0:00:02 > 0:00:06In their heyday, 300 of these magnificent vessels plied the waterways in this region.
0:00:06 > 0:00:11Find out where I am in just a moment.
0:00:41 > 0:00:48'On today's show, we deal with motors and moggies as we try to turn pleasure into business.
0:00:48 > 0:00:55- 'While some properties are slow burners...'- It's got me thinking. - I'm warming to it now.
0:00:55 > 0:01:02- '..others fire up our buyers straight away.'- As soon as we walked through the gate, it felt right.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06'And, finally, the cat might get the cream.'
0:01:06 > 0:01:08This would be my dream country house.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Today we're in Norfolk. These are the Broads, of course.
0:01:14 > 0:01:20Back in the 19th and early 20th century, they were teeming with these vessels known as wherries.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24They have a forward step mast and a single sail
0:01:24 > 0:01:29and they were ideal for navigating these tree-lined broadland rivers.
0:01:29 > 0:01:35They were also the backbone of the local economy. They brought goods in from the coast to Norwich.
0:01:35 > 0:01:41Later on, I'll find out how they're making a comeback at the hands of a dedicated bunch of volunteers,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45but first let's look at the glories of this area.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Bordering Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Norfolk is the largest of the East Anglian counties.
0:01:52 > 0:01:58Its northern and eastern edges are fringed by over 100 miles of sweeping coast, with shingle beaches
0:01:58 > 0:02:01and wide, sandy dunes.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07Low-lying, but still incredibly diverse, the landscape covers wetlands and undulating farmland,
0:02:07 > 0:02:14peppered by the odd windmill. There's a saying that people from Norfolk have one foot on the land
0:02:14 > 0:02:20and one in the sea. Moving from its shores to the heart of the county lies the medieval city of Norwich,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24which is dominated by its 12th-century cathedral.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30Beyond the reach of its main road links, much of Norfolk remains an untouched, tranquil place,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34the perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful rural bolthole.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Unless you're planning to live in Burnham Overy or Cley-Next-The-Sea
0:02:41 > 0:02:44in the very fashionable and expensive north Norfolk coast,
0:02:44 > 0:02:50this county can give you real good value for money if you shop for property.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54The average detached house here costs £213,000
0:02:54 > 0:02:58and that's 20% less than the national average.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03Across the border in equally beautiful Suffolk, it's 15% more expensive,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06so you can see the bargain you get.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Plus you get all of this beautiful countryside and a lot of heritage,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14including some really gorgeous architectural styles.
0:03:14 > 0:03:20Norfolk's rich natural resources have been put to good use as building materials for centuries.
0:03:20 > 0:03:26The county's plentiful supply of clay and long tradition of mining stone is evident
0:03:26 > 0:03:31from the many red brick and flint properties that make up its villages.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35The modest-sized cottages, originally built to house fishermen in coastal villages,
0:03:35 > 0:03:42are now highly desirable and typically command asking prices of upwards of £350,000.
0:03:42 > 0:03:48East Anglia's abundance of reed beds means that thatch has long been used for roofing in Norfolk.
0:03:48 > 0:03:54Reed is much more durable than straw, with a lengthy lifespan of up to seven decades.
0:03:54 > 0:04:01Four-bedroom thatched homes in sought-after countryside locations tend to start at £400,000.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08So we can safely say that Norfolk is not short of beautiful property,
0:04:08 > 0:04:13but is it enough to lure in our buyers today? Let's meet them and find out.
0:04:13 > 0:04:19Kevin is an ex-RAF engineer, married to Belinda, who works as a qualifications assessor.
0:04:19 > 0:04:25And they live with their two cats in a four-bedroom house on the edge of an estate
0:04:25 > 0:04:28in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33They got together when Belinda answered an ad in her local paper.
0:04:33 > 0:04:39I'd been listening to this local radio station for some months with a thing called Midnight Matchmaker.
0:04:39 > 0:04:47It was a bit cheesy, but I thought, "Why not?" I didn't realise my details would get put in a paper
0:04:47 > 0:04:51in a different county! I was quite surprised when Belinda rang me.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55We met up in a pub local to Belinda's house and that was it.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00They have been happily married for nearly nine years and recently decided
0:05:00 > 0:05:05to quit the 9-to-5 routine and pursue their dreams.
0:05:05 > 0:05:12We're both doing jobs that require us to sit behind desks at computers, but we're practical, active people
0:05:12 > 0:05:16and we're not getting the life satisfaction we want.
0:05:16 > 0:05:22Their desire to change their current lifestyles has been driven by their love of travelling the country
0:05:22 > 0:05:26- at a moment's notice.- We have been on caravan holidays for many years.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31We love the freedom and the open space it provides us when we go.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35And it's these trips that have helped them focus on this region.
0:05:35 > 0:05:41The area we would like to move to is south Norfolk, possibly even into north Suffolk.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47We want to move there because with our budget we think we'll get more for our money down there.
0:05:47 > 0:05:53We're likely to find the place we want with the land we want and space to have what we want.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59And with all that space, Belinda hopes to turn her love of cats into a viable business venture.
0:05:59 > 0:06:05My drive to have a cattery has been an ambition I've had for a long time.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10I've always loved cats and that's where it's come from. I've always had cats.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14I've now got two kittens. They're growing up fast.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19Kevin also plans to make money from a hobby he's had since childhood.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24My passion for classic cars started many, many years ago, as a young boy,
0:06:24 > 0:06:30and of late, since I've left the Air Force, I've taken the bull by the horns and built a kit car
0:06:30 > 0:06:35and I enjoy it and I want to get into it more and make a bit of money out of it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:42Their current house is on the market, so they've got a clear idea of how much money is available.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47Our budget for this move is up to £450,000.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57For the best chance of finding exactly what they're looking for and to get the best value for money,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01we'll be concentrating our search inland, away from the pricey coast.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06Time for us all to meet up in Norfolk to lock down their property wish list.
0:07:06 > 0:07:13- Welcome to Norfolk. Are you ready for the remoteness of living in the country?- Yes, we are, definitely.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18I think our liking of the rural countryside is reflected in the holidays that we take.
0:07:18 > 0:07:25We caravan both in the UK and France and we always choose somewhere that's rural, so it's what we want.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29What are you looking for in terms of spec for this property?
0:07:29 > 0:07:33What's the minimum numbers of bedrooms, for example?
0:07:33 > 0:07:41The minimum number of bedrooms would be two. The most important thing is to develop the business
0:07:41 > 0:07:47- that we want to.- So thinking ahead about the business is most important.- Absolutely, yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:54- You need space for a cattery. How many acres?- A minimum, probably, of half an acre, we've decided on.
0:07:54 > 0:08:02- I know you've got classic cars to look after, but are there any other money-making ventures?- Indeed.
0:08:02 > 0:08:08We'd like an opportunity for a holiday let, whether an annexe or an outbuilding to convert.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14- A real dream would be a fishing lake as well.- Steady, steady! You've got the cattery and the holiday lets!
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Would you then put money in to develop a place?
0:08:18 > 0:08:24Absolutely. It's a long-term vision. It doesn't have to be all there today.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29We've just got to be able to see it, to get some ideas about how we could develop it for our future.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34Well, let's go and see it. We've got three lined up and Norfolk awaits.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41For a maximum budget of £450,000,
0:08:41 > 0:08:47Kevin and Belinda have set their hearts on a new enterprise in the Norfolk countryside.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52They're after a house with a minimum of two bedrooms, in at least a half-acre plot
0:08:52 > 0:08:58that has scope for Belinda to run a cattery business, as well as an outbuilding or annexe
0:08:58 > 0:09:00which could serve as a holiday let.
0:09:00 > 0:09:06Lastly, Kevin needs space to indulge his passion for restoring classic cars.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11I have to admit that sounds like a tall order. However, we love a challenge
0:09:11 > 0:09:17and I'll be showing them three great homes, each with very different selling points.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22The property price tags will remain a guessing game until the end of each tour.
0:09:22 > 0:09:28Finally, there's our mystery property, which will challenge them to reconsider what their dream is.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39So with a new business venture in mind, we're starting our house hunt in Mundham Common.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44The tiny village of Seething is the nearest place to pick up essentials,
0:09:44 > 0:09:51served by a convenient store and post office, as well as a flint church with a round Norman tower.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56'But back in the rural outskirts of Mundham Common is where our first property lies.'
0:09:56 > 0:10:00So up a long private drive to house number one.
0:10:00 > 0:10:06- This is the property I want to show you.- Oh, right. Has it been more than one house at one point?- It has.
0:10:06 > 0:10:13- The oldest part of the house is this white bit at the end. That's from the 1780s.- Is it?
0:10:13 > 0:10:18- This is a Victorian extension from the 1800s.- Yeah.- And this was put in in the '80s.- Right.
0:10:18 > 0:10:25- It's interesting, I'll give it that. It wasn't what I expected. - Is it currently one house?- It is.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30- OK.- It'll be clearer when we go inside.- OK.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35'This property's mix of historical styles has our buyers a bit bemused,
0:10:35 > 0:10:39'so let's see how the character unfolds inside.'
0:10:43 > 0:10:47So come on through, straight into the sitting room.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's a lovely fireplace.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56- Wow.- Great big... - Cosy, isn't it?- ..fireplace.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- And it's got some beams. - This is the Victorian extension.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05This would have been the main living area, all based around this fire.
0:11:05 > 0:11:11In terms of the living space, you haven't talked about how you want the space for living.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16- How do you use your space?- Em, the lounge area is big enough for us.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21We would like a good dining/kitchen area. Sort of social area.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26- Well, this house has both. You've got a dining room in the extension. - Right.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29And a kitchen area.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Come on in.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Ha ha.
0:11:35 > 0:11:42- Oh, I like this.- You like it?- Yes. This is more like I would have imagined a kitchen.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48- This is the really old part? - This is the 18th century part. - Yeah.- Oh, this is nice.
0:11:48 > 0:11:54- It's great, isn't it? You've got the beams, the lovely tiles.- They've kept the beams, which is nice.
0:11:54 > 0:12:00I'm very interested in what's out there, so that might make my mind up more, but I do love this part.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06I think you're right. What's outside is going to sway you, but first let's have a peek upstairs.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08OK.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13'Back off the sitting room is the large dining room I mentioned
0:12:13 > 0:12:16'with double doors out into the garden.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22'Just off the entrance hall is a handy utility room, which lies next to the staircase.'
0:12:22 > 0:12:25So this is the master.
0:12:25 > 0:12:32- Again, over the oldest part of the house. Creaky floorboards... - Yeah!- The 18th century part.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37- That's definitely got character. - I love that ceiling.
0:12:37 > 0:12:44- Nice.- So this is the biggest room. There are two bedrooms which are over the new extension.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48- And then another little box room and family bathroom.- OK.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51But, interestingly, there is this...
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- You ready?- Yeah, go on, then.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- Ta-da!- Ah!- My goodness!
0:12:57 > 0:13:03- Wow! Not been developed yet.- No. - What could you do with that? Gosh!
0:13:03 > 0:13:09'That completes the house tour, but there's much more outside to get their cogs whirring,
0:13:09 > 0:13:14'starting with a modern open barn.' It was built by the present owners,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18so it's got three big areas at the bottom, ideal for cars.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22Upstairs is this mammoth space of storage.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28- It's a huge amount of potential there for turning into a workshop or doing something else.- OK.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Is this going to be enough for your classic cars?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35Yeah. Yeah, definitely.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- More than enough, actually. - This is only the half of it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48So come on in. This...is all yours.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- Oh, wow.- 2.35 acres.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54- Wow.- Is that what it is?- Yeah.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57These buildings also belong to you.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02- So we were thinking: can you turn that into a cattery?- Yeah.
0:14:02 > 0:14:08- Yeah.- And most excitingly, this... - That as well?- ..is yours, too.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14So, exhausted walking around your potential estate.
0:14:14 > 0:14:20- This is a fully-functional holiday let.- Is it, really?
0:14:20 > 0:14:26Two bedrooms upstairs. You'd need to bring it up to scratch, but then you could earn money fairly swiftly.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- OK.- That's a real surprise.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- It's got me thinking, that's for sure.- I'm warming to it now.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39- So, plucking a figure out of the air, how much is it worth? - 350,000? It needs a lot of work,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43- although it's got a lot of land. - I would go 410.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46You were very optimistic with 350.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- It's actually on the market for 459.- 459, OK.
0:14:50 > 0:14:56I'll send you to have a look in there. And then you can have a look around everything.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00We'll meet at the front, then take it from there. In you go.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Nudging just above their budget at £459,000,
0:15:08 > 0:15:15our first property gives them a detached character home with the business potential they asked for.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20It sits in just over 2 acres of grounds that include a two-bedroom cottage,
0:15:20 > 0:15:26which could be their holiday let, a barn which could house Kevin's classic cars
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and other outbuildings that Belinda could turn into a cattery.
0:15:29 > 0:15:34Inside, I love the kitchen area. I love the old beams, I love that.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40I think there's good character in the lounge as well. The downstairs living area has a lot of space.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45It's got a lot of potential. It wouldn't need too much work.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50The setting is perfect. It's not too rural. It's just right. It feels just right.
0:15:50 > 0:15:56Initial thoughts when we walked up the drive and saw the house were that it was a mismatch,
0:15:56 > 0:16:01which it was because of the three different ages. Then you've got the outbuildings.
0:16:01 > 0:16:08The barn-cum-garage needs work. Great space upstairs. It's just the time it would take
0:16:08 > 0:16:15and the money on top of the asking price to pour into that would be maybe a little too much,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17too much asking of us, I think.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21- Here you are. All done? Seen everything?- Yes, thank you.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- Your inspiration going? - Yes. Lots of inspiration.- Thoughts.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30You're very cagey. I like your style.
0:16:30 > 0:16:36- OK, we're going to leave this one behind and look at number two. - Excellent.
0:16:43 > 0:16:50Whilst it would be fantastic if we could offer Kevin and Belinda the fishing lake they desire,
0:16:50 > 0:16:57the next best option is to take them to experience the end product - fish. With Norfolk's coastline,
0:16:57 > 0:17:03it's no surprise that for generations fishing has been an economic mainstay of this county.
0:17:03 > 0:17:09Glen Weston is a second-generation fisherman who has now turned his hand to running a smokehouse
0:17:09 > 0:17:15in Cley-Next-The-Sea. So we sent our buyers to meet him and to learn more
0:17:15 > 0:17:20about this traditional method of fish preparation and preservation.
0:17:20 > 0:17:27- I've got some salmon here ready to...to brine up. - Fantastic, that.
0:17:27 > 0:17:32Now all we do, generally, is lay these out nice and flat...
0:17:32 > 0:17:36To start with, the freshly-caught fish is cleaned and filleted
0:17:36 > 0:17:44and then covered with salt for around 12 hours, which draws out excess water from the flesh.
0:17:44 > 0:17:50We'd then take the salmon out, we wash all the salt that's left on the flesh,
0:17:50 > 0:17:57completely away. And then we'd hang it up to dry for a little while before we put it in the smoker.
0:17:58 > 0:18:04Smoking is an ancient way of conserving food that was vital before refrigeration
0:18:04 > 0:18:08and the wood smoke also adds flavour and colour.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13Then we just hang them up in here and let them gently smoke overnight.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17Glen uses oak sawdust for a subtle, mellow flavour.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23All we do is lay down a thin wedge of shavings, first.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27And then we lay a layer of sawdust over the top.
0:18:27 > 0:18:33The fish is smoked for between 12 and 24 hours over a gently smouldering fire.
0:18:33 > 0:18:40Then the hard, salt glaze on the exterior is trimmed away and it's sliced, ready for the customer.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46- And this is the finished result. - That's how it comes out? - If you'd like to try some.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49It looks a bit juicy.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- It hits the spot, that, doesn't it? - Yeah, that's really good, isn't it?
0:18:58 > 0:19:05After savouring some local cuisine, it's high time we got back to the house hunt for what we're serving up
0:19:05 > 0:19:08with our second property.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Our next stop takes us out west to the quiet woodlands of Drymere,
0:19:14 > 0:19:19just a five-minute drive from the historic market town of Swaffham.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24Along with a weekly market, it offers a good range of local amenities - shops and restaurants,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27housed in fine Georgian buildings.
0:19:27 > 0:19:34'And just a few miles from Swaffham into peaceful countryside, it's time to present our second house,
0:19:34 > 0:19:40'which comes with a ready-made business that should have Belinda smiling like a Cheshire cat.'
0:19:40 > 0:19:45Property number two... We have excelled ourselves.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50- Haven't you just!- We've brought you to a cattery!- Good grief!
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- Come on in.- Fantastic.
0:19:52 > 0:19:59This is an up-and-running cattery, licensed for 30 cat chalets. You can have 68 cats.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- Fabulous.- It's all built to the highest feline standard. - I see that.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10- Wow. You have surprised me. - Let's go and have a look.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15So here you go. I've done my cattery homework.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- They all have their own little chalets.- They're well set out.
0:20:19 > 0:20:25And they all have a two-foot gap in-between. You've got a block of 21 here, another block of 5 there.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- Really?- And then some extra ones.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30- It's fabulous.- Look at them!
0:20:31 > 0:20:33And it's a very successful business.
0:20:33 > 0:20:39- It turns over about... It can turn over about 30 grand. - Really? As much as that?
0:20:39 > 0:20:44- Any thoughts?- I think you're just speechless, aren't you?- I am!
0:20:44 > 0:20:49I wasn't expecting that, really. I expected a house with some land,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51not to see an established business.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55'As well as giving Belinda a creme de la creme cattery,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59'we've also got accommodation for Kevin's car.'
0:20:59 > 0:21:01So not one,
0:21:01 > 0:21:09- but two gigantic sheds, workshops. - No way.- Don't look in there. Look here. This one is even better.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11- Good grief.- Same size,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- but this one has a pit. - Oh, even better!
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- Ah, yes.- Incredible. - You'd never see me!
0:21:19 > 0:21:23So if you come in a bit. Mind the step.
0:21:23 > 0:21:29You can see the chassis of an old Volkswagen Beetle. So you get an idea of the scale of it.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- they have had six cars here and space to work.- Have they, really?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36You can see that, can't you, yeah?
0:21:36 > 0:21:41- And this is just one of them.- Yeah. - Next door is equally large.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46- What did they use next door for? - They had that as a home cinema. - Did they?!
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Absolutely. I'm speechless like you!
0:21:50 > 0:21:57'The cat may have got their tongues, but the grounds offer yet more money-earning potential
0:21:57 > 0:22:01'as there's a licence for five caravans to stay on-site.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05'And plenty of space for them to camp out in their own caravan.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10'Let's not forget that we do have a house for them to explore.'
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Come on in.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It's a very simple layout.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19You've got a little sitting room here with a log burner.
0:22:19 > 0:22:25- Right.- And through into the kitchen which goes out into the sun room, conservatory here.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27OK.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31- Yes, pretty, isn't it?- Yeah. Functional.- Yeah.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36Also when you come in, by law you have to have a cat kitchen.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41- Yes.- You have to have a kitchen to prepare their food. That is already there.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46- And a toilet and a little office for your business.- Is there more?
0:22:46 > 0:22:51- Or is that the living space? - No, there's a living room.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58Over this side, there's another good-sized sitting room.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04- Oh, that's nice. It's cosy. - That's a nice surprise.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09- Can you imagine the two of you living here?- Yes. I'm starting to feel that we can.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14- I felt at the gate that it felt right from the outside.- Yeah.
0:23:14 > 0:23:20Upstairs, this house gives them three bedrooms. They include a small single,
0:23:20 > 0:23:25a twin room and a bright double, all served by the family bathroom.
0:23:25 > 0:23:30'And now we've got the business, hobbies and accommodation sorted,
0:23:30 > 0:23:34'they just need to figure out what it's all worth.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:40- How much do you think it costs? - You go first this time. - I'll go first this time.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45I would go... with the business as well, the cattery business, 425.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49I'd put slightly more. 440.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55440. It's very interesting psychologically. You like this one more than the first one
0:23:55 > 0:24:00because you've over-guessed it here. This is on the market for 410.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02- OK.- Is it?
0:24:02 > 0:24:06So you would have some money to put into the cattery
0:24:06 > 0:24:11or the house or to do those few tweaks. I can things working out...
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Maybe explore into the second shed and go and say hello to the cats.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20- Then I'll see you out the front. - OK. Great, thank you.
0:24:22 > 0:24:28Aww. See, that's why I do this show. It's wonderful when you manage to get exactly what people want
0:24:28 > 0:24:30in one property for the right price!
0:24:31 > 0:24:32Aww!
0:24:36 > 0:24:40At £410,000, the second property does a remarkable job
0:24:40 > 0:24:47of delivering all of Kevin and Belinda's key elements and, what's more, comes in under budget.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53Along with a three-bedroom house for them, there are two huge timber out-houses,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55a mini-campsite
0:24:55 > 0:25:00and, most importantly, an up-and-running cattery business that can house up to 68 cats.
0:25:00 > 0:25:07Think you could find me in here? I could put my garage in here six times, couldn't I?
0:25:07 > 0:25:13- You could.- Yeah, easily. I'll have to get some more cars. Get some more cars!
0:25:13 > 0:25:19The house didn't jump out at first. We were looking more at the cattery, which is what we wanted.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24It looks superb. The way it's set up, the whole place,
0:25:24 > 0:25:29where you drive in and the cattery is in front of you, is exactly as we imagined it.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34The garage space is more than I ever imagined.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38It'll give me so much scope to do what I want to do. I'm so hampered,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42not to be able to expand to the car business I want to be in.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47It's a total surprise. I wasn't expecting an established cattery.
0:25:47 > 0:25:53It was a total surprise. I didn't think we could purchase one with our budget.
0:25:53 > 0:25:59The house is a little bit of a compromise area, if we were to go for this.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03The house is probably just a bit smaller than we thought.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08What do you think about the property market in Norfolk? Miaow.
0:26:08 > 0:26:09Catastrophic!
0:26:09 > 0:26:14- Hi, guys!- I see you're getting on with the locals.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18- Making friends! Are you still speechless?- Yes. It's fantastic.
0:26:18 > 0:26:25- That's good, right?- Yeah, it is. - We were not expecting to find an established business in our budget.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29And it has the added bonus of the campsite and workshop space.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Absolutely. What can I say? Great plot. Lovely place.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- It's purr-fect.- Ah!- Sorry!
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Let's get away from this before I tell more terrible cat jokes.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44We can decompress and think about what you've seen.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00Leaving our buyers to reflect on the two properties they've seen,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04the first day of our house hunt draws to a close.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15Kevin and Belinda want to quit their office jobs in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire,
0:27:15 > 0:27:23and with their £450,000 budget move to Norfolk to earn their living from cats and cars.
0:27:23 > 0:27:29So far they've seen two very different propositions that marry a home with business options.
0:27:29 > 0:27:36Still to come, we turn their wish list on its head with our mystery property.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40I think it's gorgeous to look at. Stunning.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45And I'll be sailing back through time on the marvellous Norfolk Broads.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53I think the English summer may have caught me a little underdressed.
0:27:53 > 0:28:00I was hoping for sunshine. But we have a mystery house that will put a cat among the pigeons.
0:28:00 > 0:28:06I'm not at all convinced that Belinda is really sold on this all business, no house.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Or a house that's not anything more than just functional.
0:28:09 > 0:28:15There were a couple of comments where I think she would quite like a period property
0:28:15 > 0:28:22or something a bit more stylish, so for the mystery house we've pulled out all the traditional stops.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Cattery? We'll have to see if we can squeeze that in somewhere.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33So day two. Have you reflected over the cattery?
0:28:33 > 0:28:38I think we're 75% there. Like we said, it's a strong contender.
0:28:38 > 0:28:44- I'm wondering if you've saved the best for last. - Intriguing.- Any guesses?
0:28:44 > 0:28:49Out this way, you think of a disused windmill
0:28:49 > 0:28:55- or an old boathouse.- That might not quite work with the cattery and a caravan.- No, maybe not!
0:28:57 > 0:29:01- We shall see. We're almost there. - Excellent.- The wait will be over.
0:29:01 > 0:29:05For our last property stop on this tour,
0:29:05 > 0:29:10we're travelling right down south to the village of Garboldisham.
0:29:10 > 0:29:16'The village contains a Post Office with a convenience store selling a range of groceries
0:29:16 > 0:29:21'and we head there first to find out more from Jan and Pauline.'
0:29:21 > 0:29:27- Hello, ladies.- Hello. - Kevin and Belinda are hoping to move into the area, maybe,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31depending on the next house. You run the heart of the village.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33- Very much so.- Helping to.
0:29:33 > 0:29:38Is all this produce made by local farms and local companies?
0:29:38 > 0:29:39All East Anglian.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44And the meat's local. Fresh meat and the frozen.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46- Norfolk County ice cream.- Yes.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51- I like baking. I noticed your cakes. Are they...?- They're local.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55A lady in the other side of Diss makes those.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00- Do you sell cat food?- Yes. - And we have a cat.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05They're thinking of setting up a cattery, so if you need a holiday.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09- Thanks very much for taking your time.- It's been a pleasure.
0:30:09 > 0:30:15After our quick pit stop at this cat-friendly local shop, it's mystery house time.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19- It's not a windmill! - No, it's not!
0:30:19 > 0:30:23- Thatched.- Thatched. - It's a beautiful cottage.
0:30:23 > 0:30:28- Kevin? Big sigh there. - I think it's gorgeous to look at.
0:30:28 > 0:30:34- Stunning.- And you may well have noticed a little something in the back garden.- I see that.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Which we will explore later!- OK.
0:30:37 > 0:30:43- I wanted something with character. - It has bags of that. - Wait until you see inside.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48I'd say that's the most positive reaction I've seen from them.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52Our mystery house is an 18th-century, Grade 2-listed farmhouse,
0:30:52 > 0:30:57which has been renovated to an exceptional standard.
0:30:57 > 0:31:03We're going in using the side door, via a utility and shower room that leads right into the kitchen.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09So into the very country kitchen. Lovely wooden surfaces throughout.
0:31:09 > 0:31:15- Yes.- Bespoke units. And round there you've got a very lovely dining room area.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20- A little alcove that goes through with double windows.- OK.
0:31:20 > 0:31:26- Is it your kind of kitchen, Belinda? - It's lovely.- It's surprisingly light considering it's an old property.
0:31:26 > 0:31:33- It IS light, isn't it?- Yeah. - Leading through into this space, which I think is really charming.
0:31:33 > 0:31:40It's a lovely open area for entertaining, dining. It's really sociable.
0:31:40 > 0:31:46- You do like to entertain. One of the drawbacks yesterday was not enough entertaining space?- Right.
0:31:46 > 0:31:51- Yeah, indeed.- Will this do it for you?- Yeah, this would be perfect.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Well, actually, there's a bit more.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01- Here we have another room. - Oh, wow.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04A very nice formal dining room.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08- And look at this great fireplace. - See that fireplace?
0:32:08 > 0:32:14- They've sandblasted the lintel. - This would be my dream country house.- That's what we want to hear.
0:32:14 > 0:32:20- You're looking slightly anxiously at Kevin.- I can just see the kittens swinging off the beams.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23I think they'd love it!
0:32:23 > 0:32:31- We need to go outside to talk about the cattery, but let's go upstairs. They've got bendy floors!- OK.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35'This charming mystery farmhouse has sent Belinda into a spin.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39'Let's hope the historic bones upstairs seduce her even further.'
0:32:39 > 0:32:45- Very tight, these stairs. Might take a little bit of practice. - A pleasant challenge!
0:32:45 > 0:32:49- It's like going upside on a ship. - Good grief.- Yes.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54- This is where you notice the age of the property.- Yeah.- Tight stairs.
0:32:54 > 0:33:01- Very slopey floors.- It is, isn't it? - Do you like it or...? - Initially, I love it.
0:33:01 > 0:33:09- Yeah, it just... - The bedroom reminds me of going to a country house hotel.- Yeah.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14- In here, you've essentially got two bedrooms and one of them has an en-suite.- Oh.
0:33:14 > 0:33:19- It's a little bit tricky with the bathroom. There's no family bathroom as it stands.- OK.
0:33:19 > 0:33:25So this is the house. You've already sniffed out the secret in the garden. If you had guests,
0:33:25 > 0:33:29they wouldn't have to use this shower.
0:33:29 > 0:33:35'The farmhouse has been presented immaculately throughout and guests will be equally spoilt
0:33:35 > 0:33:39'in the detached annexe which they could make into a holiday let.'
0:33:39 > 0:33:45This is a huge asset to this property. It's a beautifully-finished holiday let.
0:33:45 > 0:33:51Two lovely bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom and a lovely space downstairs.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55- And obviously a great location. - Yeah, beautiful.- It's very nice.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- Very nicely done.- Very, very nice.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02It's a slightly smaller plot. It's 0.83 of an acre.
0:34:02 > 0:34:10Around here you've got a veggie garden, protected by this hedge. Now I have the idea what a cattery is,
0:34:10 > 0:34:15you could perhaps put a small one there and spread it as and when.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20- OK.- What do you think this is on the market for?- I don't think we can afford this.- No.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22470.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28You stole my thunder there. I'll go 465.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32This is on the market for... £449,500.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36- Is it really? - So you have £500 to play with!
0:34:36 > 0:34:42- It's the second contender. - I want you to go and look inside this beautiful holiday let.
0:34:42 > 0:34:48I think that's going to wow you. Have a look around, see if you can squeeze a cattery in as well.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52- And I'll see you out the front. - OK, thank you.- Off you go.
0:34:52 > 0:34:56Result! The mystery house stirred up the pot. Fantastic!
0:34:56 > 0:35:02Everyone thought it was all plain sailing with the cattery, but no, the thatch has done it.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Love that.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09Just shy of their £450,000 budget,
0:35:09 > 0:35:14the mystery property is a beautiful, Grade 2-listed, thatched farmhouse
0:35:14 > 0:35:20that comes with a large kitchen/breakfast room, two separate reception rooms
0:35:20 > 0:35:25and a detached two-bedroom annexe, which could be turned into a holiday let.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29The plot extends to around 0.75 of an acre,
0:35:29 > 0:35:35so with the correct planning consent, there's scope for them to house both cats and cars.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42- Oh, look at this.- Oh!
0:35:45 > 0:35:49- It's a lot bigger in here than it looks outside.- It is, isn't it?
0:35:49 > 0:35:55There's room for a kitchen area. You could make it a self-contained place. Plenty of space.
0:35:55 > 0:36:01A thatch. That was my first thought. It was one of the things that we didn't want to have.
0:36:01 > 0:36:08But it struck me with its stunningly beautiful... You couldn't fault the look of it.
0:36:08 > 0:36:13It's a chocolate box little house, isn't it? It's beautiful.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17We always spoke about a character home. That's just full of charm.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19It's beautiful inside.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24Oh, I thought what a beautiful house! A beautiful country house.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28I did see the thatched roof. It's a little chocolate box cottage. Beautiful.
0:36:28 > 0:36:35I didn't think I'd ever be able to aspire to own one, but it would be within our budget again.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39I think we've induced a full-scale dilemma of house buyers here.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42- Hello!- Hi!
0:36:42 > 0:36:45Your head full of the cottage?
0:36:45 > 0:36:50- Full of thatches!- I bet you weren't expecting to say that sentence.- No!
0:36:50 > 0:36:56- Last thing.- Right, let's go away so you have a bit of perspective to think about all the houses.
0:37:05 > 0:37:13150 years ago, the broadland waters of Norfolk would have been silhouetted with the sails
0:37:13 > 0:37:19of numerous vessels known as wherries, carrying cargo from the coast into the port of Norwich.
0:37:19 > 0:37:26The arrival of the railway network from the early 19th century marked the demise of trading wherries,
0:37:26 > 0:37:33but enterprising owners converted many of them into pleasure boats to carry holidaymakers.
0:37:33 > 0:37:39It was, however, the advent of the motorboat that eventually signalled the end of the wherries.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42Today only eight survive.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47So I've come to Wroxham to meet volunteers from the Wherry Yacht Charitable Trust,
0:37:47 > 0:37:52who are working hard to save and restore the last few remaining examples.
0:37:52 > 0:37:59'Hathor is a pleasure wherry built back in 1905 and now skippered by Peter Bower.'
0:37:59 > 0:38:03What a beautiful old boat! So this is a wherry.
0:38:03 > 0:38:09- What makes a Norfolk wherry? - The distinguishing feature, I suppose, of the Norfolk wherry
0:38:09 > 0:38:17is the fact that they had a single sail with a mast that's counter-balanced to come down easily
0:38:17 > 0:38:21so the boat can get through the numerous bridges
0:38:21 > 0:38:27- and be easily handled by two people, a skipper and a mate. - Hathor needs some love and care.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33- Any chance of getting White Moth on the water?- I suppose there's a chance we might just manage.
0:38:33 > 0:38:40'While Peter gets White Moth ready to sail, trustee Andrew Scull shows me the boats being restored.'
0:38:40 > 0:38:45- I'm assuming this is one of the ones you're working on.- It is indeed. This is Olive.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50We pulled Olive out onto the slipway here about three or four weeks ago
0:38:50 > 0:38:55and she's very much at the early stages of her restoration.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00'Dean Howard is an apprentice volunteer, working to get Olive ship-shape once again.'
0:39:00 > 0:39:05- What are you doing here?- We're just taking out the old planking.
0:39:05 > 0:39:12- It's wooden hull. This is all... That's a bit soft. Will it be repaired?- Yeah, that will be.
0:39:12 > 0:39:18- Presumably, modern boat-building doesn't involve so much wood. - No, a lot is fibreglass now.
0:39:18 > 0:39:23Basically, plastic hulls. Yeah, this is definitely more traditional.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27- We're using the same skills as 100 years ago.- Amazing.
0:39:27 > 0:39:32'At 58 feet in length, with a sleek white hull,
0:39:32 > 0:39:36'White Moth was one of the later wherry yachts built.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41'Originally launched in 1915 and now restored to its full sailing glory,
0:39:41 > 0:39:48'it's a wonderful sight to see her back on the Broads, keeping East Anglia's cultural heritage alive.
0:39:50 > 0:39:56'And though it's most definitely a pleasure to enjoy a journey along Norfolk's beautiful broads,
0:39:56 > 0:40:01'we do have the pressing matter of property to get back to on dry land.'
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Good work on the Broads and from the Wherry Yacht Charter Trust,
0:40:07 > 0:40:14but I have to hang up my safety jacket and find out what Belinda and Kevin are thinking about our houses.
0:40:18 > 0:40:25It's been fun showing you around, but also interesting to see how your priorities have shifted somewhat.
0:40:25 > 0:40:31Maybe we could talk about the three houses in order. There was a little story arc that came out.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35The first house had a lot of business potential,
0:40:35 > 0:40:40but maybe not the style you were looking for?
0:40:40 > 0:40:45I think it was more the amount of work in order to get it to a position
0:40:45 > 0:40:50- where we could start earning income. - And the time that would then take.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54It really made that not feasible for us.
0:40:54 > 0:41:00- The second house gave you a lot on the business front.- It had the cattery. That was fantastic.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04An established business already. That was fantastic.
0:41:04 > 0:41:08The scope for car work for you, classic cars, was fabulous as well.
0:41:08 > 0:41:15But we wanted a house with some character. That was a reason to move down here and we just felt
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- that the house was... - It didn't grip us.
0:41:18 > 0:41:24Such a shame because the grounds that it stood in were superb.
0:41:24 > 0:41:30- Then you saw the mystery house! - When we saw it, well, a thatch first of all...
0:41:30 > 0:41:34- But I don't know. I think it swung us a bit, didn't it?- It did.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39- Especially with the holiday let, which was just superb.- Fabulous.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43Yeah, yeah. And, of course, the land it had with it
0:41:43 > 0:41:47which lent itself to a small cattery in the corner, maybe.
0:41:47 > 0:41:52If you had the cash in the bank, would you buy the mystery house?
0:41:54 > 0:41:59- Would we get our chequebook out here and now? We're too sensible for that, I think.- Oh...
0:41:59 > 0:42:02We'd have to go away for a few days and discuss it.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06I think for me the house was always, to a degree, quite important.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10When Kev said it wasn't important, a little part of me went,
0:42:10 > 0:42:15"Maybe it is important." And I think that's now become clear.
0:42:15 > 0:42:20- It has to me.- To you, too, now. - Yeah, more so. More so.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22So we did our job.
0:42:22 > 0:42:28- 100%.- Yes.- It showed us some things that we didn't like and some things that we did like.
0:42:28 > 0:42:35- So now you have to sell your house. - We do.- Buy a cattery. I'll buy a cat and come and lodge with you.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38You're welcome to visit any time.
0:42:42 > 0:42:48I think we can give ourselves a pat on the back for our work here in a not very summery Norfolk
0:42:48 > 0:42:53because not only did we manage to give Belinda and Kevin their feline fantasy here,
0:42:53 > 0:43:00but also we managed to shake it all up a bit and get them to ask themselves, "What is more important?
0:43:00 > 0:43:03"House for the cats or house for ourselves?"
0:43:03 > 0:43:07That's the sort of thing we do very well on Escape To The Country.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11Make sure you join us next time for more of our sterling work.
0:43:11 > 0:43:17Much to our surprise, Kevin and Belinda actually decided to make an offer on property two -
0:43:17 > 0:43:24the cattery - once they've sold their house. So fingers crossed that that happens quickly.
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0:43:30 > 0:43:32please apply online:
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