0:00:02 > 0:00:05I'm at the highest point above sea level in the southeast of England.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Higher even than the Shard. And if I look east,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11the next highest point will be the Ural Mountains in Russia.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13And this extraordinary elevation
0:00:13 > 0:00:16is due to the obsession of an English country gentleman
0:00:16 > 0:00:19who wanted to turn his hill into a mountain.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Find out more in just a moment.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43'Today's couple searching for a new family home are American expats
0:00:43 > 0:00:46'looking for a true slice of British country living.'
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- It's cute!- It oozes charm.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Just the kind of house we like.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54'And our house-hunt leaves our home buyers lost for words.'
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I'm speechless. How is that possible?
0:00:57 > 0:00:59I'm definitely in trouble now.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Today, we're in the Surrey Hills and this is Leith Hill Tower.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Now, back in the Georgian period,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10a mountain was defined as something over 1,000 feet.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14Now, while Leith Hill is very high, it's only 965 feet,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17so frustratingly short of the mark.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Now, back in 1765, the hill's owner, Richard Hull,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22decided that was not good enough.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25And so in order to bring it up to mountain category,
0:01:25 > 0:01:28he built this impressive 65-foot-tall tower.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31It still is one of the best viewing points in the southeast
0:01:31 > 0:01:34and it's said, on a clear day, that you can see 13 counties
0:01:34 > 0:01:39and the English Channel, but there's more to Surrey than just views.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42One of the Home Counties surrounding London,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Surrey, to the capital's south, is bordered by Berkshire to the west,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Kent to the east and West Sussex to the south.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51Despite its proximity to London,
0:01:51 > 0:01:5484% of the county is classed as countryside,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57offering a magnificent collage of fields and hills
0:01:57 > 0:02:00in contrasting shades of brilliant green.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Throughout Surrey, classic English villages
0:02:03 > 0:02:07display the intricate architecture the area's famous for.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10In fact, after London, there is no more expensive place
0:02:10 > 0:02:11to buy property in the UK.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15The average price for a detached house here is - wait for it -
0:02:15 > 0:02:20£575,000, which is more than twice the national average.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23To put that into perspective, if you cross the border
0:02:23 > 0:02:25into neighbouring West Sussex
0:02:25 > 0:02:28and bought exactly the same sort of house, you could save £200,000.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32So I'm hoping that today's buyers have deep, deep pockets.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Let's meet them.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36American childhood sweethearts
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Matt and his wife, Catherine, have lived in the UK since 2004.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43We met when we were both in high school.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47We reconnected in New York about eight years later.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48Yep.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50And the rest is history.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53And then moved to London shortly after that.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57They've been in this two-bedroomed flat in North London for three years
0:02:57 > 0:03:01with their two sons, Harry, aged five, and Hatcher, one.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03But they've decided that it's time to up sticks
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and experience a more rural British life.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Peace and quiet is a big deal for us
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and where our flat is now, it is right along a major road,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15so we do hear the noise and the cars and the sirens.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20So it would be nice to be away from all the traffic in the countryside.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Matt and Catherine are expecting their third son in four months.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27The full-time mum is already looking to a greener future.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31But Matt isn't quite sure he's ready to let go of city life.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35I could probably do a couple more years in London.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Um...but I do see the benefits of living in the country -
0:03:39 > 0:03:41more space, more space for the kids.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46Just a more manageable lifestyle.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50With their flat under offer and their new arrival imminent,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Matt and Catherine are ready to begin the search
0:03:53 > 0:03:56for their quintessentially British country home.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01What I love about the British countryside are the rolling hills.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I love the idea of walking along the paths
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and just looking at the greenery and the sunsets
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and just the whole idea of being outside.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12We don't know too much about the area,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15but we have friends who moved out there from London
0:04:15 > 0:04:20and it seems like an interesting place to bring our family.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Our buyers are happy to consider anywhere in Surrey,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27as long as there are good rail links nearby
0:04:27 > 0:04:29to get Matt back to the city for work.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32We are concentrating our search in the south of the county
0:04:32 > 0:04:36which will give Catherine the more rural setting she's after.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40So, before we start looking for a typically British pad
0:04:40 > 0:04:41for our American buyers,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I want to find out a little more about their plans.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- Welcome to Surrey, guys!- Thanks.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- We are all very excited about the third addition.- Thank you.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Would you like to be in the new place before we get...?
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Ideally, if it's possible. That would be perfect.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- So, the pressure's on.- The pressure is on.- The pressure is on, yes.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Tell us again how much you've got to spend.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Ideally, no more than a million.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06I like to think we could stretch it if we had to.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I'd like to think we could go lower if we had to.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Tell me about the house and what you're actually looking for.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15For the country, I think we're looking at a period property -
0:05:15 > 0:05:21some nice features inside, outside space, proximity to schools,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- just a few things.- I think the outside is more important to me
0:05:24 > 0:05:26than the inside so if the outside matches
0:05:26 > 0:05:29the original character of the time period,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31then the inside could be updated.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34I think we're looking for a minimum of four bedrooms.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35We've got three lovely houses,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39one of which is the Mystery House so let's go and have a look.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40- Great.- Sounds good, thank you.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44There's no denying
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Matt and Catherine have a very healthy budget.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50They are looking for a character property with ample space
0:05:50 > 0:05:53to accommodate their soon-to-be family of five
0:05:53 > 0:05:57and a big garden for their energetic boys to run around in.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Matt's the chef of the family so he's hoping for a good-sized kitchen
0:06:00 > 0:06:04and, with his job based in London, he is willing to consider
0:06:04 > 0:06:07a commute into work of up to an hour and a half.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11We're kicking off our house-hunt towards the south of Surrey
0:06:11 > 0:06:12in the village of Cranleigh,
0:06:12 > 0:06:1520 minutes' drive from the county town of Guildford.
0:06:15 > 0:06:21- Come on in!- It's gorgeous! I love it!- This is your country house.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25This could be it, Alistair. I'm excited! I love that view.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Now, this is a very interesting historic property.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30- You wanted period.- Absolutely. - This is as period as they come.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32You can see it's in two halves -
0:06:32 > 0:06:36this half with the black and white dates back to around 1670.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41- Wow!- This part is a bit later in the 19th century and it was,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44until quiet recently, until the '90s, a pub.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Oh!- Called The Boy And Donkey.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51'We're heading straight for the kitchen -
0:06:51 > 0:06:54'the most important room in the house for keen cook Matt.'
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- Step in these lovely concertina doors.- Gorgeous.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02- The exposed beams over there are very nice.- Very pretty.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06It's more modern than I would have thought from the outside,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08but modern is good.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Some nice appliances, I can do some pretty good work in here.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14It's a good size, too.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16And just on the other side of the beamed wall
0:07:16 > 0:07:18is an imposing dining room.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20So, here we're into the more historic part of the house.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Oh, wow!
0:07:23 > 0:07:28The masterpiece of the room seems to be this inglenook fireplace.
0:07:28 > 0:07:29It's also got very high ceilings,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- which is unusual for these period properties.- Very unusual.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37- Which I love.- And double windows, also very unusual.- Yes.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39'Through another old doorway, the sitting room is revealed
0:07:39 > 0:07:42'and, with it, another handsome focal point.'
0:07:42 > 0:07:45You know, I think this inglenook might be better.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- I love it!- It's incredible, yeah.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- This was the 19th-century part, so this was the pub.- OK.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Probably the snug bit of the pub,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57there'd be a public saloon next-door and a proper inglenook.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58- Yes.- A proper inglenook.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Do you know the definition of a proper inglenook?
0:08:00 > 0:08:05- It has the benches.- Indeed!- And it's a working fireplace as well?
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Yeah, this is an open hearth so you can burn wood here.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10You can burn wood. It's lovely.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14'On the ground floor, there's also a large master bedroom
0:08:14 > 0:08:17'in what would have been the main room of the former pub.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'There's also a utility room/shower room,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23'as well as a family room and a study.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24'And moving upstairs
0:08:24 > 0:08:27'are the rest of the bedrooms and a family bathroom.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30'We're starting off in the middle-sized room
0:08:30 > 0:08:33'overlooking fields opposite the house.'
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- Beautiful view from this room.- Oh, yeah.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- It's gorgeous.- It's great. - Now, there are four rooms up here.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41There is a smaller room over there and then there is a room here
0:08:41 > 0:08:44connected to another small room that has a back staircase.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45It's sort of higgledy-piggledy.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47There's a bathroom upstairs
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- and obviously the new bathroom downstairs.- Great.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51There's plenty of space.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55Plenty of room for the kids and our guests as well
0:08:55 > 0:08:56so it ticks the box there.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00'I think they'll be just as happy when we step outside.'
0:09:00 > 0:09:04An outbuilding there and a shed. Some space for chickens.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08The house itself is incredible.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12I think you've nailed our style, exactly what we're looking for.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- The views are amazing. - And it's safe.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18I mean, I think the kids could safely play out here
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and not worry about the road.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22- How much do you think it's on the market for?- That's a good question.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25I'm not very good at this so I'm going to let Catherine go first.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28I knew you would say that! I'm going to say 925.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30So I was going to say a little bit higher than that
0:09:30 > 0:09:33so I will go with 955.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35The house has been on the market for five months
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and hasn't dropped from its original price, which was...
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Brace yourselves!
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- £980,000.- OK.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48So, there's lots more to explore outside and also the outhouse.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- I will see you round the front. - Perfect!- All right.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52Sounds good.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57At £20,000 below their generous £1 million budget,
0:09:57 > 0:10:01this converted pub goes all out to give Matt and Catherine
0:10:01 > 0:10:04everything they're looking for in their new abode.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07It's bursting with centuries-old charm and period features
0:10:07 > 0:10:10and has more than enough rooms for their two sons
0:10:10 > 0:10:14and soon-to-be new addition, as well as visiting family and friends.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16And, with a journey time into work for Matt
0:10:16 > 0:10:19of an hour and 20 minutes, it would make commuting
0:10:19 > 0:10:23from this charming home with its stunning views a real possibility.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26The spring weather is really selling this property to me.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- Is it selling it to you?- Yes.- Good.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Well, don't get sold too soon
0:10:30 > 0:10:32because we've got another one lined up.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- Are you ready?- All right, let's go.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39For our second property, we're heading to the east of the county
0:10:39 > 0:10:41to the village of Okewood Hill,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44ten miles south of the market town of Dorking.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49- What do you think?- It oozes charm.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53This is great, just the kind of house we like.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Interestingly, this was two cottages
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- and it's now joined together as one. - OK.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01And it's a very typical sort of Surrey style with these two gables
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and the lovely wooden turned work above the porch.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Actually, the owner here works in the city
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and it takes him exactly an hour and a half
0:11:09 > 0:11:11from door-to-door to his desk.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14So, can you imagine this being your home?
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- Certainly the house from the outside, yes.- Let's go in.- OK.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23'Things have started well and long may that continue.'
0:11:25 > 0:11:29- Come on in.- Ah! - Straight into the sitting room.- OK.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32You can see this is where the two houses were knocked together.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- Oh, right.- So actually that side
0:11:34 > 0:11:37used to be the kitchen of the one house and then this has been
0:11:37 > 0:11:39knocked together as one big long sitting room.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- It's a nice space. It's very big.- I like it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- It feels newer than the other house. - They have completely renovated it.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50There was something more charming about the other one.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54So, there's a nice sunny study at the other end of the room there,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- but it's the next room that I think you might like.- OK.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Oh, this is lovely.- This is huge!
0:12:03 > 0:12:05We thought this is a bit more what you had in mind
0:12:05 > 0:12:07in terms of the big kitchen/dining space.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11- Yes.- Absolutely. It's much bigger. Yeah, it looks very nice.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15But this is a really lovely space, a big sort of family breakfast room,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- and it's heated, which is quite nice for a conservatory.- It is nice.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22And it continues because, of course, we've got another house to explore.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24In the dining room here.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30So, this was the second half of the house.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35- OK.- And this is the dining room. - It's a very elegant room.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Through there, there's what they call the snug,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40which was the sitting room of the original house.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42The layout is perhaps a bit more logical than the last house,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- which was topsy-turvy. - Yeah, we don't need logical, though.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47We're not very logical ourselves.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51'Moving upstairs, there are two bathrooms, a single bedroom
0:12:51 > 0:12:55'and four bright doubles of roughly the same size.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57'We've come to one at the front of the house.'
0:12:57 > 0:12:59It's a little small.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04I don't really feel like a master bedroom, but it's very quaint
0:13:04 > 0:13:09and it's very charming and it does have high ceilings.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It is a bit small, though, that's for sure.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13I like the upstairs better.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I think maybe it's the square feel to the rooms that I like
0:13:16 > 0:13:17and the higher ceilings.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21It's definitely nice, but I think it lacks a bit
0:13:21 > 0:13:24- of the quirkiness of the first property.- Yeah.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26It's not twanging on your heartstrings?
0:13:26 > 0:13:31- It's not. It's just not there. - I don't think so.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34'It's clear Matt and Catherine are looking for something unique
0:13:34 > 0:13:37'in their country home and, although they were excited
0:13:37 > 0:13:39'by this house's exterior,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41'the inside doesn't seem to match up for them.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44'But outside, once again, I'm hoping the garden
0:13:44 > 0:13:46'and the views might make them change their mind.'
0:13:46 > 0:13:50It's equally pretty from the back as it is from the front.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52And the garden, they hadn't done much,
0:13:52 > 0:13:53but you could do all sorts here.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55There's another little plot down here,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58it used to be the veggie patch, but actually, right in the corner,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00you get a fantastic view and you can see Leith Tower,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04which is, as I know, the highest point in the southeast.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08- You're a wealth of information, Alistair.- I am, I am.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11I also know how much this house is on the market for
0:14:11 > 0:14:13so what do you think the figure is?
0:14:14 > 0:14:16I'm going to go with 990.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18OK.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22I'm going to stick with 955.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25- So, the same as last time? - The same as last time.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Cos, actually, this is on the market at 995.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Five!
0:14:30 > 0:14:31So, I think that's one each.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34But there's still more for you to explore.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35- You know the drill.- We do.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- Look around, I'll see you round the front.- OK.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Coming in at just £5,000 under budget, this period property
0:14:45 > 0:14:47gives Matt and Catherine all the space they need
0:14:47 > 0:14:49for their expanding family.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52The house is conveniently located just ten minutes' drive
0:14:52 > 0:14:54from a direct train link to London,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but the trade-in for the beautiful rural location
0:14:57 > 0:15:01would be Matt's door-to-door commute of an hour and 40 minutes.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- BIRDSONG - It's been a while since I've been in Surrey
0:15:03 > 0:15:06and it's incredibly rich in birds. The birdsong is amazing.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Have you heard the lovely birdsong?
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- Yeah.- Wonderful!- Very nice.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- OK, so we're all done for today. No more houses.- OK.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Time to rest up, but I do hear there is a good pub next-door.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18Oh, let's go!
0:15:25 > 0:15:28On our Surrey house-hunt, we've already seen two period properties
0:15:28 > 0:15:33full of the charm Matt and Catherine want in their English country home.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35But in our third property, the Mystery House,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39we're offering them something really quite spectacular,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41but asking them to move further south.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Crossing borders into West Sussex,
0:15:43 > 0:15:45not only will their pound stretch further,
0:15:45 > 0:15:47but Matt would have a travel time into work
0:15:47 > 0:15:50of only an hour and five minutes.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Our final visit is to the tiny hamlet of Old Holbrook,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56four miles from the market town of Horsham.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to the Mystery House.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Wow!
0:16:01 > 0:16:06- This is a lovely cottage.- It's very impressive.- "Cottage"!- House!
0:16:06 > 0:16:08But it has the charm, it has the charm, that's what I meant.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10So, we've moved you even further south,
0:16:10 > 0:16:12across the border into West Sussex.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Further away from London, but...
0:16:14 > 0:16:18- The commute...- Is shorter.- Wow! - Is it?
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Because Littlehaven is a village, a three-minute drive
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and the trains go every half hour straight into London Bridge
0:16:25 > 0:16:28so actually this is the best commute.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Alistair, you're a genius!
0:16:30 > 0:16:31Well done!
0:16:31 > 0:16:32And that's just the commute.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34We haven't even started on the house,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36which is, I think, a bit of a masterpiece.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38It was a small farmhouse cottage
0:16:38 > 0:16:42and the present owner has completely transformed it.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43I'm in trouble.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- I can feel it, I'm in trouble. - Let's have a look.- OK.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50'Catherine admitted to me that exterior character is a must,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53'but doesn't have to follow through inside
0:16:53 > 0:16:54'so I'm sure she'll be impressed
0:16:54 > 0:16:57'by this four-bedroom extended cottage,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59'which has been modernised throughout
0:16:59 > 0:17:00'to an immaculate standard,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03'making it a perfect blend of old meets new.'
0:17:08 > 0:17:09This is nice.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11It's got the sitting area we were looking for,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14plenty of counter space, plenty of storage space
0:17:14 > 0:17:17and a really nice finish.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Very nice finish and the sliding doors
0:17:19 > 0:17:21that open right out into the garden.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23- Yeah.- Amazing, amazing.
0:17:23 > 0:17:24Definitely in trouble on this one.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- It is gorgeous.- Why do you keep on saying you're in trouble?
0:17:27 > 0:17:29It's gorgeous. He's scared of himself.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31He doesn't want to like it because he's like...
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Let it go! Release the desire!
0:17:34 > 0:17:38'Off the kitchen is a utility room, leading to a carport and a garage.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41'Moving into the middle of the house is a sizeable sitting room.'
0:17:41 > 0:17:42Wow!
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- This is a "wow" room, too. - This is a "wow" room.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47That's a very interesting wood burner.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Beautiful oak floors throughout, real oak.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Yeah, that's a good-sized room.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55And it flows very nicely into the kitchen, very comfortably.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Can you imagine yourself, after a hard day in the city,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00coming back...?
0:18:00 > 0:18:03Yeah, it would certainly be a nice place to come back to.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04Are you getting the vibe, too?
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Oh, my gosh! Right away. There's no doubt.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09This is... This is it.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11'The house seems to be selling itself.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15'Catherine is hooked and, although he may not be admitting it,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17'I don't think Matt's far behind
0:18:17 > 0:18:19'as we move to the dining room at the front of the house.'
0:18:19 > 0:18:22- This is a lovely room, too. - Oh, wow!
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Yeah, this is nice. Great dining area.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28What a lovely formal place if you had some friends round.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30It's perfect.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31'As we move upstairs,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35'there's a clever use of space with a mezzanine study above the landing.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38'There is a family bathroom, three double bedrooms,
0:18:38 > 0:18:40'one with an en suite
0:18:40 > 0:18:43'and one with its own mezzanine level in the eaves
0:18:43 > 0:18:47'and a master with views over the garden and surrounding fields.'
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Beautiful! With a balcony off of it?
0:18:51 > 0:18:52With a balcony, yeah.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54And the doors.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- I can woo you from the garden. - You could do a Juliet.- Yes!
0:18:58 > 0:19:00But, again, you can concertina those doors open
0:19:00 > 0:19:03so you could sit here in the evening because you get the evening sun.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Yeah, it's beautiful.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Gosh! I mean, this whole house is so immaculate.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10It is just incredible.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- Is this what you were thinking about as a master?- Yes.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16This is exactly what I pictured a master to be.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18'But Catherine ain't seen nothing yet.'
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- I have to say, I have seen some en suites...- There's MORE?
0:19:21 > 0:19:23This is an en suite.
0:19:25 > 0:19:31- Bit of a walk-in wardrobe dressing room.- Oh, my God! Oh, my...
0:19:31 > 0:19:33And welcome to the en suite world.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35You are kidding me!
0:19:37 > 0:19:40- I'm definitely in trouble now. - OK, this is too much.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42This is too much, we can't afford this. This is incredible.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44This is just...
0:19:44 > 0:19:48- This is a beautiful living space! - You could live here.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51I mean, I could. I could, Matt, I could!
0:19:51 > 0:19:53OK, well, we can talk about that.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56OK! It's like my dream.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00No pressure here, right? No pressure!
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Matt's face is like, "Oh, God!"
0:20:02 > 0:20:04You can have the balcony off the master
0:20:04 > 0:20:05and I can have the walk-in closet.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Isn't there a highway around here or something?
0:20:09 > 0:20:12So, we're getting the thumbs up, even from you?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Yeah, thumbs up.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Let's go into the garden and talk money.- Money, money, money!
0:20:22 > 0:20:25'The house sits in a third of an acre of land
0:20:25 > 0:20:27'and, leading out from the kitchen,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31'a stone patio overlooks a manicured lawn and endless country views.'
0:20:31 > 0:20:33This is the garden.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35You can see the boundary there with the hedge
0:20:35 > 0:20:37so it's not massive massive.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41It's very maintainable, which is all that I care about.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Let's get a full view of the house.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44- It's quite a property.- It is.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46What do you think it's on the market for?
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- Why don't you go first? - All right, I'll go first.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54I am going to say 1,035,000.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57OK. So, a bit over budget.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Let's go with 1,050,000.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03I'm afraid Catherine wins 2-1.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07This is actually the cheapest property we're showing you.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12- What?!- It's on the market for £965,000.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- That's very surprising. - Oh, my gosh!
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- Oh, my gosh!- I'm definitely in trouble now.- I'm speechless.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- How is that possible?- Well, cos we left Surrey.- We left Surrey.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We have to discuss.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28I think this is going to be a one-sided discussion.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- So, get inside, explore.- OK.- And I'll see you out the front.- Great.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38This beautifully renovated home gives Matt and Catherine
0:21:38 > 0:21:40everything they've asked for
0:21:40 > 0:21:44and comes in a surprising £35,000 under budget.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46We've crossed counties to get here,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48but, with an hour and five minute commute to work for Matt,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51it's an easy journey into the city.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55But, with an offer already on the table, they need to act quickly
0:21:55 > 0:21:58if they want to get the keys to this impressive house.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02What a pleasing house! Everything about it is pleasing.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Even the porch, even the wood stack is pleasing.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Did you find anything you didn't like about it?
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Not a thing for me.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Not yet, nothing.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15I've looked hard, too, I've looked very hard.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16You did, you were looking hard.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18OK, let's go and get away from the magic house
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- and see if we can get some clarity. - Perfect.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27By the end of all the property viewings,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I think it was pretty clear to all of us which of the three houses
0:22:30 > 0:22:32that Catherine and Matt liked the most,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34but what we have to do now is pin them down
0:22:34 > 0:22:37to their plan of action and find out what happens next.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the first two houses
0:22:46 > 0:22:49have really been blown out of the water by the last. Is that correct?
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- That is correct.- I would agree.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54So, what's going to happen next?
0:22:54 > 0:22:59- They're keen to move, you're keen to move.- Yeah.- That's a good question.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02We love the house, but we'd like to understand a bit more
0:23:02 > 0:23:05about where we are and amenities and schools.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07And, Catherine, are you feeling equally excited?
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Yes, I'm very enthusiastic.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I just, like Matt, want to take a drive around the area,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16figure out what the amenities are
0:23:16 > 0:23:21and then, hopefully, we will put an offer in.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- Wouldn't that be exciting?- It would be very exciting for us!
0:23:24 > 0:23:27I genuinely hope that you two do buy that house and then move there
0:23:27 > 0:23:30- cos I do think that you looked very happy there.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Well, best of luck, I hope it goes well.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- Thanks for taking part.- Thank you. - Thank you.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40I know I should be level-headed and impartial,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43but I really, really want Catherine and Matt to buy that house.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46It wasn't in Surrey, it was in West Sussex,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48but I think it will be a lovely place
0:23:48 > 0:23:50for the three brothers to grow up
0:23:50 > 0:23:53and I really hope that you join us next time
0:23:53 > 0:23:54for more Escape To The Country.