0:00:02 > 0:00:05The inhabitants of this county town are so community minded
0:00:05 > 0:00:07that they've produced their very own currency.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10But will it help us buy property in this county?
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Find out on Escape To The Country.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30'In today's show, we'll be helping a Home Counties boy and his American girlfriend
0:00:30 > 0:00:31'escape the big smoke
0:00:31 > 0:00:35'and find a house that will impress her family back in the States.'
0:00:35 > 0:00:38It's older than anything I think I've seen in my life.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41'We'll be showing them a selection of splendid properties
0:00:41 > 0:00:47'and when the bathroom's a fair distance from the bedroom, we'll educate our overseas newcomer.'
0:00:47 > 0:00:50There's always the delightful English tradition of the chamber pot.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51- Mm.- Oh, no!
0:00:51 > 0:00:54'And as ever, there's the mystery house.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58'But will any of our properties impress our buyers enough to take the plunge?'
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Today, I'm in East Sussex and this is the Lewes pound,
0:01:03 > 0:01:04Lewes being the county town.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08The idea is to keep money inside the community
0:01:08 > 0:01:11because you can pay for things on Lewes High Street using your pound.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14That way, money stays in with local traders,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16for example, this bookshop.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18- Can I pay for this with my Lewes pound?- Certainly.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21- Very good.- Thank you. - There you go, it works.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Let's see if it works in the housing market.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28East Sussex can claim a fair slice of the history books.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Infamous for the Battle of Hastings in 1066,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34it's a county with a long history of conflicts.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Its coastal position left it open to invaders
0:01:37 > 0:01:41and one of the country's most romantic defences is Bodiam Castle,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44a fine example of a medieval moated castle.
0:01:44 > 0:01:49Sitting on the south coast, its warm climate draws in the crowds
0:01:49 > 0:01:51to popular seaside resorts such as Brighton
0:01:51 > 0:01:55and, of course, to marvel at the striking chalk cliffs of Beachy Head.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The properties in East Sussex are beautiful
0:01:59 > 0:02:02and being commutable to London, they're quite expensive.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05An average detached house here costs £351,000,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08which is a hefty 32% above the national average.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11So it's going to be a bit of an uphill struggle
0:02:11 > 0:02:14to find our couple today a house that they want.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17'Today's buyers are Mel and Ashley
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'who live in a two-bedroom flat in Richmond in Surrey.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25'Mel is from West Sussex, whilst Ashley is from the United States.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29'They met two and a half years ago and maintained a long-distance relationship
0:02:29 > 0:02:32'before Ashley made the move over to the UK.'
0:02:32 > 0:02:35We both work in the internet advertising industry,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37which is very busy, very fast-paced.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41We work in London, in the Big Smoke, near Victoria.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45And it would be nice to get out to the country,
0:02:45 > 0:02:46green, wide-open spaces...
0:02:46 > 0:02:50- Quiet.- Quiet and a breath of fresh air.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Ashley's just moved over from America, from Seattle, Washington,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55which is very sort of outdoorsy, as well,
0:02:55 > 0:03:00and she's also got a dog, which she wants to bring over as well.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Not quite enough room for the dog and all the family that will be coming to visit us.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08'And once they're settled, they can't wait to get involved in rural pursuits.'
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Country walks, pub lunches, cricket on the green
0:03:12 > 0:03:19- and lots of fun with friends and family outside, outdoors.- Yeah.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24'This will be the first home they've bought together, so it's important they get it right.'
0:03:24 > 0:03:28We have quite a small kitchen and we would like to have enough space
0:03:28 > 0:03:34for more of a community kitchen, having family and friends joining us while we're cooking.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36And also, I'm desperate for a dishwasher.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38We can work anywhere
0:03:38 > 0:03:41and our company's very flexible and lets us work from home.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45But this currently is our office, really, in the living room,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47but it would be nice to have maybe a spare room or a study
0:03:47 > 0:03:51where we can squirrel away and do our stuff.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53We have beautiful communal gardens
0:03:53 > 0:03:56but we'd like a place that has a nice private garden
0:03:56 > 0:03:59for us to grow vegetables and for my dog, Dodger, to come and join us.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03'For Mel, this is a chance to move closer to where he grew up
0:04:03 > 0:04:05'but for Ashley, it's a whole new world
0:04:05 > 0:04:08'and she's chasing the romantic image of the English country dream.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11'So what sort of a property will suit them?'
0:04:11 > 0:04:13We would like a period house with character
0:04:13 > 0:04:18and at least three bedrooms, with two bathrooms
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and a nice garden.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24And a big kitchen where we can do lots of cooking and entertaining.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Before we start homing in on properties,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30we've invited a local agent to give a valuation for Mel's flat.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34This is a very nicely presented apartment
0:04:34 > 0:04:36in a very sought-after development.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38It's in close proximity to Richmond Park
0:04:38 > 0:04:40and to the British Rail mainline station,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42with great links up to London.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47And for that reason I'd value this apartment at £360,000.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52I only bought the place two years ago for 275
0:04:52 > 0:04:55but to come out with that kind of number,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57especially in the current climate, was amazing.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59- Great.- So really, really pleased.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03'So what sort of figure are we looking at for the new property?'
0:05:03 > 0:05:06We would be able to do probably about 350.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09350 big ones.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Great. We have a young couple who want to make a bona fide escape to the countryside.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20They want space to spread out, maybe an extra bedroom or two.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24They want a lovely property that will impress Ashley's American relatives
0:05:24 > 0:05:28and most importantly of all, they want space for Dodger the dog.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Mel and Ashley will continue to work in London,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35so all our properties are relatively close to rail services,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38focused around the small town of Battle.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41There is, however, no getting away from the fact
0:05:41 > 0:05:43that it will be a lengthy commute.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Over the course of two days, I'll be showing Mel and Ashley
0:05:46 > 0:05:48a selection of properties in the local area.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52They'll be viewing the houses without knowing the asking price,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54which I'll reveal at the end of the viewing.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58And true to form, our final offering will be the mystery house,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01a property purposefully chosen to put the cat among the pigeons.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06East Sussex is one of my favourite counties.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08The properties here are beautiful
0:06:08 > 0:06:11and you can find them in all different price ranges.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16At the pricy end of the market sits this house in Cross in Hand.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19With seven bedrooms and five reception rooms,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21it's the epitome of Victorian grandeur.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23And if you can see yourself living here,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26then it will cost you just a shade under £2 million.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Alternatively, take a look at this four-bedroom Edwardian property
0:06:31 > 0:06:33on the outskirts of Lewes.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37With a market guide price of 800,000 to 850,000,
0:06:37 > 0:06:41it offers roomy accommodation and an attractive garden.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Or finally, if you're chasing the country dream,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47take a peek at this cosy cottage in Mayfield.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51There's exposed timbers galore, a wood burner to keep you warm,
0:06:51 > 0:06:56and it could be yours for an offer between £400,000 and £450,000.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- Welcome to Sussex.- Thank you.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00East Sussex, to be precise.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05- You're a local boy. You went to school here. - Yes, actually in West Sussex
0:07:05 > 0:07:06but nearby, nearby.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10I don't know quite what you are. Are you a Sussexonian? Sussexman?
0:07:10 > 0:07:12- Whatever. But you're not.- I'm not.
0:07:12 > 0:07:18- Are you impressed with the English countryside?- It's beautiful. I've come a long way. It's gorgeous.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- Is that part of the idea, to impress Ashley and her parents?- Yes.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25I promise not to say that line about, "This house is older than your country."
0:07:25 > 0:07:30- That's really annoying.- That's his. - You can leave that to me.- Oh, good.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31I'll leave that to you. Very good.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Now, we've got nice properties lined up, including a mystery house.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39You've chosen quite an expensive county to live in, I have to say.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Of course, the market is bending in your favour,
0:07:42 > 0:07:46so hopefully we'll find something that will make that dream come true.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48- Shall we go?- Brilliant.- Wonderful.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Mel and Ashley have a budget of £350,000
0:07:55 > 0:07:59and are looking for a property that has plenty of character.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01They'd like a large kitchen-diner,
0:08:01 > 0:08:02three bedrooms
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and a garden large enough to accommodate a vegetable patch
0:08:05 > 0:08:08and give Dodger the dog enough room to run around.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14What do you think of the countryside?
0:08:14 > 0:08:17How does it compare to around Seattle?
0:08:17 > 0:08:18It's totally different.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23It's everything that you read about in the books or see on TV.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27It's what I imagined England to be like.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30- Is this something you've been thinking about for a long time?- Yeah.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34We as a couple have been talking about it pretty much since the day we met,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38how we both liked to be, erm... be in the country.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41'Wow. In that case, we need to step on it.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46'The first house on our hit list is in the small hamlet of John's Cross.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49'Battle, three and a half miles south,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52'is, of course, the famous site of the Battle of Hastings,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54'where William Duke of Normandy defeated King Harold II
0:08:54 > 0:08:59'to become William I in 1066.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02'The town built up around the abbey founded to commemorate the battle
0:09:02 > 0:09:05'and today is a popular tourist attraction.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08'The house we're viewing is a picture-perfect place
0:09:08 > 0:09:11'but it does sit beside a busy commuter road to Hastings.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13'So here goes.'
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- Wow.- Oh!
0:09:16 > 0:09:17I love it!
0:09:17 > 0:09:22- It's from 1595...- Wow. - ..so it's got a good lot of age.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24It was two agricultural cottages,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27- which have been knocked together and made one.- Beautiful.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31I love the windows. It's older than anything I think I've seen in my life.
0:09:31 > 0:09:32LAUGHTER
0:09:32 > 0:09:36- And this garden area is really pretty, too.- Good.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I am a little speechless just by the, you know...
0:09:39 > 0:09:42If you take a snapshot of that and send it to Ashley's parents
0:09:42 > 0:09:45and say, "This is where we're going to live,"
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I think they'd fall off their breakfast stool. I think it's amazing.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52That's going to be quite a theme, isn't it? Impressing your parents.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54- Yeah, well.- It's quite important.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Let's go in.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Oh, wow. Gosh!
0:10:09 > 0:10:11She's loving it.
0:10:11 > 0:10:17- Oh, my word.- I'm closing the door. Can you hear the road?
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- No.- There.- No.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23So what do you think? This is the kitchen, sort of dining room.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25- Well...- It's great. It's cosy.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28This was two cottages, so the dividing wall would've been there
0:10:28 > 0:10:30where you see the wooden beam arch.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35- You've got bespoke wooden kitchen units, which I think are really nice. - Yeah.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- These are the original pine floorboards.- Oh, wow.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41- You've got your range here. - That's nice.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44What I think is really lovely is the big log burner
0:10:44 > 0:10:48- and the huge inglenook at the end. - That's incredible.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50- Do you entertain a lot? - We would like to.- Mm-hm.
0:10:50 > 0:10:56Yeah. Definitely. I expect to have a lot of family and friends over.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01We've got a good-sized table right now so we could get quite a few people round it.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Those chairs are nice. Obviously, they don't come with the property.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09It was two cottages. We've essentially got two staircases.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- OK.- So the house is in, sort of, two ends.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17This room bridges both of them but I want to take a look into this side.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Excellent.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Oh, wow.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- And the roof opens up. - Yeah. Look at this.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28This is an extension they put on. If you come round, you can see.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30This is the old part of the house,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33so this beam would've been the edge of the cottage
0:11:33 > 0:11:35and this they've pushed out.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38So essentially, you've got a very nice sitting room here
0:11:38 > 0:11:41that opens up into the garden and you've got incredible views.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45You've got the orchards on the other side of the valley
0:11:45 > 0:11:48and this is all farming land, so it won't be built on.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- I love it. - SHE LAUGHS
0:11:50 > 0:11:54- I love it.- Can you imagine curling up here with a book?- Absolutely.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- What about curling up with me?- Ah!
0:11:57 > 0:11:58- Ah!- Ah!
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Ah! Just leave us for a moment.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- I can't hear the road, either.- Can't hear it at all back here.- Yeah.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10'At the top of the stairs is a small double,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13'which would make a study or even an en-suite for the master bedroom,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16'which is accessed through a dressing room area.'
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- This is the master bedroom here.- Oh!
0:12:22 > 0:12:25- It's kind of small.- Mm.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- Petite.- A petite master bedroom.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33Gosh. Well, the closets are great. We need that space, so it's nice that it's there.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37You could have a chair here, I suppose, so you could look out the window.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- Mm.- You could also turn that into an en suite.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- Oh, sure.- You could keep that as a study or...
0:12:43 > 0:12:46I don't know what your thoughts about upstairs are.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50It would be nice for a nursery. That would work well as a nursery.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Ahh! Nursery.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Erm, but I could see, in the meantime,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02that that would be a good study space, a desk and computer in there.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04That would work nicely.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07'Ashley seems to have their life all mapped out.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11'Heading back downstairs and through the kitchen,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14'it's time to take a look at the rest of the ground floor.'
0:13:14 > 0:13:16We'll go into the bathroom first.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- Lovely oak beams...- Oh, wow. - ..throughout.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- Look!- Look at that!
0:13:24 > 0:13:28- Double sinks.- With the counter top. - With the counter top.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- If you're caught short in the middle of the night...- It's a trek.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35..it's a long haul from your master bedroom.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40That's why you might want to bring the piping up into the en suite.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- That wouldn't be difficult, would it?- Something to think about.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45We could recreate it upstairs.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Otherwise, there's always the delightful English tradition
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- of the chamber pot.- Mm.- Oh, no!
0:13:51 > 0:13:55- Are you familiar with that?- I've got a commode, actually.- Sorted.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56Let's keep going.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00'I don't think Ashley's too enamoured with that idea
0:14:00 > 0:14:04'but she might be impressed with the shower room just next door.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06'Then there's a utility room,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10'which has the second staircase leading up to the third and final bedroom,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14'which oozes character, great for impressing the American relatives.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18'But I want to cut to the chase and show them Dodger the dog's patch.'
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- Out into the fresh air.- Ah!
0:14:23 > 0:14:25There's quite a lot of potential in the garden.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It's about a third of an acre all told.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29It sits in sort of a wrap-around garden.
0:14:29 > 0:14:35So if we step back, we can see...
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- It's a lovely expanse of tiled roof. - Wow, yeah.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41It's a lovely house. It's a lovely property.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- But the compromise is that you're by the road.- Mm-hm.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46The question also is, can you afford it?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49- How much do you think the house is worth?- Oh, dear.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53- Or rather, what's it on the market for?- What's it on the market for?
0:14:53 > 0:14:55You go first.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Well, we gave you a budget of 350.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02So I am going to say it's definitely on the high end
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and possibly even a little over.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- Maybe 359? - Mm. What about you, Mel?
0:15:07 > 0:15:12I shall say it's below the budget but only a little bit,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15so 347...
