0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today's programme comes from a county internationally renowned for its saucy credentials.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Want to know where I'm talking about?
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Well, keep watching as we Escape To The Country.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28'In today's show, we'll be helping a couple
0:00:28 > 0:00:30'break free from their urban house
0:00:30 > 0:00:34'and search for a spacious rural home for their expanding family.'
0:00:34 > 0:00:37I love it. I get a really good feeling from in here.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39They'll view an array of abodes,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42but with a discerning eye, they're going to be tricky to please.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45It's very modern for me and I'm just not modern.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47And there's the mystery house,
0:00:47 > 0:00:53which they may not have selected to view themselves, but offers endless possibilities.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Well, today's programme comes from Worcestershire,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03a county renowned for its deliciously tart and spicy Worcestershire sauce.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07It was first bottled and available to buy from the late 1830s
0:01:07 > 0:01:09and it's still going strong to this day.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It tastes delicious on cheese on toast.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17But it's not just the culinary charms of this county that make it so appealing.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Worcestershire is located in the West Midlands
0:01:20 > 0:01:23in the group of counties often referred to as the heart of England.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Set between the grand Malvern Hills to the west
0:01:26 > 0:01:29and the picturesque Cotswolds to the southeast,
0:01:29 > 0:01:34this county's landscape makes for a highly desirable place to live.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38The rich, fertile soil lends itself well to agricultural farming
0:01:38 > 0:01:43and of course, the famous spring water brought prosperity to the town of Great Malvern.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48The average detached house in Worcestershire
0:01:48 > 0:01:53is £291,000 and that's a steep 10% higher than the national average.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57But I have a sneaking suspicion that won't be too much of a problem
0:01:57 > 0:01:58for today's house buyers.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Today's property seekers are sales manager Mike
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and full-time mum Cretia, who live in a four-bed home in Basingstoke.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Living space wasn't a problem when they first moved in,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10but with three children and a fourth on its way
0:02:10 > 0:02:17and also a collection of various family pets, they're keen to escape city living and head for the hills.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20I guess our main motivation
0:02:20 > 0:02:24for escaping to the country will be to give the kids
0:02:24 > 0:02:28the upbringing that we had. We both grew up in the countryside.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Cretia grew up in Brecon and I grew up in the Northeast.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35And we'd just like to be able to give them the opportunity
0:02:35 > 0:02:38of running free and enjoying the countryside.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Growing up knowing animals and just the freedom to do
0:02:42 > 0:02:44whatever they want to do.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48And they're already dreaming of what their new life might entail.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Hobbies and pursuits that we're looking for in the country
0:02:51 > 0:02:53are simply to do with animals.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55The country lifestyle.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Any sanctuaries nearby -
0:02:57 > 0:03:01we'd really like to get the children involved in that.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Horse riding...
0:03:03 > 0:03:05especially Jenny would like to start.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07I don't need to do it.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11I'll stick to my woodwork, and just build the homes for all your animals.
0:03:11 > 0:03:12That sounds good.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Mike and Cretia are looking for their forever home
0:03:15 > 0:03:17and have given plenty of thought to their top priorities.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21The kitchen, for us, is the heart of the home and we'd ideally like
0:03:21 > 0:03:25to move somewhere where it's much bigger, ideally with an Aga
0:03:25 > 0:03:29and somewhere where we can just enjoy life and have the family here.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33When we move out to the country, I'll be spending a lot more time
0:03:33 > 0:03:36working from home, so bigger office space'd be really great.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40These are our chickens. Our first step to getting
0:03:40 > 0:03:42all the animals that we really want.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45A new house with a bigger piece of land would be ideal
0:03:45 > 0:03:50to get a pony for Jenny, maybe a few pigs and everything else, really.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Mike also loves carpentry and has quite a selection of tools.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58So he's looking for a large garage or outbuilding to store them all in.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Their requirements sound pretty straightforward,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05but having viewed over 30 homes in the last 18 months,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09none of which have had the right feel, it could be a tricky search.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12So in a nutshell, what are they looking for?
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Our dream property in the country would be a minimum of five bedroom,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19detached, characterful property.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23As rural as possible. A very big farmhouse kitchen would be lovely.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26And a study for me, please.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28And a study. Of course.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31To be able to afford their ideal country existence,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34they'll need to get a good price for their current home.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36We've arranged for their house to be valued
0:04:36 > 0:04:38to see how much they'll have to play with.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42This tastefully-presented, four-bedroom detached family property,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45in this favourable position, overlooking a green area...
0:04:45 > 0:04:50for that reason, I put a valuation figure of £345,000.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55We know that the state of the market at the moment
0:04:55 > 0:04:58is pretty slow, so I think we're comfortable with that.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02If we found our dream property that matched all our criteria,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06the maximum we'd be prepared to pay is 600,000.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10With such a healthy budget, I think Mike and Cretia should have a good shot
0:05:10 > 0:05:14at finding their ideal rural retreat, but they want a lot of things.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17They want a house full of character and at least five bedrooms
0:05:17 > 0:05:21for that growing family. It's got to have a farmhouse-style kitchen
0:05:21 > 0:05:23and some quiet office space for Mike.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28On top of that, they've got a lot of animals, so they need a big plot of land.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Mike and Cretia are keen to live in the Malvern Hills,
0:05:31 > 0:05:35so we're short-listing properties roughly between Kidderminster
0:05:35 > 0:05:36and Great Malvern.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41Over the course of two days, I'll be showing them a selection of prime rural properties
0:05:41 > 0:05:44but as ever, I'll be keeping quiet about the prices
0:05:44 > 0:05:47until they've had a good look around.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49The last house on our list will be the mystery house -
0:05:49 > 0:05:52a property picked to match their requirements,
0:05:52 > 0:05:56but at the same time, offer them something a little bit different.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Well, if you're itching to make a move and head to the country
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and Worcester has whetted your appetite,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04there are plenty of properties to choose from. Take a look.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08If you're lucky enough to be property shopping around the £1 million mark,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11how about this seven-bedroom house in Cropthorne?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14It's on the market for just under £1.2 million.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18The elegant home dates back to the turn of the last century.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22It's immaculately decorated and for those warm summer days,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25there's the luxury of a heated swimming pool.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29If a farmhouse is more to your taste and you have £750,000 to spend,
0:06:29 > 0:06:34then maybe this Grade Two listed property in Holt Heath might suit.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38There's a fantastic farmhouse-style kitchen, complete with flagstone floor
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and if you want to get away from it all, how about escaping
0:06:41 > 0:06:46to your very own island in the centre of a large garden pond?
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Or finally, if you have £475,000 in your pocket and have always fancied
0:06:51 > 0:06:53owning a timber-framed cottage,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57then this three-bedroom gem in Eckington is up for grabs.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00With an inglenook fireplace and exposed beams,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03it's every inch of a country home and you can sit back
0:07:03 > 0:07:06and admire it from the established private garden.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Hello, guys. It's beautiful round here.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Need I ask, why the move from Basingstoke to around here?
0:07:14 > 0:07:15The views, for one thing.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18It's absolutely gorgeous. And the place we have now,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21we're busting out of. We've got three kids and a menagerie
0:07:21 > 0:07:26and another one on the way, so we want lots more space, really.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28With all these children that we've got
0:07:28 > 0:07:30and you're thinking of taking on some more animals,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33we are going to need a pretty big house. Yeah.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35We've got really good properties to show you.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39I am very excited because I think you're going to like them.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- And, of course, the mystery house. - Yes.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It will be something you wouldn't have thought of, but nothing to worry about.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Something to expand your mind with. I think we should get on with it.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Thank you. Great.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58So, Mike and Cretia have a budget of £600,000
0:07:58 > 0:08:02and are looking for a large home for their growing family.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Cretia is keen to have a good-sized kitchen and Mike needs a study
0:08:06 > 0:08:07for when he works from home.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Ideally, they'd like five bedrooms
0:08:09 > 0:08:12and they're looking for a garden large enough
0:08:12 > 0:08:15for the children to run around in and of course, house their animals.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18They are discerning buyers who know exactly what they want
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and having viewed over 30 houses in the last 18 months,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25I'm really hoping we'll be able to find them their perfect home.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27What are you most looking forward to
0:08:27 > 0:08:30about the search and about living round here?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33I think, mostly, we're just hoping that
0:08:33 > 0:08:37you guys have got a better recipe for finding houses than we do.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39We've not been very good at it.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42No. I think it'll be really exciting
0:08:42 > 0:08:44to see what you guys have come up with.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47What have you found so difficult? What exactly are you looking for?
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I think we've just had a picture in our mind what the house is
0:08:50 > 0:08:52that we want to move to.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56And I think I need to learn to compromise a little bit more.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00WE'VE had a picture in OUR mind. Yeah(!)
0:09:00 > 0:09:05I mean, hitting the budget and trying to find something with land
0:09:05 > 0:09:08and much bigger than where we are has been a bit of a struggle.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Trouble is that we're looking for a house that's going to be for ever, isn't it?
0:09:13 > 0:09:14So we want to get it right.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19- We're definitely never moving again. - No. Never.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21No pressure for us, then(!)
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Our first house is in the small village of Berrow,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26which lies in the south of the Malvern Hills,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28close to the Herefordshire border.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31It's the peaceful, rural setting Mike and Cretia want,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34so hopefully, it should provide the right feel.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Pendock, just a mile away, has a primary school for the children
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and a convenient village shop for picking up the groceries.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43What will they make of our first house?
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- Come on over.- Wow.- Lovely!
0:09:48 > 0:09:49Wow, indeed!
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- It is a big wow, isn't it? - It's fantastic.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55It's lovely. The setting is beautiful.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58You can't hear anything at all, but the birds, can you?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- It's great.- We are looking at a converted barn.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- Actually, it's a listed building. - Really?
0:10:03 > 0:10:071452, and it's a very special type of barn,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- as you'll see when we go inside. - It's beautiful.
0:10:11 > 0:10:12Absolutely beautiful.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Let's go inside and have a look.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24Come in.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27Have a look at this!
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Very impressive, isn't it?
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- Those beams are amazing!- Huge!
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Huge, that's right. 26-foot high.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Wow. You could have a big Christmas tree in there, couldn't you?
0:10:37 > 0:10:39- LAUGHTER - You absolutely could!
0:10:39 > 0:10:43I told you it was a special barn. That's because it's a cruck barn,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46one of only 14 in the county, and that refers to these types of beams.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49They come from a tree, they split the trunks,
0:10:49 > 0:10:51and then they bend in like that.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54- Oh, really?- Wow. - Quite impressive, huh?
0:10:54 > 0:10:55- It is!- Amazing, yeah.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00- I'm quite surprised it's all in one area.- Quite open-plan, isn't it?
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Open-plan in my head is sort of kitchen/diner, rather than...
0:11:04 > 0:11:06the living room, as well.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08It is beautiful, there's no getting around that.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12I mean, we haven't considered barns particularly, have we?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14So it's very different
0:11:14 > 0:11:17from, I think, what we have in our head about it all,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21but it's absolutely amazing, isn't it? Really impressive.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Let's have a bit of a look down here, shall we?
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- I love the big space for this dining table.- Yeah!
0:11:27 > 0:11:30It is something we'd absolutely need, a ten-seater.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The way the family's going, yeah!
0:11:33 > 0:11:37And then down here, they've got the living space
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- with a lovely feature fireplace. - That's beautiful.- Gorgeous.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44I just hadn't sort of pictured... this layout, really, in my head.
0:11:44 > 0:11:50I do prefer the separate rooms. Maybe that's only because that's what you're used to.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53I can see a great racetrack for the children round here!
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- LAUGHTER - I know a room that's important to you,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59which is part of this huge space, is the kitchen,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- so shall we go and have a look? - Yes, please.- Let's go.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08It's a beautiful kitchen. It's probably something that we would do ourselves, isn't it?
0:12:08 > 0:12:09I like...
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I like a nice bit of wood, and this is lovely.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Bit of oak. Lovely oak kitchen.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- Got pine floor. It's all about the wood, this house.- It is!
0:12:18 > 0:12:19LAUGHTER
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It's a beautiful kitchen, just maybe not where I pictured.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25OK, I get the feeling you've got a very clear
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- picture in your mind...- I do! THEY LAUGH
0:12:27 > 0:12:32- ..of what you're looking for. - That's why it's taken us so long to find somewhere!
0:12:32 > 0:12:33Yes, I'm sensing that!
0:12:33 > 0:12:39'It's always a challenge, but I do like buyers who know exactly what they want.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'The vast majority of the living space in this barn
0:12:42 > 0:12:45'is on the ground floor, and off the kitchen is a door that leads
0:12:45 > 0:12:47'through to a modern extension.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49'The utility room is first up,
0:12:49 > 0:12:52'which provides access to the back garden
0:12:52 > 0:12:55'and there's also a door to the downstairs loo.
0:12:55 > 0:13:01'Next door is the family bathroom, which is small but, like the rest of the property, immaculately finished.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05'Four of the five bedrooms in this barn are off this hallway
0:13:05 > 0:13:08'and we're heading straight to their room.'
0:13:08 > 0:13:09Oh, wow! Fantastic room!
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It's a great space, isn't it?
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- That's lovely. That's the size of our bed, so...- Really?
0:13:15 > 0:13:19And it fits it easily, doesn't it? No problem at all.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22No problem at all, lots of space either side.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- How do you feel about en suite? - En suite would be great. That would be lovely.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- If we could provide one, extra tick. - Absolutely.- Come over here.
0:13:31 > 0:13:32Voila!
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Oh, lovely!
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- What do you think of that? - Look at the size of that!
0:13:37 > 0:13:40- Oh, excellent!- Yes!
0:13:40 > 0:13:41Nice big shower - perfect.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45- It's lovely.- A good bonus? - Yes, definitely.- Excellent.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Starting to warm more to this property?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49I'm...living in here and loving it.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Two of the other bedrooms on this floor are generous doubles
0:13:52 > 0:13:55and certainly big enough for the children.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59The last bedroom down here is currently used as a study
0:13:59 > 0:14:02and my guess is Mike would probably want to claim it, too,
0:14:02 > 0:14:03which makes perfect sense.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Upstairs, is the fifth and final bedroom
0:14:06 > 0:14:11and it has the beauty of its own bathroom just across the landing.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Oh, lovely!
0:14:12 > 0:14:16- For the boys.- Yes, this is what I was thinking of for the boys.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Excellent for them, isn't it?
0:14:18 > 0:14:20It's great - with their own shower and...
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Keep them right out of the way!
0:14:22 > 0:14:23THEY LAUGH
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- Really nice views, as well, out the window.- Beautiful, aren't they?
0:14:27 > 0:14:31- Absolutely stunning, looking out onto the Malverns.- Beautiful.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35We're in a great location, so let's head out there, look at the garden and talk price.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- Lovely.- Excellent.
0:14:42 > 0:14:49- So up here, in your garden, you can see the lovely rural surroundings. - Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Stunning. - Surrounded by the Malvern Hills...
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- and not much else!- Yeah! Beautiful!
0:14:54 > 0:14:57So quiet and peaceful, exactly what we're looking for.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- Good!- It's just maybe not as big as we thought it would be.- Right.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I can't see the kids wearing themselves out,
0:15:03 > 0:15:08running up and down here. I think we're looking for a bit more than this, really.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Would it help if I told you that just behind you here,
0:15:10 > 0:15:15these paddocks belong to the farmhouse and they're not too fussed about its use?
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- You could rent it out for ponies. - That's ideal, that's great.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22And something for you - over here, you may have spotted...
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- I did spot!- ..the shed, so you could put...
0:15:26 > 0:15:30I could eventually get my woodworking tools all out and usable again.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32That'd be a novelty!
0:15:32 > 0:15:35That's it, guys, you've seen it all and now it's time to talk money.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37How much do you think it's worth?
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Who am I going to start with?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42I'd say...
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- 550?- 550.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49- I might go a bit more than that. I might go 575, I think.- Really?
0:15:49 > 0:15:52575. 550.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56I love your reasons, but, Cretia, I can see why you wear the trousers!
0:15:56 > 0:15:58- You're spot on.- Fantastic.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00It's on the market at £550,000,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- which is quite a bit under your budget.- It is.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Does that change your opinion on this property?
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- I'd like to say yes, but it doesn't. - You're looking for a particular feeling?
0:16:09 > 0:16:15- Yeah.- Go back in, have another look around, see if it comes to you when I'm not wandering around after you.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- I'll catch up with you later. - Thank you.- Thanks.- See you later.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25At £550,000, this barn conversion is comfortably within budget.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39I love the wood. I just love the wood.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43It's got the same feel to it, but it's just so high.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- It is high.- It feels a bit like a church, doesn't it?
0:16:46 > 0:16:49It does. It's a beautiful house, the beams are beautiful, it's lovely.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Everything's been done exceptionally well.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55The location's absolutely great, the views are fabulous.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58They've done a great job of the conversion, lots of wood.
0:16:58 > 0:17:04I love the kitchen, although being part of the rest of that room space,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07not sure that's really going to work for us.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11For me, it's a little bit modern and to be honest, a barn is still a barn.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16OK, guys, you've had another look around now,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19but we're not finished yet - there's a lot more to see. Let's go.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Mike and Cretia have decided to make the most of their visit to Worcestershire
0:17:27 > 0:17:30by dropping in on the Victorian spa town of Great Malvern.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- Look at the view!- It's beautiful.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- A lovely day to be here, I think. - Yeah. Come on.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42The classical composer Sir Edward Elgar lived here
0:17:42 > 0:17:44and his statue stands in the heart of the town.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51The Malvern Museum celebrates the town's famous pure spring water.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56400 years ago, it was believed the water had medicinal qualities
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and was used to treat many illnesses.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03They'd have put people in the bath, wrapped them in the towels
0:18:03 > 0:18:04and covered them in local water.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12Just a short drive away is another of Great Malvern's famous exports -
0:18:12 > 0:18:14the Morgan Motor Car Company.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17The first car rolled out in 1910
0:18:17 > 0:18:21and today they are still made by hand with superb craftsmanship and attention to detail.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Try this one.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- I'm not convinced you should be on that side.- Oh, I am! THEY LAUGH
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- This, I could get used to. - It's great, isn't it?
0:18:33 > 0:18:38Back on foot, there's just time for Mike and Cretia to take in the superb views
0:18:38 > 0:18:40from the slopes of the Malvern Hills.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43- Look at that!- Wow! - That's amazing, isn't it?
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Fabulous view, isn't it?
0:18:46 > 0:18:50- One of those houses down there might be ours.- Hopefully.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Our next property is in the hamlet of Bliss Gate,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04seven miles southwest of Kidderminster.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08It's a very small rural community, but the nearby village of Rock
0:19:08 > 0:19:11has a pub where the locals meet and a village church, too.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Clows Top just down the road has a post office and butcher's,
0:19:15 > 0:19:20but best of all, these are rural communities that offer peace and tranquillity.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- It is beautiful round here.- It is
0:19:22 > 0:19:25and if you like the hamlet, what do you think of the property?
0:19:25 > 0:19:27- That's lovely.- Wow.- Really nice.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- A wow?!- That's a wow for me. Like that.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Great. Come a bit closer and have a proper look. A house with history.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Parts of it, 250 years old.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39You'll see more of that when we go in.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41I'm feeling character.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43You're feeling character. Good. Good, good.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45- Fantastic.- Really good.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47- Fantastic?- Absolutely.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Loving that word. Let's go inside.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Come inside to this lovely hallway.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- It's lovely, isn't it? - It's really spacious.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Very spacious and welcoming.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06It is, compared to what we've got at home.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Great for the kids. Great to greet people.
0:20:09 > 0:20:10So we've got a good start.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12- Yeah. Great.- Let's keep going.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16I think you're going to quite like it up here.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- Wow.- Lovely. Ah...
0:20:19 > 0:20:20Ah-ha!
0:20:20 > 0:20:22I thought you would!
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Onto a winner, there.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27But apart from that, what do you think of the rest of the space...
0:20:27 > 0:20:29if I can draw you away?
0:20:29 > 0:20:30It's great.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33It's made of reclaimed pine. Some wood for you.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36I'm loving that. Yeah. Great views, again.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Lovely views, especially on a gorgeous day like this. Lovely.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41I'm missing a table.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43You are missing a table, I know.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48I don't know what we're going to do about that. I'm really sorry.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50I might be able to help you.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Might be able to help you there.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Come this way... because round here...
0:20:56 > 0:20:58you have this.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Perfect. Oh, that's lovely, isn't it?
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Brings the whole of the garden into the house, doesn't it?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07This is an amazing room. I love this!
0:21:07 > 0:21:08You look a bit gobsmacked.
0:21:08 > 0:21:13I just wasn't expecting it, coming from the kitchen to this.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15It's great. It's still part of the kitchen.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18I think they've really managed to keep the character,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20but this part is only ten years old.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So it's quite newly done. And just over here,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25you've got a little utility space.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29I was wondering where everything was. Oh, it's great.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31- Good so far?- Absolutely brilliant.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32- Absolutely brilliant?- Yep.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- Oh, my gosh. I'm happy already. If you think this is brilliant... - I'm amazed.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39..and you're amazed, wait till you see the rest.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48I've heard you like a lot of rooms, so here's another one for you.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Fantastic!
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- I love the beams. - Beautiful, isn't it?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I love the high ceilings as well.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57I know, and what's interesting about this part
0:21:57 > 0:22:00is this is another extension, you wouldn't believe it.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02It's another only ten years old or so.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04These are reclaimed beams from an old barn.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07It feels like it should be much older,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10like the original building. Nice wooden floors, as well.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- We're ticking so many boxes. - I'm loving it.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15And it doesn't end there.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19The box-ticking continues in the bedroom above this dining room.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23It would make a great study for Mike, or a playroom for the children.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Or perhaps both.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Next for us is the living room.
0:22:28 > 0:22:29Wow. What a room!
0:22:29 > 0:22:33I know. What a room, indeed. Another surprise.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- This is lovely.- What's shocking you? - It's really nice.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41I don't know. I just didn't expect it to go quite that far back.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45- It feels lovely.- I think I know why it feels so special to you. I know you like old
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- and this is the oldest part of the house.- Is it?
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Yep. 250 years old and actually, this part used to be a pub.
0:22:51 > 0:22:52Oh, really?!
0:22:52 > 0:22:55I'm getting a good feel.
0:22:55 > 0:22:56You're warming to it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57Yeah. Really.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02It used to be a pub. That's why we've got the two entrances here. And look at this.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04This is lovely.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06It's lovely. It's great.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Your very own inglenook.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12I love it. I get a really good feeling from in here. It's great.
0:23:12 > 0:23:13Really good.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16There's great space. Big enough even for our family, isn't it?
0:23:16 > 0:23:20- There's a huge space.- So far, you like the downstairs.- Very much.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22About time we saw the sleeping arrangements.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Let's head upstairs.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36First stop I thought should be through here.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38We start with the bathroom.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40It's a lovely size, isn't it?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Big family-sized bathroom.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47It is big. I'm only seeing a shower attachment there and no shower, Denise.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49You're right, but I have something special for you
0:23:49 > 0:23:52in the master bedroom. Out that way.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57I present the master bedroom, with the master shower.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Oh, superb. That's what I was looking for.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05I think it is. So you're happy. What about you, Cretia?
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I'm not too sure our bed's going to fit in there.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Well, there are plenty of other bedrooms up here,
0:24:12 > 0:24:16so I think we should go and look at another one. After you.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Out here, we've got two more bedrooms. Nice children-size rooms.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24The one I want to show you is this way, cos I think you'll find it's a little bit bigger.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- That's a better size.- Yeah.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Yeah. It's big, isn't it?
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- Only thing is that you don't have your en suite.- No.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34But you're a hop, skip across from the main bathroom.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- Yeah. Much bigger space, though. - Yeah. It's lovely.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40You've seen all the inside now. It's time to see the outside space.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- That may just sway you, I think. Follow me.- Thank you.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50It's a lovely garden, which wraps itself around the property quite a bit.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55Yeah. I like that. I like the idea that the kids can play around everywhere. I think that's nice.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57And the dog.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00- And the dog. And the chickens.- Yeah. THEY LAUGH
0:25:00 > 0:25:02They'll be clucking merrily away.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06So you like this garden space but if you had a bit of extra land for a horse?
0:25:06 > 0:25:07That'd be lovely. Really nice.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11- Find use for it, wouldn't you? - I would.- Let's head this way...
0:25:11 > 0:25:14because beyond this fence you have a paddock.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- Yeah.- And that comes with the property.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Oh, really?
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Yes.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23- Excellent. That's fabulous. - That's a bit of a surprise.- Yeah.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25You also have stables. All ready to go.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Oh, it's ideal. It's great.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32I think we wanted more space to grow everything, really.
0:25:32 > 0:25:38So all of that and, if we turn around, have another look at the property.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40It's lovely. It's a proper country property.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45From this aspect, you really can appreciate the old, in the centre, the pub...and the additions.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47It's been done sympathetically.
0:25:47 > 0:25:52You wouldn't really tell which part was new, which part was old, so it's lovely.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Good feelings about this property.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57All-important question, now. How much would you pay for it?
0:25:57 > 0:25:58I have no idea.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03Tough one. I'm going to optimistically go for 550.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05OK.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08- I'll go for 545.- 545?- Yeah.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11So lower, under your budget.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12Yeah.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17OK. Brace yourselves, then, cos this property is actually
0:26:17 > 0:26:19on the market at £650,000.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Wow.
0:26:21 > 0:26:22OK.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23Sharp intake of breath.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26- Yeah.- Perhaps we're being optimistic and hoping.- Yeah.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28I think that's the word.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31A bit optimistic, there, because you do get a lot.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- There's a lot of land.- Absolutely.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Go in. Have another look. Remember, in a choppy market,
0:26:36 > 0:26:39you could put in a good offer. I'll talk to you later.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41- Lovely. OK. Thank you. - See you later.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48At £650,000, this house is 50 grand over budget,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51but it has been on the market five months and there's a good chance
0:26:51 > 0:26:55the owners will take an offer within Mike and Cretia's budget.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04Fantastic.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Bet that'll keep the place nice and warm.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11- I can see us changing the units, though.- I can see you changing the tops, as well.- Yeah.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Let's have a wander and see what else we've got.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16The house is beautiful. The kitchen's lovely.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21Downstairs, itself, is perfect, I think. The outside is beautiful.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Maybe the upstairs is a little bit small for us.
0:27:24 > 0:27:29The study, that Mike would have to have, is one of the bedrooms so that would just leave us with the four.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- But it's definitely something for us to think about.- I love the lounge.
0:27:33 > 0:27:39The dining area on the end there really brings the outside into the house. Excellent.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43The price was a shock, so we'd probably need to try and work for a deal on that,
0:27:43 > 0:27:47I think, but I'll have a word with Cretia and see what we think.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51It's nice, isn't it? Lovely.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- Enjoyed that?- Yeah.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58- Well, there's a lot more to see. I've got a lot more to show you. - Fantastic.- Great.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06One of Mike's greatest passions is carpentry. He likes nothing more
0:28:06 > 0:28:10than getting to grips with his power tools and pieces of wood.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13But in a world of high-tech machinery, it's always a pleasure
0:28:13 > 0:28:16to see traditional skills being kept alive.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18So while mum-to-be Cretia takes a rest,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22we're meeting Gudrun Leitz, a local carpenter who works in a beautiful and unique workshop.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Love your office.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29We're here to get back to nature and find out a bit more about what you do.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32I do green woodwork. Yes. So, it means I work in the woods
0:28:32 > 0:28:37from freshly felled timber and I have various bits of equipment.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39It's all home-made, of course.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42The shavehorse for shaving it into the round.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46And the pole lathes which I think you'll really enjoy, for actually
0:28:46 > 0:28:49turning it into something finished.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51And I work with traditional hand tools.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54We can knock out virtually anything.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59The ancient methods are dear to Gudrun's heart and she skilfully crafts beautiful furniture.
0:29:01 > 0:29:06- Wow. This is impressive.- It's incredible, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:29:06 > 0:29:12Today, I thought, just to set you up with the techniques and the feel for the wood.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17If you aim for something like a garden dibber, made on the pole lathe
0:29:17 > 0:29:20and hopefully that'll be useful in your new home, as well.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23This garden tool is used for making and measuring
0:29:23 > 0:29:25the depth of holes in soil.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29After chopping a piece of wood, it's straight onto the shape horse.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Now, this is like a workmate. You can clamp this.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37It's not like my workmate.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40Clamp your piece of wood quite far back. One or two legs.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Yeah. Got it.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45And then quite far back start shaving.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50And then turn over.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Your aim is to make it round.
0:29:52 > 0:29:58There's nothing like working with wood. It's just so natural and warm.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01And for a job like I do, pretty therapeutic.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04It's tiring, but in a nice way.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- So, Mike, next stage on to the lathe. - Perfect.- Brilliant.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16- Yeah.- You did quite well there.
0:30:16 > 0:30:21There's evidence of these lathes being used as far back as 200 BC.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23And today, they're still used around the world.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29It's a bit like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32I'm sure once you get into the rhythm, then it starts to work.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40And not to be left out, I'm going to have a go at shaping the piece Gudrun started.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44I've got my planing tool out and my shape seems to be coming together.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Just smoothing out the wood.
0:30:54 > 0:30:55My pride and joy.
0:30:55 > 0:31:01- Well, I've put some grooves and some scratches into it actually, I think. - Well, this is brilliant.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- Yours is very beautiful, too. - Thank you.- Excellent.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08- You've managed to turn two amateurs into...- ..green woodworkers.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Green woodworkers. We'd better get this back to Cretia, hadn't we?
0:31:12 > 0:31:15- Excellent.- Thank you very much, Gudrun.- Take care.- Bye.
0:31:23 > 0:31:29As the afternoon sun starts to fade, Mike and Cretia head for the pub to take stock of the search so far.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34What did you think of the cruck barn, then?
0:31:34 > 0:31:36I really liked it. I thought it was lovely.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39It was just, maybe for us, it wouldn't work
0:31:39 > 0:31:41- with the open-plan.- Yeah.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45I thought it was a bit shy of land, as well, really.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- Yeah, I don't think that really worked.- Great positioning.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51It was great, but maybe just didn't have enough character for us.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53It was just too modern, wasn't it?
0:31:53 > 0:31:54What about the old pub?
0:31:54 > 0:31:59I thought that was a lot closer. I knew that would tick a lot more of your boxes.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03It was full of character, wasn't it? Even the made character was great.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Yeah, downstairs, I was really optimistic about it, then the upstairs kind of
0:32:07 > 0:32:08cooled me off a little bit.
0:32:08 > 0:32:13It was a bit disappointing, wasn't it? The amount of bedrooms just wouldn't work.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15The land was really good, though.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19It was fantastic! That's exactly what we're looking for.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24- Hopefully, tomorrow's another day... - I'm feeling really positive. It should be really good.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40Mike and Cretia are house-hunting in Worcestershire for a new home for their growing family.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43They have a budget of £600,000 and are looking for a large house
0:32:43 > 0:32:47with a garden big enough for their children and all their pets.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51So far, they've viewed two very different properties and coming up...
0:32:51 > 0:32:54I think we could have a good go at filling that, I think, actually.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57And a bathroom that wins Mike over.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Now we're talking!
0:32:59 > 0:33:01I'm just moving in here.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05It's another day here in beautiful Worcestershire
0:33:05 > 0:33:08and we continue our property search with Mike and Cretia.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12So far, they've had a very fixed idea of what they're looking for in their dream country home.
0:33:12 > 0:33:17Although we've seen some lovely properties, they're just not quite right for them.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20So if five bedrooms isn't good enough, well, what about six?
0:33:20 > 0:33:24Our first property this morning, lies in the village of Linley Green,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27ten miles northwest of Great Malvern.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Nearby Suckley has a primary school, which will be handy
0:33:30 > 0:33:33for the children. Whilst Mike or Cretia are dropping them off,
0:33:33 > 0:33:36there's the opportunity to pick up groceries in the village store.
0:33:36 > 0:33:41This beautiful rural setting could not be better for a young family looking for an idyllic lifestyle.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44So fingers crossed for our next house.
0:33:44 > 0:33:50This wonderful, traditional stone farmhouse is what we want to show you.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52It looks fantastic.
0:33:52 > 0:33:53Yeah.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56I hoped you might say that. Is this what you would have drawn a picture of?
0:33:56 > 0:34:01It is. Yeah. It's just like my daughter draws. It's really the ideal house.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05It's enormous. I think we could have a good go at filling that,
0:34:05 > 0:34:09I think, actually. It looks like it needs a big family, doesn't it?
0:34:09 > 0:34:11- Let's head inside.- Thank you.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20- Step in to this lovely generous hallway.- Thank you.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24It's lovely. Really.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Come through here because this is the first of our reception rooms.
0:34:27 > 0:34:28Very nice.
0:34:28 > 0:34:31- Spotted your wood burner, already. - Yeah.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33I did, actually. Yeah.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36I'd probably do it differently, but it's a beautiful size room.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39- And it wouldn't take too much to do it differently.- No.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- You've got a blank canvas here, really.- Absolutely.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Just a little paint, you know, colours that I like.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Your furniture in here.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48The other think I like, just look round here.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Lovely deep big windows.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- That's fantastic.- Yes.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56Oh, I got such a lovely smile from you. I hate to drag you
0:34:56 > 0:35:01- away from this room, but I want to show you what's over there. - Excellent.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04So I said that was the first reception room.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Come through and see the second.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10This is lovely. This is great.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13- Glorious. An open fire in here. - Yeah.- That's right.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17- You're really spoiling me. Lovely cosy room.- I love the beams.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19And huge windows, these ones are even bigger.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23I think these are great. It's got everything in here.
0:35:23 > 0:35:28Even though it is modern, you can see that we can go beyond that.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31- OK. While we're on a roll, let's have a look at the kitchen.- OK. - After you.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36Wow. What a great view.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Absolutely fabulous.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Isn't it lovely? First chance to see the views
0:35:41 > 0:35:43out onto the garden which we'll come back to.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46And of course, you're looking at them from the kitchen.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49It's lovely. I love the worktops, the granite worktops.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52- Big deep granite worktops. - Really deep.- Lot of space there.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56You've got all your appliances built in. Huge fridge freezer.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00Yeah. It's a great space. Lovely. It's really nice.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05I can feel it. I can feel it. How can you not be wowed by this? Go on.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09It's very modern for me and I'm just not modern.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11But it's a lovely space and you can see how much room
0:36:11 > 0:36:16you have to work with and I can see us changing the kitchen.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21- I'm not ripping it out. - I can see you going, "No, I think we can live with this."
0:36:21 > 0:36:24- We'll talk about that. OK?- Yeah.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26And we're just looking at this side of it
0:36:26 > 0:36:29but if we turn around, it stretches all the way through.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31That's fabulous. It's great.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33- Perfect, isn't it?- I love the beams, as well, up there.
0:36:33 > 0:36:37Big kitchen table to be able to have the kids at, isn't it?
0:36:37 > 0:36:38They're all connected,
0:36:38 > 0:36:43- so you're working away in here... children eating breakfast, doing homework...- Yeah.
0:36:43 > 0:36:45And then space beyond that. They've fitted in a sofa.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Yeah, which is lovely. Great.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52Relaxing, as well. I know we've talked a lot about what Cretia might do and what she's liking,
0:36:52 > 0:36:54so I've got something just for you, Mike.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56This way.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Oh, hello.
0:37:02 > 0:37:03Nice.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07- Hello, office. Excellent. - Are you happy, Mike?
0:37:07 > 0:37:10- I'm very happy and it's not a bedroom.- It's not a bedroom.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12It's got no potential for a bedroom.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15- No. It's dedicated office space. - Absolutely great, isn't it?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18- Door leading in from the outside. - Front and back.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22- Front and back, out to the garden. And your own cloakroom, as well. - Perfect.- Fantastic.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24- Tuck him away in here.- I like that.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Gone forever.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Obviously, we've got the outside space which we'll come back to,
0:37:29 > 0:37:33- but I think it's time we went upstairs, now.- OK.- Super.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36I think you're really going to like the upstairs.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38And we've got two levels to look at.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40- Fantastic.- Excellent.
0:37:42 > 0:37:47We've got lots of bedrooms up here, but this is the master.
0:37:47 > 0:37:48Oh, my gosh.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49Wow.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- What a size.- Oh, it's lovely.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55You could get our bed and a half in here, couldn't we?
0:37:55 > 0:37:56You certainly could.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00And I love these walls. I love them. They're not even.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03You are brilliant. I love it.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- It's beautiful. It's lovely. It's great.- Gorgeous.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08Gorgeous. Lovely. Great.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12- And you haven't mentioned en suite. - I haven't mentioned en suite.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15I don't know. Be nice.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18Be nice. It may not be necessary cos just through there is a bathroom
0:38:18 > 0:38:20I think you'll be impressed with.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21Go and have a look.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25Oh, yes!
0:38:25 > 0:38:27Now we're talking!
0:38:27 > 0:38:30I'm just moving in here.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Excellent. Perfect.
0:38:32 > 0:38:33It's amazing.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36I'll let you off the en suite. It's close enough.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39- It's got everything.- Really. - It's a superb bathroom.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43- Is there nothing you'd do in this bathroom?- I wouldn't change a thing.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47This is the room you'll be living in while you rework everything else.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52- I know you love this room, but there are plenty more bedrooms in this house. Let's check them out.- Right.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54On this floor, there are another three bedrooms.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58The first two are pretty good sizes and I'm sure any of the children
0:38:58 > 0:38:59would be happy with them.
0:38:59 > 0:39:04Then there's a smaller single room, which is currently being used as a storeroom.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08But we're heading upstairs to the final two bedrooms.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12Up here, we've got another double bedroom, a bathroom through here
0:39:12 > 0:39:15and in here...
0:39:15 > 0:39:18what could be one of the boys' rooms.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21Oh, wow. Wasn't expecting it to be this big.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- It's huge.- I can see the boys taking this top floor.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26That's what I thought. I thought this was the boys' room.
0:39:26 > 0:39:31- This is ready-made, isn't it? - The crow's nest.- Fantastic.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Well, I've got one more bonus for you, then. The outside space.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37- Fantastic.- Excellent. - Let's head back downstairs.- OK.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46- Right. Time for outside.- OK.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49We'll start with something for you, Mike. Over this side,
0:39:49 > 0:39:53- there's a little shed, but you could build a bigger one.- Nice big shed.- For the woodwork.- Yeah.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57- I also thought this could be a good space for a vegetable plot. - Absolutely.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- Patio.- Lovely.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- And then we've got the animals, haven't we?- Great.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04- How about this? You've got all this garden space.- Lovely.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Plus a paddock, which stretches right back to those trees.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09Oh, that's great, isn't it? Yeah.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11- Excellent.- Lovely.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13- Plenty of space, isn't it? - Just about enough!
0:40:13 > 0:40:16As you can see, they've already got ponies out here.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Yeah. That's great.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21Well, there's everything you want here. All the land, all the rooms,
0:40:21 > 0:40:25but the question is, how much is it worth?
0:40:25 > 0:40:29I have no idea, and I know it's going to be over our budget. I think...
0:40:29 > 0:40:31oh, I don't know...
0:40:31 > 0:40:34I think it's probably on for 650.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36OK. Mike?
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Which I'm dreading.
0:40:39 > 0:40:45I think more, actually, but I hope not, cos we'd struggle with that.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50- I'm going to go 625, with a very optimistic head.- 625?
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Yeah.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Only because it's under Cretia.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58Well, the good news is that you're right.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00- OK!- It is on at 650. The bad news
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- is that, obviously, that's a bit over your budget.- It is, yeah.
0:41:03 > 0:41:07It has recently come down in price, so though we're in a choppy market,
0:41:07 > 0:41:10I don't know how much room there is to manoeuvre on that. I think
0:41:10 > 0:41:15you need to have another look. There's lots of bedrooms you still need to look at. Off you go.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17We'll catch up later.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20At £650,000, this house is over budget,
0:41:20 > 0:41:24but it has everything they're looking for.
0:41:24 > 0:41:28So we felt it was an opportunity not to be missed, and worth a punt.
0:41:37 > 0:41:42While you work in the kitchen, you're close to everything, aren't you? Keep an eye on everybody.
0:41:42 > 0:41:48Straight out on to the garden. I loved everything about the property. The outside area is great.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50The rooms are lovely and large.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52The location of this house, absolutely great.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54Beautiful views.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Very imposing place.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Lovely traditional build.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00Fantastic room, isn't it?
0:42:00 > 0:42:04Huge, isn't it? Great space. At least we can get our bed in here.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Absolutely. Yeah. That's a bonus.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10The only negative thing I can see is the price. It's pushing our budget
0:42:10 > 0:42:12too much, maybe, but we have to see how that goes.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17- Hello.- Hi.- It took a while, didn't it, to get round?
0:42:17 > 0:42:21- Yeah.- But it's not over yet, so we've got more to do. Let's go.
0:42:21 > 0:42:22Fantastic.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Mike and Cretia already have quite a selection of pets,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31but once they move, they're keen to buy a couple of pigs,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35so we've arranged for them to meet up with Julie Edwards
0:42:35 > 0:42:38who runs a smallholding that includes kunekune pigs,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40which are native to New Zealand.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45Mike and Cretia's timing couldn't be better.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Kunekune piglets make great pets for children
0:42:47 > 0:42:51because you can handle them so well from being young.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54If the children pay them as much attention every day,
0:42:54 > 0:42:58they'll have them eating out of their hand like this, absolutely fine.
0:43:01 > 0:43:02Meaning "chubby" in Maori,
0:43:02 > 0:43:05they're born in litters of between 3-15
0:43:05 > 0:43:07and come in different colours and patterns.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11They also have something else that makes them distinctive.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14They've got the little piri piris under their chin.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17They don't serve any purpose.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20They just look cute, as they're fluffy.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23They sometimes are born with them, sometimes without.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25It doesn't matter if they don't have them.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29- Are they intelligent?- Very. They're supposed to be more intelligent than dogs,
0:43:29 > 0:43:32so they work very well as trained animals.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35We've got one male that actually sits for food
0:43:35 > 0:43:38and he begs for food, as well, he'll go up on his back legs.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42He's just done that naturally, it's not something forced on him.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46So how much land would we need to look after them?
0:43:46 > 0:43:50They recommend about five to six pigs per acre,
0:43:50 > 0:43:54but a third of an acre for a couple of pigs would be absolutely ample.
0:43:55 > 0:44:00- Can we have just one, please? - We need more than one - we need one each for the kids.
0:44:00 > 0:44:01We will. We need four!
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Four, yeah.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05That's a deal, then?
0:44:05 > 0:44:07Yep, absolutely. Sold! THEY LAUGH
0:44:07 > 0:44:08Four pigs to go.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12You're going to come with us, aren't you?
0:44:16 > 0:44:19Right, now it's time for the mystery house,
0:44:19 > 0:44:24and so far, we've shown them wooden properties, rural locations,
0:44:24 > 0:44:27but now, it's time for something totally different.
0:44:32 > 0:44:37We're coming up to one of my favourite parts of the show - it's time for the mystery house.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41I know they all feel like mysteries, but this one may not have everything on your list,
0:44:41 > 0:44:46but it's something different to open your mind. Are you ready for your minds to be opened?
0:44:46 > 0:44:48I'm petrified! I'm really nervous
0:44:48 > 0:44:52about going in and seeing what you've chosen for us, but excited as well.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56I think it'll be a lot of fun, actually. I think it's good to be challenged.
0:44:56 > 0:45:01I mean, we have a very well defined view of what we want.
0:45:01 > 0:45:03So actually, I'll be interested
0:45:03 > 0:45:06to see what new ideas you throw up for us.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10It's time to reveal that the mystery house is in Kempsey,
0:45:10 > 0:45:13a small village lying to the east of the Malvern Hills
0:45:13 > 0:45:15and nine miles from Great Malvern.
0:45:15 > 0:45:17Kempsey has the usual village amenities,
0:45:17 > 0:45:22including a shop, pub and church, but most importantly, there's
0:45:22 > 0:45:25a primary school for the children and a community to mix in.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28The property we're viewing forms the largest part of what was
0:45:28 > 0:45:34once a single home that dates back to 1893,
0:45:34 > 0:45:37and is now converted into three dwellings.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39You know we like to go a bit leftfield with this.
0:45:39 > 0:45:43- Very different to what you might be looking for.- Very different.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45- But it has got a lot to offer.- OK.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47It's a lovely building. It is lovely.
0:45:47 > 0:45:51It's very imposing again, isn't it? Big grand property.
0:45:51 > 0:45:52Lovely big windows.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Huge windows. It is the mystery property,
0:45:55 > 0:45:56so I'm going to ask you
0:45:56 > 0:46:00to open your minds and come with me on this journey. Let's go.
0:46:05 > 0:46:08Now, I know you like your history and character, and this house
0:46:08 > 0:46:11is oozing it, starting with the inscription at the top.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14It's a Latin inscription which means
0:46:14 > 0:46:17May Peace Be On This House. I think it's a lovely sentiment, isn't it?
0:46:17 > 0:46:19- It's lovely.- So let's have a look
0:46:19 > 0:46:22- and start going through some of those features.- Great.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27Start with this very grand entrance way.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31- Lovely brickwork.- It's lovely.
0:46:31 > 0:46:32And this huge wooden door.
0:46:32 > 0:46:37- Big doorways for what looks like a hallway...- It does.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40but it's so big, it's really a room. A dining room, at the moment.
0:46:40 > 0:46:44- It's lovely, isn't it?- Yeah. Opens out onto the front as well.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48It does. Big bay window. And look over there, that sweeping staircase.
0:46:48 > 0:46:50That's beautiful, isn't it?
0:46:50 > 0:46:52Nice roaring fire as you walk through the front door.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55- It'd be very welcoming at Christmas.- It'd be lovely.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59With the high ceilings, you could have a big Christmas tree.
0:46:59 > 0:47:03That's one thing you notice about this place. Very high ceilings. Huge rooms.
0:47:03 > 0:47:05Yeah. It's quite open.
0:47:05 > 0:47:10I'm sort of struggling to see kids coming in and doing stuff,
0:47:10 > 0:47:13- but it's great space.- It's a great space. You'd have to think
0:47:13 > 0:47:16- for a while about how you would use it, wouldn't you?- Yeah.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19But there are more rooms, so come this way.
0:47:19 > 0:47:23It's a big space as a dining space but here, you have a living room.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25Lovely.
0:47:25 > 0:47:27What do you think of this?
0:47:27 > 0:47:28Lovely room.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32Great high ceilings, again, isn't it?
0:47:32 > 0:47:34Lovely details, aren't there?
0:47:34 > 0:47:35I thought you'd like that.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38Beautiful room.
0:47:38 > 0:47:40Big open windows and big garden.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44As I say, I'm still struggling to see our crowd
0:47:44 > 0:47:49in here cos it's so beautifully decorated and everything, but...
0:47:49 > 0:47:51- we'll see.- Yeah.- Working on it.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54It's an exercise, setting aside what's in here already,
0:47:54 > 0:47:57thinking about how you would live here.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59OK. Right. Let's keep going.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05Look. Here's the kitchen.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10And I think you will need to use your imagination a bit.
0:48:11 > 0:48:15Getting silence at the moment, but this is a space. It's not huge,
0:48:15 > 0:48:17but it's still a good-size kitchen.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20It's strange not having a window in here, isn't it?
0:48:20 > 0:48:23It's strange, but you do have a door to the outside,
0:48:23 > 0:48:26- round there. So it's not completely boxed in.- Right.
0:48:26 > 0:48:29It's a good space, but it's not going to allow the rest
0:48:29 > 0:48:32of the family to come into the kitchen easily, is it?
0:48:32 > 0:48:35There's definitely a lot you can do, isn't there?
0:48:35 > 0:48:39You're getting me bashing things around again, aren't you? That's what it is.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43I'm not so sure Mike and Cretia are seeing the potential of this house.
0:48:43 > 0:48:47Perhaps they'll find the upstairs more inspiring.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49It's such a grand stairway, isn't it?
0:48:49 > 0:48:52- Absolutely stunning.- Gorgeous. - With an amazing window.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57That's breathtaking, isn't it?
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Absolutely beautiful, isn't it?
0:48:59 > 0:49:02I want to show you the rooms. They're equally impressive.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04We've got a big bedroom here. Come this way.
0:49:09 > 0:49:10So check this out.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14This is lovely. Really nice size.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16- Wow.- Lovely high ceilings.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19Huge, isn't it? Beautiful view again. Yeah.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Could you imagine this as a room that the two of you would use?
0:49:23 > 0:49:26It's definitely got the size about it.
0:49:26 > 0:49:31- Can't see the en suite here, Denise. - I know. There isn't an en suite,
0:49:31 > 0:49:32but there is a big bathroom up here.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34- Let's have a look.- Excellent.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38Here we've got what's being used as a study.
0:49:38 > 0:49:42Could be one for you, Mike. Also doubles up as a bedroom.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45But in here is what you're looking for.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48Aha. And...shower.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52It's got your shower. Shower.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55Big corner bath. Tucked behind there is the toilet.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58- Has it got a bidet?- Probably.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00And you could live with not having an en suite?
0:50:00 > 0:50:02Yeah. This is close enough.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05I can stay asleep between there and here. That would work.
0:50:05 > 0:50:08Walking into your power shower. Great.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10'And this house continues.
0:50:10 > 0:50:14'On the second floor, there are three more bedrooms.
0:50:14 > 0:50:16'The first is a generous sized double.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18'Then there's a smaller double bedroom.
0:50:18 > 0:50:23'Next door is another bathroom, and then there's the final room.'
0:50:23 > 0:50:27- Must be lovely for the kids. They'd love this up here.- Yeah. Look at this.
0:50:27 > 0:50:29They're still big rooms in comparison to where we are.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32One of the boys. One of the girls. You never know.
0:50:32 > 0:50:37Well, we've got a lot of room in the house for everyone to run around.
0:50:37 > 0:50:40- Let's head outside and look at that garden.- OK. Thank you.
0:50:40 > 0:50:41After you, Mike.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46Let's step outside.
0:50:46 > 0:50:48First of all, Mike, for you...
0:50:48 > 0:50:52I give you a shed. You can do your woodwork.
0:50:52 > 0:50:53Come round here.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55Well, look at the garden space.
0:50:55 > 0:50:59I'm sure you realise with this property, you're going to compromise
0:50:59 > 0:51:01- a bit on the amount of land you can get.- Yes.
0:51:01 > 0:51:04- But it's still a sizeable garden, isn't it?- Yes. It is.
0:51:04 > 0:51:08This is really about the house itself, so let's turn around and have another look at it.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11It's stunning, isn't it? It's lovely.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14Take it all in, because it's time to guess the price.
0:51:14 > 0:51:15- OK.- OK.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18How much do you think it's worth?
0:51:18 > 0:51:21It's tricky because the house is fantastic, the grounds aren't
0:51:21 > 0:51:25here and it is in a village location, so I'm going to go with 550.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28550. Mike, your bids.
0:51:28 > 0:51:33I'm going to go a bit more because this is the lion's share, isn't it, of the old house.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36I'm going to go 595.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38595.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41I can't believe it. He wins one!
0:51:41 > 0:51:43- Spot on. You are spot on there. - Excellent.
0:51:43 > 0:51:48On the market at £595,000, so just under your budget.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51It delivers a lot of house. Have another look.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54Go in. Go into all the rooms. Start to imagine yourselves living there,
0:51:54 > 0:51:56and we will talk about it later on.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59- All right. Thank you.- Off you go.
0:52:00 > 0:52:04This house is just under budget at £595,000.
0:52:04 > 0:52:09It has a large dining hall with sweeping staircase, a huge lounge,
0:52:09 > 0:52:12six bedrooms and a good-sized garden.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16I love the house. It's spacious. The rooms are beautiful.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19There's character to it. There's loads of features around it.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23It's a beautiful room, isn't it? Lovely features.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26I love the deep skirting boards. And the fireplace is lovely.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29- Nice bit of wood.- It's great, isn't it?
0:52:29 > 0:52:33The kitchen would need redoing, but there's space in there to do that.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36The location, for me, is probably not ideal, and the land
0:52:36 > 0:52:38that comes with it is quite small.
0:52:38 > 0:52:43Love the house. Really great big airy rooms.
0:52:43 > 0:52:47Lots and lots of them, right the way up to the second floor.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49Just not sure I can see our kids
0:52:49 > 0:52:51running around in here and screaming.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54Doesn't quite feel right for that.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58- Hello, guys.- Hi.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01You have seen all of our properties now.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04- It's given you quite a bit to think about, hasn't it?- It has.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08- Let's find somewhere for you to sit down, and you might make some decisions.- Great.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19Mike and Cretia have a definite idea of the type of property
0:53:19 > 0:53:21they're looking for. They've now viewed
0:53:21 > 0:53:24all of our properties, so it's time to weigh up the pros and cons.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32We've had an interesting couple of days, haven't we?
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Seen a lot of properties, and I know this has been a long journey
0:53:35 > 0:53:38for you two, looking at where to find your dream house.
0:53:38 > 0:53:42Let's go through the properties we saw, starting with that lovely cruck barn,
0:53:42 > 0:53:46which I thought was just magnificent, very unusual. What did you think?
0:53:46 > 0:53:48It was lovely, wasn't it?
0:53:48 > 0:53:54It was... It was spectacular, I think. Extremely well done.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58- I think it was extended well.- I think a barn will always be a barn,
0:53:58 > 0:54:00in my head, but it was beautifully done.
0:54:00 > 0:54:04We found ourselves whispering in there, it was so... I think that's what it was.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07It just reminded me too much of a church, actually.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10OK, well, let's talk about the old pub.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12That brought some history, didn't it?
0:54:12 > 0:54:15That was lovely. It was done out beautifully.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18There were parts of it I think we'd have to change.
0:54:18 > 0:54:19Surprisingly(!)
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Yeah. But I think, for us,
0:54:21 > 0:54:25the major concern was that one of the bedrooms would be an office,
0:54:25 > 0:54:28so that left us with just the four bedrooms, didn't it?
0:54:28 > 0:54:30Yeah. The upstairs was...
0:54:30 > 0:54:33Yeah. Kind of let it down a little bit.
0:54:33 > 0:54:34I mean, the land was superb.
0:54:34 > 0:54:36It was. It was absolutely fabulous.
0:54:36 > 0:54:41What about the six-bedroom farmhouse that looked like the house you used to draw as a child?
0:54:41 > 0:54:43Fabulous. Absolutely amazing.
0:54:43 > 0:54:45It was glorious. Absolutely.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48I actually liked the idea that there was work for us to do.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52As a property, there was no work. Somebody with a modern style could move in tomorrow.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55For us, there was work, but that's good, because we're looking
0:54:55 > 0:54:57for a property to stay in for ever,
0:54:57 > 0:55:01- so that was great and there was land there, wasn't there?- Absolutely.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05Finally, the mystery house. For this, we went the other way. The edge of a village.
0:55:05 > 0:55:07A very stately house.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Attached, as well. What were your thoughts?
0:55:09 > 0:55:14The house itself was lovely. It was quite stately, wasn't it?
0:55:14 > 0:55:19Yeah. That was designed to challenge our thinking, I think.
0:55:19 > 0:55:20And it did exactly that.
0:55:20 > 0:55:26While we were going round there, it came to me. I couldn't see the kids running round there, screaming.
0:55:26 > 0:55:30It was too nice a place for that. It seemed inappropriate, somehow.
0:55:30 > 0:55:35We absolutely want to be rural, and it really sort of made it
0:55:35 > 0:55:37clear to us that that's what we want.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40- So it was a really good thing to see. - What are you going to do next?
0:55:40 > 0:55:42It's been a long time you've been looking.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45It has been a long time, and the fantastic thing about
0:55:45 > 0:55:49the journey has been that we now know where we need to compromise.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51It's on the state of the house.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54The location and the land is very important, so I think, if we find
0:55:54 > 0:56:00a property that we could do up, then that would probably be ideal for us.
0:56:00 > 0:56:04It's been a pleasure showing you around. If we've helped you a bit,
0:56:04 > 0:56:06- what more can we ask?- Thank you. It's been lovely.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09- With any luck, before this one comes along...- Hopefully!
0:56:09 > 0:56:12- ..you'll have a new home and plenty of work to do.- Absolutely.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15- Best of luck. Let us know how you get on.- Thank you.- Will do.
0:56:23 > 0:56:28It was always going to be a tough task to find the ideal home for Mike and Cretia, but I think
0:56:28 > 0:56:31this journey has taught them two things. One, that they might
0:56:31 > 0:56:34not get exactly what they want for their budget in Worcestershire.
0:56:34 > 0:56:38And two, they may need to compromise. At least now, they seem willing to do that.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41I'll see you next time on Escape To The Country.
0:56:41 > 0:56:44If you'd like to Escape To The Country and need our help,
0:56:44 > 0:56:47then please contact us through our website -
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