

0:33:430:33:48

and without a lot of extra money, it won't be his dream house.

0:33:480:33:51

Once they've renovated it, this could be it for them and it could be escaping to the country.

0:33:510:33:56

True, at £525,000, the barn is over budget,

0:33:560:34:00

but a bit of negotiation could bring that price down further.

0:34:000:34:05

It has masses of potential and space, with three reception rooms,

0:34:050:34:09

a kitchen/diner, five bedrooms

0:34:090:34:12

and a 1.5 acre garden.

0:34:120:34:14

The renovation work will obviously come at a cost,

0:34:140:34:17

but I get the feeling

0:34:170:34:18

Malcolm and Nicola think it could be a price worth paying.

0:34:180:34:22

You'd be absolutely brilliant on the vegetable patch.

0:34:220:34:25

I think you'd enjoy that, you know.

0:34:250:34:27

I probably would, and it's something the children, I suspect, would like as well.

0:34:270:34:32

-Growing their own tomatoes and things.

-Yeah, but that's only one small part of a very large garden.

0:34:320:34:37

The house is lovely, and if you got it right, over a period of time,

0:34:370:34:44

that could be a very, very nice home

0:34:440:34:46

and it would be the kind of home that you'd say, "Right, this is it, I'm here for keeps."

0:34:460:34:51

It's a lovely plot of land and a fabulous house.

0:34:510:34:56

It needs renovation, but it could be made into something wonderful.

0:34:560:35:01

That's it - you have seen all that Suffolk has to offer.

0:35:040:35:07

-Indeed.

-A bit of Essex as well.

0:35:070:35:09

We've saved the biggest till last, and you have lots to think about,

0:35:090:35:13

-so let's find somewhere for you to sit down and make some decisions.

-OK.

-OK.

0:35:130:35:18

With all the properties now viewed, Nicola and Malcolm have a lot to discuss.

0:35:220:35:27

The houses they've liked all need some work,

0:35:270:35:29

so I wonder which one they think will make the dream family home.

0:35:290:35:33

Now, we started with the house with the skylight - that was quirky, I thought.

0:35:390:35:44

Yeah, very quirky, very different.

0:35:440:35:46

It wasn't that practical -

0:35:460:35:48

the size of some of the rooms, especially the bedrooms upstairs.

0:35:480:35:51

But it was a beautiful-looking house.

0:35:510:35:53

Let's talk about the property with the swimming pool - a surprise for you.

0:35:530:35:57

It reminded us a lot of our own house when we first moved into it.

0:35:570:36:01

It had the space that we needed and things like the swimming pool we hadn't even thought about.

0:36:010:36:07

-Really, really good.

-Yeah, certainly, ticks in the boxes.

0:36:070:36:11

-So finally the mystery property.

-Well, I mean I know moving to the country,

0:36:110:36:15

but I didn't know I'd need a tractor.

0:36:150:36:17

So impressive when we drove up to it, I honestly thought

0:36:170:36:22

you were doing that to wind us up - something that we couldn't afford -

0:36:220:36:26

and I was amazed to find that it was anywhere near our budget.

0:36:260:36:31

It was the first property where I got an actual wow from you, Malcolm, it was a special moment.

0:36:310:36:35

It's an impressive-looking property with an impressive-looking plot of land.

0:36:350:36:40

-You would be looking at some structural work...

-Yeah.

0:36:400:36:43

..which we hadn't particularly planned for, but equally that's not to say we wouldn't.

0:36:430:36:48

I think the thing we saw on this journey is that, although you have a good budget for what you need,

0:36:480:36:54

although it sounds good on paper or easy on paper, four bedrooms doesn't sound like too much,

0:36:540:36:59

you could see that it could be a bit of a struggle to find what you want already done.

0:36:590:37:03

So how are you feeling now, which way are we going?

0:37:030:37:07

-Two stood out for different reasons.

-Yes.

0:37:070:37:09

The family home with the swimming pool

0:37:090:37:12

definitely had potential because of how we could change it

0:37:120:37:18

similar to the house that we've got now.

0:37:180:37:20

The second property would be the barn.

0:37:200:37:22

-Surprise, surprise.

-Yeah.

0:37:220:37:25

I think, at the moment, the one that is winning the day is probably the barn,

0:37:250:37:30

but with that you've obviously got to consider the cost of the work that you would need to do.

0:37:300:37:35

If it was the right price, then definitely, if I could stay patient with the work,

0:37:350:37:40

-we could put an offer in.

-Malcolm, Malcolm.

0:37:400:37:44

Brilliant. Well, with any luck, it won't be too long, then, before you're either converting a barn

0:37:440:37:49

or converting a house with a swimming pool - if that's the case, I want to come to the pool party.

0:37:490:37:54

-You can come to the barn as well.

-The barn as well! Thank you!

0:37:540:37:58

-Been a real pleasure taking you round. I wish you luck. Let us know how you get on.

-We will, thank you.

0:37:580:38:03

What a fantastic result!

0:38:060:38:08

We have found two properties that Malcolm and Nicola both like, and that's an achievement in itself.

0:38:080:38:14

The only question now is will Nicola be serving Malcolm cocktails by the pool

0:38:140:38:18

or will he be watching her toil away in the vegetable patch?

0:38:180:38:22

I'll see you next time on Escape To The Country.

0:38:220:38:25

If you'd like to Escape To The Country

0:38:250:38:27

and would like our help, please apply online at...

0:38:270:38:30

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:38:400:38:43

E-mail [email protected]

0:38:430:38:46

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS