0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to To Buy Or Not To Buy.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06We'll take some hassles out of house hunting.
0:00:06 > 0:00:12- By assisting the buying process, giving our buyers...- A unique chance to try...- ..before they buy.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Today, we are searching around the metropolitan borough of Halifax.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Wandering the wuthering heights of West Yorkshire.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30We're out on the wild and windy moors of Bronte country.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34The Bronte sisters, eh? One family, three fantastic writers,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37responsible for some of Britain's finest literary works.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Yes, and we, have one genius programme with three properties,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43one of which we hope will be a best seller for today's buyers.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46- So we'd best get on with introducing them.- Indeed.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Our couple with the housing dilemma today are Daniel and Jenny Bentley.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54They, and their two dogs, Seb and Tony, have been left rattling around
0:00:54 > 0:00:57this beautiful four-bedroom house since their sons, Jack and Joss,
0:00:57 > 0:01:00have upped sticks and left the family fold.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03With a mini-renovation project on the other side of the Channel,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06they've less reason to need a large house in the UK.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15- Jenny and Daniel, we are downsizing, then?- We are indeed.- Yep.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20- Why?- Well, when we first bought this place we needed a large house, cos we had both boys at home.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Well, they were teenagers at the time. The boys have grown up, they've gone to university,
0:01:25 > 0:01:30- they've got jobs.- What's the situation with this place?- Due to the current market situation,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33we're a bit nervous about the sort of prices we can get.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36So we hope you can help find something for the budget we've got,
0:01:36 > 0:01:42then we know that we can confidentially reduce the price of this to buy the house that we want.
0:01:42 > 0:01:47A lot of people are doing that. They're saying, "OK, depending on what we can purchase on at,
0:01:47 > 0:01:49"that will dictate what price we'll ask for ours."
0:01:49 > 0:01:53- Everybody wants their house to be as saleable as possible.- That's right.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56What are we downsizing from? What have we got at the moment?
0:01:56 > 0:02:00We've got this large living/dining area, kitchen on this floor.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Double garage. Four bedrooms on the floor below.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Two bathrooms on the floor below.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09Then below that there's a self-contained flat.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11OK, so what are we looking to downsize to?
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- What's on your wish-list? - Two or three bedrooms.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Decent-sized garden for the dogs to roam around in, so I don't have to
0:02:17 > 0:02:21- go out in the middle of the night.- What style? Minimum two or three bedrooms.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Yeah. Nothing with plastic windows or plastic doors.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- You're a man after my own heart. - Are you anti-PVC, then?
0:02:28 > 0:02:31- Yeah, yeah.- OK. - Bad for the environment, I think.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Do you want an older-style property though?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37- Or modern?- We've always had old properties in the past
0:02:37 > 0:02:39and we wouldn't have given this one a second glance.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44Daniel spotted the size of the rooms and the potential and that's why
0:02:44 > 0:02:46we went for this modern, south-facing building.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50- But I think in our hearts we do prefer older fashioned.- Yeah, yeah.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53What dictates this move, apart from the fact that the kids are gone?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I mean, from a lifestyle point of view?
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Is that dictating the change as well?
0:02:57 > 0:03:00It's time to slow down a bit and appreciate life,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04- and we've also just bought a property out in France.- Oh!
0:03:04 > 0:03:09So we've got this ten-year plan, which would nice if we could reduce it to a five-year plan,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13keeping a place in the UK for the boys, so they've got something,
0:03:13 > 0:03:18- for Jack and Joss, and also so that we've got somewhere to come back to.- Yep.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22But we'd like to be able to go out to France more often to our new property
0:03:22 > 0:03:25and eventually out there almost full-time.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29- Are you ready to downsize? - Absolutely. - Yeah. We've got too much stuff.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31I spent all weekend cleaning this house.
0:03:31 > 0:03:37It's the same with most families, you have these big houses, but you only use a fraction of the space.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43It's so beautiful. I mean, it really needs a nice, big family in here or a family with teenage kids
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- to really enjoy it. - We do see it quite a lot. People say, "We want to downsize."
0:03:47 > 0:03:51And then we show them smaller properties and they go, "It's a bit pokey!"
0:03:51 > 0:03:54I think we're really focused on this place in France.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Well, let's say a "project" in France. It's not really a home yet.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Would you be prepared to take on a project here as well?
0:04:01 > 0:04:05- Yeah, I don't mind.- He does it in his sleep.- I don't mind it at all.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07That can be quite dangerous though, to be fair.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10- THEY LAUGH - Power tools and things.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Yeah, I don't mind. I'll take something on.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I've got a lot of experience doing this sort of thing.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Clearly. You've done a wicked job here.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- It doesn't faze me at all. - So where are we looking?
0:04:20 > 0:04:24Cos I'm guessing where you work is going to dictate that.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27If we can stay near the railway, cos Daniel takes the train into work.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29It's Bradford, yeah, so...
0:04:29 > 0:04:31And I work up Blackburn way, but I can drive,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35so we're looking sort of Calderdale, along the valley somewhere.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38- Is it villages that we're looking for?- Er, yeah.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40- Well... - Or the sort of towny villages?
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Yeah, Rishworth, Ripponden.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- Yeah, Hebden.- Hebden. - Hebden Bridge.- Mytholmroyd.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- Are you remembering these? - Triangle.- I've got them. - There's a place called Triangle?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- Yeah.- Yeah. It's just in that sort of direction, over there.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- Yeah, sort of that direction. - Thank you, Jonny.- Thank you.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00OK, so we know what style we want. We know the location,
0:05:00 > 0:05:05and we know the general requirements you're after. The big question is, of course, budget.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Well, the cheaper you can get it for us, the more we can spend on France.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- Yeah.- Realistically, I think 250.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- OK. The stamp duty threshold.- Yeah.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- I think that's enough information. - Yeah.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- Shall we go over hill and down dale? - Take it easy, see you in a bit.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Okey-dokey. Good luck.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27Right, so, Jenny and Daniel have got a big plan to downsize.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30It's a ten-year plan and we've got one day to achieve it.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34And they genuinely seem like they're prepared to downsize, which is surprising.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- Right, what are you going to do? - Hot-foot it to the estate agents.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41While he's doing that, I'll see what's so desirable about living around here.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Calderdale is a busy, prosperous and very attractive part of West Yorkshire,
0:05:47 > 0:05:52made up of several valleys all linked together by breathtaking countryside.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge are two of the jewels in the Calderdale crown,
0:05:56 > 0:06:02both offering residents and visitors alike a vast array of shops, bars, cafes and attractions.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Character isn't something this area is short on.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07There are over 4,000 listed buildings.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I can completely see why Jenny and Daniel don't want to leave
0:06:10 > 0:06:13this beautiful part of the country altogether.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19But before we start looking at properties for them, what's on offer in other parts of the UK?
0:06:19 > 0:06:24Well, this bay-fronted property in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29Four bedrooms and huge entrance hall. Bang on 250,000.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34Or then how about this duplex loft apartment in Norwich, with a large,
0:06:34 > 0:06:40light living room and contemporary kitchen, it's available for 249,950.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46And in Somerset, what about this detached cottage in Wincanton?
0:06:46 > 0:06:50There's two bedrooms, and delightful courtyard garden
0:06:50 > 0:06:54for £250,000 on the nose.
0:06:55 > 0:07:01Time now to get our noses back into character properties in Calderdale.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05- Hi, John.- Hello, Simon. - Thanks ever so much for taking time out to see me.
0:07:05 > 0:07:11OK, bit of a tricky one today for us, because we've got a couple downsizing.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- Now we both know that can be a bit of a headache.- Yes.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I hear a lot of interesting things about Hebden Bridge.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20You're a resident, what could you tell me about it?
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Well, it's very beautiful around here, as you can see, especially on a day like today. It's great.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29It's got really fantastic links with Leeds and Manchester.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Two or three bedrooms. Not fussy on that, but they love period properties
0:07:32 > 0:07:38and they have dogs, and they're looking for a place with a nice, big garden.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43I've got to find a period property for about a quarter of a million with a decent-sized garden.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47SHE LAUGHS In Hebden Bridge, you'd be lucky to find a place with a garden.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51- This is a very popular area, isn't it?- Mm. It's extremely popular.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56What is it? What is it about Calderdale, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge that makes it so popular?
0:07:56 > 0:08:01You've got the historic buildings obviously, all the mill buildings.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06- And do you know much about property prices in the area at all?- Yeah, they've...
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Well, since I've moved here, they've definitely skyrocketed.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15I think now they're probably more on an even keel with probably what's gone on with the rest of the country.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18We have some stunning properties for you to look at.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20I need your help. Let's have a look.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- Right, first one... - So what is it that makes it so desirable to be around here?
0:08:24 > 0:08:28It's a beautiful-looking place, isn't it? And it's just... I don't know.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It's just got a lot of character.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36- Part of it's 17th century. - It just oozes history, doesn't it? - It's fantastic.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- Beautiful. - The character is unbelievable.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43- Do you ever see yourselves leaving? - Well, once people are here, they never seem to leave.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46- People come and go, but always end up coming back.- Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Here's another rural one.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Once again, full of character inside.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- Stunning views. - Gorgeous property.- Absolutely.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59I've got to try and find a period property with a decent-sized garden. How realistic is that?
0:08:59 > 0:09:05- Erm... Just.- Just? We might just scrape a buy?- You could do, yeah.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08I'd better go. John, thanks for your time.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Thank you very much.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Now, I don't know about you, Jonny, but I have found this particularly troublesome.
0:09:16 > 0:09:22To tick all the boxes, particularly the garden with the period property, it's been difficult.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23- Would you agree?- I agree.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26But I think I have done it with property one.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Location? Yes.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Views? Stunning. Garden? Gorgeous.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Period property? What can I say?
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Property one is to die for. That's property one.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- What are you doing?- OK, so Simon's set the bar pretty high.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44On this show, we take people's requirements to the extreme,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48and with that in mind, Daniel and Jenny suggested they wanted to do a little project.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52This place is a gorgeous, 18th-century, former wool store.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57It does need a bit of TLC, but it's going to be well worth it, I think, in my humble opinion.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Oh, well, our humble opinions agree on the wildcard.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Now, we often say we love the wildcard, and today is no exception.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08We both have fallen in love with this place. It is gorgeous, is it not, Mr Benarr?
0:10:08 > 0:10:12It is one of the finest properties I've seen for a while, Mr O'Brien.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16There it is. That's the wildcard. Shall we commence the viewings?
0:10:16 > 0:10:18- Yes.- My choice, property one.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25We start today's property challenge on the outskirts of Hebden Bridge with my offering,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29a superb period cottage in an amazing setting
0:10:29 > 0:10:35with, for the style of property, a generous, landscaped garden.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Jenny and Daniel, property one today is my choice.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Now, I think we're going to find out as this day progresses
0:10:41 > 0:10:44how much you'll miss the space you've got now.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48But there's one thing I didn't want you to miss, and that is the view.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- That's lovely. - Stunning, even on a day like today.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Isn't it? You also said you'd kind of like a period property.
0:10:54 > 0:11:01Well, how about millstone grit, keystones, sills, lintels, mullions and a solid stone slab roof?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- What do you think?- Can't beat it, can you?- Yeah, it's...
0:11:04 > 0:11:06That looks lovely. First impression is stunning.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10- Well, that's the outside. - Uh-oh!- How about...? - THEY LAUGH
0:11:10 > 0:11:15- Never mind.- You said you didn't mind doing some work. - I don't mind any amount of work.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20- Good man.- Good lad. Get in there and tell us what you think. Off you go.- OK. Thank you.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25- He better mean it when he says that. - Stop it!- It just needs modernisation.- Exactly, that's all.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- Oh, nice little place here, Jonny. This is what I call downsizing.- Oh!
0:11:33 > 0:11:38- Interesting little room.- Oh, wow! Gosh, it's like going back in time.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- Isn't it?- Goodness me. Oh, I love these big, deep windows.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43- They're quite attractive, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48- The windows are of debatable nature, but...- Why?- They're plastic.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Daniel's not impressed with the plastic windows, sadly.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54What do you think about that?
0:11:54 > 0:11:58- It's a minor detail.- He said he didn't want plastic windows.
0:11:58 > 0:12:04- The fireplace is rather...- Well, we can put something new in there. We need to see if there's a chimney.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Yeah, there's a gas fire, so they'll be a flue.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10I'm not sure there is, Daniel. You've got a gas outlet at the back
0:12:10 > 0:12:13for the flue from the fire, but I don't think there is a stack.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18- Not a bad size, actually. - No.- There's a lot of furniture and if you think about it...
0:12:18 > 0:12:21- Yeah, there is.- One, two, three, four big, old chairs.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- Get rid of the furniture. - Take the big furniture to France. - Buy more for here.- That's it.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Now you're talking, Jenny.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32You don't actually downsize, you just split everything between two properties.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- Right, through to the kitchen. - How do you know it's the kitchen?
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Well, there's a sink in here.- Oh.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- Good skills, Danny. - Daniel, you could be a detective.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46- Utilise the space a bit better, I think.- Where? I like the sink to look out over the view.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Just do something a bit better with it.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- I like the sink to look over the view.- Yeah.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53The dogs would love it in here. They could sleep here at night.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57- They'd get under your feet. - Oh, look, it goes right round.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02- Oh, it's all right. Block that door up.- Why? - Because, why do you want two doors?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- You have to live in it first... - OK.- ..to decide what to do.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09I'm liking Jenny's thinking there. What you should do is just live in it
0:13:09 > 0:13:11for six months, then you'll feel what you want to change.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16- I see what you're thinking. You're thinking for dining. - Make more use of the space,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19rather than have another door there that's not doing much.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21It's amazing how much space a door takes up.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26- OK. Explain.- Because it's not just a gap in the wall, it's the whole corner taken out
0:13:26 > 0:13:30and the space it has to open into, and the same on the other side.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34So you lose, effectively, about six foot of wall and the space either side.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36But they're handy for getting between rooms.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41You do need the odd one here and there, I do accept that, but perhaps not so many.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45The little summer bit. Oh, look at that gorgeous view again.
0:13:45 > 0:13:51- Oh, yeah. It's stunning, in't it? - I wonder if this is our garden bit. - I would have thought so.- Daniel!
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Vegetables. You can make that an allotment. There you go!
0:13:54 > 0:13:58A bit of excitement from Jenny. The prospect of having her own allotment,
0:13:58 > 0:14:00the country life really appeals to her.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- Watch your... Too late. - Watch my head?- Well, I nearly bumped my head.- Did you?
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Slightly taller than you. Not a lot, just a little bit.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10This way into what I suppose is the big bedroom of the house.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14- This is going to be the master bedroom.- Yeah.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18- OK.- Remember that it's never going to be as big as what we're in now, but it's, er...
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- It's fine.- You could hear the disappointment though, couldn't you?
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- Daniel, kind of tries to overcome any objection to it. - He went, "Yeah(!)".
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Oh, see? Another aspect.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32That's super. I like that big piece of slate in the garden.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Somebody has really cared for that. - They've put a lot of thought into it.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38What do you think of the dogs in that little pond?!
0:14:38 > 0:14:43Jenny, Daniel, that is not an artificial water feature.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46That is your very own beck running through your garden.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50A little study-cum-office. This is great. This will be for my office.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53I'll have to learn how to be tidy.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56- Yeah, you will.- Yeah. I can do that.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00- How old do you think this property is?- 300 years perhaps, something like that.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03- I'd be with you there, Daniel.- What you saying?- 250, 300 years old.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05- What, this place?- Mm.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Early '80s, this.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- HE LAUGHS - What, 1780s?- Yes!
0:15:11 > 0:15:14I don't mind those windows, Daniel. Cos it looks like wood.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18- You can live with it. - Are they double-glazed? - Yeah.- Peaceful up here as well.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- Yeah, it is. No noise.- Yeah, I think we could live with that, Daniel.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- It's tranquil. - OK, so the upstairs...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Ssh!
0:15:28 > 0:15:32Yeah, it is lovely and tranquil and peaceful, isn't it?
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Oh, bathroom. I quite like this. Is there a shower?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- Yeah, there's a shower attachment on the...- Shower attachment.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- It's serviceable as it is, isn't it?- Yeah. It's OK.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48"It's OK." Er, what do you think that means in real words?
0:15:48 > 0:15:52It means, like the rest of this property, it could do with getting a bit of refreshing.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55So that's one bedroom, two, well, office...
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- You can't do much else with that. - Second bedroom.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00OK. So this is where Joss...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Joss would have to cramp himself in.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06What kind of guy needs to cramp himself in a good, double bedroom like that?
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- But Joss is a big fella, isn't he? - Oh, is he over six foot?- Yeah.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11OK. Yeah, he can cramp himself in then.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Lovely different views from every window. It's just gorgeous.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21- Dual aspect windows. - Old Daniel dropping in the estate agent terminology.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- Dual aspect bedroom.- And what would you tag on to that to explain the views from the dual aspect?
0:16:26 > 0:16:32"Dual aspect bedroom affording unparalleled views of the gorgeous West Yorkshire countryside".
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- You've still got it. - Yes!- Not bad at all.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39- So far, so good.- Yeah.- Well, that all seemed to go rather well.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- It did.- I'm not convinced though that they're being as honest with us
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- as they could be. - Shall we find out?- Yeah.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- Daniel, you're a practical fella. - Yeah.- You've had a look at this place.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56I can instinctively sense that you were putting your own stamp on it, mentally.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- Talk me through.- I had a feeling of how you could utilise the space a bit better.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04Maybe block that doorway up over there, which is just a waste of space.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- They take an enormous amount of room.- Yeah.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10It's no practical use, cos they've got an entrance there.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13All in all, refreshing this place didn't worry you at all?
0:17:13 > 0:17:18No, there's no great structural work at all. The windows are fine and everything is OK.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21Maybe a wood burner in the lounge, make it homely and a bit cosy in there.
0:17:21 > 0:17:26- I am liking your thinking.- Yeah. - But, of course, that would all cost a few pennies.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31- Not too many, hopefully. - It won't be too bad, I don't think. - Yeah.- On top of the price, but...
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Exactly. The price. On top of the price. Shall we go and find the others for guess the price?
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Yeah, let's do that.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42OK. Before you went in, we were a little concerned that you weren't quite
0:17:42 > 0:17:45up for downsizing, but that tour seemed to go OK for you.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47- Absolutely.- Yeah.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48We're ready for it now. Bring it on.
0:17:48 > 0:17:54- OK! Let's bring on the price, shall we?- OK.- Who's first? - You probably know better than...
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- Do you want me to go first? - Yeah.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Erm...
0:17:57 > 0:18:00265.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05- OK.- OK. I'll go for the 250. I think he's got it on the nail. - So you're going bang on budget.
0:18:05 > 0:18:11Er, Daniel, you should be in the business. This place is on the market for £265,000.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16- Did you tell him?!- No. - Did you cheat?- No. Not at all. - Calculated guess, you see.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Not at all. So it's one-nil, and a very good one-nil as well.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24- Not a bad start then. Shall we go and check out my house, number two?- Yes.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- Come on, let's go.- It's this way.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Right, I've brought Daniel and Jenny slightly further east to Sowerby Bridge
0:18:34 > 0:18:38to show them a Georgian former weaver's cottage.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Here we are at my choice, property number two.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Now you did say that you weren't adverse to doing a little bit of work on a property.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49- Yeah.- You wanted something that was a period property, preferably.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54- Also, the kids are going to want somewhere as base for them when you're in France.- Yep.- Yeah.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58And also not necessarily out in the middle of the sticks in a village, you said.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Oh, OK. I see where you're coming from.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05That's why I've brought you to what I think is a delightful 18th-century former wool store.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08- Give me your first impressions. What do you think?- Like it.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Like it from the outside, yeah. And a lot of character.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16It is a busy main road, though. I'm sure it's got redeeming features inside.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21It's got loads of them. You said you've got this really large master bedroom at your current property.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24You didn't think you could find that somewhere else.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Wait till you get to that attic floor
0:19:26 > 0:19:31- If you don't go, "Wow!" and your imaginations start running away with you with you...- OK.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- Get inside, wander round and we'll see you in a bit.- Bye!
0:19:34 > 0:19:39Shall we go round the back to find some peace and tranquillity? Cos we won't find it here.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53OK. Daniel seemed more prepared to take on the project than Jenny did, so let battle commence inside.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Oh, it's cold. - It's freezing in here.- Mm.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Is this the...entrance or the...
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Kitchen?- This is the kitchen.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Oh!
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Stove, of sorts, Daniel.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Yeah. If it works.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- It's certainly different. - Certainly a challenge, in't it?
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Make something of this and put it right.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14What was it in the past did they say?
0:20:14 > 0:20:16- A wool mill?- A wool store.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- A wool store.- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20There's the boys out in the garden.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24- Hiya!- Hello! All right?
0:20:24 > 0:20:28- Gosh, it is chilly.- Yeah, it's cold. - Hasn't been lived in for years.- No.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30It is quite cold inside there to be fair, isn't it?
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Not as cold as it is out here.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34So that's kitchen.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38This'll be living room, whatever.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42I think Jonny's taken me to me word about doing things, in't he?
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I think he has!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Yes, basically, Daniel. You said it. It's on camera.
0:20:47 > 0:20:54In fairness, even I heard you say, Daniel, you didn't mind a project. Jonny has given you a project.
0:20:54 > 0:20:55OK.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59- Not quite sure what to make of this, to be honest.- No?
0:20:59 > 0:21:02I keep really wanting to like it, Jonny, to be honest.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- But, er...- Quirky feel about it! - ..I'm digging deep, I'm digging deep.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11I think Daniel has opened up his mind but I think we've also got a spinning Jenny.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Yeah. I can't pull the wool over her eyes, can I?
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Right, this is the front of the house. So we came in the back door into the kitchen.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Whereas, normally, presumably, we'd come in that way.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24I don't know. It'd be better coming in the back door. The busy main road.
0:21:24 > 0:21:30- You know what I'm thinking though? - What?- I'd make this a really grand entrance hall.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- You could make a feature of the woodwork.- And just have it as my little office-y bit
0:21:34 > 0:21:39in the corner or something and distance ourselves from that very busy, noisy road.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- OK, the ground floor got a mixed report.- Yeah.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- Let's see what goes on upstairs. - Literally, the only way is up.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50Oh, this is quite nice.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Nice little landing area.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Yeah, I like that.
0:21:53 > 0:21:59- I think I'm going to like the upstairs a bit more than the downstairs.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Let's go through and see. Come on.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Oh, it's not a bedroom.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07- It's a bathroom.- Wow! Very basic. It's a minimalist bathroom.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Oh, it's quite a cool size actually, Daniel.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11How would you describe the bathroom?
0:22:11 > 0:22:15I mean, OK, it has got the simple white suite, which always ticks the box.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Yeah. Requires modernisation.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19So, quite narrow little doorway.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- Yeah.- I think you can knock that wall down, you know, Daniel.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Yeah, it's just a partition. If you want to.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- Hang on! I think Daniel's got enough to do.- Yes!
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Knock some walls down! That means they like it.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Jenny's starting to warm to this place.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34And what do we see through the square window?
0:22:34 > 0:22:39- Ooh! What's going on through the square window?- Don't know. - Oh, that takes me back.- To what?
0:22:39 > 0:22:44The round window, the arch window and the square window, no? OK.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Next door's garden. It's OK.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47That's all right then.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49How old do you think this place is?
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Late 1700s, I would say, something like that.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Let's go through to the next bedroom and then we can try and work it out.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- Bit of a wonky jam.- Tis, in't it?
0:22:58 > 0:23:02You see, somebody's done some weird stuff here, haven't they?
0:23:02 > 0:23:04All this pretend...
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Knock all that down, cos this isn't big enough for anything really, is it?
0:23:07 > 0:23:09No.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13This place is quirky. The upstairs needs rethinking, cos the rooms aren't that defined.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18- Don't forget, this was a place of work. This is not designed as a house.- Exactly.
0:23:18 > 0:23:24I still wonder if the bathroom should be on this side and then we're away from the road for the bedrooms.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28I like that point! Take the bathroom to the front, to the main road,
0:23:28 > 0:23:33- and then put your bedroom at the back where it's nice and peaceful.- OK.- Good thinking, Jenny.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Oh, another tiny, weeny, weeny room.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Not much space in this, is there?
0:23:37 > 0:23:39I see what you've done here, Jonny.
0:23:39 > 0:23:45- You've kind of got them a massive property with lots of downsized rooms in it.- Yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47I take it literally.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51This all wants taking down, opening up into one decent-sized room.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53- Open all that up. - You get a decent-sized room.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55- You can get a lovely sized room then, couldn't you?- Yeah.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Thing is, the first floor has more than enough space for what they need.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02They need two bedrooms, a study area, a bathroom.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04They just need to redefine how the rooms are worked.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06It needs a lot of TLC.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11My concern is, it needs a lot of work on this when we've got a lot to do in France.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16Hang on. In Jonny's defence, you said you didn't mind a project here and in France.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18It smells a bit musty, dampy.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- Yeah, it does, don't it?- Blimey! A bit of rot gone on up here.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23OK.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- This is a good space, in't it? - Nice big space.
0:24:25 > 0:24:26Yeah.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Yeah.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Quite like the structure of these ceiling and timbers.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Oh, feel kind of deflated now.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39It's got a really awesome kind of loft feel to it.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42The exposed A-frames, the beams, the wooden floor, the two skylights.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I'm actually starting to feel sorry for you.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Oh, don't go near the edge, Daniel.
0:24:48 > 0:24:49There you are, in the summer.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54- Oh, can you do me a balcony? - I would have thought so, yeah.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Mm, yes, we could just overlook the pub beer garden.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00- Well, that went well(!)- Did it?
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Inside, it's fair to say there's a little bit of TLC required?
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- Just a little bit. - Just a hint. Outside though,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12pretty much everything's done.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16About 15 years ago, the place was given Grade II listed status, which meant that the owner
0:25:16 > 0:25:19got a grant from the Government and they've done loads.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Wooden-framed double-glazing, none of that plastic.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26They've repointed all the walls. The chimney stack's been done,
0:25:26 > 0:25:29the roofing, the central heating's in there. Water systems.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32They've gone to town on the place, structurally.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35So it comes down to you putting your imagination into it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38- It'll want gutting from top to bottom.- Yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41- Serious job, in't it?- Totally. So let's go play guess the price.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43- Find out how much you've got to work with.- OK.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49- Jenny, I think you particularly found this place confusing.- I did.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- It's odd, isn't it? The layout. - It's really strange.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56I don't know if it's been a house, a home, offices. I don't know what.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58You have to use your imagination,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00cos I know for a fact, that, even though it's listed,
0:26:00 > 0:26:06- the current owners have applied to put an internal wall up to create a corridor through here.- That's good.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Yeah, that shows that the council wouldn't be adverse to suggestions,
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- as long as they were sensible, with this place.- OK.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15So you could, kind of, if you think about it,
0:26:15 > 0:26:20we've got one big bedroom here. Take out those partition walls there. You've got another bedroom.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23You need to put your heart and soul into it to make it right
0:26:23 > 0:26:27and we could do that, but really we want to put that into our property in France.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Although you did say that you weren't scared of two projects.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34Not scared of two projects. Money could be a limit.
0:26:34 > 0:26:35It could be a limit.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Ah... Well, maybe Jonny could help with guess the price?
0:26:38 > 0:26:40- Let's hope.- Come on. Let's go.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43The old wool store.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Has Jonny tried to fleece yer on the price?
0:26:46 > 0:26:50- Oh, dear, oh, dear!- I have to put up with this all the time.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It is guess the price time. Now at the moment, it's one-nil to Daniel.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58- Mm.- You went first last time. - OK.- So come along, Jenny.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02I reckon it will be about £140,000.
0:27:03 > 0:27:09I'd go 130,000 is all it's worth.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14- OK, this property's on the market for offers in the region of £210,000.- Oh!- Wow!
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Bear in mind, this is a detached, Grade II listed, former wool store.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20It does need a lot of money spending on it.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23I think £100,000 would be slightly excessive, cos structurally...
0:27:23 > 0:27:28- No, I don't think so. - It's only the internal works.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Don't look at me! All I'm thinking is, well done, Jenny, cos you've equalised.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36Cos you were slightly closer, even if you were very conservative.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40- Oops.- So, it is 1-1 now. This wasn't even the wildcard.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42- Oh, dear.- What's that gonna be like?
0:27:42 > 0:27:45It's that way. Come on, let's go.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51We're just up the hill in Sowerby Village for today's wild-card property.
0:27:51 > 0:27:57- And we've brought Jenny and Daniel to view a property that, put simply, we both love.- Indeed.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00Right, Daniel and Jenny... the wildcard.
0:28:00 > 0:28:05For my property, we tested whether you were really up for downsizing.
0:28:05 > 0:28:10- For Jonny's, we tested out whether you were willing to take on a big project.- You certainly did.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12And for the wildcard, we're gonna test
0:28:12 > 0:28:17whether you're happy living in just a bit of an old mid-terraced house, really.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19That's a bit of an understatement though, isn't it?
0:28:19 > 0:28:22- Absolutely fantastic.- Lovely looking.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26It's very rare for a property to take my breath away and this is one that does it.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28It is absolutely gorgeous.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32If you're a fan of exposed brickwork and exposed wood, this is well and truly for you.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37It was originally a 14th-century, timber-framed house. In the 1660s, they gave it a stone surround.
0:28:37 > 0:28:43The views to the rear are absolutely gorgeous and the inside well and truly complements the outside.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46- Make sure to make the most of it inside.- OK.- Will do.
0:28:46 > 0:28:47- In you go. Enjoy.- Thank you.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49After you, my liege.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51- Thanks.- Verily.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57It's my favourite part of the show, the wildcard. Come on!
0:28:57 > 0:29:01- And by the way, that's a lovely view.- That's all right, isn't it?
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- Gosh, look at that fireplace. - That's brilliant.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08- Isn't it wonderful?- Yeah. That stonework's super.
0:29:08 > 0:29:13- It is better than wonderful.- Yeah, it is beyond words almost. Almost. - The fireplace is just GORGEOUS.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Wouldn't have to worry with carpets and hoovering. Oh, they'd love that.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21You can just see Tony and Seb just laying there in front of the fire.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25- D'you think it's a flagstone flooring?- I think it's gritstone. That's the local stone.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Wow!
0:29:27 > 0:29:31- A super room, in't it? - In't it fab?- Yeah.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34We got a "wow!" in stereo in that dining room.
0:29:34 > 0:29:40Makes you almost want to whisper, doesn't it? It's that sort of a feel to it. Like, sshh!
0:29:40 > 0:29:44Jenny's right. You do almost wanna whisper when you're looking round,
0:29:44 > 0:29:47cos you can feel the history coming out of the walls.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50This must be the kitchen through here. Oh, cool! Look at the floor.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53- That's nice, in't it? - Oh, love the floor!
0:29:53 > 0:29:58- It's not a bad little kitchen, is it?- Can you see yourself here? - Yeah, I don't mind it at all.
0:29:58 > 0:30:03Yeah, cos I was a little bit worried because I know you don't normally like over-the-top cottagey.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07- But this is more...- It's got a bit of space about it.- It's more lord of the manor type, isn't it?
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Yeah. On a miniature scale really.
0:30:10 > 0:30:16- Jenny's loving the place. Are we getting the same vibe from Daniel? - Daniel's being a bit more reserved.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19But I tell you what, what a view from the kitchen window.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21- Views stunning, isn't it?- Oh, yeah.
0:30:21 > 0:30:22Oh, cool.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26- Really like that.- Yeah. - Oh, look. Belfast sink.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Yeah. Marble work-top. It's nice is that, in't it?
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- Wouldn't have to do much here. - No, you could virtually move in and that'd be...
0:30:33 > 0:30:36- I think this would accommodate quite nicely.- Yeah.
0:30:36 > 0:30:37It's not bad at all, is it?
0:30:37 > 0:30:42Fantastic, open Inglenook fireplace with all the original features in the living room.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46The dining room has the stove, but again with the beautiful Inglenook fireplace.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49The kitchen is completely up to date. Nothing needs doing.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51And Daniel says, "Yeah, not bad, is it?"
0:30:54 > 0:30:57- Nice thick carpet.- Yeah, it is.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01- Look at these old beams.- You'd have to watch your 'ead on those!
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Let's have a look in here. Oh, this'll be the master bedroom.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- Gosh, it's quite a size, Daniel. - Deceptively big, isn't it?
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Look at the size of that bed! It's enormous!
0:31:09 > 0:31:12This bedroom is absolutely huge.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16- That's the biggest bed I've ever seen!- This is like downsizing without having to downsize.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Oh, look!
0:31:18 > 0:31:24- Oh, we've got the views. I think we can see our old house from here. - Oh, did I mention the views?
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Oh, watch the step.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31- Gosh, that's unusual. It's on a different level.- Yeah, it drops down.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33- I don't understand that.- It's cool.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37You step down into it. You've got exposed stonework behind the bed.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40The character just continues right throughout this house.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42Oh, I love all the stonework though.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Small room this, isn't it?
0:31:44 > 0:31:48Well, all they do is sleep in it. Look at the size of the rooms downstairs.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51We want to encourage them to get out of bed, don't we?
0:31:51 > 0:31:54- We don't want them to stay in bed all day.- No.- It's a great guest room.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Again, look at those views.
0:31:56 > 0:32:01- Imagine waking up. You sit up in bed and what's the first thing you see?- Daniel.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04- Out the window.- Oh, right. - Did I mention the views?
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- Fantastic. - Yeah, it's a lovely view, isn't it?
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- Yeah. Stunning. Love it. - I do like that view.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Love it. Nah, I think it's great.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16One thing we agree on is this house is absolutely gorgeous throughout.
0:32:16 > 0:32:21The concern I think we'll have with Jenny and Daniel is going to be in this garden.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25It's not particularly big and with those two dogs, we may have a bit of a challenge.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Excuse me. How big a garden do you need?
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- It's called Yorkshire.- Ah, OK!
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Ah, this is a bigger room. If Joss behaves himself,
0:32:34 > 0:32:35he can have this room.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40- It's a nice room, in't it? - And we can keep the smaller room for Jack when he's home from uni.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43Again, all we have to do is just put a lick of paint on or something.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46- Make it our own.- That's it. It's all it needs, in't it?
0:32:46 > 0:32:49- Yeah, brilliant. - Lick of paint here or there.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51- Yeah.- Quite like this, Daniel.
0:32:51 > 0:32:56- Jenny seems to be showing a lot of love for it, but Daniel's holding back.- I wonder why that is?
0:32:56 > 0:32:59OK, small bathroom.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02Compact and bijou, I think they call it.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07Again, it's cosy. Just get your candles out round there and, er...
0:33:07 > 0:33:12Might have to change the colour again. That's lovely though. It's got everything you need.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- White.- There you go, Jenny, It's got everything you need,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18everything you want. Roll-top baths are gorgeous
0:33:18 > 0:33:21and it's in keeping with the style and period of the property.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24It is, kind of. I don't think they had roll-top baths in...
0:33:24 > 0:33:26No, it's very much Victorian!
0:33:28 > 0:33:30- To be fair. - It's old, you mean, Jonny?
0:33:30 > 0:33:33- That's not a bad little bathroom at all, that.- Not bad at all.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36- It'll do the job. - Yeah, course it will.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38The thing that bathroom does lack...
0:33:38 > 0:33:40- Yeah.- Is...- A shower.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Exactly, but there's a little cubbyhole...
0:33:42 > 0:33:47it's a walk-in wardrobe now... next to the master bedroom that's already plumbed to be a shower room.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52- Where the boiler is?- Yeah. It's just the current vendor chose to use for storage instead.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55- For her shoes!- Yes. - Hundreds of shoes in there.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- Oh, walk-in wardrobe!- That'll do for your collection, won't it?
0:33:58 > 0:34:03- Oh, I think this lady's got more shoes than me.- No! I doubt it.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07- Oh, you could make that really cool. - You could use the space better.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12Yeah, and then we get all the wardrobe stuff out of our room, so we just leave it here.
0:34:12 > 0:34:16- Yeah.- Great bit of space. - Not bad at all, that. That'll do.- Lovely.
0:34:16 > 0:34:21- Dunno where I'll put my stuff, but I haven't got...- You don't have much, do you?- No, that's right.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28Now, Jenny, the house seemed to get a kind of mixed review there, but I
0:34:28 > 0:34:32think there's one thing which is just undeniable about this place...
0:34:32 > 0:34:35- the views are just amazing. - They are stunning, aren't they?
0:34:35 > 0:34:40Well, the problem is, it's very hard to guarantee a view. Because if you look just along here,
0:34:40 > 0:34:45there are developers taking advantage of what we love about this place. But you know what?
0:34:45 > 0:34:49- You're gonna guarantee a view for me, aren't you? - You have a look at this map.
0:34:49 > 0:34:54- See that little circle there... - Yeah.- On this old map from way back in 1894?- Yeah.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57If you just look over the hedge here. Can you see this little mound
0:34:57 > 0:34:59- on the other side of the hedge?- Yeah.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03That is what's believed to be an old Roman beacon tower.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07- This is the "castle, site of" as it says there.- Right.- Right?
0:35:07 > 0:35:09That's a protected site.
0:35:09 > 0:35:14- This is one of the few properties with a view that is more or less guaranteed.- Brilliant.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18- You can't build on that site. - Fantastic. Can we purchase that bit of land?
0:35:18 > 0:35:23No. It's even protected from you, I'm afraid!
0:35:23 > 0:35:26You mightn't want to purchase it when you find out how much this is.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29- OK.- Shall we find the others? - Let's.- Come on.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32One of the things that's contentious with this property is parking.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35The vendor's reduced it quite significantly.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38- It seems to be a little bit of an issue.- Is there any space?
0:35:38 > 0:35:42- Well, you've got the potential to park a car in front of the house.- Yeah.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45- I don't know if you'd really want to.- You'd spoil your views.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49Yeah. We've got this area. There's enough space here for two or three cars.
0:35:49 > 0:35:50So this goes with it?
0:35:50 > 0:35:55It doesn't, this is the thing. It's actually a separate deed, this bit of land.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- It's available through negotiation.- OK.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01The way to look at it is, this is going to have to be an extra cost.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04- Yeah.- But that's dependent on what the actual value of the house is.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07- Yeah.- So let's play guess the price.- Let's go.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12How was it overall? What did you think?
0:36:12 > 0:36:16- I think it's a lovely place. - Yeah, its internal space is lovely.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19It is. It's gorgeous. Full of character.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23I was concerned when I saw how close the road is, but the double-glazing's superb.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26Daniel, you seem quite reserved about this place.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29The outside space isn't big enough, really.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32The issue with the parking.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35- Right.- Yeah, there's a little bit of an issue there.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39But, hopefully, the guess the price thing could possibly swing it back in your favour.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43- Let's see. It is one-all. Your budget's £250,000.- Yup.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46For this piece of history how much do you think the price is?
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Your turn to go first, Daniel.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50Present climate,
0:36:50 > 0:36:51225.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55- OK. Jenny?- I think it'll be more, even with the present climate,
0:36:55 > 0:36:58because of the age of it and where it is.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02I'd say...239.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05239? OK, well...
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- The lady has it.- Yeah?- Yes.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- Ya! Bring it on.- 2-1 to Jenny.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15This place, because of what we talked about, the beautiful views
0:37:15 > 0:37:19and, you've just mentioned yourself, the history of this place...
0:37:19 > 0:37:22it's actually bang on your budget of £250,000.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26But you did just allude to the fact there, Daniel, it's a buyer's market at the moment.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28So there could be room for manoeuvre.
0:37:28 > 0:37:33Right, we've now shown you three absolutely diverse, but all lovely, properties.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37You've now got to decide which one you'd like to test drive, or as we say...
0:37:37 > 0:37:41- Try before you buy. - So, why don't you go and have a confab about that
0:37:41 > 0:37:43- and make a decision. See you in a bit.- Thank you.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47And while they're off making that decision, here's a recap for you at home.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Will Jenny and Daniel go for my offering,
0:37:50 > 0:37:55a lovely gritstone cottage set in stunning surroundings, with a fabulous landscaped garden?
0:37:55 > 0:38:00£15,000 over budget though at £265,000.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03We'll see, Simon. They might still go for my former wool store.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07A huge project, granted, but nothing that Daniel couldn't whip into shape
0:38:07 > 0:38:11and I think a real bargain for offers in the region of...
0:38:12 > 0:38:17But our wild card went well, didn't it, Jonny? Bags of original features and those
0:38:17 > 0:38:22amazing fireplaces, right on budget at...
0:38:24 > 0:38:29Well, Jenny and Daniel, despite the obvious temptations of my property and the wild card,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32you've plumped for Simon's house, property number one.
0:38:32 > 0:38:37- Now the sun's come out, it's clear to see why, isn't it?- Yeah, it is. - It's absolutely stunning.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41- It ticks all the boxes. We love it.- Yeah.- Yeah, thanks. It wasn't just me though.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44The To Buy Or Not To Buy team also had a big hand in this.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48Also our secretive sleuth of a surveyor has had his terrier-like nose
0:38:48 > 0:38:53in all the nooks and crannies. But I do just have to say, it's not a legally binding survey.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Obviously, if you proceed with this or any other property, go through a solicitor
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- and get all the right searches and surveys done.- Yeah.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05First thing I have to tell you, that this place is as solid as the millstone grit
0:39:05 > 0:39:09from which it is hewn. It is absolutely gorgeous and all there.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Nothing wrong with this place. Brilliant.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17One of the things he mentioned as a possible limitation, that quintessential open fireplace
0:39:17 > 0:39:21that one would expect to find. There's no chimney stack or flue.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26- No.- He did mention that trying to find a place to position that is going to be a little bit difficult,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28so you'd have to investigate that.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32But apart from that, as Simon said, this place is absolutely bang on.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35- We could put a wood stove in and take the pipe outside.- Up the side, yeah.
0:39:35 > 0:39:41- But his point was, you might be a little bit restricted on how you do that.- OK.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Anything is possible, just might cost a few bob.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47- Apart from that, as we've just said, what a beautiful place.- Stunning.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50Why don't you get on and enjoy the place a bit more
0:39:50 > 0:39:54- and we'll just enjoy the view, shall we?- Yeah.- See you later.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58- Cuppa tea?- I'm just enjoying that. - You're drinking in the view.
0:40:02 > 0:40:07Crikey, it looks like Jenny's already got some ideas on the decorating front.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09What's that she's holding?
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Just prepared this little mood board, to give you a feel.
0:40:12 > 0:40:17I'm thinking of bringing the outside in and lighten this room up a bit,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19cos it's on the darker side of the house.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Put a stove in as well, I would have thought.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Wow, that'd be cool.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25No. It wouldn't be cool, Jenny, it'd be hot.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27She's a woman on a mission, isn't she?
0:40:27 > 0:40:32- Where's she going with all those samples?- I've been looking through a couple of magazines,
0:40:32 > 0:40:36taken some sheets out, cos it's a smaller bathroom than we're used to.
0:40:36 > 0:40:42And I'm not sure whether to actually add gold and then a splash of colour with this lovely leaf trail.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46I think this means Daniel's had enough of the interior design.
0:40:46 > 0:40:51They're off to test out the local dog walking routes and enjoy those fantastic views.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54Come on then.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05Jenny and Daniel, you've now had a bit more time in this gorgeous, tranquil spot,
0:41:05 > 0:41:09up here on the Dales, overlooking Calderdale. What do you think of this house?
0:41:09 > 0:41:12I think it's fantastic. I really have fallen in love with it.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- I can see myself here. - Yeah. There was an "I" there, Daniel. It wasn't "we".
0:41:16 > 0:41:20Yeah. It's maybe a tad small for me.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24Well, you know, this is the issue you're gonna have to face. You do wanna downsize.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26It is a lovely spot.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31- Could I live with that amount of space? I don't know.- As we searched, as the property team
0:41:31 > 0:41:35and ourselves searched, we did find, that to find a traditional period property
0:41:35 > 0:41:41with the outside space, as well, and interior space for this budget was a bit of challenge.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Not forgetting that the dream is about being in France.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47- Oh, yes.- The focus of this is the downsizing...
0:41:47 > 0:41:51Why would you wanna go to France?!
0:41:51 > 0:41:55- Look at it!- Get your point! - Let's see if we can do it. Shall we ask the question?
0:41:55 > 0:41:57The big question - to buy or not to buy?
0:41:57 > 0:42:02Well, I think you need to give me 24 hours to work on him, but as far as I'm concerned...
0:42:02 > 0:42:05As long as we can get the price for our house that we need to buy
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- this house, then I think yeah, I'd go after it.- Go on, Daniel.
0:42:08 > 0:42:13Yeah, maybe knock a few thousand off the asking price and it would be realistic.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16- Ah, that would make it more appealing, wouldn't it?- Yeah.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19- That's the Yorkshire in him...- We'll call it a Reserve To Buy, shall we?
0:42:19 > 0:42:23- That'll be fine.- Good luck with it. Let us know how it works out.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27- We will do.- And take care.- You'll have to come back.- Au revoir.- Salut.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31- A bientot. What do you think, lovey? - Yeah, it's super, yeah.- It is.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33It's gorgeous. Look at all this.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36- You know what I'm thinking, don't you, Jonny?- Yellow.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40No, underneath that gruff, tough, Yorkshire exterior, Daniel is a big, old softie.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44- I think Jenny's going to get her way with this. - You're probably right about that.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd