0:00:02 > 0:00:06Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another property-ridden episode of To Buy Or Not To Buy.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Today we're going to be showing you more properties than you can shake a stick at.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Which, as we're in a forest, is literally thousands of sticks.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Thousands of sticks means thousands of properties,
0:00:15 > 0:00:18but this is To Buy Or Not To Buy so what we actually mean is...
0:00:18 > 0:00:22We're going to be shaking a stick at three of the finest properties this particular forest has to offer.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24We'd better go find them, then, hadn't we?
0:00:33 > 0:00:38- Well, we'll not be stuck for properties around here by the looks of things, it is beautiful.- I agree.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42- What about that one over there? - Oh, I like that.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45- That one?- It's lovely too, Simon, but I'm starting to think we should
0:00:45 > 0:00:51- find out a bit about our buyers before we get too excited.- For once I'm in agreement, Jonny. Duty calls.
0:00:51 > 0:00:52I like that one too.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Yes, and duty also calls for today's intrepid house hunters, Tory James and her husband, Stewart.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Tory's a student into the third year of her
0:00:59 > 0:01:05criminology degree who's also got a part-time job as a tax collector, and her husband, Stewart, is...
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Sorry to disappoint folks, but Stewart has unfortunately had to go to work.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12But don't worry, Tory's found a very capable replacement.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14- Who's that?- That's her best friend, Rhiannon Lloyd.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17They met aged 11 and they've stayed in contact ever since.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23So she's ideally placed to understand the wants and needs of her best friend's housing pre-requisites.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Yeah, I'm hoping so because she's got a decade on us.
0:01:26 > 0:01:27We'd best go play some catch up then.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- So, Rhiannon, you've replaced Tory's husband Stewart.- I have.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38- I'm assuming just for the purposes of this, it's not going to be a fulltime thing?- Hopefully not.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40We're friends but not, you know.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44What makes you so well-placed to help Tory and guide her on her hunt?
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I've known her a long time - we speak every day, don't we?
0:01:47 > 0:01:52So yeah, by email or on the phone so I think I know what she wants.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57The poor girl's had to listen to me moaning for months - where will we live? What house will we buy?
0:01:57 > 0:02:02- So what sort of property? What sort of things does she want?- She wants a huge garden, don't you?- Yeah.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Nice bit of garden, something quite rural, don't you?
0:02:06 > 0:02:07Minimum of three bedrooms...
0:02:07 > 0:02:11- Yeah.- So it's just the two of you, minimum of three bedrooms, were you planning for the future?
0:02:11 > 0:02:17- This is the long-term kind of home, so something we can grow into. - Right. As Rhiannon already is.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Yes!
0:02:21 > 0:02:25- Yeah, four bedrooms, hopefully so we can come and stay.- Yeah.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30- Just out of interest, how far are we? - Seven months, so yeah... - Wow.- It'll be fine today.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Yeah, OK, good, touch wood.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39OK, so we've got minimum of three bedrooms, huge garden, what else in on your tick list as such?
0:02:39 > 0:02:42A workshop for Stu because he's into woodwork and that kind of thing so
0:02:42 > 0:02:45he needs somewhere to play and somewhere I can shut him away.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50- So am I guessing that if I found somewhere that needed a bit of work, he's handy?- Reasonably.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55I'm not going to sign up to complete kind of reconstructive surgery on a house but, you know, little bits.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Little bit of cosmetic touching up.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Yeah, yeah. Nothing major, please.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01What about style of property?
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Anything, as long as it's not a new build.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08- So a period properties and a bit of character.- Period would be nice but that's
0:03:08 > 0:03:12- not essential.- Is that similar to the property you're in now?
0:03:12 > 0:03:16No, we're in a '60s three-bed semi, so it's going to be quite a change.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- Oh, brilliant, so it's a great adventure this then, isn't it? - Yeah, definitely.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25- Rhiannon, anything else that Tory's missed off? You know her well enough. - You've been chatting on the phone.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30- You want a big family kitchen, don't you?- I'd quite like a big kitchen. - Ideally you'd have a big kitchen.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34It doesn't have to be, I think you're quite flexible with the rooms themselves, it's just got
0:03:34 > 0:03:36- to be the right location, the right size, definitely.- Yeah.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- So Tory, where are you at the moment? - In Bristol.- And where are we looking to move?
0:03:40 > 0:03:44We want to be within an hour of Bristol so we can still get to work,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47but within half an hour of Mum to be close to family and friends.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Somewhere in the Forest of Dean area, anywhere really just so long as it's within an hour.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I am liking, your thinking on the Forest of Dean.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- Beautiful, beautiful place.- We've got a wishlist as far as location's concerned, but of course,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00the reality check is, what's the budget going to be for the search?
0:04:00 > 0:04:06- Perhaps around 270, somewhere in that region.- OK. Is that the kind of maximum that you want to push it to?
0:04:06 > 0:04:10We could possibly go a bit over but we'd like to sort of keep it around there.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15- OK.- Right, shall we?- Yes.- We'll see you later, girls.- See you later.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21- Well, I hope the rain holds off because it's beautiful around here. - Yeah, the Forest of Dean is lovely.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- Know who the most famous resident of this area is?- I bet you're going to tell me.- Dick Whittington.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Oh, him of the Lord Mayor of London fame?- Yeah. Him and his cat.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Hang on, but didn't he leave here to go seek his fortune in the capital?
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Yeah. I don't know why, it's beautiful here, I'd rather stay.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36- Yeah, so would I. Shall we explain why?- Let's.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Now, the streets of the Forest of Dean are, like London,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44not exactly paved with gold, but for anyone looking for a semi-rural period property
0:04:44 > 0:04:48in a spellbindingly beautiful setting, they might as well be.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53Price-wise, bear in mind that as an ex-mining region, most of the properties tend to reflect
0:04:53 > 0:04:59the lower income levels, so expect to pay on average for a detached cottage property, around £275,000.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04Unsurprisingly, Reader's Digest magazine have also voted it the third best place in the UK
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and the best place in England to raise a family.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Yes, the enclosed nature of the forest, largely untouched by
0:05:09 > 0:05:13chainstores and traffic, has fostered some great community spirit.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18It was one of five areas in the top ten in the survey that had the lowest burglary rate.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22On top of all that, it's got 27 conservation areas,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25cycle routes, walking routes and you can go canoeing, ride horses...
0:05:25 > 0:05:29It makes you wonder why Dick Whittington ever left, doesn't it?
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Probably due to the excellent transport links.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Now, without the presence of the Severn Bridge Tory's husband
0:05:34 > 0:05:37would be presented with a one hour 15 minute commute to Bristol.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Slightly closer to the bridge and Bristol is this three-bed terrace
0:05:41 > 0:05:42in Chepstow, £264,950.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46This is the 1,006 metre long Forth Bridge, which carries
0:05:46 > 0:05:4812 million vehicles a year between Edinburgh and Fife.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Should you want to be one of them this two bed flat in the Scottish
0:05:51 > 0:05:57capital will set you back almost Tory's entire budget at 269 grand.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02And the Humber Bridge's 1,410 metres once made it the longest suspension bridge in the world.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06If you'd like to have a closer look, you might want to consider this lovely four bed character property
0:06:06 > 0:06:11in Barton-on-Humber, on the market for exactly 270 grand.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15- Time we did a bit of bridge building ourselves. To the agent.- Hi, Sharon.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20- Hi.- Thanks for agreeing to see me. - OK.- Hopefully you're going to be my property saviour today.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Whilst Jonny's busy putting together the nuts and bolts of this show,
0:06:23 > 0:06:29working, I thought I'd take time to explore the Forest of Dean's 110 square kilometres of woodland.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31We've got a couple, ideally wanting to live around the Forest of Dean.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Minimum of three bedrooms and ideally period.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Old mine workings and caves litter the Forest of Dean.
0:06:38 > 0:06:44This cave at Clearwell has been mined for over 4,000 years and was recently used for the set of Dr Who.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46We have this one here,
0:06:46 > 0:06:51that's a four bed semi-detached cottage on at 279,500.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Three thousand miles of paths and tracks, weave your way through the
0:06:54 > 0:07:01wooded hills and valleys of Britain's biggest broadleaf forest, more than enough to get lost on your bike.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04How are you finding these vendors at the moment? Are they quite flexible and negotiable?
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Some vendors are, even if their properties are on around that
0:07:08 > 0:07:13sort of price at 275, 280, we have had some vendors
0:07:13 > 0:07:16that have actually taken 250,000 for their property.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20It is estimated that the Forest of Dean district makes around £12.5m
0:07:20 > 0:07:23a year from horse riding and carriage driving.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- Walk on.- So what are we talking?
0:07:25 > 0:07:2910%, 15%, maybe even 20% they're taking off houses?
0:07:29 > 0:07:36I would say it's definitely 10% to 20%, in some cases perhaps a little bit higher than that.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41So not only is the Forest of Dean a great place to live, there's also an awful lot to do here.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Here's hoping Jonny's been on target with those properties.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51- Had fun, have we? - I am worn out from searching the Forest of Dean high and low.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55- How did you get on?- Well, I've been doing some proper work and actually speaking to the estate agents and
0:07:55 > 0:08:00I've found a property that matches my stick perfectly, carved out of Forest of Dean stone nonetheless.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03A gorgeous detached cottage, three bedrooms, views that are absolutely
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- sublime and a workshop that is perfect for Stewart.- Ah, I see.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Well, I shall see your stick and raise it as whilst I was having fun,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14in between times the team and I have found this gorgeous place here.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18I think it will be very popular indeed. It's an old cottage which has recently been re-modernised.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20It is perfect and that's all I'm saying about it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25- How about the wild card?- Yes, our joint choice today, to say we've gone out on a limb, or a branch,
0:08:25 > 0:08:29is to say the very least with this one. We're taking a risk, I think.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33We are. This will decide whether the girls can see the woods for the trees, that's all I'm going to say.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38Right, we've got a gorgeous day, let's not waste it, get cracking at my house, property one.
0:08:40 > 0:08:46Simon, there's certainly a different feel to the Forest of Dean, almost mystical perhaps.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50Probably the same mystical aura that's inspired writers of the calibre of JRR Tolkein,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- Dennis Potter and JK Rowling. - Well, I can't say my writing has been particularly inspiring...
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- At least it's joined up these days. - There is that.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01But I was inspired to find Tory an absolutely splendid property.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04There are plenty of those around, so I hope you've done a good job.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11Tory, here we are for property number one, my choice. Beautiful village of Blakeney is the setting
0:09:11 > 0:09:15for this lovely stone cottage, circa 19th century, we believe.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17I think we're ticking all the boxes with this place.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21I mean the views to the front are absolutely stunning, and the cottage itself looks great.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- What do you think. first impressions?- It is lovely, but I've seen it before.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27What do you mean you've seen it before?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- I viewed it a couple of weeks ago. - You've been round this property?
0:09:30 > 0:09:35- Yeah.- What didn't you like about it though, Tory, because I think this property is perfect for you.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37It is lovely but the garden wasn't quite right.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39OK. Rhiannon, have you seen this place before?
0:09:39 > 0:09:41No, no. No, I haven't been here before.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43- I'm going to give you a guided tour of this place, OK.- Right, yeah.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47I'm going to show you round, give you the hard sell, estate agent-style.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Tory, you stay with Simon, listen to my words of wisdom, I reckon we can change your mind.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Yeah, shall we do that?
0:09:53 > 0:09:59- Yeah, go for it.- Come on, let's go listen in at Jonny out where. Come on, let's go.- Yeah, let's do it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Right then, Tory, listen in, let's see if Jonny and Rhiannon can sell
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- this place to you second time round. - Yeah, we shall see.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- OK, Rhiannon, we're going to mix it up by using the back door as the front door.- OK, yeah.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12So here we go. Nice lobby...
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Yeah. This is great, isn't it? Downstairs loo, take your shoes off.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It is the essential, isn't it? Every family needs one.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22Yeah, definitely. They'll go out for walks, take their shoes off, get it all dirty.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- And when you turn up with your little baby.- Yeah.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- It's going to be very handy. - I can't fit through the door.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Well, Tory, Rhiannon seems to like it initially.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- Yeah, she can buy it. - I think she will love this kitchen.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- After you.- Yeah, brilliant. - Lead the way in there.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- Full of character, isn't it? Oh, wow.- What did you think of the kitchen dining area?
0:10:38 > 0:10:40I liked it, it is nice.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42It's definitely a nice kitchen and it's a good size.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46- This is the quintessential country kitchen, isn't it?- It's perfect.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49I would think Stu would really like this as well, I think he'd love it. Is that an Aga?
0:10:49 > 0:10:54- And the focal point is that gorgeous, multi-fuel burner there, isn't it? - Yeah, it is gorgeous.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- Look, it's quarry tiled floor, raised wooden dining area...- Yeah.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Exposed stone wall, exposed beams.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Yeah. It's gorgeous.- You know what I'm thinking.- Yeah.- It means lush.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05He's trying to be down with the kids.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Oh, I see. It's not working, it's not working.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- It's not working. He's too old for all that!- He is, yeah.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Oh, wow, so going on through, this is the living area.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- OK.- So this is spot on size, isn't it?- Yeah, perfect.- Now originally, I don't know if you could tell
0:11:17 > 0:11:20when we were looking at the front, that actually used to be two windows there.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- Now they've replaced it and got one large window.- Right, OK.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28Aesthetically it's not perhaps the best, if I'm honest, but it does bring in masses of natural light.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31- Yeah.- It gives you a cracking view. - It does.- It is really lovely.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36- The one thing it doesn't have, sadly, that I know she's interested in, is a proper old...- ..Fireplace.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39- Yeah.- Yeah.- I assume that is the original chimney there and the flue should still be in place
0:11:39 > 0:11:44- and they could probably take that out and replace it.- Yeah. Which is something they might like to do.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46They've done some work to the fireplace in their house already
0:11:46 > 0:11:49so they're not averse to doing work and stuff like that.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- She's dropping me in it now! - Ain't she just!
0:11:51 > 0:11:54So this is the front door here, so obviously they don't use that,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58- I imagine, because you'd step straight into the lounge.- Yeah.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02- You'd definitely want to come in that way.- Well, because...- Muddy feet or anything like that.- Exactly.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- You'd probably greet your family and friends there as such.- Yeah.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08But generally you're going to come round the back because it's fairly muddy.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12- Yeah.- It's very village-esque. - OK.- So when you first viewed the place, you've gone through,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16- you've seen that lovely kitchen dining room area... - Yeah.- And then the living room.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Was that enough space for you?
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Ideally I'd like a bit more, but I think it works quite well and it is nice.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26- It does have a nice feel to it, this place.- Yes, it does. It flows quite nicely, doesn't it?
0:12:26 > 0:12:29You should be doing HIS job.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- So what do you think? Nice wooden staircase?- Yeah, like the wood, really like that.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35- Really cottagey, isn't it?- I'm not sure about the wooden stairs.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38I don't think the dog would be able to get up them very easily.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41- You didn't mention the dog?- What do you mean I didn't mention the dog?
0:12:41 > 0:12:46- We're not buying a house for the dog. - Oh, Billy's a big part of the house and the move.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- A kennel.- No, no, no!- Kennel.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52- No.- No?- Billy sleeps on the bed.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54- OK, so this is the... - This is one of three.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59We've got, what I would call as an estate agent, three double bedrooms.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00- Right.- It may be a stretch but...
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- OK.- It's quite subjective really. - Yeah.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- Although it you can get a double bed in it, it pretty much counts.- Yeah.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10- But I love it.- I think for Tory and Stu it's slightly small.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Is she right? Did you find these bedrooms a little bit on a small side?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- No, we were happy with those. - Rhiannon, you're supposed to know your friend.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19How prepared are they for the concept of what a cottage is?
0:13:19 > 0:13:22You get the smaller rooms with a cottage and I think location is just
0:13:22 > 0:13:24so important to them and the garden and things like that...
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- Yes.- So I think they will definitely compromise on the size of the bedroom.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31And it's just the two of them. Certainly when you're a couple it's all about the living accommodation.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36- Yeah, yeah.- A superb kitchen there. - Exactly, yeah.- Big lounge and they'll only sleep up here.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41And little do you know, Jonny, not only are they sleeping up there, so is Billy.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43OK, let's have a look at this second bedroom.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48- Obviously being used as a study. - Yeah.- I love the feeling in here. - It's a good size, isn't it?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- You've got the period fireplace... - Oh, wow.- Behind, just there.- Yeah, gorgeous.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55- Comfortably would be a double bedroom.- You could easily fit a double bed in here, couldn't you?
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Yeah. So not too bad at all. I might say, these exposed beams really do
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- draw that sort of cottagey character feel to it again.- Yeah.- I quite like the beams.- Mmm.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- They're not essential but I do quite like them.- Yeah, nice feature, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09OK, so here we are, third and final double bedroom.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- Great double bedroom as well, this. - Yeah. Again a double, so that's fab.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Exposed beams and an apex ceiling.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19- Although you've got this here you don't lose any height.- You don't lose any headroom whatsoever there.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22A lovely windowseat there that looks out onto the garden.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- And actually some of the nicest fitted wardrobes I've seen. - That's gorgeous, isn't it?
0:14:26 > 0:14:30These are the singular only fitted wardrobes I have ever seen in my life that I like.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34They actually had a guy in and he came in, measured up and put them in for them a couple of years ago.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39- Lovely oak fitted wardrobes.- Yeah, really good quality.- And they fit with the property.- Yeah.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43- It's really warm as well, isn't it? - Yeah. Well, the stone wall is about three metres thick.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48- That'll be why. - Maybe a slight exaggeration. OK then, bathroom, final room.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- OK. Brilliant. - You can go first this time.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Thank you. Oh, wow, I like this. - The final room.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58It's really big, isn't it? Look at that bath in the corner.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01That's what we like about it, obviously corner bath, separate shower cubicle.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05- The essential vanity sink. - Oh, wow. Airing cupboard.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- The essential airing cupboard. - Yeah, definitely.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10You see, Simon O'Brien doesn't like airing cupboards.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14He rips every one out and replaces it with a shower cubicle, but not this time.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17- It's already got one. - There's no need, just leave it where it is, it's perfectly fine.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- You've got a shower, in fact it would be smaller in there. - Shame on you.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24- Speaking of that fiend, let's go and see them in the garden...- Excellent. - Let's go and have a chat.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- Well, it's been a pleasure out here, Benaar, without you, hasn't it?- It's been brilliant.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- Yeah. Shall we go and find them then? - Yeah.- Come on.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38- I know you've got issues with this garden, but what a view here.- It is beautiful.- It is gorgeous, isn't it?
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- Hello, gnomes. - Hey, watch it, watch it.- Our four-foot friends, out here.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47- So look, we both agree we love this place, don't we?- Love it.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52- So really it leaves us kind of baffled. It's perfect, what is the issue?- You wouldn't believe this.
0:15:52 > 0:15:57- It's the garden. Billy wouldn't like it.- Billy being? - Billy, my friend, is the dog.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01- Stu would love this place.- Yeah.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- Husband loved it, yeah? - Yeah.- You loved it?- Yeah.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06But when they thought about it, the dog mightn't like it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11- Honestly.- Hold me back, Rhiannon. So I give you a beautiful cottage,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15in the countryside, spectacular views, lovely kitchen diner
0:16:15 > 0:16:21- as requested, excellent shed and study area down there for Stu's tinkering and things...- Yeah.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- Billy the dog doesn't like it. - No.- Possibly not.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27I'm confident that wasn't in the conversation we had this morning.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Never mind that. Let it go. Let's get to guess the price time.
0:16:30 > 0:16:36Now then, I think you might get quite close to this price, Tory, so think.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Rhiannon, it's only right that you go first.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- OK. I reckon 275.- All right.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44267,500.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47That is impressive.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Incredible. What's it on the market for, mate?
0:16:49 > 0:16:53It's surprisingly on the market for 267,500. You are really good at this game.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- Yes.- So your friend's cheated, she's one-nil up.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02I will now give you a chance to equalise because hopefully you won't
0:17:02 > 0:17:05have seen my choice, property number two, which is that way. Let's go.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12Drybrook village might be dry by name but it's certainly not dry by nature.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15The weather has certainly taken a turn for the worse.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20Now, despite only having a population of around 3,000, it boasts a range of amenities.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24- Oh, do go on.- Well, they include a butcher, chemist, garage, hairdresser, fish and chip shop...
0:17:24 > 0:17:27OK, OK, and property two is located within its confines.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33All right, I was only trying to help. Shall we go and have a look?
0:17:33 > 0:17:38Rhiannon and Tory, for my choice, property two, I've brought you to the lovely sprawling village of Drybrook.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41- Have you been here before?- No. - That's a good start. Have you seen this property before?- Never.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45- You see how it works, Jonny? - Yes, well done.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- First impressions?- Yes, very nice.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51- Yeah?- Yeah.- Rhiannon? - Love it. Really like it, yeah.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53It's actually 17th century.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- Right. - It doesn't look it though does it?
0:17:55 > 0:17:57- No, not at all. - It's been extensively modernised.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Now, when we did the headphone sequence together
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- you did point out that you didn't think you could afford too much space for your budget, yeah?- Yeah.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Well, I think you might be proved wrong.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10- All right, get in there, shelter from the rain...- Thank you.- Enjoy.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- I've just realised something. - You're back with me.- I'm stuck with you on the headphones again.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- Yeah.- Never mind.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Oh, wow.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24- This is magnificent.- Ah, it's good to be back together again, eh?
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Oh, Tory, I do miss you.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- Wooden stairs again.- Yeah. - Billy.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- Oh, wow. So what would you use this for?- I've no idea.- There's two different kinds of "oh, wow".
0:18:35 > 0:18:41There's "oh, wow, this is impressive", and "oh, wow, what's going on here, then?!"
0:18:41 > 0:18:46- What would you use it for?- I don't know. A playroom, office, something like that, couldn't you?
0:18:46 > 0:18:48- It's a big office.- Yeah.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- It's unusual, whatever it is.- How would the estate agent describe it?
0:18:53 > 0:18:55A mezzanine study area.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- I like it.- Mmm.- Good stuff.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- Go and see the rest of it then? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Just over there. Be a nightmare to clean on a wet day, wouldn't it?
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Billy's paws.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17- Well, wipe your feet before you go in then.- Simple enough.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21- It's quite big open space, isn't it? It just feels...- I don't know, this feels a little bit unusual.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26- The utility and cloakroom in one. - Yeah. It's very big, isn't it?
0:19:26 > 0:19:27It's not very homely this, is it?
0:19:27 > 0:19:31It's slightly less modern in its feel.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34What's over here?
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Oh, wow, it's got a wood store.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40- Gosh, it's creepy. - I'm not sure about the stars.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42- I don't know if I like that. - You don't want to stay in there?
0:19:42 > 0:19:46- No.- It's the guest room. - I'm a bit scared of that.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- It's just very empty, isn't it? - Oh, this is nice.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53- Yeah, this is lovely.- That's quite nice.- It's quite difficult because there's no-one living here.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- It's nice and new though, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58What do you think of the floor?
0:19:58 > 0:20:01I wouldn't have picked it but it's OK.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03I wouldn't have picked that floor either to be honest.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05- That tiling. - That is not what this place is about.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08This place is about space, not detail.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- So presumably that's the dining area.- Yeah.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- That's lovely, I love that fireplace.- It's a nice fireplace. - Yeah. And this floor. What is this?
0:20:14 > 0:20:18I have no idea. I'm not quite sure what that would be.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20It's a lovely rosewood floor.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Fireplace is nice, like that. I think Stu would like that.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25- Do you think?- Yeah. - He likes his fireplaces.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- Yeah. That is quite grand. - Is it big enough though?
0:20:27 > 0:20:33I'm not sure. I think for a kitchen diner it just feels a little bit hollow, doesn't it?
0:20:33 > 0:20:36You know, it feels like a really low dining room.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38- I don't know, there's not a huge amount of light.- Mmm.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- That's a lovely bright room. - This is a big space.- Wow.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Another nice fire, that is really nice.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- Yeah.- Every room needs its focal point and that absolutely beautiful
0:20:48 > 0:20:52stove in the living room is the glorious focal point of that space.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56- So presumably this is your living room-type space.- Yeah.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58That's nice with the conservatory off it as well.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02- Again, it's quite dark, isn't it? - It is a dark day though, isn't it?
0:21:02 > 0:21:04- Yeah. - I suppose that makes a difference.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06You've got loads of windows, where would you put, I mean I suppose you
0:21:06 > 0:21:10could have a sofa along here, it's quite restrictive with the windows.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12But I love the floor, I really like the floor.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- Yeah.- Yeah. And the fireplaces are just gorgeous. - Yeah, the fireplaces are good.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Let's have a look at the conservatory.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22- Oh, it's lovely light in here. - Yeah it's much lighter, isn't it?
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Really lightens the whole place up. You can hear the rain now, you can
0:21:25 > 0:21:28just imagine being sat here and it would be so relaxing, wouldn't it?
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- Yeah, even on a grotty day it would still be nice.- I love conservatories. An interesting sofa.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37- Would they leave that for us, do you think?- I hope not. It's very pink, isn't it?
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- You've got quite good views out around as well.- Yeah. That's gorgeous.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44- Garden looks lovely as well.- Yep. Shall we go back through.- Yeah.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51What do you think of the stairs? Do you like the wooden stairs? It's wooden stairs again.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55Well, if you don't like a wooden staircase do you know what you can do, Tory?
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Put carpet on it.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59This isn't a bad size.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03- I wonder which one this is going to be.- It's a decent size double bedroom, that, as well, isn't it?
0:22:03 > 0:22:08- It is, it is.- Storage space.- And what's behind the curtain?
0:22:08 > 0:22:13- That's quite deep.- You'd almost probably fit your own wardrobes in there, wouldn't you? I don't know.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18- Yeah, I think you could do better than that. Not a bad view.- Yeah.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- Thank you. Not a bad view. It's a very, very lovely view.- Quite like the window seat as well.- I know.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24I could just sit there on the phone, couldn't I? Looking out the window.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- Yeah.- Ah, that's where they'd sit and talk to each other, isn't it?
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- Let's go and have a look then, see the rest of it.- Yeah.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32So far are you satisfied with your tour?
0:22:32 > 0:22:36- It's a mixed bag, but this property is a mixed bag. - It's an eclectic property, isn't it?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- It is, but you need to kind of use your imagination in this place a little bit.- Oh, it's a big bathroom.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45- Yeah, it is quite big, isn't it. - Separate shower, that's always nice.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48It's quite bare again though, isn't it? There's loads of space but everything's really bare.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52I'm not sure these tiles are to my taste either.
0:22:52 > 0:22:57- What do you think Stu would think of it so far then? - Um, yeah, it's not bad.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02- Yeah.- It's pretty big.- Yeah.- Which is a good start. I'm not sure about the flooring in here.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04OK. What else have we got?
0:23:07 > 0:23:13- So we've got a change in the floor again. I'm not sure...- Quite different everywhere, isn't it?
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It doesn't really blend.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16That is a fair point.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20There is no flow with all the different floorings throughout this property.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25- Ah, mirrored wardrobes.- Wow. I like this room though, I really do.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- It looks like they had a fireplace there at one stage.- Oh, yeah.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32I wonder if it could be put back or...
0:23:32 > 0:23:36- Stu would probably like a fireplace there, wouldn't he?- I think it would be nice to have but...
0:23:36 > 0:23:40It seems a shame to lose it because that's one thing it hasn't got. Not a huge amount of character.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45- Mmm, upstairs definitely hasn't. - It's a good size though. I like the size of it.- Yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47- They've both been good sizes so far, haven't they?- Yeah, definitely.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50What's next?
0:23:50 > 0:23:54- This is the last bedroom then. - This is a really good size considering all the others.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56- They're all really good sizes. - They're beautiful.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- Laminate this time.- Yeah. Just for a change. Another one.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04What's the one thing I hate in properties?
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- Don't know.- Laminate flooring upstairs.- Oh, that's true. I should have known that by now.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Yes, Jonny does not like laminate flooring upstairs.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12It's all different. All the floors are different.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- Yeah.- And this is like modern, this is really modern.- Yeah.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19- Whereas... OK. Another good view. A window seat again.- Yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23- It's lovely.- More talking on the phone.- That's what I love about this house though, loads of room.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- Yeah.- It's huge.- It is.- There's loads and loads of room.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31- It is a good size.- OK. Let's go and find the lads, shall we?- Yeah.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34I think they understood that what I'm trying to give them here is space.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38They're just kind of a bit confused about the mixture of different styles here.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40- Come on, let's go and sort it out. - OK.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47Right ladies, we've reconvened in the conservatory because, well, the weather's a bit inclement to
0:24:47 > 0:24:49go outside, but just a few pointers for you.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52We've got this lovely garden out here, very Billy-friendly...
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- Yeah.- Yeah? All on one level.- Yeah.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- All right?- Yeah.- What did you think about the property itself?
0:24:57 > 0:25:01It's interesting. It's not quite what you would expect.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05- I'm not sure if I like it or not at the moment.- I wasn't fond. No, not at all.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08I didn't think it felt at all homely, whereas the last one was very cottagey and it was lovely.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12- Quite empty, I mean I know it's unfurnished but...- When you made the comment upstairs,
0:25:12 > 0:25:17I think we both agreed with, is this fact that the property just doesn't flow quite correctly.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21There's a little inconsistency from room to room and that is a bit of a negative against it.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- Yeah.- But more space was the point.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Yeah, definitely got more space.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29And I hope what you could do with this place is focus on the bits
0:25:29 > 0:25:32you liked, keep those and then change any other bits that you didn't fancy.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35- Yeah. Like the fireplaces were lovely.- Exactly.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37One of the oldest fireplaces in the whole of Forest of Dean.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Of course. But any changes you're going to want to make
0:25:40 > 0:25:43are going to cost money, so it's guess the price time now.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47- You had a rather distinct advantage first time round.- It could be said.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51But we are back on a level playing field, OK, so with that in mind, Tory, you may go first.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- What do you think? - I would say around 275.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- Rhiannon?- I'd say about 269.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00- Even with a level playing field you've lost again, Rhiannon.- Oh.
0:26:00 > 0:26:07Yes, because this place is on the market above your budget at 279,950.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11- OK.- I mean I guess it's the position you're paying for, the views, and the extra space.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- Yeah.- What do you think?
0:26:13 > 0:26:17I'm not sure. It's something to be considered.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Yeah. The thing is to bear in mind, of course, we know the market's pretty difficult at the moment
0:26:21 > 0:26:25so it's always a good opportunity for you to put an offer in and negotiate something lower down.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And as you can see as you wander round, the property is unoccupied, it's vacant, so it's standing here
0:26:28 > 0:26:33empty which means most vendors who are in that situation are going to be keen to achieve a sale because
0:26:33 > 0:26:37- obviously they're paying a mortgage on a property that they're no longer using as their primary home.- Yeah.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40So I'd hope we could probably getting in, if you were interested,
0:26:40 > 0:26:45closer to that 250, 270 bracket that you were looking to try and purchase within.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49- Yeah, it sounds good.- All right? OK, that's this property done.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52We still have one left, and it sounds like it's brightening up.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55Let's go to the wild card, come on.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03Now we both liked Drybrook so much we decided that we'd locate the wild card here too.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Yes, literally yards away from property two,
0:27:05 > 0:27:10- this house has come onto the market as part of a deceased estate. - And as such it's seen better days.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13So ideally we'd like to show it to you when it's not raining and freezing cold.
0:27:13 > 0:27:19But, ladies and gentlemen, it is raining and it is freezing cold and frankly...
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- We can't wait to get in there. Right, Jonny?- Right.
0:27:24 > 0:27:30OK, Rhiannon and Tory, here we are at the property we've all been waiting for, the wild card.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35- What we have realised in our property search so far is Billy is very important.- Yeah, he is.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39- I think Billy would approve.- I think Billy would approve. What a garden that is.- Yes, pretty good.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41- Massive, all on one level.- Good.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44All right. that's the garden.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46- Have a look over your shoulder.- Woah.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48- There's the property.- Looks good.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51- First impressions?- It's interesting.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54- Interesting?- Yeah, yeah.- Are we being diplomatic there, slightly?
0:27:54 > 0:27:57- My non-committal word. - Rhiannon, what are you thinking?
0:27:57 > 0:28:01I like it. I really like the style of it. It's nice, yeah. It looks quite quaint.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Exactly. And the plot the property sits on is absolutely superb.
0:28:03 > 0:28:09The garden's fantastic, the views on the horizon, over yonder there, are absolutely delightful, aren't they?
0:28:09 > 0:28:12- Yeah, gorgeous. - And also, Tory, come on, you told us, you didn't want a new build.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Yeah. This definitely isn't a new build.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19- I absolutely guarantee there is no new-buildness about this at all whatsoever.- Good. That's good.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Bear that in mind when you have a look around this place.
0:28:22 > 0:28:28Let's say you really need to let your imaginations go wild in here.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32- OK.- All right? That's all we'll say. In you go, enjoy, go on.
0:28:32 > 0:28:33OK, thank you.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Should they be wearing hard hats?
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Oh, wow.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Come on, hurry up, it's miserable out here.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Dining room presumably.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48- This is certainly more homely, isn't it?- Mmm.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51- Wow.- Hmm, feels very homely.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- Yeah?- I'm detecting a hint of sarcasm in our contributor's voices.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59No, because it is a lovely kind of cosy living room, that.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02- Look at that fireplace. - Yeah, that's gorgeous.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04It's pretty good.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- Quite a good size room as well, isn't it?- Needs a bit of work.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Holes in the wall.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Yeah. So I presume it needs quite a bit of work done to it, then.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15- Mmm. I would think.- Yeah.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- It's a nice view out the window into the garden.- Yeah.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21It worries me they've immediately started looking at the views.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- Yeah. There's not much to see on the inside though, to be fair.- There is.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26This place has got bags of potential.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29It's got quite a nice big window as well, let some light in.
0:29:29 > 0:29:30Needs a lot of work though by the looks, doesn't it?
0:29:30 > 0:29:35- Yeah. Another hole in the wall. - I think it might have a bit of damp as well.- Oh, yeah.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40OK. You can do that though, you can do a bit of work.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Do you know, that start was much more positive than I thought.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47I think these girls have got the imagination required for this place.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- Oh, wow.- This is a good size.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52- Look how light it is. - It is light actually, isn't it?
0:29:52 > 0:29:57Yeah, that kitchen is lovely and naturally light and you've got that superb 1950s Aga in there.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00That's really lovely though.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04- I haven't seen too much, um... - Arghh...- There's a big hole in there as well though.- Oh, really?
0:30:04 > 0:30:08- That's where it's rusted. - Now that, if you used it, would keep your whole house warm, wouldn't it?
0:30:08 > 0:30:11- That's if it works.- So what do you reckon then? Would you want to...
0:30:11 > 0:30:15I'd want to gut this and redo it completely. You could get quite a lot of space in here.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18- Definitely needs new units though... - Yeah, definitely.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- And floor.- Easy to take out though. - OK, hats off the girls here.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24I thought they'd be quite disparaging about this place
0:30:24 > 0:30:27but they're seeing the potential with the character here.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Because they like places with that period feel.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34- Definitely needs a lot of work, doesn't it?- And a new carpet.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Yeah. It's a bit busy. - Oh, look at that sofa.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Oh, I like the fireplace though.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Oh, now this I do like. You've got loads of character in here, look.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Look at those beams there. That's gorgeous.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47- Yeah.- I really like that.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51- Imagine sitting here when it's winter.- It is a touch on the small side though.- Do you think?
0:30:51 > 0:30:57- Well, it's not huge, is it?- No. Not a huge amount of useable space either.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00- No, where would you put everything, because of the stairs?- Yeah.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05You see that's the problem with that lounge. You've got that open tread staircase there. Why on earth?
0:31:05 > 0:31:10Right in front of the window, cutting diagonally across the main source of light.
0:31:10 > 0:31:11Yeah. It's ridiculous.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15And also, because it's open at the top there, you lose all your heat up there.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17- You know where I'd move them to? - Where?
0:31:17 > 0:31:19- Other end of the building.- Really.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- Yeah.- No, no. I would move them to the other side of the wall and have them kind of dog leg up.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25What's through here then?
0:31:26 > 0:31:30- Storage. That's always handy. - We've got a door through here. Yeah.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34- Out to the garden? - That's good.- A downstairs bathroom.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Get this all muddy and then keep that separate.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Yeah. And a downstairs loo.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45OK, one of the other concerns, perhaps, about this property is that downstairs bathroom.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48- Yeah.- They're never really popular amongst buyers.- I would get that bathroom upstairs
0:31:48 > 0:31:51and split one of the other bedrooms because the one of them
0:31:51 > 0:31:56up there, you've got two sources of light, I would split that room into the bathroom and a smaller bedroom.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59I presume this is the main bathroom, isn't it? I would have thought.
0:31:59 > 0:32:05- Least this is pretty tidy. Wouldn't need to do anything straight away, would you?- No.- Not really.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07The window's pretty good in here, which is good.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- Nice and light, isn't it?- Most of these places aren't brilliant.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13- Yeah, new shower I think.- Yep.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16- Shall we venture up? - Yeah, brilliant.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- So it needs a lot of work then doesn't it, I think?- A little bit.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Do you reckon that Stu would stretch to that much DIY?
0:32:25 > 0:32:29I wouldn't like to say right now. Let me see the rest of it.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32I mean you could almost move those stairs, couldn't you?
0:32:32 > 0:32:34- I don't like where they are so I think I would have to.- Yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Wow, this is really big...
0:32:38 > 0:32:41- Oh, wow.- But again, it lacks a door.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45- Again, the stairs are in the way, aren't they?- Yeah.- That upstairs
0:32:45 > 0:32:47needs completely re-jigging, doesn't it? Re-planning.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49The room they're in now is the one to split up,
0:32:49 > 0:32:53because you've got a window on one side of the building, a window on the other side, so
0:32:53 > 0:32:56you get two other rooms with natural light coming into them.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Again, you've got quite a nice view.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02- This is a really interesting room. - It's quite light as well, isn't it?
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Yeah, because you've those you would definitely have to move
0:33:05 > 0:33:08- the stairs, wouldn't you?- Yeah. They're a little bit oddly placed.
0:33:08 > 0:33:13- Although there's quite big furniture in here, isn't there...- Yeah.- So it's a really big room.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Look at the cracks in the walls over there. So I don't know.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19- Oh, yeah.- I think it's a little bit deeper than cosmetic, isn't it?
0:33:19 > 0:33:22I don't know. I suppose if that's just kind of the natural wall
0:33:22 > 0:33:29then it is going to be, you're not going to get them perfectly flush in a house of this age.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32OK. You could do this, couldn't you?
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- Stu could do it.- Yes. It's a blank canvas, you could start again.
0:33:35 > 0:33:40So, will Stewart's workshop be busy?
0:33:40 > 0:33:44- This is quite a big room as well. - Oh, we've got a door on this one.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48That's good. Novel. This is quite a good size too really.
0:33:48 > 0:33:52Yeah, you could, again, large furniture so you can easily get a double bed in here.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55But again, there's bits missing of the wall.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58- Yeah. You can see why this is the wild card, can't you?- Definitely.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- Definitely.- It could be really homely though, I think.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05- This is quite a nice room, it has a real cottage feel, I think.- Yeah.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09- I think if you've got the right vision you could make it happen. - Yeah. Definitely.- I like that.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Rhiannon's being very positive about this place, she's helping
0:34:12 > 0:34:15her mate here by saying this could be a lovely, lovely, home-feeling place.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18Yeah, she's seen through the superficial and seen the potential
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- there to convert this into a fantastic family home.- Absolutely.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25- Once those stairs are back down the other end of the building... - Whoa, whoa, whoa...
0:34:25 > 0:34:27- This is really big. - It's huge, isn't it?
0:34:27 > 0:34:31- Yeah. You almost don't expect it. - Newly painted by the looks, as well.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34It's still not quite to my taste but you can see past that.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36- You'd need to colour the walls, wouldn't you? Definitely.- Yeah.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40Interesting borders throughout though, still.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43Yeah. You can see again, you've got big wardrobes and the big furniture.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Yeah. I love the beams again. That's gorgeous. So you have really
0:34:46 > 0:34:50got three double rooms again, haven't you?
0:34:50 > 0:34:52Yes. At the moment you've got three double bedrooms.
0:34:52 > 0:34:57- If it's down to Simon O'Brien's idea here you'll be down to two singles and one double.- No, you're not.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02- At best.- No, you're not. You'll end up with two doubles, definitely, and
0:35:02 > 0:35:05perhaps a double, perhaps a large single, and a bathroom upstairs.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08- What do you reckon? Too much work? - It looks like it could be a big job.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11Yeah. I think we'd need to talk to a few people.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- Yeah.- And see how much work it needs doing.- And how much it would cost. - Yeah.
0:35:15 > 0:35:20I think it's when you get down to some of it as well, you realise there's more to be done really.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22Yeah, I wonder what some of the wallpaper's hiding.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Yeah, that is a valid concern, but I think Simon and me have got some
0:35:25 > 0:35:27ideas of our own about what we can do with this place.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30As soon as the stairs are down the other end of the property everything
0:35:30 > 0:35:35- will start working out.- Right, that's it. I'm going to show you what to do with this place!
0:35:37 > 0:35:43- How was that? Did you enjoy it? Great. Bear with me.- Excuse me one second.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Move this staircase, seal all that up.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Have the staircase dog-legged, couple of steps coming against this
0:35:49 > 0:35:51wall and coming back up here against this load-bearing wall just here.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- All right.- Bring all that extra light in, sealing that.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56- Yeah.- Maintaining the three big double bedrooms upstairs.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58But if you do that, if you put the staircase
0:35:58 > 0:36:01in here that means there's no chance of taking a bathroom upstairs. You're happy with the bathroom downstairs.
0:36:01 > 0:36:06- Happy with my bathroom downstairs as long as I keep three double bedrooms upstairs.- Hah, come with me.- Fine.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09One minute, one minute.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14Front door, OK? As soon as you come in the front door it is natural to see the stairs in front of you.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17You've got a door going off to the right and a door going off to the left.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Smaller reception room here, up to the corridor, straight along,
0:36:20 > 0:36:24and you break up the big bedroom at the far end into a bathroom and a smaller single bedroom.
0:36:24 > 0:36:29- There you go, bathroom upstairs, three bedrooms and the whole flow makes sense.- OK, I totally disagree.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31So you restrict the size of your reception room downstairs,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34you make potentially two single bedrooms upstairs by
0:36:34 > 0:36:37doing that, and you miss out on the opportunity to open up this into a beautiful kitchen diner.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40Whoa, potentially single bedrooms. One single bedroom perhaps.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44Anyway listen, I tell you what we agree on, to disagree on this case.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47- Yeah.- Yeah. Come on, let's go speak to the girls.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50Sorry about that, we are just very passionate about our properties.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53Anyway, where were we? Oh, what did you think about the place?
0:36:53 > 0:36:56I don't know yet. I'm unsure if I like it or if I want to run away.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58I understand where you're coming from with that.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Rhiannon, you seemed quite clear in your mind about the property
0:37:00 > 0:37:02- as you went round.- Yeah, it's a lot of work that needs doing, isn't it?
0:37:02 > 0:37:06A lot of work, but yeah, I think you could make something with it.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09You could definitely open up this space, and, yeah.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14- You could make something of it, couldn't you?- Yeah, definitely.- But it's not going to come cheap.- No.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18Which takes us to guess the price time. Now, Rhiannon, frankly you're doing awfully.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21- I know.- Although having said that, technically it's only 1-0.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26- Yes, it's only 1-0.- Somebody knew the price of the first property. OK, so would you like to go first?
0:37:26 > 0:37:31Yeah. I'm going to say, purely just because of the property it's on, I'm going to say it's on at 274.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- OK.- 274, that's a bit random.
0:37:35 > 0:37:41Um, I'm going to say 265.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- Do you want to deliver this one? - Go on.
0:37:46 > 0:37:513-0. That is absolutely spot on. 3-0 to you, nice work.
0:37:51 > 0:37:56- Thank you.- This property's on the market for £265,000. You are brilliant at this game.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00- Now, what do you think about that, now you know the price of this place? - I still don't want it.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04You don't have to make that decision just yet, because we've now shown you
0:38:04 > 0:38:06- three very different properties. - Definitely.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08- Yeah? Rhiannon, you would agree? - Very different, yeah.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12And you've now got to decide which one you would like to test drive,
0:38:12 > 0:38:15bearing Stewart and, of course, Billy in mind. OK?
0:38:15 > 0:38:19- Off you go and have a good think about it.- Thank you.- See you later.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23While the girls are off doing that, here's a recap for you at home.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27Well, I found Tory a quintessential cottage. It had three bedrooms,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30a lovely garden, off-road parking, practically everything she asked for.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34- However, she'd seen it already and decided Billy the dog wouldn't like it.- That's ruff.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37I beg to differ, priced at £267,500.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40Now, as part of any To Buy Or Not To Buy, one house should offer a little
0:38:40 > 0:38:45bit more than our buyer requests and that's exactly what I decided to do with my property, house two.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Its extra space does mean though
0:38:47 > 0:38:52that it's a little bit more than Tory budgeted for at £279,950.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56Offering up a property that needs a bit of work is always a bit
0:38:56 > 0:38:59of a risk on this show, but buying a house is all about taking risks.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03So that's what we've done. Mind you, I get the feeling we may have overcooked it a bit in this case.
0:39:03 > 0:39:09A rank outsider for the test drive at 265 on the nose.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13Well, girls, lo and behold, you've chosen my property, property number one, to test drive,
0:39:13 > 0:39:18and as if it was written in the stars, the rain has stopped and the sun has come out to play for us.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20And Billy, obviously our prized pooch, has come to give
0:39:20 > 0:39:23it the once-over because, of course, he was the issue. You liked it, you liked it...
0:39:23 > 0:39:25- But is it going to be suitable for Billy's needs.- We shall find out.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Now, as far as I know this is a first on To Buy Or Not To Buy.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32I don't think we've ever ended up test driving a property which you'd previously viewed
0:39:32 > 0:39:35which we didn't know you had viewed and then you'd already viewed again.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- I won't go there.- It still counts as a victory though, doesn't it?
0:39:38 > 0:39:40It does, it does, OK Jonny, it does indeed, yes.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45Now, our eagle eyed property surveyor has given this place the once over and he's come up with some pretty
0:39:45 > 0:39:48interesting stuff. Now it's not a legally binding survey...
0:39:48 > 0:39:52- Yeah.- We'd always recommend you tick all those boxes with your solicitor, but anyway, Jonny?
0:39:52 > 0:39:56There is just a slight lean to the property, or as I refer to it, character.
0:39:56 > 0:40:01It's historical movement, it is a period cottage, you know, it is about 150 years old.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04Now, there's no signs that any of that movement has been present in the last century so it's
0:40:04 > 0:40:08nothing to concern yourself with and, as I say, it just adds to the quirkiness and feel of the property.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10Yeah, it does indeed. And he's also come up with
0:40:10 > 0:40:13some very, very interesting stuff to do with the heating of this place.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Now you noticed that big, lovely, multi-fuel burning stove in there.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21- Yeah.- The range. Well, in actual fact that's used to cook on, it's used to heat your hot water
0:40:21 > 0:40:24and it's also used to heat your central heating as well.
0:40:24 > 0:40:29- Wow.- But very cleverly, what they've done is they put in another system which runs off gas bottles
0:40:29 > 0:40:34so that in summer you don't have to have that whole range banging out all that heat, you just turn on to gas.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37- Brilliant.- And if that's not good enough, when you don't want the gas on there's an immersion heater.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40So the whole heating system has been very well thought out here.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- Yep.- But anyway, what we are all dying to know is, will it pass muster with Billy?
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Billy, Billy, it's that way. Go, fetch, go, go.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49We'll see you later, girls. Enjoy.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51- Thank you.- He's waggling his tail.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- It's a good sign. - It is. Looking good.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Oh, I'm glad they've brought Billy along.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04- Why? It means you could be hounded out of here.- I know. But he's bound to like the place, isn't he?
0:41:04 > 0:41:09Spaniels love playing around in woods. He could have all this space and all these new places to explore.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13I think, Jonny, that may be the problem. I get the impression that Tory likes to look after her pets,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16or at least certainly keep them well within eyesight.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19- Woah, woah, are you saying Billy couldn't look after himself?- Billy!
0:41:19 > 0:41:23I'm saying if there's one thing you don't want is a lovely dog going AWOL in the endless Forest of Dean.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27- Billy.- Oh, come on, Simon, with that cosy kitchen he's never run off...
0:41:27 > 0:41:30- Billy.- Would he?
0:41:30 > 0:41:32No, there he is, he's back.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36- Hello.- Hello, hello. Ah ha, well, he's wagging, still.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38- He is.- That must be a good sign.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42- So I mean, this is the third time you've been at this property now. First time with Billy...- Yeah.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Who's obviously the main man.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47So how did it go, pup? OK, how did it go?
0:41:47 > 0:41:51I think he had a pretty good time but I was a bit concerned when he
0:41:51 > 0:41:53jumped over the fence into next door.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57- That's a sign he was enjoying himself.- Course it was, yeah. - Exploring his environment.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01- It's not really practical day to day, though, is it? - We did worry slightly, didn't we?
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Rhiannon, what did you think about this place, you know, you've now really spent some quality time here.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09I really like it. I especially like the location, it's so quiet, it's gorgeous.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11- I really feel at home here. Yeah, I really do like it...- Mmm.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14But that garden, it is a little bit terraced, isn't it?
0:42:14 > 0:42:17- Yeah.- For an escaping dog.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20In comparison though, we've showed you three properties around this kind of price bracket and we've
0:42:20 > 0:42:24seen a difference in the sort of presentation, the style, the condition of these houses...
0:42:24 > 0:42:26- Yeah.- Does that kind of compound that maybe this cottage is pretty
0:42:26 > 0:42:30good value for money and in what you're looking for this may be one of the better options you've got?
0:42:30 > 0:42:36It is good value for money, and it's a really nice house but I just don't think it's for us.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39- Well, you've pre-empted my question then.- Yeah.
0:42:39 > 0:42:40Go on, I'll ask it, I'll ask it.
0:42:40 > 0:42:46- To buy or not to buy?- Not to buy. - Not to buy. Billy, you've let me down, mate.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50- That's a great pity but you know we hope that you've enjoyed the journey anyway.- Definitely.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52- Had a really good time.- Yeah?
0:42:52 > 0:42:54And we've opened your eyes to what is available around the Forest of Dean.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59- Definitely.- So all we can do then really is wish you and Stu, and of course Billy, all the very best.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- Yeah.- As far as you're concerned, Rhiannon, hope the baby pops out OK.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06- Yes, thank you.- I guess that's one way of putting it. Oh, take him away, he's got no decorum.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09- Come on. See you later, girls.- Bye. - See ya.- Bye.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd