Bicester To Buy or Not to Buy

Cease all activity for the next 45 minutes.

It's time to say bonjour brick fans and welcome to To Buy Or Not To Buy.

-Today, we're house hunting...

-And ghost hunting in the county of Oxfordshire.

Winston Churchill, Richard the Lionheart and Tim Henman

were all born in Oxfordshire.

Yes, this county is definitely steeped in history,

and today's house hunters, they're not only looking for

the perfect pad, they're also looking for a house that has its own unique history.

They want somewhere...that's haunted. HE GASPS

Stephen Hawking was also born in Oxfordshire,

so let's hope today's show... starts with a big bang!

Sorry about him.

Now, today's house hunters Martin and Sharon Richardson

are on a mission to find a perfect home after selling their last house

and moving into rented accommodation two years ago.

They own and run a training and development company,

but if that isn't time-consuming enough, they also work as hypnotherapists.

I wonder if they hypnotically cure you, Ed,

of your obsession with the wildcard.

-No chance.

-Hmm, right.

The Oxfordshire countryside is where we've headed,

and I've a sneaky feeling that today's wish list may have something on it that I, for one,

have never seen on a property spec.

Martin and Sharon, I believe you have one of the silliest requirements

we've ever had on this programme,

-and the silliest requirement - do you know what it is?

-No!

Do you want to guess what we think is the oddest thing?

-A room to do alternative therapy in, hypnotherapy.

-No, no, we can buy that.

-That was fine.

-The idea about wanting to move into a house that already has a ghost in it.

-Ah!

-Ah!

Now, that's just weird, isn't it?

-If a ghost was there, we'd be quite happy to take it on.

-It adds character.

Hmm, it adds interest.

So you've lived with ghosts before, have you?

Yes, we've grown up with them, so we seem to attract them.

Are these good ghosts or bad ghosts? Does it matter?

Um, they're good ones that can behave badly.

We love houses with character, and quite often you find character houses

have some sort of something in them, and I just wanted to register,

it makes no difference to us.

Tell us about this alternative therapy, then.

We're both hypnotherapists.

We work in, I suppose, different areas of hypnotherapy.

Sharon is also is involved in something called EFT.

I've no idea what that means.

-Is it like the Electronic Financial Times?

-No, it's a...

Well, it could be!

Shared database or...?

It's emotional freedom techniques.

It's basically acupuncture without needles.

-So do you just poke people?

-Tap them.

-Just tap them?

-"Poke"!

-Tap them, yes.

-Tap them.

It's fantastic. It works a dream for things like headaches.

Focusing on the emotional, the feeling, while you're tapping at

various points, for some reason, it just -

nobody really understands how it works, it just does.

-It just works.

-Yes.

Let's break it down. What are the fundamentals? The rooms, bathrooms,

toilets, parking space, garden - what do we need?

-OK, four bedrooms, has to be detached.

-OK.

The garden has to be private, so not overlooked,

and as large as possible, because we've got two dogs

and we'd like to let them out in the garden to run amok.

We need parking at the front because we've got two daughters with cars,

we've got two cars, and because we are both hypnotherapists,

then we need a separate room to use as a hypnotherapy therapy room,

ideally with a toilet nearby,

although that room could double up with the study if necessary.

I am going to sip my coffee just to boost me up for the sum of money

that could make our day good or bad. Are we ready?

How much money have you got to spend?

-450.

-You hesitated.

I think that's kind of - it's not ludicrous, is it?

-It's not moon-on-a-stick territory.

-Far from it.

That's perfect.

We're going to head out there, fingers crossed,

cast an incantation, you're not wizards, are you?

-No, no!

-You think we need an exorcist.

This is going to be a theme that's going to run...

Do we have an exorcism?

-I'll exorcise you!

-No, I don't want to EXERCISE!

Let's just go, cos I think we've exposed our lack of knowledge of your world. We'll see you later.

-Right, Ed, we have had a chat.

-Oh, yes.

Look into my eyes. Tell me, what do Martin and Sharon want?

A house with a ghost in it, a therapy room, a cuddly toy...

Rrr-rr! Rrr-rr!

You've turned me into a dog! Rrr-rr!

I'm going to talk to... Rrr-rr! Rrr-rr! Rrr-rr!

I think I'm going to talk to the people of Oxfordshire.

I'm sure they'll be more sensible than Ed!

Today, we seem to be caught in a triangle between Banbury, Bicester and Aylesbury.

We're mainly on a mission in the county of Oxfordshire,

regarded as one of Britain's finest counties,

and is no doubt why its tourist industry is booming.

The Oxfordshire countryside is stunning,

and if you need even more rural idyll,

then the Cotswolds are only a stone's throw away,

with a charming blend of bustling market towns, picturesque villages

and breathtaking natural scenery.

But right here in the present day, let's see what £450,000 would get you around the rest of the UK.

In Bath, there's this four-bedroomed Edwardian terrace

in superb condition and located in an equally superb position.

It has many of its original features still oozing their former glory.

This house comes with a cellar, so if anyone else is on a mission to find a home with a ghost,

there's nothing spookier than a secret room underground.

In Ammanford near Leeds, this double-fronted period home

dates back to the early 1800s.

With five bedrooms, a stunning Victorian period-style bathroom and imposing brick fireplace,

there's plenty of charm and character to feast your eyes upon here.

It could be yours for 475 grand.

And now here's an opportunity for people in search of the spirits -

and I don't mean the kind you'll find in an off-licence.

It's this converted chapel in Stoke-on-Trent.

It dates back to the mid-1800s and has glorious views over open countryside.

Four bedrooms and a lounge make the most of this building's past life.

If you're singing from the same hymn sheet as this place,

perhaps you'd like to buy it for 450 grand.

But our first offer's Banbury, the most northerly part of our search,

and every woman needs a fancy mode of transport,

and mine is more than a little imaginative.

Right, let's find this fine lady on a white horse.

Hello. How are you?

-My name's Ian, pleased to meet you.

-Hi, I'm Simon.

Ooh-ooh-ooh! Will he get scared if I cloppety past him?

INAUDIBLE REPLY

RANI LAUGHS

The first one is Thimble Cottage.

I love the name, I love the place.

It actually IS a chocolate-box cottage, formerly used as the front cover of a box of chocolates.

There'll be some people at home - this might make them hungry.

What do you think of that?

I couldn't use your bike, could I? It would be a lot easier.

Wicked. Give me a backie!

I'm fed up of riding this white horse. It's shattering!

-There's a woman knocking on the window.

-That's my daughter and that's my mother!

Thank you. Thanks a lot(!)

OK. Bye, Mum!

THEY LAUGH

I'll stomp me foot. Go!

# Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross

# To see a white lady on a white horse

# All the king's horses and all the... #

-No...

-No, that's Humpty Dumpty!

-I'm sorry!

Simon, a little bird told me that you have a catchphrase in the estate agent world.

I do, I have several catchphrases.

Can you give us a couple?

The first one is, um...

The first one is, "Everything I touch turns to SOLD."

IAN SNORTS

Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross

To see a fine lady upon a white horse

With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes

She shall have music wherever she goes.

High five that!

I have another one, which is related to my name, because I'm Simon Round,

and it's just basically, "Choose Anchors because you're better all ROUND,"

or, "Better value all ROUND."

-The first one's much better.

-Yeah. I won't tell you the others, cos they're even worse.

-They're all based around the word "round"?

-Yeah!

-Ed, I've been riding a cock horse all round Banbury.

-I beg your pardon?

That's what I've been doing.

Are we allowed to say that on TV?

-That's what I've been doing.

-Really?

I wasn't quite the fine lady on the white horse, so I was on the cock horse.

-That's the other way to do it! Anyway, property number one.

-What a cracker, isn't it?

"Ooh-ooh-ooh!" is what I'm going to tell you.

-What?!

-Ooh-ooh-ooh!

-Oh, no! Has it? How many?

I can't tell you. It may have. And also, there is a great surprise round the back.

-I'm giving them character, I'm giving them what they want.

-It's a cracker. OK, Amityville, house on the hill.

Have a look. That is scary in house form.

Yet also lovely, at the same time.

Neither Rani nor I wanted to ride this house alone,

so we've made it the joint choice and it's going second.

For the wildcard, I've taken us out of Oxfordshire and into Buckinghamshire.

Also, the wildcard is an absolute treat for me today because it is my choice,

solely my choice. I love the wildcard, so I'm not going to let you down.

It is Grade II listed, and it is in the village of Great Horwood.

If you know your north Bucks county villages, this is one of the six star villages of that area.

It's a belter, and I'm not going to show you any more.

Let's start with property number one - MY choice.

BOTH: Woo-oo-oo-ooh!

Well, welcome to stop one.

A former Post Office, this place is the epitome of quaint and characterful.

There's two surprises here - one is a secret garden,

and the other one is a little more discreet. Well, I hope it is, anyway.

OK, Sharon and Martin, this is number one.

This is my choice.

I've brought you to Milcombe in Oxfordshire. This is the property.

Have a look at it. It used to be a former Post Office. Tell me what you think about it.

-It's lovely. It's very quintessentially English. Nice.

-Oh, I like it.

-Haunted by, I believe, the spirit of Postman Pat.

-Really?

-I don't think that is true!

-You can hear his black-and-white cat running through the rafters at night-time!

-Now, Martin, you would like to learn a little bit more?

-Yes.

I have the key for you.

This isn't the key to the cottage, this is the key to the post box,

and in there, there's a letter for you.

-So, please, get the letter and bring it back to us.

-I'm excited!

-It hasn't been opened for a while, that.

-I tell you, that's bringing back the memories for me.

It turns so well.

Who is it addressed to?

It's to Mr and Mrs Richardson.

Which is yourselves.

OK, you can open that up.

Exciting.

-Whoo-hoo!

-It's not even got a stamp on it.

-It's franked.

-Oh, good.

"Milcombe appears in the Domesday Book of 18...of 1085.

"Milcombe is a thriving community of approximately 500 people.

"A local landmark is the beautiful dovecote at the entrance to the village

"which was renovated ten years ago.

"This house was the old village post office and was in service until January 2007."

"The house is built with the local Hornton stone.

-"It still has an original wash-house at the back of the property."

-Oh, wow!

-For my use, then!

-THEY LAUGH

-Sorted!

-"And finally, the property is alleged

-"to have a ghostly presence."

-Ooh!

-Postman Pat and his black and white cat.

-I've done the research!

-Are you intrigued by this?

-Yes.

-Yes, indeed.

I want you to go in there and enjoy it. Have fun, and think potential.

-And think everything else! OK? The door is there.

-Right.

-Get in there.

-Off you go.

Why didn't you tell me about the old post office thing?

-I thought it'd be a surprise!

-Well, it was a surprise!

-It was, wasn't it?

-Looks like there's more mail.

-This is ridiculous. I thought this post office was closed down.

It's ghostly. "Ed and Rani, To Buy Or Not To Buy.

-"Headphones on and listen."

-I've already got mine on, that's brilliant.

-This stone floor is gorgeous.

-Isn't it? I really like that.

-Real beams.

-The dogs wouldn't slide on it.

-No.

-I'm not surprised he loves that floor,

-it's distinctive riven Chinese slate floor.

-That's some knowledge.

-This is...

-The drawing room.

-Look at that, isn't that gorgeous?

-And...

-And real beams. No, these are...

-Solid walls. Solid, thick brick walls.

-And this, I presume, is the old post office part.

-Which they've got as a dining room.

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

-But not for tall people.

No. Yeah, gosh! Look, I'm just underneath this one!

It's got such... Lots of lovely little bits.

-It is full of character.

-Mm.

-It is definitely full of character. I love this.

I like Martin. I can imagine Martin as, like, a really good wizard.

-He's not a wizard, he's a hypnotherapist.

-He's a wizard!

Ooh! A tiny kitchen.

-Again, a nice, lovely floor.

-I like the floor.

-This is very small.

-Yeah, it's very small.

Is this going to be big enough for you?

No, not really.

-We can find them a bigger kitchen in that house, there's plenty of rooms.

-Have you got a solution?

-I have.

Ooh! Oh, this is cute.

-Ah! So this is...

-This is the sitting room.

Or is it a drawing room?

-These beams, these are real.

-These are real beams.

-And again, the floor is gorgeous. Look at that fireplace.

-Wow!

-This is a beautiful room.

-Oh, look, it's very unusual.

-Behind that fireplace, there's an old bread oven.

-Is there really?

-Uh-huh.

-Look at that!

-I love that.

-This room has a very, very warm, homely feel to it.

-Yeah, it does.

-Back in the day, they had to bake bread every morning.

-Postmen have to eat, haven't they?

-Yeah.

-People would post their letters, they'd smell the fresh bread.

-Oh! "Yes, I will have some bread."

"You can't, we're a post office." "But I want some bread." "No."

-I love this room.

-Yeah.

-It doesn't feel nasty at all.

-No. There's nothing here.

-Nothing nasty.

-There's nothing here.

So Sharon's not sensing a ghost.

No, but she's sensing a tiny kitchen.

Yeah. I know.

This is very airy up here, isn't it? Very open.

-Er...

-This is unexpected.

-It is, actually, much more open than you'd expect.

Oh, and a good-sized bathroom.

Right... One bedroom.

Oh, isn't it sweet?

-Sweet(!)

-It is! It is really sweet.

-I think it's just really cute, that's just the word I...!

-So whose bedroom would this be?

-I don't know. It's a double room.

-The spirits have not made themselves available to Martin or Sharon here,

-unless they're not letting on.

-Well, possibly not. Well, you see,

the spirits wouldn't know, or would they know, that Martin likes spirits, cos they might try to keep themselves

under wraps so they buy the place, and then jump out at them on their first day.

This is a very big landing, compared to what you'd expect.

-Yes.

-Right... Let's, uh, go in here...

-Oh, it's a diddy room.

-So you'd use this as a study, possibly as a therapy room.

-OK!

-Oh, a therapy room upstairs, that's interesting.

D'you know why they've had to go upstairs?

Cos you've not given them a downstairs toilet!

Another double bedroom, and a pussy cat!

Oh! Another sweet little room.

-They like it.

-Yep, there's two double bedrooms at the end.

That used to be one big, massive room, so they could make it back into a big, huge room,

but they've got two kids, they need four rooms, that's why I brought them here.

Oh, this is a mirror-image of the last one.

-Oh, so you get a...

-This is an unusual sort of room, isn't it?

Probably wouldn't get a double bed in this one,

-it's a little bit narrower.

-No, you'd get a single in here.

A nice view of the garden here.

I can see them sitting outside, sunning themselves.

-Shall we go and join them?

-Yeah, good idea.

-I hope they don't come out, I'm nice and relaxed.

-Shall we go horizontal?

-Go on, then.

Come on, guys!

I hear footsteps. Get up, you. Get up, get up!

Sharon, Martin, that was property number one. Welcome to your outside space.

-Do you like outside space?

-We love outside space, for the dogs.

Now, remember in your little letter it said there was a wash-room?

-Ta-dah!

-It is in there. But we were thinking,

you could probably buy Sharon a washing machine and put it in your kitchen,

and make this into your therapy room.

Nice and quiet, all tranquil out here.

-Hm.

-Interesting idea, yes.

-There's quite a bit of space in there, actually.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-Oh, he's weighing it up. Martin's weighing it up.

-He's thinking about it.

-The thing I'm thinking is, toilet.

Upstairs you mentioned it, didn't you? Obviously you're thinking about the whole toilet facility.

I wonder how much it would cost to build such a facility out here, how far from your pipework you'd be.

-It might not be as big a thing as you'd think.

-But I like the separate...

But, thinking about your dogs, maybe you need a little bit more space.

-Follow us.

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, this is lovely.

-This is gorgeous.

-I'm giving you a little bit more.

-You like this?

-It's lovely, this path.

-Oh, I like that as well.

-This is stunning.

-OK, keep going, because it doesn't end here.

-Conker tree.

-As you can see, very enclosed, but it still gets the sun in nicely.

-Yeah.

-Have you got a nice feel to this one, Martin?

-I love this garden.

-Oh, gosh, look at this.

-Hello! It's only a second part of the garden.

-I just figured,

you know, a secret garden would need another little secretive bit.

SHARON LAUGHS Martin looks very pleased.

-This is stunning.

-It is, it's gorgeous. Oh, a butterfly.

-D'you know what? Keep going,

-because there is even more.

-Crikey!

-In terms of the house, there was one thing that let you down.

-You thought the kitchen side was a bit small.

-Kitchen was a bit small. Yeah.

There was a potential solution offered up, the idea of taking that kitchen out

and then, where the old post office part of the house is,

-you could turn that into a kitchen-diner aspect.

-Right. Yeah.

You could make that into an office space, so you'd still have an office separate from, your therapy room

-which would be at the back.

-Oh!

-That's another idea there for you.

There you go, even more of a garden!

The other thing I didn't hear you talk about in the house - well, you didn't sense it -

-a ghost.

-There isn't one.

-There isn't one?

-Sorry to disappoint you.

-Oh, Martin!

You're easy-breezy about ghosts, if there was one, you'd be all right.

The house is very clean indeed.

-No ghost?

-No.

-It's got a beautiful feel to it.

OK, now, I tell you what, we've only just shown you these phenomenal extra gardens that you've got,

who wants to go first? You've got a maximum budget today of £450,000.

-I think Sharon should go first.

-Thank you, Martin(!) Coward! Coward!

-Ladies first.

-She's right, you are a coward!

Oh, I don't know. Four...

449, 950.

-Really, right at the top?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-I think it's going to be, cos I think the grounds are...

-OK.

-I would go 4...6.

-£460,000.

OK. All right.

They're both very good guesses, of course, you know, for a property like this with four bedrooms,

an old post office, no ghost, private gardens...

Sharon...

you may have gone first, you were the closest.

-Hurrah!

-This property is actually on the market at...

-399,950.

-Wow.

Well, that's a surprise.

-Stunned silence.

-Yeah.

-OK, well, this is only property one. Property two is down the road. Shall we go?

-Yes, indeed.

He doesn't want to leave this garden!

Enormous, gigantic, colossal.

I don't think any of these words underestimate the size of this property project.

But Martin and Sharon seem up-for-it kind of folk, and it's just as well.

Well, one thing I don't think they'd want to change is the superb location.

Our joint choice lies right in the heart of the beautiful village of Middle Barton.

Take a deep breath - this could either sink or swim.

Martin and Sharon, we'll find out very quickly at the joint choice

whether this gamble will pay off.

Do you like the location? We're in Middle Barton, a very sought-after village.

Love the location.

That is brilliant news, because if you didn't like that, what lies ahead would really cause concern

because as houses go, it looks great from the outside -

on the inside, it's not so great.

You guys wanted a bit of a project maybe.

-You would be interested in that.

-If it's internal work, no problem.

It is. It does have bedrooms laid out - I would say, forget where everything is,

and think about where you would place everything.

As soon as you walk through the door, you'll know what we're saying. From the outside,

could you imagine yourself here doing all you want to do?

Yes. Once the work's done.

Are you ready?

-Do we need to be?

-Yes. You really do.

-Then I am.

-OK.

-In three, two, one... Good luck.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

I tell you what, we were scared going in there,

-and I'm scared now about what they think about it.

-You know what?

-What?

-They're going to not love it.

-They aren't going to love it, are they?

Wow.

It's a bit different to the last one.

Are you sure they're not going to like this?

-Not without a bit of hypnotism.

-Good idea.

Look into my eyes, not around my eyes, look into my eyes. Martin, you love this property.

Oh, wow.

Will need to be completely refitted.

Yeah. It's a different colour. I've never seen that colour.

You rip all of it out and start again.

Thumbs up to Martin. I told him what to think, he's taken me up on my word,

and he's ripping it out and starting again. There's a song in that.

Utility, I suspect.

Definitely need...I mean, it's nice to have a utility room.

A downstairs bedroom. That's pretty peculiar. We've got three floors,

-yet we've got a downstairs bedroom.

-Ah, but a hypno room.

-Yes.

So this could be the therapy room,

with the toilet right next door.

What's the deal with hypnotherapy and a desire to go the toilet?

-This could be quite a nice little hypno room.

-A very nice hypno room.

It's away from everything else.

I think it's like having a good sleep. When you wake up in the morning, first thing you want to do -

-have a wee. So, hypnotherapy session, deep sleep, first thing you want to do when you come out...

-Bang.

-This is a surprise.

-It is!

It's a good size. Not bad.

Yes, this has recently been done.

To be honest, you've got a great view - a view of the former ford, it's ceased to be a ford,

the river's got a little high.

-So this would be...

-A lounge.

Or would you make this a dining room? Bearing in mind it's near the kitchen.

But then you haven't got a lounge.

-We haven't seen upstairs.

-No.

The thing they're probably thinking, if this is their business area, how do they divide it up?

But I think it'd be better off a kitchen between business and home than a lounge.

Oh, what's this in here?

I assume this is supposed to be a bedroom of some sort.

I don't know what this is! Look at the height of the ceiling.

Small, isn't it?

-The benefit is, lower ceiling - more floors!

-Yes!

There's something else through there.

Let's have a look.

-It's a...

-Is this a bathroom?

Right.

Now that...

Right, that's a partition wall, so that's what you do. Knock this through and make it one room.

Erm, hang on, Martin, there's a door here.

Oh, it's a cupboard.

-So it's a storage space.

-No it's not, it's got a staircase.

-Staircase?!

-It's a ladder sort of stair.

-OK...

-Right.

Oh, goodness. This is up into the roof.

Ah. This is interesting.

-So here we have a loft room.

-Yeah.

In my house, he kept saying, "I love this, I love this wall", hasn't said that yet.

-No, and what he should be saying, the only place he can go, is "I love what this could be."

-Yeah.

Into the next room...

..and we have the bedroom.

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

Floorboarded.

-Now, this room feels quite nice.

-Yeah...

See the...the ceilings. They've been recently plasterboarded.

Yes, they have, haven't they?

So this must have been two cottages, and that was the dividing wall between the two.

Yeah.

-Right.

-OK!

-Moving on.

-Yes?

-Yes!

-What're we going to find next?

Up the stairs?

Gosh. Wouldn't want to come up here with size 14 shoes, would you?

-But this room is lovely. It's gorgeous.

-Yep.

Got lovely light coming in.

Good rendering on the walls.

-Yeah.

-Fantastic views.

They have done it. They've done what we wanted them to do it. They've appreciated the outside and inside,

and the perspective on that would be amazing.

I dunno, what would you use it for?

This would be the third bedroom, you think?

Apart from that tiny one. If we make that a bedroom, which we won't.

Where on Earth do they start?

-I'm thinking...with guess the price.

-Brilliant.

Ah, you've returned in one piece!

How was it in there?

-Interesting. It was different.

-Did we build it up too much?

-No, not really.

-You built it up quite accurately.

-OK.

-And talking of building...

-Well, you would...

-So what would you do?

I think what I would be inclined to do

would be to do what happened to a house next door to ours recently.

They knocked it down, and they built another one.

-It was cheaper than refurbishing the existing one.

-OK.

-That would be tempting.

-The plot is amazing, and the size of the land you've got.

We've got a plum tree there...you've got everything here, it's beautiful,

the vision is beautiful, the village is lovely,

so it's something that, if the price was right, maybe...

Yes. We would have to investigate the costs to rebuild.

And it shouldn't be too difficult to get planning permission here,

as long as you stuck with the local stone.

-Which I'd want to. In fact, I'd reuse that stone.

-OK.

And you have also got a double garage,

so if you wanted to go with the hypnotherapy outside -

I know you had some ideas there,

but if pull it down, and wanted to keep it separate, something to think about.

-Here we are.

-Woo-hoo!

-You're nervous.

What is it? That's what you're going to tell us now!

Is it my turn to go first?

Remember, you're one down.

No problem. I'll win on this one.

Bear in mind the amount of work required and the area it's in, I'll go for...

327,000.

327,000.

Well, I'll go slightly lower, actually.

I think I'll go 315.

315. Are they close, Ed?

Well, OK. You're maximum budget was £450,000.

-He's looking nervous!

-He's not going to say it's 450,000?!

Erm... You're closest, Martin.

The actual price of this house is £445,000.

-Now...

-No way!

-Yes!

Well, the estate agent did say that the price is negotiable.

And they strongly erred on the price is negotiable.

I think your guessing in terms of what you want to do and spend, is accurate.

-Yes.

-For what you would want to buy this for.

It's the kind of area you're paying for.

It's such a fantastic location and I honestly think I spoiled you as well

-with the first house.

-Absolutely.

-It was cheaper than expected

and I gave you everything you wanted, I think.

And as a joint choice, we haven't done too well,

-but you're contemplating it.

-We've given you an option.

At the right price too. We've not seen the wild card yet

and statistically that is everyone's favourite part of the show.

And I think the wild card is this way.

-So if you come with us.

-Let's go!

Well, it's very exciting. I'm going solo today on the wild card.

And clearly all the hypnotherapy in the world can't cure me

of my obsession with this part of the show.

A Grade II listed cottage, renovated to an unbelievable standard.

Well - it is believable - just wait a couple of minutes and you'll see.

Martin and Sharon, it's quite a special moment for me

cos I've never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever,

had the chance to deliver the wild card.

I am nervous,

I'm expectant, I'm hopeful. This is the favourite part for everyone,

and it rests on my shoulders. Here it is.

Have a look at it.

Now, being a wild card, there's often a compromise.

I know you said you didn't want a main road - it's not that main...

And I promise you, once you're in there, you can't hear it.

And don't count the number of bedrooms.

But! But, two words, sofa bed, if you do need four beds.

The thing is, when you get to the back of the house and you see

what's there, you will understand why you're here.

-Fingers crossed.

-OK.

So what do you think? I'm going to go with you, Sharon.

It looks very quaint, actually. Very cottagey.

-Martin, your first impressions?

-Likewise, I love the shrubbery.

Erm, can't see most of the house so looking forward to getting inside and having a good look.

Yes, go in there and enjoy. I do think you'll like this a lot.

I'm hoping. Fingers crossed. 3, 2, 1, get in!

-OK!

-OK.

I'm nervous! I've never, ever, ever, ever...

-Sorry!

-Back in the room!

-I do rate my chance with the wild card.

OK, one hallway. It's nice, I like the floor.

You kept this quiet, didn't you?

Well, you don't want to blow all your tricks in one go, do ya!

-Little private garden!

-It's absolutely lovely.

-Look at these beams.

-Oh, I love this!

And that door - look at that lovely door.

-Aww, this is lovely.

-Oh, look, this is gorgeous.

I know!

Oh, we've had the G-word flung at us! I say us, ME!

-Gorgeous from Sharon!

-I didn't get one of those.

I don't think we've had one up until now, really.

-That's lovely.

-I wonder how old this house is.

-Hmm.

-Log-burning stove.

-Yep.

-It's really nice.

-Great fireplace. Right. Check out the floor.

Oh, wonderful!

-You have different floors in most rooms.

-You do.

And you've got really lovely old tiles.

And I've heard the older tiles are easier to clean than newer tiles.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Fireplace.

-Is it sealed?

-It can be unsealed.

-This is lovely.

-Isn't it lovely? And the colours are just right.

-Yeah.

The colours on the walls, they suit the house perfectly.

-Ooh, I love this!

-Oh, dear!

-Oh, dear! Yes, this is...

-Lovely.

I think we've had the L-word and the G-word.

-This is lovely.

-I know, I know.

Can you hear that?

SILENCE

-No, I can't either! Can't hear the road.

-No. Not at all.

-The road is in the distance.

-Gone.

Right, what have we got here then? So we've done the kitchen.

-Wow!

-What have we got here?

-Oh, this is lovely!

-At a guess...

-This would be...!

-What would it be?!

-What do you think?

-Oh...

-At home, what do you think?

Yes, it would be. Of course, it's a therapy room.

-This is awesome.

-This is lovely.

-Absolutely beautiful.

We could use this as an office, we could use this as a hypno room.

-Shall we wander upstairs?

-Yes, why not?

-OK, after you.

Oh, wow! This is...

Master bedroom.

Oh!

-Do you like?

-Yeah, I do!

See the width of these floorboards? These are the old floorboards.

-Look at these. The beams, they're gorgeous!

-Yes!

En suite.

-Oh, fab.

-Shower, toilet.

Oh, a nice big shower. It's lovely. Yep, that's just what we need.

-Think this is the first en suite we've given them?

-It certainly is.

-And it's a very nice en suite.

-A treat.

-They've got an office space on the landing.

-I missed it when I came up.

I didn't notice it either.

That's quite nice, actually.

-In fact, it's ideal.

-Yeah.

Liking the office. Liking the office.

Cos I was worried about three bedrooms.

But if they buy that bit at the top of the stairs as the office area,

maybe they don't need four bedrooms.

Wasn't one of the rooms going to be an office space?

They needed a separate office from their therapy.

You've given them a great therapy room.

Perhaps they use this as a dressing room, there's wardrobes in here.

So would you get a bed in here if you wanted one?

You might get a single.

-So this could conceivably be a bedroom?

-Yes.

Oh, isn't this cute!

-Cute(!)

-I think it's lovely. Look at... Oh!

-I love the beams in the wall.

-And the way the floor slopes.

You can feeling it sloping down. This is lovely.

The wild card is delivering today. It's really exciting!

It's like a cupboard. Oh, it's not a cupboard.

It's definitely not a cupboard!

-Wow!

-We have a lovely bathroom.

-This is beautiful.

Look, the lovely old roll top bath. It's not got a proper shower, but...

But we've got a shower in the en suite.

Right, I was going to point that out about the shower.

Don't worry, Martin's done it for me. Sweet! Not a problem!

-I can't find anything wrong with this place apart from number of bedrooms?

-Yep.

There's a problem, Ed. Any solutions?

I said it at the top and I will again. Two words, sofa bed.

-Hello.

-Hi.

So, go on. Did my magical room at the back tick all your boxes?

-Yes.

-Mmm.

And the property. OK, we were short a bedroom and we have the road.

Talk us through your feelings, you've been round it.

Have you fallen in love with it enough to maybe think about compromises?

-Yes, we've been talking of compromises.

-Really? Good!

-What kind of compromises?

The one thing that puts me off is the road and lack of car parking,

-but you then look at the parking on the other side of the road.

-Uh-huh.

Lack of bedrooms, but then, the large room

could be used for an emergency bedroom as well...

-Sofa bed!

-Yes, good idea, that!

-Well, you know!

So, yes, we're thinking compromises.

I like it. So that's a sense of liking the property quite a bit.

-We do love this property.

-Beautiful.

-You LOVE this property!

-It's been very well done.

-And the back garden, what do you think of that?

It's lovely. Lots of lovely nooks and crannies,

-places to go and disappear.

-And it's private.

OK, what about guess the price?

-So far, it's one all, isn't it?

-Sharon's turn to go first.

-Ohh!

-Hang on, your budget is 450.

-Yes.

-So how much do you think this baby is worth?

-I think this is more.

I think £469,950.

-Martin? What are you thinking?

-I think the price SHOULD be there,

but I think, because of the current market,

and because I want to beat Sharon,

I'm going to go less than that,

but very close to it.

I'll go bang on £450,000.

OK. Well, who's won?

You tell us! You know the answer.

Here we go, is there any way you can try and divine it from my mind?

-I've won.

-No, you haven't!

Sharon has won!

The actual price is £475,000, so you're closest to that, Sharon.

-My first thought.

-Take it as a victory.

Now, you have to wander off and make the most important decision of your adult lives

-about which one you wish to test drive.

-It's a hard decision, Martin.

-It is tricky.

-It is, it is.

-We'll see you later. Good luck.

Sharon looks really worried there.

-It's a big decision.

-It IS, and whilst they decide,

here's a reminder for you at home.

The first offering today was my suggestion.

In the village of Milcombe, this house has four bedrooms,

three reception rooms, a secret garden,

as well as a washhouse screaming, "Hypno, hypno, hypno!"

Let's just hope Martin and Sharon are raving about it as much as I am.

It's well under budget...

House two, our joint choice, was a gamble,

the responsibility for which rested on our collective shoulders.

These two former workers' cottages stand on a perfect plot,

but will the mission that lies beyond the grounds

prove just a bit too much for Sharon and Martin?

On the market for...

And yet I love the responsibility of being head of the wildcard today,

a Grade II listed cottage in the village of Great Horwood,

with three bedrooms, two reception rooms, and no hypnosis required!

I reckon they seem to love this place regardless,

and so do I, on the market for...

And the massive pressure of flying solo on the wildcard

has apparently paid off. They clearly can't get enough of the place.

OK, if you follow me into the bedroom

-for nothing THAT exciting!

-LAUGHTER

It's just the information that we're going to reveal to you now

what our mystery To Buy Or Not To Buy surveyor has discovered about this here beautiful wildcard.

Don't be concerned, it's nothing to be worried about.

It's not legally binning, but it's a good heads-up as to what you're getting,

and maybe what you're walking into if you were to buy this property.

-What have you got?

-When you were walking round the property,

I heard you commenting on the beams, saying how beautiful they were,

what great character they had in them. Well, our surveyor

has told us that every one of the beams in this house

at some point has had woodworm and weevil, but the good news is

it's not active at the moment and it shouldn't be, unless you got damp again,

meaning there's no damp. That's a good sign.

-OK.

-As this is a very old house,

it is made of all natural stuff,

and therefore it needs to be able to breathe,

which I think is a ridiculous concept, but apparently

it is fundamental with these old properties. So if you see here,

you can just about notice that there are gaps in the house.

You might think, "Hang on a minute, I don't want that, that's rubbish."

But the house needs gaps in order for ventilation, to keep ventilated,

keep breathing, keep doing whatever it needs to do to keep alive.

So that's all the information. Otherwise, it's been done phenomenally well.

We're now going to leave you in the bedroom

-to begin the test drive!

-Do whatever you want to do!

-See you later.

-Try anything out you want.

Where do we start?

Well, this house was made for relaxing,

-and Martin and Sharon are making the most of it in the lounge.

-And for one time only,

our mystery property-hunting team are no longer a mystery. That's Pam.

Martin's working his hypnotic magic on her.

See the relaxation starting

and then just spreading it down...

And it looks like Sharon is preparing the liquid refreshments.

You need to go deeper relaxed.

So, Martin and Sharon, you have test-driven this property.

-I'm over the moon, still. Are YOU still over the moon about it?

-We like it.

-Yes, it's very nice.

How did it feel in senses of... There was a little whiff of hypno going on in there.

Does it feel like a place that is conducive for that?

-Indeed. The hypnosis we did in the summer room is very, very good. It's the place to do it.

-I like it.

-He's named the back room the summer room!

-Ohh!

Yes, that's where he'll be hanging out in the summer! Not in the garden.

There was a question earlier about the idea of living with ghosts,

something that were you more than... Didn't bother you at all.

Do we have any sense of the spiritual world in there?

-I didn't sense anything.

-I didn't.

Well, I suppose it's neither good nor bad, really.

But did it feel like a warm, friendly home? Invited you in?

Yes, it is a very warm and friendly home.

-Traffic noise. That was another concern.

-Still is a concern for me.

-And what about the bedroom situation?

-That we can accommodate.

-That's a very good thing.

-Because we have two large-sized bedrooms

and, in the "summer room",

we could put a sofa bed, which I thought was an excellent suggestion of mine

-right at the beginning!

-Yeah,

I remember you pointing out a sofa bed would be a good idea. Very good!

I think we're stumbling towards the inevitable, aren't we?

Yes, this is the big question now.

-Yes.

-I don't know who is going to be answering it.

-Hmm...

-The question is -

to buy or not to buy?

-Mmm.

-To make an immediate decision, no.

-Right.

-But it is something that we will actively consider.

-Yes.

-OK.

-Yes.

-Give us... Can we have a percentage in terms of...or anything to give us a...

-Boxes ticked?

-All the boxes ticked?

-Yeah.

-All the boxes ticked.

-Vast majority bar about one or two.

-It has to be 80%.

-Yeah.

-OK.

We're happy with this. At the end of the day,

-have you had a nice time?

-We've had a fantastic time.

-Great time.

-Excellent.

-We'll see you soon. Thanks very much, then.

-Take care.

-Thanks very much.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd