0:00:00 > 0:00:02This cutting edge structure behind me
0:00:02 > 0:00:07holds the record-breaking title of being the largest single-span glasshouse in the world.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12Find out where it is and what it's protecting in just a moment.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35On today's show, I'm helping a couple with a big business idea
0:00:35 > 0:00:38find a home and enough land to live off.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40One property leaves them tongue-tied.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Absolutely stunning!
0:00:43 > 0:00:48This doesn't happen very often, but I don't quite know what to say!
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And there are some surprises in store.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53I don't think I can say any more!
0:00:53 > 0:00:57It really is just not what I expected at all!
0:01:00 > 0:01:04Today, I'm in South Wales at the country's National Botanic Garden in Carmarthenshire.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08This incredible glasshouse that forms the centrepiece of this site
0:01:08 > 0:01:11was designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14whose trademark glass and steel designs
0:01:14 > 0:01:17are more commonly found in the form of urban buildings and airports.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20It's home to nearly 1,000 species of plant,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23many of which grow nowhere else in the world.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29Later on, I'll be taking a close-up look at the many ways in which the science of plants
0:01:29 > 0:01:30is breaking new ground.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34But first, let's take a look at the region's other natural highlights.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43The South Wales region covers counties including Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in the west
0:01:43 > 0:01:48but stretching to the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire in the east.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53It's a landscape of hills and valleys, once home to Britain's coal industry,
0:01:53 > 0:01:58whose former industrial sites have now returned to their natural habitats.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Dominating the region is the Brecon Beacons National Park
0:02:01 > 0:02:04with its long mountain ranges and open moorland.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07It covers an area almost the size of Greater London.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11You're never too far from the sea in South Wales
0:02:11 > 0:02:14and the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the area's highlights
0:02:14 > 0:02:18with over 180 miles of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches
0:02:18 > 0:02:21and pretty fishing villages such as Saundersfoot.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26From the haunting beauty of the hills marked by the mining industry,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28to stunning shoreline,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31it's this blend of historic character and awe-inspiring scenery
0:02:31 > 0:02:36that makes South Wales such a compelling reason for aspiring escapees.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46When it comes to house-buying, Wales as a whole offers great value for money.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51The average price for a detached house here is just shy of £178,000.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54If you focus on the southern region,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57coastal areas such as Pembrokeshire do attract a premium.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00For example, the popular seaside towns of Tenby and Saundersfoot,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03which are always a hit with holidaymakers.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07However, the property landscape does get cheaper by up to 10 per cent
0:03:07 > 0:03:11if you venture inland to outlying rural areas around towns like Carmarthen.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16Which is certainly worth bearing in mind, as today's buyers are after a lot of space.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22For the last decade, Darren, Kasia and their nine-year-old son Neo
0:03:22 > 0:03:26have lived in this two-bed terraced house in south-east London.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30But the hectic pace of the capital is no longer for them.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34London just seems to have grown even more
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and got a lot faster
0:03:36 > 0:03:40and just got a little bit more unpleasant.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44So we just think the time is right now
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- whilst we're still relatively young...- Fairly young!
0:03:47 > 0:03:53- Fairly young! ..to enjoy the wilds of the countryside.- That's right.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Kasia, who's originally from Poland,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58is studying to be a quantity surveyor,
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and Darren works as a university administrator.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I came to this country 14 years ago
0:04:04 > 0:04:08and was initially working in a bar
0:04:08 > 0:04:14where I met Darren during his after-work entertainment!
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Not that kind of bar!
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Yes, and we met through work,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23I could say.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26The couple have set their sights on South Wales,
0:04:26 > 0:04:30which will hopefully offer enough space to develop a new animal breeding business.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Once we're there, we want to start to raise alpacas.
0:04:34 > 0:04:40So as a result of that, we need to have quite a substantial amount of land,
0:04:40 > 0:04:43'decent outbuildings, that sort of thing.'
0:04:43 > 0:04:50We're hoping to make the alpaca business, as such, a livelihood, eventually.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55But it'll be administrator Darren who'll be getting his hands dirty to begin with.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00The plan is that Kasia will remain working in London
0:05:00 > 0:05:03and come home at weekends.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07And my son and myself will be there permanently
0:05:07 > 0:05:12with me running and establishing the business
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and hopefully it all works out
0:05:15 > 0:05:18and Kasia can hang up her boots, as it were.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Yay! My ruler!
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Your ruler, yes.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Darren and Kasia aren't the only ones who will benefit from the move.
0:05:26 > 0:05:33I'm hoping also that Neo will embrace the whole kind of countryside
0:05:33 > 0:05:36and getting really involved in nature.
0:05:36 > 0:05:42He currently does Scouts and he'll have hopefully the full range of mountains to explore and stuff.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44As well as the land for alpacas,
0:05:44 > 0:05:48the property search needs to take account of the other love in Darren's life.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54I currently have a 1976 MG Midget convertible.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58So it's really important that I have a garage
0:05:58 > 0:06:00in order to house my baby.
0:06:00 > 0:06:06I'm really looking forward to just driving it around the country lanes.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I think it's what she was made for, really!
0:06:09 > 0:06:11So I'm looking forward to that.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14All that's left is to find out how much money
0:06:14 > 0:06:16is steering the move.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18The budget for the new property
0:06:18 > 0:06:21will be £400,000.
0:06:21 > 0:06:27We would be prepared to stretch that to £430,000
0:06:27 > 0:06:31but the property would need to tick all the boxes.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Darren and Kasia are flexible on specific areas.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40But we're concentrating our South Wales property search
0:06:40 > 0:06:43in the more rural counties of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45as they offer more scope for land.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I've come to Pembrokeshire to meet Darren and Kasia,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50to finalise the details of their move.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53I say welcome to Wales and the countryside,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55but you've definitely come equipped. Look at that hat!
0:06:55 > 0:06:57It's quite something, isn't it?
0:06:57 > 0:07:01So we're in Wales. Why are we in Wales today?
0:07:01 > 0:07:06We have been thinking about moving to the country for a while.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10And we thought, "What can we do when we're here?"
0:07:10 > 0:07:12as we're still of working age.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16I came home one day and said to Kasia, "Alpacas!"
0:07:16 > 0:07:18Why alpacas?
0:07:18 > 0:07:22Having looked into it slightly, alpacas are supposedly
0:07:22 > 0:07:28one of the easiest animals to get into for city slickers like us.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Let's focus on your home.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32What are you expecting? Kasia?
0:07:32 > 0:07:35What are we expecting? Well, what we're hoping for...
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I prefer "expecting", but go on!
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Expecting, OK. Let's go with the expectations.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44- A four-bedroomed house. - Four-bedroomed house.- Yes.
0:07:44 > 0:07:51With a lovely country kitchen, a snug, a fireplace.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Right. So this is an old property?
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Definitely a period property.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59How much land would you like to be attached to this house?
0:07:59 > 0:08:04I would want something that can grow with us.
0:08:04 > 0:08:10So I'm hoping that we can get something that has got enough land to start us off small,
0:08:10 > 0:08:17and we can grow with that and then retire gracefully, kind of looking over our vista, as it were.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20So minimum amount of land, Kasia?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- 15 acres.- 15 acres.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Using your budget wisely,
0:08:24 > 0:08:29there's more value long-term, I think, in buying a decent-sized house
0:08:29 > 0:08:32with renting land, rather than vice-versa.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37So maybe some land with other land nearby could be an option if we're going to push the house.
0:08:37 > 0:08:38- Definitely.- Sounds like a plan.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42So, three properties. Let's get started. This way.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49For a maximum budget of £430,000,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Darren and Kasia want a cosy family home
0:08:52 > 0:08:54ideally with period features.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01But the success of our property search will depend on the land.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06They want a minimum of 15 acres for the alpaca business.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08We've found three wonderful Welsh properties
0:09:08 > 0:09:12and at each one, I'll be asking our couple to guess the price at the end of the tour.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15The final property is our mystery house,
0:09:15 > 0:09:19which could challenge Darren and Kasia's commitment to self-sufficiency.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28Kasia, you're going to be working in London, initially.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Quite some commute.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32It is what it is, and it's going to have to happen
0:09:32 > 0:09:35so I've made my peace with that.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37You're open-minded with regard to commute times.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- Yeah.- This is great!
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Our first house is located on a smallholding
0:09:48 > 0:09:50five miles from the village of Roch
0:09:50 > 0:09:52in the county of Pembrokeshire.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Roch, which means "the rock" in Welsh
0:09:54 > 0:09:58is a small settlement which dates back to Norman times
0:09:58 > 0:10:01when a castle, now a luxury hotel, was first established here.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Amenities in the village include pubs and shops
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and there's also a primary school.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10The Pembrokeshire coastal path is just a short drive away.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16So, the first property, through this gate,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18is straight ahead of us, right here.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21KASIA GIGGLES
0:10:21 > 0:10:22Ooh!
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Ooh! It looks very promising!
0:10:24 > 0:10:26- Yeah?- Yep!
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I've been very much looking forward to you seeing this
0:10:30 > 0:10:33because first thing this morning when we were going through your list,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37I was thinking, "House one, house one, house one."
0:10:37 > 0:10:39So let's talk about it.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41House one. First impressions,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- it's very pretty.- Very picturesque!
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I like the setting.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49So we'll discuss the outside later.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51But it's fair to say what you see is what you get.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54But let's have a look inside first, shall we?
0:10:54 > 0:10:56- Let's!- Just this way.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01'We're bypassing the front door of our period farmhouse
0:11:01 > 0:11:04'and heading straight to an extension at the back of the property,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08'which houses a utility room containing the white goods for the kitchen.'
0:11:10 > 0:11:11So, through a small utility room
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and then, like most farmhouses, straight into the kitchen.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- It's lovely.- Who does most of the cooking?
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- It's going to be Darren. - It's probably going to be me.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27And cooking more than just spaghetti bolognese,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31as my son seems to think that's all we're going to live on when we get here!
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Sounds OK to me!
0:11:32 > 0:11:34But it's great.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- It works.- There's a lot of counter space.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39As regards to other things you may be used to,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43you have a downstairs bathroom here, OK?
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- Right.- To some people that could be a deal-breaker.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50- Am I looking at such people?- Um... - You're looking at such a person, potentially!
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Potentially such a person.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55But just bear that in mind. Let's keep looking.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01So, the living room. Now we're moving into the old part of the house here.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04OK? What do you think?
0:12:04 > 0:12:10- Um...- It's cosy.- It's very cosy. - Very cosy. Very warm feeling.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13What I like about this, it's not your old-fashioned posh dining room.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18- There's this flow that you want. - Yes.- It's country... A country house.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- It's very deceiving as well, the whole space.- It adds character.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Let's look upstairs.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28The downstairs of the farmhouse can essentially be divided into two.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The other half of the house is essentially self-contained
0:12:37 > 0:12:38with its own separate entrance
0:12:38 > 0:12:41and could be useful for when the family come to stay
0:12:41 > 0:12:44or as potential holiday let accommodation.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46The annexe contains a single and double bedroom
0:12:46 > 0:12:48as well as an extra sitting room.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51'We're heading upstairs, where there are two further bedrooms.'
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Now, this part of the house is the only part with two storeys.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00And it gives you two bedrooms.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02- Right.- Two doubles.- Yep.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Now, you said there might be an issue
0:13:05 > 0:13:09for you not having a bathroom on the same level as your bedroom.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12- Possibly.- That would be me. - Possibly.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15OK. Well, you've got a walk-in wardrobe there
0:13:15 > 0:13:19with the potential to be converted to an en-suite.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20- A-ha.- Right.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23So far, how does this house feel to you?
0:13:23 > 0:13:28I like the style. The room sizes downstairs, I liked very much.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30They seem to be working. They make sense.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32They're not massive spaces
0:13:32 > 0:13:34but they work.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36- It feels very cosy.- Yeah.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41I'm kind of getting my head around the configuration.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Hopefully this has given you plenty to think about.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Let's go outside and have a look at the land
0:13:46 > 0:13:49and then maybe come back and refresh your minds later on. OK?
0:13:49 > 0:13:50Thank you.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55'Despite Darren's reservations about its unconventional layout,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58'the interior tour of our first property is going well.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02'But let's not forget, this move is also about starting an alpaca business
0:14:02 > 0:14:04'As well as the main farmhouse,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07'this smallholding features a range of outbuildings
0:14:07 > 0:14:10'which could provide shelter for the animals and storage.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13'But alpacas also need space.
0:14:13 > 0:14:14'And there's plenty of that here.'
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Now, then.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Land.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- That looks rather lovely!- Lovely!
0:14:23 > 0:14:27So, let me explain what we have here.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29You've got this field here, the field beyond,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32and then a field of similar size
0:14:32 > 0:14:34the other side of that hedgerow.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37You've got 18 acres of pasture land.
0:14:37 > 0:14:38BOTH LAUGH
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- I'm smiling!- I'm lost for words!
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- I'm smiling!- It looks grand!
0:14:43 > 0:14:46So how do you price it? Who wants to go first?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- Ladies first!- Oh, right! - A true gentleman(!)
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Charming!
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Well, I would say...
0:14:55 > 0:14:57I'd put it at 400.
0:14:57 > 0:15:03- 400.- Yeah. - And I'm going to go at 389...
0:15:03 > 0:15:05950.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10I'm putting these guesses down to being rather green
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and rather ambitious!
0:15:14 > 0:15:16This place is on the market
0:15:16 > 0:15:19for offers around £425,000.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Right. Uh-huh.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24So looking at what places sell at,
0:15:24 > 0:15:26and what places are priced at,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30- there's every chance you could get it within your budget.- Sure.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- You've got to get back in the house and look at the other rooms.- Sure.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35This is one property that gives you the flexibility.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- I'll catch you whenever you're ready.- Lovely.- Thank you.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Our first house is just under Darren and Kasia's maximum budget.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56As well as the main reception rooms...
0:16:04 > 0:16:07First impression, looking at it from the outside,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09absolutely beautiful.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Picturesque. Lovely.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15I loved the house. I thought it was functional.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Everything was in the right place.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21The downside would be that it wasn't quite as large
0:16:21 > 0:16:26as I think I originally had the vision in my mind.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28What can I say about the land?
0:16:28 > 0:16:30It's absolutely breathtaking.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35- How did you get on? OK? - Yes.- Good. Enjoyed it.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- Good.- It was nice.- Well, property number one done.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40- Let's go to the second one.- OK.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Darren has already been on a crash course in alpaca farming,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59but Kasia has little experience dealing with the woolly animals.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02The alpaca hails from South America.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05Their fleeces are often compared to cashmere in quality,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and money can be made by turning the luxury fibre into clothing.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Selling the raw fleece alone
0:17:11 > 0:17:13could fetch up to £90 per animal.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Although alpacas are hardy creatures,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18they do need hands-on day-to-day care.
0:17:18 > 0:17:23We sent Darren and alpaca novice Kasia to find out what's involved
0:17:23 > 0:17:25from established breeders, Brian and Patricia Cobbold.
0:17:25 > 0:17:31Guys, tell me, how often do you need to shear an alpaca?
0:17:31 > 0:17:36Just once a year. Normally they're done in summertime,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38so end of May, June, July.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42They're not as keen on that procedure much?
0:17:42 > 0:17:44They don't really like being handled.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46They like to be free and running.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49They're fine like this, but when you want to catch them, whoa!
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- You've got to hold their neck and that's their fighting instrument, their neck.- Sure.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58What's your daily routine as regards to having a herd of alpacas?
0:17:58 > 0:18:00We get up at eight o'clock, the crack of dawn!
0:18:00 > 0:18:08We get up and have breakfast and come out here for 9.15, 9.30.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12The alpacas are waiting, so they've brought themselves in.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Patricia mixes up the food into the big bucket
0:18:16 > 0:18:20and they'll disappear when they're ready. They carry on munching on the green stuff.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23'But alpacas need land.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26'One acre for every four animals is the industry standard.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29'As well as attending to the alpacas on a daily basis,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33'Darren and Kasia will also need to round up their herd for vaccinations
0:18:33 > 0:18:36'and the occasional pedicure.'
0:18:37 > 0:18:40If you want to come in, Darren, and hold her head, just like that.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Don't be frightened of her. She's not going to hurt you.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47If you want to come in, I'll show you how to do these feet.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Brilliant.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52So you pick it up like that and bend it towards you.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56- And then, you see the pad?- Yeah.
0:18:56 > 0:19:03You just want to really trim along there like that.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Do you know how far to cut? Are there no nerves like...
0:19:06 > 0:19:08cats and dogs sort of thing?
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Yeah, you've just got to be very careful when you're doing it.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Gently, gently is the approach I would use.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16That's it. Just lift it up, gently.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Good girl, good girl, good girl.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27'Kasia's first hands-on encounter with an alpaca
0:19:27 > 0:19:29'has gone without incident.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33'But let's see if we can find our buyers somewhere to start their own herd
0:19:33 > 0:19:35'as we get back to the property hunt.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46'For our second property, we're heading 45 miles north-east
0:19:46 > 0:19:49and hopping over the border into the county of Ceredigion
0:19:49 > 0:19:51'to the village of Ffostrasol.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55'Ffostrasol is a small village, but with a good range of local amenities
0:19:55 > 0:19:59'including shops, a decent-sized pub and a village hall.'
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Try for a moment to put this view to one side
0:20:03 > 0:20:06and look at the house, if you possibly can!
0:20:06 > 0:20:08BOTH LAUGH
0:20:08 > 0:20:11- It's hard, you know? - It's all about that, isn't it?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- It's stunning!- Wow!
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Absolutely stunning!
0:20:16 > 0:20:18This doesn't happen very often,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21but I don't quite know what to say!
0:20:21 > 0:20:23This is the house.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28A very small part of it dates back to the mid- to late-Victorian times.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29But, to all intents and purposes,
0:20:29 > 0:20:34it's been built on. 25 years ago and another part nine years ago.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36What do you think of the location?
0:20:37 > 0:20:41- Heaven!- Heaven?- Without a doubt. - Good.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Well, now, the house has to match up to it, doesn't it?
0:20:44 > 0:20:46- It would be nice! - Let's see what you think. Come on.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52'So the setting of our second property gets a big thumbs up.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56'And I'm pretty sure the interior of this vast chalet-style house
0:20:56 > 0:20:58'won't disappoint.'
0:20:58 > 0:21:00So, first of all, here's your kitchen area.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02But just like the view,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05you just want to get through here as quick as possible!
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Oh!
0:21:09 > 0:21:10Yeah?
0:21:10 > 0:21:13So, dining room,
0:21:13 > 0:21:17- a further living room beyond there as well.- Right.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19What's going through your mind?
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Wow!- Yes?- I honestly don't know what to say!
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- And that doesn't happen very often! - It doesn't happen very often!
0:21:25 > 0:21:27You were speechless outside. You are inside!
0:21:29 > 0:21:32- It's a good sign, right?- Yeah!
0:21:33 > 0:21:36'The house is essentially divided into two self-contained wings,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38'each with separate staircases.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40'As well as the main reception rooms,
0:21:40 > 0:21:45'the ground floor of the first wing also includes a potential home for Darren's beloved sports car
0:21:45 > 0:21:46'and a garden room.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49'Upstairs in this wing are two double bedrooms.'
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Now, then.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54One double room there.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58One double room here, right?
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Wait till you see this!
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Well, that's a bit of an en-suite!
0:22:05 > 0:22:11In not many en-suites will you get a seat, a chair and a chaise-longue!
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Now, obviously this is one option
0:22:13 > 0:22:16of you just having the whole lot, this whole floor to yourself.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20But there's also another option for you.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22And I think your son Neo might be fighting over it!
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Let's go and take a look.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28The first floor of the other wing of the property
0:22:28 > 0:22:31is where you'll find the third bedroom in the house.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Behind this door, a potential walk-in wardrobe.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Then you've got this room!
0:22:39 > 0:22:41KASIA GIGGLES
0:22:42 > 0:22:44- Wow!- I love it!- Yes?
0:22:44 > 0:22:46And if you needed more reception rooms,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49directly below we've got a lovely reception room
0:22:49 > 0:22:51with a balcony going out
0:22:51 > 0:22:53at ground floor level,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55making the most of that view again.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- Happy?- I'm very happy!
0:22:57 > 0:23:00You do look happy!
0:23:00 > 0:23:02I don't think I can say any more!
0:23:02 > 0:23:07It really is just not what I expected at all.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- Good.- That's a good thing. - Excellent.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Let's go and have a look at the land.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- OK.- And start thinking about how much this house might be on the market for.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17All right?
0:23:18 > 0:23:22'The interior tour of our second property couldn't have gone any better.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24'But with the alpaca business in mind,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28'I'm keen to show Darren and Kasia the extensive grounds that come with this smallholding.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31'And although 12.5 acres might sound a lot,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34'it is slightly less than they originally wanted.'
0:23:36 > 0:23:38So, land.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Land.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44You've got this field here.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49You can't really see, but it goes all the way across that valley,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52you get the stream and you also get some woodland the other side of the stream.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55And then you've got a few acres the other side of that hedgerow
0:23:55 > 0:23:57where you've got two small paddocks
0:23:57 > 0:24:01and some amazing planting - basically, a nursery - that side.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06- This is self-sufficiency and then some.- Right.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Well, seeing as I was so very far out the last time,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15this little slice of heaven
0:24:15 > 0:24:21would probably come in at about £435,000.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- OK.- I'd say 430.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27This house with its land
0:24:27 > 0:24:32is on the market for offers around £395,000.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35You're joking!
0:24:35 > 0:24:36Wow!
0:24:36 > 0:24:40- OK.- Go back into the house and have a look at all the rooms you haven't yet seen.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44I'll meet you wherever and whenever you're ready.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- Lovely.- Great.- Thank you. - Catch you later on.- Cheers.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52That's more like it, isn't it? Fantastic reactions
0:24:52 > 0:24:57to, let's face it, a fantastic property in this beautiful location.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01But it's also what they're after. It gives them the practicality
0:25:01 > 0:25:05but it also gives them the room to be individual,
0:25:05 > 0:25:06which is what it's all about.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Our second property is under Darren and Kasia's budget.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Located in a quiet setting...
0:25:27 > 0:25:30..one or two of which could be turned into additional bedrooms.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37..three-quarters of which is already divided into grazing paddocks.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41This is an interesting space.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46It is interesting. I'm guessing this may have been a garage.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50- And it's been converted into a living space.- Yeah.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52It's amazing.
0:25:52 > 0:25:59When we walked up to the house, it was very difficult to gauge,
0:25:59 > 0:26:01obviously, what we were coming into.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03And as we rounded the corner,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07and that amazing view has opened up,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10well, it just absolutely took our breath away.
0:26:10 > 0:26:16When we actually got into the house, it just kept delivering and delivering and delivering!
0:26:16 > 0:26:21It had space, it had just about everything that we wanted.
0:26:21 > 0:26:27Incredible views. Inside the house, very good.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33There is not really an awful lot I can say didn't work for myself.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35It's out of this world!
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Now, then, you're both still smiling. That has to be a good thing.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Did you enjoy that?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43- Very much so.- Fabulous.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- It's been a great day from my point of view. You?- Yes.- Same here.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Good. Let's go.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01It's day two of our property search
0:27:01 > 0:27:04and, on a maximum budget of £430,000,
0:27:04 > 0:27:08we're helping Darren and Kasia swap south London for South Wales.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12Coming up, we may need to try harder with our mystery house.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16- Wow.- It doesn't look very mysterious!- No?
0:27:16 > 0:27:20And I need a steady hand to save one of Wales's rarest species.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Remember, these are extinct in the wild, so no pressure!
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Natasha, you shouldn't have said that!
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Well, two great properties in the bag from yesterday.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36So I'm really looking forward to pushing the boundaries with Darren and Kasia this morning
0:27:36 > 0:27:38with the mystery house.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43Now, character-wise, size-wise, the mystery property has them both in spades.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46But guess what? All that comes at a price.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48They'll need to be flexible with this one.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50First, on the proximity of neighbours
0:27:50 > 0:27:53but also, I think they'll both need to think laterally
0:27:53 > 0:27:54about the amount of land it comes with.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Let's see how we get on.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06For the mystery house, we're travelling back into Pembrokeshire
0:28:06 > 0:28:08to the village of Glandwr
0:28:08 > 0:28:10on the edge of the county's coastal National Park.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15Darren and Kasia are determined to establish a smallholding here in South Wales
0:28:15 > 0:28:17that will sustain them for years to come.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21With that in mind, we're making a detour on the way to our third house
0:28:21 > 0:28:25to visit Britain's first self-sufficient eco village, called Lammas.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27With backing from the Welsh government,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30nine families have upped sticks to the countryside
0:28:30 > 0:28:33to build their own environmentally friendly dwellings
0:28:33 > 0:28:34and to live off the land.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37We're meeting resident Paul Wimbush.
0:28:38 > 0:28:43Any tips you would give someone moving from the city to this part of South Wales?
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Just do it! Just go for it! Just go for it!
0:28:47 > 0:28:49We've got families here
0:28:49 > 0:28:52who moved here with no experience of building,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54no experience of growing food,
0:28:54 > 0:28:57no experience of living in a rural place like this
0:28:57 > 0:29:00who have just gone for it, and they're absolutely thriving.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03So, you know. Yeah, just do it.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07Would it be possible for us to generate an income?
0:29:07 > 0:29:10You're never going to be millionaires.
0:29:10 > 0:29:16You know, working the land and producing goods from the land,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19it is, you know, it is hard work
0:29:19 > 0:29:20and there's not a huge amount of money
0:29:20 > 0:29:22and it is totally possible.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Paul, thank you very much. The best of luck with this.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28- You're half-way through this project now?- Half-way through the set-up phase.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30- I look forward to coming back when it's done.- Good.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32- Shall we go? Thanks, Paul. - Thank you.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35- Good luck!- Thanks!
0:29:38 > 0:29:42And so it's on to our mystery house, just a short drive away.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Now, if we just go round here,
0:29:47 > 0:29:48to get a better look at it.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53The mystery house is that.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58- Wow!- It doesn't look very mysterious!- No?
0:29:58 > 0:30:03- It looks, to me, a little bit Victorian from the outside.- Sure.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06But it's not. This dates back to 1786.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09It looks like it's 100 or so years old.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12I know you like the idea of living in the middle of nowhere.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Well, Lammas, where we've just been, is just over those fields.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19You're going to be part of a bit of a community here.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21- What do you think?- It's beautiful. - It's lovely.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25I like this, the grounds here.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27Let's see what you think of inside first, shall we?
0:30:27 > 0:30:29- Lovely.- Let's do it.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34'So, in buying our 18th-century mystery house,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37'Darren and Kasia would become part of the nearby eco community.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41'But let's take a look at where they might entertain their new neighbours.'
0:30:43 > 0:30:44Now, then.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- Ooh!- Ooh! Ooh!
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I couldn't wait for you to see this.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53- Now I see why!- Yep.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56Everything you see in here, everything's bespoke in here.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58So if you look through into the kitchen,
0:30:58 > 0:31:03you'll see a beautifully hand-made bespoke kitchen.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- Oh!- Screams country.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08It's fabulous.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Well, if you're giggling, that means you're happy!
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- I know this now!- I can't hide it, yeah.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14I'd like to see more.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16Let's show you. Just this way.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23I'm hoping this is big enough.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28- This is plenty big enough! - This is plenty big!
0:31:29 > 0:31:31This is an amazing room, isn't it? It really is.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Over the other side of the very impressive hallway,
0:31:34 > 0:31:36is a snug.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38So you've got three reception rooms.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42I think we would probably tend to gravitate more
0:31:42 > 0:31:46- to the room at the end. - Kitchen/snug.- Kitchen's there, snug's there.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- Want to look up some of the bedrooms?- Yes, please.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51Cos you've got five!
0:31:51 > 0:31:53- Ooh!- Five bedrooms! What will you do with all these?
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Out of those five bedrooms,
0:31:57 > 0:32:00three are good-sized doubles are there are two singles.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03All serviced by a bright family bathroom.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06In addition, the loft space has been partially converted
0:32:06 > 0:32:09into a large attic bedroom.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12All this space could be used for holiday accommodation,
0:32:12 > 0:32:14to supplement the income from the alpaca business.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17I want Darren and Kasia to see one of the three bedrooms
0:32:17 > 0:32:19that could be used for paying guests.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23- This is lovely.- Pretty.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26One of many! What do you think?
0:32:26 > 0:32:28- It's great.- It's lovely.
0:32:28 > 0:32:34- Very nice size.- I think this out of all three might require your personal touch.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38- That's the word. Personal touch, not drastic changes.- No.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Just to personalise things a little bit.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45I'm keen on getting to the bottom of this business venture for you guys.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I know you've got your heart set on alpacas,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50what you'll come to learn in the countryside is you need to be flexible.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53You need to look at income streams wherever they may be.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55- Sure.- That's true.- Absolutely.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Let's have a look outside, shall we? At the land.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01And then start discussing this whole mystery property package.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03- OK?- OK.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09The land outside includes a large south-facing garden
0:33:09 > 0:33:12with views of the surrounding countryside,
0:33:12 > 0:33:14and pasture land for grazing alpacas.
0:33:14 > 0:33:20Land you wanted. A smaller piece of land you get with this one.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22- Hence the mystery house. - The mystery house.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24All in all, around five acres.
0:33:24 > 0:33:31I've spoken to the owner, and she says she will negotiate renting more land to you.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- Oh, right.- Oh, excellent.- A-ha.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37So I'm now going to ask you to try and guess the price of it.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:33:41 > 0:33:45I'm going to say £415,000.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50- OK.- I was going to go over budget. I was going to say 450.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53- 450.- Yeah.- Well,
0:33:53 > 0:33:55not a bad guess, Darren.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59This place is on the market for offers around £425,000.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- OK.- I can see why.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04I can see why, definitely.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06There's a lot for you to see.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Why don't you go back in? Have a look at all the rooms you haven't yet managed to see.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- And I'll meet you whenever you're finished.- OK.- OK.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14See you later.
0:34:17 > 0:34:18Just under their maximum budget
0:34:18 > 0:34:20at £425,000,
0:34:20 > 0:34:24our 18th-century mystery house was once part of a larger farm.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27The accommodation includes five bedrooms
0:34:27 > 0:34:29with the potential to let some of them to paying guests.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33The total plot amounts to five acres and includes pasture land
0:34:33 > 0:34:38but there's also the possibility to rent extra land for the alpaca business.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Oh, this is cool!
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Oh, man!
0:34:42 > 0:34:45That would be perfect for Neo!
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Yeah. He could have absolutely everything he needed up here.
0:34:48 > 0:34:54It's an extraordinary place. It's so full of character.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Focusing on the kitchen and dining area, it works.
0:34:57 > 0:34:58It works. It's beautiful.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02The downside definitely comes outside the property
0:35:02 > 0:35:04as opposed to inside.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08I'm not sure that it would work necessarily for us.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11We would have to do some serious thinking
0:35:11 > 0:35:13about how we could possibly make it work.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18- All done?- Yep.- Good.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20I was just enjoying this sun.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Imagine here. A summer's evening. Maybe a gin and tonic in the hand?
0:35:23 > 0:35:25- Maybe.- Maybe.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27Will it be this house or the other two? Who knows?
0:35:27 > 0:35:29- You've got some thinking to do!- Yes.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33Why don't you go and do just that, and I'll catch up when you've finished.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35- OK?- OK.- Cheers.- Good luck.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40They might need it, as well. That's the end of the property search for Darren and Kasia.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43There's also plenty of other property on the market in South Wales,
0:35:43 > 0:35:45to suit all budgets.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49If modern is more your style, then this four-bed new-build
0:35:49 > 0:35:54near the town of Ammanford is on the market for £205,000.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58The accommodation includes a kitchen diner with French doors leading to the garden
0:35:58 > 0:36:01and a living room that comes with a multi-fuel burner.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Cat, unfortunately, not included.
0:36:04 > 0:36:06If barn conversions take your fancy,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09then how about this four-double-bedroomed property in Sutton Cottage,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12which is on the market for £350,000.
0:36:12 > 0:36:17The open plan interior includes this kitchen diner with original stone wall
0:36:17 > 0:36:21and a master suite with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23At the upper end of this price scale,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26this Grade II-listed barn conversion with five bedrooms
0:36:26 > 0:36:28is in Panty Park
0:36:28 > 0:36:31and on the market for just shy of £600,000.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34The property has four spacious reception rooms
0:36:34 > 0:36:37and a master bedroom, again with a vaulted ceiling
0:36:37 > 0:36:39and a reclaimed solid wood floor.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47As well as some fantastic properties,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50the South Wales region is home to one of the county's youngest icons.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53The National Botanic Gardens of Wales, near Carmarthen,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56only opened at the dawn of the new millennium
0:36:56 > 0:36:57and has quickly established itself
0:36:57 > 0:37:00as a leading centre for scientific research
0:37:00 > 0:37:02and innovative design.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Architect Norman Foster's great glasshouse
0:37:04 > 0:37:07has the largest single span in the world.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11The size of five football pitches, it creates an artificial environment
0:37:11 > 0:37:15which helps protect some of the most endangered plants from around the globe.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17I've come to find out how it works
0:37:17 > 0:37:19and I'm meeting Rob Thomas.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22So I'm noticing that it's not swelteringly hot.
0:37:22 > 0:37:27It's effectively creating a Mediterranean climate zone.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31Which means, I suppose, in our terms,
0:37:31 > 0:37:34that at any one time the temperature in here
0:37:34 > 0:37:39is probably between five, six, seven degrees warmer than the ambient temperature outside.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42How do you keep this temperature at this level?
0:37:42 > 0:37:44It's a complex system,
0:37:44 > 0:37:46computer controlled, of course,
0:37:46 > 0:37:48of actuators on the windows.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51We have really no control over when they open and shut.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54It's done according to the ambient temperature inside.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56'Like any botanic garden,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00'there is an active programme of conservation and research here in South Wales.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04'One project is helping to save one of the country's rarest plants.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07'It's being run by head of conservation, Natasha de Vere.'
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Natasha, what do we have here?
0:38:11 > 0:38:14This plant is the Irish saxifrage.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17It used to be found in Wales, but it's now extinct in the wild in Wales.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Why did it become extinct in Wales?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22Too many sheep on the uplands, nibbling away,
0:38:22 > 0:38:25destroying all of the vegetation.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27The other thing is over collecting.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30So our role here at the Garden is to try and redress that balance.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35So we're growing them up at the Garden to see if we can reintroduce these plants to the wild.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38'To help improve its chances of survival,
0:38:38 > 0:38:43'scientists need to understand the biological makeup of plants like the Saxifrage
0:38:43 > 0:38:46'and to do that, you need to extract its DNA.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48'First, take a leaf sample.'
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Remember, these are extinct in the wild, so no pressure!
0:38:51 > 0:38:55Natasha, you shouldn't have said that!
0:38:56 > 0:38:59'Then it's off to the lab, where the sample is placed in a test tube,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02'washed with detergent, spun in a machine
0:39:02 > 0:39:06'and rinsed with chemicals to release the DNA for analysis.'
0:39:06 > 0:39:10What we do here, the sort of research we do, goes all the way through.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12So we start off in the wilds of Snowdonia,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15we're then in the glasshouses growing these plants on.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18And then, to really understand what's going on with them,
0:39:18 > 0:39:20we look at their DNA.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23'My sample will be sent off for further analysis
0:39:23 > 0:39:24'to compare it with other species
0:39:24 > 0:39:26'and help scientists decide
0:39:26 > 0:39:29'how and where to reintroduce it to the wild.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31'In the meantime, I'm honoured to have played a role
0:39:31 > 0:39:34'in the conservation of this Welsh treasure.'
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Well, Kasia and Darren have had a while to mull over the three properties.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43Time to catch up with them and find out their thoughts.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52- Now, then.- Hello!
0:39:52 > 0:39:54- Picked a lovely spot.- Uh-huh.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57- So you've had a bit of time to think.- Yeah.- Yep.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Come on, what's your favourite? I'm dying to know.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- On three.- One, two, three!
0:40:02 > 0:40:04TOGETHER: Number two!
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Right!
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Why was number two your favourite, then?
0:40:09 > 0:40:13It was a combination of the head and the heart working together, I think.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15- Yin and Yang.- Yeah.- Right.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18So what was the head part of it?
0:40:18 > 0:40:22The head part of it was the potential business.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25So still something we had our minds on.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30For me, it just had all facets.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32It had the house which was absolutely fantastic,
0:40:32 > 0:40:34it had the land which was fantastic.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38It had the business potential,
0:40:38 > 0:40:43- which, of course, is a major part of this move.- Of course, yes.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Tell me, would you have looked at that property?
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Would you formerly have viewed that house, having seen it maybe on the internet?
0:40:50 > 0:40:53- No.- Probably not. - No?- Simple as that.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Purely because at the beginning of this journey,
0:40:55 > 0:41:00we had a very clear vision in our mind
0:41:00 > 0:41:03of the number of rooms we needed,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05the amount of land we needed,
0:41:05 > 0:41:11and that house, on paper, would have fallen just a little bit short.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14- Yeah.- However, having got there,
0:41:14 > 0:41:18and just seen what it had to offer,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21it just kind of threw all that out the window.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23What's the next step for you?
0:41:23 > 0:41:31Well, I think that we'll probably contact the vendors of house number two,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35- and try to arrange a second viewing. - Second viewing.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39You do realise that when you come to the second viewing and Neo sees that house,
0:41:39 > 0:41:43- your life will be hell until you move into that house!- Exactly.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45Pretty much, yeah!
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Good. I think it's a very good idea to come back here.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50And it might sound crazy,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54but it wouldn't be such a bad thing to come here on a rainy day.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58- Sure.- See the house when Mother Nature is giving it its worst.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01And hopefully, you'll still love it.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- Sure.- Why wouldn't you?- Absolutely.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06Safe drive back to London. Also good luck with the second viewing.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14One of the things I enjoy most about this job
0:42:14 > 0:42:17is when a couple fall head-over-heels with a property
0:42:17 > 0:42:20they may have initially discarded on first glance.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23That's exactly what happened with house number two.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25Sure, it was light on the land,
0:42:25 > 0:42:28but that was more than made up for with that beautiful dell
0:42:28 > 0:42:30and those amazing views.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Which just goes to show, whenever you're looking at rural property,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36it certainly pays to be open-minded.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38See you next time!
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Darren and Kasia have spoken to the vendor of our second property
0:42:42 > 0:42:44and have arranged another viewing,
0:42:44 > 0:42:46this time with son, Neo.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Let's hope his approval clinches the deal!
0:42:49 > 0:42:51If you'd like to escape to the country
0:42:51 > 0:42:53in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England
0:42:53 > 0:42:57or even further afield to the continent and need our help,
0:42:57 > 0:42:59please apply online:
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