Swansea To Buy or Not to Buy


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Transcript


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As our intrepid property hunters stalk their prey

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through the bricks and mortar jungle,

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we wait, ready to pounce.

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What are you doing?

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Just bringing a jungle vibe to today's To Buy Or Not To Buy.

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This, my friend, is Swansea, not the Serengeti.

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OK. Swansea. So we're not crocodile hunters?

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No, we're not! But we can hunt for houses like a lion after a gazelle.

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So, if it's home-seeking you're after,

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you've come to the right place.

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So you're back with us now, are you?

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Back in a rainforest within a pyramid in South Wales.

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I am, Jonnie, like a nervous magician,

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waiting in the wings to bestow my property guru-ness on today's show.

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I'm not sure about that. But you have to admire his gusto, folks.

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And welcome to another property hunt through the jungle which is the housing market.

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Simon and I will be swinging from the housing vines

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and going in search of those precious property gems.

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If we can avoid the usual pitfalls and snakes of the treacherous market,

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we may help today's brave buyers take another foot on the property ladder.

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Before they do that, they get the chance to sample one of our three property gems

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and step out onto the plain as we give them the unique opportunity to try before they buy.

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WILD ANIMAL CALL

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What is that?

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Sorry - I've not paid for this.

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MONKEY CALL

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Leg it, Simon! Come on!

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Braving today's property hunting safari

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are Jean and Ray Simms who are both happily retired

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and living in Ray's home town of Castleford, West Yorkshire.

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Ray relishes his free time and loves to craft his culinary skills

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and tend to his garden,

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whilst Jean regularly flexes her artistic flair

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creating elaborate cake decorations.

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Let's hope they can have their cake and eat it

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as they want to take their trusty caravan on a pilgrimage

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back to Jean's motherland of South Wales to find their new home.

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So, Ray, your beloved wife, Jean,

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is dragging you away from Yorkshire.

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But you're still smiling! What's going on?

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Well, you've got to smile!

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Instantly.

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Life's too short not to smile!

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-Jean, a move closer to home?

-Back home.

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-I used to live just four miles up the road in Mumbles.

-Oh, very nice!

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I think Catherine Zeta's got a place there, hasn't she?

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-Yes, she has, yes.

-You look younger than Michael Douglas!

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You sweet-talker, you!

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So are we looking, then, in Swansea?

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-No.

-OK. So give us a clue.

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-Ystradgynlais, Ammanford.

-Ammanford.

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-And what are we looking for?

-A house with a big kitchen.

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A nice garden we can potter about in.

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What would you say would be the most important room in the house?

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-I would say the kitchen.

-Kitchen.

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-Who's the big cook here?

-We both cook, yes.

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-I'm the best!

-Ooh! We'll see!

-He's the savoury and I'm the sweet!

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You've both got quite a bit of family.

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-Daughters and sons between you, how many?

-Five children.

-I have three.

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-Crikey. Are we looking for a lot of bedrooms for them to visit?

-No.

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-Three.

-Three to four.

-Yeah.

-Right.

-OK.

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-So you like them all along, but not all at once!

-No!

-No!

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Plus we have the caravan for additional accommodation if we get overrun.

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-Hang on!

-But that means do we need somewhere to store the caravan?

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Hopefully a drive big enough to put the caravan on.

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-We're not looking for a terraced house, then.

-No.

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-No.

-Semi-detached? Detached? What's your preference?

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We prefer detached, but wouldn't say no to a semi.

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What about style of house? Age.

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-Again, I don't particularly like new builds.

-OK.

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Then again, I wouldn't like something too cottagey or too old.

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This isn't a small house we're after, is it?

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Semi-detached or detached. Three to four bedrooms.

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Big kitchen. Space for the caravan and garden to include a vegetable patch.

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-But how much money have you got?

-A maximum of 250.

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-OK. It's not a bad budget.

-No. I think we have all the information we need. Let's head for the hills.

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-See you later.

-See you later!

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Right, Jonnie. Lovely couple. Decent budget. This should be a good day.

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They do want a lot for their money.

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The big thing for us today is pronouncing the names of the towns!

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-"Ymchy..."

-You are right!

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I'm going to find an expert. I think an estate agent might help.

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OK. It's a nice day. I'll go and find out what I can about this lovely city.

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Swansea. Wales' second largest city

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settled on its own five-mile sweep of bay with as many named beaches as there are weeks in the year.

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Mumbles Lighthouse serves as a gateway to the Gower Peninsula

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which is blessed with countless miles of unspoilt coastal panoramas,

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golden beaches and lush rolling countryside.

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Just a short hike from Swansea Bay is the Vale of Neath.

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This is waterfall country which stretches across the wooded valleys

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from Neath to the Brecon Beacons National Park.

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Visitors have been drawn here for centuries to marvel at cascading beauties like these,

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the striking Melincourt Falls.

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But away from this Welsh wonderland what could Jean and Ray's 250k buy

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in other coastal havens around the UK?

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In sunny Skegness, this spacious four-bed detached home

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has more than enough space for their caravan.

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Inside is a whopping 21-foot lounge and a conservatory that should entice anyone.

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In Truro, Cornwall, this well-proportioned three-bed semi

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has extensive ground floor living space packed with original features.

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Right on budget and on the market for...

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Finally, in Hurstpierpoint near Brighton,

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a four-bed semi-detached peach like this

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with a kitchen/breakfast room, lounge and diner

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will set you back a lovely...

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Emma, thanks for seeing me today.

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I'm keen to find out exactly how the property market is behaving in South Wales.

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Jonnie, to be honest, we're seeing great improvements in the market at the moment.

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It has been a difficult time, but things are certainly picking up.

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"Do not go gentle into that good night."

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Good advice for any house-hunter, penned by the legendary poet Dylan Thomas

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born here in Swansea in 1914.

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To celebrate the great man, Swansea is home to the Dylan Thomas centre

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which houses a permanent exhibition of his life and works.

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There's also Dylan Thomas Square, with a theatre named after the scribe

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and this inspirational statue.

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It's not just locally that he's celebrated.

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So important was this poet's work

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that there is also a plaque bearing his name in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey.

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We are currently seeing high levels of stock coming in.

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A lot of properties coming onto the market.

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In 1804, the Swansea to Mumbles railway was built

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to carry limestone from the quarries of the Mumbles to Swansea and the world beyond.

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It carried the world's first paying rail passengers

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on the day the British parliament abolished the transportation of slaves from Africa.

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Over the next 156 years, it trundled along, using first horse power,

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then steam locomotion and finally trams

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before grinding to a halt in 1960.

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But it still holds the world record...

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..for the longest serving railway.

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You do get a lot more for your money centring around Ammanford,

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Ystradgynlais area and just a bit further west into Carmarthenshire.

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-They sound like the areas for us. Can we see some details?

-Yes.

-Lovely.

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Why do I always find you in the strangest of places?

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There are two reasons I brought you here.

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-One, because it's beautiful.

-Yes.

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And two, when you're looking for properties, you have to take a step back

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because you can't see the wood for the trees.

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Do you know what I've been surprised about? The budget, 250 grand,

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I can't believe what you can get for your money!

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Just look at Property One today, my choice.

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It is beautiful. It's detached, it's in immaculate condition

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and the location is one of the nicest locations I've ever seen.

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-What did they say they didn't want?

-New build.

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Well, if they like yours, they'll like mine, cos I've got a new build as well!

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-Sometimes you have to go with your instincts.

-My instinct says I ignored everything they want.

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-But it's got an acre of land. That's my offering.

-Property Two.

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The Wild Card. We'll keep it our little secret, but I think they will be singing its praise.

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-That's the Wild Card. Shall we start the tours?

-Let's go for yours.

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-If they like that, they might like mine!

-Property One.

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My choice, Property One, is an immaculate four-bed detached family home

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in picturesque Ammanford.

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It's blessed with stunning views, a snug conservatory and a colossal kitchen,

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not to mention ample outside space to park their beloved caravan.

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OK, you lovely couple, Property One is my choice,

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in the lovely village of Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.

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-That's correct.

-There you go!

-Well done!

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-That's impressive!

-There you go!

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But I do have to say at this point

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-you did say specifically you didn't want to see any new builds.

-Yep.

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I took that on board and ignored it. What do you think?

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First impressions, wow!

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Gorgeous!

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Oh, you're let off there, mate!

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Phew!

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We do try and take on board your wants.

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But sometimes when you find a property that is just this good,

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you have to ignore it.

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It is new, but very rarely will you find a place

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-where the views from every room are as good as they are from this place.

-When you're inside,

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-what should we listen out for if you like it? What word?

-"Wow."

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-Wow.

-"Gorgeous."

-"Brilliant."

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-Da iawn.

-"Da iawn"?

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-Yeah. Very good.

-Very good in Welsh.

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-Very good.

-OK.

-Or else I'll be speechless!

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-Right. The outside, I think, went "da iawn".

-That's very da iawn.

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-Great. Let's hope the inside is too. Get in there and enjoy it.

-Thank you.

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Oh, this is lovely! It's a nice size hall.

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Oh, wow!

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Oh, this is lovely!

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Look at the views there! That's something we didn't ask for!

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That's an extra tick in the box.

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See? I've invented a box to tick!

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It feels like home and this is the first house.

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Ladies and gentlemen, you tuned in expecting to see your favourite, To Buy Or Not To Buy.

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Sounds like it'll be finished in five minutes!

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Oh, wow!

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Look at this!

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Oh!

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Oh!

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-Yeah.

-This is beautiful!

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This potentially could be one of the best house tours I've listened to!

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Unfortunately, it's not a house that I chose!

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To use your words, Jean, this is to die for.

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It is gorgeous.

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I love this family sitting area.

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Wow! A conservatory!

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Oh! Sorry, that "wow!" was so loud,

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and so excitable, I need to take the headphones off.

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Turn down your TV sets, cos there's high-pitched wows coming your way!

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-Look at that view, Jean!

-Yes. We could spend our days in here. What more could you ask for?

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Very rarely will you find a conservatory with views like that.

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Right across to the Brecon Beacons. Beautiful.

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-Oh, that's a lovely bedroom.

-Again, beautiful views.

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Wake up on a morning to those views, Jean, eh?

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Yeah, it's lovely.

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-Have a look at another bedroom.

-It's a massive bathroom!

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Separate shower.

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That is beautiful. You could have a dance in here.

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Oh, wow! This is the master bedroom.

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Look at this!

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And an en-suite, Ray!

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She loves this place. A pleasure to watch.

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Beautiful views!

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You wouldn't want to get up! You'd want to sit in bed and look at that.

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-This is another good size.

-Isn't it just?

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-I feel at home here.

-Yeah.

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-It's one of those houses that...

-Feels like it's wrapped its arms around you.

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Ray and Jean, how did that go? I've got no idea, really. Did you like it?

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I think you could say that! It's absolutely beautiful, isn't it?

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-Fantastic.

-We both love it, don't we?

-Yeah.

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Behind us is a beautiful view to the Brecon Beacons.

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What they've cleverly done is kept this piece of garden here

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-so that view will never be obscured.

-Wonderful.

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There's that cleverness of thought and real love for this house that the current owners have.

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-Listen. You love it.

-Hmm.

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But can you afford to buy it?

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The question is, how much is this wonderful house on the market for? Who's going first?

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-I think ladies first!

-That's not that much of a gesture, is it, Ray?

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-Come on!

-No!

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Well, I really think it's over our budget.

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I think it's on for...269.

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269 from Jean. How about Ray?

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I would say slightly more, actually.

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I'd go for...270.

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When you say "slightly more", you mean, "ever so slightly more"!

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-A grand is a grand, eh?

-Absolutely. I see what you've done there.

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It is over your budget. If you gave me £260,000, I would give you five pounds change.

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-Oh, right.

-259,995.

-What do you think of that?

-Excellent.

-Excellent.

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-Who do I make the cheque out to?

-Not just yet! Not just yet!

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-We may as well!

-We've got a programme to make!

-OK!

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Simon and the property hunting team have raised the bar to Herculean heights.

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But Property Two is 20 minutes' drive away.

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Let's get the car and go there.

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Built six years ago by the current owner, my choice is a gorgeous three-bed detached home

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on the outskirts of the Brecon Beacons.

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It has astonishing vistas and over an acre of scenic grounds.

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Need I say more?

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So the theme today seems to be,

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if you said you don't want something, give it to them!

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-This is something you said you don't want - a modern house.

-Da-da!

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-This is even newer than Simon's. It's only six years old.

-Yes.

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So, what do you think of her?

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-I like the brick.

-I like the brick, too.

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-I like the brick! Ray?

-I like the brick, too!

-Wa-hey!

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We're all brick lovers today! What about the style of the property?

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It's unusual. I suppose the bedroom windows get the best of the view.

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That view, going right over that way, is the Brecon Beacons.

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-Yes, lovely.

-So a similar position to Simon's house,

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-but a very different offering.

-Very different.

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It looks like a good-sized garden.

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-It's got a whole acre!

-Good God! We can't afford it, then!

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You're not cooing like you did at Simon's.

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I'm quiet. I won't cause trouble!

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Well, we may coo afterwards.

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All right! Coo inside, if you can! Go inside and let us know what you think.

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-After you.

-Thank you.

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Wow, this is big!

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Yeah.

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And it's a kitchen/diner.

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-This is a lovely size, this is.

-Yes, a nice-sized kitchen.

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They don't sound as upbeat as they did in your house.

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-They should be more upbeat because it is beautifully finished.

-I think so.

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This is nice.

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-The disadavantage - the stairs are in the room.

-Yes.

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-I like the floor.

-I like the floor. That's wood.

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That's not laminate, that's wood.

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-That's not just wood there, that is Swedish oak.

-Ooh!

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Oh, that's a lovely bathroom! A slipper bath.

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-That is lovely.

-Mmm.

-No shower.

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-Don't worry, Jean. There is a shower.

-Turn around.

-Keep looking!

-Turn around!

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Oh, there is!

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Look at that!

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Oh, yeah. Hidden away.

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-That's a nice shower.

-That's lovely.

-Like a power shower.

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Yeah, that is nice.

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-Ooh, that's nice.

-This must be the master bedroom, this.

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-There's beautiful views again.

-Oh, that is nice.

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And you can see it from bed.

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Yeah.

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Oh, that is nice.

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-Another double.

-I like that feature window. That's quite unusual.

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-Nice shape.

-Yeah.

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-This is not your bog standard new build. It's interesting.

-Every room is different.

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And you have the view out over the mountains.

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Again, a nice view.

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-The floor is superb.

-It's beautiful. Lovely.

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Ray and Jean, it sounded like you liked it. Did you?

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Uh, yeah, it was quite a nice house.

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But I think it lacked a bit of something.

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I'm going to come to Jonnie's defence. Because this is a beautiful house.

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-It's real quality.

-Yes.

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I don't think it's quite got the wow factor that the other house had.

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-Money can change everything!

-Yes.

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OK, right, then. It's one-nil at the moment to Jean.

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-Your budget, £250,000.

-Yes.

-How much for this house

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which is admittedly a bit smaller than the other one...

0:18:250:18:28

-One acre!

-..but with an enormous amount of land.

0:18:280:18:33

I'm going to say 248.

0:18:330:18:35

I think it is...

0:18:350:18:37

245.

0:18:370:18:39

245? Well, look.

0:18:390:18:41

It's on for 269,995.

0:18:410:18:45

It's probably because of the land. The land is valuable.

0:18:450:18:49

You're one-all. You've pulled it back. Now everybody's favourite bit.

0:18:490:18:53

Can the Wild Card compare with Simon's first offering?

0:18:530:18:57

-Shall we find out?

-Please.

-After you!

0:18:570:18:59

Today's ecclesiastical Wild Card is a former Baptist chapel

0:19:020:19:07

built in the early 1900s of stone hewn from its actual location.

0:19:070:19:11

Beautifully converted in the 1990s,

0:19:110:19:13

the chapel now boasts three great-sized bedrooms.

0:19:130:19:16

I'm absolutely positive that Ray and Jean will worship this heavenly abode.

0:19:160:19:21

Right, Ray and Jean. Today's Wild Card, in the lovely village of Abercrave.

0:19:210:19:26

-Is that right, Jean?

-That's correct.

-I'm doing all right!

0:19:260:19:30

-Said like a Welshman!

-Now then,

0:19:300:19:32

why is it the Wild Card?

0:19:320:19:33

-With the other two, we just didn't listen to what you wanted.

-Right.

0:19:330:19:38

We have with the Wild Card, which makes it wild today!

0:19:380:19:41

It is this lovely converted chapel. First impressions, please?

0:19:410:19:45

-Beautiful.

-It's certainly very different.

0:19:450:19:47

It look very, very interesting. It'll be nice to see inside.

0:19:470:19:52

A traditional Welsh building.

0:19:520:19:53

We've passed it and often said we'd love to look at it, but never done it.

0:19:530:19:58

What about that road, then? NOISY TRAFFIC

0:19:580:20:01

See what it's like inside.

0:20:010:20:03

Shall we see what you think?

0:20:030:20:05

-Yes.

-Go on.

-In you go!

0:20:050:20:08

Let's look inside, Jean.

0:20:100:20:12

-Yep.

-That's the whole idea.

0:20:120:20:14

Oh, this is nice.

0:20:150:20:17

The lounge. Stripped floorboards, Ray.

0:20:190:20:21

-Oh, yeah. I wonder if they're the originals?

-I don't know.

0:20:210:20:25

-I like these double doors.

-Quite traditional.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

0:20:250:20:29

I like this. Look, Ray.

0:20:290:20:31

A kitchen/diner.

0:20:310:20:33

-This is nice.

-Yes, this is... Yeah.

0:20:330:20:36

With this being a converted chapel, they've taken advantage of it once being all one space.

0:20:360:20:41

The ground floor flows beautifully.

0:20:410:20:43

You could be cooking here, Ray, and I could be sitting there.

0:20:430:20:46

HE CHUCKLES

0:20:460:20:48

-This is nice.

-Yes.

0:20:490:20:51

Considering I don't like beams, these are nice.

0:20:510:20:53

It's quite a nice... Nice, light landing, actually.

0:20:530:20:58

-Nice windows here.

-Yeah.

0:20:580:21:00

You'd be lying in bed looking at somebody coming up the drive.

0:21:000:21:04

I'd be able to see through them without bending!

0:21:040:21:07

There's an en-suite.

0:21:080:21:09

This is quite large, Ray.

0:21:090:21:11

-Yeah.

-Very nice.

0:21:110:21:15

Not one lovely. Come on, it's lovely!

0:21:150:21:17

It's brewing. The "lovely" kettle is on!

0:21:170:21:20

-Oh, now, this is nice.

-Yeah.

0:21:200:21:22

-And this has an en-suite as well.

-Oh, I see.

0:21:220:21:26

It's an unusual shape room. I do actually quite like it.

0:21:260:21:30

-More character than a square room.

-Which is the master?

0:21:320:21:35

-See, which is the master?

-Me.

0:21:350:21:37

-This is nice. A little girl's room.

-Yeah. Yeah.

0:21:410:21:45

And another en-suite!

0:21:450:21:47

Three bedrooms, three en-suites.

0:21:470:21:50

It's quite surprising, actually.

0:21:500:21:53

It's surprised me.

0:21:530:21:54

From outside you wouldn't think it had this number... Especially en-suites.

0:21:540:22:00

-It's far bigger than I thought it would be.

-Yeah.

0:22:000:22:03

We were out in the garden, listening for the word "lovely".

0:22:050:22:09

We didn't hear it. But there were lots of "very nices".

0:22:090:22:13

-So how did it go?

-Very nice.

-Very nice.

0:22:130:22:15

Yeah.

0:22:170:22:18

-It's what you asked for. This is the funny thing.

-I know, but Simon, you changed our minds!

0:22:180:22:23

Something that might sway you, though, or may not, is the price.

0:22:230:22:28

Who's going first? It's one-apiece.

0:22:280:22:30

I'll be the gentleman and I'll go first.

0:22:300:22:33

Makes a change, doesn't it?

0:22:330:22:35

I think this might be a bit under budget.

0:22:360:22:38

I'm going to say 245.

0:22:380:22:41

OK. 245, Ray.

0:22:410:22:43

I'm going to say 239.

0:22:430:22:45

Jean, you win.

0:22:450:22:48

-Ah!

-Well done, Jean.

0:22:480:22:49

Got some very pleasant news for you.

0:22:510:22:53

It was on the market at £230,000.

0:22:530:22:57

But to force a sale, it's been dropped to 215.

0:22:570:23:02

-What do you think?

-Hmm.

0:23:020:23:04

Not a lot, by the sounds of it!

0:23:040:23:07

-It's lovely, though, a fantastic house.

-It certainly is.

0:23:070:23:10

-It's been tastefully and cleverly converted.

-Well, look.

0:23:100:23:15

Now you've got the opportunity to go and think about the biggest decision of your life.

0:23:150:23:20

-See you in a minute.

-I wonder which one it will be?

0:23:200:23:23

Whilst they make this monumental decision - I wonder which one? -

0:23:230:23:27

here's a reminder of the ups and downs of today's Welsh valley house-hunt.

0:23:270:23:32

What can I say?

0:23:330:23:35

Jean and Ray simply fell in love with my property. The style, decor, size and the views

0:23:350:23:40

left them breathless with praise.

0:23:400:23:42

I can't help but think if we'd shown them my property first,

0:23:460:23:49

they'd have adored the unique bedrooms and acre of land.

0:23:490:23:52

As for the Wild Card, it's not often you find such a beautifully converted historical building

0:23:580:24:03

with two amazing floors of character and charm, and well under budget.

0:24:030:24:07

But which will receive Ray and Jean's highest praise

0:24:100:24:13

and their test drive honour?

0:24:130:24:15

It was never in doubt.

0:24:190:24:22

Your property was plush, Jonnie, and the Wild Card was lavish,

0:24:220:24:25

but my gem rules supreme.

0:24:250:24:27

Touche, Simon. And with no further ado,

0:24:270:24:30

our buyers should meet the present owners.

0:24:300:24:33

Allow me to do the introductions.

0:24:330:24:35

Ray, Jean - Jean, Harry.

0:24:350:24:39

We don't want really to sell the house because we love it ourselves.

0:24:390:24:43

But we're downsizing.

0:24:430:24:45

So with the introductions out of the way,

0:24:450:24:47

Ray and Jean check out the lush outside ground

0:24:470:24:50

and measure up for their treasured caravan.

0:24:500:24:52

It's time for the family to cast their opinion.

0:24:540:24:56

Whilst Ray takes them on a guided tour...

0:25:000:25:03

..Jean goes all Delia with one of her cracking creations.

0:25:050:25:08

Who's for cake?

0:25:200:25:22

-Me!

-Come on, then!

0:25:220:25:23

There's plenty of icing on the cake.

0:25:230:25:26

I love it!

0:25:260:25:27

Will this property be the cherry on the top?

0:25:270:25:29

Someone here seems pretty pleased with themselves.

0:25:290:25:33

Yep!

0:25:330:25:34

-Have you had a good time?

-We certainly have.

0:25:340:25:36

A time I'll remember all my life. Yeah, it's been...

0:25:360:25:40

The house is so warm, it wraps its arms around you and gives you what we Welsh call a cutch.

0:25:400:25:45

-A cutch! Ah!

-Ah!

-Don't you know?

0:25:450:25:48

What do the family think? That's what this move is all about.

0:25:500:25:53

The family love it. They're upstairs now picking bedrooms for when they come and visit!

0:25:530:25:59

The whole of today has always been comparing everything about this house.

0:25:590:26:04

So let's ask the big question. The ultimate question.

0:26:040:26:08

To buy or not to buy?

0:26:080:26:10

Well, my wife's fallen in love with it and so have I. So I think it's "to buy".

0:26:100:26:15

You are really keen on this place.

0:26:150:26:17

-Really.

-Really keen.

0:26:170:26:19

I've rarely witnessed people falling in love so much with a house.

0:26:190:26:23

Head over heels with this place.

0:26:230:26:25

They have a saying in my family. They tease me. I always say something is "to die for".

0:26:250:26:30

This house is to die for.

0:26:300:26:33

-To die for to buy for!

-Absolutely!

-There's a new show there!

0:26:330:26:36

On that note, we'll leave you to bask in the loveliness of this property.

0:26:360:26:42

Say it once more, Jean. "It's lovely."

0:26:420:26:44

-It's lovely.

-"It's lovely."

0:26:440:26:46

It's lovely.

0:26:460:26:47

-You two have been lovely too.

-Thank you.

0:26:470:26:49

-Good luck in your new home, and keep in touch.

-Cheers.

0:26:490:26:52

Thank you both very much. Bye!

0:26:520:26:54

Another resounding victory for the property hunting team,

0:26:540:26:58

myself, and even you played your small part, Jonnie.

0:26:580:27:01

That's very kind of you, Simon.

0:27:010:27:03

If you're sat at home and need a hand with a property gamble,

0:27:030:27:07

roll a dice, take a chance and get in touch with us.

0:27:070:27:11

-See you then.

-Ta-ta!

0:27:110:27:12

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