0:15:15 > 0:15:18- Five?- ..five. - LAUGHTER
0:15:18 > 0:15:22Just tidy it up. It's actually right on the top of your budget.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26- It's offers over 350.- 350.- OK.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28That surprises me, that it's actually on our budget.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Yeah. I think it's very reasonable,
0:15:30 > 0:15:36you know, given the chocolate box, countrified feel of the place.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40- Yeah.- Well, why don't you walk around inside and have a chat
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and I'll meet you out the front?
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Ah! I love them, they're great.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46And this would be the perfect house for them
0:15:46 > 0:15:51because it's been decorated and brought up to scratch by people in the same situation.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54The only problem is that road. TRAFFIC NOISE
0:15:56 > 0:15:58'At £350,000, this beautiful cottage
0:15:58 > 0:16:01'is the epitome of the English country dream
0:16:01 > 0:16:04'and would no doubt impress the American relatives.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08'There's a charming kitchen-diner, a modern lounge,
0:16:08 > 0:16:09'three bedrooms
0:16:09 > 0:16:11'and a third of an acre of garden
0:16:11 > 0:16:15'for the vegetable patch and Dodger the dog to share.'
0:16:15 > 0:16:18This is a really nice, comfortable room.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- I'm concerned about the upstairs, though.- Mm-hm.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- But I mean, just for the downstairs, this being...- It's ideal.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29..you know, the kitchen-diner, very, very cosy, with the fire.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Some of the features on the ground floor that really struck a chord
0:16:33 > 0:16:35were the beautiful fireplace,
0:16:35 > 0:16:39the beams, the exposed beams are really incredible.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42I like the high ceilings in here. It really opens it up
0:16:42 > 0:16:45and gives it a little bit more of a modern feel to a certain degree
0:16:45 > 0:16:48but sticking with the rest of the house.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- And then the view.- Ah! - Absolutely amazing.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53That's... Yeah.
0:16:53 > 0:16:59Erm, it being at the kind of higher end of the budget,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01makes me think...
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Mm, you know, I'm a bit on a knife edge about that
0:17:03 > 0:17:07because I do think we need to change a few things upstairs.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09They've been too long.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11We've got other things to do.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15- Come on, guys.- Hi.- Let's press on. Can you close the door behind?
0:17:25 > 0:17:28'Mel and Ashley will be looking for places to visit when they move,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32'and of course, attractions that will impress Ashley's American family,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35'so they're making a head start with a trip to Lewes.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39'The small market town isn't short on history -
0:17:39 > 0:17:42'it was here in 1605 that the gunpowder plot was uncovered,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46'and today those 5th of November celebrations are very special.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49'Lewes was also home to Thomas Paine,
0:17:49 > 0:17:54'the English revolutionary who was a huge advocate of American independence
0:17:54 > 0:17:56'and later influenced the French revolution.'
0:17:56 > 0:17:59I like it here, there's lots of history.
0:17:59 > 0:18:00Yeah, it's really quaint.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03'Lewes Castle sits at the heart of the town
0:18:03 > 0:18:06'and was built on an artificial mound, originally of chalk blocks.'
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Wow, this is really cute!
0:18:09 > 0:18:12'But it's not just the age of bricks and mortar that can impress.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16'Just a stone's throw away are the Southover Grange Gardens
0:18:16 > 0:18:17'that date back to 1572.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22'At any time of the year it's a great place for a stroll
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'and a chance to admire the wonderful gardens.'
0:18:25 > 0:18:27This would be the perfect place to bring your family
0:18:27 > 0:18:29- when they come over to visit.- Yeah!
0:18:29 > 0:18:33'Seven miles east of Lewes lies Charleston House
0:18:33 > 0:18:37'which was the home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant
0:18:37 > 0:18:39'who moved here in 1916.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42'Over the following 50 years the house became country home
0:18:42 > 0:18:46'to young intellectuals and artists such as Virginia Woolf
0:18:46 > 0:18:49'and EM Forster who were dubbed the Bloomsbury group.'
0:18:49 > 0:18:50- Wow!- Goodness me,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54just think of all the fine literary minds who have been in this room.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Yeah, my book club would love it.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07'Our next house is on the outskirts of the coastal town of Hastings.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10'It's thought that the Norman troops were encamped
0:19:10 > 0:19:12'on the northern edge of the town in 1066
0:19:12 > 0:19:15'ready to push inland to battle.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18'Today it's a south coast tourist destination -
0:19:18 > 0:19:21'the old town being the hotspot for visitors.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24'This property is a bit of a test bed.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26'Rather than being in a rural location,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28'it sits on the outskirts of Hastings
0:19:28 > 0:19:30'and is only 70 years old!
0:19:30 > 0:19:34'But that sure means you get a lot of bang for your buck.
0:19:34 > 0:19:35'It's well worth a look.'
0:19:37 > 0:19:39This is a change of gear.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40- Yes it is!- Yes.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43It looks absolutely enormous.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It is a massive property. Used to be a doctor's surgery downstairs
0:19:46 > 0:19:49and a flat upstairs but they were joined in the 1960s.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53And it's really an exercise in showing you
0:19:53 > 0:19:55how much you can get for your money
0:19:55 > 0:19:59when you translate your flat in London
0:19:59 > 0:20:02to a house by the sea down in Sussex.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- Great.- Shall we look inside? - Yes, please.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Wow! This is nice.
0:20:12 > 0:20:13Nice door.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14Lovely old door.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20- If you head this way you can see the great...- Yeah, look at this entry.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- ..hall.- Look at the stained glass too, that's pretty.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24Lovely, touch.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29It has a very nice, um, welcoming entry way, I like this.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33So if we step forward here and walk on, everything runs off the hall
0:20:33 > 0:20:37- so you've got a nice downstairs loo. - Oh, very good.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39- Yeah.- A big-sized front room here
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- which is being used as a playroom.- Oh!
0:20:43 > 0:20:46What I want to show you is the front room,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48- cos this is...- Wow!
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Oh, look at that fireplace.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Oh, it's huge!
0:20:53 > 0:20:55It's huge.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58It's not what I imagined a country house would be.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03- No beams.- Yeah, no beams, but it's still very cosy and...
0:21:03 > 0:21:05looks like there's a lot of nice light in the room.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- This is not the jewel of this house. - Oh!
0:21:08 > 0:21:10The room that makes this house comes next.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16Ta-da!
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Oh my word!
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Wow!
0:21:21 > 0:21:22This is a kitchen.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- Yep.- Oh, it's huge, it keeps going.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- It's quite unexpected even though the other rooms are big.- Wow.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30This is a whopping great room.
0:21:30 > 0:21:31This is an amazing room.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- I can see lots of cooking going on here.- Yeah.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Dinner parties, what not.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37Definitely.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40This is a really wonderful space to cook,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42you've got all these beech-top worktops,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44a double gas range,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47stainless steel work surfaces everywhere,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49- an industrial dishwasher...- Nice!
0:21:49 > 0:21:50SHE LAUGHS
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Not a single dish is going to be hand-washed in this kitchen.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55..And lots and lots of storage everywhere you look.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59It really does open up because this is a new extension.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01This was the old wall and they pushed out
0:22:01 > 0:22:03about two or three years ago I think,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06the present owners, to build this whole extension on.
0:22:06 > 0:22:07And it really opens it up.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10You've got great skylights with light coming down
0:22:10 > 0:22:12and these doors going out into the garden.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14I love the light,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17especially as it's the time of year that it is...
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Exactly, we're coming up to winter and it's still very bright.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23And then it moves on,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26into this, this was the art room, or music room.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29In the 1930s house it would have been.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- It's massive.- Could you use this sort of space, is it too big?
0:22:32 > 0:22:34That would be something to think about.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37For the two of us it would feel really big,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40but with company around, it would be perfect, I'm sure.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44We're certainly looking for somewhere to grow into.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45- Yeah.- So to speak.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48All those, er...
0:22:49 > 0:22:51..little children running around.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- I can see them running around here. - I was thinking about my cooking.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56And certainly, Dodger, he'd love it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Yes, he would love it.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59I can't wait to see the yard.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Absolutely. Let's take a look upstairs.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06'The downstairs certainly offers heaps of room,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09'upstairs there are four bedrooms and a very large landing
0:23:09 > 0:23:11'which I think would make a perfect study area.'
0:23:11 > 0:23:13That would work well.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- Thoughts?- You could shout down, "Bring me some tea!"
0:23:17 > 0:23:22'Two of the bedrooms are generous doubles and probably more the size they're looking for,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25'and then there's a smaller room they could use as an additional study
0:23:25 > 0:23:28'if they're looking for a his and hers arrangement.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33'The bathroom's not a bad size either with the ever-important white suite.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36'Next for us though, is a room for them.'
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Wow!
0:23:38 > 0:23:41It's above the downstairs sitting room so it's the same size.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42OK.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Yeah, yeah it's a great size and I love that front window,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47brings in a lot of light.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Bit roady out there.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51It is, and a bit housey.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53And a bit housey.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Not super private, I suppose.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- OK, let's look outside.- Great.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03'I think Mel and Ashley can see the benefit
0:24:03 > 0:24:05'of the space this house offers,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07'I wonder how they'll feel about the garden.'
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Oh, this is great.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13- Isn't it lovely?- Yeah.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16It's really well thought out, again for families.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19- You've got a nice space where you can eat in the summer...- Yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23And then these sleeper steps that take you up into the garden proper.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25It's fenced, that's good.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Fenced in, that's good for Dodger.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29Yeah, great.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30Not massive...
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Just about the right size actually!
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Looks like there's plenty of space to grow vegetables...
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- A market garden if you like.- Yeah.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43You've got a drive-in garage where you can put your car,
0:24:43 > 0:24:44or just lots of stuff.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45So if we turn round,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- we can see the house but more especially the neighbours.- Yeah.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Is that a bit too much neighbour?
0:24:52 > 0:24:53Um...
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Depends on the neighbour.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59But yeah, maybe.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01The windows looking into windows could be an issue.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04But it is absolutely massive.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:25:06 > 0:25:11Oh, I'm going to go on the high end again. I think this one is...
0:25:11 > 0:25:15probably right up there - maybe even 360.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I'm thinking you're going to surprise us
0:25:18 > 0:25:20and it's going to be cheaper than that,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24so I will say 339.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27What a deliciously specific guess.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30But slightly optimistic, it's actually 350.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31OK.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34- And it's dropped £100,000.- Wow!
0:25:34 > 0:25:36..Since it was on the market.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39So I'm not sure they'd go much under 350.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Um... But, you know,
0:25:41 > 0:25:44that's how much it is down in Hastings.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45Wow.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Fabulous.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48Struck Mel dumb.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Yes, you have.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Some might say that would be a good thing.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Aw! Well why don't you have a walk around?
0:25:56 > 0:26:00You might want to leave a little trail of string or crumbs
0:26:00 > 0:26:01in case you get lost!
0:26:01 > 0:26:03- And I'll meet you out the front. - Great.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09'For £350,000 this house would give Mel and Ashley
0:26:09 > 0:26:11'plenty of room to grow into.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13'There's a superb family kitchen/diner,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15'three reception rooms,
0:26:15 > 0:26:16'four bedrooms,
0:26:16 > 0:26:20'and a garden that's large enough for Dodger to bounce around in
0:26:20 > 0:26:22'and for a small vegetable patch too.'
0:26:23 > 0:26:26The space is incredible in here.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27It really is massive,
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- compared to even what I thought we could get.- Yeah.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35The features that really stand out for me
0:26:35 > 0:26:37about this property are the large rooms,
0:26:37 > 0:26:38lots of light,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41the fireplaces are great,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44the yard was perfect with the fenced-in,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48and having a small area for a table, all of that good stuff.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51So lots of really nice features in this house.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54My reaction to this property
0:26:54 > 0:26:57is that one, it's not exactly in the country,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00and two, it is quite a long, long way away from London.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03However the interesting thing is
0:27:03 > 0:27:05you get so much more for your money.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08We never thought we'd get anything near four bedrooms,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12or a kitchen the size of the kitchen/diner there actually is.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16It's a curve ball for us, I don't know that I was expecting this.
0:27:16 > 0:27:17What's a curve ball?
0:27:17 > 0:27:18This house.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21That's a baseball reference, is it?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25So in England we'd call that a googly.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27SHE LAUGHS
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Hastings, we're by the sea,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32so I thought we might take a turn to the sea.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Oh, great!
0:27:42 > 0:27:45'One of Mel's favourite hobbies is fishing
0:27:45 > 0:27:49'and once he's near the south coast, he hopes to cast his line a little more often.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52'We've decided to give him a new experience
0:27:52 > 0:27:55'and fixed up a night-fishing trip with Frank Shaw,
0:27:55 > 0:27:58'who runs excursions for angling parties.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02'The best reason for fishing at night is that we don't have to go so far
0:28:02 > 0:28:06'and species that feed after dark are more likely to take the bait.'
0:28:06 > 0:28:10- Hey, Frank.- How are you? - Nice to see you.- Good stuff.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- This is Ashley. - Ashley, jump straight on.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- And that's Mel.- Mel, get on here. - Hello. Nice to meet you.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Wow. It's a great boat.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25- So what are we going to catch today? - We should catch some whiting in the time that we've got.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Sometimes we catch a cod.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Are we clear to exit? Over.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32'Yeah, it's all clear.'
0:28:32 > 0:28:35'With permission granted, we're on our way.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37'We don't have to go very far to catch fish.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41'We're heading just one mile out from Beachy Head.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44'Guy's helping us get the bait sorted this evening.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47'He's only 16 and the youngest skipper in the UK.'
0:28:47 > 0:28:50What's the bait we're using? Squid, is it?
0:28:50 > 0:28:54Yeah, they're whole cuttlefish. We've got squid as well
0:28:54 > 0:28:55and that's good at night-time.
0:28:55 > 0:29:00I expect we'll get some bites sort of within 15, 20 minutes...
0:29:00 > 0:29:02- Really?- ..of them going down.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Guy's basically getting four lines fishing.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07It'll give us a chance to get some bait down
0:29:07 > 0:29:10and get hold of some of the night feeders,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- maybe conger, whiting, dogfish... - Conger?- ..cod.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16'As the bait is lowered, we wait with anticipation
0:29:16 > 0:29:18'and it's not long before we get a bite.'
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Oh, it's there, it's there, it's there.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24SHE SHRIEKS
0:29:24 > 0:29:27- OK...- OK, OK, OK.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30Oh!
0:29:30 > 0:29:33This is a pouting, the scavengers of the sea.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36- Will we put him back in? - Yeah, of course.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40Yay!
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Oh! I reckon I've got one.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Oh, hi, fishy!
0:29:48 > 0:29:54And we have a nice whiting there, a slightly different species.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Quite often used in fishcakes.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00I'm going to return that fish cos it's a little small.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04- We're going to catch a bigger one now.- Oh, yes, we are. - We need some fresh bait on here.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08'No matter how hard we tried, we're not lucky with the big fish tonight.'
0:30:08 > 0:30:10I don't quite know what I was expecting.
0:30:10 > 0:30:14The fish certainly weren't expecting Ashley to be catching them.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Cod forbid.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19HE GROANS
0:30:19 > 0:30:22You should know your plaice and leave the jokes to me.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25You old trout.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27'Jokes over, it's time to head in.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30'Ashley takes the wheel and heads for the harbour lights.'
0:30:30 > 0:30:32- Frank, it was a real pleasure. - You're welcome.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36- I think Ashley showed the most promise.- Yeah, a good boat driver.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39- Mel and I were rubbish. - Good lad. All right.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43- Thanks, Guy.- Thanks very much. - See you later.- Cheerio. Bye-bye.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46'With our nets pretty much empty and our tummies rumbling,
0:30:46 > 0:30:48'we're left with no option.'
0:30:48 > 0:30:50Three cod and chips, please.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53This is a good time to discuss the day, actually.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57Cast your mind back to the properties we saw this morning,
0:30:57 > 0:30:59to the old cottage by the road...
0:30:59 > 0:31:02I loved it, it's just very quintessential
0:31:02 > 0:31:04and the ground floor was perfect.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06The road bothers me.
0:31:06 > 0:31:11It was fine when you're inside and you've got that secondary glazing.
0:31:11 > 0:31:12That view!
0:31:12 > 0:31:15The view was marvellous from the inside,
0:31:15 > 0:31:16but when you're sat out there
0:31:16 > 0:31:19with a barbeque and a couple of cans of beer,
0:31:19 > 0:31:20it's a whole different story.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23And the house in Hastings which was big.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25That was a big surprise,
0:31:25 > 0:31:27literally and figuratively.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30Not expecting to see that large a property.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32I couldn't believe how big the kitchen was,
0:31:32 > 0:31:34how big that dining area was.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37I never thought that we'd actually get four bedrooms
0:31:37 > 0:31:42um, for the price that we're looking to pay.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46Both of those were really appealing and, um,
0:31:46 > 0:31:49it's good to know that we're on the same page in that way.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52'Still, there's two more properties to go,
0:31:52 > 0:31:53'but for now our dinner is up.'
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Look, it's the proper stuff.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59- That's the medium one. Oh, those chips are so hot.- Yeah!
0:31:59 > 0:32:02My throat's on fire. Ahhh!
0:32:07 > 0:32:10'Mel and Ashley from Richmond in Surrey
0:32:10 > 0:32:15'are house hunting in East Sussex and have a budget of £350,000.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18'They're looking for a home that will not only suit them
0:32:18 > 0:32:22'but will be good enough to show off to relatives in the United States.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25'So far they've seen two very different houses,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27'and coming up, I learn a new expression
0:32:27 > 0:32:31'that I can honestly say I've never heard of before.'
0:32:31 > 0:32:33A two-butt kitchen, so two people can be...
0:32:33 > 0:32:36A two-butt kitchen? This is the BBC, you can't say that.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40'And the mystery house does nothing to strengthen international relations.'
0:32:40 > 0:32:41Anyway...
0:32:41 > 0:32:43ALISTAIR GASPS
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Was that an on-screen argument? Oh, I love that.
0:32:46 > 0:32:51Another lovely bright autumnal day property shopping in Sussex
0:32:51 > 0:32:53and I have to say that yesterday went rather well.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57I thought Ashley would be easy to impress with English properties,
0:32:57 > 0:33:00but Mel, I thought, might be a harder nut to crack.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04But they were both very enthusiastic, which gives me high hopes for today,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07because the properties today are great.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12We're back in a rural location for our first house this morning,
0:33:12 > 0:33:16in Robertsbridge, five miles north of Battle.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19It may be small but the village does offer some good facilities,
0:33:19 > 0:33:22including a vet for Dodger, a couple of pubs,
0:33:22 > 0:33:26and, importantly, a station, with rail links to London.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31- Wow.- This is the property I want to show you.- It's beautiful.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- Oh, goodness.- What do you think from the outside?- Is it detached?
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- Detached.- Wow.- All yours.- Wow.
0:33:37 > 0:33:42- It's really cute.- It was built in 1841, so it's early Victorian but in a Georgian style.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45- I like Georgian. - I think it looks amazing.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47I really like the town, the village.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50But you are in the community, not out in the middle of nowhere.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53- I'm digging that.- You're digging it. She's digging it.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58Come on in.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03- Oh, wow.- Isn't it nice?- It's great. - I like the decoration, as well.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07It's a bit more compact than other properties I've shown you.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09It's a classic, sort of Victorian, layout.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- You've got a hallway... - Rooms off the hall.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15Rooms off the hall. What do you think about the proportions?
0:34:15 > 0:34:17- So far so good.- Nice, yeah.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20- Let's see the size of the rooms. - Let's see this one.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24- This is the sitting room. - Oh, how pretty.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Yes. It's got a big fireplace, a real fire.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30A nice tiled hearth.
0:34:30 > 0:34:36This is good. It's a little small, but, I mean, it's not tiny,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38but it's compact.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- What do you think about the size, Mel?- Yeah, I mean, it is smaller,
0:34:41 > 0:34:46but, you know, having known people that live in places like this
0:34:46 > 0:34:48in villages around the area, etc,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51I know how snug and warm they can be, especially if that fire works.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54- Yes.- If we can get that roaring.
0:34:54 > 0:34:59What's nice is you've got brand new or quite new double-glazed sash windows throughout the house,
0:34:59 > 0:35:02which is an enormous expense that you won't have to do.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06It completely cuts down any noise and keeps in all the heat.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Excellent, yeah.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11One room down and it's looking good. Now for the dining room.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14- Oh, I like this.- So this is obviously the dining room.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18- This is a good size. This works. - Nice big wide pine floors
0:35:18 > 0:35:24and these lovely pine shutters, actually, which they've restored.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27- Are they original?- Yeah.- Wow. - I'm gobsmacked again.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29You know, the outside is gorgeous.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32I'd have said that the outside would be important
0:35:32 > 0:35:34for that first impression,
0:35:34 > 0:35:40especially for sending photos or whatnot back to Ashley's family.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43But impressions of the dining room, it's great.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45It's in keeping with the character of the house
0:35:45 > 0:35:47and, you know, cosy is good.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51Let's take a look at the kitchen because it is a small property,
0:35:51 > 0:35:53there is possibilities.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59Ah! This is a surprisingly good size.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02This is a fair size. It works for me.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04It's a two-butt kitchen. You can get two people in here.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- Two what? Two what?- Sorry.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11Two-butt kitchen, so two people can be working...
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Two butt? This is the BBC, you can't say that.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- It must be an American thing. - Another American thing.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20It's a two-butt kitchen.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24I think it's a good size. I like the open-plan brick
0:36:24 > 0:36:26and... Da-da-da!
0:36:26 > 0:36:31- Dishwasher!- A dishwasher! - Ah, yes. Nice dishwasher.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33Well, shall we move our butts through into...?
0:36:33 > 0:36:35LAUGHTER
0:36:35 > 0:36:36'Well, that's a new one on me.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40'Off this two-butt kitchen is a useful utility room
0:36:40 > 0:36:45'and a downstairs loo with a generous one-butt shower.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50'And that's not all. There's also another reception room with doors to the garden.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'At the other end of the room is a study area,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56'which will be useful for when they work from home.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58'Time for us, though, to head upstairs.'
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Ah, look at this.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Nice big landing.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- What I really wanted to point out... - Oh, I like this.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08..is the reading alcove at the end of the landing.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11'At the back of the house is the family bathroom,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13'which is quite small but neat and tidy.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16'And just over the landing, still at the back,
0:37:16 > 0:37:18'is the smallest of the three bedrooms.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20'But it does take a double bed.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23'At the front of the house are two bedrooms,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25'which are almost identical in size.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27'The first currently has twin beds
0:37:27 > 0:37:30'but we're heading for the room next door.'
0:37:30 > 0:37:32This is the master.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36- Oh, the fireplace.- Mm, fireplace. - That's nice.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38- Our bed would fit in here.- Mm-hm.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41This must be king-size.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44I like the low ceiling, actually, in the bedroom.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46- It makes it a bit more cosy.- Mm-hm.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50- Fabulous.- Yeah. This is great.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53Is this going to be enough space for you upstairs?
0:37:53 > 0:37:57- Definitely.- I think for us, yeah. - This is a good size, this is pretty much perfect.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00'Great. More bonus points for the upstairs, then
0:38:00 > 0:38:02'but I fear we won't pick up any in the garden,
0:38:02 > 0:38:04'which, I have to say, is a tad on the small side.'
0:38:04 > 0:38:08- Mm.- Here we have it. - Wow! Look at that tree house.
0:38:08 > 0:38:13- Secluded.- Very secluded. You've got a very high hedge throughout.
0:38:13 > 0:38:19It's workable. It's maybe a little bit smaller than what I imagined.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22That whole play area takes up half of the garden.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26- You could re-landscape that and double the size of the plot.- Yeah.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29You've got Dodger, which is obviously an issue,
0:38:29 > 0:38:33but how much space are you actually needing in your garden, apart from a place to sit?
0:38:33 > 0:38:36That's true. We don't need a whole lot of space.
0:38:36 > 0:38:37Cos you're busy guys.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41You're going to be on the train for four hours a day,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44so you're not going to have that much time to do any gardening.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46- Yeah.- If we step back over here,
0:38:46 > 0:38:51- we can see the full extent of the house and the extension.- Oh, yes.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54- Very nice.- Which brings us to the question of expense.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Well, my goodness.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59- OK, so...- I'm going high.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02I'm going to be very optimistic,
0:39:02 > 0:39:05just because I really hope this is the case
0:39:05 > 0:39:08that it's maybe like...
0:39:08 > 0:39:10340?
0:39:10 > 0:39:13I reckon it's over 350.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16So 357...
0:39:17 > 0:39:20500.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Erm... We've been very consistent on this show.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25- This is also on the market at £350,000.- OK.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28- OK.- And I think that's quite a good price
0:39:28 > 0:39:32for something that's close to London, in a very nice community
0:39:32 > 0:39:33and very well-kept.
0:39:33 > 0:39:38Erm, but, of course, it's up to you to make that decision.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Why don't you pop inside, have a look around,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43- and, as usual, I'll meet you out the front?- Perfect.- OK.
0:39:45 > 0:39:46I think this is the one.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49I think this offers everything that they're looking for.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53It's a great location. No question.
0:39:57 > 0:39:58'At £350,000,
0:39:58 > 0:40:02'this attractive Victorian house could be just up their street.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04'It has that two-butt kitchen.
0:40:04 > 0:40:05'three reception rooms,
0:40:05 > 0:40:08'three bedrooms and a garden
0:40:08 > 0:40:12'but unfortunately, Dodger won't be bouncing very far here.'
0:40:12 > 0:40:15So the house is fantastic, but the garden is pretty poky
0:40:15 > 0:40:18and half the reason for us moving over here or down here
0:40:18 > 0:40:24is so that Dodger can move over from America, so...
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- I agree with you, it's not perfect but it's pretty darn close.- Mm.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32I thought the property was amazing. Loved the windows.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36So from a wow factor from the outside, absolutely amazing
0:40:36 > 0:40:37and inside, it's been kept so well.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- This kitchen, it works really well for me.- Yeah.
0:40:40 > 0:40:45- I think I could certainly rustle up some food in here.- Mm.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48- The house is a lot more formal. - It is more formal, yeah.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51And you can see that right from the outside.
0:40:51 > 0:40:56So again, we've been bowled a googly. Or a curve ball.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02This is definitely a home that I could see Mel and I living in.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05The moment we opened the door, it really felt like a home to me
0:41:05 > 0:41:07and that's always a very good first impression.
0:41:07 > 0:41:14My only concern is the yard and really, the extension possibility of the home is limited.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- Nice knocker.- Come on in.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20No! Come on out. You haven't bought it yet.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34'If Mel and Ashley want to settle in quickly to East Sussex,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37'they'll need to get with the local ways and traditions,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39'and what better place to start than at the local?
0:41:41 > 0:41:44'The game of Toad in the Hole is very similar to Pitch Penny,
0:41:44 > 0:41:48'yet in this country it's unique to Lewes and the surrounding area.
0:41:48 > 0:41:52'So we've arranged for them to meet local expert Ben Wood
0:41:52 > 0:41:54'for a game in a local pub.'
0:41:54 > 0:41:55Hey, Mel, hi, Ashley.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- Hi.- I'm going to tell you about Toad in the Hole.- Great.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01It's a pub game, you get four toads, these are the toads -
0:42:01 > 0:42:04they're brass discs, and you've got to throw them from eight feet away
0:42:04 > 0:42:06and get them into the hole in the leg.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- Just throw it?- Just throw it, just put it in the hole.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11You get two points if it goes in the hole,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14one point if it lands on the top and doesn't touch the back.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17If it touches the back it doesn't score at all.
0:42:17 > 0:42:18You play from 31 down.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Good luck.
0:42:22 > 0:42:26'After a couple of practise throws, it's time for the real stuff.'
0:42:26 > 0:42:28You stagger the beginning to even it up,
0:42:28 > 0:42:32so the first person throws two toads, second person throws three toads,
0:42:32 > 0:42:34then you both throw four until you get towards the end.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Otherwise the person who goes first has a massive advantage.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40- So I throw two?- You throw two.- OK.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Hang on, are we going to bet?
0:42:42 > 0:42:44I'll bet you a dollar.
0:42:44 > 0:42:45- I'll bet you a pint.- OK.
0:42:45 > 0:42:46Go.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Yes! Ha-ha!
0:42:55 > 0:42:57Well done!
0:43:03 > 0:43:04Yes!
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Well done, you won again.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10- If you lived in East Sussex you'd be playing every day.- Perfect!
0:43:10 > 0:43:11Hey, you owe me a pint.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13OK.
0:43:13 > 0:43:14- I'll have one as well.- Great.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20You know, on this show we don't rest on our laurels.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23You think you've got everything you want
0:43:23 > 0:43:25and then we show you the mystery house.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32So you've seen all our regular boring houses
0:43:32 > 0:43:35but you've got the mystery house to come.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37What do you think the mystery house might involve?
0:43:39 > 0:43:43I don't know cos you've already thrown us a couple of good curve balls,
0:43:43 > 0:43:47so I think the mystery house has to be something pretty spectacular.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49I am very anxious to see the mystery house.
0:43:49 > 0:43:56I reckon it could be something like an oast house, a small one,
0:43:56 > 0:44:00for our budget, cos I know there's a few of those around here.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04- Certainly are.- And maybe, if we get back down to the sea,
0:44:04 > 0:44:08maybe somewhere on the sea that's an apartment, something really mega modern,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11just to try and throw us a googly.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19It's time to reveal that the mystery house is in Catsfield,
0:44:19 > 0:44:20three miles southwest of Battle.
0:44:20 > 0:44:23It's a small village with a few shops for convenience
0:44:23 > 0:44:26and a pub, too, for making new friends.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28Interestingly, Mel, Ashley and Dodger
0:44:28 > 0:44:32will be able to walk in the steps of William the Conqueror
0:44:32 > 0:44:36if they follow the 1066 country walk, which meanders through the village.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40- Have you guessed what it is yet? - No.- Well, no.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43Can you see over there on the horizon? What's that?
0:44:43 > 0:44:45- The oast house? - Yeah. It's not that.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49It's round the corner. It is in fact...
0:44:50 > 0:44:53- Here.- Holy moly!- Wow.
0:44:53 > 0:44:56- Which bit of it?- Half of it. - Half of it?
0:44:56 > 0:45:00- Half of the former Methodist chapel...- Methodist!
0:45:00 > 0:45:03- ..is yours. Is that you?- Yeah. - Ah!- I'm a Catholic.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06- It's meant to be. - Are you serious?- Yeah.
0:45:08 > 0:45:09- Would I lie to you?- Wow.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11As a Methodist?
0:45:11 > 0:45:15- Certainly not.- You're not supposed to.- No, exactly.
0:45:15 > 0:45:20- I've got to see this.- It's certainly a mystery.- It is, isn't it?
0:45:20 > 0:45:21You see? We don't do things by half.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24- Don't you move in mysterious ways, Alistair?- Ah!
0:45:30 > 0:45:34- Oh. Come on in to your... - Nice floor.- Lovely.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37First impressions, Mel?
0:45:37 > 0:45:41Er... Yeah, on the outside it looks very imposing
0:45:41 > 0:45:46but on the inside it looks very cosy and extremely well done.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49- What about you, Ashley? - Yeah, I'm surprised
0:45:49 > 0:45:52that it feels like you just walked into a home, not into a church.
0:45:52 > 0:45:56Let's look in the kitchen because that is, as you know, the heart of the home.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00And this is the kitchen.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04- Wow.- This is more like it.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08- That's a lot of space. - Nice and big.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11That's really surprising.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13- It doesn't feel like a church. - No, not at all.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16There's a little hint of a church window, there.
0:46:16 > 0:46:21- But there's not a great deal of light coming in.- You don't get a lot of natural light.
0:46:21 > 0:46:25The downstairs, this bottom floor, it is a bit dim.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27- Mm.- Mm. Yeah. It is.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31'At the end of the kitchen is a utility room, which is very light,
0:46:31 > 0:46:36'so they could look into the possibility of knocking the wall down.
0:46:36 > 0:46:40'Back off the hallway is one of the two bathrooms in this property
0:46:40 > 0:46:44'and a small room which could be used a study or a fourth bedroom.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47'But we're heading upstairs to look at the living quarters.'
0:46:47 > 0:46:51- Oh! Wow.- Ah!
0:46:51 > 0:46:53- Another floor.- Yes.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56And here is your missing sitting room.
0:46:56 > 0:47:00Oh, very good! Oh, look at those windows.
0:47:00 > 0:47:05- Now, this is better.- This is... wow. - From a light perspective.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08- Absolutely. This is where all the light lives.- Yes, it is.
0:47:08 > 0:47:13- That's so pretty. This is great. - Nice and big.- It's a good-size room.
0:47:13 > 0:47:14I like the light, for sure.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18I'm not feeling the church thing. I'm not feeling the love.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21- So you've gone off the whole church idea?- On the outside, it looks...
0:47:21 > 0:47:23You know, it's a novelty,
0:47:23 > 0:47:26but now with all the arches and whatnot...
0:47:26 > 0:47:30And I'm a big light person and I like a lot of light.
0:47:30 > 0:47:34In the winter downstairs, cooking, four o'clock in the afternoon,
0:47:34 > 0:47:35when it's pitch black
0:47:35 > 0:47:38and not having too much natural light would freak me out,
0:47:38 > 0:47:41so I'm starting to go off the boil.
0:47:41 > 0:47:43Well, we'll have to turn up the heat. Let's carry on.
0:47:43 > 0:47:48'Things are getting tricky but nevertheless, I'm going to press on with the tour.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52'Next to the lounge is a double bedroom with an enormous window.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54'Surely there's enough light in here?
0:47:55 > 0:47:57'And then it's up to the next floor,
0:47:57 > 0:47:59'where there is the second family bathroom
0:47:59 > 0:48:02'and two other bedrooms.'
0:48:02 > 0:48:04- This is the master bedroom.- OK.
0:48:04 > 0:48:08- Well, it's a good size. - Oh, Mel pulled a face.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11- Oh!- It's got high ceilings. - High ceilings, yes.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Up to the trusses, yes.
0:48:14 > 0:48:18- Not enough light.- The light is the issue for you, isn't it?- Mm.
0:48:18 > 0:48:24Mainly because all the other properties, there's been some kind of view somewhere.
0:48:24 > 0:48:28That's true, actually. There are no views because the windows are stained.
0:48:28 > 0:48:32- Yeah, that's a good point. - There's another big room.
0:48:33 > 0:48:37- So there's three bedrooms?- Three. - And he said, "Let there be light."
0:48:37 > 0:48:40- There's a bit more light in here. - Oh, yeah.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43Yeah, it's the placement of the skylight,
0:48:43 > 0:48:45because there's only this one skylight.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48It does brighten it up quite a bit, though.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50It's got character, which I like.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52How does it have character?
0:48:52 > 0:48:55- Sorry, I'm just asking. - Did you not see?- On the outside...
0:48:55 > 0:48:58- When we walked in?- On the outside it's got lots of character.
0:48:58 > 0:49:02- It has loads of character.- The inside doesn't. I don't think so.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05Not compared to all the other places we've seen.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07- Anyway. Er... - ALISTAIR GASPS
0:49:07 > 0:49:11Was that an on-screen argument? Oh, I love that.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Shall I leave you alone and you can sort it out?
0:49:13 > 0:49:16- Let's go and look at the garden. - The garden! Yes!
0:49:16 > 0:49:19'Hopefully things will simmer down by the time we get downstairs
0:49:19 > 0:49:23'but turning this one around for Mel will be a real challenge.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26'Final stop, the garden.'
0:49:26 > 0:49:29- So, it's slightly unusual. - Oh, wow. That's a great size.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33It's triangular but you do get a great view of the church.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35- Wow.- Or indeed, your house.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39I suppose the problem is that essentially you don't have the spire, which would be nice
0:49:39 > 0:49:41because you get lots of light there.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44You've got these three big feature windows,
0:49:44 > 0:49:46which are chopped up into three again,
0:49:46 > 0:49:49so there's not much light to go around. I do take your point.
0:49:49 > 0:49:54- How much do you think it's on the market for?- 300,000.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56300... No, 315, I'll go for.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59315 flat?
0:49:59 > 0:50:02750.
0:50:02 > 0:50:08Erm, I think I'd like to go with about 320.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10Ooh.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13Well, not wishing to break our pattern,
0:50:13 > 0:50:16- this is also on the market at 350,000.- Really? OK.
0:50:17 > 0:50:21Which perhaps is a bit too expensive, considering your problems with it.
0:50:21 > 0:50:26Yeah, the amount of work we'd want to do, but it's good to know.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28You could own part of a church.
0:50:28 > 0:50:32Have a look round, it might cast its spell on you, that second viewing.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Thanks.
0:50:34 > 0:50:39At £350,000, this property certainly offers something a bit different.
0:50:39 > 0:50:43It has a kitchen-diner, a study for when they work from home,
0:50:43 > 0:50:47three bedrooms and a garden.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49You have to admit, this is a nice kitchen.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53Yeah, it's a good size. It's functional and it's open plan.
0:50:53 > 0:50:57You can put a table in there and it's a nice place to eat breakfast
0:50:57 > 0:51:00but, you know, I don't know.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04Just the window being a fifth of what it actually is kind of...
0:51:04 > 0:51:05Just puts me off a little bit.
0:51:05 > 0:51:08Overall, the rooms were a really good size
0:51:08 > 0:51:11and there was enough rooms.
0:51:11 > 0:51:12I agree with Mel
0:51:12 > 0:51:16in that the church aspect got a little bit overwhelming.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19There would've been a way to decorate this differently
0:51:19 > 0:51:22to make it feel more like a home and less like a church, I'd say.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26Also, the floors layered on top of each other like that,
0:51:26 > 0:51:29with the sitting room on the second level,
0:51:29 > 0:51:30isn't really ideal for me.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34I like to be able to go from the kitchen to the sitting room
0:51:34 > 0:51:35without having to go upstairs.
0:51:35 > 0:51:40- So this is a lot better because there's a lot more light.- Yeah.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43You've got pretty much the full windows.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46The stained glass is really pretty. It's really...
0:51:46 > 0:51:49It is a shame that they had to cut them in half, though.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52Also, it really is stained because you can't see out of it.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55- Yeah.- I would like to have some kind of view.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58I'm trying to peek through to see if I can see anything out there.
0:51:58 > 0:52:01This is really the focal point, the detail of the windows,
0:52:01 > 0:52:03and that's really pretty.
0:52:03 > 0:52:06It's a novelty, I think, living in a church.
0:52:06 > 0:52:10But I think in order to get the most out of it,
0:52:10 > 0:52:14it really does need to be spot on and I didn't really feel it was.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17It really is quite a porch, isn't it?
0:52:17 > 0:52:19I bet the milkman likes delivering milk here.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22- Hello.- Hello.- All done?
0:52:22 > 0:52:26- Yes.- No fights?- No, no fights. No fights.- Oh, good.
0:52:26 > 0:52:27All is love.
0:52:35 > 0:52:39'Our tour round East Sussex has thrown up a real mix of properties,
0:52:39 > 0:52:43'so there's plenty for Mel and Ashley to think about.'
0:52:43 > 0:52:48Well, I reckon that was a pretty triumphant set of house tours,
0:52:48 > 0:52:52except that the mystery house didn't quite inspire the religious fervour
0:52:52 > 0:52:53that I was hoping for.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57Now's the time the guys have to decide which of the houses they're going to go for
0:52:57 > 0:52:59and I think if I had to be pushed,
0:52:59 > 0:53:02I'd say the lovely house in Robertsbridge,
0:53:02 > 0:53:04but I have been known to be wrong.
0:53:08 > 0:53:11Well, it's been delightful showing you two round Sussex.
0:53:11 > 0:53:14You're very enthusiastic and you clearly want to move.
0:53:14 > 0:53:19The first property we showed you was the roadside cottage.
0:53:19 > 0:53:22It makes my heart skip a beat still, mentioning it.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26The views were absolutely breathtaking.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30I really loved the fact that there was some real history there.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33And the fact that maybe the upstairs needed a bit of reworking
0:53:33 > 0:53:35would've been fine.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38But for me, the noise in the background
0:53:38 > 0:53:40was a little bit too much to handle.
0:53:40 > 0:53:44The house in Hastings was a completely different ball game,
0:53:44 > 0:53:47it was a different period, a different position,
0:53:47 > 0:53:49and very much a different size.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51What do you think about that?
0:53:51 > 0:53:54Well, that was our curve ball.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56It was very surprising to see
0:53:56 > 0:54:00that it was in the same price range as the other homes,
0:54:00 > 0:54:04and just the amount of space, square footage, value for money.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06It was a beautiful home.
0:54:06 > 0:54:07I absolutely loved
0:54:07 > 0:54:11the kitchen/diner area.
0:54:11 > 0:54:12Lots of light,
0:54:12 > 0:54:14in there with the skylights and er,
0:54:14 > 0:54:17you know, the opening terrace out onto the garden.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19That had a really nice garden,
0:54:19 > 0:54:22I was impressed with the size of the property around the house
0:54:22 > 0:54:24considering where it was located.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27How about Robertsbridge? You seemed to love that village
0:54:27 > 0:54:29and the Georgian house that I showed you.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32That house was spectacular.
0:54:32 > 0:54:33I loved the formal rooms
0:54:33 > 0:54:36and then the informal room in the back.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40For me it was as close to perfect as possible,
0:54:40 > 0:54:44probably with the exception of the garden being a bit on the small side.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46- Mm.- Me, too. I just thought that was an absolute winner.
0:54:46 > 0:54:50So you really liked that one, then you saw the mystery house
0:54:50 > 0:54:52and obviously, everything changed.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55Tell me about the chapel, go on.
0:54:55 > 0:55:00Spectacular from the outside. The inside caused us some problems.
0:55:00 > 0:55:02I just found it oppressive on the ground floor.
0:55:02 > 0:55:07And the kitchen space, compared to the other properties, was very dark,
0:55:07 > 0:55:10the way that they'd layered it into three different floors.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14And looking over all the properties, is there one that stands out?
0:55:14 > 0:55:18For me, I would say the first house.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21It was the one that gave me... Like I said, skipped a heartbeat.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25Still thinking about it makes my stomach kind of flutter.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28And it might be because it is just the epitome
0:55:28 > 0:55:32of what you imagine an English country home to be.
0:55:32 > 0:55:38And then, of course, the home in the village was also a highlight for me.
0:55:38 > 0:55:44I think, for me, Robertsbridge was certainly the best place we saw
0:55:44 > 0:55:46but also, you know, a real contender.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50- And what happens next?- We want to investigate the neighbourhoods.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54We want to get an understanding of what the commute would be like.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56That is a concern for us.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59So actually test it out, you know.
0:55:59 > 0:56:03The important thing of all is to get Dodger over.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05Dodger the dog.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07Well, it will be a happy moment
0:56:07 > 0:56:10when I see you two and Dodger coming back from the pub
0:56:10 > 0:56:12with your Indian takeaway.
0:56:12 > 0:56:16And I suggest you buy lots of books for the long commutes.
0:56:16 > 0:56:20- But it's been a pleasure showing you round and best of luck.- Thank you.
0:56:24 > 0:56:26What a lovely couple, perhaps my favourite,
0:56:26 > 0:56:30and, I have to say, a lovely change to be able to show people properties
0:56:30 > 0:56:33and for them to say, "Gosh, what a lot you get for your money."
0:56:33 > 0:56:36So if you've been inspired to make the rural move,
0:56:36 > 0:56:39tune in next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:56:41 > 0:56:45'And if you'd like to escape to the country yourself and need our help,
0:56:45 > 0:56:50'please contact us through the website at:'
0:57:09 > 0:57:11Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:11 > 0:57:15E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk