Staffordshire Village To Buy or Not to Buy

Morning, viewers. Hope you are well.

Morning viewers.

Some people are busy little bees, aren't they?

Always buzzing around, never stopping, always on the go.

That's me.

Others like to take things at a bit more sedate pace.

Take it easy, a bit more relaxed.

Like my good self.

No rest for the wicked. Day's work is never done, Jonnie.

The devil makes work for idle hands.

I'm puffed out.

Indeed. In that case, put the kettle on, will you, mate?

Oh, yes. Roger. I'd be absolutely glad to.

Whilst I'm doing that, you lot, check out the titles.

-Ooh, here we go, sweet cheeks.

-Ooh, thank you, flowerpot.

I tell you what, I am puffed out.

This busy-bee business isn't all it's cracked up to be.

You need to calm down and relax.

We're going to be doing plenty of running around later showing not one,

two, but three properties for today's buyers.

And one of which they can try before they buy.

Ugh! Did you put sugar in this?

Coming up on To Buy Or Not Buy, time's against us as we search for a dream home.

-Ssh! What are you doing?

-They're very busy people.

-We haven't got time!

-Three bedrooms, semi-rural...

-Aw! We haven't got...

-Pub nearby.

There's something mysterious about one of today's choices.

There is one Achilles heel to this property.

-And there it is.

-Yeah.

-That's that Achilles heel Ed was talking about then.

-Yeah.

But after all is said and done, will it be a...

HE EXHALES LOUDLY

To buy or not to buy? That is the question.

-That's Nick, that is.

-And that's Becky.

Make the most of them standing still as this busy couple like to be active.

Nick is a fully-qualified teacher and Becky has just started her teacher training.

Clever thing got a first in maths recently, you know.

Ooh! Get her. Anyway, she also likes to keep busy with her horse, Danny.

-And Nick is a member of the West Midlands First Response Team.

-Commendable.

He also likes photography, plays hockey, camps, climbs and is training to be a lifeguard.

Phew! Will they ever be able to sit still long enough for a chat?

Let's find out.

Spare time to you is not time to sit down, it's time to do something.

-Yeah.

-And, as a result, it could be argued, that you've got no time to find a house.

-Yeah.

-It could, yeah.

-And is this where we're coming in,

-with our phenomenal expertise and your otherwise busyness?

-Yes.

-Yes, definitely.

-Now, is this your first moving-in together?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-So this is quite something.

-Ooh!

-Is this the build-up towards marriage?

-Oh, no.

He always does this.

I'll give him another 30 seconds and he'll start talking about babies.

Maybe I will. Maybe I won't today.

-OK, so you're buying the house and maybe marriage, children some time in the future?

-Maybe.

So we're looking for a love nest?

-Yes.

-Yes? OK.

Where are we looking for said love nest?

Something sort of semi-rural really, cos we're quite spoilt where we are.

We like being in the countryside.

Have you got something in your mind's eye?

Something three-bed is a necessity really.

With us both going to be teachers and me a teacher already,

-then we need somewhere to work.

-Oh, you need a study?

I've got issues with people having studies, but you're teachers,

most of your work is done at home. You've got to do all the marking and everything else.

-And all the preparation.

-You're allowed then.

Is there anything you don't want?

Close to a main road I think is the big putting-off factor for us.

-OK, close to a main road. Anything in the style of property that you don't want.

-Pretty much open.

Yeah, we're quite... We're not narrow-minded, are we?

-OK, so do you want old, new?

-I'm happy with either.

-It doesn't matter?

-It doesn't matter.

-All right.

-Let me push you further. Do you want a bungalow, do you want a flat?

-No.

-Not a flat.

-No bungalows, no flats.

-No bungalows, no flats.

-You're very busy people, we know this.

How busy are you to do some DIY?

We don't mind that. We don't mind a project.

-We've got the school holidays, so yes.

-That's a long time, isn't it?

-Yes.

-You see! Teachers, the laziest people in the world.

-Ooh!

-You are the envy of everyone, cos you do get great holidays.

We only get 13 weeks.

-Only?

-Is that all? You're looking for a house.

-You want a bit of a garden as well?

-Yes. We'd like a dog at some point.

-Do you have a future dog name ready to go when you get the dog?

-Yes.

-Go on.

-If we have a collie, it's going to be called Nell.

Do you want to be isolated, do you want to be near pubs?

-Near a pub would be nice.

-Good.

-Pub and a shop?

-Yeah.

-Not necessarily...

-We can get away without the shop.

-We're almost at the point where we ask the big question.

-Are you ready to answer it?

-I'll try.

It's a very rude question at this time of the day,

-but we're going to do it. I'm going to make Jonnie do it.

-I'm going to ask the mathematician.

-It's a numbers question, isn't it?

-It is a numbers question.

What is the budget for today's semi-rural, three-bedroom house?

-It's 150,000.

-OK.

Now, working with the numbers and knowing the area,

because we come here quite a bit on the programme,

-150 for what you're after... Could we create a haggle zone?

-Yes.

-You could.

-What could we look up to to haggle down from?

