0:00:02 > 0:00:06- Welcome to To Buy Or Not To Buy... - The house-hunting show that is forever on the road.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Or a country lane, in this case, to find a place for today's buyers.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13And how do we do that, I hear you ask. It's quite simple, really.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- We show them three houses... - One of which they get to try
0:00:16 > 0:00:18before they buy.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Today we're in Oxfordshire, the county named after the town
0:00:30 > 0:00:32where oxen were herded across a river.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Shouldn't that be Oxherdshire, then?
0:00:35 > 0:00:37No. The river was forded to enable them to cross.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41Don't you know any Anglo Saxon? I suppose you also don't know
0:00:41 > 0:00:44that this is the birthplace of Winston Churchill,
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- one of Britain's best-loved... - Yes, it comes back now.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53we shall fight in the fields and in the streets.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57- What a great orator! - Thank you.- Not you!
0:00:57 > 0:01:01I think we should concentrate on our very own battle.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Agreed. Let's get on with this.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Today's buyers are Kevin and Claire Simmons.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Claire works as an accounts assistant,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10and Kevin is currently in between jobs.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12At the moment they live in Oxford in a three-bed terrace
0:01:12 > 0:01:16with their dogs Bella and Bonnie and cats Ollie and Jello.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19They also have two grown-up children, Sally Ann and Matthew.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Sally Ann has flown the nest, but Matthew is still clinging on.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24Sensible boy!
0:01:24 > 0:01:27So, you already live in the city of dreaming spires.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Why would you want to move away?
0:01:29 > 0:01:33Er, we're looking to move out of the city, really, slightly,
0:01:33 > 0:01:38to get a bit more space. We've been in our current house now
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- for 22 years...- Quite a time!
0:01:41 > 0:01:43So we think it's time to move, to be honest.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Is it not going to be a wrench, though - 22 years in the same house?
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Going to be different, innit? I think so.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Claire, you're very quiet.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56It's just the change. I want something different.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00I'm fed up of living all closed in, boxed in.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Is it just space you're after? What sort of lifestyle do you hope to achieve?
0:02:04 > 0:02:06A bit sort of self-sufficient, really, you know -
0:02:06 > 0:02:11nice veg patch, get some chickens, maybe a goat.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13- Really?- A goat?
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Yeah. You never know.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19So we're looking for somewhere with not a massive amount of land,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22- but a smallholding would be lovely. - Absolutely fantastic.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Are you prepared for that work? The ideal is one thing.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29- Getting stuck in is quite another. - Well, we think so. We think so.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- Describe this perfect house to us. - Will you go for that, Claire?
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- Garden. Massive garden.- How massive?
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- 200, 300 foot.- Plus.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Right. Plenty of chickens in that, then.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45What is your kind of style? Are we looking for something olde worlde,
0:02:45 > 0:02:49- something modern?- I think what we're looking for really
0:02:49 > 0:02:53is something that's got a little bit of character to it,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55or something a bit different.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59What we don't want is a little redbrick building,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01terrace building, um, with a big garden.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Yes, I mean, it might be nice, but at the end of the day,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09it's not really what we're looking for. Two bedrooms will be adequate,
0:03:09 > 0:03:14but something, really, that we can extend on if necessary.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17And you're working, Claire. Whereabouts do you work?
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- By the train station in the middle of Oxford.- OK.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22- So you will continue to commute, then?- Yeah.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25So, how far are you prepared to commute?
0:03:25 > 0:03:2820, 20 miles, I suppose.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Are there any areas outside Oxford that you're not keen on,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- any direction you don't want to go in?- West.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Swindon, Clarendon, that sort of way.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Anything else? What about the living area?
0:03:41 > 0:03:45As long as we've got decent-sized kitchen, decent-sized living room,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48but something we can play with if necessary.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52We're not adverse to, you know, knocking down a wall
0:03:52 > 0:03:55or playing with it a little bit, really.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58So it would be hard to frighten us, I think.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01- OK. What about... - As long as it's got a roof.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04- I think we can probably push to that, can't we?- Who knows?
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- I don't know what the budget is yet. - Let's come to that.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09How much money can we spend for you, please?
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Up to 350.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- Right, then.- 350. Is that the max?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Give or take a few bob.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- OK.- That seems fair enough.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23- We've got the whole of Oxfordshire to cover, except the west.- Yeah.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- Shall we get going? - I think we should.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Thanks, guys.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29OK, Jonnie. What you thinking?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32I think we've got a bit of a "Tom and Barbara from the Good Life" scenario.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- You're not wrong! - I do have a concern, though,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38and that's that they seem to want an awful lot for their budget.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41You're right. 350 grand sounds an awful lot,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43but it doesn't go a long way in Oxfordshire.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47No. So what I want to do really is, perhaps, see an estate agent,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50ascertain how realistic their budget is or isn't.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53OK. For me, it's not the property that's the worry.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It's all this self-sufficiency stuff. I'm going to find out
0:04:56 > 0:04:59what I can dig up about growing your own stuff.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01Oxfordshire is a county of contrasts.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03It's the most rural in the Southeast,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07and almost 40 percent of it, including the Chilterns Hills and Cotswolds,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14It's also an area of outstanding historical interest.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17The Rollright Stones in the north are said to have been erected
0:05:17 > 0:05:22over 4,500 years ago. Looks like they could do with some modernisation!
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Not quite as old, but just as fascinating, is the Uffington White Horse,
0:05:26 > 0:05:30a stylised prehistoric figure carved into the hillside
0:05:30 > 0:05:31in the south of the county.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35What can you get in parts of the country close to similar carvings?
0:05:35 > 0:05:39Near Thirsk, there's this four-bedroom terraced house,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42complete with a cellar and a small paddock area,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45on the market for £325,000.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49In Wiltshire, near Westbury, this three-bedroom chalet-style house
0:05:49 > 0:05:52includes a spacious lounge and kitchen/diner
0:05:52 > 0:05:54all situated in one-fifth of an acre,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57priced at £315,000.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Very nice indeed! And finally, in Dorset,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02not far from the naked man at Cerne Abbas,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04this thatched cottage has a fitted kitchen,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06a reception room and a separate dining room.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09And the views - well, they come for free, of course.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12All this for just £340,000.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16'To lend Kevin and Claire a hand in their quest for self-sufficiency,
0:06:16 > 0:06:19'I'm off to pick up a few tips from Irwin Morgan-Jones,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21'who runs an Oxfordshire allotment.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24'And I'm going to meet a local estate agent
0:06:24 > 0:06:28'to see if they can afford to live their dream in this lovely part of the world.'
0:06:28 > 0:06:31First of all, how popular is it now to grow your own stuff?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Oh, it's very popular. In the last, say, ten years,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38the number of people who want an allotment has increased tremendously.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41In fact we've got, at the moment, a waiting list.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45I'm looking for at least two bedrooms,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49maybe a bit of character - they live in a modern building at the moment,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52the facilities of a village, as well, but most importantly,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54they want some land.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Say I was interested in taking on something this size,
0:06:57 > 0:07:00if I could get on your waiting list,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02how much would this be costing per year?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05- £15. - Now, that's a bargain, isn't it?
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- That's a bargain. - I have a property here
0:07:07 > 0:07:11which is bang on budget, by the looks of things - 350,000.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- Yeah.- Character. Has got two beds. Beautiful inside and out.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- Lovely. - The owner's done lots of work to it.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Seems to tick all the boxes as far as the property's concerned.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Got a reasonable garden at the back. Don't know if it's the kind of thing
0:07:25 > 0:07:29that you'd have people raising chickens and keeping pigs at.
0:07:29 > 0:07:35To have a plot of land big enough to...not, maybe, be self-sufficient,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38but to make it worth your while and to keep some chickens,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41how big an area are we talking about?
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Well, you can look at the size of one allotment.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Let's compare it to a tennis court.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50You could grow all the veg you want throughout the year,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54and really, you only want a small patch for your chickens.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- So, this is on budget but without the land.- Yep.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01So your alternatives really - what, moving further out?
0:08:01 > 0:08:06You're either looking to move to some of the less expensive villages,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08so perhaps looking further up the M40 corridor,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10further to the north of Oxford...
0:08:10 > 0:08:13At the moment we've got plans for 15 new allotments
0:08:13 > 0:08:16on the slope in the back over there.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20So, with a bit of luck, we should be able to accommodate all those
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- who want an allotment. - Right. Irwin, I'm inspired.- Good!
0:08:24 > 0:08:27And I absolutely know that Claire and Kevin will be, as well.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31I'll let you get back to it before the weeds start getting hold again!
0:08:31 > 0:08:33- Cheers! Thanks very much!- Bye.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Ah, there you are, Jonnie Irwin. Enjoying the view?
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- I am, very much so. - It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Mm-hm.- Anyway, to business! How have you got on?
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Not bad. The estate agent told me that this area
0:08:46 > 0:08:51is very much in demand. He says two bedrooms in a lovely village,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54perhaps within commuter distance to Oxford and London,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56with their price - might be struggling,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- but I'm cautiously optimistic. - Good, good, good.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02I am more than optimistic about growing veg round here.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I know everything there is to know about veg plots now.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08I'm starting to lose the plot. Let's get back to the plot -
0:09:08 > 0:09:10our building plot! What have you got for us?
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Well, plot number one has been built on quite a number of years ago.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17It's this belter of a property in a beautiful little village,
0:09:17 > 0:09:21and not only does it have character, it also has a nice little garden,
0:09:21 > 0:09:25not big enough for growing veg, but I do have an option up my sleeve.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Yes. I might be able to help you with that.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32But we mightn't need to, because the winner today, I assure you,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35is property number two. It comes with a massive amount of land,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38is a gorgeous Victorian property. It's beautiful,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41and still within that commuter belt they want to be in.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44There it is. Beat that. The Wild Card?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Sounds too good to be true, but the Wild Card has it all,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50and in spades. This has all the size you'll ever need,
0:09:50 > 0:09:53plus - I reckon Kevin's a bit of a DIY nut.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I reckon he'll get a spade and a hammer to this,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59- he'll knock it to pieces and love it. - It's got a lovely garden, as well,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02and something else besides. But we won't tell you what that is.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07- Shall we start the tours? - My property number one.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13My choice of property is in the beautiful village of Wheatley.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16It's hundreds of years old and full of character.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Character it may have, but does it have three bedrooms
0:10:20 > 0:10:22and a garden for chickens and vegetables?
0:10:22 > 0:10:26It has potential, and that's all I'm willing to say at this moment.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30So it hasn't. Have the chickens come home to roost so soon, Jonnie?
0:10:30 > 0:10:35So, for my first property, I've brought you to a real, living, breathing village.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38You've got everything you'd want in a village - a lovely post office,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42a curry house, a butcher, you've got a deli,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46a pub, a launderette - you've got everything I think you'll need
0:10:46 > 0:10:50for day-to-day life, and the property we're going to have a look at
0:10:50 > 0:10:53has a real feel to it. What are you thinking?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- There's arms folded there. - I've seen it, Jonnie.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I'm folding my arms now! Oh, dear! And...how long ago?
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- Um...probably about - - Six, eight weeks.- Yeah.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- Six or eight weeks ago. - I've got a question.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11Before we go any further, who was the most sceptical about this place?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- HE LAUGHS - Yeah, possibly me.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19- No messing about there. You! - What attracted you to this house?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- What brought you here as a viewing? - The village.- Yeah.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- Tick.- It actually being a nice little cottage.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- Tick.- Um...
0:11:27 > 0:11:30- Garage.- The garage... - Tick.- ..was quite nice,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and that was it initially, really, so that's what made us view it.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I'm going to walk around this place with you now,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40and try and show you the positive attributes
0:11:40 > 0:11:43of this potential new home for you guys. Simon...
0:11:43 > 0:11:46You can sell this place to him. Claire, you and I will have a giggle
0:11:46 > 0:11:50listening in on the desperate attempt to sell this to Kevin.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Come on. Let's go.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Right, then, Kevin. A trip down Memory Lane.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- As I remember it. - I thought it was quite nice.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09It's a very nice house, to be honest.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13You didn't tell us whether or not you liked open-plan kitchen-diners.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17- Is this your thing?- If it wasn't, if we had a wall up here,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- I would be taking it down. - He's only just walked in.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- He wants to take a wall down. Is that what he's like?- Yeah.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- Yeah. Moved my kitchen three times. - HE LAUGHS
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- You've got dogs, haven't you? - Yeah. We've got two dogs.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- Somewhere to have the dog bowls. - Yeah. Absolutely, yeah.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36That's it. A nice downstairs toilet with washing facilities,
0:12:36 > 0:12:40so if the dogs came in dirty, or we came in dirty,
0:12:40 > 0:12:42somewhere to rinse them off, isn't it?
0:12:42 > 0:12:46- This room speaks for itself, doesn't it?- It's a nice room.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- "Nice"?- Yeah!- Nice?
0:12:48 > 0:12:52"Nice" is what you say to a Christmas present you don't want from your nan.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54I thought this was really, really impressive.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Look at the history! Look at the history!
0:12:57 > 0:13:01Yeah. I love the stonework, yeah. It's really good.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05The rooms we've seen so far, pretty much everything's been done.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10Is that attractive to you, or do you want to get your sleeves rolled up?
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Um... I can take it or leave it, I think, really.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17I mean, I would like to do a little bit.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Do a bit of the work? He changed their kitchen three times!
0:13:20 > 0:13:23- SHE LAUGHS - Oh, he's changed the kitchen,
0:13:23 > 0:13:27changed the bathroom, turned a bedroom into a bathroom...
0:13:27 > 0:13:30I'm feeling quite positive about the downstairs,
0:13:30 > 0:13:35so hopefully this will continue... up in the bedroom stock.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- What are we thinking?- It's nice.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- Nice size. Nice high ceilings. - You've uncrossed your arms, Kevin.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Does this mean you're now falling in love with this place?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- Always shows negativity, that one, doesn't it?- A little bit.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51I've always been warned about that one.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55But, no - the bedroom's nice. Our bed would fit.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- It's a nice-size room. - When you came here before,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02did the agent discuss the previously held planning consent?
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- Um... I don't believe so, no.- Ah!
0:14:05 > 0:14:07That doesn't ring any bells, actually.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12Previously, around ten years ago, I'm informed there was planning consent
0:14:12 > 0:14:15to punch through that window, put an arch across there,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17and build on top of the garage,
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- which would then give you a third bedroom.- Yeah.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25- Interesting.- Which also gives you something to do in the future.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- What do you think about the size of this?- It's a good size.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35- For such a small property, or smallish property...- Yeah.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39..it's a good-size bathroom. Nice light, as well.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41There's not much you need to do here.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44You see Claire relaxing, having a bit of soak of an evening?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48THEY LAUGH Is Claire a bath lady?
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- She isn't.- A shower lady, is she? - I'm a bath man.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55I can die in the bath for about half an hour or so.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58So you want a couple of big bolts on the door,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01shut the whole family away, and just have a bit of Kevin time.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05Absolutely. I don't do the rubber ducks or the candles...
0:15:05 > 0:15:07HE LAUGHS Neither do I!
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Let's have a look through there.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11The rubber ducks and the candles?
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Claire!
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- Nothing to do with me. - THEY LAUGH
0:15:17 > 0:15:20It is all coming back to you now, this house?
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Yes, it is. Yeah. I remember this room, as well.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Now, which room would you have for you and Claire,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- and which one would be your son's? - I think this would be my son's.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- Yeah? Why's that? - It's at the front of the building,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39so any sort of road noise from the evening,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43and I think that one's just a nicer bedroom, and it's south facing,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- so a nice bit of sun in the mornings and stuff.- Exactly.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Would you agree with Jonnie and Kevin there,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- that your bedroom would be at the rear of the house?- Yes.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- Yeah.- Stick Matthew in the front.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58- He'll sleep through anything, won't he?- Oh, yeah. Definitely.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01What would Claire think of this on a second viewing?
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- You think she'd like it more or less? - Um...
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- Hopefully less, but probably more. - Let's go and find out, shall we?
0:16:07 > 0:16:09- She's in the garden.- Absolutely.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14I hope you've been behaving yourself here with Claire.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18We were listening intently. We couldn't get a word in edgeways!
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Well, he seemed quite positive in there!
0:16:21 > 0:16:25So, now we're outside, is this where the negative comments start?
0:16:25 > 0:16:29I think so, yeah. I mean, the size of the garden itself,
0:16:29 > 0:16:36to be honest - as you can see... It's basically what we've got at the moment...
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- Is it?- ..size-wise. - You got a summerhouse?
0:16:39 > 0:16:43- With power?- I've got a shed which I built myself.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47- Looks very similar to that, but probably about half the size...- OK.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50- ..with power.- OK. So this is too small for your chickens?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Absolutely.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- Well, thankfully...- Yes, thankfully,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57I've been doing a bit of investigating,
0:16:57 > 0:17:01and literally five minutes away from here there are allotments.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05They are available for the princely sum of £15 a year.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08They're just about to develop a new batch,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10so even though there's a waiting list at the moment,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13a whole new bunch are about to become available,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16so if you got this place and got your name on the list,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18you'd have your allotment just around the corner,
0:17:18 > 0:17:21so the dream could still be here. Are we winning you over?
0:17:21 > 0:17:26Well, it's an idea, but I wouldn't like to leave my chickens
0:17:26 > 0:17:29or even my little goat on the allotment.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33I can just feel, though... Jonnie, we were listening in.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36You did your best with this place, and I was doing my best out here.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40I can still hear we're not winning you over on this place,
0:17:40 > 0:17:44and it's guess-the-price time. You should do very well on this one,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46the pair of you. Let's see how good your memories are.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Your budget is £350,000.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52How much do you think Jonnie's property is worth?
0:17:52 > 0:17:56- Who's going to go first?- I'll let you go first, Claire. Go on.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- It's 350.- Ooh! Is it? Do you think?
0:17:59 > 0:18:03- Kevin, what do you think?- Well, I'm not 100 percent sure it was,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06to be honest. I'm going to say 360.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Well, someone's memory is better than someone else's,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14because, Claire, you're one-nil up. It is £350,000. Well done!
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I knew. I knew.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19You can tell who's in charge of the money in their house.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Anyway, at this point what we're going to try and do
0:18:22 > 0:18:25is show you a property that you haven't already viewed.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28That would be Property 2. That would be my choice, and this way.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Come on! Let's go!
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Yes, fortunately today we didn't put all our eggs in one basket.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37My property is also full of character,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- and has just a little more. - Just a little more?
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I'm telling porkies. It has loads more.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Tell me, what does it have loads more of?
0:18:45 > 0:18:50I'm not going to tell you. You'll just have to wait. Can you bear the suspense?
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Right, then, you lovely pair! Property 2 today is my choice.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Now, then, it's this turn-of-the-century -
0:18:56 > 0:19:00turn of last century, of course - late-Victorian property.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04You wanted a small house with a large garden in the countryside.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07That's what it is. But first question -
0:19:07 > 0:19:09- have you viewed this before?- No.- No.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- Brilliant! So, a good start. - THEY LAUGH
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- Second question - first impressions? - Nice. Like it.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- You what? I can't hear you! - Very nice.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23- Yeah.- What you saying there, Jonnie? - Apart from the obvious, er, Simon.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Oh, that road back there? OK, that's a fair point.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30There is a fairly busy road. But I would like you to come back -
0:19:30 > 0:19:34I would give this advice to anyone who's viewing a property on a road like that -
0:19:34 > 0:19:36come back and view again in the evening.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40But first, we want to know what you think of the inside of this place.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- OK.- Yeah.- Get yourselves in and enjoy it. In you go!
0:19:47 > 0:19:49There we go.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52This is a prize, isn't it? It's very nice out here.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56I just never know when to trust you. Just listen in.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- I can't quite hear it. The road... - See? Just shut up and listen. - It's a bit noisy.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- Good space. Good space for the dogs. - Yeah.- After a walk in the rain.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- Shall we go through here?- That way.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09All right. OK.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Downstairs shower. Bath, as well.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16- That's good. Decent size. - Is it the only one, though?
0:20:16 > 0:20:18I'm glad you like that. Yes. Because...
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Just might be something lacking upstairs.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27Oh, dining room... Oh, kitchen. Nice-size kitchen.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Right. Place for a table as well, look.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- Yeah, I like that. - Not so bad.- It's quite nice.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Living room. Nice quarry floors again.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38Oh, yeah. Similar to what we had in the kitchen at one time.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- It is nice. - Hope that's a working fireplace.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42That'd be nice.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- Yeah, I'm sure it is. - That's a working flue, all right.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- That was almost a positive comment from Kevin.- It was!
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Bit small, though. I'm not sure whether...
0:20:51 > 0:20:54you know, big three-seater, two-seater...
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- That's quite big, so it might fit. - No.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It's a bit small.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Cottage-like in proportions. They did clearly say
0:21:03 > 0:21:06that size in the house wasn't important.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08It's what's outside that counts.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10This must be the front door, then.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13- Oh...- Yeah.- Can't use it. It's got a fridge in it.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Bit steep, but we'll be all right.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Yeah, they are, but no young 'uns to worry about,
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- and you're not that old yet. - Love you, too.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- First bedroom. - Main bedroom, do you reckon?
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- Yeah. Might be.- Yeah, I think so.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32- It's a nice size. - No en suite or anything.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Not that we've asked for an en suite, but...
0:21:35 > 0:21:38We wouldn't have to worry about wardrobe space.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- There's plenty there.- Yeah. That goes back a fair way there.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46I mean, it's a useable size, but it's quite small, isn't it?
0:21:46 > 0:21:50All right for Matthew, if he came out this way with us.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54I think, if Kevin gets his way, a room for Matthew will only be a temporary measure.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- This is going to be a spare room. - Yeah.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00This is a second bedroom. Oh, this is the master.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Oh, yeah. Looks like.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06There's not a great deal in the sizes of the rooms.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- Our bed would actually fit in here, wouldn't it?- Definitely.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- Can you hear the road? - FAINT MURMURING OF TRAFFIC
0:22:13 > 0:22:18Little bit, but the window's open. What's in this? Let's have a look.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Oh, it's a cupboard. Nice deep storage.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23I thought we was going to have an en suite there, but...
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- We could put a shower in. You know what you're like.- Yep.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Possibly. It's still a little bit wee, isn't it?
0:22:28 > 0:22:31A bit... A bit small.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- Oh, Kevin!- Kevin, now, in fairness,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38you did say inside the property wasn't particularly important
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- as long as it had some land outside. - It has loads of land!
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Just you wait. He will brighten in a moment.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- Right?- I'm coming.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51- Looks like there's a good garage. - Yeah. That's not so bad, is it?
0:22:51 > 0:22:54We'll see what this is. Got bars on the window.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Intriguing! Well, if there's bars on the window,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Matthew can stay in here. Let's have a look.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- Nice stable door, as well, look. - Yeah. That's good.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- Oh, well, yeah.- Interesting!
0:23:08 > 0:23:10Something for the dogs, I think.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14That is the fanciest dog kennel you will ever find in your life.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- It's got a single bed in there. - To keep the greyhound comfortable.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Intriguing! What's down the bottom here?
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Go on! You open that gate! In you go!
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- Oh, look.- Very intriguing. Lots of little spaces.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31- See if they can guess what it's for. - Sounds like pigeons to me.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34- Yeah, pigeons. Look.- Yeah.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- Lots of pigeons. - Yeah.- Bet he races them.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39What about...chicken racing?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Now, you're being flippant. But think about it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45You're on to something there. If you've got a place to keep pigeons,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48how hard would it be to convert that into a chicken coop?
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- What have we got in here, then? Let's have a look.- Even more!
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- Yeah.- Secret hideout! - That's amazing, innit?
0:23:55 > 0:23:57- That's good. - I don't know what... Yeah.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00It looks like this has been used as a... I don't know.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- A bungalow or... - Holiday cottage?- A summerhouse?
0:24:03 > 0:24:07- Something.- Well, I wouldn't go as far as a holiday cottage,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09but it's certainly useable.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Matthew - it's got a bit of electricity down here.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Have his own computer room down here, away from his parents.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Have a bit of independence. This could be the first little bit of independence,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22the mezzanine level, before he goes out into the world.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25- I see! Like a halfway house to the great outside.- Correct.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28This could be...you know, bedroom, little living room.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- Depends if there's water. - For Matthew, or even, er...
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- Sally Ann, when she comes home. - Yeah, yeah.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36That'd be good. Chuck her down here on her own.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Yeah, well, out of sight, out of mind, eh?
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Storage.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Yeah. It's... It's ideal, isn't it?
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Kevin's sounding positive. Claire's sounding positive.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Jonnie's sounding positive. Do you know what?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- I'm starting to enjoy this tour. - I'm pleased for you!
0:24:52 > 0:24:56FAINT SOUND OF TRAFFIC I said...I said I'm pleased for you!
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Well, I am very glad to say that that seemed to get better and better
0:25:02 > 0:25:06as you walked round the place. This was a lovely surprise, wasn't it?
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- Absolutely. - Definitely.- It's gorgeous.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12There you go. You wanted a small house with a fair piece of land.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15- That's what it is.- It is. It is.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Can't fault the garden at all, Simon.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- There's still that "but" in there. - I can hear it now!
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Well, the "but" is the road, isn't it?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26This may change your opinion about the place,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30because I was concerned you'd find the living area too small, as well.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34I know you weren't fussed about how much space you had inside the house.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39Yeah. I think being able to move the bathroom upstairs or something -
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Well, we do happen to know there are blueprint plans
0:25:42 > 0:25:47lying around inside the house there, dating back to 2003,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50which would have allowed the house to be extended
0:25:50 > 0:25:54double its footprint. So the bathroom would go upstairs,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57lots more living space downstairs. The plans may still be live,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01but they might not be. Anyway, cutting to the chase,
0:26:01 > 0:26:04that basically means that at some point, on principle,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06there's no reason why you couldn't extend.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09If it's been agreed once, it might be again.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12So with all this, and great access from that road...
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Thank you, Jonnie, for your positive spin.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17..how much do you think this house is?
0:26:17 > 0:26:21- Now, you lost the first one.- OK. - So you can go first if you like.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- I'll go for 360.- 360.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- OK. Claire, one-nil up. - About 365, then.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29- OK. About 365.- Yeah.- Right.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Um, well, I kind of have to admit here,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37and I think Jonnie will agree, that on your budget,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39we've struggled really to tick all the boxes.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44This place is on the market for offers in excess of 399,950.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Right.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50I know 350 grand is a lot of money, but in this part of the world,
0:26:50 > 0:26:55commuter belt to London, bit of land, buildings,
0:26:55 > 0:26:57at least two bedrooms, character property...
0:26:57 > 0:27:02Are you prepared to maybe compromise on any of these criteria?
0:27:04 > 0:27:06- No.- Brilliant!
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Good! That's gone well, hasn't it? That being the case,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13let's hoping we're not compromising, then, with the Wild Card.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- That's the only thing that can save us.- That's this way.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Today's Wild Card is truly wild. It's that wild -
0:27:23 > 0:27:26well, I don't know where to begin. Help me out, Simon.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29You could start by saying it's not in Oxfordshire.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32OK. I'll start by saying it's not in Oxfordshire.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36- And it's not in Buckinghamshire. - OK. It's not in Buckinghamshire.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40It's in Hertfordshire. It does slightly exceed the 20-mile radius
0:27:40 > 0:27:43- from Oxford.- But it is in an area Kevin and Claire have considered.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46And that's not all that makes it wild, is it, Simon?
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Nope. But more about that in a mo.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Now, the Wild Card, it pushes people's parameters,
0:27:52 > 0:27:54and most of all their imagination.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59Now, this is not within your 20-mile radius. We're about 30 miles from Oxford.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01What do you think about that?
0:28:01 > 0:28:05It's a little bit far, so it's going to have to be something special.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Hang on a minute! He's not doing the commuting. Claire!
0:28:08 > 0:28:11- I am.- How is it for you?- Good point.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14I'd have to see what it was like, with traffic and stuff.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Yeah. In fact, we've checked this out,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and it's between 50 minutes and an hour to Oxford.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22We've brought you across not one county border but two
0:28:22 > 0:28:27into Hertfordshire, to the lovely village of Long Marston. That's the location.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30- The property. What are you thinking? - Intriguing.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32It looks really nice from the outside.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34It used to be a dairy. My suspicion is,
0:28:34 > 0:28:38it was probably later split up into three homes,
0:28:38 > 0:28:41but it's been now made into one home,
0:28:41 > 0:28:43with some DIY potential.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46- Oh, Kevin!- Oh, right. - As we've been listening in
0:28:46 > 0:28:50on the other two properties, we know you want to knock walls out,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53knock these places to bits. This place gives you every opportunity
0:28:53 > 0:28:56to do that. Bear that in mind - it is a bit of a project -
0:28:56 > 0:29:00as you get in that front door. All right? Get in there and enjoy.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02We'll be listening in.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- Oh, right!- Interesting.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Yeah. Quite a large entrance, isn't it?
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Needs a bit of updating, I think, doesn't it?
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- Oh.- Living room.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16- Yeah.- Big enough. Put our three-seater in there.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20It's the biggest out of all three properties. It's massive.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22It's lovely. It's a really useful space.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25It's the one space, if I bought this place, I wouldn't alter.
0:29:25 > 0:29:29- Nice fireplace. - Yeah. Needs a bit of updating,
0:29:29 > 0:29:34I think, doesn't it? It's all double-glazed, as well, isn't it,
0:29:34 > 0:29:36so not so bad.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40Not bad ceiling height, really, for the age of the property.
0:29:40 > 0:29:45It'll be nice to know what's on that side of the wall, really.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Doesn't seem to be any front to the property.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50So, we go down to...
0:29:50 > 0:29:51All right. OK.
0:29:51 > 0:29:57- The kitchen or utility.- I'm hoping it's the utility, not the kitchen.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00If it's the kitchen, then, we need some work, don't we?
0:30:00 > 0:30:03I was worried that this was the main kitchen of the house.
0:30:03 > 0:30:04It's OK. It's not.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- Ah! Here we go.- Kitchen.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09The kitchen. This is a bit better, innit?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12You won't have to do much in here.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15- Yeah. It's quality units, innit? - Yeah. I like that.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18So we've got the kitchen, dining area maybe,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22even a nice stove. I wonder if the... Yeah. Stove's all right.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23Hopefully that's staying.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27All the fixtures and fittings within this house are staying,
0:30:27 > 0:30:28because it's a deceased estate.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- Spiral staircase. That's a bit different.- Oh, right.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Let's see what else is down here first, shall we?
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Oh, right. Yeah. Must be the garage.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42Bit narrow for the car, really, though, isn't it? But heigh-ho.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45They're not too bad. They look a bit rickety, don't they?
0:30:45 > 0:30:48- Bit noisy, but... - Yeah.- They're good, actually.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51I think they're bolt-together jobs, so, yeah.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54So, this could be used as a...
0:30:54 > 0:30:58Oh, right. Sort of bedroom on its own, with an en suite.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01- So, I wonder if this is the master - - Master, or...
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Master, or something for Matthew.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09Avocado suite aside, this really works for their son Matthew,
0:31:09 > 0:31:13or even guests that are staying, to go away from the main part of the house
0:31:13 > 0:31:18and have their own space, without encroaching on Mum and Dad or whoever's putting you up.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- Assuming the main room's up here, then, so...- All right.
0:31:21 > 0:31:25Got a small room here. Oh, no! Not as bad.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27It's all right for me.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30So we've got a bit of cupboard space, but...
0:31:30 > 0:31:33not quite sure... Yeah.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Yeah, but what does it overlook?
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Just a flat roof.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Yeah. You wouldn't get a double bed in here,
0:31:40 > 0:31:44so let's hope there's a bigger room than this one.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49That feels partition, so we might be able to knock it into one, maybe.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Don't knock that wall down, Kevin. Leave that wall where it is,
0:31:52 > 0:31:55otherwise you'll have an open-plan bedroom/bathroom.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Let's see what's in here. Ah. Bathroom, so...
0:31:59 > 0:32:02No. Probably better not knock through.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04- No.- But nice bathroom, though.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06No work needed there, really, is there?
0:32:06 > 0:32:08And bedroom number...
0:32:08 > 0:32:12well, bedroom number three, isn't it, so one, two, three.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15But which is the main bedroom, really?
0:32:15 > 0:32:18I would say the one on the other end with the en suite.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- Yeah.- Stick Matthew at this end.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24It's not a bad size. You'd get a double bed in.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27I just... I don't know. Feeling a bit disjointed, maybe.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30I think he's right, though. It is disjointed.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34If there is ever an occasion when you want to get an architect involved,
0:32:34 > 0:32:36it would be the redesign of this property.
0:32:36 > 0:32:41This could be a gorgeous property if proper thought was given to how it all fitted together.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- Let's have a look outside, then. - Out to the garden.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49What do you reckon? Could you do something with that?
0:32:49 > 0:32:53I don't... Yeah, I think so. There's not a lot of work, really.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56- It's habitable straight away. - I like that!
0:32:56 > 0:32:59- But it's...- But there was enough work to keep you interested
0:32:59 > 0:33:03- with a sledgehammer later on? - Oh, certainly. Yeah, that's right.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05But nothing drastic needs doing straight away.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09- You could move straight in. - It's fairly tidy.- That's right.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Everybody's got their own tastes and stuff,
0:33:11 > 0:33:15but a couple of things. Join the kitchen and the living room,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19little bit more of a thoroughfare through there.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- There's options in there... - Certainly.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23..but let's look at this.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26I was wondering where you were going to come with this one.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Lovely enclosed garden, very private.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32One of our requests were larger garden.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35Do you think we'd show you three properties...
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Do you think we haven't learned from the first properties?
0:33:38 > 0:33:41- Well...- I hope you've learned. - This is a Wild Card.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44- Surprise us, then, Jonnie. - Follow me and I WILL surprise you.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46There we go.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- This is quite nice round there, this little development.- It is,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52yeah.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Now, I know you're after some land.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59And, lo and behold, the Wild Card provides it.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- Is this enough for you? - It certainly is.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Yeah. Yeah. Even got the goats next door.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08The goats are next door, and there's a cow looking on, as well.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12This really is the kind of idyll you're looking for, isn't it?
0:34:12 > 0:34:14- Is that enough land? - What size is it?
0:34:14 > 0:34:18I mean, it looks enough, but how much land is there?
0:34:18 > 0:34:20According to the estate agent's details,
0:34:20 > 0:34:25there's 0.65 of an acre. Does that look like 0.65 of an acre to you?
0:34:25 > 0:34:29It certainly does, actually, yeah. And probably then some.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Actually, it's... The actual paddock here
0:34:31 > 0:34:35- isn't quite 0.65 of an acre.- Right. - It's a little bit smaller than that.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Because... it's not just this field you get.
0:34:38 > 0:34:44- Come on. We haven't finished this stroll yet. Hope you've got your hiking boots on.- OK, let's go.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50There we go!
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- Cheers.- Country code, Jonnie - close the gate, please.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01- Nice, isn't it?- Yes.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03HE SIGHS
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Take a seat.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07Thank you.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09- What a view, huh? - Look at that.- Lovely.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11So,
0:35:11 > 0:35:15not only do you get the paddock, you also get this little copse -
0:35:15 > 0:35:17and what price for that?
0:35:17 > 0:35:20- Isn't it just, eh? - Beautiful.- Absolutely.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24- Gorgeous.- I mean, thoughts of the house seem miles away now,
0:35:24 > 0:35:27but the house tour itself seemed to go pretty well, didn't it?
0:35:27 > 0:35:30- Very intriguing, I think. - Yeah. It's definitely...
0:35:30 > 0:35:33the Wild Card, really, isn't it?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36It's further than what we asked for,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38but it's got everything we're looking for.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42That's a bit of a dilemma for us really, at the moment.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45And so far, within your price range,
0:35:45 > 0:35:48you haven't had everything you've looked for.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51- No.- Are you saying this is in our price range?- No.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- THEY LAUGH - He's not giving anything away.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58On that note, we'll go into guess-the-price, shall we?
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- Now, then, it's two-nil to Claire. - I'm not doing very well here, am I?
0:36:01 > 0:36:07Come on. You need to salvage some pride. Your budget is £350,000.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11- How much for this lovely place? - I think you can go first, babe,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14because it seems I'm the underdog here.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17He's not being gallant. He just wants to get a clue from you.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19- Absolutely.- I reckon...
0:36:19 > 0:36:21about 375.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24- 375. Right. OK.- Tricky.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27I'll go... I'll be cheeky and go...
0:36:28 > 0:36:30..380, I think. Yeah.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32I think it's above. Yeah. 380.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35OK. Well, you've clawed it back, mate.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38- Well done.- There you go. - That's the only good news.
0:36:38 > 0:36:44It's on the market at offers around 399,950.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45OK.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49It initially came on the market some ten months ago
0:36:49 > 0:36:50at 450 grand.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54It's been sold subject to contract twice,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58and now they've reduced it in the hope of getting a sale.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00- Getting a sale. - They're a committed seller.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03- Yeah.- But it is pushing you. What do you think?
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Certainly worth looking at.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09Don't forget we've also shown you two other very different properties,
0:37:09 > 0:37:13closer to Oxford, one with not as much land,
0:37:13 > 0:37:16one next to a road, which concerned you.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20- So there's pros and cons with all properties, isn't there?- There is.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24So what we're going to do now is leave you here in peace,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26enjoying that beautiful view,
0:37:26 > 0:37:30whilst you make up your mind which one you'd like to spend more time in. We'll see you in a bit.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32See you later!
0:37:32 > 0:37:36So, while they contemplate which property they'd like to test-drive,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39here's a recap for you at home of our three options today.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41Will it be Property 1?
0:37:41 > 0:37:46My pick is a two-bedroom period cottage in Wheatley near Oxford.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50It's the most affordable for Kevin and Claire, at 350 grand.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53Or will it be my choice, also a two-bedroom cottage?
0:37:53 > 0:37:56It's got a huge garden, a garage, and pigeon lofts
0:37:56 > 0:37:59ready for conversion into chicken coops.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Price 399,950.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04Or will they go for the Wild Card in Hertfordshire?
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Not only do you get a three-bedroom house,
0:38:07 > 0:38:13you also get a paddock and your very own enchanted wood. Price 399,950.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19- So, miracles never cease to amaze. - I beg your pardon?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22- We're back at property number two. - My choice.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26And obviously a very good choice. Why have you brought us back here?
0:38:26 > 0:38:31The garden is set up the way we would probably set it up.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34A little change here and there, a little tweak,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37but overall, everything's basically here
0:38:37 > 0:38:40for what we want. A few little bits and bobs.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43Yeah, and it's safe for the dogs, you know?
0:38:43 > 0:38:46They can run out, and we wouldn't have to do a lot
0:38:46 > 0:38:48- to let them out, so... - We were a bit surprised -
0:38:48 > 0:38:50obviously I was pleasantly surprised -
0:38:50 > 0:38:54because we thought you were quite taken with the Wild Card.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57- Was that just the distance? - Yeah.- I think so, yeah.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01For me, travelling 50 minutes every morning in rush hour,
0:39:01 > 0:39:05- sometimes it might even take me an hour and a half.- OK. Yeah.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- Fair comment.- The Wild Card is there to challenge you.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10- It doesn't always pay off.- No.
0:39:10 > 0:39:15But our eagle-eyed surveyor has given this place the onceover
0:39:15 > 0:39:18for you, as we always do. It's not a legally binding survey,
0:39:18 > 0:39:22as we always say, and if you proceed with this property, or any other,
0:39:22 > 0:39:25go through all the full surveys and searches.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28But he's come up with a few interesting points.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32If you look closely, you'll see the cracks in the corner of the building here.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35You see the new pointing zig-zagging around?
0:39:35 > 0:39:39This can come from the foundations. They might be undermined.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42It's high clay content in the area. As the moisture leaves the clay,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45it shrinks, and can undermine the foundations.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49The cause of that may be that fast-growing conifer behind us.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52If it's not the cause, it can certainly exacerbate it.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Good news for you is, first job for you -
0:39:54 > 0:39:57it's chainsaw time. THEY LAUGH
0:39:57 > 0:40:00- Something to knock down. - That tree really has to go.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02It's just too close to the house.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05The only other thing he noted, out the back, the boiler flue,
0:40:05 > 0:40:08it's very close to one of the fascias,
0:40:08 > 0:40:10so much so that it's bubbling the paint.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13So too close, really. That needs looking at.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15They're the big issues with this place.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Apart from that - well, I don't need to say it,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21cos I chose this place, along with the property team.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- It's a lovely property. It's gorgeous.- It is.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28I think it's time to find out if this could be the property for you
0:40:28 > 0:40:31and your family. So it's time to test-drive.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33- Away you go. Enjoy yourselves. - In you go.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Shall we go and find another lovely view to look at?
0:40:36 > 0:40:40You're surrounded by them, aren't you? This way.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- Is that Mum and Dad?- And they've brought the dogs with them.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48Let them loose in here, and Mr Fox won't be seen anywhere.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51If the neighbours trim them down, that would get rid of the moss.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54But then you got the noise from the road, maybe.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Dog-friendly garden, isn't it?
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Now, Simon, we've a little surprise in store for them.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05- Have we?- Yes. David.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09- What? I thought the dog was called - - No, no. That IS a dog.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12- David is a bee expert. - Oh, an apiarist!
0:41:12 > 0:41:15- No, I think he's a bee expert. - Oh. Well, whatever.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- I'm buzzing now. - Well, we like to give on this show,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21and what better present than some free advice on the birds and the bees?
0:41:21 > 0:41:25They come out of the hive and they'll be off over the hedge.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28How easy would it be with the pigeon coops,
0:41:28 > 0:41:30to convert those into places for chickens?
0:41:30 > 0:41:34This is a mansion for chickens. It's made for the purpose.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36But is this place made for them?
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Listen, that looked fascinating,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42the stuff with the beehive and everything.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44- It was really interesting. - Really interesting.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47Really surprising what you can get out of bees.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51We were talking about the property, but we're now thinking goats,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54chickens, and the question would have to be, at this point,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58to bee or not to bee? To bee or not to bee...
0:41:58 > 0:42:00I can only apologise about him.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03That's been buzzing round his head for ages. So I'll ask you -
0:42:03 > 0:42:06to buy or not to buy?
0:42:06 > 0:42:09I'm sorry to say I think it's...
0:42:09 > 0:42:11not to buy.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13So it's just not to bee.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15THEY GROAN
0:42:15 > 0:42:18Painful! OK, let's move away from Pun Town.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20- Yeah.- Er, why?
0:42:20 > 0:42:23The house is fine. The garden's great.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26- But the road is a problem. - We've heard a lot from Kevin
0:42:26 > 0:42:30about why not. What's your own personal thoughts on this place?
0:42:30 > 0:42:32I think the road is the main issue.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35Right. What have you learned from this process?
0:42:35 > 0:42:38I think, budget-wise, we need to look at our budget,
0:42:38 > 0:42:43but we're realising we don't need as much land as we think we do,
0:42:43 > 0:42:47- so a garden of this size is probably adequate.- Yeah.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51But saying that, if we get something with two or three acres,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54- who knows? - Have a lovely time up in Norfolk!
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- Shall we, um, buzz off? - You have to be...
0:42:57 > 0:43:00- Bye!- Bye!- Cheers, guys.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:10 > 0:43:12E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk