Kings Heath To Buy or Not to Buy

Good morning, viewers. How are you? All right? Good.

Be literally one second and then we'll be there.

Done! I think. I think, done. I think I'm done.

-Right, then.

-I don't want to say a masterpiece, but this is going to be close.

OK. In three, two, one.

I think I've been quite kind on your nose area.

I think I've been generous with the age lines on the forehead.

I'm no amateur. I'm an expert. I think this is better than yours.

Well, I think clearly mine is better than yours.

Viewers, think about it throughout the titles and let us know.

So, go on, do you like the over-jowled version of me

or the slightly smaller-nosed version of Jonny? Which one?

-Mine? You like mine the best? Excellent!

-No, no, they're saying it's a draw.

-Oh.

-That is fair.

Anyway, enough of this frivolity. You probably know us well enough

-to get an idea of what's going on.

-Clearly, one of the house-hunters

-is an artist.

-We should probably find out which one.

'OK, I think we've been rumbled. We got some professionals to draw them.'

'But we do love art, just like today's buyers.

'Meet Russell and Tori, that's Victoria for the uninitiated.'

'So then, we need to establish which one is the artistic type.'

'And the artistic one is...'

DRUM ROLL

-'..Tori!'

-'So that would make Russell the, er, sporty one.'

'Well, he's a keen Aston Villa fan, if that counts.'

'Indeed it does. Jonny, let's make their acquaintance.'

We're currently on the outskirts of Birmingham City Centre.

-Where are we looking for?

-Kings Heath.

-Very nice. Very posh.

-Yep.

Now, Tori, you are an artist, or an art teacher and an artist.

-Do you need space in the house?

-I'd like some space in the house so I can get my paintings...

-Do you want a dedicated studio if possible?

-I'd like something in the attic, with a bit of light.

And is that something you're willing to do yourself if the loft space is there?

Yeah.

What about you, Russell? Have you got any hobbies that will dictate the style of property?

I quite like the idea of a big, quite social place,

-areas that we can sit around.

-We may surprise you. Are you talking about the in vogue kitchen-diner?

-Possibly.

-Everyone loves them.

Now, you liberally mentioned the idea of having an art thing in an attic,

so are you, or maybe Russell, going to have the hobby of doing a DIY conversion?

-Do you want to do work?

-The other day, he was boarding out my dad's loft.

-Oh, right! OK!

-This week, in fact.

-So this entire dream is achievable.

Are there any other major things we need to consider, house-wise?

We're prepared to look at properties with the potential.

-But you'd prefer not to have...

-Yeah.

-So you've certainly identified things you don't want.

-Say we found a downstairs bathroom. Would you be prepared to take on moving that upstairs?

-Yeah.

A lot of the two-bedroom Victorian terraces you find with the upstairs bathroom,

-were originally three-beds anyway. So we can look at those things?

-Yeah, certainly.

I think we've made you into a far bigger DIYer than... You boarded a loft out the other week.

-Dog.

-Yes. Moomin.

-Moomin is the name of the dog?

-Yes.

Is Moomin factored into this?

Yeah. I just want to be able to... You know, so he's got somewhere to go outside.

-How big is he?

-That big.

-You could fit him a cat flap.

-A little border terrier.

-Right, so, you've basically spelled out your dream for us.

-How much have you got to spend, though?

-About 175.

-About 175. OK.

-With the exception of the downstairs bathroom,

nothing else you're going to rule out? Semi-detached, terraced?

-No, no.

-We're going to get out of here now.

-Yeah, we are.

-Wish us luck.

-Good luck.

-Thank you. See you later.

-Bye!

I like the way, within two minutes of chatting to Russell, we've turned him into a DIY expert.

-That will be very useful.

-Cos it now means we've not got to factor condition in, just location.

And also we can save on decorating and wallpaper, because Tori is an artist.

-Shall we go to Kings Heath?

-Let's.

'Kings Heath used to be part of the royal manor of Kings Norton, just up the road.

'As the name suggests, it was heath land made up of woods and common land.'

'But the inexorable march of time and the demand for housing saw Kings Heath become a suburb of Birmingham.

'The opening of the train station in 1840 was the final catalyst for its urbanisation.'

'But, being just a paltry 3.9 miles by car smack-bang into the centre of Birmingham,

'its location in the modern world is obvious.'

'And its abundance of cafes, restaurants and independent shops

'is testament to the ongoing gentrification of the area.'

'So, has that gentrification had any effect on house prices?'

'Good question, Ed. The average house price in the area, as of March 2010,

'is just over £151,000, compared to the national average of around 230 grand.'

'So, that's Kings Heath covered.

'But, I hear you cry, what about their £175,000 budget?

'What on earth can you get for that sort of dosh in the rest of this here United Kingdom?'

'Well, if you're on the hunt in the North East, then this three-bed detached is a right result.

'Separate reception rooms, conservatory, a garage

'and landscaped gardens all for 175 grand.'

'I've always fancied Great Yarmouth, and this looks like a beauty.

'A new build with three beds and all the other bits you'd expect, bathroom, kitchen and bedrooms.

'Just a few streets from the beach. The price, £174,950.'

'Keeping with the seaside theme, this rather swish apartment on the edge of Portsmouth Harbour

'is a tidy option indeed. Set in the fashionable admiralty quarter of the city,

'this two-bed is on the market for 175K.'

Did you know that the ever popular BBC horticultural series Gardeners' World

was filmed here in Kings Heath Park from 1998 to 2002?

It's now in its 43rd series and they're filming it just down the road in Edgbaston.

That is fantastic. Did you also know that this has been a TV garden since 1972?

-I didn't know that.

-Let me tell you more.

Between 1972 and 1995, ITV produced their very own gardening programme called Gardening Today.

Talking of gardening, Birmingham has the largest provision of allotments

out of any local authority in the United Kingdom.

There are 115 sites, comprising around 7,000 plots.

Incredible. Now, Kings Heath, where we're focusing our house hunt today,

has itself 432 plots waiting to go.

However, there is already a waiting list of 195 people trying to get their green fingers all over them.

-Man alive. It's a popular business, this grow-your-own stuff.

-It is.

-Can I interest you in a squash?

-BOOT-iful!

We thought we'd return to the former BBC Gardeners' World garden for our perusal of the property particulars

-for the Kings Heath area. How have you gone?

-Very well.

We've learnt a plethora of garden-based facts, but it is all about the houses.

Property one. I'm happy with it.

It has got the kind of water feature money can buy but is not usually found.

The outside is ideal. I think Tori will love that.

Internally, it's got more rooms than they were hoping for and doesn't have a downstairs bathroom.

-The only concern...

-Go on.

-..location.

Location is not my concern. The concern in mine is the garden.

It's lovely. It's near everything. Every reason they want to live in Kings Heath is on the doorstep.

It's beautiful, it's gorgeous. Can they get round the garden?

-OK, the wildcard.

-I'll give you a quick look.

There it is. Now, we think it's the best looking of the three properties.

-Is it going to be the perfect house for them? Who knows?

-Where should we start the journey?

-Property one.

'Hold the phones, put your paper down, don't touch that dial.

'It's my choice! And it is a real gem.

'Everything they've asked for and a few added extras.

'In fact, it's a safe bet that this one is in the bag.'

'A safe bet? Being a bit presumptuous, aren't we?'

'Wait and see, my friend, wait and see.'

OK, Russell and Tori, property one today is my choice.

I just want to clear up the location. We're on the very edge of Kings Heath.

Is this OK for you as far as location is concerned?

It's a bit further out than we've looked before and we'd imagined,

-but we have an open mind.

-But in the areas you've looked, you've not found what you're after,

so maybe taking that little step outside of your initial search radius

might present you with something like this, which is a three-bedroom semi-detached house

with a garage and a driveway. What do you think? First impressions?

It's more of a house than we've looked at before.

-Yeah.

-You're laughing, Tori. Why?

-It's like a nervous laugh.

-It's OK, if you're feeling any issues, say.

It's OK, we're friendly. Are there concerns or are you laughing with joy?

It's not got as much character as I would've liked.

Well, you say that, but when you get inside,

there are many character features that I think will really impress you.

The thing that will blow your minds is what is out back.

-The garden?

-Yeah. But before you get outside,

there's a wonderful house to explore. So have a look around.

-Thank you.

-Enjoy.

-Take care.

-OK, well sold. They wanted Kings Heath, you didn't really give them Kings Heath.

-Close enough!

-But I'm sold.

-Thanks.

-DOOR CREAKS

-Ooh!

First job on the list for your man is oiling that.

-This is nice.

-Yeah, it does feel quite a big space.

-Yeah.

What's this?

I'm not sure.

I'll be honest, it's quite a jarring thing when you see what you think is a fireplace

-and then you look closely and it is...

-A safe.

-A safe.

And if you want to look, pan over here,

this is where the fireplace has gone to. It's formed part of the barbecue outside.

-Ooh, look at that.

-Wow.

-That's really nice.

Yeah, this is a lot nicer than I thought, with that feature. I wasn't expecting that.

-That's a real burner.

-This is quite a nice communal place, isn't it?

That kitchen's gorgeous. Look at this.

I'm livid that she's not spotted the taps in the sink. They are phenomenal!

-I had a go with them.

-It's a sculpture in itself.

-The garden's beautiful, as well.

-Wow.

-I didn't expect that.

-Yeah, it's really nice.

It's a quintessential English view, that. Although, the Dutch might have something to say about that.

Hopefully this won't be sold to Holland.

-Nice bathroom. And shower.

-A shower and a bath.

-That's quite good.

-Do you think this is the main bedroom?

-Well, it's got the better view, hasn't it? So I suppose.

-It's nice.

-The view over the garden.

-Oh, wow, look at that.

Has she gone up a note there, do we think? Maybe she's liking it a little bit more?

-It's like she's trying to convince herself.

-Russell hasn't said much. Keeps his cards close to his chest.

-Oh, that's a good space, isn't it?

-Yeah, exactly what you need.

-Yeah. It's like another double room.

-Yeah, you can use it as a second bedroom, a computer room.

-Yeah.

Final room. Oh, I don't think we'll need one of those quite yet.

-SHE LAUGHS

-But, yeah, it's more storage.

-And I suppose you could get...

-You could just get your computer in here.

-Shall we have a look what's at the bottom of the garden?

-Sounds good.

Now, outside, Tori, you were giggling nervously.

Having wandered through, A, what I think is a brilliant house, very spacious,

and B, out into this fantastic rear garden, what do you think?

-I like the downstairs. The kitchen and the fireplace.

-As opposed to the upstairs?

-Yeah.

-What's wrong with upstairs? Two double bedrooms, potential study.

-Upstairs bathroom, which is what you were after.

-No, it's nice. The downstairs has just got more...

But you've got all the rooms you were after, plus a bit extra.

-Yeah.

-Garage.

-Yeah.

And as Ed pointed out at the front,

this garden is the ideal place for an artist, a garden lover, someone that owns a dog called Moomin.

-A canal enthusiast.

-Indeed.

-I mean, we certainly weren't expecting this.

-It is pretty impressive.

-OK. Guessing the price time. We have £175,000 to spend.

-We're a little bit further out than where you have been looking.

-Just a little bit.

But you're getting a little bit bigger house. So who would like to go first?

-I think it's possibly about 162.

-£162,000.

It's intriguing. If it is that, I will kiss you.

What are you saying, Tori?

-Erm...159.

-159. That's a much more sensible guess in terms of estate agent pricing.

You're the closest, but you're still a little bit off.

It's on the market for 169,950.

-OK.

-Even so, for a three-bedroom semi-detached, big garden, garage.

-That's opened my mind a bit more.

-Definitely.

-That is still at the back of my mind.

-Do you want to see if Ed's done any better?

-Yes.

-We could go on the boat, but we haven't got a boat, so shall we walk?

-Yes.

'My name is Ed Hall, king of Kings.

'Look on my choice of property, ye mighty, and despair.

'Property two is plainly going to wipe the floor with your choice.'

-'King of Kings? Really?'

-'Yeah, it's a poem, just go with it.'

'OK, Ed, oh mighty one.'

'Anyway, great location, lovely house. Have a gander at my choice.'

Tori and Russell, Russell and Tori, we are in Kings Heath.

If there was ever any debate as to whether we were in Kings Heath or not,

the last property was kind of in Kings Heath, we're in Kings Heath here, yeah?

-Is this the Kings Heath that you know?

-Yes.

-The Kings Heath that you know and love?

-Yes.

On there, you've got an organic cafe there that sells all veggie business and whatnot,

down there is a bakery that even I've been to, a showbiz celebrity like myself.

Here is your property. End terrace.

What do you think about it, Tori?

-It's nice.

-Any more than nice?

You're not giggling nervously. Is that a positive or a negative?

-No, I like it.

-Russell.

-Yeah, I like the features and the location's excellent.

So, in here, you've got to compromise on space.

-Yep.

-But it'll be interesting, once you've gone round it, having looked at his one, and see what you think.

-Are you prepared to do that?

-Yes.

-Are you excited and ready?

-Yes.

-Are you revved and raring?

-Yes.

-Good. Three, two, one, do it.

-What do you think?

-Ooh, look at the fireplace.

-Oh, yeah.

-Traditional.

-Traditional fireplace. That's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-I suppose you do come straight in off the road.

-Yeah, but that's kind of the area, isn't it?

-What do you think of that front room?

-I love it.

The house is what it is. It's lovely. It needs a bit of work.

-As most properties do these days.

-This does.

-The kitchen.

-That's nice. I like the sink.

-I wonder if this comes with the property.

-Yeah. Although, is that the garden?

-It's not the biggest garden.

-It's tiny.

Slightly disappointed they don't like the back garden. But...

-Unsurprisingly.

-They didn't look at the garden very much in your one.

First bedroom.

-Yeah, OK.

-Bright. Green.

In the bedroom department, I have slightly let them down.

That's all I've got. You had three, I've got two.

-Ooh.

-I don't like the look of it, but it's got potential, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

-I mean, it's got a...

-Are they painted on?

-I'm not entirely sure what they've done to it.

-Hm.

Well, I would like to be pointing out that sometimes

those colour schemes can work

when thrust together with silk and a knot.

But when painted across porcelain, it doesn't work.

-Works here.

-Brilliantly.

-Not upstairs.

-I suppose this is another double room.

-I would say it was a single.

-You'd probably get a double bed in here.

-Yeah. It's just got no...

-Maybe if you had...

-Being empty, I think we've got to imagine our stuff in it,

changing the look of the place. I think it's got potential.

Russell, I felt in the house you were on your best behaviour, very positive about the DIY needed.

And I think, Tori, we're in the Achilles heel of the property.

-Not big enough.

-No.

You were spoilt with the garden at property one. But what about this house?

I think it's got quite a lot of potential. It's in a condition that we could change.

But when you're buying a house, and you're getting one together,

-you've got to get it right for everyone.

-Yeah.

Let's play guess the price, see if that has any influence.

I know the answer, and it might not do.

Rusty, you steamed into the lead at property one.

So, Tori, do you want to go first? 175 grand is the budget. What do you think?

-165.

-OK.

I think, given the location, 169.

Russell, you have won this one, as well. You have ruined guess the price for the people at home,

because now Tori can't win. But, and here is the news, this is on for 174,950.

Now, the estate agent...

Look at your face.

The estate agent did your face when they suggested, the owners, they wanted to put it on for that price.

They're aware that this is probably a lot more than it should be.

But I'm not sure... I think it might help you out with a decision,

-but maybe not you, Tori, if it was on for less money.

-No, it's not right.

-But the wildcard is next.

-We can pull it out of the bag.

-Are you excited?

-Yes.

-Are you pumped?

-SHE LAUGHS

-Pumped is too much. Let's go to the wildcard.

'Wildcard time, folks, and I think this place may test Tori's artistic abilities to the limit.'

'But it still meets their criteria and I can see them being very happy here.'

-'More than happy, Ed. I would wage they would be infratastic!

-'Did you make that up?'

-'Er, yeah.'

-'I can only apologise.'

OK, Tori, Russell, here we are at your wildcard today.

We're hoping it will be a Goldilocks moment. Property one, lovely garden, but location wasn't right.

Property two, location was much better but the garden was too small. So hopefully, fingers crossed,

-this one is going to tick all those boxes.

-OK, first impressions. Tori?

-I really like it.

-You do? Explain.

Well, it seems like it's in a nice street, by the look of it,

and it's pretty close to Kings Heath still,

and I like the fact that it's three storeys.

So you've got the attic, which you don't therefore, in theory, need to board out.

-Hopefully not, no.

-Unless you want to put your newly-acquired skills to use.

-I wouldn't say you wouldn't have to do anything up there.

-There's maybe one or two jobs.

This should have all the character you're looking for. I think it was built in 1889,

just based on my knowledge and experience of the housing industry.

But it's a property that, with only one Achilles heel, we think should just about float your boat.

I would say it's an Achilles heel that is solvable.

I think you could potentially buy this one.

-Are you prepared to see your new future?

-Yes.

-And it's a future that requires paint brushes.

-Yes, it is.

-Three, two, one, go.

-Oh, OK.

-There's your fireplace.

-Yep.

Needs a bit of work doing to it, doesn't it?

-It's a nice size room, though.

-Yeah, and it has got these features that you could do something with.

-There you go, the warmest reception out of all three properties.

-No, mine was very warm up to a point

-and then it went downhill.

-Mine was giggles. Could be warmth.

So, at the moment, neck and neck.

-Ah. OK.

-Another living space.

-It's a big room, but...

-Well, yeah.

-Fair size room.

-Yeah. Again, it just needs stripping down and modernising.

Kitchen. Oh, this is a bit more modern. It's like coming forward in time.

It's all right. I suppose it's a little bit of a squeeze, but...

-And the downstairs bathroom.

-That's not what we were after, was it?

They've spotted the Achilles heel, the one thing that could be our downfall. Downstairs bathroom.

Oh, this is big.

Not too sure about the tiles on the ceiling.

-I think they'd need to be...

-It's soundproofing.

-Yeah.

-This must be the master bedroom.

-No, I think this is slightly smaller.

-Do you?

Yeah, a slightly smaller room.

-I suppose it's got the bed in.

-Yeah.

-This is interesting.

-Mad. What's going on?

Bit of a climb up to the third floor, to that attic room.

Very much like Joe McElderry's Climb to the top of the charts with X Factor.

Oh, wow. Really good space.

-Yeah. You could have another bed in here.

-Yeah, you could have bed, computer...

-As well as an office and things like that.

-Yeah. Interesting.

Russell, Tori, have we cracked it with the wildcard? Is this the one?

-SHE LAUGHS

-We do like it.

-So, the downstairs bathroom, here is the problem, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Have you thought about that?

-Yeah.

-It's something we wanted to try and avoid, really.

-But it could be moved upstairs.

-It can be.

As we said, a lot of the Victorian terraces that you'll see with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs

have sacrificed a bedroom. They would've been a three-bedroom house in a former life.

-And you get that loft room.

-Yeah, which is a really good space.

-Garden. Nice? Good enough size?

-Yeah.

-Moomin friendly?

-Yes, definitely.

-Now, in terms of guess the price, you've already ruined this for us, Russell,

-by winning it at the last property.

-You can't help being good.

-You could go for the hat trick.

Maximum budget is £175,000. Tori, as someone who could possibly lose three times in a row,

-would you like to go first or second?

-Second.

-OK. Russell?

-I'm going to go for 149.

-149?

You're going for optimistic, it needs a lot of work, right underneath the budget.

-Er, 155.

-155!

-Yeah.

-You're back in it.

-Yeah!

-Well, you've already lost, but...

-You've lost but with dignity.

-There's a bit of pride.

You're just a little bit away. It's on for 159,950.

So still considerably beneath your budget and a good chunk of money that would help you do the jobs required.

Right, OK, there's the property. You have seen all three now.

-You've got to make the biggest decision of your adult lives. Are you prepared?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Good luck. We'll see you later. Go. Go on.

Well, there you go. Three houses.

All lovely, all different. All with positives, some with negatives,

some with more negatives than others, but all lovely.

Here's a quick reminder for you at home.

'So, will property one rule the roost and persuade Russell and Tori

'that the future lies in your own little bit of canal at the bottom of the garden? Oh, yes.

'Just £169,950.'

'Or will the lure of the high street literally on your doorstep see them opt for my choice,

'property two, currently on the market for £174,950.'

'Finally, will the wildcard and all its Victorian charms steal the other two's thunder and bag the prize?

'Sitting pretty in the estate agents' window at £159,950.'

'What's it to be then, Jonny?'

'I hate to say it, Ed, but, er, it looks suspiciously like my choice!'

'Very left field, but I suspect Moomin is going to have some fun in that back garden.

'Ahh, look at the little doggy-woggy! Hang on. Oi! Stop licking the camera!'

'Do you know, sometimes things just go too well in the test drive.

'Maybe it would be more fun if it was, like, I don't know, You've Been Framed.'

-There's a cat there.

-BEEP

-CAT MEOWS

-'Oh, no, it's a cat! The dog's off!'

-Moomin!

-'Man alive, he can move!'

Where's he gone? He's just jumped...

'The crazy dog jumped clean over that wall.

'The things they'll do for some cat action.'

-You stupid dog.

-'I think Moomin is fine. Panic over.'

'You could make serious money on some other channels with that.'

'Rather more sedate activity now after all that excitement.'

'Checking out the local area.'

-'I bet Russell heads up to the station. He seems a very thorough young man.'

-'OK, bet is on.'

'While Tori indulges us with her artwork.'

'Bingo! Station it is!'

'So, is that train journey an option?'

'Or, indeed, is the house an option? Let's find out.'

Now, there are lesser property shows out there that claim that it's all about location, location, location,

but we've proved that it's not, it's about the garden!

-Or is it?

-Have we proved that? What on earth has led you to this conclusion?

-Cos there were many thoughts at every house.

-We just thought it was the space we wanted to try out

-and the beauty of being on the canal side.

-It's perfect, really.

It's really gorgeous here.

Beautiful garden. Beautiful view.

Moomin. I can't speak Dr Doolittle-ese,

but does Moomin wag in a positive way? Does he giggle in a happy dog style? Is he over the moon?

Well, he seems to like the garden.

-Mm-hm. Has he cocked his leg over any particular plants?

-Yes, and he's taken a dive over the wall.

-He really experienced it, then.

-Yeah, lots for him to explore.

-On a day like today, it almost makes its mind up itself, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

Well, that's the question. Does it make its mind up?

Are you ready? Here it comes. Jonny, you should deliver it cos this is your gamble here.

To buy or not to buy?

-Not to buy.

-D'oh!

-Yeah!

So close! And not to buy presumably based on location.

-Yeah.

-THEY LAUGH

It's the full circle! But what have we learnt from the episode today?

We've learnt that you've got to go a bit further away to get the size you're after

and the nearer you are, you don't get the garden. So how can we end this?

I think there must be something in between.

Yeah. We'll keep looking and compromise. There are going to be compromises,

but I think the key thing is somewhere a little bit closer with a decent size garden.

I think we should quit whilst we're still ahead. We do have positives here.

We've nearly found you the house of your dreams.

Nearly. Shall we all wave goodbye?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd