Ross-on-Wye To Buy or Not to Buy

So here we are, set for another adventure.

-Like a home-buying firecracker ready to explode its property knowledge all over the BBC!

-That's right.

You know, we're worth getting out of bed for in the morning, so it's lock and load, folks.

Because this is To Buy Or Not To Buy!

Nice start that, Jonny mate!

I thought you'd like that! I'm so excited about today's mission.

-Oh, right. Pray tell.

-Because of Ross, the ever so popular Ross. I love the Ross.

The Tamla Motown singing legend Diana Ross?

No, not where I was going, no.

Oh, I know. You're more the EastEnders hard man Ross Kemp sort, aren't you?

No, close, but we are in Ross-on-Wye today in the delectable pride of the Wye Valley.

And this luscious Herefordshire hotspot is fortunate enough to be home to three properties,

one of which will be test-driven today when our buyers get stuck in and Try Before They Buy.

And stepping into the frame today are Lindsay and Darren McLean.

They're currently renting a property in Ross-on-Wye and have been since

relocating to the region three years ago.

IT trainer Lindsay has been on maternity leave, taking care of their little daughter, Lily.

And Darren works as a manager for Europe's largest outdoor activity and educational holiday provider,

treating the nation's children to such pursuits as

kayaking, abseiling and, yes, that zip line we just had a go on.

With budding photographer Darren busy documenting everything, the family

they bought their own house where they can hang picture frames galore and settle into a place called home.

OK, so Darren, Lindsay,

here we are in Ross-on-Wye, Ross Vegas as it's locally known.

You live in a beautiful stone barn conversion with amazing views.

Why on earth are you moving?

We're just renting at the moment, so we've moved up here

with the job and we've been renting for a while bit and now we're

looking to sort of step back on the property market and buy something.

So when you say Ross-on-Wye, we're talking the town itself?

Not really the town, more rural, in the local area.

You like Ross, don't you?

Yeah, but Lindsay works in Hereford, so ideally an easy commute

for both of us. I work in Ross so some of the little villages around

-and in between so, Much Birch, Little Dewchurch.

-Hoarwithy?

Yeah Hoarwithy, all those bits and pieces. All roads lead to Hoarwithy.

-Upton Bishop?

-Upton Bishop's good, yeah. Walford.

What is the job?

I work for an outdoor pursuits company.

I'm a Recruitment Support Manager, so I recruit somewhere in the region of about 2,500 young people to do

things like abseiling, kayaking, canoeing, language tours, field studies...

-all of that lot, really.

-Nice!

-Pretty boring!

Is this move, just for the two of you?

No. There are other people involved. We've got a little girl.

-A little girl? How old?

-She's just coming up to six months now.

And Lindsay's mum and dad have had enough of life in Sheffield, so they're gonna be

moving down here so they can be closer to us and closer to Lily, so

ideally we're looking for somewhere that if it's not already got a separate annexe, it's something that

we could convert or build an annexe so they've got their own living space.

So that's the kind of the layout of the property. What kind of property?

Are we looking traditional?

I'm not too bad, actually. I'm not too bothered. Preferably not brand new, because

they generally are a little bit smaller than the older properties, so generally an older property.

As long as it's got the space, we're not bothered about the age.

-So the space and the location are the key things?

-Yeah.

If it's got character and it's pretty, that's obviously going to be a bonus

-Absolutely.

-Have you got any hobbies that are gonna dictate what kind of property we're looking for?

We're both keen outdoor people, so we like going out for walks.

I'm quite a big photographer so I love going out there and getting amongst it.

Hang on a moment, whoa, whoa, whoa, you're a keen photographer?

Does this mean an extra room?

Ideally, yeah. Lindsay probably needs to look away at this moment.

I'd love a room that I could turn into a studio,

so I could do a little bit more portrait work, that would be fantastic as well,

but for me, it's fairly high up the priority list, for Linds...

-Probably less!

-Probably less!

-Absolutely!

-Quite right, too!

OK, so for these kind of areas, I mean what sort of budget are we looking at?

-I reckon about 450.

-Nice. OK.

Darren, are you in agreement with that?

Yes.

Yes, you know, we won't be able to eat, but...

-But what a lovely property you have!

-Absolutely! Fingers crossed!

-Fantastic.

We are willing to go the extra mile to get the right property.

That's top of the budget, really, but...

Ideally you want spend less than that, but if we find something lush, then...

Come on, let's do the extra mile. Let's go! See you later!

Cheers!

OK then, buddy, we've got quite a task ahead of us today, then.

Did you hear what they said, outdoor pursuits!

We've got the parents moving in as well, so that's quite tough.

Maybe a bit of canoeing, that would be great!

Yeah, but we've gotta check out the local property scene...

-Perhaps we could go on one of those aerial runways.

-Not dressed like this.

You're right, actually. You're not dressed for outdoor pursuits...

-No, so let's...

-Fortunately, I've got a change of clothes for us.

-Let's go.

But first I guess we'd better tell you a bit about today's location of choice.

Herefordshire is simply stunning

and since hurricanes hardly ever happen here, it's no wonder than Ross-on-Wye

is being credited as being the birthplace of British tourism.

As far back as 1745, folks have been flocking to the region for leisurely boat trips on the idyllic River Wye.

Designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Wye Valley's treasured landscapes have been

immortalised by the brush strokes of Turner and the words of William Wordsworth, to name but a few.

The region is synonymous with outdoor pursuits,

in particular hiking and canoeing, which are right up Lindsay and Darren's stream.

Canoeing is so popular in the Wye Valley that in 2003, the British Canoe Union

purchased a particularly rapid section of the River Wye and preserved it for recreational use.

At 135 miles, this beautiful river is the fifth longest in the UK,

and like all British waterways, falls short

to the mighty River Severn, which meanders for a hefty 220 miles, making it Britain's longest river.

So with the beautiful vistas taken care of, let's get stuck in to some of those pursuits.

-And look into a few properties as well.

-But of course!

Yes, just something a bit crazy... OK. Yep, send it through.

Something a bit sexy, a bit more unique with a bit of character.

Barn conversions, you say? I like the sound of that.

-Come on!

-Gotta get back to you, OK.

Come on!

Our trusted property team are never off duty, so I reckon we'd

better take a look at the fruits of their labour.

Well, with my choice, the property team have focused on the family

and they've delivered us a superb mid-19th-century cottage.

It's got a lovely annexe, just for the parents, a lovely garden. I think we're onto a winner.

Looks OK.

Now I think that Lindsay and Darren are a very stylish couple.

They want to live in the countryside, so how do you put country and style together?

That's how you do it... Property Number two.

OK. Well, if you're gonna talk about singing the praises...

-Hallelujah!

-Well, that is perfect for this one!

The property team have surpassed themselves with the Wild Card.

We're gonna make it a surprise, but this place is lush.

It certainly is. Right, shall we start the search?

-Not like this, though.

-Oh, yeah. Let's get changed.

-My choice, property one.

OK, I'm not one for bragging but if you looked up "boxes ticked"

in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of this lovely detached property in the incongruously-named

village of Walford. It has everything Lindsay and Darren want

right down to the adjoining bungalow for Lindsay's parents.

McLean family, you are welcome!

-Hello, hello, hello, right then, guys, can you guess for one second why I'm talking like this?

-No.

-Have you been stung?

-Right... It used to be a police house!

I knew that!

Our mid-19th-century cottage, another reason I was talking like that... it's in Walford, innit!

-A-ha!

-What do you think of this place, though?

-Looking good.

Lovely, nice and quaint, definitely.

Ticks all the boxes in theory.

It's only about two miles from where I work, so that's fantastic.

Just a little concerned at the moment about the...

Country lane?

-That's the estate agent's version. It's a main road to me...

-Come on, it's all right!

There's not a bit of traffic gone past since we've been stood here! It'll be fine.

-What are you thinking, Lindsay?

-It could work, actually, two separate sides of it.

I didn't hear you with that traffic then.

-It's looking like it's gonna work.

-It was a tractor!

I'm not gonna tell you too much about it because I've given it everything you wanted,

so have a look. I hear everything, Darren, d'you know what I'm saying!

In you go. Enjoy.

-It used to be an old smith's, this place, didn't it?

-A what?

-An old blacksmith's.

-Oh, right...

-Shall we forge ahead? Come on!

-Brilliant!

Let's listen in. This could be riveting.

-Oh, right!

-Oh, right!

This isn't how I expected it to be.

No, not at all. One big room.

It can be quite confusing when you go straight into a room.

Not everybody likes it.

They like having a separate lobby to kick off the shoes.

-You can't hear the road that much, can you?

-No.

You can hear it a bit, but I don't know what that was that just went...

-Yeah...

-That went past. I noticed...

I'm trying to see if it's double glazed.

There's some sort of weird glazing system going on there, I think.

They are worried about that road, mate.

But you've got that secondary glazing in place,

-that should dampen out a lot of the sound.

-Mmm...

-We could have this as a dining room.

-It depends what else there might be.

-It would be nice as a...

-Would our table fit there?

-I'm not sure.

-Well, just buy a new one!

-Buy a new one!

-If we needed to.

There you go! Placing furniture - I'm getting something back.

Never mind! They're just buying new furniture if it doesn't fit!

-Aaah!

-Straight into the kitchen.

Oh, wow!

Aah, a dresser! Wonderful!

I'm not sure the dresser comes with it!

That's an OK size, actually, isn't it?

Yeah, it's not too bad.

I'm not a massive fan of electric hobs, but that's a minor detail.

Minor detail, my dear.

The ceilings are not the tallest in the world, are they?

It's a tad claustrophobic, but nothing we couldn't live with, I don't think, do you?

-Yeah, I'm fine with it.

-But low roofs are synonymous with cottages.

-It's cosy, it's character.

-Yeah.

OK. Another sort of eating area...

So we don't necessarily need the table in the lounge, because we can have an eating area here.

I wonder if that's a... We could open it up perhaps into a big...

Yeah, and then we could have a big kitchen/diner.

Ooh, they're gonna knock it through.

They said they love entertaining and they want a big living space

and you would benefit from opening up that kitchen.

They know what they're talking about, tapping the stud wall.

-Wow!

-First wow!

-You got a wow!

-This is obviously where the washing machine is.

Yeah, and it's actually quite big in here.

-It's massive, isn't it!

-The utility room is bigger than the kitchen.

Now, funnily enough, though, very important for outdoorsy-types.

-Yeah, absolutely.

-If you like going walking in your free time, what are you gonna get covered in?

-Mud!

-Mud! You need your big utility room.

All right, so this is the garage area...

From the front there, isn't it?

Shall we come around? There's plenty of storage space in here so...

There's a big driveway, so we wouldn't necessarily need to put the cars in the garage.

-I'm seeing photographs in here.

-Are you?

-Maybe put a Velux light there.

-Yeah, possibly...

I can see it now. All my glamour models...

I'm seeing family room. I'm seeing Lily.

The decor's not going to be to their taste,

but the space is there, the location is pretty darn good as well.

-And a downstairs sauna...

-Shower!

Oh, it's shower and... bathroom.

Yeah. Maybe a few tiles, maybe, but gosh, I didn't expect this in here, either!

-Tick the box, my friend!

-Great!

-And they didn't even ask for it!

-Ah right...

-All right, OK.

This is quite interesting as well.

Aah, a little office!

The downstairs study, or studio.

-I see what you're doing, see what you're doing!

-A-ha!

It's a little bit dark, but I'm sure that can be solved with a different light bulb.

-Wow! Gosh, that goes on for miles!

-OK, that's...

Big floor space, big space. Not necessarily head space.

I don't need... well I suppose I do need to be stood up...

Yeah, that's the problem with that slanting roof, isn't it?

-It does restrict your headroom.

-It's character, though, I love it!

-It's all features.

Yeah, this bathroom's good, that's OK.

No, no, no, no!

Someone's being polite, my friend!

A-ha, OK!

-Nice little room.

-All right, yeah.

-A Lily room, perhaps!

-Lily's got a bedroom! I love that... Lily's room first!

That's nice, isn't it!

That's another...

fairly decent-sized bedroom.

We could definitely get a double bed in here, so that would be fine.

-Yeah, definitely.

-That would be fine for Ally and Mel or Jason and Claire

or whoever's staying for the particular weekend.

Hang on! There's been no mention of Simon or Jonny!

-Where are we gonna stay?

-Yeah, come on, you guys!

-Wow!

-Wow number two!

-You collect wows, do you?

-I collect wows!

-We can't hear the road too much, can we?

-No, that's true.

-But, mind you, windows closed.

-Yeah.

Might be a slightly different story when the windows are open and it's a bit hot.

They're still worried about that road, mate!

I'd be really interested to see what the annexe is like and the garden.

-Shall we go and see what Simon and Jonny have got to say?

-Yes, definitely!

-OK.

Let's hammer the truth out of these two.

-Oh, I like what you're doing there!

-Forge...

-Got ya!

-A-ha-ha, there you go. Do come in, do come in!

-Thank you very much.

Now you've seen round the main house.

-Yep.

-But this is just a completely, completely separate annexe.

-Fantastic!

-It's what you asked for.

-Absolutely.

-It's got its own bathroom.

-Yeah.

-Two good-sized bedrooms.

-Fantastic.

-Yeah, you're liking it?

-I'm loving your work.

-Come through here.

I wanted to show you this space because it's gorgeous having your mother-in-law stay with you

and your-father-in law to look after the baby...

-Indeed, indeed.

-But you want to be the king of your own castle, don't you?

-That would be quite nice.

-Well, here we have it.

You've got your kitchen/diner there, your lounge here.

-What are you thinking?

-I'm liking the idea of being...

they're there when we need them, but not when we don't need them.

-That's what Jonny's provided!

-Pretty good, yeah.

No, fantastic, and in terms of size-wise and everything, I think

-Joy and Harry will be happy with this!

-It's great!

-It's literally a house, not just a couple of rooms?

-Superb.

But right next door for that babysitting and everything.

-Absolutely. And the ironing, and...

-Sh! Let's go and find Lindsay and Jonny.

All right, chaps.

-Hello!

-Bonjour!

-Yes, we've just been looking around the annexe.

How was it, having now seen the inside of the main house and also the annexe?

-What are your thoughts?

-Presently surprised at the space.

-Yeah.

-Really surprised at the space.

In terms of the annexe and the garden and the location, great.

Still few concerns possibly about the road, but, you know.

Definitely. Pleasantly surprised about the space.

-Love the garden, love the veggie plot...

-Beautiful big garden.

-It's an amazing allotment.

-It is, unbelievable!

We could sell some things, possibly.

So you're not totally enamoured with it, but you can see the potential to make it more suitable?

Yeah. It'll need a lick of paint and a few tweaks here and there.

That would depend on how much you paid for it.

-Absolutely.

-So it's guess the price time.

-Right.

-Your maximum budget is £450, 000, isn't it?

-Yeah.

So where do you reckon I've gone with this one?

I reckon it's quite close to that. I reckon definitely.

I reckon sort of, I don't know, 420, especially with the land on the back as well, so...

Yeah. D man?

You've stolen my thunder there, a little bit.

-I was gonna go around that!

-Don't give us that old waffle!

-I'm gonna go for...

I think you've come in under the budget. I'm gonna go for 425.

OK. Well, you are both going to be pleasantly surprised.

Lindsay, you're closest... let's get the victory out of the way.

-This place is on the market for £394,950.

-Really!

Which is a superb price, considering the comments you were making about

the presentation and maybe the changes you'd wanna make.

I know you, you wanna spend every penny of your budget!

Too right, too right!

That's 55 grand to spend in there!

And you could make this place everything you'd want it to be, so I think it's fantastic.

-Yeah.

-Yeah? OK?

You did mention that main road though.

-Yeah.

-Let's wander down there and onto a quieter road where we'll find my property.

Right, Jonny, feast your eyes on this beauty.

Location-wise, pin-point perfection for Lindsay and Darren

in the delightful village setting of Pengethly,

a very striking five-bed barn conversion with all the desired space they're craving.

As for separate living space for Lindsay's parents...well, I'll explain more about that later.

Right then, Darren and Lindsay, my choice, property two.

The team and I have come up with this gorgeous place here.

It's a converted barn.

Now... hang on... shush, can you hear that?

The rustle of the wind and the chirping birds.

The birds are a nuisance, you know.

-You can hear them all day when you're in the middle of nowhere in the countryside.

-Yawn!

-You will probably miss the traffic noise down this single track here.

-Excellent!

The middle of the fields, where you wanted to be.

What are you thinking? Here we go, look at that!

-Looking good.

-Beautiful, yeah.

Location-wise as well, great.

Halfway between Hereford and Ross, which is fantastic.

-Yeah, and it's looking beautiful.

-Lovely and secluded.

All right. Let's just keep heaping praise on Simon, shall we!

-Beauty is only skin deep. We've only seen the outside.

-Or is it?

In you go. Enjoy. Go on, in you go.

-OK, this place is lush.

-It is.

-But you haven't got to brag about that on camera!

-I'll try again. Sorry.

Let's try listening to this property without having a barney.

-Oh, wow!

-Gosh! This is massive! It's quite echoey, isn't it? Gosh!

-This is huge!

-It's a nice hallway, isn't it?

Pram, shoes, coats.

Muddy boots, yep.

Oh, my God! Look at the fireplace!

You're going to bask in the glory of your choice, aren't you?

Ooh, look at the fireplace!

What a focal point!

Look at the ceilings! They're so high!

You can't touch those!

That's fantastic as well.

That must be like a mezzanine.

-Wow! That looks amazing, doesn't it!

-Hey, go up there and have a look!

Ooh! It's a little kind of viewing area, perhaps.

-It's like a squash court!

-It is like a squash court, looking down!

Nice little office or chill-out area, that mezzanine.

I would have built across and made that into an upstairs bedroom.

You've got that exposed A-frame and views of the fields.

Look at this! Aah! Wow!

-Now we're talking!

-Yeah! This is amazing!

Oh, Lindsay, will you stop wowing! Honestly, I'm getting embarrassed!

Your head swelling is breathing into my space!

-I can just see you there, you know, looking out...

-Yeah, yeah...

Towards the garden watching... oh, I didn't realise the sink was there!

-Yeah, yeah, yeah!

-Look at this massive paddock out back here!

-It's not quite a football pitch, is it?

-No. This is awesome.

Oh, God! This is amazing!

This is lovely. It's a great size, isn't it?

Credit to the builders, though, they've used some quality materials.

Polished granite work surfaces. What is it about an inch thick wooden flooring?

-It's nice, isn't it?

-You know.

Hold on.

-Another staircase.

-There's another staircase.

Please let that be a negative! Come on, guys!

Right, I'm intrigued now as to where this is gonna...

How is this gonna work out, then?

Ah, right. Three rooms.

Ah, it's a lovely bathroom.

Let's have a look. Oh, nice! Oh, look at the shower!

Aah! "Look at the shower!"

-Oh, that's amazing!

-Do you know what that is?

-That is a sexy shower!

-Yeah.

That is how I describe that... a sexy double shower.

This, my friend, is a sexy house!

-Aah! Look at the sink!

-It's lovely and light as well, isn't it?

-I love the...

-Absolutely!

It's a complete contrast to the other place, isn't it, in terms of how light it is and how fresh?

Yes, definitely, definitely!

It doesn't need any work doing to it from a decor point of view. It's done exactly how we like it.

It's done exactly how they like it. Ooh, shall we bother with the wild card?

Aah, this is sweet!

-Right.

-This has...

This has either got... I'm still confused.

-This is bedroom material, isn't it?

-I'm thinking Lily in here again.

I like the fact that you've got an original stone wall acting as the sort of boundary line.

-It's lovely, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Oh!

Oh, nice!

-Excellent bed.

-Yeah.

-I'm thinking wardrobes,

maybe some drawers. Nice.

-OK, out of ten, how do you think you're getting on with this place so far?

-11.

Light as well, you've got your two windows.

What I really like about this place is the blend of original stone and timber and slate.

-It just embodies country barn conversion.

-What's through here?

It's another house!

What...

Oh, wow!

They've found the other house I attached!

So either this is a utility room for us or

kitchen, because it's got all the plumbing for your mum and dad.

-Yeah, good thinking, yeah.

-You'd forgotten about them, hadn't you?

Yeah, I was taken away by the house!

Now you're getting my plan!

-Wow, look at this! Aah!

-A bath!

-A shower!

-How many wows is that now? I've just run out of fingers!

It just keeps coming and coming, doesn't it?

It does. Is this a dining room, is this mum and dad's living room, is this is a bedroom?

It could be anything, couldn't it?

-It literally...

-Is it my studio?

Well, I've left them with problems. They're looking for the dining room.

Oh, it's which one of those rooms they choose, really.

Wow! Look at these doors as well! They're lovely, aren't they?

Oil-fired central heating, et cetera.

They're lovely, aren't they?

Then you've got that quiet secluded rear garden there as well.

Simon has put the cat amongst the pigeons with this one.

He has, but I think we need to go and have a chat with him and try and see where he's envisaging

-everything working and what rooms go where and everything, because I'm too confused.

-Absolutely.

Oh, well! Shall we go and find out if they liked it?

-Oh, shall we?

-Come on!

I get the feeling you like this place.

Yes, we do.

-We just can't work it out.

-Yeah, it's funny, isn't it?

As much as it delighted you, it's kind of thrown a lot of questions as well, hasn't it?

-Yeah, definitely.

-OK.

What are your thoughts, then? We're trying to squeeze you two, Lily

and your mum and dad into this space. Where would you go?

The obvious thing would be to put the dividing line there,

and close that door, but then that means

they've got two bathrooms and the utility room and...

Well, I'm not sure I would entirely agree.

I think we're in the right lines going back here, but I'll tell you what I'm thinking. Come on.

Right. So that's where you were thinking of separating it, there.

All right. How about this, look.

You've got another door, which is to the rear of the car port.

-Right.

-If you think of this as the front door to the house where you get

rid of all your muddy stuff from your outdoor pursuits

and then when you get to this point, I would say, your house goes right,

mum and dad's house goes left.

I would think of that as their kind of separate annexe from there on,

so then you've got your downstairs communal toilet,

and then that door is your own door out into the garden.

-Sure, yeah.

-What are you thinking?

That would make that into the dining room, which you wouldn't have to walk through.

-Exactly.

-However...

-Go on.

-Bedrooms?

You've still only got one big bedroom and one medium-sized bedroom.

-Upstairs?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, well your guests are staying down here with mum and dad, that's fine.

That is a compromise.

-They're kind of personable, your mum and dad?

-Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Welcome you with open arms.

-Well, there you go. Absolutely.

Or you could extend that mezzanine a bit and put them up there on the old sofa bed, couldn't you?

There's a few thoughts on the place.

-Yeah.

-I know you like the place but will you like the price?

-Shall we go and find out how much it is? After you.

-Excellent.

-Absolutely!

So, how was that?

-It sounds like you had a dreadful time in here!

-It's horrible!

-No, it's beautiful.

-It's really nice.

It's the most fantastic property, the spec's superb.

It's almost gallery-esque, really. I can see my photos hanging up.

It was difficult to work out what rooms we'd use for what

until Simon went through everything with us.

We're just not sure about the number of bedrooms for us.

So it's guess-the-price time. Linds, you're one-nil up.

So Dazza, what do you reckon? Your budget is 450.

What do you think for this beautiful barn conversion?

To be honest, Jonny, I don't think we're too far away from that.

-I would put this at around about the 445 mark.

-OK. Lindsmeister?

I think a bit higher. 449, probably.

Just under? OK. Well...

It's all downhill from here, Darren.

-Oh, no!

-You can't come back from this. It's two nil to Lindsay.

-No!

-You were literally a grand out.

-Right.

This is absolutely at the top of your budget, and I think for good reason, £450,000 it's on the market for.

Yeah! He doesn't care about the money!

He's just gutted about being two-nil down!

I'm two-nil down, yeah.

So, number one, a bit too close to the road is the feeling I got.

Number two, bedrooms an issue. Can we bring it all back with the Wild Card?

Let's go. Follow me.

Fantastic.

Well, our Wild Card today is of biblical proportion.

An enchanting church conversion situated in the magnificent hamlet of Howell Hill,

immaculately restored with sympathy, complete with four bedrooms and an epic kitchen fit for any supper.

Kaleidoscope light through those stained-glass windows illuminates

the copious, ecclesiastical features, including the original carved stone font and pulpit...

And check out the magnitude of that solid oak front door,

where the big bad wolf would waste all his huff and puff

as it would definitely keep Lindsay, Darren and little Lily as safe and snug as could be.

But, will church living be the McLeans' idea of heaven?

OK, Mr and Mrs McLean.

Here we are at our final property, the wild card. I love it!

I think this place is absolutely amazing and if I'm honest, this is probably the nicest, just lushest

overall fantastic property I've ever seen in my life. It's great.

I'll add to that, mate. I think me and you should just mess about more often

and leave the property team to it, cos this is just gorgeous.

What's your first impressions?

I can't believe it! I don't even know what to say about it!

-It's amazing!

-Yeah, speechless!

It's...yeah, pretty spectacular.

When you look at this, all you're seeing is a church,

but you've got no idea what it's gonna be like on the inside,

what the finish is gonna be. My enthusiasm is spilling over!

Get inside and have a look around before I explode!

-You do love this, don't you?

-It's all right, yeah.

Right, let's take a pew.

-Now, come on! I'm not having any of those religious puns.

-Don't preach to me.

Oh, my goodness!

Oh, my God! Look at that!

To Buy Or Not To Buy, the font of all knowledge!

-He's worse than you!

-Honestly!

-That's Jonny's job, the puns.

-So back it up, brother!

-Are we dreaming?

-I think, yeah.

Pinch me, please pinch me.

-This is just... Aah, let's get in.

-Seems to be going OK so far, mate.

-Amazing!

-Look at the finish, look at the doors, look at the...

-Oh, my God!

-Can you stop blaspheming, please, Lindsay?

Look at the window in the shower room!

If they love this place half as much as I do, this is gonna be a buy for sure.

Look at this! Look at the tiles!

It is gorgeous, isn't it?

It's just unbelievable.

Jonny, this could be the best reaction I've ever heard for a wild card.

Yeah. This place is unbelievable.

I don't believe it!

Oh...

-oh... oh!

-Just...

-We have them speechless, my friend!

-Nice work, property team!

-I don't know what to say!

-I don't!

It is just out of this world.

It is stunning, from top to bottom.

That is the thing with this property. You talk about wow factor.

This place is oozing wow factor, isn't it? Literally, the place.

No matter who you were, or where you came from, you walk into that room, it blows your mind!

Is that the kitchen?

-That is just...

-I don't... I.

-Phenomenal!

-This is...

-Look at that!

You could go up there and you could preach.

I could see your dad up there.

-Yeah!

-Giving his sermon to Lindsay, you know! Harry on the Mount!

Oooh, father-in-law's first in the pulpit!

-Oh, my...

-Oh, my...

Look at the ceiling! I just...

Look at... look at the windows!

Look at that!

The developers have done a superb job of retaining all those original features and it's marvellous.

-I'm feeling the spirit.

-I'm gonna go in...

The stained-glass window is just phenomenal.

That is the absolute testament to the guys that have developed this property...

Stop it!

-I didn't even know that!

-You don't even know you're doing it, do you!

Look at that!

No way!

I'm getting a bit embarrassed because it's just too nice.

-It is too nice.

-The quality of the materials is what makes this property as special as it is.

But you have to do that with this kind of property, you know.

If you don't do that with this kind of building, you won't get away with it.

Look at the view from the sink!

You normally have like a garden!

That's the great thing about this property. It's a total adventure, isn't it?

You can't wait to get into the next room to see what's gonna be there.

We are sort of...

halfway there, Linds. We're living on a prayer.

Darren, did you really just say that?

Oh, right, so utility room as well!

No, not a utility room as well!

-Fantastic!

-D'you mind!

-Oh, sorry about that!

-I can't believe this at all.

-It's great, but where do we sleep?

Good thinking, good thinking. Shall we have a look upstairs?

Is there an upstairs? There's got to be an upstairs.

I mean I... if it meant that your mum and dad physically had to live with us to afford this, then...

I could quite happily live with your mum and dad if it meant living here!

Living here. Absolutely!

If there wasn't the sort of annexe-y bit, and various bits and pieces.

-Absolutely.

-A very bold statement to make, Darren...

you're prepared to compromise and live with the in-laws.

-Oh, look!

-Wow!

Oh, my... oh, wow!

I think they've found the first of the stained glass windows.

-Yeah, that's lovely.

-Oh, yes!

Oh, nice!

That's nice!

The work the builders have put into this place you can't help,

you feel obliged to heap praise on them, don't you?

It's so different to the property, but just so in keeping with it, if that makes any sense.

It's been done so sympathetically, it just fits, doesn't it?

I like the term you've used there, Lindsay - sympathetically done,

-that's exactly what they have done here.

-Yeah, they have indeed.

I can't take it all in. I cannot take it all in.

-This has got Lily's name written all over it.

-Oh, yeah!

My favourite room in this place, I think is...

the first bedroom at the top of the stairs.

-Yeah?

-Yeah. Just cos of the lovely stained-glass window there.

It's very intimate, isn't it? You feel a part of something

from a bygone era.

-Oh!

-That's fantastic!

-Look at that sink!

-Look at the bath!

Look at the feet on the bath!

Oh, they've found the roll-top bath, my friend.

I love those claw feet. Superb.

-I love it.

-I do.

I absolutely beyond love it!

What is the word beyond love? Adulation?

I don't think there is a word beyond love, my friend.

Because once you've found love...

you can go no further.

Oh, my gosh!

-Oh, look!

-Fantastic!

-Look!

-Oh, wow!

-No!

-So that's what you could see from the kitchen/living room area.

Oh, look! A cup of tea and a slice of toast, please.

It looks huge from there.

I'm just wondering whether you get it at certain times, if the light

came through from the stained-glass window whether it would permeate from here.

They've found the bedroom that overlooks the kitchen, with that mezzanine window effect.

They may be picking it for themselves.

-So where am I gonna stay?

-I don't know.

-And another...

-Not another en-suite!

It's en-suite!

This is just...

So where do we put your mum and dad? We've forgotten about that bit!

Forget them, for the minute!

OK, so you've got that long hallway, two double bedrooms with en-suites,

parents in one end, Darren and Lindsay at the other, Lily in the middle.

That's your three bedrooms sorted.

My belief in the property market has been resurrected!

Darren, stop it!

-We need to go and say thank you to the boys.

-Excellent!

Right. Have you quite finished with all your puns? Yeah? Good.

Cos I think they love this place.

I think they're gonna move heaven and earth to buy it.

OK, my beautiful congregation,

-I've got some interesting church facts for you, but before that, can I get an Amen?

-Amen!

-Hallelujah!

But seriously, I've got some interesting stuff.

It was only after 1969 that you were actually allowed to convert churches.

Before that, they were in the hands of the Church of England.

If you buy a church or chapel, only 197 of them have actually

been converted into residential use, so nowhere near as many as you think,

so if you buy something like this, you're buying something pretty unique, people.

Let's get on with the game!

Guess the price time.

Lindsay, two-nil to you. Darren...

-OK, OK...

-You've played a shocker!

So your budget is £450,000, yes, as Jonny has already said.

You really need to score one here, mate! Who's gonna go first, then?

-I think Lindsay should go first and she should be mindful of the fact she's two-nil up.

-I say... a pound.

You can't say that. No charity, OK, we are in church, but no charity, please.

-Come on, give us a serious guess.

-OK.

It's slightly hopeful,

I think it's over budget, it's got to be over budget, surely.

My hope is it's around about the 475 mark.

OK, then. Darren?

I think I've got her on this one. 445. I went for that last time and I'm sticking with 445.

Darren, in the house of the Lord, you've redeemed yourself.

-Congratulations!

-No!

-Come on!

-This place is on the market for £440,000, an absolute bargain!

-What do you think of that?

-Stunning! That is...

-That's exciting!

-You can see the pound signs!

-To be honest, I'm just more glad that I didn't lose three-nil!

-Yeah, yeah, yeah!

That's just sinking in though, isn't it, Lindsay?

Yeah, that is sinking in, actually, cos I was trying...

although I was getting quite excited, trying not to get too

excited because I thought it would be out of budget.

-I can't believe that!

-There it is.

You've got to think about which house you're gonna want to test-drive,

Wander off, have a think about it. We'll see you in a bit.

-Go on, see you in a bit.

-Thank you.

And while they do that, here's a quick recap for you at home!

My Walford village property was far from its East End counterpart

and was precisely what Darren and Lindsay wanted -

three beds and even an attached bungalow for Mum and Dad.

Room for the whole family and so much more, wrapped up for the bargain price of £394,950.

But what about that space Lindsay and Darren wanted?

Well, they got it in bucket-loads with my impeccable barn conversion.

OK, not exactly separate living for Lindsay's parents, but enough square footage and potential to entice

any would-be buyer, and right on budget at 450 grand.

And then there's our wild card... something special in anyone's book.

Ecclesiastical architecture, elegantly converted, exquisite living and a piece of history.

-Praise be! And long live the wild card!

-A celestial bargain for 440K.

Well, Darren and Lindsay, surprise, surprise, you've chosen to test-drive

this gorgeous chapel conversion. Yeah, beautiful, isn't it?

-It is amazing.

-Well, listen, how about this!

This is amazing as well.

That truly is the front door key to this place, and I am not...

-Brilliant!

-You don't get a front door key like that every day, do you!

-Not at all!

But just before I hand this over to you, our pious property surveyor has had a good look round this place.

Now it's not a legally binding survey but it's come up with a few facts that are worth bearing in mind.

He's noticed that the prevailing south-westerly winds hit your property from this direction,

where all the trees are, so be mindful of the state of those trees

and the fact that your gutters will get filled with leaf litter.

It might be an idea just to keep an eye on the roots as well, but there's no damage that he can see so far, OK?

Another good thing is because the property changed use from a church into a residential building,

it's got an NHBC guarantee, the kind of thing you normally get with a new house,

so it's got a ten-year lifespan on it.

The damp proof course is in place as well, so that was fully replaced.

It's got a 30-year guarantee on it, so from the structural point of view

and guarantees, everything is in place, where it should be.

And just one other thing he pointed out. Are you keen gardeners at all?

Mum and dad are, yes.

OK. Well, quite often with these old conversions, they do come with their own graveyard.

Now we don't think it's the case here, but just be careful where you put your vegetable patch!

That was it, really!

Just an odd little one for you there, but listen, I've been dying to do this.

-Thank you very much.

-There's the key.

-You go and enjoy yourself.

-Thank you.

-We'll see you later. In you go.

-Fantastic.

And of course it's only right that Lindsay's parents, Harry and Joy,

along with little Lily join them on this divine test-drive.

Indeed, it would be a sin for them not to have the guided tour of this amazing property.

Lindsay and Darren, it's over to you.

But enough house touring and room-picking, Lily, it's playtime!

Whoop!

And while the grandparents entertain Lily, Darren and Lindsay

take the opportunity to enjoy the tranquillity of their surroundings.

-So what do you think?

-Mmm, lovely! Very nice!

But Darren also needs to capture the heavenly moments taking place back at the wild card itself.

three generations snapped

enjoying the splendour of today's truly wild wild card.

It all looks picture-perfect,

but will they want to keep their hands on that key of all keys?

Only one way to find out. Do we wanna live here?

-Yes, we do, yes, we do!

-He was talking to the baby!

Oh, sorry!

I wasn't asking you two!

He was asking the boss!

Exactly, exactly!

I love this place, you knew that, but how was it for you, now you've spent some more time in it?

Amazing! Absolutely amazing!

-Spiritual!

-No religious puns!

-I've had them all from him!

-Fantastic.

It's an amazing place, it's sort of set away and it's lovely and quiet, and yet it's spacious

and it's also immaculate finish and with all the feature period sort of bits and pieces, it is...

Ideal, it is.

I've got Lily's opinion,

Lily wants to stay here, but also there were two other people involved in this?

There were.

-What did the folks think?

-Love it, absolutely love it, really do!

-It's hard not to, though, isn't it?

-Well, absolutely, absolutely.

But, having said that, you know, we all love this building, that's obvious,

but does it work for you as a three-generation family, that's the question?

We're gonna have to think hard about it,

-but we are seriously, seriously trying to make it work for us.

-OK.

OK. So, if we asked, to buy or not to buy?

We think, to buy!

-Hooray!

-Hooray!

Yeah, fabulous! You're having a good look round again.

-That's Lily happy!

-Great result for us.

Absolutely fabulous. It's been an absolute pleasure.

-We've had great fun over the day, and I hope you have, too.

-Yep, superb.

-Excellent!

See you later then, bye!

-See you later, bye!

-Oh, oh, oh, Lily!

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