0:00:02 > 0:00:06Buying a new home is the biggest purchase you'll ever make, so how do you make the right move?
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Do you pay rock bottom for a project?
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Rundown doesn't have to mean run away.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15There are properties ripe for renovation all across the UK.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18But with the downturn in the property market...
0:00:18 > 0:00:23comes an upturn in great properties on the market at knock-down prices.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28I'm on a mission to find our house hunters ready-made, perfect pads.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32So will today's buyers go with one of my renovation projects?
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Or will they put their feet up and go for one of my readies?
0:00:42 > 0:00:45We're helping a young family choose between buying a wreck or ready
0:00:45 > 0:00:50in West Lothian, close to Edinburgh, Scotland's historic capital city.
0:00:50 > 0:00:57West Lothian recently came third in a survey of UK's happiest places to live and it's easy to see why.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01The rolling countryside and beautiful villages are enough to put a smile on anyone's face.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05The average cost of a home here is around 140 grand,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09that's nearly 40% lower than the UK average,
0:01:09 > 0:01:13but prices go up as you get closer to Edinburgh and that's where today's house hunters want to be.
0:01:13 > 0:01:20Proud Scotsman David and former special needs teacher Chie met six years ago through a dating website
0:01:20 > 0:01:26and after falling madly in love, they got married and Chie moved over from the States with her dog Rennie.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Now they're the proud parents of two fast-growing little girls,
0:01:30 > 0:01:3318-month-old Shona and 3-year old Malia, they're desperate to move.
0:01:33 > 0:01:39Home is currently the 3-bed East Kilbride semi David grew up in.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Ideally, they're looking for a bigger house closer to Edinburgh
0:01:43 > 0:01:49but finding their dream family home is proving much harder than finding love.
0:01:49 > 0:01:55Looks like they're going to need a bit of property match-making from Auntie Jane and Uncle Jonnie.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59- But first we need to find out who's up for a wreck... - And who wants a ready.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- Let's find out who we've got today. - OK.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04'Hi, I'm Chie.'
0:02:04 > 0:02:07My name's David and I'm a design engineer.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12We're living in East Kilbride, which is a new town just outside Glasgow.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16The distance from David's work during the winter time
0:02:16 > 0:02:20tend to take a couple of hours, at worse case scenario.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22It's about 45 miles.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26That's quite some commute, especially in Scotland. A bit of bad weather might take you hours.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Yeah. I think we need to reduce that.
0:02:28 > 0:02:34It has been hard. I think more for David and the girls because they're not able to spend time together.
0:02:34 > 0:02:40If we can get close enough then I could cycle to work and that would be perfect, distance and location.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Good school area, that's the two criteria.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47Sounds like we're moving into a potentially more expensive area.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Our budget for the house we are looking for is £360,000.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56We've got one living room now. With two young girls, it tends to be an explosion of toys every day.
0:02:56 > 0:03:02I'm so used to a bigger house in the States, it would be great to have extra space.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07I'd prefer four bedroom because I do have family and friends from all around the world.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11So she wants something big and, for a renovation project, that's knocking walls through.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17I'd prefer a wreck property because of the potential to maybe get
0:03:17 > 0:03:21a bit more for your money and to be able to personalise it a bit more.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I think everything ready for you is very attractive
0:03:24 > 0:03:28because you don't have to do anything and move in tomorrow.
0:03:28 > 0:03:35Yeah, certainly, one of the reasons for moving is to be able to spend more time with the girls,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38so a ready in that respect would be a much better bet.
0:03:38 > 0:03:44Do they want a renovation project or do they want a nice easy ready? They haven't made their minds up yet.
0:03:44 > 0:03:50I can see why they've been looking at properties for five months. A ready probably suits them more...
0:03:50 > 0:03:55Yeah, but fitting all those criteria into that ready-made property.
0:03:55 > 0:04:01- They already haven't found it, so, this is going to be a real tough one. - Good.- I'm off.- Good girl.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03So it's clear we've got our work cut out with David and Chie.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06They're looking for perfection and topping their wish list are...
0:04:19 > 0:04:23With a healthy budget of 360 grand,
0:04:23 > 0:04:30David and Chie should have a good chance of getting what they want, if we can find it.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Super organised Chie doesn't go anywhere without her property clipboard
0:04:34 > 0:04:40and they've already discounted over 120 properties because they don't tick off everything on her list.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44We could have a hard time getting these guys to decide on anything.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Jane, this could be our toughest mission yet.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Have faith, Jonnie, I'm confident we can do it.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53For my first ready, I've brought them to the village of Westfield.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58It's 40 minutes' drive from Edinburgh so it could cut David's daily commute in half.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03It's a lovely semi-rural location which could be the ideal place to bring up the children.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06And I'm hoping they'll fall in love with the house.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17It sits in a quarter acre plot, so it has all the space they asked for and more.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22So, Chie and David, the first property of the day is one of mine, it's a ready.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Looks nice.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29Does look nice. The garden is a good big size for the girls to play in.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34- Well, that's not your only garden, there's also a garden to the rear of the property.- That's good, yeah.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39So plenty of space outside and the inside's not exactly poky either.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41I just hope they like beige.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47This is a nice light, bright, airy hallway, coming straight through
0:05:47 > 0:05:54- into this huge, living space. And great views to the front of the property.- Nice big size. Nice view.
0:05:54 > 0:06:01Now, with this property, you're getting over 2,000 square feet of living space.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02OK, that's big.
0:06:02 > 0:06:08It's immaculate. You don't need to do anything to it at all and it's all been very tastefully done.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Certainly looks nice in here.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- Yeah.- Yeah.- If this is your taste.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Yes, of course.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20I'm not sure our suite would go with this colour scheme but you don't like the suite anyway...
0:06:20 > 0:06:26David's seeing his furniture in here already which is a good sign.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30There's a second reception room which could make a great playroom
0:06:30 > 0:06:36and I've also given Chie the open-plan, modern kitchen/diner she's used to having in the States.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- Certainly a nice good size for you anyway.- Yes.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41- This is big, isn't it?- It is.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43It's really deceiving, isn't it?
0:06:43 > 0:06:45We didn't expect this size.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50No, from the outside, you thought it's not going to be much space,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- so this is great.- It is.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56And the back garden looks a good big size as well.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- You could see all the kids playing out there.- Oh, yeah.- Yes.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Keep them safe, yep.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06That would be a great family room, you know, the playroom,
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- especially in the rainy days, you know Scottish winter.- Yes, yes!
0:07:11 > 0:07:18- And I think that utility looks big enough to put our dog's large kennel in which would be great.- Yeah.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Now, it's going to take you 30 to 40 minutes to get to work, driving,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27so how do you feel about not being able to cycle necessarily?
0:07:27 > 0:07:29I think we could work for it.
0:07:29 > 0:07:36I mean, we've always said, you know, we could go further to get the house that was right, and you know, so...
0:07:36 > 0:07:4130 minutes, 40 minutes, it's still going to half my journey time,
0:07:41 > 0:07:46- so that's a big improvement. - Brilliant. So we can live with that.
0:07:46 > 0:07:51- Em, so the other thing I need to let you know is price.- Yes.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53- It's been on for six weeks.- Right.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56It is on the market for offers over 330.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59That's certainly something we could work with.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04We maybe have to run two cars from here but at 330, we could manage that.
0:08:04 > 0:08:10I think this house makes a lot of sense and at 30 grand under budget, the numbers stack up as well.
0:08:10 > 0:08:17If they can get their furniture in. David and Chie have got an enormous king size bed.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Not a bad size but I think our bed might be a bit of a challenge.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Well, there are other options.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25There's a good sized loft conversion with another living area
0:08:25 > 0:08:29and double bedroom that would make a fantastic master suite.
0:08:29 > 0:08:35I'll stay away from the Dr Who cliches, but how on earth have they squeezed all this room in here?
0:08:35 > 0:08:36- It's massive.- I have no idea.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40There's lots of rooms and they're all really huge sizes.
0:08:40 > 0:08:46- Yeah, it's a good house.- I think that's a good start. - Very good start. Worrying for me.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51- What do you think so far?- Not bad. - Think it'll work for us?- Possibly.
0:08:51 > 0:08:58- Doesn't look like much need to be done.- I think we could pretty much move straight in.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Just get our stuff unpacked and settle down and be a family.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07Did you hear that, Jonnie? They're already talking about moving in.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10David can see this as a great family house.
0:09:10 > 0:09:16It's looking like I have a contender despite David and Chie's muted reactions.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I think Jonnie's already got his work cut out to beat me.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Maybe, Jane, but these guys won't be rushed into anything
0:09:22 > 0:09:25and I think I can find them what they want for less than 330 grand.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28David was happy with the 40 minute drive to work,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32so I'm taking them over the Firth of Forth to the city of Dunfermline,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37which is still within a 25 mile radius of Edinburgh.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42Dunfermline is one of the oldest settlements in Scotland and was the capital city for over 500 years.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47Its mix of shopping facilities, good schools and leisure activities attract plenty of young families
0:09:47 > 0:09:50so, hopefully, David and Chie will be the next.
0:09:50 > 0:09:56My first wreck is a spacious 3-bedroom bungalow in need of complete refurbishment
0:09:56 > 0:10:01but at offers around £170,000, there is potentially almost 200 grand left
0:10:01 > 0:10:05in their 360 grand budget to renovate and extend.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10- The bungalow.- Mm-hm. - What are we thinking so far?
0:10:10 > 0:10:13I'm going to get rid of all that stuff growing around it.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16It's wild, isn't it? This is obviously a renovation project.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20I'm asking you to see through the initial cosmetics.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24- Can you use your imagination in a property?- Yeah.- I think we could.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- I'd need to get my mum over here! - Yes.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It's not a small project, any of this house.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35- We've just been to an immaculate, one of the most immaculate houses you will see with Jane.- Yes.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40This isn't. OK. So I want you to be open-minded to this, all right?
0:10:40 > 0:10:44- Are you with me?- Yes.- Jane? - Yeah, I'm completely with you.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50I'm glad to have you on board, Jane, and I'm hoping Chie and David will be too.
0:10:50 > 0:10:58With a little vision, I think they could easily turn this property into their dream family home.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01First big project is the kitchen.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06So come in here. Come in here.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Mind your head. Mind yours, Jane.
0:11:08 > 0:11:14Look, at the moment, this is a bit of a nothing-y room. I suppose it might be a playroom for the kids.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I want to give you this open space.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Jane's house, you loved that big, long kitchen.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24That wall, I'm suggesting you punch through there
0:11:24 > 0:11:28and you have a huge dining area. You can watch the girls
0:11:28 > 0:11:32and you could be cooking up a storm there...David.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35It probably would be a storm with me cooking!
0:11:35 > 0:11:38It's a lot of work, can you see the potential, Chie?
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Space-wise, I think it could be a great potential,
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- so definitely opens up and wide enough to be able to do a lot.- Yeah.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50But does that scare you?
0:11:50 > 0:11:55I mean, actually doing it, probably end up getting somebody in to do the kitchen, em...
0:11:55 > 0:12:01You're both busy people. You've not got great experience of doing places up.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I'm suggesting you get people in to do everything for you.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08And why just stop with the kitchen wall?
0:12:08 > 0:12:12They could also knock through the dining room into the living room.
0:12:12 > 0:12:18Creating the large kitchen/diner Chie is after would cost...
0:12:18 > 0:12:25Remember this place is nearly 200 grand under budget. So will the figures be enough to swing it?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- What say you? - I like the opening idea.
0:12:27 > 0:12:33So if you put this wall through again you've got a huge flow right from the kitchen to here
0:12:33 > 0:12:38and then maybe double doors out to the garden or a conservatory.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39- Sounds good.- Yeah.
0:12:39 > 0:12:46Now, I'm asking you to envisage a whole new house, but there's a lot of work to be done here
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- and this house is on the market for offers around £170,000.- OK.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52What's your reaction to that?
0:12:52 > 0:12:57That certainly leaves us plenty in the budget for adding things, doing things we want.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02I think I've given them another option to think about.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Hang on! Chie's got the clipboard out. You might be right, Jonnie.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Looks like David's forgotten his measuring tape though.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13He's making sure he can get the king size bed into the master bedroom.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Do you think our bed will fit in here?
0:13:20 > 0:13:22It'll fit.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Well, thank goodness that sticking point is out of the way.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26There is some potential.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30- Mm-hm.- Not necessarily completely scary or anything
0:13:30 > 0:13:35but need a lot I think to talk about.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38So they've measured up and they can see the potential,
0:13:38 > 0:13:42but their reactions tell me they don't love it enough to buy it.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46So we've shown David and Chie two very different properties.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51And whilst my first ready is a contender, they've not gone wild over either of them.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55I'm not sure these guys really know what their perfect home is, Jane.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Time to regroup and plan our next move.
0:13:58 > 0:14:04For me, I think it's going to be schools and maybe proximity to David's work.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08I'm going to stay on size because they like big proportions
0:14:08 > 0:14:13so I'm going to do that but couple it up with a closer commute for David.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18- See what I'm doing here? Rolling my sleeves up. - To get stuck in?- See you later.
0:14:18 > 0:14:24Chie and David are playing their cards quite close to their chests, so I'm going to go for size and space.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30We're off to Livingston, just 13 miles away from David's work.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34It's a 1960s' new town, which might not appeal to everyone,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37but it has everything they've asked for.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41And being so close to Edinburgh, property is surprisingly good value here,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45with an average home reported to cost just over 120 grand.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48And I've found a whopper.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52American Chie is going to get a lot of bang for her buck here.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57With over 2,000 square feet of space, I think I'm on to a winner.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02It's got five bedrooms, two dining rooms and an open-plan kitchen/diner,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05but best of all, it's on the market for ten grand under budget.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08I think it's perfect.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14Looks like a good big garage so, erm, certainly from the outside
0:15:14 > 0:15:16it looks, from this direction, a decent size.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Yes, David it is a decent size -
0:15:19 > 0:15:22in fact, it's massive and remember it is a ready.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26All I need now is a positive reaction from Chie.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29- Now I know you guys like a big hallway.- Yes.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31This isn't the hugest of hallways.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- Uh huh.- That's why you've got this.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- Oh.- OK, that's good. - Nice spiral staircase.- Yes.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Dining room.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41That's where some of your bedrooms are, but come through to here.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48- Oh, OK.- Oh, that looks good. - This is actually pretty good.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53I think I do enjoy more American-style open-plan kind of setting,
0:15:53 > 0:15:57just flow through and the light coming through different places.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Did you hear that, Jonnie? It's got the space Chie's looking for.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Don't count your chickens. Looks like a bit of a sauna to me, Jane.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10So, a lovely, well-tended garden.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14It's a slightly unusual shape, but it does look a reasonable size.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16See the girls running around here?
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Oh, yeah. I can see them playing with the water feature as well.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- You've got great views over the golf course.- Yes.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27Not likely to get a housing development thrown up on that side of your fence.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Now this property hasn't actually been on the market that long -
0:16:31 > 0:16:32just three weeks.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37It's on for 349,995, so just under 350.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42If what we've seen so far is an indication, then I'd say it's promising.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Wow, that's a "promising" from David.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Does that mean he's actually getting excited?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Hopefully he is happy enough with the size of the bedrooms.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Maybe - but now he's stressing out about the size of the wardrobes.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56- Not huge but, I think...- Workable.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Workable. Maybe just have to move things around in season.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04Ah, workable wardrobes.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Hardly the stuff dreams are made of though is it, Jane?
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Time for me to work my magic.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12I'm convinced location, not dimension, is the key.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15How long will it take to cycle into Edinburgh?
0:17:15 > 0:17:19Oh, will it? OK, ignore the first one and I'll see you there.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20Great, OK.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25We're in Corstorphine, a desirable suburb of Edinburgh
0:17:25 > 0:17:29with excellent schools, including their first-choice school for their kids,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31so it's no surprise property prices
0:17:31 > 0:17:34are reported to be over 50% more expensive
0:17:34 > 0:17:36than Jane's last location in Livingston.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41And best of all, it's within 15 minutes' cycling time for David's work.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43That was his dream Jane. Remember?
0:17:43 > 0:17:46My final project is a three-bed dormer bungalow
0:17:46 > 0:17:48on the market for offers around...
0:17:50 > 0:17:53It's a bit of a gamble, because the compromise here is size.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56There's a potential 40 grand, though, left in the budget,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58so if they're prepared to stretch themselves,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01they could extend out into the large garden.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Now, David and Chie so far I don't think personally,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09- we've showed you the right location.- Right.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Now, I've prioritised location for you guys in two respects -
0:18:12 > 0:18:16first of all, work. Your work from here is...
0:18:16 > 0:18:19I don't know how fast you cycle, but I'm thinking
0:18:19 > 0:18:23between 10 and 15 minutes' cycle to work from this place.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24That would be excellent.
0:18:24 > 0:18:30- And your preferred school - Craigmount School, is it?- Mm-hm.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- You can walk from here and you're in the catchment area.- Great.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35That sounds great.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- Brilliant. So location, I think we're rocking with that.- Mm-hm.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- The house.- Yes.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44One or two things need doing around the roof,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46but it doesn't look too bad from the outside.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49If the inside could offer what we need,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53then suddenly, it would ring up the tick points.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Will I be getting a tick on your, er, clipboard?
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Maybe with a plus.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Really, with a plus? Let's look inside, then.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04'You hear that, Jane? Big ticks from Chie already.'
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- Now much better condition than the first renovation project.- Yes.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Big living room there.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13- Dining room there, keep that in mind.- Uh-huh.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16We're probably repeating the process we did
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- in the first renovation I showed you.- Yes.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Come right in.
0:19:21 > 0:19:26- So...- As it stands, this is certainly a compact kitchen.
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Yes.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31But I guess based on the first one,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- we're thinking of knocking that wall down.- You've got it.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37And then, again, you'd have a great-sized kitchen/diner.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Alternatively, next door, you might have noticed on your way in,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44they've got a huge extension on the ground floor
0:19:44 > 0:19:46going back that way into the garden.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49So you could make this kitchen even larger,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52but bigger kitchen, slightly smaller garden,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54you've got to weigh those things up.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59Certainly, I think, has the potential to make what we really want.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Mm, it's promising.
0:20:02 > 0:20:07Now, you said promising to Jane, I want better than promising.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10So it's another "promising" from David.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14OK, so enthusiasm may not be in his vocabulary,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17but at least this property is rivaling Jane's last ready.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19I think this could be their perfect home -
0:20:19 > 0:20:22they just need to get excited about its potential.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26To add an extension on the side to create a large open-plan diner
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and revamp the entire house would cost around 60 grand.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32So, if they like it,
0:20:32 > 0:20:36this property could push them over their budget by £20,000.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- So, lovely garden, isn't it? - It's great.
0:20:39 > 0:20:45It is a good size, compared to some of the other places we've seen close to Edinburgh.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48This is actually a good, decent-sized garden.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- Great. Good news.- Very happy.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53- Very happy!- Yes. - Is that better than promising?
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Could be.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- Keep me on tenter-hooks, don't you? - Hedging our bets.- Quite.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05Well, here's a good signal, if you like,
0:21:05 > 0:21:07of how well this area is doing.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Look around, everybody has gone up into the roofs,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14they've extended out and wide - that means people want to stay,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16because they know the area is good,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18and they're making the most of these plots.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21That should give you confidence when you're looking at an area.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24To help you compare with all the other houses we've seen,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28this place is on the market for offers around £320,000,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31some 45 under your budget,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34including all your costs and what have you, I appreciate that.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38But if you could negotiate a more favourable price -
0:21:38 > 0:21:40- and you're going to get rid of your car?- Yes.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42So what does that work out, another 15, 20 grand?
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- 15, 20, probably.- You can do this work well within your budget.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48It's going to take a few months,
0:21:48 > 0:21:54but you would then have a house with four bedrooms, a big dining kitchen,
0:21:54 > 0:21:55a good-sized garden,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59that's also close to Edinburgh, your work, the school.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03This is a house that hopefully you would want to stay in long-term.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05It's compromises again, isn't it?
0:22:05 > 0:22:09I think you're trading off proximity to my work,
0:22:09 > 0:22:14proximity to a good school, for space.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17What do you think is most important - location or space?
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Probably location.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21You hear that, Jane? I think I've hit the spot.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26Wow, Jonnie, I'm impressed. I think you almost got a reaction there.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Still, I'm confused. Is this the dream?
0:22:28 > 0:22:33I think the dormer window over here probably open the space there.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38Mm-hm. And maybe just extend that way, give you a bigger master.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41And if we do, so could the en-suite
0:22:41 > 0:22:45and maybe a veranda/porch kind of idea on roof top.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47That could work.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Yes.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54David and Chie are considering all the practicalities of this place, so I'm quietly hopeful.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58But in reality, we're none the wiser about what they're thinking.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00I don't know whether they've seen anything they love,
0:23:00 > 0:23:04or whether they just keep their cards very close to their chest.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07They definitely let their heads rule their hearts.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10You know, some people walk into a property and feel it.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12I don't think they do that.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15They look for the practicalities, which is a good thing.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Or maybe they can go away tonight, or they're in there now,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22with a calculator and do their sums and it works out best for them.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25So our search for David and Chie's ideal family home
0:23:25 > 0:23:27has been one of our toughest yet.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32We started with Jane's three-bed bungalow in the village of Westfield,
0:23:32 > 0:23:36which had almost everything on their list and was ready to move into.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Then Jonnie gave them this run-down three-bedroomed bungalow -
0:23:39 > 0:23:42it didn't seem to get their juices flowing. But you never know.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Jane's next ready was this spacious five-bedder in Livingston,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48which had an awful lot of promise.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Finally, Jonnie brought them much closer to Edinburgh
0:23:51 > 0:23:54with this three-bed doer-upper with potential to extend.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57David and Chie have looked at hundreds of houses
0:23:57 > 0:24:00in the search for their dream family home,
0:24:00 > 0:24:04so have we managed to finally find them what they're looking for?
0:24:04 > 0:24:06I think we're about to find out.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09- Oh, yes, here they are. - So, I don't see a clipboard.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11CHIE LAUGHS
0:24:11 > 0:24:12Sadly, it's in the car.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Do you have to use your hearts to decide or is it all up there?
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Oh, must be just up here.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22Well, we started the day with a beautiful and rather large property.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24What are your thoughts on that now?
0:24:24 > 0:24:28It was certainly a good big size, it would give us plenty of space.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Travelling time not ideal, like you said,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34but it does cut a lot of time off my day at the moment.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38- That was definitely a potential one. - Oh, so a good start.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41That sounds like a possibility, in your words.
0:24:41 > 0:24:42My first renovation project?
0:24:42 > 0:24:45The amount of work that needed to be done to it
0:24:45 > 0:24:47and the likely cost that was going to be,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and comparing it with what houses in the area are like -
0:24:50 > 0:24:54on balance, we're probably going to rule that one out.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56For me, it was a good litmus test
0:24:56 > 0:24:59to see how you reacted to a renovation project.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04I knew what you were prepared to do after that, so it wasn't a dead loss.
0:25:04 > 0:25:11Then I showed you a beauty - again, a large property, immaculate inside.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15It's certainly large, plenty of space outside for the girls to play in.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19I thought it worked quite nicely for what it provided.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23But then, here we are, in, hopefully, the location.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Yeah, location wise, it's easily the best.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31It's by far closer to my work than any of the others.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34I guess just the question overall is what would we do to it
0:25:34 > 0:25:40to take it from what it is to what we would want?
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Well done, Jonnie, but remember - these guys have found faults
0:25:45 > 0:25:48in lots of properties before, so it's not a wreck win yet.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50I'm nervous.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Let's keep our fingers crossed for their second viewing.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59Next day, David and Chie have taken Shona and Malia
0:25:59 > 0:26:00to get a feel for the place
0:26:00 > 0:26:03while Mum and Dad have another good look around.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Some of the rooms are a little bit smaller than we first thought,
0:26:07 > 0:26:14but not too small for what we need. So that looks all, all good.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17I think we'll be putting in an offer for this one.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22Hallelujah. After five months and countless rejected properties,
0:26:22 > 0:26:24David and Chie have finally made a decision.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29It might not be as big as some of the ready houses Jane showed us,
0:26:29 > 0:26:34- but I think it will be comfortable living for us at the end.- Yes.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Hopefully.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41And the great news is they made an offer of £320,000 on my wreck
0:26:41 > 0:26:42which has been accepted.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45They're now looking forward to getting the keys
0:26:45 > 0:26:49and starting work in the next few weeks.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53I'm surprised they went for that property, but obviously location was the key.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56And obviously, you're not a great loser. Get used to it!
0:26:56 > 0:26:58- So join us next time on Wreck... - Or Ready.
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