St Albans To Buy or Not to Buy

Good morning, passengers. This is your captain speaking.

You're aboard the 11:00am To Buy Or Not To Buy

bound for St Albans. Enjoy your flight.

-You really are getting into this.

-Rani, there should be no limits

as to how far we will travel to make people happy.

I know, but I think this is taking it a little bit too far.

Rani, I'm taking it 5,491 miles too far, to be precise, today.

OK, are we ready? Is everything in position?

Have we got the little dangly bits out there?

-The wings are all straight?

-All good, Captain.

-OK!

Three, two, one... GO!

Passengers, today we are embarking on a global property journey!

One that starts in the southern hemisphere, in Africa...

And ends up in the northern hemisphere of Hertfordshire -

-I hope.

-Are you saying I can't fly this thing?

-I'm saying I know you can't.

-You see those horses over there?

-They're so lovely.

-They are. Look, no hands!

THEY IMITATE PLANE-ENGINE NOISES

On board today is our house-hunter Debbie Stanford.

She's travelling halfway across the world from Africa

to get our help to find a new home.

And it looks like she's just touched down in good old Blighty.

Waiting to meet her is her sexy brother Steven,

who'll be helping with today's property hunt.

And it's some hunt indeed. For the last 13 years,

Debbie has been living with her husband David

and kids Nathaniel, Sammy and Emilia in the town of Gaborone, Botswana.

Yep, Botswana - a country full of big-game hunters and huge lions.

But Debbie is leaving all that behind her

so her kids can be schooled in Blighty,

and she can be closer to her mum and brother.

But we've got our work cut out,

as we've only a small window of opportunity

to find a house before she flies back out to Botswana

to collect the rest of her family.

Here she is. So whilst Debbie gets acclimatised,

here's what's coming up in today's show.

We find out about the slippery side of Botswana...

I had a snake in the cot with my son when he was nine months old,

a big spitting cobra. No joke.

Debbie finds out what she's been missing as she hits the property trail...

Oh, wow!

Oh, this is beautiful!

-You couldn't even put a bed in here, could you?

-This is a wardrobe.

Finally, it's time to meet them.

Welcome to the show. Firstly,

you are probably the most attractive brother and sister...

-THEY LAUGH

-I would love to meet your parents!

-Look at the genes you've got!

-They are good looking.

Both of you! And also, you've done us the courtesy

of coming miles

to get to this programme.

So you've watched To Buy Or Not To Buy from Botswana?

-Yes!

-How does it go down in a Botswanian environment, the show?

One of the first reactions is, "How much?!"

-THEY LAUGH

-It's quite easy to translate.

-It's ten to one, basically.

-Wow!

It costs that much. They'll say, "That's four million pula."

So that's always the first reaction.

So it's, "What? For that?!"

Telling everyone I was coming to the UK to be on To Buy Or Not To Buy

to buy a house, it was celebrity status, I think!

Wow!

-Absolutely!

-I'm really impressed!

-I am too. I am too.

What is your life like out there?

It's really different. It's hot. It's really hot for a lot of the year.

-It doesn't rain 360-something days of the year?

-No. It doesn't rain.

That took some getting used to.

It's, um... It's a desert,

so it only rains for a couple of months of the year if you're lucky.

There is the most... 19 percent of the country is national parks,

so we have got the best game, I believe.

What's the strangest animal you've had in your back garden?

-We had a kudu.

-We've had a kudu in our back garden.

Yes. I had a snake in the cot with my son when he was nine months old.

A big spitting cobra. No joke.

The snake stood up and looked at me.

And I thought, "Oh..." So I closed my eyes, as I wanted Nathan,

and I closed my eyes, walked forward,

and when I opened it, the snake had moved away,

because they will. But it was in the cot with Nathan.

For only a second, but it made a good story.

THEY LAUGH

-That is the best...

-It was wrapped round his torso...

It was only in the cot for a matter of seconds,

because it was trying to get away from me.

Let's describe your property in Botswana,

and see if we can replicate that in St Albans. Go.

OK! We do have a large swimming pool,

a large garden, about 2,500 square metres.

-Right. Of course.

-And, um...

-Can you do that?

..we have a four-bedroom house with a little cottage for our nanny,

-and, um, we have a large lounge, kitchen, dining room...

-Right!

-OK.

-Bar area...

-Pretty much like Roman Abramovich's house.

THEY LAUGH And what are you looking for here?

-I...

-Don't say "the same"! Don't say "the same"!

-It'll be different.

-Don't disappoint.

It will, but I know that.

What I've just described, if I put it on the market, sold it,

I would maybe make £150,000.

-It's 1.5 million.

-That sounds better, doesn't it?

-I'm a pula millionaire!

-THEY LAUGH

Who Wants To Be A Pula Millionaire would be the worst programme ever over there.

"Thanks a bunch!" So what do we want in St Albans?

OK. I need three rooms, three bedrooms.

I need a garden, because my children aren't used to being inside.

-You know sort of the area, Steven?

-A little bit.

What areas would be nice for your sister to be in?

When I say I know the area, I know there are cul-de-sacs,

-and that would be nice.

-OK. So you're a fat lot of use, then.

Because they're not very streetwise, are they? There's not many roads.

Well, there are lots of roads, but we live in quite a quiet area,

so if there was a main road, Debbie wouldn't trust them not to walk out and...

There's absolutely no way.

Education. Have you thought about children's education?

-Have you looked into schools round here?

-Absolutely no.

-We have been told it's a good area.

-That was one of the reasons, too.

-OK.

-Which is obviously very, very important.

-Yeah.

I would like to try and hope I wouldn't make an emotional decision.

It has to be an investment.

OK. We might as well find out the budget, I reckon.

-In pula or pounds?

-Shall we go in pula?

-And then we'll go pounds.

-In pula, it's 4.5 million pula.

-Whoa!

-Never done this much!

And so it's ten times pula, so it's 450,000.

450,000. It would have to be something really special to go over.

You work out how to get your dog and your furniture over.

We'll get out there and do it. Cross your fingers for us.

-We'll see you later.

-Take care.

-I'm very impressed, Ed.

-Why's that?

In Botswana, they watch To Buy Or Not To Buy,

and that has pulled Debbie all the way here so we can help her.

We are her main means of finding a property,

and she's only here for a very short time.

She has to buy one of the three properties we find today.

-I've never had that much pressure!

-She doesn't want to get emotional.

-She wants to be practical.

-Are you sure?

-I don't know!

-It's a big ask.

-I am going to talk to an estate agent.

-What are you going to do?

-Talk to the people of St Albans!

-See you in a bit.

Well, today's search brings us to the pretty city of St Albans

in the county of Hertfordshire.

It's situated 22 miles north of central London,

and remains an ever-popular area with commuters,

as it has great road and rail links into the capital.

The prestigious St Albans private school lies west of the abbey,

and it's the only school in the English-speaking world

to have educated a pope - Adrian IV, to be precise.

St Albans' history can be traced back to Roman times,

and evidence of this can be seen dotted around the city even today.

These Roman remains may be priceless,

but what could Debbie's budget of 450,000 get you elsewhere?

In Durham, where Debbie and Steven's mum lives,

she could get this stunning four-bed detached property built in 1840.

It's full of quintessential English features,

but also caters to modern taste with plenty of space inside and out.

It's on the market for £450,000.

And in Bristol, home to Debbie's in-laws,

you could get this four-bedroom detached 1930s house,

with three bedrooms, large lounge - and it might not be a swimming pool,

but there is a lovely pond.

On the market for 450 grand.

Or, if Debbie stayed in Botswana,

she could get this fabulous five-bedroom home

with three bathrooms, staff quarters, gym, swimming pool,

and a triple garage, all nestled in a plot of 40,000 square metres.

It begs the question why she wants to move! The price, 450 grand.

I think Debbie's made a good choice with St Albans, you know.

This place has been welcoming guests for over 2,000 years,

going back to when the Romans conquered the place,

making it the third-largest town of the time.

The schools here are good?

They're one of the biggest reasons people move here.

One of St Albans' claims to fame is that it has more pubs

per square mile than anywhere else in Britain.

But no time for that for me! I've got work to do.

450,000 - there's always a compromise somewhere

-when we're looking for properties on the programme.

-Yeah.

Of the list they want, where's the best place to compromise?

Either it's going to have to be the accommodation in the garden,

or it might be on a busier road. They have to compromise somewhere.

You won't get your dream house here for 450.

Welcome to the Wildcard. Only joking!

This is the very beautiful St Albans cathedral.

This used to be the principal abbey here in England,

and the first draft of the Magna Carta was actually drawn up here.

-The garden looks huge here.

-Some has been sold off for new development.

It used to have a 200ft garden, and it probably would have been 550,000.

-So they could've brought the elephants with them.

-Yes!

Unbelievable.

Rani and myself have been roaming around.

Rani, I believe you've informed everyone.

About St Albans? I have, but I've also learned stuff from them

about the area, about the schools. Let's do my one first, then.

-She said three bedrooms. Why stop at three...

-Go on.

-..when you can have four?

-Nice!

It's in Redbourn, just outside of St Albans.

It's a quiet cul-de-sac, so safe for the children.

Lovely garden. People always say, "I want an upstairs bathroom

-"and a downstairs loo." Why?

-It's practical.

-Why not have two bathrooms?

-Oh, one downstairs, one upstairs?

-Not quite. I've kind of put them both next to each other.

-Interesting.

Property 2, mine and the mysterious property-hunting team's one,

is a beauty. When you've come from Botswana,

you want a bit of Englishness. You don't want the same.

You want to be in a rural, cottagey kind of property,

kind of like this beauty here.

It is in the amusingly titled village of Tyttenhanger,

-um, which is very nice.

-HE CHUCKLES

It is quintessentially English. It's lovely. It's cottagey.

-Might be a little bit petite, but it is really nice.

-Right.

OK. Of course, there is the Wildcard.

Now, Ed, this one I think is very English for them.

It's lovely. And it is wild for many, many reasons.

One of them is that lovely Steven will have to maybe help out

-and do a bit of DIY. They didn't say they wanted to do...

-No.

..much DIY, but when you live in England, right,

we're a DIY-obsessed nation. That's what we do on a weekend.

We're trying to get them into the swing of things with that property.

These are the houses. Where shall we start?

Let's start in Redbourn, property number 1.

Well, form follows function for my choice today, Ed.

It's situated in the village of Redbourn

at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. This four-bedroom semi

is about ten minutes' drive from St Albans,

and I think I've given them everything they've asked for.

I think so. Remember, we can't fail her today.

No pressure, then!

Right, then, Steve and Debbie, welcome to Redbourn.

We're in a borough of St Albans. This is where you want to be.

Schools are excellent round here, and that's what you wanted.

Also, Steve, you mentioned cul-de-sacs.

-I noticed that. Very nice.

-This is one of them,

so perfect for the kids to learn to cross the road.

-You can watch them.

-They can really get up to speed.

-It will be fine.

-Of course, this is the property.

First impressions?

This looks like a good-size house. I thought it would be very small,

but that's a good size.

Never lived in a house attached to another one.

-Ah, OK.

-Ah!

-They call it "semi-detached" here.

Only detached on one side.

Yes, and just as long as, you know, you have to give the neighbours

-lots of presents and nice things.

-That's exactly what we do here.

We're forever giving neighbours presents.

Please be nice and don't shout at my children when they're really loud!

The garage is good. You could park one in

and one behind. You've got a carport and a car park.

Exactly! So that's all covered.

-Are you ready to go in?

-Absolutely.

-Three, two, one. Enjoy it. Go on!

-Thank you very much.

-Go on.

-Oh!

-That's cool.

-It is. Oh, a nice big window.

-That is quite big, yeah.

OK. It's a cracking front window. It doesn't offer much privacy,

but you're a cul-de-sac. It doesn't really matter, does it?

It doesn't matter at all, and they've got that nice long window

as soon as they come in, and they like that too.

-I like the floors.

-Oh, nice!

Oh, no, it's lovely. I like the garden already.

I shouldn't be looking at the garden.

-It's really nice.

-All right. Instantly she likes the garden.

It is like the Serengeti out here, I believe. Wild tabby cats

-and foxes.

-Pigeons.

The occasional stray terrier would be seen roaming through here.

-Right.

-It's a little bit...

-Little bit...

-Smaller.

-Yes. Thanks, Steve.

Would you want two tables - that one and that one?

Well, we don't fit round that table, but the children would.

-Children can eat in here.

-The children can eat in here,

and the adults in there! That's a very good idea.

OK, so it's a smallish kitchen.

Yeah. And this is the cruel, harsh face

of what 450 grand will get for you in St Albans.

Nice big doors.

They can open them wide - when it's warm enough.

The children would get lost in there.

-I wouldn't be able to see them.

-HE LAUGHS

It's quite a good size. You could take those pots away

and have more of a patio.

It would seem you can't take the African out of the African,

because they're obsessed by the outdoors.

Steven has lived in this country for three years,

and he's cruelly aware that it's freezing,

-whereas Debbie's only been here for a week.

-And says it's freezing!

Yet they still want to live in the back garden.

-OK!

-This would be one of the kids' bedrooms.

Definitely. Or an office.

Study. And the window frames are actually really nice.

Man alive, Debbie has really dropped.

She's started to talk about the window frames being nice.

OK. This is quite cosy again.

Hopefully this isn't the only bathroom,

because bath time would be chaos.

Can you imagine three kids in here?

What about three kids and two adults?

No, I hope there's another bathroom.

-Aha! Another bathroom.

-Well, a shower room.

-A shower room.

The kids will be fascinated with that.

In fact I think I might find children sitting in there.

Again, lovely tiles, nice floor.

Wouldn't have to do anything in here.

-This is a bigger room.

-It is bigger.

-That's great.

-David's study.

-No.

-Children's bedroom.

-HE LAUGHS

Got a nice view.

It's a nice area, when you look at the other gardens, as well.

I don't think you're supposed to do that, though, are you?

-HE LAUGHS

-It's beautiful.

There you go! Listen to that little list.

-It's good. Is it the biggest room?

-No, it's not.

-Good!

Back in the game. Back in the game.

OK, that's quite small.

-Yeah.

-What is that?

-It's another quite small room.

I think that is a clever use of space for a wardrobe.

This would have to be... a guest room,

and tell friends not to bring many clothes,

-because there's nowhere to put them.

-And then that's obviously...

Oh, this is...

-Oh, look.

-That's nice.

-Furniture's beautiful.

The master bedroom has the worst view.

It does. It does.

But it is the biggest room. It is.

I might actually put the boys in here,

and us have the room over there. It's not that much different.

-Really? If you take that desk out...

-The desk's in there,

and it's got the same sized cupboard.

The children don't care about views, and I do.

Hello, hello! You've been talking about the garden,

so we thought you'd better have a look.

Will this be big enough for the kids to sleep, because they're not sleeping in there, are they?

You realise you probably only housed two of your children in there?

I think Debbie's a bit, um, despondent about the size.

I put the boys together and they've got a master bedroom,

-and poor Emmy would be in...

-We weren't sure where she was going.

One room had a couch in it. One was an office.

Maybe Emmy could stay at Uncle Steve's house!

-They'd be sent to my house.

-Just get rid of them one at a time.

This is your first look around a property in St Albans,

and it seems like it's maybe a little bit less than you imagined

in terms of...size-wise.

No matter how much I convinced myself to be prepared,

it is... I can't imagine us being downstairs, all of us.

I just feel that it would just... Coming home from work

and having five of us in that space, I'll be going to bed really early.

It'll be great bonding time! All there together, snuggling up,

-watching the telly, keeping warm!

-We've not played guess-the-price yet

and we don't know how much this costs.

We've got a maximum budget of £450,000.

Who wants to go first?

-I have no idea.

-Can we have the guess in pula, as well,

-just so it sounds like more?

-I think...

4.3 million pula.

-OK.

-Which is - what? £430,000?

I'm hoping it's closer to £410,000.

-That's just the 4.1...

-4.1 million.

Yes. Do you know what you could get for...

I'm not sure, but I know it would be huge.

Steve, you are actually the closest. You said 4.3 million pula.

-He's happy with that.

-I like that.

-The price of this property

is actually... Well, it's approximately 4.5 million pula,

which is £450,000,

-which is your budget on the nose.

-Goodness gracious me!

-Wow!

-Depressed?

-Not so happy now about losing and winning!

-Yeah. That's interesting!

-But this is the beginning of the journey.

-Yes.

-Let's go this way to Property 2. Come on.

For my property we've travelled to a village on the southern side of St Albans.

With some lovely period detail and generous room sizes,

I think this could be the perfect home for Debbie and her family.

-Good luck, Ed. I hope you're right.

-Of course I am! What's not to love?

Now, this is a beauty.

This is more Englishness. You've come from Botswana.

You want something with a period in it, and a bit of, um...

a feeling of the country that you're moving to.

We are in a very English-named place,

and in no way is this an amusing-named place.

-It is called Tyttenhanger.

-He likes that!

-That's tickled Steve!

-You don't have places like that in Botswana?

-No.

-So we are in Tyttenhanger.

Now, you have got the property here.

This is your front garden, but it's essentially your back garden,

even though it's at the front of the house.

But because you like gardens a lot, isn't it nice to walk through one

-to cheer you up on the way?

-Very nice.

-Also,

Tyttenhanger is in the catchment area

for the greatest secondary school in the area.

-So, secondary-school-wise...

-Oh!

-I'm excited now!

-First impressions of this property?

-I love it.

-Yeah?

-I really do! I really do. When we parked down there...

-There's a horse just over there.

-You've got a lot of fields nearby.

-Very excited.

-Very excited, and there's that nice drive down here,

and... No, it looks more like a house in England should look.

-OK. Are you ready to go into the Tyttenhanger house?

-Very excited.

-Three, two, one. Enter that Tyttenhanging house!

-There you go!

-Oh, this is an... This is nice.

-Nice fireplace.

Fireplace! Yay!

Oh, this is good. Like this. And very, very tall.

It's a belting living room, this. I think this is England personified

to a Botswanian person wishing to come over here.

You got your fireplace, which is great. "Wow, I'm living in England."

You've got a great room, which feels decadent and grand.

-"Wow, I'm living in England."

-And it looks out to a lovely garden,

and you always imagine the English to have a lovely garden.

-Oh, look!

-Yeah, that's much better.

Oh, no, this is lovely.

-Lovely!

-Can't get all round here, though, can you?

No, we can't, but maybe just a longer, thinner table,

and we probably would.

They like the kitchen. This is a good space for them.

I haven't heard them say it's too small.

No, because it isn't. They are using it as a dining room.

You have got a dining room here, but they use it as a playroom,

which I think is what Debbie would do.

Oh, this is good!

Oh, it's like a little nook, isn't it?

Oh...

-I have a playroom!

-Yeah. There you go.

-Oh, now, that's superb.

-That's nice.

I like it a lot.

-Right, shall we go upstairs?

-Check the old doorbell!

-Oh, do you think it works?

-DOORBELL RINGS

That's superb.

It's like a version of Upstairs, Downstairs. That is English.

Ding-a-ling-a-ding-ding-dong. That's "your meal's ready"

to her husband and the little kids, or Steven if he was staying there.

If it was me and they rang that doorbell,

I would be running in there with a cup of tea.

-That's what you should do for them.

-They're such lovely people.

This is really nice. It feels really solid.

It does!

OK. This... Well, this would be Emilia's room.

Yeah, judging by the pink and all the toys here.

This is very nice. Do you think the cat comes with the house?

Hello! This is lovely.

-It's a fair size, as well.

-It is.

-It's the same as...

It's not big enough for the boys to share,

but it's fine for Emilia.

The bathroom!

-Oh, that's nice. Shower and bath.

-It's a fair size.

-Yes.

Again, I'd have to...

sort...

-Oh! We can see the neighbours.

-This is good news for Steven.

The neighbours are visible. He will not be bored.

He likes the idea of that. Of course, in Botswana,

one would need a telescope to view your neighbours,

because the place is so big.

And here we go!

Right, into Jack's room.

Ah! This must be the room he was talking about as the...

I hope it's the one that he's calling the half-room.

-Probably not.

-Do you not think so? It's got wardrobes in it.

It's got wardrobes. It's got two wardrobes,

and it's got a...a nice view.

Everything's nice and light.

-Trying to fit two kids in here...

-Or possibly not.

There's another room there, look.

-OK, this...

-It's cosy!

-This is tiny.

-You couldn't even put a bed in here.

This is actually a wardrobe.

A nice wardrobe, but it is a fitted wardrobe.

-Is that a fireplace?

-Yeah.

-Isn't that a bit random?

No, because this wall must have been put in

-to try and make... This wall...

-Oh, they've extended that bedroom

-to make one big bedroom.

-Exactly.

OK. The last bedroom!

-Which is a big bedroom.

-It is a large bedroom.

That's very nice.

But I still... I don't know why they put the wall in.

-What's behind there?

-That's that little office.

-OK.

Maybe somebody worked at home and needed that office.

Beautiful view, beautiful window.

-It really does feel lovely.

-Homely.

-And homely.

Yeah, it does. It's very nice.

But there would definitely be some work to be done.

Hello, hello!

Right, then. Come forward!

Earlier on, I was saying that the downstairs was going to be good,

-and you like the downstairs a lot.

-Fantastic.

-Lots of noises from you -

"Ooh, ahh. Ooh!" Downstairs, is this kind of what we're looking for?

-Absolutely.

-That fire in there, you can use it, as well.

-It's a proper one.

-Really?

And the fireplace in there is just stunning. It's lovely, yes.

The higher up you go, your noises turned to, "hmm".

Bedroom-wise, it's not really a four-bedroom, is it?

It's a three-and-a-bit-bedroom house.

Is it enough? You've sort of nearly housed everyone,

-possibly, possibly?

-It would be a squeeze.

I don't think it's not do-able, and I think the area,

and having this massive room downstairs, you know...

-Are you anxious about what we're about to do next?

-Yes.

-Who won last time? It was Steve, wasn't it?

-By a lot.

I was, like, miles...

Your budget is £450,000, or, as we've been saying,

4.5 million pula, approximately.

-So who's going to go first this time?

-You go first.

Me? Well, I think it's...over the budget,

especially because it's so much more than we saw,

-so unfortunately I think it's...

-In pula!

4,650,000 pula.

-£465,000.

-OK. OK.

I think it's lower. I think it's 4.45 million pula.

OK. Or £445,000.

The actual price is...

-..£425,000.

-Get in!

-THEY LAUGH

-Again?!

-Are you just excited...

-I have no idea where to house children,

-but guessing house prices...

-Anything competitive,

-really, I just have to bow to you.

-You have ruined guess-the-price.

It's over. You've won the competition as it stands.

But also you've won because the property's £425,000,

£25,000 less than your budget.

That's brilliant, because it means the things we were talking about

-are possible to do, and stay in budget.

-Yeah.

-Good, good, good!

-That's excellent.

-That's very good.

We don't have to make any decisions yet, of course,

because there is another property. There's the Wildcard.

Coming this way? Come on!

Well, have we got a Wildcard for you today!

The view over the village green from this period property

could not be more quintessentially English if you tried.

But will Debbie have the vision to see past the interior decor?

This is London Colney. It's a conservation village.

As you can see, it's absolutely beautiful, idyllic,

and listen to them birds. It is perfect, would you say?

-It is lovely.

-Beautiful.

-You've got ducks,

swans, and look how near the pub it is!

Would you imagine yourself visiting that pub at all?

Occasionally. Special occasions only!

You said the little boys, not good at crossing the road.

Really quiet area. Would that be a...

-THEY LAUGH

-That would be great, great!

-They can learn to swim as well!

-Go on. What do you think?

I'm going to go out and say you're going to buy this house.

But I want to know what you think, because that's me just forcing you to do that.

-OK. I'm loving that view.

-Right.

And I'm loving the street and everything.

-It does look like it's going to need some work.

-Yes.

-And there is Steven for you.

-That's where I come in.

-Because I'm so good at DIY.

-I'm also married to a builder,

so that's not the end of the world.

-Are you prepared to go in there?

-Looking forward to it.

-Good!

You will buy this house. Do you think they'll buy this house?

-I think you will.

-Really?

-I really do.

-I will buy?

-Three, two, one. Go into that house.

Oh, lovely!

Oh, wow!

-Oh, this is beautiful!

-It's very nice.

Look at the fireplace! It goes through to the next-door room.

Oh, there's a staircase up. That's nice.

What is this room?

-Beauty of this property is...

-OK.

-..when you get round all of it,

that room could be anything, cos we discovered other bits out the back.

We did. There are loads of different rooms,

and you'll decide, "Shall this be my living room?"

-"Shall it be my dining room or the playroom?"

-It could be anything!

It could be anything. Anything!

-Oh, that's lovely.

-And that fire comes through there.

Yes. Oh, look at that - an original wall!

-That's a nice feature.

-That is very nice.

And you've got a little dining area, which could be extended

-this way.

-What is that room for?

-Or is the kitchen extended that way?

-The dining room.

-You'd walk into the dining room.

Yeah. Why not?

That means it's really easy to extend this kitchen this way.

-You want to extend it?

-Yeah.

So, like a kitchen-cum-family...room.

She's saying she wants to extend it already?

She doesn't need to. She's only been in one room. Give it a chance!

Steven, huge garden!

Oh, that's lovely.

That's a nice tree. There's a garage.

-Is that a garage?

-It could be two garages!

-Hey-hey-hey!

-Heinz may find a home!

-Heinz has got a home!

Oh, I'm excited. Come on. OK. Let's go see. Let's go see!

Earlier on they were saying they've got hippos that are close friends.

-They didn't say that.

-They wondered if we could factor in a river.

Well, the hippos can come as well! They did say that.

-Were you not there?

-They didn't.

-I did actually make that up.

This is little.

This is little, but...beautiful view.

-Keep an eye on the kids in the garden.

-Oh, look!

Look! Utility room!

-Utility room. Result.

-Result!

-Oh, no, this is a fantastic.

-This is very nice.

What's nice is, Debbie can see beyond,

because the property needs jujjing, and it's not fazed her at all.

Not in one way. She's in there, "Good, yeah. Oh, yes."

Open that door.

Oh, wow!

-I like this place.

-I'm liking this a lot.

Oh, absolute... Why don't we just make this the kitchen?

This could be a massive kitchen. It could be another family room,

the "get away from me, children, you're driving me mad" room.

-It could be anything.

-There you go. Steve likes it.

-And Debbie likes it!

-They both like it.

That's peculiar.

-OK! It's a rear...

-That suggests there might have been a flood.

THEY LAUGH

There's sandbags in the back door!

That's not something that happens a lot in Botswana.

Botswana doesn't have floods, so this is perfect for them.

They would pray for that amount of rain.

The envy of all their... "You'll never believe how much it rains. We've got sandbags!"

-Another downstairs...

-That's quite big,

if you've got a wardrobe in there.

Hey, the word big's not been used that much to describe anything on today's programme.

-Apart from Steven's muscles.

-Yeah. They are big, aren't they?

Isn't this amazing? We have just been all the way around the bottom,

and not hit one blank, unwelcoming wall. Every time you walk anywhere,

you walk into another room. It's just amazing!

OK! So...

-This would be the main...

-Guessing the master bedroom.

-Master bedroom, yes.

-Oh! There's a sink.

When I was a student, a sink was my en suite. That's all I'm saying.

It's a fair size. You've got wardrobes there.

-Great view.

-And you can check on David in the pub.

THEY LAUGH

I'll be able to whistle from here. "Come home, David!"

Debbie is perfect wife material. She's lovely.

Obviously, if Mrs Hall is watching, you are better.

Debbie is nice, though.

OK, this is interesting.

Obviously, you need to go through this bedroom into the next bedroom.

-Oh, look! This is lovely.

-For a kid, this would be...

-No, it's perfect.

-They'll appreciate this sort of feature, won't they?

-They will.

-Living in the roof.

And look at that view.

Oh, that's lovely!

Look, there's a park! I can see a slide.

-For you or the boys?

-THEY LAUGH

It depends what part of the evening we're talking about.

I think that's all the bedrooms,

but if there is another one, you have to be very short to get in it,

because... And it IS another bedroom, for someone very short!

This is definitely Emmy's room. Come and have a look.

It's so cute!

-HE LAUGHS

-It's so gorgeous!

-I have to sit. Look at this!

-That is brilliant.

It is just so... It's so brilliant.

She would just think that this was the best thing ever.

-She will love it.

-She will!

-This is a mini-me bathroom.

-SHE CHUCKLES

Yes. This is lovely, though.

I mean, it is a very interesting use of space.

Yes. So, what do you think?

How much work do you think needs to be done up here?

I think a lot less than downstairs.

She's asking Steven, who knows nothing about building, his opinion.

What he's going to come up with is instantly dismissible

because he's just making it up off the top of his head.

-So, you've had a good look around.

-Yes.

-Pleasantly surprised?

-Yes.

-Really like it. It's fantastic.

I think it's just got a huge amount of potential.

I think if David was here, he'd have got to the first room and said,

"No way, Debbie, before you fall in love with it," but...

Well, that's his lookout for not coming over.

He's not here, so... Yeah. No, I love it.

I think it's got so much character, It would be an amazing family home.

-It's perfect, would you say?

-I think it is...

-"Perfect" is a real stretch.

-THEY LAUGH

-But it could be.

-It could be perfect,

with a lot of work, and it would be very easy to put the love into the project,

because it's just got some really great features.

And I didn't think they would be important to me,

but seeing fireplaces that do two rooms, that's just... It's lovely.

It was quite brave of you to ask Steven,

"How much do you think, work-wise, this needs?"

You mentioned something about the skirting boards needed replacing!

-It sounded good.

-That's it, is it, for you?

-The skirting boards aren't on the ceiling, are they?

-No.

-Shall we do the interesting part?

-Don't nudge me. I've already lost!

-She has already lost.

-Already lost!

-THEY LAUGH

-I've lost!

-There is dignity in losing three in a row,

-cos that's consistent.

-Absolutely.

-Or maybe in choosing a victory.

We are playing with a maximum budget of £450,000.

How much is this beauty on the market for?

Who wants to go first? Steven is looking at you, Debbie.

-Do you want to go first?

-In pula?

-Go on.

In pula. Due to the fact that we are able to touch ducks

if they would stand still, I'm going to go for...

4.4 million.

4.4 million pula, which is 440,000. OK.

Steven?

I'm going to say...

4.45 million pula.

OK. £445,000.

Will he be smiling his beautiful smiley face?

-He's already won!

-He wants the hat trick.

It is important to me.

Well, Steven, you've got the hat trick.

Yes!

He's so happy. It doesn't matter how much it costs.

Doesn't matter his sister's losing out if she wants to buy this house.

Do you want to know how much this property is on the market for?

Shall we do a lap of honour?

Yes!

So, this property is on the market... It is actually over your budget.

It's 4.75 million pula.

-Wow!

-Which is 475,000.

Your maximum budget was 450. However...

However, this has been on for a while,

and obviously no-one's living in here.

It's deceased estate. They are keen to sell.

So we have been told that there could be considerable offers.

Anyway, that's for you to work out.

-You're going to make the biggest decision of your lives.

-Absolutely!

-Which we can't help you with.

-Do we look like we've had that lovely life

that this is it? The biggest one?

And Steven's going to help you make it!

Who would've thought that would be the way it would happen?

-Wander off that way. See you later.

-Good luck. And whilst they do that,

here's a quick recap for you at home.

So, will it be my choice, the 1960s semi-detached property

in the village of Redbourn? It's set in an idyllic cul-de-sac,

and has a beautiful mature garden.

But is the interior just too small for Debbie's clan?

On the market for 450 grand.

Or what about my choice,

the quintessential English Victorian property?

It's in the catchment area for the region's best school,

and let me say it one more time - it's in the village of Tyttenhanger!

Worth every penny of the £425,000 asking price.

And finally, the Wildcard.

It had enough bedrooms to accommodate the whole family,

enough reception rooms that they could have one each,

and a separate annexe for Steven and his camper van.

Could be theirs for 475.

Ah, so this is Heinz!

But which property are they test-driving? It's the Wildcard!

Debbie's getting down to business, looking at school prospectuses.

Now, I know Steven's a talented man,

but I reckon he's not the best person to give advice on DIY.

Oh, I don't know. He's perfected his builder's knock.

Oh, and don't forget, Debbie, the schools here must be good -

a pope was educated round these parts!

Hey, no time for a nap, Steven!

So, they've test-driven the house.

Time to check out the garages.

Hope Steven doesn't plan swapping Heinz for that mower!

-SHE LAUGHS

-And if it doesn't?

This could still be just absolutely great for the kids.

And David!

This could be their space, and I'll stay in the house.

It carries on up here! There's loads more room!

And, true to their African roots,

they're off to explore the great outdoors.

Ducks that we might be able to touch.

-It's just beautiful.

-It is.

I doubt you'd even move. You didn't even move!

Where do we begin? What do you think? What have enjoyed?

What are you scared of? Not in general, but in the house terms.

THEY LAUGH

What do you think, Debbie?

The location is absolutely amazing.

Great space. It really has a great feel,

but there is just so much work. Every room, when you look at it

a second time round, you can tell it needs...

Yes. I've had a good look.

-I've done some estimations.

-Have you really?

You've not put a hammer... You've not done any work in there yet?

-No, not yet.

-Yes. I think it's a really great family home.

It's been well thought out,

and the extension has just got so many possibilities,

-from guest room to...

-Ahhhh!

-Guest room.

-And a garage for Heinz.

-Exactly!

-Well, this at the moment is our backup option.

-Well, it is, you know!

-If we fail, the whole family are in here.

-I'll give you a favourable rent.

-THEY LAUGH

-That's kind of you!

-We should probably do it, shouldn't we?

Yeah. We're going to ask the big question now on this property.

To buy or not to buy?

I think if they accept our offer, we will buy it.

-You said! You said buy, and I agreed!

-We knew, didn't we? We knew!

If your husband was here now, what would he be thinking

-when you said "to buy"?

-He would've been in his car

-about ten miles away.

-THEY LAUGH

Genuinely, he would.

-He wouldn't be looking for something that needed this much work.

-Right.

Well, it's been lovely meeting you both.

-Likewise.

-And it's really exciting. Good luck with it!

And keep watching us from Botswana, and when you come over here,

watch us as well. We'll still be here. Until then,

-you've got to live in that, haven't you?

-Yes!

Well, you get into your temporary house.

-Hopefully one day you'll buy that. See you soon!

-Should we fly off?

-We will fly off!

-Take care. Bye-bye!

-Bye-bye.

-Bye!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd