0:00:02 > 0:00:07- Hello and welcome.- Today, we are in the villages of South Lincolnshire.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11And if we can weave our magic correctly, it will soon become home
0:00:11 > 0:00:16to one of the bravest people we've ever had on the programme.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28On To Buy Or Not To Buy today, we are featuring
0:00:28 > 0:00:33probably one of the bravest people we have ever had on the programme.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36That's right. Today's buyer Mark was in the Army for over seven years,
0:00:36 > 0:00:37serving Queen and country.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41That's not why he's brave. I mean, he WAS for doing that, but that's not the reason I was thinking.
0:00:41 > 0:00:48Right, yes. Mark cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats and back again, raising thousands for charity.
0:00:48 > 0:00:54- That's great, heroic and brave - but he's not brave for that, either. - No? What is it, then?
0:00:54 > 0:01:00It's the work thing. Mark is in the Fire Service, saving people from burning buildings.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06- He is a phenomenal guy, beautiful and brave, but that is also not the reason why he's brave.- Really?
0:01:06 > 0:01:10The reason he's brave is he's on the show with his mother-in-law.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13- That IS brave.- Brave, indeed.
0:01:13 > 0:01:18'Coming up on To Buy Or Not To Buy... Jonny's sales pitch gets off to a bad start.'
0:01:18 > 0:01:24Barn conversion you alluded to. It isn't, but it's got that sort of feel to it.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25It was an old bakery!
0:01:25 > 0:01:28It was a bakery? That's almost the opposite.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33- 'There is harsh words from the mother-in-law.'- A little office.
0:01:33 > 0:01:40- A collection of...is it radios? - Don't think of that. Think of what you could do with this room.
0:01:40 > 0:01:47- 'But, luckily, to every problem...' - Every woman should have one of these.- '..we provide a solution.'
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Every man should have this option.
0:01:50 > 0:01:57- Our buyers today are Mark and Liz. - Between them, they make up two of the three emergency services.
0:01:57 > 0:02:03- Mark's a fireman and Liz is a police officer.- They met at the Police and Fire World Games
0:02:03 > 0:02:09in Canada a couple of years ago, when love blossomed over an isotonic drink and a power bar.
0:02:09 > 0:02:14- You mentioned a mother-in-law?- I did. Liz's job as a Royal Protection Officer means she's working.
0:02:14 > 0:02:21- So her mum, Jean, has been drafted in to help Mark with his search. - Good luck, Mark. You'll need it.
0:02:21 > 0:02:28- This is a treat for all of us. Mark, you're a very brave man. The mother-in-law is here!- Hello!
0:02:28 > 0:02:35- I'm very pleased to be here. - We're pleased you're here, as well. - Liz couldn't make it.- No, sadly.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40- I don't want to go into specifics, but Liz does a brilliant job. - She certainly does.
0:02:40 > 0:02:46She's a police officer with the Met and she is with the Royals at the moment.
0:02:46 > 0:02:52- Does she meet all of the Royals? - Well, not personally on a day-to-day basis.
0:02:52 > 0:02:58- Is she hiding up a tree? - Has she got a favourite?- Oh, no... - You can't reveal that!
0:02:58 > 0:03:05So you've been furnished with information of what to look out for. Start there. What's she looking for?
0:03:05 > 0:03:11- She wants a house in a community... - Mm-hm.- ..where she can...
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Where there's a shop and a pub.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- Are we talking villages? - Villages, really.
0:03:16 > 0:03:22- But I think Mark's got different ideas.- Oh, OK. So we've already got conflict right at the start.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26- Go on.- It's the only thing where we're really...
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- not massively at variance.- Come on.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33I'd like to be just no neighbours, middle of nowhere,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36country lane, no houses.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41Are you prepared to compromise? Clearly, Liz will call the shots!
0:03:41 > 0:03:49- Would you be able to deal with living in a rural community?- I think we could compromise.- All right.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53We both want the same thing for the house.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59OK, regardless of location, for the time being, what does this place look like?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Erm, we're looking at whether it's semi-detached, detached.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Erm...three to four bedrooms.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11- We're talking more olde worlde, rather than new.- OK.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16- Is this all correct, Jean? Describe the look of it.- I can see it being
0:04:16 > 0:04:21- like a stone-built nice barn, perhaps.- Oh, OK.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24- Look at this!- An animal house.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29- Did Liz give you this or is this Jean speaking? - I've got to stop that, haven't I?
0:04:29 > 0:04:33But an old property. Not a new modern one.
0:04:33 > 0:04:39Let's talk about areas. You're after a character property. That's what we're aiming towards.
0:04:39 > 0:04:45We looked in North Lincolnshire, then we ventured this way on the way home.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50- We saw Stamford and went...- Wow! - Ahhh! We love it.- It's lovely.
0:04:50 > 0:04:56- So areas around Stamford we can have as our central point and go around there?- Yeah.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00How have you settled on Lincolnshire as the place?
0:05:00 > 0:05:05It's sort of the fact that we're living in Leicestershire now.
0:05:05 > 0:05:11We like the area and we're sort of looking in between Jean living in Essex
0:05:11 > 0:05:15and my mum living in Lancashire. It's sort of a mid-ground.
0:05:15 > 0:05:21Now with your sports, I'm guessing lots of equipment happens and you need things nearby.
0:05:21 > 0:05:27- What can't you live without? What do you need to store? - I can answer that.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32It's got to have outbuildings so I lose the motorbike in my garage, which is Liz's,
0:05:32 > 0:05:37there's a surfboard in her bedroom that I want to go, and all her bits.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42- So it's got to have an outbuilding to get my house free of clutter. - Finally,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- what are you bringing to the party? - 10 bikes...- 10?!
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- A motor home.- Right.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53- A windsurfer.- And the surfboard. - And the surfboard.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57And then all the equipment that goes with triathlon, really.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- All the Lycra you can handle!- Yes!
0:06:02 > 0:06:05So a lot, an awful lot of stuff.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09I've got a question. I imagine the answer is positive.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13You're a firefighter. Have you done a saucy calendar shoot?
0:06:13 > 0:06:19- Yes, I've done the calendar. - Oh, yes. It's in Liz's bedroom. - You see!
0:06:19 > 0:06:24- Should have brought it along. It's quite good. - I'm relieved you didn't!
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Can you do us the April face?
0:06:27 > 0:06:28No!
0:06:30 > 0:06:34All right. Your requirements aren't too strict.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Is there anything else? Beyond the excessive amount of storage?
0:06:38 > 0:06:43Liz's requirements are large, nice dining/kitchen.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48- And a granny annexe. She didn't say that, but I have.- No, she didn't.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53So...we're at the point now. We've got a lot of stuff to store.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56How much money have we got?
0:06:56 > 0:06:58We're talking around 250.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03- 250.- That sort of Stamp Duty level. - Yes, try to keep it below if we can.
0:07:03 > 0:07:09- You are prepared to spend up to 250. That's the budget to purchase at. - Yeah.- So we could have a haggle zone
0:07:09 > 0:07:14- to haggle back to 250?- Yeah. - Works for me.- We'll disappear now.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20- Anything you've forgotten about is now irrelevant. All right, we'll see you later.- OK, thanks.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Everything I learnt from Les Dawson seems to be wrong.
0:07:25 > 0:07:31- Mother-in-law and son-in-law in perfect harmony. Lovely.- Goes against everything we've learnt.
0:07:31 > 0:07:37The biggest concern is will we get the face of April from Mark? That's my big concern.
0:07:37 > 0:07:43- Houses, we're fine.- The other big concern is finding the property they're after. We have a battle -
0:07:43 > 0:07:49mother-in-law, son-in-law. Liz's wants represented by Jean, with Mark on the other side.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53- Do we go isolated, semi-rural?- I think we play to Liz's wants.- Yeah.
0:07:53 > 0:07:59Today's search takes us to the villages around Stamford and Bourne in Lincolnshire.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05Stamford is a historic town, mainly built in the Jacobean and Georgian periods.
0:08:05 > 0:08:12- It has over 600 listed buildings. - It was the first town to be declared a conservation area, back in 1967.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Nearby, RAF Wittering is the home of the Harrier jump jet,
0:08:16 > 0:08:23- which first came into service in 1969 and is still flying today. - Incredible.
0:08:23 > 0:08:29The picturesque town of Bourne, about ten miles north of Stamford, was home to a motor sport legend.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33British Racing Motors, BRM, achieved Grand Prix success
0:08:33 > 0:08:40back in the '60s with Graham Hill winning the 1962 world championship in a car built here in Bourne.
0:08:40 > 0:08:47But now it's time to feast your eyes on our selection of properties in other rural areas of the UK.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51How about this detached barn conversion in Penzance?
0:08:51 > 0:08:56The two bed property is finished to a high standard, with exposed wood and stone
0:08:56 > 0:08:59giving it a rustic, yet contemporary, feel.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Or how's about this detached 1930s home in Prestatyn, Wales?
0:09:04 > 0:09:09It boasts four bedrooms, a large Shaker-style kitchen, garage and off-street parking.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19And last, but certainly not least, there's this four-bed home, just south of Beverley in Yorkshire.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22With a beautiful contemporary decor
0:09:22 > 0:09:26and lovely gardens, it could be yours for...
0:09:26 > 0:09:31But now it's time for me to make an appearance back in Stamford.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35The magnificent Burghley House, on the outskirts of Stamford,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38is one of the principal examples of 16th-Century Elizabethan architecture.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43Our buyers today have a budget of around £250,000.
0:09:43 > 0:09:50- And they do like Stamford. - Everybody likes Stamford, but £250,000 doesn't get you a lot.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56Built by William Cecil, it comprises of 35 principal rooms and 80 lesser rooms.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59The roof alone is 3/4 of an acre.
0:10:01 > 0:10:08The further east they come, the cheaper the houses will become and the more choice you'll get.
0:10:08 > 0:10:14- How is the market around here? - I'd say it seems fairly stable.
0:10:14 > 0:10:20Prices aren't shooting up or crashing down. Good quality properties are still being sold.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22That's how it's always been.
0:10:22 > 0:10:28It's been featured in Pride and Prejudice, The Da Vinci Code and today it's made the A-list
0:10:28 > 0:10:34and is on To Buy Or Not To Buy. Lucky you, Burghley House. Lucky you.
0:10:36 > 0:10:42- Right, we've got some absolute gems. - We have. We've played to both Mark and to Liz,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Liz, of course, being played by the character of Jean.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Property One is positioned more towards Liz.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54It has got character, which they asked for. It is detached.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59- And it has parking for their camper van.- Has it got enough storage? - Plenty of storage.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Nothing can possibly go wrong. Here's my choice, Property One.
0:11:03 > 0:11:10Now Property Two, my beauty, I have played to Mark's desire for the middle of nowhere.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14I'm kind of the middle of nowhere, but also the middle of somewhere.
0:11:14 > 0:11:21The house is very, very big. There is a phrase I often use, "there's an elephant in the room".
0:11:21 > 0:11:25There are several elephants in the room with this property.
0:11:25 > 0:11:31- Basically, it's a zoo.- If they can get over those issues, they get a lot of house for not a lot of money.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35- It's a cracker.- The wild card. As Mark is here and Liz isn't,
0:11:35 > 0:11:41we've also directed this one more towards Mark's needs. "No immediate neighbours."
0:11:41 > 0:11:47- That's what Mark is after. - If you plan to come on the programme and the wife can't make it,
0:11:47 > 0:11:52- you will be favoured heavily. It's a beautiful house.- It is.
0:11:52 > 0:11:58It's a little bit out of their area, to demonstrate that you can get more bang for your buck.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03- So those are the houses. Where shall we start?- Property One?- Jonny's one.
0:12:06 > 0:12:12My choice is in the lovely Lincolnshire village of Langtoft, nine miles east of Stamford.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16It's a three-bed converted bakehouse with all the extras Mark asked for.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19It'll be hard to beat this one.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22OK, here we go, Property 1.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26Jean, Mark, welcome. We're in Langtoft.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30Immediately for you, this isn't isolated and rural.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- This is more geared for Liz's needs. - Right.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38We're in Camp Jean with the kind of property I hope you were describing.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- Characterful, a barn conversion was something you alluded to.- It was.
0:12:43 > 0:12:50- It isn't, but it's got that feel. It was an old bakery.- It's not that at all, but it was a bakery!
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Almost the opposite.- First impressions?- Well, I liked it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56It looks really nice...
0:12:56 > 0:13:01- from the outside. - It's ticking a few boxes for me.
0:13:01 > 0:13:07You probably think it's a cottage, head-ducking problems. Do not worry about that.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09We've got knee pads for you!
0:13:09 > 0:13:15There is an Achilles' heel. I won't flag it up just yet. You will notice it.
0:13:15 > 0:13:22But it's a worthwhile compromise, to give you something extra special upstairs. Mystery!
0:13:22 > 0:13:26The main dilemma is, is this too built-up an area?
0:13:26 > 0:13:32- Initially, yes. - For you, this is.- For me, yes. - Let's get a word from Liz, as Jean.
0:13:32 > 0:13:38Liz would accept it. There's a church there, a village hall. It's a community.
0:13:38 > 0:13:44Exactly what you're after. OK, what's it going to deliver inside that'll make you happy?
0:13:44 > 0:13:50- It's got to have a bit of wow factor. I'm still...- See? Look at that! - There you go.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- Look at that.- It's a Hummer! - Pulling a caravan!
0:13:54 > 0:14:00- A little bit too busy. - So you need the wow factor to get over that. There's a car!
0:14:00 > 0:14:07- People driving(!) - Look for the wow factor. It might come in the form of a rabbit. Go!
0:14:07 > 0:14:14- There is genuinely a rabbit in this house, folks.- Its name is Doughnut and it wanders around.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19- That's a fact. Shall we? - Hop to it?- Come on.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Very nice, Mark.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28- Is it a working fire? Could be? - Could be.- 'Is it?- Yes.'
0:14:28 > 0:14:35- It is.- Just needs a quick chimney sweep. The current vendor just doesn't want baked rabbit.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39- There it is.- Is that Doughnut?- Yeah.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Rabbit stew tonight.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- Nice.- Yeah.- So far.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50I like it.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55- It's decorated lovely, isn't it? - Yeah.- I think Liz would like it.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57It's just...
0:14:57 > 0:15:03The only issue is size. If it was bigger, but a similar kind of style, it would be spot on.
0:15:03 > 0:15:09- Dining room, but it hasn't got a kitchen with it.- No kitchen/diner.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13- It must be the kitchen next, so... - I like it.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17I could certainly live with this as a dining room,
0:15:17 > 0:15:21but the whole living space is not that big.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26Could you...? No, you can't knock through. That's the stairs.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31- Or you'd take out your whole chimney. - Kitchen now.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36- Very nice. - Ah, now this is good, yeah.
0:15:38 > 0:15:46- So you can use a table in here. - I like this. Lizzie would love this. She really would.- Yeah.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50- Lizzie would love it.- What is it? - The kitchen.- Good news.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54It's not perfectly ideal for the eating side,
0:15:54 > 0:16:00as in sitting relaxing while somebody else is cooking. It's not the perfect space for that.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05At the moment, when this broadcasts, Liz could be watching this programme
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- because she looks after the Royals with Liz.- Think she calls her Liz?
0:16:09 > 0:16:14- Could do.- They have the same name. - They could be doing that now.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19The Queen will be saying, "I like it, Liz. You should move in there."
0:16:19 > 0:16:25- Is it a bathroom?- It is a bathroom. - It's been nicely done.
0:16:25 > 0:16:32- It reminds me of the Hitchcock movie.- It's in need of a little bit of an update.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36You've got to have something to do in your spare time!
0:16:38 > 0:16:44The problem people have with downstairs bathrooms is they imagine themselves needing the toilet
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- between midnight and four o'clock. - Yeah.- And that bit kills them.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52- How often do you do that? - Quite a lot.- But you're older.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54OK, let's go up.
0:16:55 > 0:17:02Let's have a look left first. Mm, a nice bedroom. Master bedroom, I would say.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- It looks like it. - This is quite big, Mark.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09It's a good size. Could certainly fit our bed in.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Right.
0:17:11 > 0:17:17- It's a good size for a third room. - Yeah. Would I fit in here?
0:17:19 > 0:17:25- It's not too bad.- What about a nursery room, Mark? - Ideal, Jean, ideal.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- Let's move on, shall we?- Yeah.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Oh, wow. This is a big room. This is it.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34That's the reaction from Jean I wanted. Come on, Mark!
0:17:35 > 0:17:39- It's... - A pause, a stumble and a hesitation!
0:17:39 > 0:17:44When I walked in, I was thinking it would be a country cottage -
0:17:44 > 0:17:46chintz and that - but it isn't.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48I'm glad!
0:17:50 > 0:17:56I'm not sure what they want. Do they want chintzy? What is chintzy?
0:17:56 > 0:18:02- This is country with a modern twist. Ish.- It's that nice blend between character and contemporary.
0:18:02 > 0:18:08They could easily revert it back to more character, without the contemporary.
0:18:09 > 0:18:15- Oh, it's quite a big garage. - A good size.- You couldn't get your motor home in here,
0:18:15 > 0:18:20- but motorbike, surfboard, rubbish...- Lots of bikes, yeah.
0:18:20 > 0:18:26What's lovely, at no point has Jean stopped mentioning, "It could take the bikes and the surfboard
0:18:26 > 0:18:31"that are stored at MY house. Get them out. Out of my house!"
0:18:31 > 0:18:39- This is why Jean's here. Liz was available, but Jean wanted the stuff...- She wants the most storage.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Oh, wow. Look at this.
0:18:42 > 0:18:48- It's a...posh sun room? - Yeah. This is nice.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Ah. I could live here.
0:18:52 > 0:18:59- It's not a bedroom, Jean.- I know. I could be invited to stay. - It's certainly a surprise.- Yeah.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I didn't even know it existed.
0:19:04 > 0:19:12What is wrong with you two? That place is lovely. It's characterful, it's got the space
0:19:12 > 0:19:16- and it's got a gym outside. - It's not got the space we want.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18I was going to say!
0:19:18 > 0:19:24You are outdoorsy people. Didn't want to give you too much inside.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28I want to encourage you to maintain your outdoor pursuits.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35- Jonny's initial thought of the Achilles' heel was the downstairs bathroom.- Didn't phase you?
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- We've got one now.- So that's fine.
0:19:37 > 0:19:44- What is the crux of the issue? - Size of the living room. Not enough living space, really.
0:19:44 > 0:19:50- Good size dining room and... it's just not grabbing us. - Just not catching us.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55Not giving you the vibe, the feeling that you want.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00Which is a shame. Outside is great. It's got all the storage you need.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05- It's a plus for me!- Shall we play Guess the Price?- You go first.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- Straight in!- We've got a maximum budget of £250,000.
0:20:09 > 0:20:15- Good luck with this. You don't know the area very well.- I don't.- Mark?
0:20:15 > 0:20:21- I'd say around 240.- So 240's your number?- 240's the number.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23I would say...
0:20:23 > 0:20:26..one nine nine nine. 200.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31- You're saying 200. - 200,000.- £200,000, OK.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36- I think I might be winning this.- Yes. It's on the market for £269,950.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41- Wow! I was way out! - You were. 70 grand, not bad(!)
0:20:41 > 0:20:47- Take it as a positive, Mark. It's a victory for you. - What do you think?
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- Where's the next one?- Come on! - After you, please.
0:20:54 > 0:21:01Well, for my property I've come north of Stamford, to Little Bytham in the gorgeous countryside,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05for this classic Victorian home. This four-bed property
0:21:05 > 0:21:10will give Mark and Liz all the space they desire.
0:21:10 > 0:21:16Mark and Jean, we are at Property Two, the one you wished to be whisked away to after Property One.
0:21:16 > 0:21:22We are in Little Bytham. It may be the name of the village, but look at the size of this beauty.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27I don't want to compare it to Jonny's, but I'm going to.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30I would say maybe twice the size.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33- That's ludicrous.- "Maybe" was there.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37- Jean, I'm coming to you first. It's a little remote.- I know.
0:21:37 > 0:21:44- But the house is huge.- I love it. - You love it?- I said that about the other one outside, but this...
0:21:44 > 0:21:49- You changed your mind. - I think this has got potential.
0:21:49 > 0:21:55- Where do you think the potential is? - It's next to the primary school, which is a bonus.
0:21:55 > 0:22:01- I'm thinking of the future.- That could easily have been a negative.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06Not for me. The children have summer holidays, half-term.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10OK, so the positive of the school from you, Jean. Thank you.
0:22:10 > 0:22:16I thought that was an elephant in the room. The other elephant in the room
0:22:16 > 0:22:22- is over that way. Have you seen it? - I'd say that's a rhinoceros at the back.- OK, go on.
0:22:22 > 0:22:28A charging, rampaging rhino going through your living room every five, six minutes.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31It's a little bit further away.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34There's always a compromise in life.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39The house has got to make up a lot inside. It looks great outside.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44What I'll throw out there is that the outlook from the upstairs bedrooms
0:22:44 > 0:22:50over these rolling fields is a beautiful vista. Just the shape of the fields.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54- It's glorious.- It is.- We're loving it.- I'm ticking boxes.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59Brilliant. This is beautiful. You're the one that I'm worried about.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03- So are you ready and excited?- Yes. - This could be the new home.- I know.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08- I can see myself in there.- Quick! Before the rhino goes through! Go!
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I can't hear anything!
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Wipe your feet.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- Nice hall.- More of a hallway here than the last time.
0:23:18 > 0:23:25- Oh, it is nice. Yeah, I like this. - It's still probably just as small as the other one.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- But it's...cosy.- It feels a bit nicer.- Double glazing.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Cosy can only be used within the term, "it feels cosy".
0:23:33 > 0:23:36This is massive.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41For 250 grand, environs of, massive, isn't it? Massive.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Ah, I like the hall. - That looks interesting.
0:23:44 > 0:23:51- A little office. A collection of... Is it radios? - Yeah, but don't think about that.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Think about what you could do here.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58- She's good. She's focusing his mind. - She's playing a really good role.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00He's, "Oh, look at that radio."
0:24:00 > 0:24:05- "No, listen, lad. Come on." - Pulling him in. Concentrate.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09A nice downstairs loo. Bathroom, shower.
0:24:09 > 0:24:15- A shower room?- Yeah, shower room. - Providing we've got one upstairs, we're all right.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17And then...dining room.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22- Dining room/kitchen.- Oh, this is nice. This is what you wanted.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Yeah.- I like it.
0:24:24 > 0:24:31- Obviously, the kitchen needs ripping out and a new one put in. - Yeah, but you can do that.
0:24:31 > 0:24:37Mark, when he was in the Army, was in a part which assembled electrical stuff, built bridges...
0:24:37 > 0:24:43Mark could build a kitchen in there lickety split. He could probably build it from things he finds here.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47- He's not MacGyver. - He could do that. He could do that.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51- Ah.- Let's have a look.- A utility.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Oh, yeah. Every woman should have one of these.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00- Oh, wonder what's behind there.- And every man should have this option.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- I like it. Lizzie would love it. - Yeah.- She really would.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10- We didn't get this in yours. We sort of got the...- Meh.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14- But it's happened here.- Yeah. - A train hasn't...
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- A train's going past.- There we go.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22- TRAIN ROARS PAST - You can barely hear it. That's the most important thing.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24- A train going past?- Was it?
0:25:24 > 0:25:29- Up we go.- Let's have a look at what they've got up here.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Another nice landing. I like this.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36- Nice and spacious, Mark.- Quite light, as well. Through here first?
0:25:36 > 0:25:40It's another little... Ah, this is interesting.
0:25:40 > 0:25:46- Another office.- Wow.- That's a good size.- This is huge, yeah.
0:25:46 > 0:25:52- See, they're all nice and big rooms. - This is a single room, really, this one, isn't it?
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- Yeah, but...- Fantastic views. - I know. I like it.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Lizzie, you'd like this.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04- Oh, look! Another bathroom! - Now that's...- Brilliant.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06- That's lovely.- Yeah.
0:26:06 > 0:26:11- A third bedroom.- Third. Oh, gosh. Another big one.
0:26:11 > 0:26:18Nice fitted wardrobes. I hope there's a bigger one. This isn't big enough for our bed.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22This will be the telling, if it will hold your huge bed.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Yes! It's big.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28- Lovely.- Yeah, that's a better size, isn't it?
0:26:28 > 0:26:31It's just perfect. Look, big bed there.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36- And it has, again, lovely views. - Yeah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40- So what have we got altogether? Four bedrooms?- Yeah.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45- Two bathrooms, shower room. - Kitchen/diner.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49- Living room, office. - Lovely hall. The office, yeah.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53The hall and the stairs and the landing is lovely.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55It gives you space.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00- It feels a nice atmosphere, but... - You've got a "but".
0:27:00 > 0:27:03There's always a "but".
0:27:06 > 0:27:11- Mark and Jean... Jean, you love it.- I did.
0:27:11 > 0:27:17- I liked it!- You didn't like it, you loved it! Did you dislike anything?
0:27:17 > 0:27:22- Mark being negative about it. - You disliked Mark's attitude!
0:27:22 > 0:27:29- You were being realistic and pragmatic.- The hall was nice and spacious.- You loved the landing.
0:27:29 > 0:27:35You see, I can see...children's toys and clothes all over the place.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37I feel for you, mate.
0:27:37 > 0:27:43It was referred to as a rhino, but you've been inside the house. Some trains have gone past.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Have you noticed them?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48- Yes.- No.
0:27:48 > 0:27:54- I didn't hear them!- Jean couldn't hear them!- Think about the house, the practicalities of that.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58How did the property work? I'll come to you, Mark!
0:27:58 > 0:28:04The bathroom was pretty basic, the kitchen wants addressing, but overall, did it work for you?
0:28:04 > 0:28:10It's all very workable. There's obviously great potential, if you like.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14- Shall we play it?- Yeah. It's 1-0 to you, Mark.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19So your maximum budget is £250,000. Ed's found us a lovely property.
0:28:19 > 0:28:24- Jean, you go first this time. - I reckon 225.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27- Again, ludicrously low.- Is it?
0:28:27 > 0:28:29I think Mark wins again.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31- TRAIN PASSES - Rhino!
0:28:31 > 0:28:38- After the rhino's finished. - That's a big one. - They don't hang about for long.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42- Carry on, sorry.- I'd have a stab in the dark at 265.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44OK.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Go on.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50- Am I so low?- You are.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53You won the last time, Mark. You have won again.
0:28:53 > 0:28:59You've ruined it. The actual price it is on for is offers over £250,000.
0:29:00 > 0:29:08Price-wise, it's definitely there. And I think Liz would definitely have to come and see.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11- There are a few jobs that need doing, as well.- Yeah.
0:29:11 > 0:29:19And we said if it was exactly what we wanted, possibly just changing curtains, that sort of thing,
0:29:19 > 0:29:21- then we'd go to 260.- Right.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24But putting a new kitchen in...
0:29:24 > 0:29:28- (Ask her.)- I think we already have!
0:29:29 > 0:29:33Jean, you love it so much, you could end up moving here.
0:29:33 > 0:29:38Shall we have these discussions en route to the wildcard?
0:29:38 > 0:29:40It's this way.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Yes, folks, it's that time again, the wildcard.
0:29:47 > 0:29:53We're a little further away from Stamford and out towards The Fens, at the village of West Pinchbeck.
0:29:53 > 0:29:58The property is a little rough, but will they see the potential?
0:29:58 > 0:30:03OK, Mark and Jean, here is the third and final property, the wildcard.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Now, what do you think?
0:30:06 > 0:30:12I think it's fantastic. I like it. I'm getting really good warm feelings and vibes.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Yeah, we'll have it.
0:30:15 > 0:30:21- Jean, you've so far said this outside most properties!- Did I? - Well, kind of.- I did, didn't I?
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- It's brilliant.- Really?
0:30:24 > 0:30:31Setting couldn't be any better. I just want to go inside and see if it's as good as the outside.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35This is all great news so far, fantastic news. Different area.
0:30:35 > 0:30:42That's one reason it's the wildcard. You specified Stamford. We're a little bit further out.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Mark? Does it matter?
0:30:44 > 0:30:46No.
0:30:46 > 0:30:52- Honestly?- That was one of my concerns driving down here,
0:30:52 > 0:30:56- the fact that you can see for miles, it's flat.- We're in The Fens.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00There are no hills, but we're not far from the hills.
0:31:00 > 0:31:07We're not that far from Stamford. I'd like to be closer, but possibly can't afford this
0:31:07 > 0:31:10closer to Stamford, so I don't care.
0:31:10 > 0:31:16- Compromise happening right there. - Do you speak for you and Liz?
0:31:16 > 0:31:17Yes.
0:31:17 > 0:31:23- Liz...- Jean, is that correct? - I think so. I really do agree with him this time.
0:31:23 > 0:31:29- "This time". Brilliant! - OK, I want you to go inside and hope it doesn't let you down.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- OK.- Good luck. Go!
0:31:32 > 0:31:37Well, Mark, I like the outside. I wonder what the inside will be?
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Stairs up there. Good.
0:31:40 > 0:31:47- We're going through.- Doorway is big enough.- Oh, look, it's enormous!
0:31:47 > 0:31:49It is...perfect.
0:31:49 > 0:31:57- Ah.- It's not your kitchen/diner, but you'd forego that, wouldn't you, for this lovely property?
0:31:57 > 0:32:03- You'd have to see if we could do anything with it. It's not Liz's ideal kitchen.- No.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07- But the house is. - Ah, this is good. Look.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12- Ah, now that's a better size. - It's huge.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16- And we've got the open fire.- Yeah.
0:32:16 > 0:32:21- Ah, really, really good. I really like it, do you?- Yeah.
0:32:21 > 0:32:27In the house where Mark will raise his children, Mark can say, "Your grandma found this with me
0:32:27 > 0:32:32"on a television programme." And they'll say, "What programme?"
0:32:32 > 0:32:37He'll say, "The greatest TV programme ever, To Buy Or Not To Buy.
0:32:37 > 0:32:45"The guy called Ed won an Oscar and Jonny... Who knows? Who knows where he went?"
0:32:45 > 0:32:49Another... Oh, this is... I said this is what every woman wants.
0:32:49 > 0:32:55That makes a big difference to the kitchen. You can have your washing machine...
0:32:55 > 0:32:59- Unless it's a granny annexe. - If you want to live in here.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03- Jean is always trying to get herself a place to stay!- Good girl.
0:33:03 > 0:33:09- She's put some hard work in here. - Two things she's tried, rather unsubtly, to get across -
0:33:09 > 0:33:14- she wants grandkids and to live in. - And to clear out her garage.- True.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16- And a big double garage.- Yeah.
0:33:16 > 0:33:21A-ha! I can see, dare I say,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- surfboard. - Oh, brilliant space.- Yeah.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Here we go! She's ticked the boxes now.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Every house, she's done it.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Bedroom one. Been used as an office.
0:33:34 > 0:33:39Or a tiny little nursery, as I keep saying.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41Yeah, you'd get a single bed in.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45- Room two.- The other room. - It's a bit bigger.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48- This could be the master room.- It is.
0:33:48 > 0:33:54- Get your great big bed in somewhere. - The bed would have to go this way.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57- I like it.- It'd fit like that.
0:33:57 > 0:34:03- A bit smaller.- Ah, yes.- But again... - This wouldn't be your bedroom.- No.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06- This would be your room. - It's where I'll be!
0:34:06 > 0:34:10Does Jean think it's called You Must Buy You Have To Buy?
0:34:10 > 0:34:16- She expects Mark to buy a house. - There are estate agents thinking, "We need a Jean in our office
0:34:16 > 0:34:22- "to go on every viewing with our clients."- Even though it's constant positivity,
0:34:22 > 0:34:27- it still seems fresh.- There's a big bathroom.- That's a bonus.
0:34:27 > 0:34:34- Look at the size of that shower. - I wouldn't say the inside grabs me as much as the outside does.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39- The outside space is everything I want.- Yeah.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Ho-ho! Hey-hey! A-ha!
0:34:42 > 0:34:47So...you wanted to buy from the outside. You want to buy everything.
0:34:47 > 0:34:54- But this time I mean it. - You love it. Mark, you loved it from the outside and wanted to buy.
0:34:54 > 0:35:00You went inside, you loved it, but we all spotted there was one area of compromise.
0:35:00 > 0:35:05But it would seem it's not too much of a compromise.
0:35:05 > 0:35:10- It's not too much. The "but" is obviously the kitchen.- Yeah.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14The kitchen-cum-diner doesn't quite work as it is,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18- but I still think we can work with it.- That's love, isn't it?
0:35:18 > 0:35:23They only asked for one thing. "Just get me a kitchen/diner."
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Now it's, "That's the one thing we can live without."
0:35:27 > 0:35:34Let's look at the garden. This is a phenomenal plot it sits on. Just over half an acre.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38It's gorgeous. Open views. How does this suit you?
0:35:39 > 0:35:44Secluded. Not even a neighbour, really, even in sight.
0:35:44 > 0:35:49Ample parking for the motor home, a double garage for all my bikes...
0:35:50 > 0:35:54- Surfboard.- Surfboard. - Good work, Jean.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58- I've got to get that in. - Get it out of your house!
0:35:58 > 0:36:04So it has gone very well indeed. The one thing that could scupper it is an inability to afford it!
0:36:04 > 0:36:10Who would have thought that? Guessing the price time. Jean, you have been appalling.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15- You have, but that's fine. Would you like to go first or second?- First.
0:36:15 > 0:36:20You'll go first. Right. A maximum budget of £250,000.
0:36:20 > 0:36:26- You've lost every one so far. This is for pride.- I reckon it will be a little bit more.
0:36:26 > 0:36:32- Right.- And I'd say...260. - £260,000. OK.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36We can all assume that's not the price, because it's your guess!
0:36:36 > 0:36:40It might be! We never know. Mark, what do you think?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42- I'll say 255.- 255.
0:36:42 > 0:36:49- £5,000 underneath what Jean said. Unbelievable.- He plays a shrewd game. It's a whitewash.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53It's a win for you. Well done. Congratulations.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57- Commiserations. - He was nearer than I was?
0:36:57 > 0:37:02Listen, Jean. It's bad news for the competition, but here comes the gold.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05It's more important than you losing.
0:37:05 > 0:37:12- The price of this property, the wildcard, is £225,000.- Wow.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16- Well below your budget.- Yeah. - And pretty much everything you want.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20- I would still try to haggle. - Everyone would haggle.
0:37:20 > 0:37:26- You have pointed out a few things that need reworked.- And we'll check out what the surveyor finds
0:37:26 > 0:37:30and look at the potential of costs, et cetera.
0:37:30 > 0:37:36Well, do you know what? We have a 45-minute episode, so whichever one you test drive,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40you will get a non-legally binding survey with it. There you go.
0:37:40 > 0:37:47- You have to get off and make the biggest decisions of your lives. Are you happy and excited?- I am.
0:37:47 > 0:37:53- I'd call an ambulance if you weren't. Head off over there and we'll see you later on.- OK.
0:37:53 > 0:37:59There we go. Three houses down. Which one will they test drive? You guys can have a recap.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03My choice had the period feel and all the storage space,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06but Mark seemed a bit lukewarm.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14I've got to say Jean loved my Victorian four bed.
0:38:14 > 0:38:20It was massive, with all the room they hoped for, but a compromise - the high-speed train line nearby.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27The wildcard's magical powers are in evidence today.
0:38:27 > 0:38:35- They both fell in love with it. - Even the lack of a kitchen/diner and the flat Fens landscape was OK.
0:38:42 > 0:38:48Mark, shiver my timbers! Goodness gracious me! What have you chosen to test drive? The wildcard!
0:38:48 > 0:38:51- Jean, do you still love it?- I do.
0:38:51 > 0:38:57You do. So go on, then. I think we all know why, but why have you picked this one?
0:38:57 > 0:39:04Probably more the outside space. And the look of the house from the outside, definitely.
0:39:04 > 0:39:10- And its potential.- We've had our surveyor come round and give it a thorough once over.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14It's not legally binding and you'd have to get your own survey,
0:39:14 > 0:39:18but it's a good heads up of what's involved.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22You mentioned potential. It has it in abundance.
0:39:22 > 0:39:28There's been some movement. We think it's most likely historical. Nothing recently,
0:39:28 > 0:39:32so far as subsidence is concerned, but you'd do a more in-depth survey.
0:39:32 > 0:39:37But the roof was an area where that is notable, OK?
0:39:37 > 0:39:44But because of the depth of the roof, if you want to make a three-storey house, it's perfect.
0:39:44 > 0:39:50Other than that, it's cracking. You've got room to expand there. It can take it.
0:39:50 > 0:39:56- Are you still prepared to go in? - We want a look around, yeah. - Get in there, then! Go!
0:39:59 > 0:40:04Right, here they come. Let's see how the camper van fits.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09- Motor home, Jonny.- Oh, yeah. Seems to go in very comfortably.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13Right, let's get out and have a look.
0:40:13 > 0:40:18- They're heading to the garden.- It IS flat round here. Will Mark like it?
0:40:18 > 0:40:24- I'm not sure, but I know Jean will be positive about it.- I love it.
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- There you go.- Sounds like they've got wife Liz on the blower.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- 'What's it like?'- It's really good.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37The outside space is more than we could hope for, really.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41'Oh, my word! Excellent.'
0:40:41 > 0:40:47Liz, when I first saw it, I really was so pleased that I nearly cried. It's lovely.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51It really, really is. I can see me here at Christmas.
0:40:51 > 0:40:58- Oh, they're buying this house, mark my words.- Hang on a minute. The Lycra's coming out.
0:40:58 > 0:41:03There he goes. Magnificent. Poetry in motion.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12Hold the front page! Look at Jean go!
0:41:19 > 0:41:21Look at that. Jean's back already.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27- How long have you been back?- Hours!
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Mark, the Tour de France will have to wait.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34- Well, how's it been? We know the camper van fits.- Sure does.
0:41:34 > 0:41:39- And you don't like that phrase. - I don't.- I know he doesn't!
0:41:39 > 0:41:46- Motor home is what we'd like, yes? - It's an upgrade from a camper van. It is definitely a motor home.
0:41:46 > 0:41:52So all three properties, you've identified the area for you. Have you found that space here?
0:41:52 > 0:41:57I have, yeah. This is what I'd like them to buy. I really would.
0:41:57 > 0:42:04I notice, Mark, you have not mentioned an event that took place. Guess The Price, you're phenomenal.
0:42:04 > 0:42:09Cycling, you own seven bikes. It would seem... Yeah?
0:42:09 > 0:42:14- I was hoping we could avoid this. - We could, we should, but we shan't.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20- Jean...- Well, I won, didn't I? - What do you put it down to? Was it cunning? Guile?
0:42:20 > 0:42:23- Good diet?- Age and stamina. - Age and stamina!
0:42:23 > 0:42:25That'll work.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30We're at nearly the end. Jean, you've loved every house.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34- I have, yes.- But you are not buying this. It will be your daughter.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Shall we ask you together? Should we ask Jean?
0:42:38 > 0:42:42- Or Jean as Liz.- OK. - Be your daughter.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Right. I'm Liz and I think this is the one I'd like to live in.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50- Turn to your loved one. - Don't you think, darling?
0:42:50 > 0:42:54- To buy or not to buy?- Yes.- To buy.
0:42:54 > 0:42:55Yes!
0:42:55 > 0:43:01Without our show, you'd have never looked here. It's not your area.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04- No.- We are brilliant. - You are.- Thank you!
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd