Market Rasen To Buy or Not to Buy

-Hello and good morning!

-Welcome to the To Buy Or Not To Buy championship stakes classic.

Reserved for the best runners.

And the To Buy Or Not To Buy steeplechase is the gold cup of property courses.

Today we're in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire.

They're under starter's orders, and...

they're off!

Up next, we have three thoroughbred properties for you.

They're saddled up and ready for the off.

But will this race be won by the two early favourites, or the rank outsider?

Time to go trackside.

Great effect!

I don't know what you're talking about, Rani.

Today, we're looking for a love nest for filly, Jilly, and steady stallion, Mark.

They've been an item for three years, but are stabled in separate stalls in town.

But now they want to bolt and buy something together in the countryside,

now Jilly's got a new job in a different location.

These two have active hands and active minds.

-And they're fond of a word game or two.

-OK, let's have a word.

So, I'm right in thinking you both have properties of your own?

-We do.

-Yeah.

-We were both widowed in 2005.

We lived in the same town, but didn't actually know each other,

until my friend recommended a painter and decorator.

So I'm right in thinking, you've both got properties of your own -

so why not choose one of those and move into that?

-We tried...

-We had a go.

-I moved in with you, and really, it was...

It's a nice house, but it wasn't MY house,

and Mark felt the same about my house. It was my house and not his.

I've got an aversion to sleeping in a tart's boudoir anyway!

-Hang on! Hang on! Hang on!

-Details!

What does that mean?! What's he saying about you?!

When he was doing the painting and decorating, I would say,

"I want such and such a colour here, such and such a colour there,"

and I decided on... red for the bedroom.

The electrician had been and put a chandelier up, looked lovely.

Red wall, gold bedding. What more could you want?

OK, so when he said it looks like a tart's boudoir,

what was your response?

-"Well, don't worry about it, because you're never going to be sleeping in it!"

-And now it's, "Eat my words."

-Yes.

-It's not called a tart's boudoir any more.

When you say rural and quieter, you know, how quiet?

You want to be close to a village, within the community,

a little bit isolated?

No, not isolated. Sort of on the edge of a village would be perfect.

Walking distance into the village.

-Yeah.

-If you need to pop to the shop or the Post Office,

and pop down to the village pub.

So, what are we looking for then?

-A good sized garden.

-I'm really into organic permaculture gardening.

It's a traditional way of gardening - a whole life thing,

not just growing a few spuds.

Lots of veggies, soft fruits...

-Yep, a mini orchard.

-Yeah, fruit trees.

-Yep.

-While Mark's out doing permaculture in the garden,

what are you doing?

Making cups of tea. I want a nice sized dine-in kitchen.

So when the family comes round,

instead of me being in my little kitchen

and everybody scattered through rooms in the house, we can all be together.

So, will your family be moving in with you, then, Jilly?

No. Visiting an awful lot.

-They tend to come for weekends and stay two weeks.

-OK!

I'm guessing at least one spare bedroom?

-Possibly two.

-Yes.

-OK, so three bedrooms in all.

-Yep.

What about...style of property?

All I can say is definitely not new build.

-I just...

-No, older with a bit of character.

Proper features - fireplaces.

-Maybe even a log burner. That would be fantastic.

-Yes.

Does that mean you're willing to do work, or only cosmetic things?

You know, refurbishment I'm OK at. No problem with that.

Well you're holding hands under the table, so here's the question.

How much do you have to spend on this perfect property?

-£175,000 is about the top we could go.

-That's about our limit.

-Yep. Completely?

-Yep.

-We can't push you any further?

-Nope.

-We've got enough, haven't we, Rani?

-We have.

-Wish us luck.

-See you later.

-Bye!

Right, Rani, what we need is a big space outside

for Mark to grow his vegetables.

We also need space indoors because Jilly wants her family to stay.

And this is their first home together, so the pressure is on!

Cohabitation counsellor, that's what we need.

Ooh! I think I know just the man.

Hmm, well I should interrogate... I mean, interview an estate agent.

Market Rasen sits on the River Rase in the heart of north Lincolnshire.

To the north, the fish capital of the east coast, Grimsby.

To the south, the cathedral city of Lincoln.

Market Rasen is renowned for its racecourse, but it's also a pretty market town with 3,000 residents.

Charles Dickens described it as the sleepiest town in Britain,

but it got a wake-up call in 2008,

when it was the epicentre of the biggest earthquake the UK had seen for 24 years,

measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale.

Luckily the property market here seems pretty stable, but if you're the type who fancies a flutter,

let's see what's on offer near the nation's favourite race tracks.

This Grade II listed cottage in Aintree village

is packed with fantastic features like this inglenook fireplace,

as well as having a secluded garden to set up your own steeplechase!

Two bedrooms and a double garage...

Or...if you fancy a punt at Epsom, this detached bungalow comes with its own paddock and stables,

three bedrooms, two bathrooms, plus 1.5 acres of grounds...

And finally, the stakes are high at this modern mansion in Cheltenham

within walking distance of the racecourse.

Five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an amazing view...

Hi, Andrew, thanks for seeing me.

As our green-fingered couple are looking to move in together,

but haven't actually cohabited as yet, we thought what they needed

was some expert advice on the delicate art of dwelling together.

£175,000 to spend.

Is that a lot of money in this area?

Jilly and Mark will be sharing wardrobes, cupboards and undie drawers,

so they'll have to plan storage space.

-They want space indoors, too.

-Fine.

Our couple will be in trouble if one half feels like they don't have "mushroom".

With a budget of £175,000,

they could probably pick up a property for 130, 140, and still within their budget,

-do the work they require...

-Right.

-..get the house they want.

Shockingly, one in five couples surveyed

said they'd spend a whole day not speaking to each other after seeing red, so my advice...

give in graciously and avoid that sulky silence.

That way, you'll ensure you keep the "peas".

Well, Rani, I don't know how you got on, but I now know everything

about how to keep a relationship harmonious.

-Oh, right - by getting on with it, is that?

-Nag, nag, nag!

Anyway, Property 1 today. What can I tell you about my choice?

Well, it is a beautiful, cutesy cottage style property.

It needs a little bit of work for our painter and decorator,

but the garden - a lovely, secluded garden. I think they'll love it.

That's Property 1. I think it's a winner. Beat that.

I have also given them a fantastic garden.

It's already got fruit trees, and it's also got lots of outhouses,

so Mark can tinker away, he can keep chickens, he can plan everything...

Now the wildcard today.

When you initially see the wildcard, you may think we've lost the plot.

But we haven't, because it is actually a great plot.

Fabulous - loads of room for development, here.

And the front of it is beautiful -

there's a little brook and little ducks, it's very idyllic.

-Perfect for them to start their life together!

-That's the wildcard.

Which one should we start with? Actually who cares what you think? Let's start with mine.

Mark and Jilly wanted to get out of town, and my choice, Property 1,

is in the picture-perfect village of Reepham,

with its handy shop and popular pub. It fits the bill a treat.

Enough about the village, Simon. Tell me about the house.

The house is a cute cottage which Mark and Jilly could easily make their own.

The garden will put a grin on Mark's face.

OK, Jilly and Mark, I'm going to start things off today.

Property 1 is my choice. A little bit about where we are.

-It's called Reepham. It has a local pub, it has a local shop.

-Excellent.

It is surrounded by fields, but we are only 2.5 miles from the centre of Lincoln.

I think this combines rural living with city amenities.

-Yep.

-Yep.

-Sounds all right?

-Sounds great.

Let's focus on this building.

It's a very old cottage that's been extended over the years. First impressions, please.

-Interesting.

-Yep, quirky.

-Got some character.

The other thing I would say as well...

This place, it does need - how can I put it? - a bit of imagination

to see how you could make the space work better for you.

Get in there and enjoy it.

Put those imaginations to the test.

-Oh.

-Small-ish.

There's a bit more through here, though.

-Needs a bit of TLC.

-Yeah.

Nice little dining space.

Oh, this is nice, Jill.

-Oh! Beams.

-Yes.

Now, Simon, are these original beams?

No. They are faux.

Ooh, fireplace.

-Ah. Real fireplace.

-Nice and cosy, isn't it?

-It is.

-Oh, this is nice, Mark.

-Ah, conservatory.

-It's quite bright, isn't it?

-It's a real sun-trap.

-I like this.

-Ooh.

-Ah.

-Aha.

-That would explain the front door.

-Now I'm with it.

-I've got the layout now.

-Coats, lots of space.

The natural thing to use this space for, if you've got a computer, a little tiny desk in there...

-Just a little office, worky space.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-Maybe.

-Or...radically, you could use it as a front door!

Bathroom! That's nice.

-Not bad size, either.

-A good size, yeah.

-Strange they've got the basin there, but...

-It's usable, isn't it?

My fear was they wouldn't be able to see this place working and re-use the space,

but I'm hearing "usable" in my ear.

Stairs are a bit tight, aren't they? Mind you, it is a cottage.

-What do you expect?! You don't get a big, grand staircase in a cottage.

-You can always go up sideways!

Bedroom.

-Oh.

-Oh, that's strange. Level change.

-Yeah.

Could you...lift the floor?

-You could do. It's a bit of a trip hazard, isn't it?

-It is.

You could raise the floor, but there's an alternative, is there not?

To use it as an in-built step to work out,

so you don't have to go to the gym.

-Oh! Not a bad sized room, really.

-Have one bed,

-some built-in wardrobes across this end...

-That would be good, yeah.

What else do you need?

Is there room for a chandelier?

You'd be banging your head on the...

-Yeah.

-..lamp shade, wouldn't you?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, not bad at all.

-Bit of decoration...

-Decoration's easy.

-Well of course decoration's no problem to them.

-Absolutely.

-Not with your own painter and decorator!

-Exactly.

Well...

Ooh! Aha!

-Garden!

-Ooh, nice garden.

What, lawn? Veg plot?

Veg plot, orchard, pond...

..patio area.

Interesting.

-Ooh!

-That belongs to the property, doesn't it?

-Maybe.

And if you carry on, there's another shared access with a greenhouse beyond!

Look how long it is looking that way.

You wouldn't see me. I'd be lost down here.

Oh, dear. That would be terrible.

-Well, that was a nice surprise, wasn't it?

-Really nice.

-Very nice.

It's just such a gorgeous, quiet spot. It's very private.

-I personally think this is a

-"24-carrot"

-garden.

Maybe 100 potatoes, 200 sprouts...

LAUGHTER

But beautiful garden aside, the property itself...

Not bad, not bad.

Bedrooms were a little bit small - the second bedroom particularly.

If you look along the row, people have extended out on the first floor with an extra gable,

which could give you a bigger second bedroom, or a bathroom upstairs,

which means you can open out the ground floor,

so there are options there.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, definitely.

With a bit of time and money, you could do something with it.

Speaking of money, Simon...

Right, yes.

Shall we play guess the price?

-Yes.

-OK, maximum budget, £175,000.

Ladies first. LAUGHTER

-Very gallant of you(!)

-Cowardly!

-140.

-140,000?

-Yep.

-Right.

-I think a little bit more.

I think about 145.

OK.

I've got two pieces of good news...

for Jilly.

Thank you.

-You win.

-Oh, I win!

And it's actually on the market for £5,000 less than your guess.

£135,000.

-Impressive.

-And you've still got this.

-That surprises me.

-It has me.

But you don't have to make decisions yet. You still have my property to see!

-Well...

-What do you mean, "Well"?

Follow me! Come on, let's go to Property 2.

I'm taking Mark and Jilly a little bit further away for Property 2,

into the heavenly haven of Horsington.

-How do they feel about bungalows, Rani?

-Don't be fooled, Simon.

This is no common or garden bungalow.

Speaking of gardens... take a look at that.

Now, I've brought you a little bit further afield from Market Rasen.

We're in a little village called Horsington.

-Do you know this area?

-BOTH: Vaguely.

-The upshot. There is a local pub.

-Good.

LAUGHTER

Not just yet, Simon.

-There is also a local shop.

-Excellent.

-BIRDS TWEET

-As you can hear, it's very secluded. Lots of birds twittering away.

-Right, OK.

-It's really beautiful. Now this is the property. So, first impressions.

-It's nice.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah, nice. We like it.

Is that really positive, because the last one was like character...

No, we like that. Yes.

OK, you can see some windows there,

but I have to admit, this place is a bungalow.

-Yeah.

-And you're happy?

-That isn't a problem?

-No.

-Nope. We're not bothered by that at all.

That sounds good.

Get in there and have a look!

-Ooh!

-Ooh, this is nice.

-I quite like this, Mark.

-Do you? Nice units.

-I like the cupboards.

Tiling's nice, too.

It's quite big.

There you go. This is what they wanted - a little kitchen/diner.

They wanted a LARGE kitchen/diner!

Large, small, medium. A kitchen/diner is...

Even if you're standing there eating over the hob,

I'll class it as a kitchen/diner.

-Ooh!

-This is quaint.

That's nice.

I like the black and white.

-With the curtains.

-Wood burner.

-Oh!

Brilliant.

Oh!

They've set it up as a little work room.

You could put your weights in here.

-Yeah.

-When you want to get fit again.

-Yeah, like never!

See, a little hobby room!

Ah, you see - there you go. That was my surprise, wasn't it?

-Oh, there's a ladder.

-Oh, let's have an investigation.

Ooh!

Serious space, Jill.

Couple of bedrooms?

Yep - good head height. Two lots of windows. Very light.

-You could do something with that, then, make it a bit bigger.

-Yep.

It is a bungalow. However, the loft area has all been boarded out,

so potentially, it is nearly ready to go.

That's nice. That's a good sized bedroom. A nice red wall...

-MARK LAUGHS You and your red wall!

-I like red walls.

Yes...

Bathroom.

That's nice.

-Full-size bath. Nice bit of space.

-Pine cladding.

-Second bedroom.

-Bedroom two.

-Not a bad size, and...

-Built-in wardrobes.

Put a Jack and Jill door in and have it as an en-suite.

Hey. There's an idea.

She's making more work for him!

Don't you worry, Mark will just bang a hole in that wall!

-No problem.

-"What else can I get Mark to do? There we go..."

-Welcome to your lovely garden.

-It's a stunning garden.

-It really is, isn't it?

-It's gorgeous.

You could do so much with it.

Now, Mark...

really good outhouse here.

No!

-Good potential for a space...

-It's got potential, yeah.

Practise my straw-bale building. That's what I'll do.

That is an idea.

And what about the little surprise in there?

-Were you expecting a loft ladder?

-I wasn't expecting a ladder. I thought that was really good.

Listen. Plenty of potential here, but you know where we're at now.

-Yes, your budget - £175,000 maximum.

-Mmm!

Who is going to go first this time? I think it's your turn, Mark. It's only right.

I think it's about 165,500.

165,500. All right.

-Jilly?

-170.

-170?

-Yep.

Congratulations, Mark. You are the closest this time,

but you are both really way off.

-This property is on the market at 149,950.

-BOTH: You're joking!

-Do I look like I'm joking?

-LAUGHTER

-Very pleasantly surprised.

-I thought it would be top end, I really did.

-I feel very pleased!

And so you should! You might be even more surprised by the wildcard.

-Oh, yes. And it's that way. After you, folks.

-Come on, let's go.

I think I can safely say that today's wildcard will be more of an outsider than a favourite.

This place in the vibrant village that is Nettleham,

outside of Lincoln, does have the picture-postcard country setting they were after.

-But...will the interior live up to their expectations?

-Hmm.

Mark and Jilly, follow us to the wildcard.

Now how about this for an approach to a house?

-Look, little fishes!

-There are! Never mind the fish, though.

-Ducks, as well.

-Excellent!

-It is gorgeous, isn't it?

-Lovely.

-Do you know Nettleham?

-A little bit.

-Yep.

-It's quite a nice village - got lots going on.

-It has. You've got your pharmacy, Post Office...

-Even better.

Now then...the property.

If you just take a look down this alley here... There you go.

That's the property, there. Rani, explain why it's a wildcard.

Yeah, thanks, Simon.

Now, this place needs a little bit more. It really does need vision for this place.

We think it's something that you could put your own stamp on, and start your life together.

We don't always show people properties that would be not only a home, but an investment.

And I truly believe that this could be one of those.

-All right?

-OK.

Enough talk, take yourself off down the alley. The wildcard is that way.

And it really is wild!

Thank you.

Oh! That's different.

Very.

-How's your kitchen fitting skills?

-Not bad, actually.

Tell you what, though. Not a bad size.

-Right.

-I think he's being polite, don't you?

But you know what, Mark's being positive.

-There's something to work with here.

-There is.

Oh!

-But again, that's a nice sized room. it would make a lovely dining room.

-It would.

Nice view down the garden, though. Bit of tidying up...

-A set of doors...

-Yeah, good idea.

-..straight out, and a little seated area.

-And then your garden.

-I like that idea. That is a good idea.

And a bathroom.

Mmm...

That wants LOTS of TLC.

They could truly make this THEIR own little pad, their own style, their own taste,

both of them working together. This could be their own little personal heaven.

-Oh gosh. These are a bit steep.

-Aren't they just?

Ooh. This is a nice sized bedroom, Mark.

Nice view into the garden. I do like the view.

-Yeah. Nice and tucked away, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

-LAUGHTER

-There's fear in Jilly's voice. "I do like the view!"

-And again! Not a bad room.

-That's a good size, isn't it?

I'm getting the feeling with Jilly that she's thinking,

"The tart's boudoir, but it's a bedroom off a bedroom.

"When the family come to stay, do they want to be going through the boudoir to get to their room?"

-Hmm.

-Yeah.

-Not bad for a master bedroom size.

-Needs a bit of work though.

-Yeah.

-I don't think it's anything terminal, Jill.

-No, I don't. A bit of time and money.

-There you are, come with me!

-We're coming.

-I want to show you something.

Come on, come on. Ow!

Ow, pebbles! This is not getting any easier, but it's worth it.

Come and join me here.

-Now then, you didn't seem that sure about that place.

-No.

What's lacking?

-The garden.

-The garden?

-Yeah.

Look around. Everything you see -

all the way around, right back to that shed there -

-comes with that property.

-Seriously?

-Oh yes.

-That's a bit of...

-That's quite a bit of land.

-It is, isn't it?

-It just sits slightly off, doesn't it?

I think that this plot is almost big enough for that self-sufficiency that you're thinking of.

Oh, definitely. It's a permaculture dream, I tell you. A blank canvas.

So, how was that garden? A bit of a surprise?

It was, wasn't it? We just thought the little bit of garden,

and that other bit, that was something else.

Now, we did say this property was a wildcard. How wild was it for you?

-Wild.

-The wildest yet.

LAUGHTER

Anything you spent on that place, in this gorgeous location,

you would get back, no question about it.

So, are you ready to guess the price?

It's one-all at the moment,

so this is the deciding one.

OK, maximum budget of £175,000.

Who would like to go first?

I like your style, Jilly!

Right. Well, it's thrown me completely now.

Um... I'd say about...

149,500.

149,500.

151.

Ooh! Confidence.

No, not at all!

Yes, OK. Right...

You lose. Well done.

Oh, congratulations!

Well that's good for both of you, though...

Because this place is on the market for 137,500.

-Good grief.

-What do you think of that?

Yeah. Not bad at all, actually.

-Realistically...

-That's stung me.

-..with a bit of work...

TLC? You never know.

Right, we've now shown you three very different properties, I hope you'll agree.

You've now got to go and put your heads together

and decide which one could be your first home together.

-All right?

-Yep.

-Go on, off you go. We'll see you in a moment.

-Good luck!

Whilst they do that, here's a quick recap.

Will my Property 1 with the garden of Mark's dreams romp home today?

They'll have loads of spare cash to extend upstairs...

Mark's a decorator, not a builder, Simon, so I'd give you long odds.

My Property 2 in Horsington is just the ticket.

It's a bargain bungalow...

Hold your horses, Rani.

-What about the magic they could work on the wildcard?

-That's true.

Once they saw the garden, they opened their eyes to this neglected terrace.

But will the work put them off?

Hang on! That doesn't look like any of the properties we've shown them!

No, it's the village pub in Horsington.

They chose my property - number 2 - to test drive.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

Oh, the peaceful haven with the big shed!

I knew Mark couldn't wait to get up that ladder again.

He's obsessed with usable space.

HE KNOCKS ON THE FLOOR

And I knew Jilly couldn't wait to get her family over.

You realise they have the power to approve or veto her choice of residence?

-Do you think Nanny could live here?

-Yeah.

Brilliant, excellent.

I've got to say, Jilly and Mark,

I'm so impressed with your choice of Property 2.

My choice, that is!

I've got to admit, me and Simon thought the wildcard, you'd fallen in love with it.

-Yep.

-Tempted, weren't we?

-We were.

-Why is it that you went for this?

-The space.

Outdoor space. Needs a bit of work, but it doesn't need that much work.

That other one at Nettleham was nice, but it needed a lot of work.

-Yeah.

-That's why we opted for this one.

-Inside?

-A bit of reworking, and it could be fantastic.

Well, so pleased that you chose this one,

but we do have to ask a big question,

because you've spent a little bit of time here now.

Still holding hands, we see. Simon, would you like to do the honours?

OK!

-Oh! Oh, ask the question?

-Yes!

-To buy or not to buy?

-We've got a little bit of investigation to do,

and then I think it could well be a buy.

-Yep.

-Yeah?

-Yep.

-Brilliant!

-That is fantastic news!

We've had a fabulous day and it's been quite special,

because we're looking for your first home together. It's very romantic!

Now the only thing is, when you buy this property,

maybe Mark should choose the decor for the bedroom.

On that note, I'm going to leave you!

LAUGHTER

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