- 2 days ago
Location, Location, Location - Season 44 Episode 3 -
Edinburgh and East Lothian
Edinburgh and East Lothian
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00:01Oh!
00:02Look, look, look!
00:03This time, we're taking on Scotland's capital.
00:07This Edinburgh market is hard.
00:09We'll stop at nothing.
00:11Are you absolutely sure?
00:13To reach their family homes.
00:15You couldn't have done anything any better.
00:17There'll be no putting our feet up.
00:20Deep breath.
00:21Until the job is done.
00:23I love it.
00:24You love it?
00:25I love it.
00:28Such a child.
00:30We're back in irrepressible Edinburgh.
00:42My couple have said cheerio to Sydney
00:45and returned to the UK to be closer to family.
00:48And my couple have said adios to Aberdeen
00:50and bringing their children to live in Scotland's capital.
00:54I mean, who would want to live in Edinburgh?
00:56It's stunning.
00:57I've never seen it look prettier.
00:59It's particularly special at this time of year.
01:01In the summer.
01:04Any time of year this place is popular, Pip.
01:07Especially with house buyers.
01:09They come seeking life in a beautiful historic city
01:12and the desirable commuter towns along the East Lothian coastline.
01:16And prices are up almost 7% in the last year.
01:21Edinburgh remains the most expensive Scottish city to own a home in.
01:26With properties 17 grand more than the UK average.
01:30But by all accounts, there was nothing average about Carl when he caught Natasha's eye in Edinburgh.
01:40A boy walks into a bar and that's how we met.
01:42Hottest human I've ever seen in my life.
01:44There was a girl that was looking at me all night long and she approached at the end of the evening.
01:50Oh, please don't put that on.
01:52That's the truth.
01:54You sound like a stalker.
01:56The mutual attraction was evident when five months later, Chief Engineer Carl had packed up in Norwich to live with climate and emissions manager Natasha in Aberdeen.
02:07It was never really the intention to stay as long as we have.
02:10But time flies when you're having fun.
02:1319 years to be exact.
02:1517 of them spent in Aberdeen, where they settled in their jobs.
02:20And welcomed the arrival of their children, Beau and Aurelia.
02:24Aberdeen's been a wonderful place to raise the kids.
02:27But we are just looking for a new opportunity really for all of us.
02:31Beau's about to start high school.
02:32If we don't do it now, it's going to be at least six or seven years before we can consider it again.
02:36Their wishes look to have come true when a work move offered a new life in the Middle East.
02:42But 18 months ago, just as they'd sold up their family home, the job fell through, leaving them back at square one and in a rental to boot.
02:51We've got a lovely house we live in. We live in a lovely leafy area.
02:54There's so many pluses, but it's not our house.
02:57I think the move will bring us a wealth of new things to go and do, whether it be coffee shops or bars or parks.
03:05It's just a long-running family joke that I love a pub and pub grub and a pub quiz.
03:09And a pub quiz.
03:10And there's more pubs in Edinburgh.
03:12Both can work from Edinburgh, the place they met and married.
03:17But so far, moving almost 100 miles south to a city they don't really know is proving tricky.
03:23Meaning, only six viewings in as many months.
03:26With a young family, coming to Edinburgh is at least a five-hour round trip and we just don't get the opportunity.
03:32It's just been really overwhelming.
03:34It's all complicated further by Scotland's offers over system.
03:38Meaning that where we're searching, houses can go for more than 20% above asking.
03:44We don't know where we're looking. We don't really know how to deal with a rising market.
03:50What they do know is what they want.
03:52And even their top £650,000 is struggling in pricey Edinburgh.
03:57We want to be part of a nice community.
04:00Four bedrooms, but that fourth bedroom could double up as a workspace.
04:03Having a big, sociable dining kitchen is really important to us.
04:07Within walking distance of a good school.
04:09A garden, preferably south-facing.
04:12We need a garage because Carl has a classic car and likes to tinker.
04:16Or a double garage and a workshop.
04:18I mean, you'd like a quadruple garage, really.
04:20I would.
04:21Yeah.
04:22For £200,000?
04:23Not a lot, really.
04:24They may be laughing, Phil, but a top-heavy wishlist could drive this search right off track.
04:33How's your own search gone?
04:35Not very successfully.
04:36No.
04:37We're just at a crossroads, aren't we?
04:38It's kind of now or never.
04:39Beau starts secondary school after the summer.
04:41Have you looked into schools?
04:43Probably the number one on our list of what we need.
04:46Yes.
04:47How am I going to work with that?
04:48Top ten schools in Edinburgh?
04:50Top ten schools in Edinburgh, I think.
04:51Yeah, I think it would be.
04:52Yeah.
04:53Catchment areas, as you know, the better the school, the higher the prices.
04:56Absolutely.
04:57It may mean that you end up facing some difficult decisions on the property and the size of it.
05:01I think we know that, don't we?
05:02Yeah, I think deep down, yeah, we knew this was a big challenge.
05:05Where do you think the compromise could be?
05:07I think on distance, as long as the transport links are good enough.
05:11We're open to internal layout moves and things as well.
05:13Yeah.
05:14What else do we need?
05:15Garden's really important to us and so is a garage because Carl has a classic car and 9,000 bikes and tools.
05:23That's not a single garage?
05:24I haven't got a single garage at the moment, no.
05:26So basically what we want is to lift where we are now to Edinburgh.
05:29Closer to Edinburgh.
05:30Closer to Edinburgh.
05:31Closer to Edinburgh.
05:32How much would that be?
05:33I've got £625,000 as far as I'm aware.
05:36In Aberdeen.
05:37Yeah.
05:38Yeah.
05:39So it's probably, you know, put another couple of hundred on that.
05:42Yeah.
05:43We've got to get on with it then, haven't we?
05:44Yeah.
05:45With schools starting in three months, you'd better.
05:50Yes, Mazelsov.
05:53For my couple's top £650,000, they want to walk to school, four bedrooms, one for Natasha's office and a family kitchen diner.
06:04Some work is okay, but a garden is a must, as is Carl's garage.
06:09And they want to be close to town with good transport links.
06:12Good schools are top of the list, so I'll be searching from Edinburgh's desirable suburbs to its more affordable villages.
06:22I'm heading towards the sea, searching for a town and country balance in East Lothian.
06:28But I'll dip my toes closer to town as well.
06:35To where my couple, Claire and husband Mark, are no strangers.
06:39I grew up in West Lothian, but my dream was to move into Edinburgh. It was the big smoke.
06:45And I grew up in England. This is the England-Scotland dynamic at play here.
06:49Work threw me into Edinburgh, which is where we met.
06:53Back in the 90s. Fun. Great fun.
06:57After a whirlwind office romance, the fun rolled on.
07:01And they swapped grey skies for blue in Australia.
07:05Oh, look at the beach.
07:0722 years later, three children.
07:09Blue sky, beaches. We just didn't come back.
07:13However, they are back. Both have sadly lost a parent and want to be on hand for remaining loved ones.
07:22It was really hard to leave Australia. And leaving our son there, his choice. I miss him so much.
07:28Following an eldest son Jay's footsteps, middle son Ben is also opting to study in Oz.
07:35That leaves 16-year-old daughter Savannah and the dogs to plan for.
07:40In the six months since landing, they've been all go. Renting in multiple areas and even offering and being outbid on a house in Gullen in East Lothian.
07:49It was a little gym near the beach.
07:52But it's not easy being away from home for, you know, as long as we have.
07:56Yeah, just understanding how the market works.
07:58So, home for now is a rental in the Trinity area of the centre, close to Claire's medical receptionist job and Savannah's school.
08:06Meanwhile, Mark is taking a career break until they settle in.
08:10What keeps me busy when Claire's at work? The dogs. The dogs. The dogs. Dinner. And a little bit of golf.
08:18But it's not an easy course. Even with their top spend of 800 grand, going from starter flats here in the 90s to finding the perfect family home today is a whole new ball game.
08:30So, finding some space, particularly for the dogs. We don't want to put an extra strain on Savannah getting to and from school.
08:38I love stone, Scottish stone houses.
08:41It's got to be bright, it's got to be airy.
08:43My heart's in Edinburgh.
08:45My heart is less so in central Edinburgh. Eastlothian. Yeah, it's always appealed to me. It's got access to nature and the beaches.
08:53We're going to know when it's the right place.
08:56But there's going to be compromise.
08:58There'll be compromise, yeah, but it's also exciting.
09:00Yeah.
09:01Yeah.
09:02Ah, compromise. The key to a happy relationship. Eh, Kirsty?
09:08You've always found it so, Phil.
09:11This is quite an emotional search. One of the children's still in Australia. You've both lost a parent. You're making decisions about coming back after 22 years abroad.
09:22It's time to be here.
09:23What do you want to get out of a home in Scotland?
09:26Somewhere where we can be settled. Somewhere where the children can come and go. And for our two dogs.
09:32Walks are an absolute necessity. Yeah, accessibility to outdoors.
09:35Yeah, yeah.
09:36How many bedrooms?
09:37Three. At a cost of...?
09:40Three in 600 and 800 is the range.
09:42So where would you ideally be?
09:44I just love Edinburgh.
09:45Mark?
09:46I would rather be on the outside of Edinburgh.
09:49Am I basically looking for the compromise, or is it that one of you's going to walk in and say, this is the one for me, and the other's going to say, you love this so much that I'm going to go with it?
10:00I'm very emotional. Mark's quite sensible. So hopefully, we come to some agreement between those two.
10:08Seems it'll come down to head or heart winning this one.
10:12As ever, I'll try to satisfy both, Phil.
10:17Clare and Mark can stretch to £800,000 and prefer open-plan living with lots of light and curb appeal.
10:25They want three bedrooms for kids coming and going and a secure garden for the dogs.
10:31Near open space, amenities and links for Clare and daughter Savannah's Edinburgh commutes.
10:39You're looking resplendent in the Edinburgh sunshine, it suits you.
10:42I've not got a jacket or a scarf on.
10:44You're brave.
10:45Crazy housing market though, always is.
10:47My couple, they're coming here for good reasons to do with family, but there's a sadness about leaving Australia, as you can imagine.
10:56Yes.
10:57My couple's going to be led by walking distance to a school and a double garage.
11:01It's the worst week to go house hunting.
11:03Why, because it's going to look good?
11:04Everything is going to look as good as it possibly can.
11:07You're going to make our job sound easy.
11:09Oh!
11:10That is ex...
11:11Look at the steam!
11:12Look, look, look!
11:13That's amazing!
11:15Is it the Flying Scotsman?
11:17No, Phil, but I'd like to see a certain Flying Englishman move that fast.
11:22Just hold on tight, Kirsty, I'm full steam ahead.
11:26And even in this fast market, I've found a gem for Natasha and Karl in desirable Kerstorfin.
11:32It's a buzzing suburb, just 20 minutes to town, and a skip to school for Beau.
11:38Here, we're seeing this 1930s house with bags of potential.
11:42First up, we're in Kerstorfin.
11:45This is the house I'm going to show you.
11:48We've got parking.
11:49We've got a garage.
11:50We've got a garage, yeah.
11:51Lots of ticks so far.
11:52Yeah.
11:53Something like 23 viewings already and there's 12 booked this week.
11:56Wow.
11:57Okay.
11:58It's due to the school and the fact that it is walking distance.
12:00And it's pretty from the outside.
12:02It is, yeah.
12:03Lucky number.
12:04Lucky number seven.
12:05Yeah.
12:06Let's get in.
12:07As long as their vision for work is the same as yours, Phil, that luck could turn into love
12:13inside this box-ticking bungalow.
12:16Downstairs, there's a character reception room, two double bedrooms, one en suite, and
12:21an office for Natasha.
12:23The kitchen and dining would easily combine to create the sociable space they're after.
12:30Upstairs are two further double bedrooms and a bathroom.
12:34Outside, there's a family garden and the all-important garage for Carl.
12:39Honour offers over £510,000.
12:42It's expected to sell for around £570, leaving plenty in the pot from their top £650 for changes.
12:50Come in.
12:51Okay.
12:52See what we think.
12:53Okay.
12:54Love the paddling.
12:55It is fantastic.
12:56It's cool, isn't it?
12:57Yeah, it's really cool.
12:58It's a bit historic.
12:59Knowing how important the entertaining room is to you, let's just tackle that first.
13:05It's calling out to be knocked through to the existing kitchen.
13:08Pretty simple to do.
13:09I think we're completely up for this.
13:11Certainly potential here to do something with it.
13:12Definitely.
13:13Yep.
13:14They are asking offers over £510,000.
13:16Brilliant.
13:17So, well under budget.
13:18A super start.
13:19And the idea of work hasn't put them off either.
13:23These are great kids' rooms.
13:24Yeah.
13:25Yeah, I like the fact that they're a bit quirky.
13:29It's always a little bit difficult trying to gauge their reactions on a first viewing.
13:36I'm hoping they will be impressed by both the access into the city and the walking distance to the school.
13:42It could be massive if you extended out the back and went the full width of the house.
13:46Yeah.
13:47It does need a bit of vision.
13:49With that applied it could be absolutely cracking.
13:52I think there is potential to go out that way.
13:54To extend it, yeah.
13:55A garage this close to town was always going to be tricky.
13:58So I'm cheered Carl's seeing potential.
14:01How does it sit with you there as a package?
14:04Garden's really good.
14:05Love the panelling in the hallway.
14:07I think it's got some really nice interesting features.
14:09I guess the concern is we probably would have to extend out the back.
14:13Yeah.
14:14The flip side of that is 20 minutes on the bus into town, walk to school.
14:18Yeah.
14:19Yes, exactly.
14:20I think it's a learning process.
14:21Yeah, great first house.
14:22Really good first house.
14:23Let's crack on.
14:24Great.
14:25Well, they seem like they're ready to learn, Phil.
14:28Yep, and good to have the first lesson go down so well.
14:39We're in glorious Edinburgh and East Lovian.
14:45I'm with Natasha and Carl, who are swapping life in the Granite City for a future in the Scottish capital.
14:51Whereas I'm with Mark and Claire, who've packed up and sold down under to search for the perfect spot to settle in Edinburgh.
14:59Yeah.
15:00My couple are leaving Aberdeen after 17 years.
15:03They want a family home, but are struggling to adjust to the Edinburgh market.
15:08Property one had some charm.
15:11Love for panelling in the hallway.
15:12Yeah.
15:13I think it's got some really nice interesting features.
15:15My couple, returning to be closer to family, are busy readjusting to the city they once called home 22 years ago.
15:23It's not easy being away from home for, you know, as long as we have.
15:27Yeah.
15:28Just understanding how the market works.
15:30So I'm chuffed to be starting a village they love and tried to buy in before.
15:34Gullen on the East Lothian coast.
15:37It's got the right lifestyle, the great outdoors, easy links to town for Claire and Savannah, and all just a walk from this aesthetically inspiring abode.
15:47So, here we are.
15:49The semi-detached house.
15:52Very much in the local vernacular.
15:54First impressions?
15:56Lovely.
15:57Wow.
15:58Gorgeous.
15:59Location-wise?
16:00No complaints.
16:01But location.
16:02Ooh!
16:03This is a good start to the day.
16:05You're right, Kirsty.
16:07Even Edinburgh-loving Claire seems happy to leave the city behind her and wait till they see inside this B-listed beauty.
16:14Downstairs, there's a very bright and open kitchen living space they will love.
16:19Plus, there's a handy sitting room or fourth bedroom for guests and a family bathroom.
16:24The gardens, dog secure, and there's even off-road parking.
16:28Upstairs, the remaining three bedrooms aren't huge but perfectly functional.
16:34And there's a bathroom.
16:35The location is popular and pricey.
16:38So, while it is on, it offers over £660,000.
16:41Anything could happen.
16:43But we'd hope to secure it near their top spend of £800,000.
16:47In we come.
16:48It's a little bit of Australia, isn't it?
16:49Wow.
16:50Yep.
16:51Oh, wow.
16:52I know.
16:53It's all you want from a traditional house with this.
16:54It's beautiful.
16:55Yeah.
16:56It's difficult to fault this house.
16:57The light speaks for itself.
16:58And this is what we're accustomed to.
17:00You've knocked it out of the park, Kirsty, with a reminder of the good life back in Oz.
17:15It is a really big garden.
17:16It's wide and deep, isn't it?
17:17Yeah.
17:18Offers over £660,000.
17:19Deep breaths.
17:20One to think about, isn't it?
17:21From what I've seen right now.
17:22I've literally done stuff.
17:23It's absolutely gorgeous.
17:24Do you want to go and have a look upstairs without me hounding you?
17:25Yes, please.
17:26Good start.
17:28You're being modest.
17:30From Claire's reaction.
17:31It's a brilliant start.
17:32As long as the three requested bedrooms upstairs fit the bill.
17:36We'd get a bed in there.
17:38Definitely.
17:39That would take most of the space, wouldn't it?
17:41Yeah.
17:42Imagine this.
17:44In the wintertime, we're sitting into the room.
17:46We'd take a big room.
17:48So just too long after we just have a seat, we're going to be rolling.
17:53But no, that's where I want.
17:55Imagine this in the winter, tartum blanket, roaring fire, you'd never want to leave home.
18:05Oh, wow. Two windows, that's a treat.
18:10It's quite hard to beat this. Gorgeous.
18:14And their reaction was everything I had hoped it would be.
18:18Let's hope it remains that way.
18:21Yeah, so this is noticeably smaller, isn't it?
18:23Lovely view, though. Kirstie's on the trampoline.
18:27Jumping for joy, Kirstals.
18:30I think best on the move, Phil. And it looks good from here.
18:35Do you think it's fairly priced? I do.
18:38I think it needs a little bit of love.
18:41So does that mean we've got this as a genuine contender?
18:45Definitely. Yeah. Right.
18:47Location, great. House, pretty good.
18:49Well, that's how you need to start the day. OK.
18:52And just like that, 22 years in Australia and six months searching could all be ended with just one awesome special.
19:00After you.
19:01In Edinburgh, Natasha and Carl like Property One, but I want to improve on issues around work.
19:11The leafy suburb of Barneton has the right vibe.
19:15Plus, they'd be a stone's throw from one of Edinburgh's best schools.
19:18But it's the house style that is the gamble.
19:22It's probably 30 to 40 minutes on the bus into town.
19:24OK. OK.
19:261970s, detached. They are really functional houses.
19:30Inside, I think it's great.
19:32It is a very popular area with families, and the reason for that is revealed inside.
19:37We would probably swipe past on line. We've come with an open mind, so let's have a look.
19:41Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
19:43Well, they may not be dazzled out front, but inside could really charm them.
19:49Downstairs delivers on the flexible living space they want, with a breakfast kitchen, study, shower room, and open-plan sitting and dining space leading to a private rear garden.
20:01Plus, there's the all-important garage for Carl.
20:05The four bedrooms they want, for sleeping and working, are all upstairs, and there's a family bathroom.
20:12And stepping up from property one, there's no work to do.
20:15On offers over £565,000, they could also secure it under their top budget of £650,000.
20:23Now, this is very fresh to the market.
20:26OK. We are the first people to see it.
20:29They're asking offers over £565,000.
20:32OK. Nothing to spend on it.
20:34Mm-hmm.
20:35And all of the bedrooms are upstairs, so we've kind of solved that problem.
20:38Yep.
20:39This I pictured as a kid's snug.
20:42Yeah.
20:43But it leads through into quite a generous family space.
20:50Yeah.
20:51This is more what we're used to, a separate room that the kids can hang out in somewhere that we can be watching telly as well.
20:58The sweetener is through there, at the back.
21:02Oh, is that the school?
21:03Oh, is that the school?
21:04That's one of the best in Edinburgh.
21:05OK.
21:06You couldn't ask for anything closer than that?
21:07No.
21:08No.
21:09That's why this is very popular.
21:10OK.
21:11I can imagine, yeah.
21:12Well, the school's got their attention, Phil.
21:14And wait till they see the four bedrooms they asked for upstairs.
21:19It's a cute little room.
21:20Yeah.
21:21That'd be a lovely little room for Auri.
21:22Yeah, it's a good size room.
21:23Yeah, it is, yeah.
21:24Yeah.
21:25This is an interesting little scenario.
21:27It's a very functional house, a really practical home.
21:31And this room is...
21:33Small.
21:34It is.
21:35Very small.
21:36Are they going to go for it?
21:37Well, I don't think so.
21:39But they're going to be tempted by that school.
21:42School couldn't be any closer.
21:44No, it really couldn't.
21:45That's kind of a big priority item.
21:47But I'm not loving the house.
21:50I should give that to Kirsty.
21:53She'd have my heart forever.
21:56Careful, Pip.
21:57After upstairs, that's the only unbroken heart in the house.
22:00The garage is your last chance at love.
22:03Getting the car and everything else inside it
22:05is going to be a bridge too far, unfortunately.
22:08OK.
22:09OK?
22:10Yeah.
22:11I think they may have some tough love for you, Phil.
22:13Was the garage sufficient?
22:14No.
22:15Unfortunately not.
22:16Too narrow.
22:17The proximity to the school is a 10 out of 10.
22:19The rest of the house, not really to our liking.
22:22Kitchen wasn't a great social space for us.
22:25I hear what you're saying.
22:26It's trying to find the full package.
22:28We're going to have to compromise on something
22:30to get more of what we want.
22:32How would you feel about moving a bit further out?
22:34We need to consider that.
22:36And I will pick up my game tomorrow.
22:37OK.
22:39Brave dice roll, but no luck this time.
22:42But going further out feels like just the right move.
22:49With Mark and Claire, it's property one to beat.
22:54So I'm going bigger in another of their top East Lothian spots.
22:58Aberlady.
23:00The village has enough bustle and a good commute for the girls.
23:04Plus a stunning coastal setting.
23:06Here I'm hoping to entice them with a barn conversion,
23:09just to toddle from the beach.
23:11But first, confessions.
23:14Did you drive past this?
23:16Yes, I did.
23:18Oh, Mark's mystery live.
23:20That's what happens when you're not working.
23:22We are very much in the area.
23:24Aberlady.
23:25And the sea is literally just there.
23:29Got more square footage than the previous house.
23:31Yeah.
23:32There's a fixed price of $625.
23:34Are you interested enough to look at it?
23:35Yes.
23:36Yeah.
23:37Oh, right, okie doke.
23:38OK, Mark drove away.
23:39I did drive away.
23:40Oh, well...
23:41But I'll always look inside it.
23:43That's a relief, as homes within budget are limited here.
23:49Plus, it's just over 400 square feet bigger than Property One
23:52and refurbished.
23:53It has the light and bright feel they crave downstairs,
23:57with an open-plan kitchen diner, a shower room
24:00and a double bedroom.
24:02Upstairs, there's two more double bedrooms,
24:05another shower room and a sitting room with garden access,
24:09which, as well as the front, is enclosed for the dogs.
24:13They even get a garage.
24:15On at a fixed price of £625,000.
24:19This is £175,000 under budget.
24:23And no bidding war.
24:24This is a really nice big kitchen.
24:28Yeah.
24:29Upstairs, you've got a first-floor sitting room with a fireplace.
24:34And then you've got two bedrooms up there.
24:38What you can do is swap around...
24:40Yeah.
24:41...what is living and what is bedroom.
24:43That's a flexible.
24:44That's great.
24:45Well, we're not set, are we? One way or the other.
24:46So...
24:47No.
24:48Which I think is a positive.
24:49It certainly is Kirsty.
24:51Especially with three kids coming and going.
24:53So...
24:54Wow.
24:55Okay.
24:56This is a great space.
25:00Yeah.
25:01It's very light.
25:03It's bright.
25:04And it's lovely to have the fireplace.
25:06Yeah.
25:07I like it.
25:08I like the space.
25:09The light's good.
25:10Skylight windows.
25:11Things are looking bright.
25:14Let's hope the bedrooms enlighten further.
25:17Nice outlook, both windows, isn't it?
25:20Yeah.
25:21Double window.
25:22This house does have real potential.
25:25But when you've already got houses in the running,
25:28are you going to be bothered to see the potential?
25:32I'm not so sure.
25:34Sometimes it just makes you look for problems.
25:38Is the ceiling lower than average?
25:41It feels lower, yeah.
25:43Hmm.
25:44Not quite the feeling you were hoping for, Kirsty.
25:48No, but this is a top spot and cheaper than property one.
25:54Interesting?
25:55Not interesting enough.
25:56Yeah.
25:57The size is good, but it's just too disjointed.
25:59Right.
26:00Next property involves a little bit of a trip
26:03and we might find another companion there.
26:07Known to you?
26:08Known to me, yes.
26:09Yes, okay.
26:10Yeah, but he's a flighty type.
26:12More like fighty, Kirsty.
26:14And I've got your back at the next one.
26:16We're searching between Edinburgh and East Lothian.
26:27And so far, one amazing house, one curious house,
26:31and two people in desperate need of a new home in the old country.
26:35Mark and Claire haven't lived in Edinburgh for 22 years,
26:39but after six months back, to be closer to family,
26:41it's all about the property one.
26:43Dumbstock, it's absolutely gorgeous.
26:47On my side, after 17 years in Aberdeen,
26:51Natasha and Carl's dream family move
26:53faces the reality of a pricey Edinburgh market.
26:57Something's going to have to give.
26:59It's not going to be the schools.
27:01So, looking likely, it's going to be distance to the city.
27:07Property one showed some promise, but property two fell flat.
27:12Kitchen wasn't a great social space for us.
27:15So, it's further from town we go.
27:18We're in Balerno, an attractive village,
27:2240 minutes south on the bus from town.
27:24It's got a top ten school and the community vibe thereafter.
27:28All a stroll from this cute 1950s house.
27:32We've come outside of the bypass,
27:34in order today to try and solve those issues
27:38with the garage and issues with the kitchen.
27:40OK.
27:41We're going to have a look at this.
27:42I think it's a really, really pretty house.
27:44It is.
27:45The senior school is the sixth best in Edinburgh.
27:47Excellent.
27:49What did you make of the high street?
27:50It was cute.
27:51I enjoyed it.
27:52It was nice, yeah.
27:53Enough of the community.
27:54Yeah.
27:55Absolutely.
27:56We'll get on in.
27:58Back on track, Phil,
27:59and with a little interior rejigging,
28:01this place could crack our couple's criteria.
28:06Upstairs, there's a double bedroom with large en suite,
28:09whilst downstairs has a family bathroom
28:11and three further bedrooms,
28:13one currently a sitting room,
28:15but suitable for sleeping, working, or as a playroom.
28:20And unlike any property so far,
28:22it has the open-plan kitchen, living, family hub they want,
28:26plus a double garage for car man Carl.
28:30Private gardens front and back complete the package.
28:33Hornet offers over 550,000,
28:36but likely to go near a 600,
28:38they should get it under their top spend of 650.
28:42Oh, lovely.
28:43Gosh, I wasn't expecting that.
28:44Oh.
28:46That's a fantastic space, isn't it?
28:48Yeah.
28:50The big family room.
28:51It is, yeah, yeah.
28:52This is what it's all about, right?
28:53Yeah, absolutely.
28:54Kind of circular extension.
28:55Yeah.
28:56It's different, it's quirky, it's unique.
28:57Yeah, it is.
28:58It gives the feeling of a lot of space.
29:00There's a lot of light in here, isn't there?
29:01It is, yeah.
29:02They're asking offers over 550.
29:04Okay.
29:05Okay.
29:06This is a big bonus on what we saw yesterday.
29:08Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
29:09You're cooking with gas now, Phil.
29:11Let's hope the garage is a good dessert.
29:14Ready, Carl?
29:15Yes, I'm ready.
29:16Sure.
29:17Drum roll.
29:18Drum roll, please.
29:19Ooh.
29:20There is a proper space there.
29:21I think it's seven by nine.
29:22Yeah, it's pretty epic, that.
29:23It is a garage that's been causing us problems
29:25as it reduces the supply.
29:27Yeah.
29:28It's been marketed as a four bedroom.
29:29Mm-hmm.
29:30It's currently set up as a three bedroom with a living room.
29:33You may decide that you're happy with the kitchen, diner,
29:36that's the living room.
29:37Mm-hmm.
29:38In which case, you could have an extra bedroom downstairs.
29:40Okay.
29:41Okay.
29:42Sounds good.
29:43Well played.
29:44And as long as they're happy with your ideas for inside,
29:47this could be a winner.
29:49This would be probably our room, yeah?
29:51Well, or does it become the kids' playroom
29:53and we have to use the family space?
29:55Okay.
29:56This Edinburgh market is hard.
29:58It really is.
30:00This search is a bit like whack-a-mole,
30:02because you get...
30:03One is you get the garage right, you get the community right,
30:06you get the kitchen right, you get the schools right,
30:07but then other things come in.
30:10It's really hard.
30:13Yeah, I think this would have to just be the master bedroom.
30:15Yeah, I don't think you could do a lot different with this.
30:17I don't think you could do...
30:18Else with it, no.
30:19It feels like it's missing a room, though.
30:21You have got them thinking here,
30:23but inside could be a compromise too far.
30:26It feels quite small and compact.
30:28The big plus is the garage.
30:29Yeah.
30:30That's a great find.
30:31Massive plus, yeah.
30:32And the schools.
30:33And the schools.
30:34School, yeah.
30:35Just not quite big enough.
30:36I think it either needs to be more modern or more period.
30:38More period, yeah.
30:39Hmm.
30:40Good luck.
30:41Is property one out of the running or in the running?
30:44I think it's out of the running that needs too much of a spend.
30:47We are really spoiled with what we've got at the moment.
30:49We do have a large modern family home.
30:51Really, what we want to do is pick that up and move it somewhere else.
30:54To you and con?
30:55Yeah.
30:56I might ring custody.
30:57OK.
30:58I don't know if I'll help or not, but...
31:01As it turns out, Phil, it's this fairy godmother
31:04that needs some magic from you.
31:07With a fabulous option in East Lothian,
31:09I'm keen for a contender closer to Edinburgh.
31:12Stock is low, so Beleno is making sense.
31:15It's 40 minutes to town for school and work,
31:17and there's plenty of green space for the dogs.
31:21And for the first time ever, Phil and I are sharing a house.
31:25It's that good.
31:27He's staying put to show us why.
31:29This is déjà vu for me.
31:31I know.
31:32Are you absolutely sure Natasha and Carl don't want this house?
31:35Hopefully.
31:36Because I've never done this before.
31:37No, it's a complete first.
31:38I'm really grateful.
31:40Got some similarities to our first property.
31:42OK.
31:43What are you going to do?
31:44I'm coming in.
31:45You are going to be seeing a house for a second time.
31:48Second time.
31:49We should do this more often.
31:50Half the workload.
31:52Hello.
31:53Hello.
31:54Good morning.
31:55Good to see you.
31:56Do you know where we are?
31:57We're in Beleno.
31:58Mmm.
31:59Very, very quiet, but more central.
32:02Does that make you happy?
32:04Doesn't make me happy at all.
32:05Does it make Claire happy?
32:06Yes.
32:07OK.
32:08I'll see where this is going then.
32:09Oh, yes.
32:10Right, OK.
32:11What would you have to find behind this front door
32:14to sell you on Beleno?
32:16Another 50% on the house we like.
32:1850% better than house number one.
32:20Yeah.
32:21Well, Phil, you know this place best,
32:23so if anyone can convince Mark, it's you.
32:27All right.
32:28See you soon.
32:29On it, Kirsty.
32:30And despite Mark's reservations on the location, I'm confident the open Aussie-style living might help to sway him.
32:38Let's hope so, Phil, as the package works.
32:41With those three spacious bedrooms, one with the ensuite, it's perfect for adult kids visiting.
32:46There's also the dog-friendly garden and useful garage.
32:50We know it offers over 550,000, but reachable nearer 600, making this a cool 200 grand under their top whack,
32:59so it's cheaper than property one and closer to Claire's preferred patch.
33:04So, really, really special garage there.
33:07The garden is perhaps a little bit of a compromise, but it's nice, though.
33:11Good start, Phil.
33:13But, meantime, I have news about property one.
33:16Yesterday's house was perfect.
33:20We had a call to say that the agent had advised the vendor to accept an offer.
33:27We've immediately rung back and said we were really interested in that house.
33:33So, start looking around the house.
33:35OK.
33:36Let's go and make another call.
33:41Whilst I try to keep property one on the market, Phil can show them what could be a winning alternative.
33:47Are you and Claire looking for the same thing?
33:50I think when we see the house, yeah, absolutely.
33:52But we do have different priorities.
33:55And how are we going to reconcile that?
33:57Compromise, your word.
34:00Come on.
34:01This kitchen's great.
34:03This is what it's all about, this room.
34:05Come and have a look at this, Claire.
34:07OK, coming.
34:09This is the room that it's all about.
34:11This kind of circular extension.
34:13I like the light.
34:14The light's incredible.
34:15Does it offer 50% more than the first house?
34:19Unfortunately, no.
34:20The bedrooms are good size, but the feeling's not there.
34:24Not for me.
34:25Well, given that you weren't enamoured with the area, and it's not 50%, we should probably just move on.
34:30Sorry.
34:31No, don't apologise.
34:32It's your money.
34:33And it seems to be knocking on property one's front door.
34:37Now, where's Kirsty?
34:40Are you off?
34:41It's not right.
34:42It's not 50% better.
34:43Anyway, things are about 1,000% worse.
34:46Because house number one, in the space of, like, an hour or so, someone's come in, made an offer, and basically, it's a really strong house.
34:56But for now, at least, property one is open to an offer from us.
35:00With another on the table, Mark and Claire just need to decide how far they'll go.
35:05Back with my space seekers, and I'm trying to find properties that compare with their perfect rental in Aberdeen.
35:15We're in Ratho village, where just 15 minutes on the Balerno school bus for Beau, and 40 minutes on the commuter bus to town, they can buy the modern dream.
35:28This one's my last hope, so I'm holding on to Kirsty too.
35:33It's been a real balancing act.
35:35Trying to get a double garage, walking distance to a school, and access into town.
35:41And why do they want such a big garage?
35:43He's got cars and he tinkers a lot. It's his real passion.
35:46Okay.
35:47Yeah.
35:48Well, I suppose we can allow it then.
35:50Very gracious of you, dearest.
35:54Hello.
35:55Hello.
35:56I brought my friend.
35:57Hello.
35:58What do you know about Ratho?
35:59Not very much.
36:00Everyone talks about the good pub and the food and the quiz nights.
36:03The school bus comes through the village.
36:05Okay.
36:06But it's a school bus. It's not a public bus.
36:07It's a specific bus for the kids.
36:10From what I've heard and gathered over the last few days, all roads lead to this.
36:15I think it's the same house type as the one we rent at the minute.
36:18There we are.
36:19We picked our house up and bought it here.
36:21What did you ask for?
36:22There we are.
36:24Well, there's no place like home, Carl.
36:26Except this place.
36:28It's everything they want and more.
36:31Upstairs, there's five fabulous bedrooms.
36:34Two ensuite, plus a family bathroom.
36:37Downstairs has two living rooms.
36:39One for parents, one for kids.
36:41And a handy loo.
36:42Plus the desired large kitchen diner.
36:45Out to their preferred south-facing garden.
36:48And, of course, that double garage.
36:51Space-wise, this feels huge compared to anything else we've seen.
36:57On at offers over £600,000, it'll go for closer to £625,
37:03£25,000 under their top spend.
37:08Big kitchen diner.
37:09Yeah.
37:10So we've got the extra rooms.
37:12No, it's great so far.
37:13And we've got a smile from outside.
37:15Yeah, this feels much more...
37:16It feels a bit more at home, really, if I'm honest.
37:19Yeah.
37:20That's what we aim for, Carl.
37:22And I want to know if the garden passes the rental test.
37:25Oh, a hot tub.
37:27Very large hot tub.
37:28I mean, how does this compare with your garden in Aberdeen?
37:31Erm, it's almost an identical size, I would say.
37:34It is familiar territory.
37:36Where it is, everything's got a space.
37:38It's exactly as we already have.
37:40That is uncanny.
37:41I love it.
37:42You love it?
37:43I love it.
37:44Well, Phil is going to be chuffed to bits.
37:46But it's 600,000 offers over.
37:49OK.
37:50What will Natasha be thinking?
37:52She'll be probably jumping up and down next door, I would imagine.
37:55Gearing up for party time by the sounds of it...
37:58Not overlooked by anybody at the front, which is actually an improvement on ours.
38:01It is.
38:03Well, this couldn't get any better, Phil.
38:06Don't be so sure, Kirsty.
38:09Here we go.
38:12Settle in, I think my work is done.
38:14I'm not moving anywhere, I'm very suspicious of the whole set-up.
38:17Are you?
38:18What do you mean?
38:19Well...
38:21Really good size for our furniture.
38:23We know the furniture fits, yeah.
38:24Yeah, we know everything fits.
38:27It makes a lovely noise, doesn't it?
38:29I knew you were going to say that.
38:34Such a child.
38:38And I'd like to speak to some adults now, please.
38:41There's not really any downsides?
38:42No, it isn't, no.
38:43Just a case of going back and making sure all our numbers are in line.
38:46Yeah.
38:47And just having a bit more of an investigation in the local area as well, I think.
38:50And you couldn't have done anything any better in terms of picking our house up.
38:53No.
38:54And bringing it here.
38:55Yeah, it's the first time we've been able to do that in 25 years.
38:57It is an outfit.
38:58God knows people have asked us.
39:00No, I think it's brilliant.
39:01Yeah.
39:03Well, you gave them what they wanted.
39:04And as long as the village pleases, this one could be the one.
39:07In Edinburgh, with Natasha and Carl, it's come down to property four in Ratho.
39:20Not overlooked for anybody at the front, which is actually an improvement on ours.
39:25No.
39:26But in East Lothian, tensions are high.
39:28Mark and Claire have fallen for property one in Gullen, on at offers over £660,000.
39:34But with one offer already in and more expected, it's time for brass tacks.
39:40House number one has...
39:43Well, let's put it this way.
39:44The interest in house number one had heated up.
39:47Someone had turned up the dial.
39:49You know you want that house.
39:51Yep, we do.
39:52We do.
39:53House number one that we saw offers us virtually all that we had hoped to find.
40:00Well, I don't hear that often, Mark, to be honest.
40:03That's true.
40:04It really does tick all the boxes.
40:06Because this all happened so fast, we've been exchanging messages with agents and vendors
40:14and solicitors and trying to navigate what's going on.
40:17Yeah.
40:18The fact that it's not a case of there's a figure which we've got to...
40:23That's it.
40:24Yeah.
40:25Unknown.
40:26At the moment, it's very unknown.
40:29And with so much interest, this is surely heading for a closing date.
40:34It'll come down to how high they can go.
40:38In Edinburgh, Natasha and Karl loved property four in Ratho.
40:41Honour offers over £600,000.
40:44They returned for a look at the village, and I'm waiting to hear how they got on.
40:49So, am I safe to assume decisions and debate has all come down to the house of Ratho?
40:54The trip through the front door was very, very familiar.
40:56Very familiar.
40:57The garden was amazing.
40:58That has never happened before.
40:59But you did when we originally met.
41:01We sat down and you said, if only you could pick up our house in Aberdeen.
41:05Yeah.
41:06We did.
41:07Brief fulfilled.
41:08Yeah, absolutely.
41:09We did.
41:10We spent some time comparing the high school that would be in catchment with Ratho to where
41:14the children will go to academy at the minute.
41:16In Aberdeen.
41:17In Aberdeen.
41:18And we just hadn't appreciated how good that academy is.
41:21And then we went back this morning really with an open mind again, thinking, let's go
41:25and look at the village.
41:26Canal was phenomenal.
41:27Hub was lovely.
41:28But there just wasn't anything else there.
41:30The house was perfect.
41:31I mean, it worked for us as we are.
41:33Unfortunately, the place didn't.
41:37So, we won't move on their move to Edinburgh today.
41:40But it may be that's a plan that's starting to change.
41:44Where does that leave the fence?
41:46I think we have to go back home and figure out what we're going to do.
41:50We do.
41:51Really.
41:52And it might be that we have to buy a house in Aberdeen after all.
41:54But you wanted to live in Edinburgh.
41:56We do.
41:57We still do.
41:58If anything, it's made us realise this is what we love.
42:00But it's also made us realise that we can't afford to live in the areas that we really
42:04want to live in.
42:05But you can afford that lifestyle and that kind of area in Aberdeen.
42:09We can.
42:10You can.
42:11You can both stay in the same jobs and the kids can stay at the same school.
42:14We feel that's a decision we've made rather than being forced.
42:17Yes, it feels like an active choice now rather than a trap.
42:20I love that.
42:21I love that.
42:22Kirsten, we see our roles as house hunters as helping people to be in a position to make
42:28a confident decision.
42:29But if we can inform you where you can go, yes I'm doing this and no I'm not doing that.
42:34Yeah.
42:35Yeah.
42:36That's a really good, that's a good result.
42:37Yeah.
42:38And this would, this process without the help of you would have taken us, you know,
42:41years.
42:42Another 12 years probably.
42:43Another number of years.
42:44Listen, I'm going to go home thinking I found the right house and you two have changed
42:46your mind.
42:49I can take that.
42:50You can.
42:51I can take that.
42:52Cheers.
42:53You certainly can, Phil.
42:55And by giving them clarity, they can now confidently embark on their new search in Aberdeen.
42:59Let's see what the coming weeks bring.
43:04With Mark and Claire, they're going all in for property one in Gullen.
43:09We're really, really, really hoping to secure house number one.
43:14In the Scottish system with the other offer already in, they need to submit theirs formally
43:19through their solicitor.
43:20They're making their strongest possible move with an offer of £800,000, more than 20% over
43:27the asking price.
43:30Whether we get it, let's wait and see.
43:32Now we just have to cross our fingers and hope your offer is accepted.
43:38As much as we can do.
43:39Yeah.
43:41We are.
43:42And I'd like to say thank you to you and the whole team.
43:46It's been great.
43:47Cheers to chances.
43:50So no answers just yet, Kirsty.
43:54I can only keep my fingers and toes crossed for them, Phil.
44:00Just five weeks on, with Natasha and Carl, and they've hit the Aberdeen house hunting
44:05ground running.
44:07We found this attached granite house just around the corner from the school, south-facing
44:12garden.
44:13I've got a big garage space, never quite big enough, but I think we've got something
44:16that will work perfectly for us all.
44:18Phil helped us put an offer in, and he succeeded.
44:22So, yeah, we had the offer accepted.
44:24Well done, Phil.
44:25I'm thrilled we secured their five-bed Aberdeen pad for just £525,000, a price hard to match
44:32in Edinburgh.
44:33We'd have to be millionaires to get what we wanted in Edinburgh.
44:36The search with Phil gave us a clear idea of what we would and wouldn't compromise on.
44:40Showing us houses that were different made us realise how much we needed what we already had.
44:46Sometimes it's all about what's right for now.
44:50This is where we're going to see our kids grow up and bloom.
44:53We've got a part of the world that's going to be ours to do what we want with it.
44:56With a great view.
44:57With a great view, yeah.
44:58So, the future looks bright, and I wish them all the very best.
45:05For Mark and Claire, it was bad news on the house in Golan, even though they upped their closing date offer to £825,000.
45:14But we missed out.
45:16Huge disappointment, because the emotion was there.
45:19As Kirsty quite positively said, as she spoke to us, yeah, let's find something that's better.
45:25Well, at least it trained their search on their dream spot.
45:28Kirsty really helped me focus on what we need to do for the long term, and that is Golan.
45:35Now, they've got some news.
45:37A property that we looked at before has come back on the market, and we have actually made another offer.
45:43And they got it for £550,000.
45:46£250,000 under their ideal top budget.
45:49That's plenty to turn this two-bed into their dream four-bed family home.
45:53It comes in under budget, which is great, but it gives us obviously room to move and create what we'd like.
45:59We look forward to welcoming Kirsty to the new property, and she can contribute her ideas to that one.
46:05I'm so happy for them.
46:07My tape measure is at the ready mark.
46:10If you'd like help finding your next home, then we want to hear from you.
46:20You can apply online at channel4.com slash take part.
46:25Thanks a lot.
46:27Thanks a lot.
46:29Thank you!
46:31Thanks a lot for that Hack el
46:36This has been a challenge for all our personal challenges, but it is an extremely important wildlife.
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