0:00:03 > 0:00:05The thwack of leather on willow.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09There's no sound more associated with the quintessential British summer.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14Today, I'm in the county where that gentlemanly sport was born. Any ideas?
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Stumped, are you? Join us for another innings of Escape To The Country.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36In today's show, we'll be helping a couple sell up their life in the city
0:00:36 > 0:00:40and realise their property dreams in the country.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42We're nailing it on the "wow" factor...
0:00:42 > 0:00:47- Oh!- Oh, wow!- OK! Wow!
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- Oh, my gosh!- Oh, wow!
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- Wow.- Wow.- Music to my ears!- Yeah!
0:00:53 > 0:00:57But will they be tempted to party on in our mystery house?
0:01:00 > 0:01:04Today, I'm in Sussex, the birthplace of cricket. It's all very exciting here!
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Over 1,500 years ago, it was considered to be a sport played by children.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15But by 1610, adults were definitely playing it, sometimes when they shouldn't have been.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Church records at Sidlesham state that two gentlemen were fined 12 pence
0:01:19 > 0:01:22because they didn't turn up to church on Easter Sunday.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24You'll never guess what they were doing!
0:01:24 > 0:01:29They were playing cricket! When the game is as great as this, maybe the penance was worth it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Spanning nearly 1,500 square miles
0:01:32 > 0:01:36and with over 100 miles of coastline flanking the English Channel,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Sussex's shores are awash with history.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43This county served as a gateway for the Norman invasion
0:01:43 > 0:01:47and flourished in the Victorian era with its seaside resorts.
0:01:47 > 0:01:53Inland serves up its own natural drama with the South Downs, Britain's newest national park,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57offering up prime walking terrain on its expansive chalk slopes.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Historic towns such as Battle, Hastings and Lewis,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05with their thriving independent shops, still hold on to their Norman heritage.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10Sussex's villages are peppered with traditional tile-hung and timber-framed properties
0:02:10 > 0:02:16making this county a compelling option for aspiring escapees.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19If you are thinking of moving to rural Sussex,
0:02:19 > 0:02:24the big question is should you go east, or should you go west?
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Property in the east is 12 percent cheaper than in the west.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33£325,000 you'll pay for an average detached house, so it's worth considering.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Or you could straddle the border,
0:02:36 > 0:02:40as last year Mid-Sussex Council was deemed to have the best quality of life
0:02:40 > 0:02:43out of all the south-eastern authorities.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Here's what's currently on the market in and around this area.
0:02:47 > 0:02:53A cool £1 million will buy you this renovated tithe barn in Ovingdean.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Its timber-frame ceiling is tastefully offset by the contemporary decor
0:02:57 > 0:03:00which is a running theme throughout the kitchen and dining room.
0:03:04 > 0:03:10Priced at £575,000, this listed former Georgian schoolhouse in Windmill Hill
0:03:10 > 0:03:17opens up inside to reveal enormous reception rooms, a welcoming kitchen and five generous bedrooms.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22What a spectacular view it offers over the South Downs.
0:03:22 > 0:03:28This two-bedroom listed cottage in Mayfield for £325,000
0:03:28 > 0:03:32wears its period features with pride throughout its living room and dining room.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37Outside, the pretty cottage garden is totally in keeping.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Sussex has it all on the property front.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45Although I don't think this spring house will accommodate today's big spenders!
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Let's meet them.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52Newly-weds Tom and Briony have wasted no time in starting a family.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54With baby number one on the way,
0:03:54 > 0:03:59they figure it's time to sell up their three-bed Victorian terrace in Hammersmith, London,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03and put down long-term roots in the Sussex countryside.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06We like the idea of the kids growing up in the countryside,
0:04:06 > 0:04:11with fields and the ability to play, which Briony and I didn't really experience.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16But professionally as well, as Briony and I are now directors of our own company,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19that can be taken wherever we want to go.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23How are they going to fill the little free time they get around work and babies?
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I've always had a love of horses and horse-riding.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32It's something I've been fortunate enough to enjoy for most of my life, less so recently.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37Location is key to their lifestyle and work.
0:04:37 > 0:04:43Ideally, we're looking for the edge of a village. I don't think we want to be completely isolated.
0:04:43 > 0:04:50- We still need amenities fairly close, such as schools, pubs, shops. - Local shops.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51That kind of thing.
0:04:51 > 0:04:58We'd like to be no more than 90 minutes drive from London
0:04:58 > 0:05:02and to have the alternative of getting the train into London.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Maybe no more than 15 minutes from a station.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10They both have a clear vision for their ideal property.
0:05:10 > 0:05:16- It has to be a detached property. - In quite a large plot of land. An acre and a half plus.
0:05:16 > 0:05:24It's important to have character, for it to be a period property, but have that contemporary twist inside.
0:05:24 > 0:05:30We like things to be modern inside but there's a way to do that and retain the character.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34But they don't want to do the work themselves.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38With regards to renovation, we wouldn't take on a project.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42And there are other important requests to factor in.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45A study is really important to us both
0:05:45 > 0:05:51because we work in the living room and it would be nice to be able to separate work from life.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55The kitchen is really important, we have a decent sized kitchen.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58We'd be looking for something similar, maybe a bit bigger.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Somewhere to be the heart of the family, that we can eat in.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Their budget depends on what they can sell their current house for.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08We've arranged for a local estate agent to give them a valuation.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Given it's a three-bedroom early Victorian terrace,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14and the location of the parks nearby,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17convenient transport links and the river,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20I'd expect to market the asking price at £800,000.
0:06:23 > 0:06:30- We were pleased with it, absolutely! - Our budget for the move... - It's £1 million.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38£1 million is without doubt a great budget and should afford Tom and Briony their country pile.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41But they're not willing to take on a big project,
0:06:41 > 0:06:45so can we find a classic country house with a chic, modern interior?
0:06:45 > 0:06:51They're after an open-plan kitchen, high ceilings and urban clean lines that they're used to in London.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57The word "modern" is so subjective. Contemporary to one person is outdated to another.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00This could be tricky. Wish me luck!
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Since Tom and Briony have friends near Haywards Heath,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06we'll focus our search in that general area
0:07:06 > 0:07:11but aim to give them the most for their money by sticking to the East Sussex side of the border.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15We've picked some stunning properties for them
0:07:15 > 0:07:18but I won't be revealing the price tags straight away.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Finally, we'll be encouraging them to take the plunge with our mystery property.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- Welcome to Sussex, how are you? - Very well, thank you. - Welcome to baby on the way.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- How exciting!- It is! - You want to be in this property by the time baby arrives?
0:07:34 > 0:07:38- Hopefully, yeah.- Pressure's on then. What's most important, outside or inside?
0:07:38 > 0:07:45- Ah, there's a question.- Yeah.- Both, I think.- We're not the kind of people who expect the world on our budget.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Hopefully we'll get as much as we can but we are realistic,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51we understand compromises have to be made.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56- Saying all the right things, I love you two already!- Making your job really easy!- Absolutely!
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- I think we should get on with it. - Sounds good to me.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02With their £1-million budget,
0:08:02 > 0:08:08Tom and Briony want a detached period country pile with a modern interior that's ready to move in to
0:08:08 > 0:08:14and gives them a large family kitchen-diner, a dedicated study so they can work from home,
0:08:14 > 0:08:20four bedrooms and at least 1.5 acres for Briony to gallop around in,
0:08:20 > 0:08:21set on the edge of a village
0:08:21 > 0:08:24within a 90-minute commute of London for work.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33We're kicking off our search in the village of Buxted.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38It's well located, with its own train station and an hour- and-ten-minute commute into London.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Village life here is alive and well, complete with a pub, primary school,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and there's even a cricket pitch for Tom.
0:08:45 > 0:08:52On the outskirts of the village we find this much-extended property, originally dating back to the 1930s.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- Come on in.- Oh, wow.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00- Was that an "Oh, wow" I heard you say?- It was.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- I like it when you start with "Oh, wow".- And the sun has decided to come out.- A good start!
0:09:05 > 0:09:10- What do you think?- Beautiful. - You wouldn't guess that it has had a lot of work done on it.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14It's been extended, re-developed and you can't really tell where the join is.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- No, I can't. - Very well done, isn't it?
0:09:17 > 0:09:21- So, you like it?- Love it, so far. - Really nice.- Shall we go in?
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- Yes.- Absolutely. - Follow me.- Let's go.
0:09:23 > 0:09:30That is a great first reaction. Let's see if that all-important "wow" factor continues inside.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Let's bring you into the formal living room.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40- Oh wow, look at that view! - It's the first thing that hits you. - Wow!- Phenomenal!
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I can't get over it. It's absolutely incredible.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48- Is that what you wanted?- Yeah. - Fantastic.- Just leave me here in this spot.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- Is this big enough for you?- Yeah. - It's a nice size family room.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56You can see friends sitting around and kids playing.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00You wouldn't need to do anything here, you've got a working fireplace,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03and this recent addition of a fantastic conservatory.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08- Do you want to have a quick look? - Love to.- Sounds good. Thanks.
0:10:08 > 0:10:16- Wow, that's gorgeous. Wow.- Wow.- Wow. - Music to my ears!- Yeah!
0:10:16 > 0:10:21- This is beautiful.- Look at that view!- You couldn't have a bigger smile on your face, you know that?
0:10:21 > 0:10:28- Really? You can't beat that, that's just stunning.- You'd have to go some to beat this. What a start!
0:10:28 > 0:10:34- We should take you to the kitchen. - Sounds good to me, hugely important. - Hugely important?- Yes.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39- No pressure! - I laugh in the face of pressure.
0:10:39 > 0:10:45On the way there is this plush dining room, giving them ample space to entertain.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48And there's a separate study.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52At the end of the kitchen is a huge utility room for all their laundry needs.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Let's see if I can turn up the heat in here.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02- So I said no pressure, and this is why.- Oh, my gosh!- Oh, wow!
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- Oh, brilliant.- Is it big enough for you?- Yes.- Just about, yes. - It's amazing.
0:11:08 > 0:11:14- Bri, if you were to say "this is what I want for a kitchen", it wouldn't be far off this.- No.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- Very child-friendly.- Yes. - Dog-friendly.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:11:18 > 0:11:24- Yeah.- It's gorgeous, isn't it?- Really, really good. - That is my ideal, that range.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- It's sensational.- Can you imagine yourself here?- Yes, very much so. - Absolutely.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31- Without hesitation.- Brilliant. - Doing well!
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- Shall we go upstairs?- Yes, lovely.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Looks like downstairs gets a double "wow".
0:11:36 > 0:11:40They get much more than they asked for upstairs with five bedrooms,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44including two large, light doubles, and lots of built-in cupboards,
0:11:44 > 0:11:50perfect for guests who can use the separate family bathroom.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55Let's put their expectations of where they would sleep to the test in the third bedroom.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- This could be your master, what do you think?- It's lovely.
0:11:59 > 0:12:05- It's a great size. Lovely light, high ceiling, nice proportion. - I love the windows.
0:12:05 > 0:12:11- They're gorgeous.- They bring in so much light.- Again, nothing really to be done.- Ticking boxes, aren't we?
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- If you like this room, I think you'll like the one I'm going to show you now.- Lead on.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23I love the little passageway.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- Oh!- Oh, wow!- OK! Wow! - So, we have a master, do we?
0:12:28 > 0:12:34You just said that that other room was the master, so this will be my room when I come and visit.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39- That's incredible.- Beautiful. Bigger than the lounge, I think.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43The enormity of this room doesn't end just here. I'm dying to show you this.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- It gets bigger?- It does! - There's more.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Oh, wow.- Go in!- OK, all right. I'll see you guys later.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58- It is actually his and hers.- Oh really? I don't think so, I think it's Briony's.
0:12:58 > 0:13:03- Walk-in wardrobe. Really impressive, isn't it?- Yes, it is.- Can I just have a look?- Yes, go.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08- What do you think?- There's enough room...- It goes all they way down! - Yes, that'll do!
0:13:10 > 0:13:15I almost forgot to show you the en-suite, of course. Not really!
0:13:17 > 0:13:18It's in proportion with this room.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23SHE GASPS
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- It doesn't stop, does it?- No!- Oh wow!
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- That is phenomenal.- It's a great size.- Yes.- It's beautiful.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Briony's right. It doesn't stop!
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Up on the second floor in the roof space is a huge fifth double room, with its own modern en-suite.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45This sprawling period property seems to have knocked them for six.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49But will they fall in love with the views and land on offer?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Is an acre and a half enough?
0:13:51 > 0:13:57Ideally we were looking for a bit more for me to be able to have the horse
0:13:57 > 0:14:00but we always said that the house was more important.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05- The house is the priority. - We'll compromise on the land for the right house.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10This property also throws a stunning swimming pool into the mix.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13So, let's survey all that could be theirs and ponder on the price.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20- OK. I think you like it.- Yeah. - Can you afford it, though?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22What do you think it's on the market for?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- It's been on the market for two weeks.- Two weeks? OK.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29I think, our budget of £1 million, I think it's going to be slightly over that.
0:14:29 > 0:14:35- I think it's about £1.2 million. - Yeah, £1.1, £1.2.- OK.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- You look depressed!- I'm waiting!
0:14:37 > 0:14:42- It's currently on the market for £1 million.- Oh, OK.- On the nose. - Really?- Yeah.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- Does that surprise you? - Yes.- It does, actually.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Conservatively, I thought it would be at least £100,000 more.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52- Time is of the essence if we were serious about it. - Two weeks is a bit long.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Are you serious about it? - It would take a discussion.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Why don't you have that conversation? Have a look at the woods, if you like.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- OK.- I'll see you out front. - All right.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Look forward to it. - I might be in the pool.
0:15:05 > 0:15:11With a guide price of £1 million, this 1930s country pile took their breath away
0:15:11 > 0:15:13and they wouldn't have to lift a finger.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18It offers three generous reception rooms with that modern twist.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Briony's huge kitchen-diner with that range she asked for.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Five bedrooms with a gigantic master en-suite.
0:15:26 > 0:15:311.5 acres of land and a pool looking out over spectacular countryside
0:15:31 > 0:15:34with an hour-and-ten-minute commute by train to London.
0:15:34 > 0:15:41- It covers so many of the things that we want.- Yep.- Apart from the land. - It's just the land, isn't it?
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- However, we do have all this.- Yeah.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48When we walked in, it was an immediate "wow" factor.
0:15:48 > 0:15:56It's quite difficult to keep the whole "wow" up because actually every room is beautiful.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00- You know what this would be perfect for?- Office, yeah, absolutely.
0:16:00 > 0:16:08- There's plenty of space and it's set away from the house so we'd feel like we're going to work.- Exactly.
0:16:09 > 0:16:16- The view is amazing, isn't it? - It's just stunning.- Yeah, it is, isn't it?- Hello!
0:16:16 > 0:16:21Just eavesdropping on your conversation. I'm allowed to do that, apparently.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- Don't look so worried! You're smiling.- Still smiling, yes.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28- It's a lovely property, isn't it? - Phenomenal.- Really nice.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31- We can't dally here any longer. There's more to see.- OK, let's go.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45In spite of the Norman invasion,
0:16:45 > 0:16:51Sussex's ancient landscape still bears the names of settlements from its Anglo-Saxon past,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55including Brightling, mentioned in the Domesday Book.
0:16:55 > 0:17:01But in the 18th and 19th century, one man left his indelible mark on this quiet village.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It all started here, at Brightling Park.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08The estate was home to the Fuller family, who, as wealthy sheep farmers,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10moved in during the mid-16th century.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Earlier in the week, Tom and Briony met local historian Jeff Hutchinson
0:17:14 > 0:17:20to find out more about one notorious family member whose name has gone down in history.
0:17:20 > 0:17:26The one that you've come to see is Mad Jack, Mad Jack Fuller, the most famous member of the Fuller family.
0:17:26 > 0:17:32Born in 1757, he inherited the whole estate at the age of 20. An enormous fortune.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37A total eccentric, a child of his times, crazy Georgian England.
0:17:37 > 0:17:46He was a Member of Parliament for this area between 1801-1812. But a very good side to the man.
0:17:46 > 0:17:53After the Napoleonic wars, he employed soldiers coming back from the war
0:17:53 > 0:17:57to erect a wall surrounding the estate, which stretched for around four miles.
0:17:57 > 0:18:03Mad Jack also indulged in a spot of flamboyant folly building,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07including an observatory and a high-rise obelisk.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11But this one, known as the Sugar Loaf, has to be the most whimsical.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13The story goes, that while in London,
0:18:13 > 0:18:18he made a bet that from his estate he could see the church spire in the nearby village of Dallington.
0:18:18 > 0:18:24When he realised this was not the case, he ordered for this structure to be built overnight
0:18:24 > 0:18:28so that it would be mistaken for the church spire by his betting opponent.
0:18:28 > 0:18:34But John Fuller's most extraordinary building legacy lies in Brightling churchyard.
0:18:34 > 0:18:40Mad Jack Fuller was a man who always wanted to be remembered by future generations.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44If you want something like that to happen, what better way to do it?
0:18:44 > 0:18:49- Build yourself a 25-foot high pyramid in the corner of your local churchyard.- Absolutely.
0:18:49 > 0:18:55You're 53 years of age, you've had a big row in Parliament, you come back to your local rector
0:18:55 > 0:19:01and you say to him, "I'm fed up, I want to build my tomb."
0:19:01 > 0:19:04He says, "How much do you want for me to put the tomb on this site?"
0:19:04 > 0:19:10The vicar said, "You've been a good man to the church. No, I don't want any money for it."
0:19:10 > 0:19:15But I don't think he looked at the building plans because this went up in 1810.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19- A bit of a surprise. - Yes, you can say that again!
0:19:19 > 0:19:26He then goes on to live to for another 24 years. This is the sort of Georgian pharaoh, you know.
0:19:26 > 0:19:32It makes a wonderful story and it's an incredible thing to have in a small country churchyard.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Yeah, stunning, really nice.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37These days, Brightling is also on the map
0:19:37 > 0:19:40as the venue for the International Horse Trials every summer,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44which will no doubt be a must-see event for Briony.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49For our second property, we're putting her hunger for horses at the top of the agenda
0:19:49 > 0:19:51as we head to the village of Crowborough,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55a 60-minute train commute into London from the local station.
0:19:55 > 0:20:01A couple of miles down the road, Rotherfield serves up a local primary school, useful local shops
0:20:01 > 0:20:03and a welcome pint on tap.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty,
0:20:05 > 0:20:11let's hope they find this property, built in the early 1900s, pleasing to the eye.
0:20:11 > 0:20:16- Oh, it's really pretty. - It is, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21- Typically Sussex.- Yep, it's very chocolate-box in a non-thatch chocolate-box way which is lovely.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24- Absolutely.- There's some lovely period features here.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29Originally, the current owners think it was a two-up, two-down, so it's been extended over the years.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- Same as the last one. - Done nicely though. - Yeah. Very nicely.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37- All right, enough out here, shall we go in?- Yes.- Come on.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39The period style has certainly got a thumbs-up,
0:20:39 > 0:20:43but after our first property, it's got a lot to live up to.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47- Come on through.- Oh, wow.- You've got a little office space there.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52- Tucked out of the way. - Yeah, that's a decent size. - French oak flooring.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57- Beautiful.- Nice, isn't it? - Yeah. It's got a nice feel when you come in.- Yeah, lovely.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Let's go through to the living room.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12- I don't like it when you two are quiet.- Just taking it in. - No, it is lovely.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- It's very sweet. - It's a really friendly room. It's got a really nice feel.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17- It has, hasn't it?- Yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- I love the window seats. - They're charming, aren't they?
0:21:20 > 0:21:25- This is what this is so far to me, charming.- Yeah. A very good word to describe it.- Absolutely.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30Well, I'm going on a charm offensive next door.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35This kitchen was designed and built by the current owner.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38- I like this.- The oak units are lovely.- Absolutely.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- He did all that, and the granite surface.- It's a lovely feature to keep the exposed brickwork.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- It's a family kitchen, isn't it? - Yeah, it is.- Exactly.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48It feels much more of a working kitchen.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53You can flash-forward and imagine the kids working round the table as we cook dinner.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55- Doing their homework and stuff. - Good point.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- Perfect for that.- Yeah.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03There's more to it. There's a fantastic utility room through there, and a lovely larder as well.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04- OK.- A walk-in larder.- Nice.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09- It's all in keeping with the cottagey-feel.- Yeah, it is.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11This is a gorgeous kitchen.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Across the hallway, there's plenty of space in here to throw a dinner party,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19with French doors opening out onto the garden.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23I'll reserve judgement on whether this property is charming them,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26but it's certainly generous with the number of rooms.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Upstairs would give them six bedrooms,
0:22:28 > 0:22:34including three light, airy doubles for overnighting guests to spread out in,
0:22:34 > 0:22:36all with those nice clean lines they like.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38A useful bathroom is close by.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42But does their potential bedroom measure up?
0:22:42 > 0:22:46This is the master bedroom at the moment.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50- This is nice.- Dual aspect.- Yeah.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53- Loads of storage.- Look at those windows, that's fantastic, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58Let's go and have a look at the family bathroom. That's a good size.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- I like this.- Good, isn't it? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:23:06 > 0:23:12- It's a really nice bathroom, decent size. I like the fittings as well. - It feels very contemporary.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16- It does, doesn't it? - In difference to the rest of the house, actually.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19That contemporary feel continues upstairs on the second floor
0:23:19 > 0:23:23where the remaining two bedrooms make great use of the roof space
0:23:23 > 0:23:26and are serviced by their own private bathroom.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31They're making the right noises, but I'm not hearing the big wows we got from the first property.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34However, outside, this house really does come into its own.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42- This is beautiful, isn't it? - It's lovely.- Totally private.- Yeah. - I like how enclosed it is.
0:23:42 > 0:23:48You've got some working space there, lots of working space at the back of the double garage.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- Very easily your office could be up there.- Yeah.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Alternatively, your office could be there.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- Oh, wow.- Oh, OK.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01At the bottom of the garden, there's a quirky summer house which would make a great work retreat,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05with toilet and cosy wood-burner
0:24:05 > 0:24:07and gorgeous views back to the main house.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10But it's on higher ground where the promised land lies,
0:24:10 > 0:24:15which I hope will have Briony champing at the bit.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Oh.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Wow.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- It is rather, isn't it?- Yes. What are we looking at?
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- You're looking at all your land. - Wow.
0:24:25 > 0:24:30You've got a paddock up there with a substantial vegetable plot
0:24:30 > 0:24:36and basically to the edge of the trees, right down to the bottom, this is all yours.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- Two acres in all.- OK, all right! - It's great, isn't it?
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- It's fantastic.- Really pretty. - That's slightly different.
0:24:42 > 0:24:48- You can imagine us and the kids with a blanket picnic in the middle of there.- Yeah.- Just messing about.
0:24:48 > 0:24:55- And you could have your horse.- Yes. I'm hearing that, believe you me. - OK.- Hence the smile.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Has it changed things? What do you think it's on the market for?
0:24:59 > 0:25:04- It's difficult because you've thrown in the acreage at the last minute. - Sorry!- Yep. Um...
0:25:04 > 0:25:11- I reckon it's going to push up towards our budget. Maybe £985,000? - OK.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13I reckon £950,000-ish.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17It's £965,000. So, it could be yours, easy.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- Yeah.- It's within budget.- Yeah. - Yeah, it could.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- There's nothing that really needs doing in the house.- No.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25- It's just whether we can live with the house.- Mmm.
0:25:25 > 0:25:31- Well, you did say that...- We'd compromise.- Yeah, of course. It's definitely interesting.- Yeah.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- I wouldn't mind having a look around. - Go and do that. Go down those steps.
0:25:35 > 0:25:42- Or do you want to go that way?- That way. Interesting horsey bit!- Go and do the interesting horsey bit.
0:25:42 > 0:25:49Under budget at £965,000, this beautiful period property gives them a substantial family home
0:25:49 > 0:25:55which needs no work and features two large reception rooms with character charm,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57a large bespoke kitchen-diner,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59a dedicated study,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02a staggering six bedrooms
0:26:02 > 0:26:05and 2.5 acres of garden and paddock,
0:26:05 > 0:26:08with an hour's train commute into London.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11But is it a match to the first property?
0:26:11 > 0:26:20It's nice to see this much land. It's nice to tangibly have a feel for what 2.5 acres looks like.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24So I think size-wise, we're much closer to being there.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28I'd rather something more farmhouse than cottagey, personally.
0:26:28 > 0:26:34I would be willing to compromise a little bit on the acreage for the house.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37- What do you reckon about room sizes? - Um...
0:26:37 > 0:26:44The proportion of the rooms is excellent, they're nice and square and symmetrical,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47but I feel for me, they are a little bit small.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50They're a little bit cottagey, a bit low-ceilinged.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54- You took your time! There's a lot to take in, isn't there? - Yeah, there is.
0:26:54 > 0:27:00- Two totally different properties, both with so much going for them, I'd say.- Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Anyway, I'm not going to try to convince you, you can have that chat tonight.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07- Shall we get going?- Yeah. Let's go.
0:27:18 > 0:27:26As the sun sets over the Sussex countryside, it marks the end of the first day of our property search.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Armed with a £1-million budget,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38expectant parents Tom and Briony want to swap their urban pad in London
0:27:38 > 0:27:41for a sprawling country pile in Sussex.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45They've been bowled over by one of the two houses we've shown them so far.
0:27:45 > 0:27:51But coming up, our mystery property serves up some completely unexpected pleasures.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56I am actually stuck for words. That doesn't often happen!
0:27:56 > 0:27:59- Did you not expect this to be here? - No!
0:28:01 > 0:28:04So, we start a new day, refreshed and raring to go.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09Our mission is to find Tom and Briony their typical country house with a modern interior.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11"Easy for £1 million!" I hear you say.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Not when you take into account the land that they're also after.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17Compromise is a key word, I think.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Today we're showing them the mystery property.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24It's traditional from the outside, something else on the inside,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28with a surprise lurking behind almost every door.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36Our mystery house takes us halfway between Maresfield and Crowborough
0:28:36 > 0:28:39with a train station that would get them to London in an hour.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44Maresfield serves up character charm with its church and local post office.
0:28:44 > 0:28:50And it seems we're laying on the chocolate-box charm quite thickly with this thatched cottage.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54But first impressions are definitely deceiving in this case.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56Although dating from the early 20th century,
0:28:56 > 0:29:03the interior isn't just the contemporary twist Briony and Tom are after, it's a full pirouette!
0:29:03 > 0:29:09- Oh, fantastic.- That's impressive. - The original part of the cottage dates to about 400 years.
0:29:09 > 0:29:15This is a house ideal for a young couple who like inviting friends round for a party.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- OK, that sounds good.- Sounds like you!- It's sounds cool, yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:24They can leave all notion of oldy-worldy at the front door.
0:29:24 > 0:29:29- Ooh.- Oh, cool.- It's not what you expected is it?
0:29:29 > 0:29:34- No, not at all from outside. - It's very roomy. - I like it.- It's very light.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37If you think this is spacious, come on through here.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41- Oh, wow. - How's this for a reception room?
0:29:41 > 0:29:44- It's lovely.- Fantastic.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48- A working fireplace there, as well. - Brilliant. It's a really nice space.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51- Very light, very airy.- A big room. - Yeah.- Big, big room.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55- You wouldn't have expected this room when you're out there. - No.- Absolutely not.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58No. It's really nice. Really lovely.
0:29:58 > 0:30:02That's the first of your surprises. Loads to come.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05- Really, loads!- OK!
0:30:05 > 0:30:09Across the hallway, the draped marquee ceiling in the dining room
0:30:09 > 0:30:12is a taste of the fun in store with our mystery property.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15And I think they'll be dazzled by the next room.
0:30:17 > 0:30:21This is where you'll be chained to the kitchen sink.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25- Ooh.- Very modern. - Very modern, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30- I wasn't expecting this.- You've got a back door there and you've also got a walk-in larder.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34This is, for me, a little bit strange. You've got a bedroom through there.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38- A double bedroom with a massive en-suite.- OK.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- I don't know whether you change it to a TV room or a kids' playroom. - Yeah.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45- But the options are endless.- Mmm.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Down at the far end of the cottage is a second comfortable sitting room,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53perfect for the family to sprawl out in.
0:30:53 > 0:30:58Close by off the hallway is a shower room and two double rooms for the weekend guests
0:30:58 > 0:31:01with a modern walk-in shower opposite.
0:31:01 > 0:31:07Which brings us to the other end of the property, into a world of never-ending surprises.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13- This is your master bedroom. - This is a really nice size.- Yeah.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15- It's got a nice feel about it.- Yeah.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20- When I said master bedroom, what I really meant was a suite.- OK.
0:31:20 > 0:31:25- It goes on and on and on! OK, deep breath, are you ready?- Yep!
0:31:34 > 0:31:38- This is your dressing area.- Yes. - I'm not sure it's big enough!
0:31:38 > 0:31:41No, not for Briony's stuff, definitely not!
0:31:41 > 0:31:48Just when you think it couldn't get any larger or stranger, come on through to your en-suite.
0:31:48 > 0:31:53- Wow.- This is huge! Look at that bath!- What a fantastic room.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58- You would not expect all this to be here when you're in the master bedroom.- No!- No.- Crikey!
0:31:58 > 0:32:03- It's very different. Just the whole layout is very different.- Yeah. - It's quite exciting.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06- You can hear an echo, can't you?- Yeah.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09- What's down there? - Go and have a look.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14Yes, it's time to descend into the underworld.
0:32:18 > 0:32:23I am actually stuck for words! That doesn't often happen.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27- Did you not expect this to be here? - No! Funnily enough!
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Not the first thing I thought of when I was walking down the stairs, no.
0:32:30 > 0:32:36It is a fantastic addition. I really... I like abstract thinking, I think that's really cool.
0:32:36 > 0:32:43- It's quirky beyond quirky.- It really is!- Yeah, it's one hell of a twist, isn't it?- It is Tardis-like.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47And the labyrinth continues on the other side of the master,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50where stairs lead down to every man's idea of heaven.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Don't look that way, just look this way for now.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57- I'm seeing neon blue that way. Oh dear! OK!- Oh, cool!
0:32:57 > 0:33:00"Oh dear!", "Oh, cool!"
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- Boy's room, at last! - This is fantastic.
0:33:02 > 0:33:06- This is also attached to your master bedroom, you realise that?- Yes.
0:33:06 > 0:33:12- If this isn't party and boy enough for you, follow me. You're going to love this!- Uh-oh...
0:33:15 > 0:33:20- Oh, brilliant!- Oh, this is a real boy's den down here.
0:33:20 > 0:33:27- You're now in the 400-year-old part of the building here. This was the original little cottage.- OK.
0:33:27 > 0:33:33- It's been extended quite considerably, hasn't it?- Yeah!
0:33:33 > 0:33:38Outside may not have the land for Briony's horse, but there's scope for garden parties galore
0:33:38 > 0:33:42in the acre of beautifully landscaped gardens, complete with a tennis court,
0:33:42 > 0:33:47a summer house currently used as a studio, and a fantastic swimming pool.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51- Think you'd use the pool?- Yes! - Lovely, isn't it?- Just a bit. - Gorgeous pool.
0:33:51 > 0:33:57- It also feels like it's larger than an acre.- It does. So many twists and turns, aren't there?
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Let's ask the question. How much do you think this is on the market for?
0:34:01 > 0:34:05- I think it's about £975,000. - I would have pictured it around the same, probably.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09- It's currently on the market for £975,000.- Really?- Really?
0:34:09 > 0:34:11- Bang on the money, yeah. - OK!
0:34:11 > 0:34:16- Go and have a look around. There's so much to take in.- I know.- Yeah.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19- We'll see you in a couple of hours! - I defy you not to go down to that spa room.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21First place I'm going!
0:34:21 > 0:34:27- I'm going to leave the end of a thread with you to take with me. - You'll probably get lost, yeah!
0:34:29 > 0:34:33Under budget at £975,000,
0:34:33 > 0:34:38our mystery cottage offers up a labyrinth of modern rooms in a character shell.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41It includes three reception rooms,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44an enormous state-of-the-art kitchen,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47four bedrooms, with that extravagant master suite,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50all wrapped up in an acre of land.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52Briony would have to spare the horse,
0:34:52 > 0:34:58but visiting family and friends would lap up the chance for a spot of tennis and a dip.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03And the location is spot on with an hour's train commute into London.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08I was really surprised when we walked up the drive. Coming into the hall, there was big "wow".
0:35:08 > 0:35:11Light, bright, airy, very modern.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- The living room is perfect, the dining room is really nice. - Kitchen's a nice size.- Yeah.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20- But then we go further and we find more attached.- It's a little warren.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24- I would change certain areas.- Yeah. - Perhaps change certain rooms.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26- We've got a bit of budget to do that.- Yeah.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30The boy space is fantastic. Having a bar in the house is a dream.
0:35:30 > 0:35:35Also, being somewhere like this is something you would never have thought of.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41- Oh, did you have to? I was having a lovely snooze!- Sorry!
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Really comfortable.
0:35:44 > 0:35:45- You OK?- Yes.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- Seen everything?- Yes.- Think so.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52- You've a lot of thinking to do, I should imagine. Let's get on with it.- All right.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Sussex is home to some fine English country gardens.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10But one of the undisputed jewels has to be that of Christopher Lloyd's,
0:36:10 > 0:36:15one of the 20th century's most influential and maverick gardeners.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19It's here at his home in Great Dixter where it blooms.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23Despite his death in 2006, his legacy lives on.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26I've come to meet head gardener Fergus Garrett
0:36:26 > 0:36:29at the house where the inspiration for this unique site started.
0:36:29 > 0:36:35Christopher's family, the Lloyd family, didn't really buy it until 1910.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39At that point, it had been on the estate agent's books for over ten years
0:36:39 > 0:36:40so it was in quite a derelict state.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43They bought the house, they wanted to restore it
0:36:43 > 0:36:48so they commissioned that famous British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, to come and do that.
0:36:48 > 0:36:55It was Lutyens who laid out the gardens as well and true to that period, he compartmentalised it,
0:36:55 > 0:37:00so he sub-divided it into a series of rooms, each of those rooms can have a different feel,
0:37:00 > 0:37:04a different set of plants and there's an element of surprise.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Lutyens may have laid the landscaping foundations
0:37:07 > 0:37:11but Christopher's parents introduced their own, distinct styles.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15His father created the more formal features such as the topiary.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18But it was his mother's love of botany and planting
0:37:18 > 0:37:22that inspired Christopher's pioneering approach to horticulture.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26He was a big fan of a mass of colour, wasn't he? Was it a case of anything goes?
0:37:26 > 0:37:29It was a case of try anything, but then analyse it.
0:37:29 > 0:37:34Because you could put an unusual combination of pink and yellow
0:37:34 > 0:37:37and you may find the pink is a bit too strong
0:37:37 > 0:37:40so you would swap it for a lighter tone and see if that works.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44But at the end of the day, it's your own garden,
0:37:44 > 0:37:49so why not do something that pleases you rather than worry about what other people think?
0:37:49 > 0:37:54He was also a very welcoming guy, it seems. If he liked you, he'd open up the house to you.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Yes, he loved people.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01If he was wandering through the garden and he thought someone was really interested,
0:38:01 > 0:38:07they were paying attention to what they were looking at and taking notes, he would try and fuel that.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09If he liked you, all was fine. If he didn't?
0:38:09 > 0:38:15I think he would... Somebody said that interviewing Christopher Lloyd was licking a prickly hedgehog.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17And he was exactly that.
0:38:17 > 0:38:23His colourful character fuelled his philosophy not just to gardening, but to life in general,
0:38:23 > 0:38:30observing that "we do not all want to float endlessly among silvers, greys and tender pinks."
0:38:30 > 0:38:34"Some prefer a bright, brash, midday glare with plenty of stuffing."
0:38:34 > 0:38:40At times, though, he caused outrage and even received hate mail from conventional gardening circles
0:38:40 > 0:38:45when he ditched the traditional rose garden in favour of some thing far more daring and exotic.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48It was full of tired old roses.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50He decided to take most of the roses out,
0:38:50 > 0:38:56leaving about 11 of our favourite plants and create a sub-tropical jungle.
0:38:56 > 0:39:02Christopher wanted to feel he was stepping closer to the equator as he stepped into this space,
0:39:02 > 0:39:07the paths close in on themselves and if we get a bit of rain, it's all misty and humid
0:39:07 > 0:39:10and you really feel like you are stepping into the jungle.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14You tell a good story, Fergus. I'm there with you! What's his lasting legacy?
0:39:14 > 0:39:19I've seen quite a few tourists here today. What do you hope they take away with them?
0:39:19 > 0:39:25Well, this life in and around the garden, that these spaces are there to be enjoyed,
0:39:25 > 0:39:30for you to get a thrill from growing plants, putting them together and creating a scene.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Just going out and doing it with real energy and joie de vivre.
0:39:34 > 0:39:40- It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. - It's a really, really lovely place.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43Thankfully, Christopher's joyful garden is in safe hands
0:39:43 > 0:39:47and will thrive for future visitors to experience.
0:39:50 > 0:39:51It's fair to say
0:39:51 > 0:39:57that we've shown Tom and Briony three very charming properties for their budget here in Sussex.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00On the whole, they've been quite a compromising couple.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03But was that mystery property one compromise too many?
0:40:03 > 0:40:05Let's find out.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Sorry, guys, this is reserved, sling your hook!
0:40:17 > 0:40:20- You enjoyed it?- Very much so, thank you.- It's been fantastic.
0:40:20 > 0:40:25We've shown you three quite different properties, but they've all got something going for them.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29Let's start with the first one, the 1930s typically Sussex house.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33That one was real "wow" factor for us. It was a beautiful looking property.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37Inside, every single room lived up to the initial wow.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41When we got into the kitchen, we looked at each other and said, "This is perfect."
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- Exactly what we wanted. - The kitchen was amazing.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48It felt like a family house which is exactly what we're looking for.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52It didn't have the wish-list land for the horse,
0:40:52 > 0:41:00but we were always very open-minded on what we'd have to compromise on and that view was just astounding.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02What about the second house?
0:41:02 > 0:41:08It was finished to such a high standard and all the rooms were well-proportioned.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11For me, it had slightly too many rooms upstairs.
0:41:11 > 0:41:17I felt a bit constrained inside it which is the whole cottagey feel which I don't particularly like.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22- What did you make of the summer house?- It was a nice touch. It was different which is a selling point.
0:41:22 > 0:41:27Another great selling point for that property was further up the steps,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29the two acres of land which is exactly what you wanted.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31That was beautiful.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34What about the mystery property? What a property!
0:41:34 > 0:41:38From the outside it was a lovely, thatched cottage.
0:41:38 > 0:41:45I enjoyed the house more as we got into it. I think the underground jacuzzi was an interesting touch.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49- It certainly was.- For want of a better word.- The house amuses me.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52It gives me a good feeling, because I find it fascinating.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56The outside space is fantastic. The pool was stunning.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59It sounds to me like it's in with a chance, the mystery property.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00Um...
0:42:00 > 0:42:02It's in second place.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05- Yes, definitely. - Ah, OK. Behind...?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- The first house.- The 30s house. - The 30s house, OK.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11Do you like that enough to put in an offer?
0:42:11 > 0:42:18- I think...- It's up for discussion. - Yeah. Our worry would be that it will go for more than our budget...
0:42:18 > 0:42:26At the moment it is bang on budget, so for us to put in a viable offer, it might take a bit more sway but...
0:42:26 > 0:42:29So we're trying not to get too attached to the idea.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32But I think there's no reason why we shouldn't.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37I hope you find your ideal home here in Sussex, you've been fantastic.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40- Good luck, especially when bump comes along!- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42We might even name it Aled!
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Don't do that!
0:42:47 > 0:42:51What a positive outcome for two very positive people.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Tom and Briony.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58I can really imagine them living in that property with that gorgeous view.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Let's hope they can make their dream become a reality
0:43:01 > 0:43:03and let's hope they invite me to use the pool!
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Till next time. Bye bye.
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0:43:15 > 0:43:18please apply online at bbc.co.uk/beonashow
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