Evesham To Buy or Not to Buy

Welcome to the greatest property programme this side of the Big Apple.

We're not in New York but we are somewhere just as glamorous.

Yes, today we're in Evesham trying to find a couple not just three houses but an orchard.

Today, ladies and gents, is all about the apples and pears.

Ah, it's all about the stairs, so we're not looking for a bungalow.

No numbnut, it's all about fruit, my old fruit.

Today's couple, or should that be "pear",

are looking for a place with the potential to bear the fruits of nature.

Once we've shown the lovely couple the fruits of our property hunt

they will get a unique chance that not many people get the fortune to get.

Yes, that's right, the chance to try before they buy.

I'm not trying that.

-Charming.

-Today's buyers are Stephanie and Mark Carrington.

Now at the moment they live in Boston.

Crikey, that's a long way to come.

All the way from Massachusetts in the US of A?

No. Boston, Lincolnshire.

All right, all right, calm down.

Stephanie is a vicar and Mark is a consultant for a drug company.

And today it's all about an orchard. Shall we find out more?

So, Stephanie and Mark, you apple-loving pair, whose idea was it for this orchard?

It was Mark's, really.

I'm passing it all over to Mark.

-It is.

-Well, ever since I've been about 11 years old, I think,

I've really wanted to have an orchard.

My father used to grow vegetables, Mum used to have flowers,

so someone needed to grow the fruit.

-He's just laughing at you here.

-I know.

-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

Well, he thinks I'm sad.

No, I don't think you're sad at all.

I just think it's surreal that when you were 11, as I was building my model aeroplane,

you were wistfully looking out of the window thinking one day my own orchard will happen.

-It's fantastic.

-You had a dream, didn't you?

I did, yeah absolutely, and over the years it's something that I really wanted to do

and now we're in the opportunity hopefully to do that.

So when you say an orchard, what are we looking to do with this orchard?

Um, it's not just apples, it's all fruit, really.

I think the thing is in Britain now

we've got such a fantastic climate for growing fruit

and we just seem to over the last few decades have completely lost so many orchards.

Kent used to be just full of them,

now it's just full of roads and railway lines,

so my job I hope is to bring fruit back to Britain.

-OK.

-That's fair enough. That is a very good goal.

Stephanie, how did you get dragged into this?

I think if something's been a passion that long you should support it, really.

It's clearly what he's meant to do with his life,

-and I love gardening myself. It's not a problem.

-That's fabulous.

It is. Stephanie, what else would you like from this property?

Obviously Mark will have his orchard in the back,

will you be involved in that business side?

I don't see why not. One thing we want is to have a tearoom and a rose garden

where people can have their wedding receptions, that sort of thing,

so I'd be involved in that side of things.

I'm getting the feeling, OK, we definitely want an orchard

because Mark's wanted one since he was 11 so that's all there is to it, we're getting an orchard,

but you're looking to run a business, but you have a lot of different ideas.

Yeah we're quite creative and, you know, it's all up for grabs at the minute.

So if you want a tearoom, a rose garden and an orchard

how much land are we actually looking for?

Well, that's quite problematic.

I think that I would probably need at the very minimum about an acre and a half.

What will you do with these apples?

-Well, hopefully sell them in a shop attached to the property.

-Next to the tearoom.

Next to the tearoom, yeah. So that would be good.

Also make apple juice, hopefully get some cider from the cider makers around the local area as well.

-I'm interested now.

-Sell that in there as well.

-Exactly.

I knew I'd get there. So that would be good.

Also make jams as well, all different things.

-Apple pie for the tearoom.

-Apple pies, absolutely.

All different apple recipes, yup.

But we can't just do this in the open.

Aha, you know where I'm going here.

So we'd either have to have some outbuildings

or at least permission to build some outbuildings in the future.

That's obviously quite important as well.

-We can't do it my front room.

-You're quite driven by this, aren't you?

-Absolutely.

OK, so you've driven us to Evesham, why Evesham?

It's very fertile land, it's a lovely spot,

just the right conditions for growing that fruit.

What about the actual house you want to live in?

Is this Stephanie's department or is this yours, Mark?

Stephanie's got to have a say in something!

You can't just live out in your rose garden.

-No, um, it needs to be detached.

-Right.

It needs to have at least three bedrooms.

Not keen on downstairs bathrooms

so if it's got a bathroom it would quite nice if it was upstairs.

We'll try and definitely give you a bathroom,

-not IF it's got a bathroom. We'll do our best.

-Very good of you!

-Anything else from the property?

-A garage.

-Garage would be nice.

-Yes.

And how about period properties, are you fussed?

Is this more about the land or is there a certain type of property?

I would prefer an older property but we wouldn't rule out a new build.

-OK.

-Or even building the thing ourselves if we had to and just going for the land.

OK. What's our budget?

Stephanie?

Can you put a price on this dream, Stephanie?

Come on, if you're the accountant this is definitely your department.

Actually he's more money oriented!

Ah yeah, I think the very maximum to buy the land and the house,

at the moment, would be 525.

OK, that's a fairly decent budget.

And I think that would be quite difficult to get, even in the current climate it will be quite...

-Oh, fill us with hope(!)

-Are you throwing down the gauntlet, sir?

I am because I know if two people can find somewhere...

-You two can.

-Now he's sweet talking us.

He's done a good job. Let's go. Come on.

All right, guys. Take care.

What a smooth talker. Now, Evesham.

Roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon

it was originally built within a loop of the River Avon which flows through the Vale of Evesham.

The area is indeed known for fruit growing and market gardening

and this also means it is one of the country's best known producers of fruit and vegetables.

A quirk of local language gives rise to the debate as the pronunciation of the town's name itself.

EVE-sham is the more common phonetic pronunciation but the pronunciation EVE-ER-sham is not in common.

How very interesting. But enough about the town,

here are some apple facts I'm sure you've all been waiting for.

Oh, these better be good Simon.

-They are. Around 7,500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.

-Good.

-Europeans eat about 21 kilos of apples each annually.

-Not so good.

-Apples are a member of the rose family.

-So so.

-25% of an apple's volume is air, that's why they float.

-Oh, I like that one.

It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.

And it sounds like you've had a tipple yourself, mate.

Right lover, what can 525 grand buy you around the rest of the country,

apart from around about two million apples, that is?

If you want to live 12 miles from Plymouth, own a coach

and need somewhere to house it why not try this coach house

12 miles from Plymouth? This stunning place will set you back 520 grand.

However, if Derby is your dream location and you're at a loose end

with what to do with just over half a million quid

why not invest in this place? This five bedroom beast costs

-just over the half million at 525 grand.

-Bargain.

But if you're only after two bedrooms for around that price

and you want to live next to a river, have a state of the art gym, a 24 hour concierge

and a riverside pool then call me, I've found one, all for half a mill.

But today we're in Evesham pestering the estate agents and locals.

Right then, on this tray I've got apple juice here from local areas

and I've got apple juice here from foreign seas,

so let's find out what the people of Evesham really prefer.

-Aha. Robert, thanks ever so much for seeing me.

-Nice to meet you.

Do people want local apple juice or foreign apple juice?

We all drink cider, we do, so yeah apples are good.

All right. You drink this juice, tell me what you think of it.

-OK.

-They're both apple. Look at that.

-That's sweet.

What we're looking for is land with the potential for an orchard.

-This one.

-You prefer that one?

-Yeah.

-Actually, that's the apple juice from abroad.

-Is it?

Yeah. This one's from Worcestershire.

-There's that one which is in your budget.

-OK.

And we've got an acre, nearly an acre and a half.

It's called The Orchard, mate.

-I was going to say. And look, we have trees, orchard, apple trees already on there.

-Fantastic.

-Thank you.

-All right, no worries.

-OK.

-Sorry, that's 20 pence.

-Go on.

-Go on, get out of here.

Yeah people do want a bit of land.

-Possibly, I'm not sure we've had anyone who specifically wants to plant an orchard.

-Yeah.

But people will buy land and plant trees.

Historically we're in the right area for orchards, aren't we?

Absolutely. Worcestershire countryside, Hereford with cider making not too far away.

Correct, right yes.

-Would you like to try one as well?

-I'll try one.

Here you go, you try that one.

Oh, that's the sweetest.

-That's definitely sweet.

-That one, yeah.

OK, now try that one. Tell me which you prefer and which one you think's local.

-You've been a great help.

-Nice to meet you.

All right, I'm going to tell you. The cloudy one is your local one.

-That's what we said.

-Oh, you didn't say anything.

We said that!

-Right, try these. We've got two different juices.

-OK.

One's local and one's from abroad, but which is which?

-All right, had that one.

-I can hold that for you.

Oh, thanks. OK, here we go.

Mmm, no competition, that's the local one.

It certainly is. So it is worth Mark planting trees.

It is worth it. Although I would have left it in a barrel for about a year or so.

Oh, what would you know, you're not the expert.

Anyway, never mind that, giving free drinks out. How have you got on?

I'm so proud of this property.

This is what they want. It's beautiful.

It has land, it has everything they require for their new business.

You seem very cocky. A nice bit of land with that.

For my choice, property two, well frankly I've given them most of Worcestershire with this.

Now then, the wild card. Now our joint choice today,

how wild does a wild card have to be?

-How about if we told you this place doesn't exist yet?

-It does a bit.

-Some of it does.

-Some of it does.

-Some of it doesn't. That's the wild card anyway.

-Let's get going. Let's start with number one.

So stop one today is my choice and this is almost perfect

for Mark and Stephanie, it's even got orchard in the name.

I surprise myself sometimes.

Only almost perfect?

I'll ignore that. This is a real house of two halves.

There's one half, oh, and there's the other.

Mark, Stephanie, we're in Wyre Piddle for property number one, this is my choice.

I had a good listen to what you said and thought, "That's not enough."

You wanted 1.5 acres, I thought I'll give you over three.

You wanted three bedrooms, I thought I'll give you four

and you said you didn't want a downstairs bathroom,

I thought I'll give you one anyway, we'll discuss it later.

Yes, we will discuss it later. First impressions?

-It's a really nice property.

-Yeah it looks great, yeah.

-And the land?

-The land is superb I must say.

-I think it's south facing there, isn't it?

-It certainly is.

And you've got some trees there already and some land

that hasn't got much on so it's absolutely perfect.

Well, Mark, you told us you have a dream.

I'll say this much about Rani's property, this will test your imagination

-to see whether you can realise that dream.

-Right.

-OK.

-All right.

-OK.

Yes, yes, don't look at me sideways like that, Stephanie.

Don't look at me, look inside.

-Go on, in you go, enjoy.

-OK.

-Thanks.

Oh, you know I can see Mark's 11-year-old dream coming true,

this is what he was thinking about.

-You think so, do you?

-Yeah.

I think it may turn into a nightmare.

Oh, it's a fantastic size kitchen.

OK Rani, pick your own.

I'll go low. Let's see if they appreciate the fruits of my labour.

I like it.

-It's great.

-Nice neutral colours.

Yes.

-Lots of work surfaces.

-We could live here straight away, couldn't we?

-Yes.

-If you wanted to change anything you could do that later.

So Rani, is this the commercial kitchen or the private kitchen?

Well, I was thinking this could possibly be the commercial kitchen

but that's a chat I'll be having with Stephanie and Mark, I think.

I see. So you won't share that with me?

-I want them to have time to absorb and come up with their own ideas first.

-Oh.

Oh, it looks like you've got your downstairs bathroom that Rani's...

It's not so much of a problem because it's not going

through the living room which is what I usually don't like.

-That's true.

-It's just off the kitchen.

Provided you weren't entertaining that wouldn't be a problem.

Stephanie?

You walk through your kitchen to go to the bathroom, you don't see that as a problem?

-I love Stephanie.

-I'm sure you do.

-It's a nice size.

-Isn't it quiet?

Considering it's on a main road that is a really quiet room.

-It's going to get quieter. The council are planning a bypass.

-Oh, are they?

-Yeah.

-And is that going through these fields?!

This is a strategic gap so they can't build anything on here.

Oh, OK.

Gosh that is weird.

-We're through... So we've got three front doors effectively.

-Right.

-That's a bit strange.

-OK.

So, central heated as well.

Oh, that's the stairs, it's upstairs.

So the house must have been turned round at some point.

The shape is awkward when you first get in there

because you've got to try and plan is that my living room?

but they have to remember it's not just going to be a home, this is a business as well.

-And we did say it would test their imagination.

-Yeah.

A reasonable size.

So would this be the chimney breast, the old chimney breast?

Yes, I think so. It looks like it's had an extension put on the back there.

It's hard getting your head round the shape.

It's obviously got a history.

Yeah, it's not too weird though. It's good.

The first bedroom is part of the extension, isn't it?

-That's not part of the original kind of two up, two down?

-No.

OK, I'm getting my head round it now.

So it's about the same size as the one downstairs.

I wonder if there's a nice fireplace behind that.

Yeah because that's probably original wood, isn't it?

They've just painted over the top, bit of magnolia.

Oh, a touch of magnolia.

Getting inventive with the colours there.

I would have thought he would have gone for plum.

Oh.

Fancy one?

-OK.

-Electrics are quite old by the look of it.

-This is a bit of a giveaway here.

-Yes, it is.

And the door handles and things but it's an old house, isn't it?

Rani, does it need rewiring?

It's only the front part of the house,

so it would be worth getting it checked out.

The new part is only 15 years old so that will be fine.

-So half a house may need rewiring.

-OK, fair enough.

-It's not too bad.

OK so this is the new bit of the house, the extension.

-Yes, yes.

-OK.

So we've got actually a third entrance hall if you think about it.

There's the front one, that little conservatory, then this.

This is a lovely size room.

-It's great, isn't it.

-It's really light.

-Yeah.

-You could paint in here.

-How about that.

-Oh, he's in to painting.

I didn't know Mark was into painting.

Oh, my word. Gosh, another set of stairs.

-Oh, right.

-They didn't ask for two sets of stairs!

Well done, Rani.

Right so let's go through... Another bathroom.

So the downstairs bathroom was a bit of a ruse.

Yeah, that's right.

It's a really, really nice view, lovely bit of ground there.

It's just the perfect aspect, it's kind of southeast facing.

-He's had this dream since he was 11 years old.

-I know, I know, I know.

He's come in here and he knows straight away.

Have you given him a dream though?

I'm making his dream come true.

Oh, Mark I don't believe it, apples on the wallpaper and in the curtains.

Oh, no there's somebody more mad than I am.

You said it.

It's very good and of course I can keep an eye on my apples and pears.

And plums and cherries. I think it's a very good property, very good property indeed.

Well, Rani, I have to say Mark and Stephanie seem a bit confused about this place.

But not for long, Simon, I have a few ideas.

Now you've had a look around, what do you think?

It's a fantastic property. It's got lots of potential.

Potential. Now that's what I've been thinking about.

Now you talked earlier about a tea room so we are in

-the middle of the house, it is kind of a house of two parts...

-Yes, yeah.

So those two rooms, the old part of the house, could be your tea room and this fantastic kitchen

is where you could bake all your fresh scones and your apple pies.

Now you also mentioned you didn't really want a downstairs bathroom so what I was thinking was

-the downstairs bathroom just through there and the utility room could become...

-The loos.

No. No. Your kitchen.

And that, we could seal that off, could all be your part of the house, all your living area.

Open up the upstairs so you can still go through to the extra bedroom as well which is also office space.

-That's right, yeah.

-You do need loos.

-Yeah.

Outside you have got a fantastic garage, you've also got a load of car parking space.

You could have two loos in there next to a farm shop because there's enough space.

An alternative would be to turn the whole of this downstairs into the business,

convert the room above here into the kitchen

and make upstairs a flat and the downstairs the business.

With two ideas I'm sure we'll find somewhere in the middle.

What do you think about that?

Mark doesn't care. He's got the orchard!

I'm happy with the orchard. It's perfect.

Let's go and guess the price.

OK.

Well, now I know you think I've just been standing out here idle in the orchard.

That's not true. I've been sampling the fruits.

Very nice indeed, very nice. And there's a reason for that.

Not only has Rani provided you with this land but also you've got the south east aspect.

-Perfect.

-We're on the rise so we're just above the frost.

-Good.

Even better though is this has a proper drainage system built in this orchard.

Brilliant.

So it really is ready to go to make that dream come true.

You see I have given you more than you could ever have wanted.

Yeah.

At what price, that's the question.

It's guess the price time. Now then, your budget is 525 at the tops.

-Yeah.

-Very top, yeah.

-So where do we think this falls? Who's going to go first?

-Stephanie, I think.

-The accountant!

Always get a nice marker.

Take your time, I've got to finish my plum.

OK, I think 425,000.

425.

You could probably get it for less given it needs so much doing to it.

-Look at Mark's face.

-You think I'm being optimistic, don't you?

I think so.

-I would say it's more.

-OK.

Higher. Probably about 450.

450. 425.

All right then I'm going to tell you Mark, you are actually the closest.

Oh, that is amazing.

And it's a little bit more than that.

-Yes?

-It's actually 475,000.

-Right.

-So it's still 50 grand below your budget.

-Yeah.

-Top end of it.

But look how much I am giving you.

-It is a lot.

-It's fantastic, it really is.

-Superb.

-Well, look, you may have thought this was a plum property, come and see mine, it's a peach.

Sorry about that folks.

Now my choice. This place is as quirky as Quentin Crisp and has

masses of potential and three times more land than yours, Rani.

-Is that a railway track next door?

-All part of the charm, Rani.

Well, we certainly need charm on this show from somewhere because it's not coming from you.

Right folks, Rani often tells me that I'm from the wrong side of the tracks but I think for my choice,

property two, I brought you across your own level crossing to the right side of the tracks.

This property, what can I tell you about it?

You wanted three bedrooms. Yeah? I've given you four.

-You wanted an upstairs bathroom.

-Mmm hmm.

Well, in this property I've provided that.

-Great.

-How many acres was it you wanted?

-A minimum one and a half.

-And what did you give them, Rani?

Just over three.

You gave them just over three didn't you. Well, try ten acres for size.

-My word.

-I know it's a great location as well for a tea room.

-Perfect, people just passing by.

-Stop it!

Now I know where you're going, stop it.

You did say that the tea room was only kind of one business possibility.

-Yes.

-That's fair to say, isn't it?

-It is yes.

OK, well just look at the potential around here.

But before we talk about the land and the outbuildings, what about the property itself?

-Very rustic.

-It is rustic, yes.

But it's in a fantastic location, I mean look at the view at the back down there.

-And the railroad is lovely.

-Gorgeous.

-Well, no, it's the Bredon Hills.

You see, see, see, you didn't even know what they were called did you?

No, I didn't.

-Stephanie did.

-No it's fine.

-It is.

Do you like the look of this place?

It needs a little bit of work, would be fair to say.

-OK.

-Yes, but that's fine.

-Let's have a look.

-Go on in.

-OK.

-OK, thank you.

What's wrong with you, trying to railroad them into buying this place?

Yeah, think of a better line.

-Gosh, it's a lovely view.

-Nice.

-Yeah, it's beautiful.

-Goodness me.

Now I know they're not sure about this place

but I cherry-picked through the properties and this is it.

And through into the kitchen. Quite small.

It is quite small but...

-It's got everything you need.

-Yes.

-Maybe there's more storage somewhere else.

-Yes, what's in here.

Oh, trifle for tonight.

-OK, let's go through.

-Yes, let's go through here.

OK, so it looks like there's a pantry through here,

which there is.

Oh, I love a pantry.

That's what I call tradition, a traditional pantry.

This is a lovely room.

Wow.

I don't think I've ever seen one of those.

No. It looks like a half Dalek.

It does!

-Yes.

-Yes, well as long as it doesn't exterminate.

Ah, they're talking about your fireplace.

Because what you have there folks is not some twee, twiddly little

fancy fireplace, that is a proper working stove which radiates heat from the iron.

That's a lovely view out there.

You can see where you work.

Isn't that marvellous?

You know you said at my property, you said use your imagination?

I think this is where they really need to use their imagination.

This is a really lovely furbished, gorgeous property.

My property was nearly all ready set up for them.

So what have we got in here?

Oh, a little downstairs loo.

-That looks like it's been done recently as well.

-It does.

It's a very deceptive sort of house.

-From the other side it doesn't ring bells immediately but inside it's quite nice.

-It's very good.

Yeah. Lovely.

You see, it's like me, this house.

-On the outside...

-What, neutral, bland?

-No.

-Needs TLC.

On the outside yes, it needs a bit of TLC but inside is lovely and warm.

Yes, outside it's, um, looks like it, um...

-Looks like it needs TLC but inside it's obviously had it.

-Yeah.

-It's lovely.

-You see? Rustic on the outside, gorgeous on the inside.

Like me.

-Aren't you the other way round?

-No.

-You are.

-Ah, thanks.

-Yeah, gorgeous on the outside.

Rotten on the inside!

I know her.

OK, small bedroom.

Nice size, though, isn't it?

You can easily get this single bed in here. Nice lot of books.

Given the amount of books we've got, that's a plus - we can get a lot of shelving in.

-OK.

-So, through into a double bedroom.

-It's a nice size, actually. It's got a lovely view, look at that, onto the fields.

-It is a fantastic view.

You are the king and queen of all you survey with this property.

So, another good... Oh, a very good-sized room again.

Hey, I tell you what, that Simon, he's good at getting decent-sized bedrooms, isn't he?

We could get a really good-sized bed in there.

Very deceptive.

They are, you know, sounding like they think it's got a little bit of potential to live in it.

Little bit of potential? You could move in tomorrow! This place is lovely.

Yeah, you think it's lovely, but obviously they're looking for their ideal place.

Oh, tell you what, it's your favourite colour.

Ooh, '70s avocado. Lovely!

Avocado bath suite! All fitting in!

Fruit, veg - I like what you've done.

Yeah, you see, I like to provide!

And another small bedroom, which is, er...

-Used as an office.

-Used as an office.

It's really quiet, it's peaceful. In spite of the fact that we're right next door to the railway line,

-we haven't heard a train since we've been in this house.

-No.

That's probably because one hasn't passed!

I'd love a train to go past now, really loud, shake it!

I used to live next to a train line, and you get used to them.

You know, from the outside, I thought, "That Simon O'Brien, he's having a laugh."

-I know.

-Which he does, quite often.

-I know.

I thought it was a wreck, and coming in here, it's really quite cosy, isn't it?

It's lovely.

Mark, take that. You'll need that to feel at home here.

Lord of the manor, you would be.

-Now, obviously, the tearoom idea is out, because we're a bit more remote here.

-Yes.

But, you know, ten acres of land.

Let your imagination go. You said you had different business ideas. Talk me through it.

I think the bit on the side here, which is probably about

an acre and a half, that would be superb for a nice orchard.

Some of it is already rented out, got an income.

So, that's one possibility, isn't it?

-Exactly, yeah.

-We've got stables, barns, more outhouses than you know what to do with.

-You know?

-Exactly, and we could...

-Useful spaces.

-Definitely.

-For cider-making, perhaps.

-You see!

-Could be very popular.

-The potential is fantastic here.

-Absolutely.

But you would definitely need a good lawnmower.

We certainly will do, possibly even two!

They don't come cheap. Shall we go and do guess the price?

-I think that's a great idea.

-Come along, old chap.

You weren't taken with this place from the other side, but look at this garden.

-I know, it's gorgeous.

-And the inside,

it needs a bit of modernising, but a gorgeous family home.

Absolutely. It's a real surprise, that house, a real surprise.

Mark, we've been looking at the business opportunities here.

But, of course, that all costs money.

It certainly does.

Now, you've told us the top end of your budget is 525, so it's time to guess the price on this property.

Mark, you were the closest last time.

Do you want to go first this time, Stephanie?

-No, no, it's his turn!

-No?

-Oh, I see!

-OK.

-Make it equal.

Yes, well, I think that will happen!

-Ten acres.

-Ten acres. Yes.

Very, very difficult to price this one, but I would say

450,000 again.

-450? That was his winning number last time.

-I see what he's doing.

Go on then, Stephanie.

It's deceptive. I really don't know. He might be right, but I'll say 480.

You're going to go 480.

That's good.

Excuse me, there's a train going past! You get used to them, honestly you do!

I didn't even hear it!

-It is on the market for 500,000, so it's one all.

-Well done.

Half a million pounds exactly.

-Right.

-What does that make you think?

Gulp!

-It's ten acres of land!

-It is ten acres, there's loads of

-potential here, but of course we have got one more property for you.

-Yeah.

-It is the wild card. Are you ready?

-Yeah.

-Let's go.

-OK.

-OK.

Ah, the wild card, the wild card. Everybody loves the wild card.

I've heard on the grapevine that George Michael loves it.

Well, I never! Now, this place is wild, wild, wild. In fact, one of the wildest we've ever shown.

But that's what it's designed for, to take our lovely twosome out of their comfort zone.

The wild card, the wild card, Stephanie and Mark. Will you love the wild card?

We've brought you to the edge of Abberley, here in Worcestershire.

-Great location. I want you to have a look round at your views. Take a look in.

-Fantastic.

We're giving you here 1.6 acres of land.

-Excellent.

-Look next to you there.

A little apple tree.

-Make you feel at home already.

-It does.

I can see what you're doing!

Winding us up!

Exactly! There's the property.

-Yes.

-It's a property.

What's your first thoughts?

Vegetation out of the chimney stack.

-Interesting!

-Yes, the roof garden does come with the property, yes.

Really nice. I think it's great.

-It's quite sweet.

-You like that?

-Yeah.

-Are you handy?

-Oh, yes.

-Yep, very handy.

-We've already renovated a property together before.

-Pretty handy!

That's good, it doesn't scare you?

-No.

-No.

-That's very good.

-That is a good thing.

-It scares us a bit!

And we really want you to use your imagination now when you go inside and have a look round.

-Go on. Enjoy. In you go.

-OK.

-We will. Thank you.

-That went better than I thought.

-It did.

Well, they haven't seen inside yet, have they?

-Wow.

-Oh, it's not been lived in for a long time, you can smell it.

Well, not by human beings!

Yes, well, it's definitely a wild card, isn't it?

It's wild in here, Simon and Rani!

It is a bit wild.

Good at plastering? We've done it before.

-We've done it before.

-Yeah. I think this is a new challenge.

We'd have to see where the damp's coming from.

It's all down that... Well, it's everywhere, actually.

The ceiling hasn't bowed.

They're not being really negative.

It's, "There's a bit of damp, we've done it before."

-They're completely unfazed by it.

-Yeah.

OK. One, two, three rooms at the top.

Which one shall we do first?

Let's have a look in this one.

-Right.

-Yeah the ceiling's really gone here, hasn't it?

-It's come away.

-Needs redoing.

Over there by the window as well.

What a sad little house, isn't it?

-Oh, don't be sad. It's a nice house, isn't it?

-It is a nice house.

Just needs someone to give it a big hug. You, Stephanie.

Well, a bit more than a big hug, actually.

-OK.

-But have a look through here, it's a lovely view, isn't it?

Guess that's where the orchard would go.

-Yes, that's fantastic.

-It's beautiful, nice lots of protection. It's not dark, get lots of sun.

-Funnily enough, someone's redone the windows.

-Yeah, yeah at some stage.

Quite recently, those windows have been redone.

Yeah, brand-new windows, double-glazed, ready to go.

Actually, it doesn't look too bad. Of the three, it's the best.

What's the ceiling like?

Yes, ceiling's a bit cracked.

What's this in the corner?

OK, airing cupboard.

Hey, look at that wallpaper in there!

Oh, that's tremendous! What we need is a multi-millionaire to come along.

It might not take that much.

OK, the roof probably needs doing, and the plastering, but...

Looks like I might have a new job!

You see, they've done it before, they're not scared to do up a property.

They're very practical people.

You can tell that, they're looking past

those minor faults, like the fact that it's covered in damp and falling to bits.

-Right, there's a door here.

-Right.

Oh, it's a cellar!

-Oh, wow.

-Funnily enough, the cellar doesn't smell any more damp

than the rest of the house - a good sign.

-Stephanie hasn't mentioned it, and she's got a nose for it.

-She certainly has.

-Serious damp here.

-Yes.

Well, they often are, aren't they?

Yeah.

Nice and cool, though.

-You'd have to be a serious wine buff, wouldn't you?

-Hey, look at this.

-Come and look.

-Oh!

-That's fantastic.

-It is, isn't it?

Somebody's been making cider.

-Well, it's definitely a wild card, isn't it?

-It is, yeah.

They've got a sense of humour, those two, haven't they?

They definitely have!

-Yes, we do have a sense of humour, don't we?

-We do.

-Well, I do.

-Well, yeah, kind of.

It's different to mine!

-Well, that was an experience!

-It was.

Right, let's go through into here.

-OK.

-These lovely terracotta tiles.

It's got damp on the walls coming up as well.

-Yeah, it's damp everywhere.

-Oh, damp, damp, damp!

Come on, look on the bright side.

There's lovely terracotta tiles!

-They're damp as well.

-Oh.

-Right.

-Ah, it's the downstairs bathroom.

Just what you wanted.

Just what I wanted.

Let's have a look and see what we've got here.

-Oh. Steps down.

-Uh-huh.

-It's the kitchen.

-Watch the head.

Wow, that's a pretty rustic kitchen.

It's a very basic kitchen, that's for sure.

So Rani, do you think that kitchen needs modernising?

Let me think about it.

Great cupboards, great unit...

Yeah, completely!

It's nice and bright anyway.

-This little sort of utility sun room.

-Yeah.

-Lovely views.

-And, er...

-Plans.

Plans. Somebody has plans.

Hang on, they've spotted the plans.

You know what? I think we should go and talk them through it.

I think we should. Come on.

-Here we are.

-Here we are, Stephanie and Mark.

Just wipe the cobwebs off you there!

Before you went in, you were optimistic, but Stephanie, I did think you sounded a little bit sad

-whilst walking around. What did you think of the place?

-Well, it is a sad house.

Somebody has absolutely loved it, and then they've grown old in it, and it needs a lot of work.

It's been somebody's home, they've loved it,

and it's just got too much for them over the years, and it's really sad, walking round.

But you weren't fazed, though, I've got to admit.

-Stephanie, you were like, "Yeah, a bit of damp there, that needs replastering."

-Yeah.

-Is this something you'd be keen to do, maybe renovate a property?

-It's doable, yeah.

There's another option as well. Your keen eyes did notice these plans.

Now, they give you permission to substantially extend this house.

Lot more living space on the ground floor, plus a conservatory.

You'd be happy to learn, the bathroom would move upstairs!

-Good!

-And as well as that, you'd create an extra bedroom,

and two of the bedrooms would become en suite, so it would become a very desirable detached property.

Either of those options would cost a pretty penny, we guess.

-Yeah.

-First of all, let's discuss one figure. Guess-the-price time.

-All right.

-Now, you're one all at the moment. Your budget is 525, but how much is this baby worth?

Who wants to go first?

-Stephanie.

-I'll go!

-He's such a gent!

-He is!

Well really, what you're buying is the land, and the house needs a lot

doing to it, and it needs to reflect that.

Originally you wanted some great land, and that's what we've given you.

You have.

I think it needs

-at least 100,000 spending on it. so I wouldn't expect to spend huge amounts to buy it, so 220.

-OK.

-220,000.

-Gosh, it's such a difficult one to put a figure on, to be honest.

I'm hopeless at this.

-It's hard, isn't it?

-250,000?

-250,000?

-Yes.

I'd like to tell you you were very close, but unfortunately, Stephanie, you're actually 200 grand out.

This place is worth £420,000.

-No, somebody's asking that!

-Yes, that's what it's on the market for!

And you discuss those figures.

100 grand, I don't think you're far off there. 80, possibly, to completely refurbish this place.

The extensions, an estimate around kind of £180,000 there.

-So there is a lot to spend on this place.

-It is.

-But what you're buying, look at these views.

-I know, they're fantastic.

To get planning permission in this area is nigh on impossible.

We are deep in a green belt here.

So much so that we think, if you look at the plans, a trade-off to extend

would be that the outbuildings would have to be demolished.

That's how tight we think it is to get planning permission.

So, we're talking big figures there, right?

So that's a lot to think about about this place.

We've also shown you, of course, two other gorgeous properties,

which had their own ponderances, didn't they?

-Yes, they did.

-You've got a lot to think about.

So now then, take yourselves away.

Decide which one you would like to test drive.

-OK.

-OK. Serious decision.

-See you in a moment.

-Good luck.

And whilst they do that, here's a quick reminder for you at home.

Well, house one was my choice, and if it was a fruit,

it would be a grapefruit - cut down the middle into two segments.

And a glace cherry on top?!

No, that would be ridiculous. But the price isn't. 475 grand.

Oh, I get this idea. Well, if my choice, property two, was a fruit, then I think it would be a...kiwi.

-What, small and furry?

-No.

It doesn't look great from the outside, but once you get inside it's sensational,

and the price, £500,000.

Well, if the wild card was a fruit, it could only be one thing.

What, a pear, because it's gone a bit pear-shaped?

I was thinking more of a mouldy peach.

Oh, because once a thing of beauty

in terms of taste and aesthetics, but someone has let it go a bit.

Yes, exactly. On for 420 grand.

So, here we are at the wild card, ready to test drive it, and I've got to say,

pretty surprised.

I didn't think you were going to go for this one at all.

What swung it round for you guys?

Well, to be honest with you, the first property you showed us, Rani, the orchard was beautiful, it was

absolutely perfect in every way, but the house, we weren't quite so impressed with, were we?

-It's a very odd house.

-Very strange.

-A bit quirky.

-Fair enough.

-OK.

-The second one really did make us think.

We were thinking outside the box with that one, Simon, it was a really good choice. Lots of land.

-I'm not sure if it's very suitable for an orchard, to be honest, it's very open.

-Right.

-OK.

But the house, we liked that much better than the first one.

This one, we think it's overpriced.

OK, that's a fair comment.

But it does have a lot of potential, so we'd like to explore it more.

-Fair enough.

-Talking about exploring it,

our furious ferret of a property surveyor has given this place the once over.

And he's come up with a bit of advice for you.

Now, the first thing is positive news.

He's looked at the outside. Structurally there doesn't appear

-to be any major problems, so that is fantastic.

-That is what we suspected.

Also, as far as the refurbishment goes, you know, there's not that much needs doing.

All he said was, you'd have to take the roof off,

do that again completely, strip all the plasterwork

and do that again, lift every floor...

OK, OK!

Completely damp course everything, et cetera et cetera. In other words...

-A lot.

-We all know, it needs gutting and starting again.

-Yeah.

But the upside of that is, you can give all the insulation and everything

a much higher specification than it's got at the moment and make this place your own.

It's not a legally-binding survey, and you know as well as anyone that if you were

going to purchase this property, you've got to get a full survey done.

Oh, we wouldn't even think about proceeding without.

You are very wise, you are very wise.

But all in all, a lovely, lovely old place.

-OK, enough chat. Are you ready to test drive?

-We are.

-Mark, have you still got your torch handy?

-I have.

All right then, off you go - watch out for cobwebs!

Enjoy.

Shall we get stuck in as well?

-Yeah, we better had.

-Yeah, come on.

They're not wasting any time at all in looking at the plans.

It's a really exciting property, this one. So much you could do with it.

So on the plans, this becomes part of the kitchen,

so you could make a really nice kitchen diner in here.

Shame to knock all those outbuildings down, but they can keep them.

And it looks like Mark's going to plant his trees already. Jumping the gun a bit, isn't he?

You gooseberry fool, he's testing the soil to see if it's compatible with growing apples.

You almost sound like you know what you're talking about! First time for everything!

The tearooms aren't built yet, so they're having an al-fresco cream tea. They've got all the gear.

Looks like they don't want to spend time in the house, spend the test drive out of it.

-Out of it? Must be the cider.

-Oh, don't be silly, Simon.

-I never fer-ment it!

Mark and Stephanie, you've now spent a bit more time in the orchard.

-How did it feel?

-Well, it's a very pleasant place to be.

Yeah. We did some soil testing, so it's ideal for fruit growing.

-Just slightly acidic soil, so that's really good.

-So that's positive.

Very positive, yes.

Is the ground suitable in other ways?

It is, it's quite wet.

-Is it?

-Almost as wet as some of the rooms inside!

OK, all right, all right, don't labour the point!

All right, we have a very big question for you now.

To buy or not to buy? What is your answer?

Stephanie looks to Mark, Mark looks to Stephanie!

The tension builds!

Well, I think we need to look a bit more into it.

The plans for the new house look quite good.

As I said before, I think they're asking a bit too much for it.

My estimate was well below what it should be, perhaps, but we're certainly not going to run away.

-OK.

-And we're going to have a serious delve into what we could do here.

But we can't pin you down

-any more than that?

-All we're going to say is, we're not scarpering.

-OK, fair enough. Well, we are!

-We certainly are!

But if you ever do open a tearoom, maybe we can have a free cuppa and a scone!

-Any time.

-Oh, that would be fantastic. And some of that pressed apple juice of yours!

-Put it in a barrel, leave it to ferment, I'll be back!

-OK!

Thank you very much indeed.

-You take care. Bye bye.

-Bye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd