Devon Escape to the Country


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I'm walking on one of only a handful of tombolos in the country.

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But where exactly am I?

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The mystery will be solved in just a few moments.

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On today's show, our house-hunters are a couple of ladies

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with one heck of a list of demands,

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but I still managed to serve up some belters.

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-Lovely.

-Yep.

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Just as long as it carries on like this I think you're on a winner.

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I think we could be.

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And whilst delivering things they do want,

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there are also a few features that weren't quite on the list.

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-Wow, what a surprise!

-Most unexpected.

-Isn't it?

-Yeah.

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Today I'm in Devon, and behind me is Burgh Island,

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which was the inspiration for two

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of Agatha Christie's famous murder-mystery novels.

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Now the island itself is connected to the mainland

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via strange beach phenomenon known as a tombolo,

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which occurs when two opposing currents meet

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and form this wave-shaped spit.

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Now, at high tide, the island itself is completely surrounded by water,

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but you can still get there with your feet dry

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via this sea tractor, which has been operating here since the 1930s.

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And once on the island,

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you can take advantage of a number of foot paths that all look out

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on this beautiful and spectacular Devonshire coastline.

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The ever-popular southwestern county of Devon

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sits between Dorset to the east and Cornwall to the west.

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The north of the county borders the Atlantic Ocean

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and offers a spectacular rugged coastline

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which boasts some of the highest sea cliffs in the country.

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The south of the county looks out over the more gentle waters

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of the English Channel.

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There are a number of attractive small towns and fishing villages

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dotted along the coast such as Salcombe,

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a popular sailing destination.

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Inland are rolling hillsides

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dotted with the region's famous dairy herds and other cattle.

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With the small, historic villages nestled along its valleys,

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it's a picture of rural England at its very best.

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But, what are today's buyers looking for? Let's meet them and find out.

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Vicki and her mother, Rosemary,

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live in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire

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and will be house hunting on behalf of their whole family

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as they all plan to move to Devon together.

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So we've got three generations of our family involved in the move.

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There's me, my mum, my dad, Ray,

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and then my brother, Chris, and his little boy, Ethan.

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There's always been a little bit of something missing.

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Haven't really spread our wings and, um...

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..if we're going to do it, then we need to do it now.

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We just all decided that actually we'd all quite like to go with them.

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We're probably ready for an adventure as well.

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A bit of a change of lifestyle.

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Rosemary and Ray are retired, but for Vicki,

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she's hoping the move will mean achieving a better work-life balance

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and the chance to develop one of her big passions - baking.

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It will be a big change for me work-wise.

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I'd love to be able to build my own business,

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so whether that's something to do with baking, you know,

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holiday lets, or you know, something like that.

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You know, it would be really exciting.

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The idea of this move is for them all to live back together

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in one big family home.

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So far the only experience we've had of living all under one roof

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is when we go on holiday, and we all get on well.

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To be living all as a family again,

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as long as we do have that bit of space,

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I'm sure we will get on absolutely fine.

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Their properties are on the market

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and they're now ready to embrace their new adventure.

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I feel really excited about the prospect of moving.

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I think I'm really ready for a change and a new adventure.

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Actually, it's really nice that I get to go with my family.

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We feel really lucky that they also want to join us in this...

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a new life.

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Rosemary, Vicki, and the family have chosen East Devon,

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so we're concentrating our search on villages and towns

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between Exeter and the Dorset border.

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But first, I need to find out more about the long list of requirements

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for this big family move.

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-Morning, ladies.

-Morning.

-Morning.

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We're looking for something quite different today.

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-You're moving en masse.

-Yep.

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-There is yourselves, obviously, there's Ray, your husband.

-Yes.

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-Your son, your brother, Chris.

-Yep.

-And his...

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-His son, Ethan.

-Ethan.

-Yep.

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Let's start with you and Ray.

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Specifically, what would you really love?

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A large house with lots of space.

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Lots of nice views, I think.

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Are you representing Chris as well as your own wants and desires?

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Yeah. Chris is quite keen on having somewhere with land.

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He'd quite like some animals in the future,

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whereas I think I've got my eye on something that's going to...

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perhaps have a business opportunity, maybe make us an income.

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Honestly...this isn't easy.

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-Land...

-That's why we've been looking for a while.

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So, let's talk about finances.

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How much are you looking to spend?

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If there was something

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that was absolutely perfect, we're talking about £910,000.

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And then it slides downwards to, you know...

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If it was just something that was just a big house

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that was big enough for all of us to live in...

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But with an acre as a minimum.

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Yeah, then probably be looking at sort of £750,000 upwards.

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It kind of depends on...

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-The potential.

-The potential of somewhere.

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-Our primary focus is to find all of you, the family, a home.

-Yep.

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-With some land.

-Yes.

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And then, if there's opportunities along the way

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for business potential, then we'll discuss that. OK?

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-Yes.

-Let's have a cup of tea before we start, OK?

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-Yep, OK.

-Lovely.

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So, for a maximum budget of £910,000, there are plenty of wants.

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The first is for a large house with at least five bedrooms

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and a good living space for this family of five to spread out in.

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For Vicki's new business venture, she's after a big kitchen

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and a holiday letting option.

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Whilst Rosemary is happy with one acre of land,

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son, Chris, ideally wants three to start keeping some livestock.

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And rural views are definitely on the list.

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We've worked hard to find three strong options

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which cater for their many requests,

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but I won't be revealing the all-important price tag

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until after each house tour.

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The final offering is a mystery house

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which guarantees for some big decisions this week.

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For our first property, we're going to the town of Honiton,

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which is located half an hour east of the city of Exeter

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and 25 minutes from the coast.

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Honiton is a busy market town which offers the family

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a practical mix of shops and facilities.

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Just a mile from the centre of town,

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the surroundings quickly become very rural

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and up a quiet country lane we find our first property.

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So, ladies...

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-This is house number one.

-All right.

-OK.

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-It looks very nice.

-Yeah.

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Now, it's an old farmhouse with... Well, it's been converted as well.

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Some of the barns were converted with more modern extensions

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and restorations at the far gable end.

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Is this the sort of house you could see yourselves en masse living in?

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I think so. I mean, it looks big enough from the outside.

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Views....

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This is all very positive so far.

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-Yep, so far so good.

-Yes, so far. Can we...

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-Itching to get in.

-That's what I want to hear. Let's go inside.

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Come on.

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Parts of this farmhouse date back to the 17th century,

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but it's had more recent additions

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and conversions to turn it into a sizable and adaptable property

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with five bedrooms and three living rooms.

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-OK, first room - the most important room for you bakers, isn't it?

-Yes.

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-Very nice.

-Now, you told me that you quite like the idea of all sitting together as a family.

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-Yeah.

-Which according to current owners,

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-that's exactly what they do here.

-Yes. It's really nice.

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Yeah, it's got loads of character.

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-Very nice kitchen.

-So far?

-Lovely.

-Yep.

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Just as long as it carries on like this I think you are on a winner.

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I think we could be. Follow me.

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-OK, so, another reception room.

-That's nice.

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-Another nice room.

-Yeah, it's lovely.

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This is good. I just want you to get the flavour of everything.

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-Yeah.

-Keep going.

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Now, one of three reception rooms, or sitting rooms, rather.

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-Yeah, it's got nice view out the window.

-Lovely view out the windows.

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-This could be completely separate.

-Yes.

-You've got a wet room there.

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You've got a second staircase there going up to a master bedroom.

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Oh, right.

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So this could be a completely self-contained one-bedroom cottage.

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-Oh, I could live here.

-Yes.

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Let's go up the staircase to give you an idea of the flow of it all.

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-OK.

-Then will come back down the other one.

-Right.

-Follow me.

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Passing through the kitchen and dining room,

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this first sitting room is located at one end of the house

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and has a staircase in the corner which leads to the master bedroom.

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-So, pretty much the footprint of the living room down below.

-Right.

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-Wow, indeed. It's such a lovely size.

-Yeah, nice high ceiling.

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-Could be more than a bedroom.

-A bit like a suite.

-Yes, definitely.

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Can see us falling out over this room,

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so I'm going to get us out of the theatre of conflict

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as quick as possible.

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This suite is just the first of five double bedrooms.

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-The second bedroom - good size, double.

-Yes.

-OK.

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We've got another one just up here.

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Now, both of these bedrooms are served by this family bathroom here.

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Then you've got two other double bedrooms,

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both of which are en-suite.

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-Goodness.

-Right, OK.

-What haven't I ticked yet?

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-The garden.

-The garden?

-Yes.

-Follow me.

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The house is set in just under an acre

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which incorporates a garden, a raised deck, a small paddock,

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and a building which could be a future option for holiday letting.

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So, outbuilding-wise, you get that block there.

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No planning consent yet

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-but something to think about for the future.

-Yeah, definitely.

-Yes.

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Now, obviously this garden bit here and then beyonds, well...

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Oh! Chickens.

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-And sheep.

-Yes.

-What do we think, all in all?

-I think it's...

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a very definite possibility.

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

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About £780,000?

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£775,000?

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Well done. It's on the market for a guide price of £750,000.

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-Oh.

-Right, OK. That's not bad news.

-No.

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So, at the bottom end of their budget range,

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this is a fully restored and converted 17th-century farmhouse

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offering great flexibility for the family with plenty of bedrooms

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and reception rooms, and a large family kitchen.

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There is the potential for Vicki

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to look into holiday rentals with the stables.

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However, the gardens and paddock

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offer just under an acre of land

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which may fall short of brother Chris' hopes.

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-This has gone down very well, hasn't it?

-Certainly has.

-Let's go to the next place.

-OK.

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On the edge of Dartmoor stands a building with illustrious claim

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to be the last castle to be built in England.

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Finished just 80 years ago,

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Castle Drogo was the brainchild of Julius Drewe -

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a retail tycoon who wanted to create an authentic-looking castle.

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He commissioned great British architect Edwin Lutyens,

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most famous for his role in designing government buildings

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of New Delhi in India and the Cenotaph in London.

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Built entirely of granite, Castle Drogo has battlements,

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turrets and mullioned windows.

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But also flat roofs and no external guttering.

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Within a year of completion, it started to leak.

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Today an extensive repair job is under way

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and I'm meeting project manager, Tim Camborne, to find out more.

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So, Tim, this, on first inspection, looks like a castle. Is it?

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-It's built to look like a castle.

-Yeah.

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-But it's actually a country house.

-How old is it?

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It was started in 1911 and finished in 1930,

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cos it was interrupted by the First World War.

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What's all this building work going on then?

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The problem is, it leaks through the roof, the walls and windows.

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Some of it is just down to age and exposure,

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being right on the side of Dartmoor.

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The windows are particularly prone to the lashing

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they get from the weather.

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We are tackling all those elements. So the roof has been done.

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The windows have been taken out and refurbished.

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-And all the pointing gets replaced.

-That's no small job.

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-Can we take a closer look?

-Yeah, sure.

-Lead the way.

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Gifted to the National Trust in 1974,

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the restoration of Castle Drogo

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is one of the largest projects the Trust has ever undertaken.

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With exposure to the brutal weather being the major concern,

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it's all being done under an enormous temporary shell.

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So even when you're here

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you start to appreciate the sheer scale of the job you've got.

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What sort of size are we looking at?

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The roof is approximately two football pitches.

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That doesn't sound that big but there is more to it than that,

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-isn't there?

-It would be simple if it was just two

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flat football pitches. But there are 28 different roofs.

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'With the roof stripped back, a new modern membrane will be laid.'

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-This stuff.

-That's very different that there.

-Very different.

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Very different.

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This is the top two layers and they get hot-bonded together.

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And it's not just the roof.

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The £11 million weatherproofing job, funded in part by lottery money

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and donations, includes mending the leaky windows and walls.

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Being a Grade I listed property,

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all the work must be carried out as sympathetically as possible.

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The windows were a major problem here as well,

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due to the what, the location of this site?

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Pretty much, yeah. The exposure.

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The lead cames - the bits that hold the glass together -

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they started to break down. What we do is keep all the original glass.

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These are all the original planes from this window

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and if all gone back into the same location.

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-These are the first two, out of 913.

-LAUGHING:

-No!

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Something like 450 have been taken out so far.

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They're currently being prepared off-site and they'll come back.

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I can hear a lone power tool...

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THEY LAUGH

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I've done that job and it's a horrible job.

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Basically drilling a masonry bit into the mortar.

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How much mortar is going to need to be removed from here?

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-64km of joints.

-64km of pointing.

-Yep.

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-911 remaining windows to be replaced.

-Yep.

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And two football pitches of roofs. All to be done when?

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Hopefully to finish in the winter of 2016-2017, that's the plan.

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-I wish you the best of luck, Tim.

-Thank you very much.

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Really interesting.

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For our second property,

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we're off a little further inland to the village of Dunkeswell,

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located in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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Containing many classic thatch properties,

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it's a small picturesque village with an active local community.

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Up a country lane and overlooking the village is our second property.

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Now then, let's step back a bit.

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-We get the best view, I think, from this lawn.

-Lovely.

-Very impressive.

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Yes, very nice again.

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I like the stone, like the windows.

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17th-century, but there's part of this building obviously a lot older.

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-So, want to go inside?

-Yes, please!

-Please.

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This renovated 17th-century farmhouse is Grade II listed.

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Built from mellow local flintstone,

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it's full of character

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including a number of original beer stone mullioned windows.

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-Nice wide door. Look at this entrance hall.

-Wow.

-Wowee!

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-Some entrance hall.

-It certainly is.

-So let's start in living room.

-OK.

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-What do you think?

-Nice, cosy room.

-Yeah.

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Just a little bit on the dark side.

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There's not a great deal of artificial light in this house

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and I think that's one thing you might want to look into.

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-Right.

-Let me show you one of the kitchens.

-One of the kitchens?

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So, the kitchen.

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-Very much a farmhouse kitchen, isn't it?

-Yes.

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I think as a family kitchen it's not what we had imagined.

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It is a little bit on the small side.

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Yeah, it's just the way it's laid out.

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Take a picture in your mind's eye of this,

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-and follow me into the dining room.

-OK.

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So now when you see this...

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-Does it make you feel any differently about the kitchen?

-Yes.

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-Yes.

-It puts a different complexion on it completely.

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-And this is really...

-Yeah, I love the fireplace.

0:17:010:17:03

Love the fireplace as well.

0:17:030:17:05

There's loads of bedrooms to look at,

0:17:050:17:07

but I want to show you one particularly special one.

0:17:070:17:10

-Follow me.

-OK.

0:17:100:17:11

Also on the ground floor, as well as a front reception room,

0:17:110:17:15

there's a family room to the rear,

0:17:150:17:16

a large utility room which could be converted

0:17:160:17:18

into a professional baking kitchen for Vicki,

0:17:180:17:21

and another space currently used as an office.

0:17:210:17:24

Upstairs, we begin the tour of the six bedrooms.

0:17:240:17:27

-What do you think of this?

-Wow.

-Yeah.

0:17:310:17:33

-I take it this is the master suite.

-It... Well, yes. Or is it?

0:17:330:17:39

Cos there's a few...a few different options.

0:17:390:17:42

Yes, and I like the light coming in.

0:17:420:17:45

Now, that is a glorious en suite.

0:17:450:17:47

On this floor, you've got a lot of accommodation. You've got...

0:17:470:17:52

a double en-suite bedroom there.

0:17:520:17:54

You've got another double bedroom with a bathroom opposite.

0:17:540:17:57

Another double bedroom beyond that.

0:17:570:17:59

Then, beyond that, you've got a double bedroom,

0:17:590:18:03

what could be a dressing room,

0:18:030:18:06

and a bathroom to service just that master suite.

0:18:060:18:10

-So there'd be no more fighting over the master suite, then.

-No.

0:18:100:18:12

And I don't think anybody would be getting a raw deal, are they?

0:18:120:18:16

-No. But through here is something quite special.

-OK.

0:18:160:18:18

-So...

-Wow, what a surprise!

-Ah, the second kitchen.

0:18:220:18:26

Wow.

0:18:260:18:28

-Most unexpected.

-Isn't it?

-Yeah, I wasn't expecting that at all.

0:18:280:18:32

-This has been a self-catering holiday apartment.

-Yes, it's all pretty much ready to go.

0:18:320:18:37

Let's go outside and talk about the land

0:18:370:18:39

and talk about everything else that comes with it.

0:18:390:18:41

-The whole package, if you like. OK, lead the way.

-Thank you.

0:18:410:18:45

The property is set in just under an acre which surrounds the house.

0:18:450:18:49

There's a lawn garden and a parcel of land at the back.

0:18:490:18:53

But there's also some business potential for Vicki.

0:18:530:18:56

Those barns have previously had planning consent

0:18:560:19:01

for two two-bedroom self-contained holiday cottages.

0:19:010:19:06

Right, OK.

0:19:060:19:08

That's interesting.

0:19:080:19:10

We haven't talked price yet. So let's discuss that.

0:19:100:19:12

-£875,000?

-OK. Vicki?

0:19:130:19:15

I was going to say £850,000.

0:19:150:19:17

-The guide price for this is £775,000.

-Oh.

0:19:170:19:22

-Oh, that is a surprise.

-It is a surprise.

0:19:220:19:25

For £135,000 under their top budget,

0:19:250:19:28

this is a huge renovated 17th-century farmhouse

0:19:280:19:32

with no fewer than six bedrooms, five reception rooms,

0:19:320:19:35

and all full of period charm.

0:19:350:19:38

There's the option to let out a self-contained apartment

0:19:380:19:41

as well as convert the barns into holiday properties.

0:19:410:19:44

There's just under an acre of land which is what Rosemary asked for,

0:19:440:19:47

but maybe not what brother Chris was hoping for.

0:19:470:19:50

-So, pretty good day, then?

-It has. It really has been.

0:19:530:19:56

Yeah, it's been a good day.

0:19:560:19:57

Quite a bit of land at the back of this house, isn't there?

0:19:570:19:59

Yeah, it's quite a lot to look at.

0:19:590:20:01

-And hopefully got a bit to think about.

-Certainly have.

0:20:010:20:03

-Yep, definitely.

-Those barns are something else.

0:20:030:20:05

Good, I'm glad you like it. Let's go back.

0:20:050:20:08

I think Vicki and Rosemary seemed genuinely surprised

0:20:140:20:18

on the quality of houses we showed them yesterday.

0:20:180:20:20

But I think that's because we centred on the home aspect

0:20:200:20:23

of their property search.

0:20:230:20:25

So, for today's mystery house, we're going to be showing them something with a bit of enterprise.

0:20:250:20:29

Now, it's got a B&B element to it, some self-catering accommodation,

0:20:290:20:34

but I keep hearing about Chris, Rosemary's son and Vicki's brother.

0:20:340:20:38

He wants a rural business, maybe with a bit of land.

0:20:380:20:42

He might like this cos it's essentially a working farm.

0:20:420:20:46

For the mystery house, we're travelling further east

0:20:520:20:54

to the village of Musbury,

0:20:540:20:56

close to the Dorset border and just five minutes from the coast.

0:20:560:20:59

The River Axe runs through the west of the village

0:21:000:21:03

and it lies in the East Devon Way,

0:21:030:21:04

a 40-mile walking route through the Axe Valley.

0:21:040:21:06

Located along this Valley in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

0:21:060:21:10

and with views to die for, is our mystery house.

0:21:100:21:14

So, best spot to look at the house from, I think, is here

0:21:160:21:20

for your first impressions.

0:21:200:21:21

Very nice. Love the stone.

0:21:210:21:24

-You've seen what's over there?

-Yep.

-It's a farm.

0:21:240:21:27

Do you want to get back in the car and go home?

0:21:270:21:29

-BOTH:

-No!

-Definitely not.

-No.

0:21:290:21:32

First off, the building. What do you see?

0:21:320:21:35

Pretty stone farmhouse. Looks quite large.

0:21:350:21:40

-It's semidetached.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-OK?

-Right?

-To get you back on...

0:21:400:21:44

Look, you've got a bit quiet about that, haven't you?

0:21:440:21:46

THEY LAUGH

0:21:460:21:48

Well... Just, no, I'm reserving my judgment.

0:21:480:21:51

I can't wait to get inside.

0:21:510:21:53

It may be attached

0:21:530:21:54

but this 18th-century farmhouse offers masses of living and

0:21:540:21:57

sleeping accommodation, as well as a separate annexe for holiday lets.

0:21:570:22:00

Let's start off with one of the many reception rooms

0:22:000:22:05

-we have in this house.

-Right.

-It's very cosy.

-Another nice fireplace.

0:22:050:22:09

-Yes.

-What do you think of this floor? These lovely flags?

0:22:090:22:12

-I like it, actually.

-I think Mum has different ideas over this.

0:22:120:22:15

Hall, kitchens, utility rooms - I'm just not sure.

0:22:150:22:20

I'm not sure about main lounges.

0:22:200:22:22

The good thing about this house is that you could have

0:22:220:22:25

one of the reception rooms with a carpet in,

0:22:250:22:28

another reception room with stone, and you've still got a couple spare.

0:22:280:22:32

There are two further living rooms,

0:22:320:22:34

one of which is used as an office, and then the final downstairs

0:22:340:22:36

reception room - currently a dining room.

0:22:360:22:40

Wow!

0:22:400:22:41

-It's super.

-Yeah.

-Lovely dining room.

0:22:410:22:46

-That's what you call a dining room.

-Yes.

-So, four reception rooms.

0:22:460:22:50

-Who gets what? Is it one for each member of the family?

-It could be.

0:22:510:22:55

Pretty much, isn't it?

0:22:550:22:56

The last room downstairs is the all-important kitchen.

0:22:560:23:00

-A proper farmhouse kitchen for you to argue over.

-Yes, definitely.

0:23:000:23:06

-Definitely.

-This is a real farmhouse kitchen, isn't it?

-Yes.

0:23:060:23:10

There's still plenty of room for eating in here, isn't there?

0:23:100:23:13

-Yes, it's a proper family kitchen, isn't it?

-Yes, it's what we wanted.

0:23:130:23:17

-This has gone down pretty well, hasn't it?

-Yes.

-Very nice.

0:23:170:23:19

-So far, so good.

-Don't say it accusingly.

0:23:190:23:23

Vicki might be unsure about the good news continuing upstairs,

0:23:240:23:28

but I think she'll remain happy when she sees what's on offer.

0:23:280:23:31

There are four good-sized bedrooms,

0:23:310:23:33

one of which has an en-suite bathroom,

0:23:330:23:35

and on top of that, there's still the main suite.

0:23:350:23:37

-This is the master bedroom.

-Right.

-Wow, nice and light. Lovely views.

0:23:390:23:44

Views over your own land.

0:23:440:23:46

I just want to show you this room. It's amazing. Follow me.

0:23:460:23:49

As en-suites go, you don't get much better than this.

0:23:490:23:52

-Oh!

-No, you don't.

-Absolutely.

0:23:520:23:55

-Interesting feature in the corner.

-A sauna.

0:23:550:23:58

THEY LAUGH

0:23:580:24:00

-I've not seen one of these before in an en-suite.

-No.

0:24:000:24:02

Let's go back into the bedroom

0:24:020:24:04

and have a quick chat about what we've got here.

0:24:040:24:06

This is obviously the master suite.

0:24:060:24:09

Then, at the far end, you've got self-catering accommodation.

0:24:090:24:12

One up, one down.

0:24:120:24:14

-And that can get anything up to £600 per week in the peak season.

-Right.

0:24:140:24:19

That's very attractive.

0:24:190:24:21

So the house offers ready-to-go-income in the form

0:24:210:24:25

of a self-catering flat.

0:24:250:24:27

But there is also huge potential outside as it is currently

0:24:270:24:30

a working farm. And the land it comes with is considerable.

0:24:300:24:33

-Chris, he reckoned he wanted some land.

-Yes.

-You've got over 37 acres.

0:24:350:24:41

THEY LAUGH

0:24:410:24:43

Just a small parcel of land, then(!)

0:24:440:24:46

It's a perfect smallholding.

0:24:460:24:48

How much do you think it is?

0:24:480:24:50

It's certainly surpassed the budget, I think.

0:24:500:24:52

-I'd go 950.

-OK.

-No, I'd go more than that.

0:24:520:24:58

-990. Even 995.

-OK.

0:24:580:25:02

Well, the asking price for this property is offers around £935,000.

0:25:020:25:09

-OK. I like the word "offers."

-Yeah.

0:25:090:25:12

-I'm scared.

-That doesn't surprise me.

0:25:120:25:15

It's a proper mystery house

0:25:150:25:17

when it gets people out of their comfort zone.

0:25:170:25:19

It has given everything you've asked for and more.

0:25:190:25:21

This is your opportunity to go and discover everything here.

0:25:210:25:25

It's going to be a long few hours.

0:25:250:25:27

It's over the £910,000 budget but open to offers.

0:25:280:25:32

This 18th-century farmhouse has enough bedrooms

0:25:320:25:35

and reception rooms to give everyone the space they need.

0:25:350:25:38

There is a separate holiday annexe,

0:25:380:25:40

ready to go for immediate bookings.

0:25:400:25:42

And where this property really comes into its own is the 37 acres

0:25:420:25:46

of farmland for Chris to fulfil his dreams of keeping livestock.

0:25:460:25:50

Ladies, I've just realised that I didn't mention the pool, did I?

0:25:520:25:56

-BOTH: No.

-But we discovered it.

0:25:560:25:57

Why don't we find somewhere to have a bit of a discussion

0:25:570:26:00

and then we'll chat through everything after that?

0:26:000:26:02

-OK.

-Let's go.

0:26:020:26:04

So, ladies, after a bit of a time, are you close to a decision?

0:26:090:26:13

What's your current thoughts?

0:26:130:26:15

I don't think we've quite come to a decision.

0:26:150:26:17

I think, you know, there's definitely two houses

0:26:170:26:20

that feel like they're in the running.

0:26:200:26:22

-House number one. Definite possibility.

-Mm-hmm.

0:26:220:26:26

-And house number three.

-The mystery house!

-Yes.

0:26:260:26:28

They are two very different houses, aren't they?

0:26:280:26:31

House number one and the mystery house.

0:26:310:26:33

House number one is the safe option.

0:26:330:26:35

It's a bit of a project if you wanted to do something.

0:26:350:26:37

House number three is a completely different proposition.

0:26:370:26:40

What do you think your brother, Chris, would prefer?

0:26:400:26:42

I think, for him, the clear winner would be the mystery house.

0:26:420:26:46

It gives the land and the lifestyle I think he's really after.

0:26:460:26:50

If we sold some of the land possibly on the mystery house,

0:26:500:26:53

I think we would probably all go for that one.

0:26:530:26:56

Well, good. Let's hope it gets to the next stage.

0:26:560:26:58

I wish you both the very best of luck.

0:26:580:27:00

-Whatever happens, please let us know.

-We certainly will.

-Thank you.

0:27:000:27:03

It's not hard to see how a family of four adults

0:27:080:27:11

have struggled to find the right house for them.

0:27:110:27:14

Bearing in mind, well, each and every one of them

0:27:140:27:16

wants something slightly different from the same property.

0:27:160:27:19

I think we're at least halfway there with Rosemary

0:27:190:27:21

and Vicki opting for house number one.

0:27:210:27:24

The home itself seemed ideally suited for such a large family.

0:27:240:27:28

But I also hope, whilst they're down here in Devon, they at least

0:27:280:27:31

heed my advice and go for a second viewing at the mystery house.

0:27:310:27:35

When the other members of the family see the up-and-running

0:27:350:27:38

letting accommodation, along with all of that land,

0:27:380:27:41

well, you never know, it may well just work its charms.

0:27:410:27:45

I'm certainly looking forward to finding out.

0:27:450:27:47

See you next time.

0:27:470:27:49

Rosemary and Vicki went for second viewings on our first house

0:27:490:27:52

and the mystery house but decided the land

0:27:520:27:54

was not enough at the first and too much at the other.

0:27:540:27:57

Their search for a perfect package to suit the whole family continues.

0:27:570:28:01

If you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland,

0:28:010:28:04

England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or perhaps even further afield to the Continent,

0:28:040:28:08

and would like our help,

0:28:080:28:10

you can apply online at...

0:28:100:28:14

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