0:00:02 > 0:00:05Welcome to To Buy Or Not To Buy. We're in North London,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07which is a hotbed for celebrities,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10from the likes of Kate Moss to Gwyneth Paltrow.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14And I believe our very own Ed Hall lives just over there.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Mr Hall!
0:00:27 > 0:00:29FOOTSTEPS APPROACH
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Sorry about the delay. I was upstairs.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35What a fantastic house this is! A million pounds they wanted.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I got it for half a million because I'm such a good negotiator.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40- It's lovely, isn't it? - It's a shed, Ed.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44But it's detached, we're in Zone 1 and we're near the Tube.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46I'll just say goodbye to the wife.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49VOICE ECHOES See you later!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52I said, see you later!
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- Ready? - Yeah, yeah. Come on, then.- OK.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Ed, I hope we can find today's buyers something better than that shed!
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Charming(!) Rani, I call that home.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Our house-hunters today are Lise and Darien.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Lise, the one in the leotard, is a dance education manager.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Darien, at the keyboard, is an IT journalist.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15They live together in a rented two-bed flat in Finsbury Park.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Having been in education longer than most to finish their PhDs,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23they've lagged behind their peers who are already on the property ladder.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28But now is the right time to plunge into the blink-and-you'll-miss-it London housing market,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31and they're desperate to get into somewhere fast.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34You two have been together for quite a while.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Why the big jump into buying your first property together?
0:01:37 > 0:01:42It's not really a big jump. We've been living together in rented property for years.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46In truth, we're happy in the house we're in right now,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49but it's rented, and if, five or ten years down the line,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52we want to live somewhere bigger or nicer - and I think we probably will -
0:01:52 > 0:01:58then we need to start investing in a mortgage, building up a nest egg, moving on up.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Do you want old, new? Do you want dado rails, picture rails?
0:02:02 > 0:02:03What do you want?
0:02:03 > 0:02:09I think that isn't so important. Modern is fine. Victorian is fine.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14- So the character isn't a problem. You don't mind the style. - We're open about that.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17We're more concerned about having a little bit of space,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19because we both sometimes work from home.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22What are we looking for? How many bedrooms? How many rooms?
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Do you need separate offices to work in?
0:02:25 > 0:02:30We'd love to find a three-bedroom property so we could have separate offices.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34But realistically, because we're very keen to stay in Central London,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37or at least within Zone 2 on the Tube map, let's say,
0:02:37 > 0:02:43at our price points, we're happy, if there's a nice two-bedroom property, to stick with that.
0:02:43 > 0:02:49- OK, that'd be good for you.- You've got a lot of objects. Computers seem to be an obsession of yours.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54- It's my work and my hobby. - But do you need...? I've heard you've got ten.- No! Ten?
0:02:54 > 0:02:59- We do have ten, but let's be honest, I think most people... - Lise's nodding.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01RANI LAUGHS
0:03:01 > 0:03:06Most people, if they're harsh with themselves, can get by with no more than four or five computers.
0:03:06 > 0:03:12- That's ridiculous.- Do you need space, with your dancing? Lots of dancing shoes, or instruments?
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Not so much shoes, but for myself to move would be good.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Generally I can push things out of the way in the front room.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23- I'm one of those things, normally. - I push him out of the way so I can roll around a bit.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- So a good-sized living room? - That would be good.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31I'm looking at you as trouble, Darien, because you're in a band as well - or between bands.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36- Have you got musical equipment? - The equipment itself doesn't take a lot of space.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41- How many guitars and keyboards have you got? 25, probably. - No, I've only got three guitars.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44And Lise's bass. And the keyboard.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50- How many rooms did you want?- Two, they said they'd be happy with.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53You need a minimum of two bedrooms and a good-sized living room.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58- What about the kitchen? - It doesn't have to be huge or particularly well-stocked.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02What is the major concern in this move? What is the major thing?
0:04:02 > 0:04:08I would really not want to move somewhere where it suddenly took me twice as long to get to work
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- or where it was a slog to get home of an evening.- OK.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14Boil it down. Where do we need to be looking?
0:04:14 > 0:04:18We're living in Finsbury Park now and we're on two Tube lines,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and I love being so well connected and so central.
0:04:20 > 0:04:26If you go up the Northern line to Kentish Town, Tufnell Park, Archway,
0:04:26 > 0:04:30those areas have the same good qualities, so that's where we've been focusing.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35- I like to cycle to work. I don't do it enough.- So space for your bike? - Somewhere to keep a bike is good.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40- How far from a Tube do you need to be?- A nice walk. We could go to eight or even ten, but...
0:04:40 > 0:04:46Ten is the push. And just so we know for speeds, do you walk at that kind of speed?
0:04:46 > 0:04:51- Lise said he walks fast. - Yeah, I walk quite quickly. - Can you just do us the arm speed?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- About that speed. - Yeah, I'm one of those head-down, determined walkers.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00- What about you, Lise? - I'm more...- Like me, you dawdle to the Tube station in the morning.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04If it's ten minutes for Darien, it'll be 12 or 13 if you walk like that.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- I'm not objecting, though. - You don't really mind.- No.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Shall we go for the price? How much have you got to spend?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- 310.- £310,000.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Will you go any higher? Will you hope to haggle?
0:05:17 > 0:05:23- Because you're renting, you're in a great position, ready to go. - 310 is the real number.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- I like it! I think that's it, isn't it?- It is.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30- I don't know how easy it'll be, cos I live around here. - Do we have to get a Tube?
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- Look at the time! - We'll see you later.- OK. Take care.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- Now, Lise I like. I love, even. - Yeah, lovely girl.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41And Darien I love, but he's also a nightmare. That's a fact.
0:05:41 > 0:05:46He's not a nightmare, Ed. He's given us £310,000 to house him and Lise in a two-bedroom flat.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52He also wants ten computers to live there with him, three guitars, a keyboard and a bike.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54And he wants to get the Tube to work.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57And it has to be within ten minutes walking at this speed.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00So I'll go at this speed to the estate agent's.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03And I will meander, like Lise, to meet the folks of London.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08So today's search takes us to the vibrant and bustling areas of Finsbury Park,
0:06:08 > 0:06:09Kentish Town
0:06:09 > 0:06:12and the slightly quieter and more leafy Tufnell Park.
0:06:12 > 0:06:17A couple of miles north of the City of London, these areas have one major thing in common, the Tube.
0:06:17 > 0:06:24The Northern and Victoria lines both have direct services to the City and the West End.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29Flying in the face of the rest of the country, in these ever-popular areas of North London
0:06:29 > 0:06:34the property downturn has faded into the ether, with prices already up this year.
0:06:34 > 0:06:39It's slightly more affordable here than in the nearby heavyweights of Islington and Camden Town.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43But even so, every inch of space seems to be at a premium.
0:06:43 > 0:06:49The average price of a two-bed flat in Kentish Town and Tufnell Park is £400,000,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53and a little cheaper, at about 325 grand, in Finsbury Park.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56That's 100 grand above the national average,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59which is around £225,000.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04But before we see what Lise and Darien's budget will get them for £310,000 in London,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07let's see what you can get elsewhere in the country.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11If it's period style with modern convenience you're after,
0:07:11 > 0:07:16look no further than this detached coach house in the Newton Mearns area of Glasgow.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Totally restored, it's got four bedrooms, a 20-foot reception room
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and its own private drive.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31Or how about this four-bed semi in the highly regarded Mapperley Park suburb of Nottingham?
0:07:31 > 0:07:35This property boasts a contemporary kitchen with granite work surfaces
0:07:35 > 0:07:36and a stunning living room.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45And finally, this beauty of a thatched cottage in Little Billing, Northampton,
0:07:45 > 0:07:51is full of period charm, with three double bedrooms, large conservatory and two inglenook fireplaces.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52It's on the market for...
0:08:00 > 0:08:02We should have got Darien up here.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07I should have gone his pace and seen how fast I could walk to the Tube - like this. Go!
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- Hello. My name's Ed. - Hi. How can I help?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15I have got a couple who are looking for a flat around here.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Yeah, everyone's late in London.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21If you wanted a two-bedroom flat with a garden, what price range are we talking?
0:08:21 > 0:08:26They start from about... as little as 330, 340, 350,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- and they go up to 500,000-600,000. - Wow.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- So it can be expensive here.- Yeah.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34- Have you seen the houses round there? - I can't afford them, can I?
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Well, I don't think so, but I don't know. You should be like me and be on the council.
0:08:38 > 0:08:44It's booming at the moment. Near enough everything that comes on the market we sell straightaway.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47Don't have time to chat. Everyone is busy in London.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Got to move fast, got to move fast!
0:08:49 > 0:08:54We had 20 viewings on a Saturday - that was the second day of viewings.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59- We had five offers on Monday.- Wow. - It actually sold for more than the asking price.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02The people who are going to move here are dancers. Can you dance?
0:09:07 > 0:09:12- Lise, learn from the best. This is what you have to do when you move here.- You've got to learn from it.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Are you going to do it with me? - Yeah. Go!
0:09:15 > 0:09:20This all sounds very positive, but it's even more positive for me because I live in North London.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23North London is desirable, where everyone wants to be.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27That's where celebrities like myself live. So I'm clever that I bought a house here.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31- Yeah, definitely. Brilliant. - He knows. He's an estate agent.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Lise's a dancing teacher. I'm going to show her some dancing tips.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- Did you say "trips"? - No, I said "tips". Ignore that. I'm a very good dancer.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46Forget about your dancing, Ed. Have you been doing any property hunting, cos I have?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49I certainly have. Would you like to show us yours first?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52OK, I've found one. This place, let me tell you,
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Darien could definitely do this walk under ten minutes.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01He is fast, and this property is close to a Tube, and that's what they really, really want.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03It is what they really, really want.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05It's quite spacious - I say "quite"...
0:10:05 > 0:10:11- I'm not sure it's got enough space, but I think they could make it work.- But emphasis on "quite".
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Mine is spacious - very spacious.
0:10:13 > 0:10:19Looking at Rani's just then, I'd say mine is probably a lot bigger, or definitely a lot bigger.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21It's in Tufnell Park, another posh area.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Up-and-coming, leafy, lovely, ten minutes from a Tube.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I think Darien and Lise will like that.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31It's a ground-floor flat, so her dancing won't annoy the people below.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35- She wouldn't dance like that! - She would.- I think they will dance into the wild card.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39This place is stunning. However, Ed, I can't remember, where is it?
0:10:39 > 0:10:44It's in a bit of here and a bit of there and a bit of somewhere else.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48But the reason why it probably is wild is... Here's a clue.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Right? I'm Darien,
0:10:50 > 0:10:55and it might be a little bit further to a certain thing from where that is.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00- That could be the problem. - Why don't we do that to property number one? My treat.- Rani's one.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09Ed, I know my offering today will really give Darien and Lise something to cha-cha-cheer about.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12It's light, it's airy and the location's on the money.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16But is it big enough, Rani? Don't forget - ten computers, three guitars and a bike.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18We'll see, Ed. We'll see.
0:11:18 > 0:11:24Darien and Lise, welcome to property number one, the one I'll be championing today.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27We're in Finsbury Park. Do you know this area at all?
0:11:27 > 0:11:31Yeah. I'm really impressed, because where we live now is just over the road,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35and we've been looking for months, and you walk in and find something right here.
0:11:35 > 0:11:41- I'm very impressed.- It's the BBC. - It's the property hunting team. They're very good at their job.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46- You know how long it takes to walk to the Tube from here? - It's eight minutes at my pace.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49- I was thinking about 10-15. - That's Lise pace.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51But I'm quite a slow walker.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- Is that fair, Lise? Ten minutes for you?- Ten for me, I reckon.
0:11:55 > 0:12:01- It's the first-floor flat. What do you think?- You can't see a lot from here, but it has nice big windows.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05It's that kind of bay, lots of light, so that's obviously a plus.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08- The only think I would say is... - Uh-oh.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13What you can't see is, when you walk from where we are now, across the main road there,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17you cross an invisible line and you leave Islington and enter Haringey,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and we've always been very happy with Islington Council,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23so this is a bit of a step into the unknown.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25I'm sure they're lovely.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29That's not necessarily going to assure you,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31but I think they will be lovely.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- You don't have to move into it, because my one is next.- Shush!
0:12:34 > 0:12:38- Are you ready to enter the house? - I think we are.- Three, two, one.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42- Why didn't I look into councils? - I know. I tried to smooth it over.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47- You just made it worse! - I was just talking. I know nothing about Haringey Council.
0:12:48 > 0:12:49What do you think?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Well, the hall's nice.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56I think that's important because it's how you present yourself to your friends.
0:12:56 > 0:13:03- Probably not space for a bike, but we'll let that slide. - We'll work around that.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08It's a communal hall, so you wouldn't necessarily be allowed to store your bike there.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10But I think you factored that in in other places.
0:13:10 > 0:13:16- The ceilings are high.- The ceilings are high, yes.- You can get a rack where you can shove it up high.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21- All right. So we have an open-plan kitchen.- Oh, wow! I see.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25So this is obviously the big... the recep, as they say.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28THEY LAUGH
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a star.- I love him!
0:13:31 > 0:13:33I would like to have Darien on every week.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- It is a recep, isn't it? - It's a recep!
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Yeah... I like it.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40The first couple of things, where would you put the TV?
0:13:40 > 0:13:45I know it's a bit ungrateful when you have all these lovely windows.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- We do watch quite a lot of TV, don't we?- YOU do.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Electric hob.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54It's one of the flat ones you can wipe clean, so I don't mind that too much.
0:13:54 > 0:14:00The thing I always forget is, when you're looking at a house that's £280,000, £300,000 or more,
0:14:00 > 0:14:05- what sort of hob it is is a drop in the ocean. - It wouldn't be that hard to change.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- They are thinking about it. - They really are.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10It is a lot of money and you don't get that much,
0:14:10 > 0:14:15but once you're used to London sizes and London prices, this is pretty good for what they're after.
0:14:15 > 0:14:20Obviously it looks like there's no room for a... There's no dishwasher in here.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24- Oh. Very good point.- I don't know if there'd be plumbing for one.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Then again, if this is the living area as well, you probably wouldn't want the noise.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Very true. Washing machine. How will we clean the clothes?
0:14:32 > 0:14:35She needn't worry. There's a launderette at the end of the road.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39No, no, no. Wait till you see the rest of the house, Lise.
0:14:39 > 0:14:45- Interesting lighting. It's got those funny little downlighters. - I'm not super-keen on those but...
0:14:45 > 0:14:47There's six of them in here,
0:14:47 > 0:14:51so you'll get blown bulbs six times as often - just a rough estimate.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56And you have to get up on a ladder to change them. But it does give a nice even light.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Lise, she a dancer.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01If you take some of those downlighters out, dim the room down,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04that's a spotlight, that's a central focal point.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09Come Christmas, with all the family around, Lise could do her own performance of Swan Lake.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11- The Nutcracker. - Or The Nutcracker.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Oh, OK. It's a bit smaller than I expected.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- This is obviously the second room. - Yeah, not too much of this one.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21The second room we've got at the moment is really big,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23but it's acting as a dining room as well.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27So, given the table and the space in the front room, maybe this could be an OK study.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31What are you thinking? Maybe desk over there, computer...?
0:15:31 > 0:15:32That's a nice view.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37Considering it's quite central, there's a fair amount of green.
0:15:37 > 0:15:38There's plenty of light.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- The second bedroom's not going down very well. - No. It is quite a small room.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46- Nice and light in the hall again. - Yeah.- Really big mirror.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Do you think they'll say, "On reflection, this property's very nice"?
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Yes, I like the mirror. It does make the place look a lot bigger than it really is.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- Yes! It's good feng shui, this is. - But he didn't go for the joke.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01It's a bit windy. A maze of twisty tunnels, all alike.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03It is actually a bit labyrinthine.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- Bathroom!- Ah, this I do like.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10We've seen so many poky little bathrooms.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- And I love...- Big window, yes. - Really big window.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Air, so the place doesn't get all manky.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- A shower over the bath. - Nice bath actually, as well.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23A big one, because we've seen lots of places with a little bath.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Yeah. How big do they think a person is?
0:16:25 > 0:16:29I couldn't fit in half the baths we've seen, but that's a good one.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32This isn't a bad size, this bathroom.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35They've been looking for a while and seem quite pleased with it.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38He was full of praise for the mysterious property hunting team,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41saying, "I didn't even know this was here."
0:16:41 > 0:16:45As we say this, the sound of prosperity is being nailed behind us.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47That is a "for sale" sign going up.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49This must be the main bedroom.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Oh! Hello. There's the washing machine.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I thought there was something we hadn't seen yet.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It's good that it's not in the front room.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01It's maybe not so good that it's next to the bed.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03We're not going to wash things overnight.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- Do you not do that?- No.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Again, I like the windows.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12Two windows, extra light but from different directions.
0:17:12 > 0:17:13And again with the mirror.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17They've cleverly put a big mirror up there to make it feel even bigger.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20There! You can see what I said about downlighters.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23One's gone there, another gone there. It's a bit of a shame.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25What is his issue with downlighters?
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Do you know how much a downlighter costs? The price of a bulb.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Do you know how much a bulb costs? Pence. It's no reason not to buy a house.
0:17:33 > 0:17:38- Look at your cupboards. - I want to look in the cupboard. I can't - there's a thing here.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- Oh! It's quite a big cupboard. - I'll just close that there. - THEY LAUGH
0:17:42 > 0:17:45If the cupboard is big enough to hide in, that's probably a good sign.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48The only other thing about this room is
0:17:48 > 0:17:50it's easy to walk around the walls,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52but there's the bed,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and once you're in it there's not a lot of space for anything else in here.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59It's too small, Rani. It's too small.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01We'd put them all in here, maybe.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Our chest of drawers is too wide. That won't fit in there.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Unless we put it that way round, which is silly.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Do you know why he thinks it's too small? He's just revealed it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14He's basing a purchase on his furniture. How dare he?
0:18:14 > 0:18:17If we've got the desk in the little room,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19but we can't have a wardrobe in there like we have now,
0:18:19 > 0:18:24there isn't a lot of space for extra storage in here without blocking the window.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26HE SIGHS
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- I think it might be a bit too small overall.- I think you're right.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Right, you two. What did you think of this property?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39I think I've got a bit of an idea, to be honest.
0:18:39 > 0:18:45We have so much stuff that I think this place is not ideal for us.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49- The location... Don't get me wrong. - You were pleased by that, eight minutes to the Tube.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Yeah, that was a brilliant find.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55But when we got inside, it's just not quite the right shape.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59What do you think about the whole living room with the kitchen area?
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Could you live with something like this?
0:19:02 > 0:19:06We've seen quite a lot of places with the open-plan kitchen.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10This particular one quite intrudes on the living space.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14But there's nothing to move and you could dance quite freely.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Actually, this would make quite a good studio space, yeah.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21It would have a nice resonance with the wood.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24You'd probably drive your neighbours insane.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It's a good location, it's nice and bright.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- However, you've got more stuff. - Afraid so.
0:19:30 > 0:19:36Would you like to guess the price? That could change your opinion, possibly.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39310,000 was the real amount of money you wanted to spend.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41It could go a bit beyond or under.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44What is this on the market for, Lise?
0:19:44 > 0:19:49- I think under 300. I think 295. - 295. Darien?
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- 285.- Oh, he's dropping down.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56OK. Well, this price may change your mind.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00You want to move somewhere else because you can afford to buy loads more stuff.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04This is on the market at £280,000, so Darien was the closest.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Well done, you!
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Are you competitive?
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Do you want to wait to guess the price today?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13He competes against himself.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18I don't consider myself the winner. I was five off.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22- You were the closest. - You are the winner, but we have property two next.
0:20:24 > 0:20:30My sumptuous samba of a property is sure to get our buyers' hearts racing.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34They'll love the space, and there's a surprise ending to boot.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38- Looks expensive, Ed. - Details, Rani, details.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Darien and Lise, Lise and Darien,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43walk toward this beauty here,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46possibly one of the greatest ground-floor flats in Tufnell Park,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48nay, the whole of London.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Now let's just have a quiet moment.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Can you hear anything?
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- Not really, can you?- No. - Pretty quiet.- Leafy, tranquil.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Just over there is your A1, heading to wherever you might want to go.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03But just that way is Tufnell Park Tube station -
0:21:03 > 0:21:07the way you walk, ten minutes or less, I'd say, from where we are.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09What do you think about the concept, Lise?
0:21:09 > 0:21:13The concept of a ground-floor flat in Tufnell Park
0:21:13 > 0:21:15is not off-putting to me. Could be good.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- All right. I'll take "not off-putting". - I think that's not bad at all!
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Are you ready to enter into one of the greatest ground-floor flats in the world?
0:21:23 > 0:21:28- Absolutely, I think. I can't wait. - Three, two, one. Enter that flat!
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Go on, dance your way in.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34- Ed, are you sure we can be in here? - Of course we can. It's fine.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37I've sorted it out with the potential owners.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42Oh! OK. There's an extra external area behind the first door.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- You could keep your bike there. - As long as no one vaults over the wall.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Oh, wow! It's all bright, and nice clean wood.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56- And it smells of wood, doesn't it? - It does.- Not at all unpleasant.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58First impressions are good.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Oh. OK. Yes.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04This is a nice kitchen.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06- Room here for a table.- Yes.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- Lots of work surfaces. - Yeah, masses of work surface.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12- Gas hob.- Is that a fridge?
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- This one's a fridge.- So there's no freezer in here right now.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- But there's room for one.- There is. And lots of cupboards.- Yep.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- This is all rather nice.- Yeah.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27What they're talking about is a kitchen - not a kitchen-diner or a kitchen-diner/lounge,
0:22:27 > 0:22:32- which is what you gave them. - I gave them the gallery kitchen thing and it didn't work for them.
0:22:32 > 0:22:37I just thought it was good, so Lise could cook and dance at the same time.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39- In this one...- Just cooking.
0:22:39 > 0:22:47I'm impressed that this can be in the same price bracket - I hope - as the last one we saw.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- Oh!- OK.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- Good size as well.- It is, isn't it?
0:22:53 > 0:22:59The first thing I do notice, it's surprisingly dingy, actually.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Do you think it's just the curtains?
0:23:01 > 0:23:07Yeah, the curtains are obviously just draped halfway over the windows at the moment.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Net curtains - for privacy, yea, for light, nay.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13You just get that frosting.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16- Frosting - for privacy, yea... - And for light.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- For light, nay? - No, light's good as well.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24They've got neutral decor in here at the moment. I might quite like to add some colour.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- I knew you'd say that. I like it plain and simple.- Yeah, you would.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32One thing I do like is there's lots of big, empty walls.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33I like to hang a picture or two.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36If he's so into his computers,
0:23:36 > 0:23:41why doesn't he just get the top-of-the-range computer? He'd only need one?
0:23:41 > 0:23:45He works at a computer magazine. He'd get bullied by all the other computer people.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48"You've only got one? Ooh, I've got 16."
0:23:48 > 0:23:50I'm almost scared to go round here.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54It's got everything right so far. What will inevitably go wrong?
0:23:54 > 0:23:57He's like a perfect game-show host, old Darien.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00He's really built up the jeopardy there. It's only a two-bed flat.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05But he's so in love with it, he doesn't want anything to let him down.
0:24:05 > 0:24:06And I don't think it will.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10OK. Bathroom is good as well. This is a very nice bathroom.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Really nice. Window, very important.
0:24:13 > 0:24:14Very clean, very modern.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Yeah, nice, good-sized bath again.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Yep. Nice new shower.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Struggling to find anything wrong with this one. Not that I want to.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28And there it is. That's the thing that's wrong with the house.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31There's the teeny tiny little second bedroom.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Actually, it's not that bad.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Hang on. Teeny tiny, and then not too bad?
0:24:37 > 0:24:43Probably only slightly smaller than the second room in the other house we saw earlier on.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48And we're thinking about using the kitchen as a kitchen-diner.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51That's true, with less need to store things.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53If this is the worst thing about this house,
0:24:53 > 0:24:57then it's still, I think, a pretty damn good house.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03- So here we go, the final challenge. - LISE LAUGHS
0:25:03 > 0:25:09- I like the light in here, very airy feeling.- Yeah, it's not bad, is it?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11It's not big by any means.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14It's a bit strange to have just a little garden area
0:25:14 > 0:25:18which looks straight through plain glass onto the bed.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20It still feels not very private.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23- There are curtains, you know. - Fair enough.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Darien - you've made him feel really awkward
0:25:26 > 0:25:30that there's some stranger's garden looking into his bedroom.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34He's like, "I'll be in bed, with people in the garden having breakfast."
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Zip it. Zip it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:41So the overall question is, given the arrangement of rooms in this house,
0:25:41 > 0:25:45that there's a lot more space in the kitchen, a bit less in the second room,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48we'd have to work out how or whether we could fit in all our stuff.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52But it doesn't seem impossible. There's a lot to like about this house.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54An awful lot to like about this house.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Now, Darien and Lise,
0:25:59 > 0:26:06the big question is, as we stand here in this area of garden, who does this belong to?
0:26:06 > 0:26:08I was going to ask you exactly the same question.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11We thought we'd seen all the house had to offer,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15then you usher us out here and there's greenery. You don't see that in London often.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18And the greenery is yours. THEY GASP
0:26:18 > 0:26:22That was a concern of yours. You said, "We'll be in here with a garden. Whose garden is it?"
0:26:22 > 0:26:27- It's your garden.- Wow. - Does that excite you? - It does a little, yeah.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28So you get that.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32Barbecue summer - if it ever happens - you could have out here.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36You've got your own garden. You've got that. Do you like it?
0:26:36 > 0:26:41- I think there is a lot to like about this one.- I'll go further. Yes, I like it.- Oh!
0:26:41 > 0:26:43What do you like about it, Lise?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46I think there's a lot of room inside for all our clutter.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49That is one of the key things we're looking for.
0:26:49 > 0:26:55The big-size kitchen that could also be a dining room is a real advantage.
0:26:55 > 0:27:01A big-size living room to put all our stuff in would be really good.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Because they are defined rooms, they free up the other rooms.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07It is only two bedrooms and you did hope for three,
0:27:07 > 0:27:10but it makes the most out of the bedrooms you've got.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14The location is fantastic. Time for you to guess the price.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Who was closest last time? Darien, it was yourself.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- Your maximum budget, remind me, is...?- 310, we said.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25- Not going to go any higher than that?- I don't think we can.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27OK, so who's going to guess first?
0:27:27 > 0:27:30- I think it's more. - I think it's on for more.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32- I think it's 320.- 320?
0:27:32 > 0:27:37- I think it's on at 330.- Ooh! - That's what I'd put it on for.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I don't know what it's on for.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- Well... it isn't on at either of those prices.- Really?
0:27:44 > 0:27:48And the news isn't great initially on this.
0:27:48 > 0:27:54Darien, you are closest. You've won it already, which is bad news for you, Lise.
0:27:54 > 0:28:00Here comes the other bad news - but listen for good news at the end. The actual price is £350,000.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04We've had a nibble and a nod and a whisper.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06There's a deal to be done,
0:28:06 > 0:28:11and that deal puts it very much tantalisingly within your grasp.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- Intriguing.- It is.
0:28:13 > 0:28:19- As intriguing as the wild card? Would you still like to see it? - I think we should.- Yeah.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22- It's getting better and better. - I think it's this way.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30And last but not least, everyone's favourite - the wild card.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34This two-bed flat has all the beauty and romance of the ballet.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36I think this could be a winner, Ed.
0:28:36 > 0:28:41But will the location be a bridge - or, in this case, a station too far for Darien?
0:28:41 > 0:28:46Here we are, finally, at the wild card for Darien and Lise.
0:28:46 > 0:28:51Now, I've got to say, there's many reasons why this one is wild.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54One being we can't actually tell you where exactly it is.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56We're arguing over this.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00- Some say Stroud Green. - I thought it could be Hornsey. - Hornsey Road.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04However, I do believe you guys don't live too far from here.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07You can probably just about see it down there.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12- Can you tell us what area we're in? - They just call it the Tollingtons after the name of the road.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17- I like that. The Tollingtons. - Very posh. Like the Hamptons to the people of New York.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20The only downside, another reason why it's a wild card,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23it's outside of your strict regime of ten minutes from the Tube.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28I didn't want to say, but I know this area is quite a way down the road from the Tube.
0:29:28 > 0:29:33- How long are we talking? - I'd estimate 12 or 13 minutes.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36Is there any chance you could pick your pace up?
0:29:36 > 0:29:39You've seen how fast I walk! I'm not a sprinter.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41But we'll go in with an open mind,
0:29:41 > 0:29:45and if the house is as good as you say it is, maybe we'll give it a try.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49- Are you ready to enter the property?- I think so. - It is a wild card.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Enjoy it. It's yours for the next televisual five minutes.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00- Very attractive front door. - This is really nice, actually.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04I know it's all superficial stuff,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08but the carpet's nice, lovely banisters.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12- Really good carpet. I like that. - Doesn't look wild at all. It looks very respectable.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17- Darien's never seen the programme. - I can't believe there is someone who hasn't.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22Anyway, Lise has. Darien obviously assumes the wild card may have live animals in it or a wildness to it.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23That isn't why it's wild.
0:30:26 > 0:30:27- Oh, wow!- Oh, yes.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31- Look in here. - This is very grand, isn't it?
0:30:32 > 0:30:36- It's amazing. - But what do we do with a fireplace? Does that work, do you think?
0:30:36 > 0:30:40It looks like it might. It looks like it's been used.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43- Wow. - THEY LAUGH
0:30:43 > 0:30:46This frieze on the ceiling is amazing.
0:30:46 > 0:30:50It feels a bit too posh to be a first-time buyer's home.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52- Too posh?- Well...
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Darien, you're a PC expert, Lise is a dancer.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59- They're allowed it. - They're cultured. They deserve a posh property.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03And if you've got 300 grand to spend and you can buy this, buy it.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- It's very easy to see how our stuff would go in here.- Yeah.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09And there's options as to where we could put the telly,
0:31:09 > 0:31:12because there's three or four walls.
0:31:12 > 0:31:13I know. Wow.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18- Let's not get too mad. We haven't seen the rest of it yet.- All right.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22Oh, he doubts the rest will be as beautiful.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Ooh! Beautiful kitchen.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29This is very nice. I quite like the way that, although it's a small room,
0:31:29 > 0:31:31they've put work surfaces on both sides.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35- Yeah, so there's intelligent use of the space.- Yeah, it is.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38It's like a house built by a clever person.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42Anyone who can build a house is a clever person in my book. It's not exactly easy.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46I do have one question, which is about the washing machine.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Well, yeah. Is one hiding in there?
0:31:48 > 0:31:50- SHE GASPS - It's a dishwasher!
0:31:50 > 0:31:53- A dishwasher. - I am literally overjoyed.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59- You do know you can buy dishwashers, right? - Yeah, but this has already got one.
0:31:59 > 0:32:00It's got a value to it.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04- Look what I found in the cupboard! - A washing machine.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Right, we're buying this. I don't need to see the rest.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- And the cooker! - Let's not get too carried away.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12OK, so this is a tiny kitchen. However...
0:32:12 > 0:32:16It's a fully tricked-out kitchen. This has been "pimped", as the youth would say.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19And look at these windows.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21- We're north-facing here, I think. - I think so.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25So you get a good light coming through without being dazzled.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Again, the television being the centrepiece of our world,
0:32:28 > 0:32:32it's probably quite good in terms of not having glare.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- It's the centre of their world. - It is.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39Aha! This, I believe, is the bathroom.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43Oh, look! It's really nice and light and clean.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45It's funny, you say it's nice and light,
0:32:45 > 0:32:49but I'm sure you spotted, the second we walked in, it doesn't have a window.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54It is the one drawback. You do get that with a lot of bathrooms.
0:32:54 > 0:32:59- I'd prefer to have a window but... - I'm aware of this.- I know. Even so.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03Ed, they've noticed there is no window.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- HE GROANS - It's a drawback.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10- All right. Bedroom two, maybe? - I presume this is bedroom two.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13If it's bedroom one I'll be a bit disappointed.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17- But, for bedroom two, a perfectly good size.- Yes, it definitely is.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21- I can picture everything in here. - There's a nice alcove we could put shelves in.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Or we could put the wardrobe in and set it back
0:33:24 > 0:33:28- so it wouldn't be too intrusive. - That would work really well.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29- Oh.- OK.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Turns out that was the master bedroom after all.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37All right. That noted, I don't think it's a major problem
0:33:37 > 0:33:40because this is still a good size and shape, I think.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43It is. To be honest, as soon as I saw it, I was a bit disappointed
0:33:43 > 0:33:45because my expectations were so high.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50He liked that room, but he was hoping this room would be bigger.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55There's the doors over there to go out onto the balcony, which is exciting.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59But it does mean that you can't stick a wardrobe in front of that.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03- So the usable space will be less. - True. We'd have to think about it.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- I hate thinking about things. - I know.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- Here they are, here they are. - They're coming.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12Ooh!
0:34:12 > 0:34:16Lovely iron - I think, probably - balcony.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21It is lovely. To be honest, I don't really care what a balcony's like.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- Just the fact that it exists... - Yeah.- I have this romantic idea
0:34:24 > 0:34:29that we're going to sit out here on the deck in the setting sun and drink G & Ts.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32It'll only be possible about 20 times a year, but I like the idea.
0:34:32 > 0:34:37They don't feel they're allowed to talk to us during this part. Let's just listen.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40You could plant a tub, a few pots. It'd look lovely.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Plants. Didn't think of that.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46I think I've seen this balcony now. We can go in and get warm again.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48- WHISPERS: - He could keep his bike here.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50- He could.- He could.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55I don't know what to say about this place. It's been constant surprises.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59It was so much nicer than I was expecting when we came in.
0:34:59 > 0:35:04I really like the front room. I really like the kitchen.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07I think the back bedroom is... maybe not a problem.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- We'd have to see.- Yeah, we'd have to think about that.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15The other thing is the location. You know how I feel about long walks to the Tube.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19I don't know exactly how far it is. I know we're further up the road now than we are.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24That's something I'd really, before I signed on the dotted line... I just don't know.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28- You need to do a speed run. - Yes, I probably do.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33So, guys, how was the wild card for you?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36Impressive, actually, I have to say.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40It wasn't very wild at all. It was actually very respectable.
0:35:40 > 0:35:46- What were you expecting? - We don't normally have animals or an element that is physically wild.
0:35:46 > 0:35:47- You lied to me!- I'm sorry.
0:35:47 > 0:35:53It was possibly wild because we don't know where it is and it's a bit further away to walk.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56One of things you mentioned was that the rooms were a bit small.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01- He was going mental over this. - No, they're not SMALL small.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05The front room was so impressive, it raised our expectations.
0:36:05 > 0:36:10And because the entrance looked so lovely, so expensive,
0:36:10 > 0:36:15you kind of feel like you're in a big, luxurious house.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- What about this place out here? - STAMPS FEET
0:36:17 > 0:36:22- I don't know about that, but I can see it being useful. - I was trying to impress you, Lise!
0:36:22 > 0:36:27It is good to have an outside area. We could make good use of it.
0:36:27 > 0:36:32Who wants to go first? £310,000 is our maximum budget, what we really want to spend today.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34I'll go to you, Darien, first.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38If I were selling this, I'd ask for 330.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41OK. Right. Good logic.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43Lise?
0:36:43 > 0:36:45Based on the same logic...
0:36:45 > 0:36:50I'm going to say 340.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55Lise, I don't know whether to congratulate you or commiserate,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59because, Darien, you are actually the closest, at 330.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03This property is on the market at £335,000.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08- It was actually a draw!- Yeah! - Now I feel bad on Lise.
0:37:08 > 0:37:09It's a draw.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14- But Darien won anyway. So... - I feel bad now for Lise.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17- Lise, congratulations. - Thank you, Rani.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19You've kind of won one.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Well done, you.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Of course, it is over your budget.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27But haggling, working with your 10% rule and everything else,
0:37:27 > 0:37:31we could possibly haggle this back to the 310 that we'd like it to be.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34You now have to make the biggest decision of your lives.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38We can't help you. We used to in the old days, but now we can't.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43Go off, have a cappuccino, do whatever it takes, but come to a conclusion.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- We will see you later. - OK.- Good luck.- Cheers.- Good luck.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50Whilst they do that, here's a quick recap for you at home.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54My pick today was the classic Victorian two-bed conversion.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Size was an issue, but will Darien and Lise be tempted
0:37:58 > 0:38:00by the price tag of 280 grand?
0:38:00 > 0:38:02That's 30 grand less than their budget.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05My property is certainly in with a strong chance.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08How can Darien and Lise turn down their very own private garden?
0:38:08 > 0:38:11The price was a bit of a sticking point at £350,000
0:38:11 > 0:38:13but there's always the haggle zone.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16And property three, the wild card.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18This was right up Darien and Lise's street.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20- Hold on. Wasn't it ON their street? - Yes, it was.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23But it had stunning period features and a roof terrace.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26It's on the market at £335,000,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28just within range of their budget.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31But is it within range of the Tube?
0:38:34 > 0:38:40I am never ever surprised. The wild card never fails, does it?
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- So you love this place and want to test-drive it?- It's the one we'd like to look at again.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48Our mysterious To Buy Or Not To Buy surveyor has come to sniff at the property.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51I must stress it is not legally binding,
0:38:51 > 0:38:56but if you were to purchase this, it's a good heads-up as to what you're getting into.
0:38:56 > 0:38:57The first point is what, Rani?
0:38:57 > 0:39:02You went in and went "Wow" because it's been completely renovated.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04New wiring, new boiler, the lot.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07However, he said when something is completely renovated,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10you must get the completion certificate.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Hopefully that has been done, but double-check.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Make sure you get those certificates in your hand.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19The other thing, rather intriguingly,
0:39:19 > 0:39:24our fancy outside garden, a garden terrace or whatever it is,
0:39:24 > 0:39:28it is on top of someone else's roof.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31If something were to go wrong with their roof, in order to fix it,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34your garden terrace would probably disappear.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37You would want to know who is responsible for what,
0:39:37 > 0:39:41really look at what you get with your flat. If there's any cost,
0:39:41 > 0:39:45if you'd have to pay for their roof or they'd have to pay for your garden.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49You need to look into those things. Other than that, it is very nice.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51- Has that put you off? - No, that's not bad at all.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55- Ready to start the test drive? - I think so.- Yeah. Let's go for it.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Three, two, one. Release yourselves into that house.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Right, here we go. Darien's off - and what a pace!
0:40:06 > 0:40:10Is he walking extra-fast because he likes the wild card?
0:40:10 > 0:40:14I don't think so. I think that's just a stroll for Darien.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16It's slow... slow...
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Meanwhile, Lise is making herself very much at home here,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22testing those wooden floors with a bit of dance teaching.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29Very impressive. I think they call this particular move "the roll".
0:40:29 > 0:40:34Are you keeping an eye on the time? Darien's not back yet.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38No, there he is, arriving at the Tube station. It's not looking good, Rani.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45He can only be a couple of minutes over the max, surely.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49Splishy-splashy.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53Time for the million-dollar question.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58- Just helping ourselves to drinks. - Oh, hello!
0:40:58 > 0:41:00- Hello!- Chin-chin.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04- Hope you don't mind.- Water and lemon. Keep us nice and fresh.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06Now then. My goodness gracious me.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11You chose the wild card - a lovely wild card - and you've test-driven it.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15- A small dance school was taking place in here.- Well, I try my best.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17How was it for space?
0:41:17 > 0:41:20You're the issue with the laptops and a lot of other space needs.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25But with the dancing, how was the floor? Was it shiny enough to spin?
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Actually, it is a very good floor.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29Darien, what about the walk to the Tube?
0:41:29 > 0:41:34I have to admit, I timed it and, even at my pace, we're talking a good 12 minutes.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Do you think you were having a bad day, going a bit slow?
0:41:37 > 0:41:39No. I wish I had been.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42But I really wanted to like this place so I was putting on the pace.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- The extra spurt? - Exactly. I was inspired.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- But it's only two minutes. - Two minutes!
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Two minutes over my maximum, though. Come on.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54- What's two minutes? - It may not have swayed Darien
0:41:54 > 0:41:56because there is the big question to ask.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59We do have the big question now of the programme.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02We know it's just 12 minutes, but it's only two minutes.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05But we're going to ask the question anyway. Are you ready?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08To buy or not to buy? Would you like a drink first?
0:42:08 > 0:42:12- Are you ready to give us the answer? - It's a toughie. What do you think?
0:42:12 > 0:42:17I have a bit of difficulty envisaging exactly where in the house
0:42:17 > 0:42:19we're going to put all our bits and bobs.
0:42:19 > 0:42:21Even though it's a good dance studio?
0:42:21 > 0:42:24Darien, I'll go to you, looking for a positive.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28The real concern that I have is, when we said our max was 310,
0:42:28 > 0:42:30I didn't expect you to hammer it quite so hard.
0:42:30 > 0:42:37- It's London!- I'm afraid I can't mortgage everything I've got on a house that isn't quite right.
0:42:37 > 0:42:41- Fair enough. We just didn't get it. - You did very well. We were very impressed.
0:42:41 > 0:42:46But remember, if the credit crunch is coming to an end and we're coming out of recession,
0:42:46 > 0:42:50you need to buy soon, because the position you're in now of being chain-free
0:42:50 > 0:42:53may not be as enviable in the future.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Ooh! That was really angry!
0:42:55 > 0:42:59You could print that on a T-shirt! I don't know who you'd sell it to.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd