Norfolk Escape to the Country


Norfolk

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This country house was once home to a pioneering 19th-century

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social reformer whose face now lines our 21st-century purses and wallets.

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Find out who she was and where I am in just a few moments.

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Today, our house-hunting couple is taking early retirement

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so they can live out their rural idyll.

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I can't believe this. It's huge.

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And our properties never fail to deliver.

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It's not like a bathroom that we've seen before, is it?

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-And a view out the window, as well.

-It's a room with a bath, it's lovely.

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Today, I'm in Norfolk and behind me is Earlham Hall,

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childhood home to Elizabeth Fry

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whose face may look strangely familiar.

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Born to a Quaker family back in 1780,

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she was a social reformist and philanthropist

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and her face now appears on the back of our £5 notes.

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Fry dedicated her life to helping those in need, and though

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she's probably best remembered for improving the lives of women

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and children in prisons, she also campaigned for mental asylum reform,

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enhanced nursing standards as well as better housing for the poor.

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Her legacy continues to echo today

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and many of her reforms underpin 21st-century society.

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A truly influential woman and one of this wonderful county's most famous

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and determined daughters.

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Norfolk sits on England's east coast and is bordered by the North Sea

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and The Wash along its shoreline

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and Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk inland.

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The county's known for its arresting flat countryside

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with crop-rich fields overlooked by tall church towers

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and endless views often scattered with vibrant red poppies.

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And the winding waterways of the Norfolk broads

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flanked by lush green reeds and open plains,

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have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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The region is home to a variety of pretty seaside towns like Cromer

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and has a wealth of beautiful sandy beaches

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overlooked by rugged coastlines.

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All of these charming characteristics

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see an estimated 30 million tourists flocking to Norfolk each year

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but it also holds an alluring appeal

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to those wanting to call this county home.

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So let's find out from today's buyers what's inspiring them

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to make Norfolk the base for their future move.

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Aerospace engineer Mark and his wife Steve

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have lived in this detached house in Luton in Bedfordshire

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for 29 years. They met at a party when they were just 17.

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-I fell over you, I think, didn't I?

-You did and I fell over you.

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Apparently I fell over on the floor. I'd had slightly too much to drink.

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Then I don't know if you said or I said we should stick together

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in case we break something.

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And then it was love!

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And with Mark taking early retirement in just two months' time,

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they've decided to up sticks and move to Norfolk,

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somewhere very close to their hearts.

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We've done phases of our life and this is a new phase in retiring

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and it gives us a new challenge and something to look forward to.

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We like the area that we want to buy a house in

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and we've spent lots of holidays and lots of time there.

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Engineering is in Mark's blood and at home his garage is shelter

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to his pride and joy which will be joining them in their move

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and will also need a new home.

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The car that I've got is, I had one when I was a kid,

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it brings back my youth.

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It's probably better than when it came out the factory

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so I need a decent dry garage to keep it in.

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Steve and Mark are also passionate about their grandchildren,

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whom they're extremely close to.

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We see them pretty regularly, which is going to be the difference

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between moving from here to moving away.

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So one reason why we need a four-bedroom house when we move

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is so that we can still accommodate them.

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Steve makes sure that all the precious moments with her family

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are documented each year, never to be forgotten.

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Photography's my love.

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I do photography a lot, and after, taking the pictures,

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I do an annual photographic diary.

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So this year's one hopefully will show goodbye to the house

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where we lived in and hello to a new one.

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And with funds in the bank and Mark's retirement on the horizon,

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this busy couple are ready to celebrate

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their 40th wedding anniversary in Norfolk.

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It's going to slow me down, that's what I'm looking for,

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just slowing down and relaxing a bit more.

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Steve and Mark have lost their hearts to Norfolk

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and are happy to move anywhere in the eastern county,

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if the house is right.

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So far they've spent a year viewing around 60 properties.

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So before we begin our hunt for their new home,

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I'm meeting them in the county

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to get to the bottom of their property desires.

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Welcome, both of you, to a... What a simply beautiful Norfolk morning.

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So what's bringing you to this beautiful part of the world?

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Over 30 years ago, we started to come on holiday here

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when our children were small and we fell in love with it.

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-How far inland would you like to be?

-If we fall in love with the house,

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that will determine where we are and how long the drive is.

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What does this house look like in your mind's eye, then?

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We like light, open and airy.

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The house that we have at the moment is light, open and airy.

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Style-wise, do you want character?

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Yes, character, anything. I think when you look at it, you'll know.

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-How many bedrooms are we looking at?

-Four. En suite if we can.

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-Outside space?

-For me, as much as I can get, I think.

-Yeah.

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If possible, I want to put a workshop on.

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Where do you want this property to be?

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Do you want to have amenities nearby or do you want to be out

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in the countryside, something completely different?

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The house dictates where we will be.

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-I'm quite prepared to be quite remote...

-Yes.

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..but I think somebody else is not quite so prepared...

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-Yeah.

-..to be remote.

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Detached, semidetached? What's your thoughts?

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A detached house, please.

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Remind me of how much you're looking to spend.

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-We're looking at somewhere between £400,000 and £450,000.

-Yeah.

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Well, that's a good budget up here in Norfolk but let's face it,

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you've been looking for a long time and not found anywhere yet.

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What parts of your wish list do you think you'd be prepared

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-to compromise on?

-I think most of it's open because...

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-Yeah.

-..we're willing to compromise anywhere.

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We've got three properties to show you.

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All I ask from you guys is that you voice your opinions

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so we can maybe learn along the way.

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-OK.

-All right?

-Fabulous.

-Right.

-Vocal is good.

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I don't think I'm going to get that problem from these two.

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I'm just getting that sense. Listen, let's get started.

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-Come this way.

-OK.

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Steve and Mark have a healthy budget for this part of the world,

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so I'm confident I'm going to be able to find them what they want

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but only they will know if it's got the right feel.

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They'd like a detached house with four bedrooms

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to put up visiting family and friends, and a large garden

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so their young grandchildren can enjoy the fresh country air.

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Mark would love a workshop and a large garage so he can tinker

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with his classic car, and they'd like to be in a rural location

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but not too far from civilisation.

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Steve and Mark know Norfolk well,

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but are yet to find their forever home.

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We'll be showing them three very different properties

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and after they've had a good look around

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we'll reveal each one's price.

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Their last visit will be to the mystery house.

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We'll be taking a bit of a risk, showing them something quite unusual

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and I just hope it pays off.

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We're starting our property search in the northeast corner of Norfolk

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in the village of East Ruston, three miles from the coast

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and a 30-minute car ride from Norwich.

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East Ruston is a small community with a traditional pub

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and a village hall in its centre.

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Shops can be found less than three miles away in the village of Stalham

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and it's just a six-minute drive to the coastal village of Happisburgh

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with its beautiful sandy beaches.

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A journey of just under three miles takes us back to East Ruston

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and our first house, a delightful period cottage.

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Oh, wow.

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-This is a pretty house, isn't it?

-It is.

-Yes.

-Roses over the door.

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It's got the character.

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Parts of this house go back 300 years.

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-Good golly.

-This used to be thatched.

-Ah.

-Right.

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Now back in about 1901, they took the thatch off...

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-Oh, really?

-..and then about 25 years ago,

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they went out the back with that extension.

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-It's got a feel.

-The right feel?

-Yes.

-I like it.

-Let's go inside.

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Steve and Mark have said that they'll just know when they

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find their dream home and things are already looking hopeful.

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Fingers crossed the good feeling continues inside.

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The front door leads through the hallway to the dining room,

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which is also brimming with character.

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It's great, it's got the beams. It's light, there's plenty of light.

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It is light, yes.

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That's the old external wall. It would be very shallow, this house.

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-Yes.

-But thankfully they've managed to push an extension out that way

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which gives us a kitchen.

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-Right.

-Let me show you.

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It's a cottage kitchen, as far as I can see.

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-Is it doable?

-It is, yes.

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You've got enough cupboard space down the back.

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-And it's light because we've got the...

-The skylights.

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..skylights up there.

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'The kitchen is nestled between the dining room and the sitting room,

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'which is where we're headed now.

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'It stretches from the front to the back of the house.'

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It's surprising because you see the room the other side, which is

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quite snug, and this one's got the other dimension

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for adding that extra width on, it's brilliant.

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Well, this is triple aspect as well

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so you're getting that nice, light, airy feel, aren't you?

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-And that is beautiful.

-You're getting light from all directions.

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'And the period cottage character continues upstairs,

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'where there's a family bathroom and three bedrooms.

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'A double to the back, another to the front

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'and the master which runs the width of the house.'

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It's big and it's light.

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It's got two nice windows with a beautiful view.

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There's a couple of things you said you would love to have.

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-First of all you said you wanted four bedrooms.

-Yeah.

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You get three bedrooms and a lovely family bathroom.

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-Right.

-You can live with three?

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Now, you did say you wanted an en suite, as well.

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-Tah-dah!

-Oh, well, I've got less cupboard space, then.

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-Great.

-Oh, and a shower.

-Yeah.

-That's brilliant.

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When I first met Steve and Mark,

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I wasn't sure if they knew what they wanted in their country home,

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but this cottage is coming up trumps on all levels.

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Hopefully it'll keep up the good work outside

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in its rather lovely garden

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with stunning views as far as the eye can see.

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This is something else, isn't it?

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-It's beautiful.

-Gorgeous, isn't it?

-It is, it's lovely.

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Now, garage-wise, good size garage with power.

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-Yeah.

-Boarded for storage at the top as well.

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Could you live here?

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-Could we live here?

-Yeah.

-Yes, I think we could.

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How much do you think this house is on the market for?

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-425.

-OK. Mark?

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I was going to say 417.

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This place is on the market for offers around £380,000.

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Good golly.

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Have you felt like this before in other houses that you've looked at?

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-I was going to have that conversation with Mark and say no.

-No.

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This modernised Victorian cottage comes in at a substantial

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£70,000 under Steve and Mark's budget.

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It may not have the four bedrooms they were after,

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but they've fallen in love with its character

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and are happy to compromise.

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It's got a garage for Mark's beloved classic car

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and a pretty garden with stunning views towards the coast.

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-So, good start, then?

-Very good start.

-Yes, it is.

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-Excellent. On to the next one.

-OK.

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Half of Norfolk's border runs along beautiful coastline,

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and the seaside town of Cromer on its northeast coast

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is world-famous for its crab.

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I've come to meet Kevin Jonas,

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who has followed in his father's

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footsteps working in the local crab business.

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So, Kevin, how long have people been potting for crabs here in Cromer?

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I think the first records go back to around about 300 years ago.

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What makes Cromer crabs so special, then?

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We generally think that the crabs are smaller around here and

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-they grow more slowly and therefore they are more fully meated...

-OK.

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..and they have a much more tender flavour.

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Two years ago, the town's largest crab factory shut down,

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leaving a gap in the market

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for supplying Cromer crab to large supermarkets.

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Kevin stepped in and opened his own site nine months ago.

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He's hoping to process 200 tonnes of crab in his first year,

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keeping his prize catch on shelves countrywide.

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Sounds like things are going well. Now I understand,

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is it your nephew that works within the company as well?

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-Yeah, John fishes our own boat, yes.

-So he's out at the moment?

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-That's correct, yes.

-What sort of time does he go out?

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About first light, about 3:30 this morning.

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I'm going to go over there and meet him. I'll catch up with you later.

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-OK. Cheers. Bye.

-Thanks very much, Kevin.

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John became a fisherman straight from school and he's been

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potting for crabs for Kevin's factory for the last seven years.

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He takes the family boat out six days a week,

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travelling two to three miles from shore,

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where he has a string of around

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12 pots lying on the seabed 20 metres down.

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-Good morning, John. How are you?

-I'm fine, thank you, and yourself?

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Yeah, pretty good, thanks. How did you get on?

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Nearly three boxes of crab and about six lobsters.

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-Can we have a look?

-Yeah, sure, yeah.

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The crabs need to be four and a half inches long

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to be legally taken out of the water.

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Any smaller, and they're put straight back in.

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So point out what makes this fella a good crab.

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-When the crab is full of meat...

-Yeah.

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..they actually bulge out more.

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-Bursting out of its shell...

-Yeah.

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-There's loads of meat in there.

-Yeah, yeah.

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And they take seven years to get to legal length.

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I'm going to meet your uncle back on the beach

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so I'll leave him to you, John.

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-Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

-Good luck.

-Cheers.

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'The proof of the pudding is in the tasting

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'and I can't wait to sample this local delicacy.

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'I'm heading back over to Kevin

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'to try some of this little crustacean that has put Cromer

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'firmly on Norfolk's culinary map.'

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How long have they been landed?

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They would have been cooked at our factory yesterday.

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How long do they cook for?

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About 20 minutes for these sort of size crabs.

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This is a fully meated female crab

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but as it's cooked, the meat has expanded

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so it's broken its membrane.

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So this here, this bit has just expanded

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-because of all the meat inside.

-That's correct, all the meat inside.

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If I hold up the male crab,

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-you can see it's a much narrower apron.

-Yeah.

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'The apron is a triangle of shell on the underside of the crab.'

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And also the male has bigger claws and therefore...

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These are much bigger than those, aren't they?

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-Yeah, and much more white meat.

-Is there is a preference?

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Do people say, "Right, can I have a male crab or a female crab?"

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Yes. Some people like, if you like more brown meat,

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-sweeter brown meat, that's the female.

-Yeah.

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If you like the white meat, they go for the males.

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-It's easy to open.

-Oh, wow.

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Just comes away like that.

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-So you can see all that lovely fresh meat in there.

-Yeah.

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And then you put your finger under there

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and take out all the digestive part there.

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-OK.

-So all that is left in there is then edible, brown meat.

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But what we would then do is we'd take the legs off.

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And take the claws off.

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There's a bit of brown meat in the middle there,

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Goes into the bottom there with the rest of it.

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Yeah, and that's how you see it, isn't it?

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That's correct, yes.

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So I think I need to try it for myself. Can I?

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-Yeah, absolutely, help yourself.

-Right.

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Oh, wow, you can tell it's fresh.

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It tastes... It's a really nice thick, tasty meat.

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I'm going to try some of that brown meat as well

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because this is the sweeter stuff, isn't it, the brown meat?

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Absolutely, yeah, that's the female crab

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so that'll be slightly more delicate flavour than the male crab.

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-That tastes absolutely gorgeous.

-Yeah.

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I wish you all the very best of luck.

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-Thank you so much.

-You're welcome.

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For our second house, we're journeying just over 30 miles west

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to the rural village of Whissonsett, five miles south

0:16:090:16:12

of the market town of Fakenham and 23 miles northwest of Norwich.

0:16:120:16:17

In the village, there's little more than a handsome 14th-century church,

0:16:180:16:21

but in nearby Fakenham, there are plenty of

0:16:210:16:23

shops and eateries to choose from.

0:16:230:16:26

A 13-minute drive takes us back to Whissonsett and our second property

0:16:260:16:30

situated in the heart of the village at the end of a stone driveway.

0:16:300:16:34

So, another old house.

0:16:350:16:38

Nice brickwork, flint stone on the side.

0:16:380:16:41

You're in the middle of the village, but it's quiet.

0:16:410:16:43

The only things we've heard is two tractors going up and down.

0:16:430:16:46

-Well, that's not bad, is it?

-No.

-No.

0:16:460:16:49

This brick-and-flint house dates back to around 1800

0:16:490:16:52

with some later additions.

0:16:520:16:54

It's had extensive renovations and we're starting off our tour

0:16:540:16:57

-in the first of two reception rooms.

-Oh, wow.

0:16:570:17:00

Quite snug, parquet flooring in here and a wood floor in there.

0:17:000:17:04

-Yeah, this was added later on. The current owners put this in.

-OK.

0:17:040:17:07

It's light because you've got two windows there

0:17:070:17:09

and the window at the front here.

0:17:090:17:12

Behind the two reception rooms at the back of the house is

0:17:140:17:17

a shower room and, across the hallway, a large kitchen-diner.

0:17:170:17:22

-It's a cracking kitchen, isn't it?

-It's fantastic, isn't it?

0:17:220:17:24

And there's plenty of cupboard space for you. Plenty of work surface.

0:17:240:17:28

-A lot bigger than the last house, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:17:280:17:30

And it's got enough room to socialise in here with

0:17:300:17:33

the table that's in here.

0:17:330:17:35

-Let's go upstairs and look at the bedrooms.

-OK.

0:17:350:17:38

We are heading straight for the largest of four bedrooms

0:17:400:17:42

across a galleried landing.

0:17:420:17:44

-So the master bedroom...

-Oh, wow.

-..is a very elegant affair.

0:17:450:17:49

It is. I like the decor.

0:17:490:17:51

-And it's bigger than the average room, as well.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:17:510:17:54

This spacious bedroom has views to the back and side of the property.

0:17:540:17:58

There's also two decent-sized doubles to the front of the house

0:17:580:18:01

with a smaller room between them and the eye-catching family bathroom

0:18:010:18:05

has a feature bath as its centrepiece.

0:18:050:18:08

So what do you think?

0:18:080:18:09

In comparison with the other house, this is a lot bigger.

0:18:090:18:12

What do you think you prefer at the moment, Mark?

0:18:120:18:15

-I'm tossing up between the two.

-Yeah.

0:18:150:18:16

-Yeah, it's difficult.

-Because they're totally different.

0:18:160:18:20

The other one is a bit smaller,

0:18:200:18:21

but it's got a different character to this one.

0:18:210:18:24

And I'm thinking, hmm...

0:18:240:18:26

-Causing us a problem.

-Yeah.

0:18:260:18:29

Well, it's a good problem to have.

0:18:290:18:31

'Well, I must say I'm rather surprised and rather pleased.

0:18:330:18:36

'So far it looks like it's two out of two

0:18:360:18:38

'on our tour of Norfolk houses.'

0:18:380:18:41

'Steve and Mark seem to have that feeling here too and I think

0:18:410:18:44

'they'll be even more confused when

0:18:440:18:46

'I throw something else into the mix - a beautifully renovated barn.'

0:18:460:18:50

I can't believe this. It's huge.

0:18:520:18:55

You can see through there, you've got another studio room as well.

0:18:550:18:58

Now, I was thinking you said you wanted to get into photography -

0:18:580:19:01

-what a great studio this is.

-It would be...

-Yeah.

-It's beautiful.

0:19:010:19:05

-You've got room to drive a car into that top end.

-OK.

0:19:050:19:09

But I don't think you'd need to because you've also got a car port.

0:19:090:19:13

Oh, wow.

0:19:130:19:14

Attached to the car port is a workshop

0:19:140:19:16

and the manicured gardens extend to around a third of an acre.

0:19:160:19:20

So you can see, look, you've got a kitchen garden here.

0:19:200:19:24

Mark, you said you wanted as much garden as possible.

0:19:240:19:27

-It's a good-size garden.

-How do you price this?

0:19:270:19:29

I reckon it's got to be up the top end of the budget. 450,000.

0:19:290:19:33

OK, 450. What do you say, Steve?

0:19:330:19:35

I would agree with that, it is at the top end of our budget,

0:19:350:19:39

so I will say 445.

0:19:390:19:42

Well, this place is on the market with a guide price of £439,000.

0:19:430:19:49

-Wow.

-There's a lot...

0:19:490:19:51

-For your money.

-..of what both you said you wanted.

0:19:510:19:53

-Yeah.

-You guys, go and have a look around the rest of the house

0:19:530:19:56

and I'll see you whenever you're finished. Fill your boots.

0:19:560:19:59

Coming in at around £11,000 under their top budget,

0:20:000:20:03

this detached house will give Steve and Mark a decent amount of change

0:20:030:20:07

and it has just the number of bedrooms they're after.

0:20:070:20:10

The converted barn will be an ideal space for Steve to indulge in

0:20:100:20:14

her love of photography and the workshop and car port will provide

0:20:140:20:17

Mark with the space and shelter he's after for his classic car.

0:20:170:20:22

The house sits in around a third of an acre, which not only comes

0:20:220:20:25

with a ready-made vegetable garden, but is also a great space for

0:20:250:20:28

the grandchildren to play.

0:20:280:20:30

-Ooh, lovely, claw-feet bath.

-Roll-top bath.

0:20:310:20:34

It's not like a bathroom that we've seen before, is it?

0:20:340:20:38

And the view out the window as well.

0:20:380:20:40

-It's a room with a bath. It's lovely.

-Yeah.

0:20:400:20:42

I know you enjoyed this morning, but now hopefully

0:20:420:20:44

you've got two houses in the bag to think about tonight.

0:20:440:20:47

We have and there'll be a lot of conversation.

0:20:470:20:50

Well, as long as you let Mark get a word in edgeways.

0:20:500:20:54

-OK, away you go.

-Well done.

0:20:540:20:56

Well, after a cracking day yesterday,

0:21:010:21:03

I'll be pretty disappointed

0:21:030:21:04

if Steve and Mark don't go back to at least one of the houses

0:21:040:21:07

we showed them for a second viewing.

0:21:070:21:09

Now today, as you can see, it's another glorious start

0:21:090:21:12

here in Norfolk and we're off to see the mystery house.

0:21:120:21:15

Now, as you know, the mystery house sometimes represents

0:21:150:21:17

a riskier prospect, and this one is no exception.

0:21:170:21:21

So far, the one thing I've learnt from Steve and Mark is

0:21:210:21:23

they want a detached property - that is for sure, so guess what?

0:21:230:21:27

We're off to see a semidetached house

0:21:270:21:29

and on top of that, this one has a slightly more unconventional layout

0:21:290:21:33

but if they're prepared to overlook these foibles,

0:21:330:21:37

they could get their hands on the style of property that most people

0:21:370:21:40

dream of buying when they look to make their escape to the country.

0:21:400:21:43

Let's see how we go.

0:21:430:21:45

Travelling just over 16 miles east

0:21:470:21:49

takes us to our third and final house

0:21:490:21:51

in the small village of Brandiston,

0:21:510:21:53

ten miles northwest of Norwich

0:21:530:21:55

and around a 40-minute drive from the coast.

0:21:550:21:58

The village is pretty rural, but around a five-minute drive away

0:21:580:22:01

is the attractive Georgian market town of Reepham.

0:22:010:22:04

Just over two miles away

0:22:050:22:06

and we're back in Brandiston at our mystery house.

0:22:060:22:09

It's something a little out of the ordinary - converted cattle barns.

0:22:090:22:14

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-It is.

0:22:160:22:19

-Completely different.

-We'll get the cars in that space.

0:22:190:22:21

I'll explain to you what we have here.

0:22:210:22:23

You've got a big L-shape so obviously from the garage there...

0:22:230:22:27

-Yeah.

-..right the way around there to, see that upright black pipe...

0:22:270:22:31

-Yeah.

-That is the corner of your property.

0:22:310:22:34

-That is the next door neighbour.

-OK.

-Yeah.

0:22:340:22:36

I would normally take you inside the house, but because this property

0:22:360:22:39

has something that I think you will love, let's start with that first.

0:22:390:22:43

-A shed?

-More than a shed.

0:22:430:22:45

Somewhere to put it, follow me.

0:22:450:22:46

-Now look at this.

-Wow.

0:22:490:22:52

The best viewing point is just from this corner.

0:22:520:22:54

You can see all the way down there.

0:22:540:22:56

-Oh, wow.

-All the way down there and this is all yours, exclusively.

0:22:560:22:59

-Wow. Wow.

-There's a lot of ground there.

0:22:590:23:01

-Let me show you the inside, at long last.

-Great.

0:23:010:23:05

This stunning property sits in almost an acre of land, which

0:23:050:23:08

has clearly impressed Steve and Mark and they don't seem to mind

0:23:080:23:11

the fact that it's semidetached at all.

0:23:110:23:13

We're starting off our tour in the striking kitchen.

0:23:130:23:17

I love the ceiling and I love the kitchen.

0:23:170:23:20

I think we do spend a lot of time here, that's social

0:23:200:23:23

because you can get out into the garden and you've got lovely views.

0:23:230:23:26

It's lovely.

0:23:260:23:28

I can't be happier, it's a great size and I like it a lot.

0:23:280:23:33

This beautifully converted barn is laid out in an inverted L-shape.

0:23:340:23:38

We're moving from the top of the property,

0:23:380:23:40

where the kitchen is located with an adjoining utility room,

0:23:400:23:43

to the side where the sitting room is found,

0:23:430:23:45

sandwiched between the bedrooms and overlooking the courtyard garden.

0:23:450:23:49

It's more than impressive, it's a wow, isn't it? Vaulted ceiling.

0:23:520:23:55

Vaulted ceiling, inglenook fireplace.

0:23:550:23:58

-Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

-Yeah. I can go through the list.

0:23:580:24:01

You've come up trumps here, haven't you?

0:24:010:24:04

And there's plenty of light - all those windows there.

0:24:040:24:06

Yeah, you couldn't wish for anything more.

0:24:060:24:08

I wasn't sure I could top Steve and Mark's reactions to our first

0:24:080:24:12

two houses, but the mystery house is certainly working hard for

0:24:120:24:15

its place as a serious contender.

0:24:150:24:18

This wing of the barn has a family bathroom, a bedroom-cum-study,

0:24:180:24:22

a double bedroom and past a single bedroom is the master -

0:24:220:24:25

the largest of the four bedrooms.

0:24:250:24:28

We're en suite here, which has got to be good news.

0:24:280:24:30

-So what do you think?

-Another vaulted ceiling.

0:24:300:24:33

It's got character.

0:24:330:24:34

There's enough for about five of us in the bed they've got there.

0:24:340:24:37

Now for guests, I mean, let's talk about the grandchildren.

0:24:370:24:40

You've got all the bedrooms you need.

0:24:400:24:42

-There's a lot there.

-Yeah.

0:24:420:24:44

Heading back outside, where there's plenty on offer too,

0:24:460:24:49

with a double car port perfect for Mark's classic car

0:24:490:24:53

sitting in almost an acre of land.

0:24:530:24:55

-How are you feeling?

-Over the moon.

-Excited.

0:24:560:25:00

Well, let's see if we can add to that in guessing the price.

0:25:000:25:03

It's over our budget, so I'd probably say 460, 470.

0:25:030:25:07

-Which one?

-460.

0:25:070:25:10

I think it's over budget and if he says 460, I'll say 470.

0:25:100:25:15

When it first came on the market it was over budget.

0:25:150:25:18

It's now on for offers around £450,000.

0:25:180:25:22

-Spot on budget, then.

-They've just gradually got better.

0:25:220:25:25

The first one was good, really good, good aspects.

0:25:250:25:28

The second one was in a village, had everything we wanted and this one...

0:25:280:25:32

-Has surpassed that.

-Yeah.

0:25:320:25:34

This superbly designed brick-and-tile barn conversion

0:25:340:25:37

is bang on Steve and Mark's upper budget

0:25:370:25:40

but they would have to do virtually nothing to it.

0:25:400:25:43

It has just the amount of rooms they're looking for

0:25:430:25:45

to accommodate visiting family and friends and although it's

0:25:450:25:48

semidetached, the next-door neighbour is only attached

0:25:480:25:50

at the far end of the property adjoining the guest bedroom.

0:25:500:25:54

Outside is a blank canvas of a garden which Mark

0:25:540:25:56

could make his own and although the location feels rural,

0:25:560:25:59

it's only a couple of miles from local amenities.

0:25:590:26:02

Well, hopefully we've given you lots to discuss,

0:26:020:26:05

-so let's find you somewhere to do just that, shall we?

-Yeah.

0:26:050:26:09

Hi.

0:26:150:26:17

Well, after the reactions I saw this morning,

0:26:170:26:20

I've got a fair idea of what the favourite property may be.

0:26:200:26:23

-Put me out of my misery.

-Mystery house.

0:26:230:26:25

-What do you what to do about it?

-Get my cheque book out.

0:26:250:26:27

-Do you? It's that good?

-Yes.

-Yeah, it's that good.

-Yes.

0:26:270:26:30

For me, it was always a dream to try and own a converted barn.

0:26:300:26:34

I think it's the home for us to retire to, basically

0:26:340:26:38

because it fulfils everything on our wish list.

0:26:380:26:41

-Are you going to go to the estate agents from here?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

0:26:410:26:44

Well, I wish you both the very best of luck.

0:26:440:26:47

I mean, it does seem completely suited to you,

0:26:470:26:50

so whatever happens or hopefully when you secure the deal...

0:26:500:26:53

-let us know, won't you?

-Yeah, we'll do that.

-We will do that.

0:26:530:26:57

For most of us, when we look to buy a property,

0:27:020:27:05

our primary focus is understandably on its location,

0:27:050:27:09

but as Mark and Steve have been here to Norfolk

0:27:090:27:11

so many times over the past 30-odd years, they instinctively knew

0:27:110:27:15

if an area worked for them

0:27:150:27:17

and then they were able to focus on a house itself.

0:27:170:27:20

But I must admit I was getting a bit concerned

0:27:200:27:22

when they seemed to be falling in love with everything we showed them.

0:27:220:27:25

That was until they saw the mystery property.

0:27:250:27:28

Sure, it had everything they said they were after

0:27:280:27:31

on their shopping list, but it also had that one thing that

0:27:310:27:34

you can't quite put your finger on - and that's the feeling

0:27:340:27:37

it gives you when you first see it and you walk over the threshold.

0:27:370:27:41

So, hopefully we'll hear some good news later this afternoon

0:27:410:27:44

once they've had a visit to the estate agents.

0:27:440:27:47

I'm looking forward to finding out.

0:27:470:27:48

Steve and Mark had their offer on the mystery house accepted

0:27:500:27:53

the very next day,

0:27:530:27:54

but unfortunately, the sale has since fallen through.

0:27:540:27:57

We wish them the very best of luck as their house search continues.

0:27:570:28:01

If you would like to escape to the country in

0:28:010:28:03

Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland,

0:28:030:28:05

or perhaps even further afield to the continent,

0:28:050:28:07

and would like our help, you can apply online at...

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