-Probably about 160 would be...

-Ooh!

We'll have a ten-grand haggle zone.

-If you and I couldn't haggle down ten grand, we shouldn't be sat on these chairs.

-We shouldn't be, should we?

We shouldn't be sat here now, cos we've got to go and do it.

-Wish us luck.

-Good luck.

-Good luck.

-Thank you. We'll see you later.

-Thank you very much.

I reckon I've got it locked down what they need.

-I mean, first of all...

-Woah, woah, ssh!

-They're very busy...

-What are you doing speaking? We haven't got time.

They need to get three bedrooms, semi-rural, pub nearby...

You know when you go to Staffordshire

-you see the sign that says the Creative County?

-Yeah.

-Do you know why it's actually called the Creative County?

-Yes.

-Oh!

Ah, well, we'd better tell the viewers in case they don't know.

Oh, yeah. Good. Of course.

Well, there are many reasons why it's actually called the Creative County and here are just a few.

The ceramic industry, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Spode,

names associated with Staffordshire and the Potteries.

Exquisite and delicate pottery was, and indeed is, made here and it still has immense value today.

Thrill rides and theme parks...

Staffordshire is undoubtedly the number one destination

for young and old seeking the thrill

of white-knuckle rides in the country.

-Two of the UK's biggest venues are located in the county at Alton Towers and Drayton Manor.

-Thrill-tastic!

Well, just a smattering of the creativity that oozes out of the Staffordshire area there.

Now I think we need to get creative with money,

because houses in Staffordshire have an average price of round £170,000.

As opposed to the national average of around £224,000,

but what else could today's house hunters' hard-earned cash

buy them in other creative hotspots in the UK?

Edinburgh is the first UNESCO City of Literature

and if you fancy the city built on books, then this two-bed,

top-floor flat is on the market

for 150,000 Scottish pounds.

Derry recently won the race for the first-ever UK City of Culture

and will take up its role in 2013.

If you want to soak up some of that culture,

then this four-bed semi is on the market for £215,000.

A little over Nick and Becky's budget, but nice house

and nice city, nonetheless.

Back in 2008, Liverpool was the European City of Culture.

It's easy to see why. If you want to bask in the reflective

glory of the city's achievement, then how's about this place?

Three beds and two receptions make this an ideal family home and the

transport links to the city make it an even better option.

It's on the market for £150,000.

While we're in Staffordshire, we decided to look at some local

history and take a gander at a few of its favourite sons.

Everyone knows the Spitfire played a vital part of British air supremacy,

a major factor in securing a victory

with the Allied forces in World War II.

It's not widely known that the Spitfire was designed by an engineer

called Reginald Mitchell, who hailed from the north Staffordshire area.

His talent for designing fast planes and creating the stressed skin which

gave the Spitfire its strength and lightness were a huge leap forward.

The achievements of the Spitfire during the summer and autumn of the 1940s and the Battle of Britain

gave the plane the reputation it has today.

Sir Stanley Matthews was born in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, in Staffordshire.

He's widely regarded as being the most renowned footballer of modern times.

His career spanned 33 years, and when he retired in 1965

he was an incredible 50 years old, a year younger than Ed Hall.

Matthews made his England debut in September 1934 and made his last

appearance in May 1957, an incredible 23-year international career.

Sir Stanley was the first professional footballer to be knighted

and in 1956 he won the first-ever European Player of the Year Award.

Not bad for a boy from the Potteries.

-Now then, Biggles, you enjoy that?

-I have had a lovely time.

I've been in a Spitfire.

-Boyhood fantasy that.

-It was fantastic!

Anyway, we have house hunted as well and this is the fruits of our labour.

Ipstones, brilliant place.

I'm not sure if they had that on their list, but it is lovely.

Now the property is in a terrace.

They said they would like a terrace if it was gorgeous.

This is gorgeous. I'm not going to show you any pictures because the pictures don't do it justice.

It's lovely and they will love it.

Well, I trade your Ipstones and I probably trade up to a place called Waterhouses.

-You might think all the houses there are made of water. They're not.

-I might.

This one is made out of stone. Now, look! It's got open-planned kitchen.

It's got an upstairs bathroom. It's got a garden.

It's also got a slight nubbin of something they might not quite like.

OK. All right. Well, I wonder what that might be. Any clues?

-No.

-No. The wild card, everyone loves the wild card.

And this wild card has only just come on to the market.

It's fantastic. It's beautiful. It's gorgeous.

This is a cracker and a lot for your money. Where shall we start the journey?

-I think we'll start at property number one, which I think is your one.

-My one.

My choice indeed and this gorgeous brick cottage is the choice I have made.

In estate agent parlance, internal viewing is essential,

as it's really, really, really, really lovely inside.

It's really, really, really, really lovely inside?

-It is, Jonnie. It is.

-Really?

-Really.

This is a beauty.

We are in Ipstones. Have you heard of Ipstones before?

-Yeah.

-Have you heard of the amusingly titled village that's near to Ipstones?

-Bottomhouse.

-Oh.

-What's funny about that?

Oh, "house". Got you. Sorry.

Anyway, so you will be living in a village next to Bottomhouse, which I think is worth it alone.

You've got the pub which you asked for, which is lovely.

And you've got these views, which are fantastic.

And you're in a terrace, but the terraced house is gorgeous.

-What do you think about it all so far?

-Views are lovely.

-Gorgeous. Really nice.

-So, trust me, that is a beauty in there.

-Are you prepared, excited and titillated at the idea of it?

-Yes.

All right then, go in there and enjoy that property. Go!

If they like this house, I will buy you lunch at the local pub and I will buy you two courses there.

-The local pub that's in Bottomhouse.

-Not that one.

-The local pub in Ipstones.

-Oh!

Wow! It's open-plan.

It's not what you expect from outside.

It looks so quaint on the outside and it's quite modern inside.

It needs to be open-plan, this house, and now it is open-plan, it works really nicely. I like it.

I'm a gambler. I am a gambler. I thought,

"Why wimp out with the decision and give them the house they want?"

Give them one that they think they might not want.

-Nice floor as well.

-Yes. It's like slate.

-Nice open fire.

-Yeah. Is it a wood burner?

-Yeah.

That's one of the things we wanted.

-Yeah, definitely.

-He's done well, Ed.

-Thank you very much. I have done well.

-"Good lad, Ed," he says.

Thank you very much. That's from Nick and Nick is a go-getter.

-He is.

-Nick knows what good is.

The kitchen, you wouldn't need to...

-No, you wouldn't need to touch it.

-It doesn't need a new kitchen.

-It's quite a good size as well, really, with the...

-Yeah.

-Dining table as well.

-It will be good for entertaining, cos it just sort of follows through, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-I like that.

-And they are, like Bruce Forsyth, entertainers.

-They really are.

All the beans on toast you can have.

Oh, it's kind of like the utility bit.

-That's handy.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it's handy just to have the utility.

-Mm, definitely.

So they have merrily gambled through the downstairs and they are getting

towards the part of property where it could all fall flat on its face.

Yes, but sometimes we're surprised.

Sometimes... Often we are, actually. I'll be honest, often we are.

Bathroom.

-That's bigger than what we've got.

-Yeah, definitely.

-Someone else likes horses as well.

-Yeah.

Quite a big shower. That's good, cos you haven't got a shower, have you?

-So that would be a...

-Yeah, that's handy, the separate shower.

It is nice to have a separate shower in the bathroom though.

-I wish I had one.

-Why?

-A bathroom.

-Hasn't even got a bathroom.

That's why I'm wearing a jumper today.

I'll be honest, I can tell. When the heat's up...

It's handy having the extra space.

-Definitely, yeah. It's a lot bigger.

-Keep the washer out the way.

Yeah. He's doing well so far, Ed is.

-Good for me muddy boots after a walk.

-Yes, definitely, yeah.

-Oh, wow! I didn't expect a conservatory.

-That's nice.

-Yeah.

Ah, rather like the Spanish Inquisition, no-one expects

a conservatory on the back of a cottage in Ipstones.

If this house didn't have a conservatory, it would be very dinky indeed.

It would be and it lends itself very lovingly to the property

and a lot of light as well. Thank you very much.

-A bit of extra living space.

-Yeah.

Something separate from the main bit as well. It's nice and cosy.

It's got the wall blocked off there as well.

Yeah, it makes it feel more like a room.

Yeah, definitely. Like another little living space.

It's nice and bright as well. Yeah, I like that.

-Yeah.

-Ed's done a good job.

Now once through that tiny backyard...

-OK, we're here, where we are.

-Ah...

That's lovely. They don't own that, but this access path,

-they could ramble along here with the ramblers...

-Where's he gone?

-What an idiot!

-Ramble this way.

They could go down the steps with the ramblers.

They could take the lift that the ramblers could use.

There's no lift here.

Or they could use the rambling spiral staircase, couldn't they?

-Oh, wow!

-That wasn't what I expected.

Oh, this is a little gem, isn't it, inside? That's fantastic.

Normally, I get annoyed when people talk about landings cos I feel

they could be talking about other rooms, but this is a cracker.

-It's a part of the house!

-It's an office/landing.

It's a good use of space and when you've got a house that is compact,

-you've got to use every area.

-This is a room.

-And they have used it,

-haven't they?

-Yep.

-I'm doing the swimming sign there for that.

-That's a good size.

-Yeah, it is. It's a nice size, isn't it?

Lovely high ceilings as well.

-Yes, definitely.

-It makes you feel really airy.

You've got your built-in wardrobes as well, so it doesn't take any room out of the room, does it?

Nice views out of the window.

-Oh, yeah, lovely. Really nice.

-Across the fields.

-Really nice.

-Lots of space. Yeah, it's good that.

-Definitely.

-Another good job, Ed.

-Yeah.

It is quirky and it's quirky and modern and lovely and functional.

Who wouldn't want to wake up in the morning, got you're clothes on,

ready to go to work, just have a quick view of Bottomhouse and then off you go in the car.

-That would be fantastic.

-I'd drive through Bottomhouse.

Of course you would. I've heard you have.

That's nice.

It's good, yeah.

Enough space to do things with, isn't it?

Yeah, it would be useful as a spare bed.

Yeah, yeah. Perhaps for visitors or something to come and stay in.

Well, they could use that as a guest bedroom. It's lovely.

They asked for three bedrooms, three bedrooms they have got.

It is up to them how they fill them,

I've merely delivered every element, every element of their criteria.

Apart from the back garden, apart from the fact that it's in a terrace...

-Other than that...

-You put a stamp on it.

-You've delivered it.

-I've done it.

Nice views out the back as well actually, lots of fields.

-Lovely, yeah. I didn't expect to have the views at the front and the back.

-No. That's good. I like that.

Views-wise, vis a vis the views, you have lovely views over there, which is...

I don't know the name of that village.

What's the name of that village?

-Bottomhouse.

-Bottomhouse. It's just over there.

-Have a look up those stairs. It looks interesting up there.

-Yeah, it does, doesn't it?

That staircase wouldn't look out of place on a ship, a phenomenal ship.

A lovely rope staircase.

This is different.

Obviously, a little girl's room.

-Oh, right!

-That's ace. Look at the beams.

-That's...

-That's ace!

-Have that!

Oh, proper, solid beams there.

-That's nice.

-I like the window light as well.

-It's actually really light, isn't it?

-'Tis, in't it?

-And you get the view out that window as well.

-Yeah.

Would you have this as the spare room then?

For guests, I don't think you could...

Unless it was storage down there.

Yeah, cos you could leave the office under the stairs, couldn't you?

-Yeah.

-And you get an extra room really.

-Yeah.

-Or me table football.

-Have a boys' room up here.

Have a boys' room. Yeah, that would be all right.

Look, you've got three rooms there that they love and the landing,

the office, and they obviously don't mind a ground-floor bathroom.

Happy days. Ladies and gentlemen,

-I fear guess the price is knocking on the door.

-Off you pop.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-How are we all?

So I would say, in there, you were... The word "ace"

-came out of your mouth.

-Did it really? Oh, no.

The beams, I believe, were ace.

The whole property, though, is ace, n'est pas? As the French might say.

-Yes.

-Downstairs bathroom...

-Yeah.

-Is always a niggle for people.

Didn't seem to bother you.

-Mm, not me.

-I think it's more of a niggle for me than it is for Bec.

What about the garden? Cos it's quite small.

-You've got a front and back.

-Yeah, that doesn't bother me too much.

Yeah, that's more of an issue for me.

In the bathroom department you're concerned and in...

Cos this is Nell, really, the future of Nell the dog.

-Yeah, yeah. There might be no Nell.

-But there's lots of paths you can walk down and ramble with Nell.

-Yeah.

-So, coming to the end of this then, is it somewhere that you could

perceive yourself making a first home?

-Possibly.

-Yeah, I think so, possibly.

-We'll take possibly.

-At the moment, yes.

If I were you, I would take this as a possibility because...

They don't even know the price yet!

Well, let's find out how much they think this place is worth.

-So who wants to play guess the price first?

-Ladies first.

-Coward. Coward!

-Tactical.

-Working on a mathematician's basis.

Well, I'm going to go 130,000.

-I think it might be a bit optimistic.

-OK.

-All right then. Big man, Nick.

-I'm going to go 135.

-They love this place, don't they?

-They do like the house.

You're closest, Nick. The price is 139,950.

You haven't been here, so obviously you don't know the quality of Ipstones as an area. It is lovely.

But, OK, as a house price, 139,950, that's if you bought it for the price.

You could haggle and waggle. What do you think, knowing the price?

-Yeah, that sounds about right.

-I think that's fair.

-That doesn't put me off.

-Why don't we go to my property?

-This way.

-Unbelievable. I believe it's in Bottomhouse.

Now it's my choice... property number two.

Loads of charm, character and amazing features, but enough about me, folks!

This place has stunning views at the front and is everything they've asked for. Plus something they haven't.

-I'm intrigued.

-All will be revealed.

Nick and Becky, now you asked me for semi-rural living,

and in many ways I am now about to provide that for you.

This, my friends, is the gateway to the Peak District.

I've been looking at the maps. You've got a wonderful playground for you,

your dogs, your cats, your horses. Anything you want to do is right here.

You might not necessarily be doing it in this house,

but I'm saying this house is an opportunity to get elsewhere.

Look at it. Beauty, in't she?

-It is lovely. It's very quaint.

-Good.

This is all fantastic news.

Can I point out there is one Achilles heel to this property.

It is lovely throughout internally, but there is one Achilles heel.

Do you want to own up to that now?

-To be honest, I'm not sure they're going to notice.

-Do you want to own up to that now?

I'm not sure they're going to notice it.

If you see it, you might not.

-Otherwise, if you don't see it, this could be the house for you.

-OK. Are you excited?

-I am.

It is a lovely house. Go inside.

It seems quite sort of low, doesn't it, and dark?

-It seems a bit enclosed compared to the last one.

-I like the window seat.

-That's nice.

-The window seat! I had a go in that earlier on.

-Everyone loves a window seat.

-C'est fantastique.

You could write a novel from there, or Nell the dog could sit in there, couldn't she?

Or waiting for her owners to come home. Oh, where are they?

Here they come. They've just pulled up to the semi-off-street parking.

Oh, right. It's got a kitchen-diner which is what we were after.

-Bit tight for me. That's nice.

-This is lovely, yeah.

-I like that.

-That's done really well, isn't it?

-Yeah, it is.

-That was one of the specifications, a kitchen-diner?

-I wanted a kitchen-diner. That's nice.

-Yeah.

-Now they said they wanted, if possible, a kitchen-diner. Entertaining space.

-He has delivered.

You've got space here you could do something with.

Yeah. You could even have another table and chair, couldn't you? Between there and the sitting area.

-Yeah.

-The kitchen's nice. It sort of fits with the house.

-Yeah, it does.

-It's like in keeping.

-Yeah, definitely.

-You wouldn't need to touch that, would you?

-No.

-It's really nice.

-It is really awful, cos they are loving this house so far.

-Yeah.

And the thing that they've got to get over is almost insurmountable.

-Listen, listen...

-Almost.

-Just cos you don't like what's out there.

They might like it.

Oh, right. That's good. I assume this is the master.

-Yeah, that's...

-That's nice, isn't it?

-That sort of beam along there.

-Nice feature. Ceiling's are higher.

-Yeah, it feels a lot more spacious and airy, doesn't it?

-Which is good.

-Nice views to the front as well.

-Mm, yeah.

-You can see the fields and where we were earlier.

The master bedroom, front of the house here, faces out...

-On to that!

-Quite roomy.

-I like it in this room, yeah.

-Shall we try the others?

-Yeah.

See what else we've got.

-That's a good size.

-Yeah. That's a nice feature, that stained glass.

-Yes, some original features.

-Yeah.

-Looks good.

It's a good size.

Definitely bigger than what you've got.

Yeah. No separate shower or anything, but that's all right.

They must be getting panicky now, because they do like the house.

They love all the stuff and yet they know that there's a problem.

-I'm getting panicky.

-And they haven't found it yet.

Oh, right. This is a bit smaller, isn't it?

It's still a nice size though. You can get plenty of things in. It's like an office or something.

-Yeah, you've got the other side of the feature too.

-Yeah.

-Be good for me office.

-I think so. It's plenty spacious enough for something like that.

-Yes.

-It's quite bright. That's all right.

-Yeah. That's fine.

All right. I was expecting a box room here.

-Yeah, it's a bit bigger.

-It's bigger, isn't it?

-The third room isn't a box room, is it?

-Yeah, I like the doors.

-Yeah.

-Quite cottagey.

-Very cottagey feel to it, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

I definitely feel the upstairs like... I think it just feels light and roomy.

-Yeah, that's true.

-Yeah.

Let's have a look through the window... And there it is.

-Yeah.

-That's that Achilles heel Ed was talking about then.

-Yeah.

That will be the big lorries out the back.

-Oh, that hasn't gone well.

-How was it ever going to go well?

Were you expecting them to come out and thank you and say, "Mm!"?

I was hoping beyond hope that Becky was going to say,

"Ooh, I like lorries".

And he was doing so well.

I was worried there might be a worse reaction. I'm not that disappointed.

I just think they've been rendered speechless by it. But maybe,

because the house has gone so well, I could be wrong. I'm never wrong, but I could be.

I think we should get a look at that garden. Just have a closer view.

Yeah, definitely.

-It's a nice-size garden.

-It's just a shame about what's behind.

-Yeah.

-L-shaped garden.

-Yes, I believe they're the rage.

I'm grasping at things at the moment now.

At the moment here, in this part of Staffordshire, people get capital letter-shaped gardens. "L"...

-For "loser".

-So this was Jonnie's house.

-This is Jonnie's?

-Yeah.

Yeah. Perhaps we want to have a little chat with Jonnie I think.

-Here we go.

-Oh, good luck.

-Thanks. Hiya.

-Hello.

-I thought you came at me then...

-Hi.

-Interesting, isn't it?

-Interesting.

Yes. Did you manage to spot anything that you wouldn't normally expect?

-Perhaps one thing, maybe.

-You're right. You think it'd be a double bed,

but it was actually a single bed, a single bunk bed, in that back room.

-Not quite what I was going for.

-Oh, the curtains!

-No.

-What was behind the curtains.

-Can you guess?

-I think the sound is a clue.

I believe that's the sound of a man working on a tanker.

-No, no. They're magpies.

-Big magpies.

-Big magpies.

-Big, truck-shaped magpies.

-Yeah.

That indeed is the elephant that is...

Just outside the back of the house, yes. The house itself...

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-Yeah, it was really nice.

Really nice. You said you wanted an open-plan kitchen. Nice and big that?

-Good space.

-It was nice.

-Upstairs, before we get to the back of the house...

-Yeah.

-Before we get to the back of the house. Lots of character? Lots of nice beams...

-Yeah.

-Some features, yeah.

-Yeah, it was really big.

-So, is it just a massive cross through it with that truck stop?

-Pretty much.

-It's a pretty big cross.

-Yeah.

-It was a massive gamble that Jonnie played.

Many would ask why such a gamble, but he liked the property, so there was some sense to it.

-How much do believe this property is on the market for?

-On the edge of the Peak District.

-I'll let you go first this time.

-And I'm going to have to go 120.

-You'll make a fool of yourself if you do.

-120.

£120,000. Jonnie? It is a lovely house though. I must stress that. £120,000 versus... Becky?

-I'm going to go 135.

-£135,000.

And that at the moment, you are in the lead, aren't you, Nick?

-I know.

-Well, congratulations.

-You've clawed it back.

-Yeah!

It's one apiece. So at least I've got one person on my side, maybe.

It's just above £135,000 at £165,000.

-Oh!

-At no point have you been in eye contact with either of them...

-Yes!

-The house is lovely. It was a gamble that didn't pay off. The price doesn't help, does it?

-No, not really.

-Shall we go to the other wild card today?

-Yeah.

-I think it's this way.

It is mine and Jonnie's favourite part of the show and I'm sure yours, too, viewers. It's the wild card.

And be warned, we are pulling no punches today.

This busy pair of house hunters deserve nothing less than this beauty.

Masses of space, bang on location and some work to do to keep Nick and Becky busy.

So, Becky and Nick, the wild card, the wild card, everyone,

normally, loves the wild card.

And, after the last property we've been at,

this has got a good chance, being positive.

-We're in the area of Dilhorne. Have you heard of it?

-We have.

-Do you like Dilhorne?

-Yeah.

-We do. Good start.

-Thank you very much.

This is the former gardener's cottage of Dilhorne Hall.

Dilhorne Hall has since moved on. It burnt to the ground.

Anyway, this is the gardener's cottage and it is a cracker.

This is only just on to the market and something intriguing has happened.

You're property experts now, cos you've looked at two houses with us.

What do you think's happened to this?

-It's now two.

-It is now two!

-It was one.

-It was one.

-They are very good, aren't they? Now you asked to be near a pub, didn't you?

-We did.

-Yeah.

-There is a secret path. The pub is out your back door.

-That's the pub there.

-Oh, fantastic.

-Excellent.

How good's that? Now what do you think of the look of it?

-Semi-detached. No terrace to be seen.

-Excellent.

-Looks big.

Now whilst we're here we might as talk about it.

The garden has got not much at the back.

This is your garden.

-It's massive.

-It's huge.

-Big, in't it?

-What are your thoughts?

-You've been fed full of information. Becky, what do you reckon?

-I think it looks very interesting.

-It's quite big and I'd love to go inside and have a nosey.

-Okey-cokey.

-Are you ready and revving?

-We are.

-Yes.

-Three, two, one. Go in that beauty.

-Thank you.

Well, it does have a back garden and you would describe that as a...

-Vertical garden.

-Which is quite the rage these days.

Oh, right. You've got a porch.

-That's handy.

-Yeah, definitely. For dirty boots and stuff. Big hallway.

It's good. It needs a bit of stuff doing to it, doesn't it?

-That's no issue.

-That's OK.

-In here.

-I love the fireplace.

-That's nice.

-Oh, that's lovely.

-I like that.

-That's really nice.

-Beams as well.

-Fantastic.

-And a fireplace.

-That is the sound of Stoke happiness.

-They could stoke that fire quite happily.

-Could do!

-It's brilliant.

-It's a massive room.

-It's a good size, definitely.

-Really big.

-It makes it bright, doesn't it, for having the big, sort of French doors?

-Yeah.

-That's fantastic.

-Yeah, I like that.

-Shall we have a look in here?

-Yeah, you've got a conservatory out there.

-Oh, this is handy, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, that's good.

-You've got a nice view outside.

-Right through to the garden.

-Yeah.

-It's quite a big conservatory as well.

-You could get quite a few bits in here, yeah, definitely.

They have got to the conservatory, which I think they quite fancy the idea of having.

We've got one on the front of the property.

Make use of those beautiful views and get that light pouring into that rather handsomely sized sitting room.

Turning the front garden, I would say, cleverly into the back garden.

Could get a TV or perhaps a dining table or something.

I think so. A dining table would be a nice idea for in here.

-Looking into the garden.

-Yeah.

Yeah, I like that. That's nice.

See what's through here.

Back door as well.

Oh, wow! There's another room.

It keeps getting more and more.

Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Oh!

-Is it... I think this is a bedroom.

-It looks like a bedroom, yeah.

Cos you've got like an en suite.

Right, this is obviously there because of the previous owner.

I don't think they want to keep that as a wet-room.

I think they want to make that into whatever they want. I'm not even going to give them suggestions.

They're clever. They don't need my property knowledge.

-Oh, right. Got the kitchen here.

-That's nice.

-Yeah. It's a good size, isn't it?

Perhaps put a little dining table here or something, couldn't you?

Yeah, that's bigger than we had before.

-I think it would be good if you had friends round and stuff...

-It would be easy to fit a table in.

-Yeah.

-You would easily fit a table in.

-Nice big kitchen.

-When Becky's doing the washing-up...

-Presumably, she's the lady of the house.

-Listen to that!

-She will have a lovely view.

-Listen to you!

-Isn't that what...

-I thought you were a modern man.

Isn't that what women are supposed to do? I joke, ladies! I joke.

You can do the washing as well.

OK.

-A little cloakroom.

-Yeah.

Under the stairs. It's quite big actually.

Yes, yes. There's plenty of storage as well.

-You could turn that into some sort of storage unit.

-Mm-hm. Yeah, that's right.

-Mm.

They're now about to enter the nooks and crannies of the downstairs.

And there are a few, to be honest with you.

Good for storing his hockey sticks.

Well, I've got somewhere...

I've found somewhere even much better to store the hockey sticks.

-Where?

-An amazing place. Not... No.

No.

-Guess?

-Not your trousers.

-Not my trousers.

-No. The loft?

-No.

Oh, a downstairs loo. That's always handy, isn't it?

-Yeah, that's all right.

-Yeah.

-Can I have one more guess?

-This is embarrassing.

I've been in there. I just don't know...

-I'm going to bow to your knowledge. Go on, where?

-Cellar.

-Ooh!

OK. That's quite big.

Yeah, it is, isn't it? The doors are nice.

That's all right.

Right! They are in the upstairs part of the property, or level three,

now I've realised that there is a cellar with this property.

And another bathroom.

A shower as well.

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

-Yeah. Needs a new floor, but...

-Yeah.

-Apart from that, it's all right.

-My property, how many toilets did it have?

-Unos.

-And it was downstairs.

-Here they've got toilets downstairs, upstairs.

-It's...

-Is there a toilet in the cellar?

There's an embarrassment of bogs in this house.

There's a better way of saying that, but that's the way we're going to say it at the moment.

-Oh, this is a good size, isn't it?

-And built-in wardrobes.

-Yeah. It's not a lot smaller than the one downstairs, is it?

-No.

I mean, they're politely looking at the built-in wardrobes.

They'll smash them out if they buy the house.

But what they're not doing is getting put off by any of the re-decoration or work that needs to be done.

-You could perhaps have this as your master.

-Yeah.

-Turn the downstairs one like into a study or something.

-Or a boys' room.

-Or a boys' room, yeah.

I think it needs aesthetic things doing to it.

-Yeah, a bit of decorating.

-You've got another nice view again out of the front.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, looking into the front garden.

-Mm.

-I like this room.

-And me.

-It's really nice.

-Yeah, it is really bright. Nice, high ceilings again.

-Yeah.

-It gives it quite a lot of space.

-Oh, wow! This one's huge as well.

-Good.

-Wow.

-There's no box rooms, is there?

-No.

-That's a good size again.

They're having a lovely time up there!

-They are drinking in the space that this house affords...

-There's a lot to drink in, isn't there?

OK, nice high ceilings. That's all right, isn't it?

-Yeah. I like this room.

-Yeah, and me.

-It's a big house, isn't it?

-Mm.

I would like to be the estate agent that wrote up the details about this.

"Every room affords ample views over the gorgeous countryside.

"Please, an internal viewing is highly recommended". That's what I would have liked to have written.

You would probably have been preceded with, "So and so, so and so.

"Hall and Irwin are delighted to announce the instructions of this period, semi-detached property".

This needs a lot of work, I would say, but it's a lot of decoration.

There's not really much structural maybe...

You going to have to change bathrooms, things like that.

-Yeah.

-Is that frightening?

-Not really.

-I think it will be good fun.

-It'll be OK.

-The thing about this house, you could move in straight away. Everything works.

The bathroom works, you've got a kitchen that can be used.

I suggest you go around the house and do one room every so often. So you've

got a couple of properties under your belts. How much do you think this is?

-It's guess the price time. What's the score again? Is it one-all?

-It's one-all!

-Who wants to go first?

-I'll let Nick go first again.

-Go on, Nick.

I think it's right at the top,

maybe even into that haggle zone, cos there's a lot of space in there, there's a lot of rooms.

So I'm going to 160.

-Right at the top.

-OK.

I think you've been really mean and picked something

that's out of the budget, cos it's amazing. I think it's 175.

-OK. With a quick bit of maths.

-You're working this out though, aren't you?

-This will be very impressive. Nick, you are the closest.

-Oh!

-And you have won guess the price.

-Excellent.

The actual price of the property is, it's offers in the region of 165.

So offers around 165.

It's just come on the market, so we don't know what the attitude is of the owners to lower offers, but

you can always go higher and higher as you go along, can't you?

Now you have to go away and make the biggest decision of your adult lives.

-Are you prepared and excited about that?

-Yeah.

-Well, you could go to the pub and do it.

-Sounds great.

-Not that I'm advocating drinking. Have a lemonade and do it.

-Go off and we'll see you later outside your chosen vehicle. Good luck.

-Thank you.

-I wonder what they'll go for.

-Well, I'd have thought probably mine.

-It was flawless, wasn't it?

-It was flawless apart from one thing.

-What?

-The tanker.

-Tanker?!

-The tanker.

-Let's have a quick recap and I'll see if I can spot 'em.

-The tankers.

-Don't believe they're there.

So will today's eager beavers

trip the light fantastic in my prodigious pick?

Three beds, office landing, practical living space and a bargain price tag to boot.

All of that for the glorious price of 139,950.

Or will they see past the rear of my property and opt for village life on the edge of the Peak District?

It's got three bedrooms, a huge kitchen-diner and a boutique-style bathroom.

Offers around £165,000 are being invited.

Or will the wild card do its legendary thing and steal everyone's thunder?

Oodles of space, flexible living, potential and right next door to the pub.

I'm already sold, Jonnie, but how will Nick and Becky feel?

Well, they're looking for offers around £165,000.

It might be a stumbling block, but you never know.

So, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise.

You have joined the many people who have come on this programme and chosen to test drive the wild card.

-Why did you choose this one?

-I think "potential" is the big word.

-It's a cracker, isn't it?

-A lot of potential to it.

-You get a lot of house for your money.

-Yeah.

-A lot of house.

-The rooms are huge.

We have had our mysterious To Buy Or Not To Buy surveyor come here and give it a thorough once over.

It's not legally binding, so if you do wish to purchase it, you've got to get your own survey.

-But it's a good heads-up if you wish to haggle, and you need to haggle, don't you?

-We do.

OK, so looking at the property, the first piece of information is, thusly...

-Obviously, it used to be one house. It is now two.

-Yeah.

First off, you need to check whether it has planning consent to be changed into two houses, all right?

After that, you need to check it's had building regulations.

The next bit is... This is where you could haggle and waggle. So you need to get a timber report.

Because of the age of the building, you need to check whether the timbers are all fine.

And there is evidence of damp.

There's evidence of damp in a lot of houses, but there's evidence of damp towards the back of the property.

Other than that, he loved it.

Right then, the property awaits your test-driving abilities.

-Are you prepared and ready?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Get in there and do it.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Right, shall we seek out a haulage yard or a tanker depot or...?

-There's a pub next door.

-Let's go to the pub.

What's going on here then?

Well, I'd imagine they've got all sorts planned for this one, Ed.

Ah, a game of hockey, obviously.

-Er, Ed, that's a baby! That was quick, wasn't it?

-Alas not, Jonnie.

It's not their daughter. It's Nick's friend's daughter.

Ah, I see. They've brought his daughter along

-to see if this place passes the photograph it with a baby test.

-Yeah, it's something like that.

The elusive cellar. They've found it easily enough.

Kids today.

-Pool room.

-Yes!

-Turn it into a pool room.

-Have a little fridge for your beers.

-Yeah.

-And guess what... Nick's having it as a boys' room.

Do you think this place measures up location-wise?

It's still close enough to sort of my parents.

It's not too bad for work either.

Yep, seems to, Ed.

-Right, shall we go to the pub?

-Yeah.

Jonnie, I think they've discovered our secret hideaway.

Ah, this is embarrassing. Let's get back to work then.

Cheers!

It's decision time.

That was probably the busiest test drive I have ever seen.

It was like a whirlwind. The hockey, the photos. You interrupted our pint as well.

It's true. It was a fizzy drink though, I would like to point out.

It was a soft drink. I was putting a bet on when you came in, so I had to put that down.

-How does it feel to have all this happening? Does it feel like a "you" house?

-It could be.

-Yeah.

At the right price, I think it could be.

-It's the price thing that's a potential hurdle, isn't it?

-It is.

But looking around, you can see why it's at that level, can't you?

-Cos there's so much property here, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-I think it's fairly priced.

-Wow! OK.

-Well, look, if it's fairly priced, then it suggests you really like it.

-It does suggest you really like it.

I want to know what your favourite room in the house is, cos I think it's the cellar.

-Yes.

-Why do you both like the cellar so much?

I don't know. I've always had a thing about cellars.

-It must be all the wine that's usually in them.

-Hey! Aye-aye!

-It's a real bonus.

When people look for a house, they say, "I'd like a room for an office, off-street parking, maybe a garage.

"Nobody says, I want a cellar." So when they get one, "Wooo!" It's the cherry on top of the cake.

It's an added bonus, isn't it? Are we ready?

-Cos it's about to happen and we can't hold it back any longer.

-Go on.

To buy or not to buy, that is the question?

Possibly to buy.

-Possibly?!

-Come on!

-We've not wasted 45 minutes to get to a "possibly".

-We want this to be a...

-What are the caveats? What are the possibles then?

-It's the price.

-OK.

-The price that could hold us back.

-So at the right price... What closer to your budget?

-Closer to our budget, at the right price, then yeah.

-Say it.

-To buy.

-Yes!

-I'll take that.

We're going to go on a happy note whilst we're all smiling, before they change their minds.

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