Location, Location, Location Season 44 Episode 4

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Transcript

00:00This time...

00:01Oh, gosh.

00:03Yeah.

00:03The north of England gives us couples in crisis.

00:06Genuinely baffled by it, to be honest.

00:08Yeah.

00:09Seeking security and first-family homes.

00:12Just gives me a nice feeling.

00:13We put it all on the line...

00:15We need this to be third-time lucky.

00:17...and stop at nothing.

00:19I feel like I'm less likely to cry than this one.

00:21To guide them home sweet home.

00:23We're getting the feels for it. We like it.

00:26So far, so good.

00:30This time, we're casting our net far and wide across the north of England.

00:42I'll be looking around Greater Manchester with a family hoping to bring their 13-year rental to an end.

00:47And I'm in West Yorkshire with a couple who've had two accepted offers fall through.

00:52And I'm just hoping, third-time lucky.

00:54You will bring them luck.

00:56I will bring them luck.

00:56You do.

00:57I am just lucky. I'm just a lucky person.

00:59You won't bring them a view like that.

01:01No.

01:01You might bring them luck, but it won't look like that.

01:03No.

01:04Well, you never know, Phil.

01:06West Yorkshire and its equally alluring neighbour, Greater Manchester, attract house buyers seeking rolling countryside,

01:13beautiful towns and villages, and easy commutes to cities such as Leeds and Manchester.

01:18And they're affordable.

01:20At just over £214,000, the average home in West Yorkshire is a whopping 27% less than the UK average.

01:30Whilst in Greater Manchester, where our first set of house hunters are looking, it's 16% cheaper compared to the national figure.

01:37Not that it's made things any easier for my husband and wife duo, carpenter Craig and school administrator, Ruth.

01:47We've been together 16 years.

01:48We got married...

01:512012.

01:51Correct.

01:52December.

01:53You're just showing off now.

01:54We met online and we just saw each other's pictures and decided we liked the look of each other.

02:04I think we looked quite different then, didn't we?

02:06We did.

02:07I had more hair, for one.

02:09Yeah, yeah.

02:10Ah, didn't we all?

02:12But what has been growing are roots in a South Manchester rental in the popular town of Sale, where they moved to 13 years ago when son Ollie was born.

02:22Ollie's got a really great-sized bedroom and a playroom. Craig's got his garage for his gym.

02:28Yeah.

02:28It'll be sad to leave.

02:30Perfect perhaps, but paying off someone else's house isn't.

02:33Thankfully, Ruth's mum has stepped in with a life-changing cash deposit, which, together with a mortgage, means 375 grand and a shot to finally earn their first family home.

02:44We're in a really lucky position.

02:46Time for the next chapter, I think.

02:48They love Sale.

02:51Ollie's settled in school here, and it's where they socialise with family and friends.

02:56But homes here are expensive, and even their topped-up budget is falling short.

03:01The right house in a different location would be more important. I think it's just how far.

03:08It needs to be kind of easy for Ollie to get to school and for you to commute as well.

03:15Thankfully, they'll push their boundaries for more house, and it's just as well.

03:20Three beds.

03:21Three beds.

03:22Ideally.

03:22A bit of an office space.

03:24Driveway for the van, for me.

03:26Decent-sized garage for the gym.

03:28It's more me, really, isn't it?

03:31Reasonable garden.

03:32It'd be nice to have a turnkey.

03:35We're probably a little bit unrealistic.

03:38Time will tell, Craig.

03:40What's more, despite both owning previously, neither have competed in the property game for over 18 years.

03:46It was so long ago that I had my house.

03:48Yeah, the market's really changed, but also houses are going on and off really quickly.

03:53If Phil was to say, this is a good investment for you, then we would trust that, wouldn't we?

03:58We don't really know what we're doing.

04:00No, we don't.

04:00Let's launch, do we?

04:01We really don't.

04:02Feeling the weight of expectation, Pip?

04:05Conditions I thrive under, Castles.

04:07Have you any idea what the house that you're renting might be worth?

04:13500-ish plus.

04:15It's six and a little bit more.

04:17Right, okay.

04:18Yeah.

04:19You are living in Clover.

04:20Yeah.

04:21Paying less than a market rent in a house that's worth 600.

04:24Yeah.

04:25And your budget is?

04:26375.

04:27So I think we're going to find this process quite hard.

04:30Yeah, that's why we need you.

04:33Tell me about your own search.

04:35We've only been to see seven properties.

04:38We're umming and ahhing about it.

04:40I think we've been quite blinkered.

04:42Not really thought too much outside the box.

04:44Yeah.

04:44We've got a 13-year-old who is in high school.

04:48And he's at school in sale, obviously.

04:50Yes.

04:50He can commute if need be.

04:52You're going to have to guide me where the compromises are acceptable.

04:56Yeah.

04:56Is it the distance?

04:57Is it the quality of the property?

04:58Because it's got to have the garden, it's got to have the driveway.

05:01Ollie's got to get at school.

05:02Yeah.

05:03Ouch.

05:05I think I might need a few more coffees.

05:07Well, you'd better get them to go, Phil.

05:11You've got a lot of work to do here.

05:13Craig and Ruth have a maximum £375,000.

05:18For a move-in ready house with three bedrooms, two doubles and a box for an office.

05:24A driveway is a must, as is somewhere for the gym kit and a garden.

05:28All within easy reach of friends, family and Ollie's school in sale.

05:34I'll be focusing their search as close to the town as I can.

05:38But with slim pickings, I'll be checking out more affordable spots too.

05:42While I'm heading north-east to the charming villages of West Yorkshire, with good train links to Bradford and Leeds, where my outdoorsy couple, Ollie and Emma, first met.

05:54We chatted about dogs a lot, didn't we?

05:56Kind of set the time for the rest of our lives together.

05:59We bumped into each other in the gym.

06:00And yeah, then the rest is history.

06:02It was me that approached you in the gym, to be fair.

06:04I did all the hard work, I think.

06:07Too scared and...

06:08Thankfully, that didn't hold back Public Health Officer Ollie.

06:14Fast forward eight years and this couple have been married a year and are parents to Nellie and Edie.

06:20So we have two dogs, a Whippet and a Lurcher, and they are hilarious.

06:24They're a big part of our lives.

06:25Nellie!

06:26And there's nothing they all enjoy more than walks in the West Yorkshire countryside.

06:31We like to be outdoors.

06:33Dog walking, pub lunches.

06:36Hike in a pint.

06:37Yeah.

06:38I'm probably a bit old and boring for my age.

06:43Go careful, Ollie. These are Phil's favourite hobbies.

06:46Perfect at any age, Kirsty.

06:49To be nearer their passion, this pair set about selling their lovingly renovated pad in Leeds

06:54and taking their budget to a cool 500 grand for something bigger in the surrounding countryside villages.

07:00We wanted to move for the green space.

07:03But having a bit more space for future-proofing for when we want to start a family, because we've got the dogs, a bit of privacy in the garden is important.

07:11Three or four bedrooms, because it'd be good to have separate spaces to work.

07:14My business will run from our house.

07:16I'm an independent celebrant, officiating weddings, funerals.

07:21Being able to craft somebody's perfect day is a really important and honourable job.

07:28So, with Emma happy at work and the house underway, all seem to be falling nicely into place.

07:33We found a house. We put our house in the market, which sold within four days, and then four months later that fell through.

07:41Still went ahead with the sale of our house and moved in with your parents.

07:47Quite quickly found another dream house, but then unfortunately another four months went by and that one fell through as well.

07:53It was a real heartbreak when that one fell through.

07:56Finding a home is everything to this couple, and that means getting over-missed opportunities, out of their temporary digs at Ollie's parents, and on with their lives.

08:05The house search has left us slightly tired.

08:09And we've taken a couple of quite big hits. Kirstie would really help us have the confidence in the next home that we find.

08:15And just kind of injecting another bit of energy into our search.

08:20They've got the desire, Kirstie. Now they need a sure-footed Sherpa to get them to the summit.

08:26I'm really interested in your story, because you had a home, and then you found another, and then you sold your house.

08:36Yeah.

08:37And then you were still looking.

08:39Yeah, nearly a year later.

08:40We need this to be third time lucky.

08:42£500,000, top.

08:43That's the top budget, yeah.

08:45Let's talk about the place.

08:47OK.

08:47We do have a big link to Leeds as a city, and Bradford for you for work as well.

08:53Yeah.

08:53Towns and villages from sort of like Menston up to Ilkley Way.

08:57Yeah.

08:58They're on the train line, but they're also minutes from complete nothingness.

09:02I'm in the office two or three days a week.

09:04Phil always stays away from the topic of children.

09:07I kind of dive in there.

09:09We do have children, and that is a part of this process of the next house.

09:14Yeah.

09:15And to be able to grow into that would be, yeah, it would be great.

09:18I think we should probably get on, get out there and find it.

09:21So let's drink up.

09:22Cool.

09:23We're off.

09:25And my advice?

09:26Just hang on for the ride.

09:28Exactly, Phil.

09:29You know the destination is always worth it.

09:31My couple have £500,000.

09:36They'd prefer four bedrooms for office and family use,

09:39an open kitchen diner, and a secure garden for the dogs.

09:43In a countryside village with quick access to green space,

09:47amenities, and a train station for Ollie's commute to Bradford.

09:53Mmm.

09:54Good coffee this morning.

09:55Everything's good.

09:56We're in Yorkshire.

09:57What are you looking for?

09:58I am looking for a family home for a couple who don't yet have children

10:03but do have two dogs.

10:04Mm-hmm.

10:05Two houses they tried to buy, both fell through.

10:07Anyway, tell me about your couple.

10:09Well, they've been renting the same place for 13 years.

10:12The place that they rent, very happily, is worth about £600,000.

10:15Their budget is £375,000.

10:18So they're going to be buying something that is nowhere near as nice

10:22or as big as the place that they currently live.

10:25I think that's going to be hard.

10:26Really hard to pull them.

10:28Oh, OK.

10:30Now I'm less cheery.

10:31Thanks.

10:32Thanks.

10:33I'll leave now, Tom.

10:34Yeah, you've been a total diner.

10:35Right, I shall skip off around Yorkshire.

10:37Do you want to come with me for a bit?

10:39Much as I'd love to join in, I need to hop on to Greater Manchester

10:43to start Craig and Ruth off in their beloved sail.

10:47It's got the lifestyle on the doorstep, and Ollie could even walk to school.

10:50The size of this house may test them, but it's a super option in their top spot.

10:56Now, I wanted to show you something to start with in sail, and it's this.

11:04It's a three-bedder, it's got the driveway, it offers the same lifestyle as you have at the moment.

11:10It's not the biggest house, but I just thought it would be a useful place for us to start.

11:14Absolutely.

11:15Yeah.

11:15What do you reckon?

11:17I'm a bit concerned about the main road.

11:19Well, it's not a main road, but it is quite a busy road.

11:21Let's get on in, see what you think.

11:24OK, so some compromises outside, but a smart semi in their dream locations should make up for it.

11:31The light and airy open plan downstairs is perfect for family life,

11:35and the three requested bedrooms upstairs are all of a decent size.

11:39Plus, there's a utility room and a modern bathroom.

11:43Outside, the wraparound garden can easily host a building for the gym,

11:46and the all-important drive is big enough for Craig's van.

11:51It ticks the boxes, and we're in their top spot.

11:55On at £350,000, it's £25,000 under budget too.

12:02Now, we have got an open plan situation.

12:05It's obviously a lot smaller than what we're in at the minute,

12:07but we kind of knew that that would be the case in sail.

12:10There's going to be some compromiser.

12:11So, yeah, it's not a surprise.

12:13It's quite nice inside here, isn't it?

12:15Yeah, I like it.

12:16When you're at home, the two of you, you're in your open kitchen living area.

12:20Yeah.

12:21What happens in your separate living room?

12:23That's Ollie's space.

12:25It's where he does his homework.

12:26So, for this house to work, he would need to be able to work and do his homework in his bedroom?

12:31Ideally, yeah.

12:32Yeah.

12:32OK.

12:33Why don't you head upstairs and assess that for yourself?

12:36OK.

12:36I'll be in the garden.

12:37OK.

12:39Not a bad start, Phil, but every inch of the house needs to be right for this family.

12:43I think it's probably a bit small for Ollie's bed.

12:47Desk and everything as well.

12:48Desk and bed, yeah.

12:49Well, a slightly muted reaction there, but, to be honest, perfectly expected.

12:56It's about half the wardrobe space that we've got at the moment as well.

12:59Yes, there is.

13:00The thing is, the average three-bedder in sale is going to be way out of their budget,

13:04and this does have a driveway and a shed.

13:08It's just a little bit small.

13:10Being in their top spot always meant compromise, Phil.

13:12But if it's space they want, there's plenty outside.

13:17So, the garden wraps around the side of the house as well.

13:20You could make the shed bigger than that for your gym kit.

13:23Possibly.

13:24As a package, how are we doing?

13:28The drive's great.

13:29Yeah, it's great, the garden, to be fair.

13:31Internally, I think the bedrooms are probably a touch too small for us.

13:35Fine.

13:35Let's move on.

13:37I've got something that is both bigger inside and out,

13:40but we're going to be moving out of sale.

13:42OK.

13:43Is that all right?

13:43Yeah.

13:44Let's do it.

13:44So, it's sail away and onwards for Craig and Ruth.

13:49Luckily, you're at the helm, Phil.

13:51Just set course for more space.

13:54Aye, aye, Captain.

14:03This time, we're searching around the beautiful north of England.

14:06I'm with Ruth and Craig, who have a long list of requirements

14:09but don't have the budget for them in the area that they currently live in and love.

14:14And so far, property one wasn't quite right for my long-term renters with the chance to buy.

14:20I think the bedrooms are probably a touch too small for us.

14:23And I'm with Emma and Ollie, who want a house that talks the talk on the inside

14:27but walks the walk on the outside for their exercise-hungry dogs.

14:31What could possibly go wrong?

14:33No, nothing's going wrong this week, Phil.

14:35Let's hope so, because in a year, your outdoor-loving couple have sold one house,

14:42loved and lost two, and are now stuck at Ollie's parents.

14:46Fear not, Phil.

14:47I'll soon change all that, as I'm starting strong in their top West Yorkshire spot,

14:51Burley and Wharfdale.

14:52It has the train links to Leeds and Ollie's work in Bradford,

14:57plus the call of the wild just moments from this front door.

15:01Are you happy with this location?

15:05I think so, yeah.

15:06Yeah, I think so.

15:09Here we have it.

15:11Really cute.

15:11Yeah, it's really cute.

15:12It's a four-bed family home.

15:14Well, yeah, we know there's a good walk just there, which is great.

15:18So, first impressions?

15:20It feels homely and, yeah, just gives me a nice feeling.

15:24Well, that's what we like to hear.

15:26Indeed we do, Kirsty.

15:28And Emma and Ollie should find the inside of this modern semi equally charming.

15:34Downstairs has an open-plan kitchen and dining area

15:36that flows into a bright lounge with doors to the private rear garden.

15:40That's the dog's happy.

15:42Whilst upstairs, two double bedrooms and a single on the first floor,

15:46plus the main bedroom and handy en-suite on the second,

15:50means flexible space for working or family.

15:53A driveway and garage complete the deal.

15:56It's on at a guide price of £495,000,

16:00five grand shy of their top 500.

16:04Straight into the kitchen.

16:06Yeah.

16:07They've done a good extension here.

16:09It's light, it's bright.

16:11I think we would really enjoy making the garden an extension of the house.

16:14This has been done really well.

16:17I love the flow of the living to kitchen.

16:20Yeah.

16:20Like we would use every inch of this downstairs.

16:23Love the light.

16:24Light's great.

16:24Love the ledge.

16:26Go and have a look upstairs.

16:27I'll wait down here.

16:28Cool, will do.

16:29Amazing.

16:29Yeah.

16:30They're thoroughly enamoured.

16:32And I don't think upstairs will take the shine off this viewing.

16:36Oh, a really good space.

16:37Yeah.

16:38And a really cute cat.

16:39Oh, I didn't see a cat.

16:40Even though there's houses around, it was still quite private.

16:46Do you know what?

16:47I don't see enough bright, airy, clean, beautifully looked after and loved family houses like this.

16:56Maybe it's a Yorkshire thing.

16:58Anyway, Ollie and Emma seem to feel the same way that I did.

17:02Fingers crossed.

17:02I'd quite like to work in this window.

17:06Yeah.

17:08Always a good sign when they can picture themselves living there.

17:12Oh, you're looking cheery.

17:14Yeah, I'm...

17:15Yeah, I really like it.

17:17It's a lot of house.

17:18Do you think we've set a bar?

17:20Yeah, definitely.

17:21Really strong start.

17:22Okie do.

17:23I can live with that.

17:24Let's get going.

17:26It's a good first house.

17:28Now let's see if you can raise the bar even higher.

17:31I'm in Greater Manchester with Craig and Ruth, who felt my first house was a touch small for their family needs.

17:41So we've come to the town of Stretford.

17:44Popular with Manchester commuters, it's an attractive 13 minutes drive to Ollie's school and all their favourite hangouts in sale.

17:52I've got here for you a semi-detached, but I think really beautifully, a corner plot.

17:58So the garden's front and all the way around the back.

18:01Gated access for the van is at the back.

18:03Okie.

18:04What do you make of Stretford?

18:05I don't really know Stretford that well.

18:07Don't know it.

18:07Yeah, to say we don't live that far away from it.

18:10Yeah.

18:11And the look of the house, sort of classic 1930s.

18:14Yeah, good.

18:15Yeah, looks nice.

18:16Yeah.

18:16Well, outside stands up, and at almost 300 square feet bigger than the first house, inside should pass muster too.

18:25Downstairs, the lovely open living, dining and kitchen areas have doors out to a splendid south-facing garden,

18:32with ample space for the gym and a private drive for our carpenter's van.

18:37Upstairs are the three brighter and larger bedrooms they want.

18:43Two for sleeping, one for the office, and a family bathroom.

18:47Add a front garden, and it's a great family home.

18:50On the market at £340,000, it's £35,000 under budget, so a saving too.

18:56Now, once again, it's open plan, and I think a very fair price point at £340,000.

19:04£340,000.

19:05OK, interesting.

19:07I appreciate you're not familiar with the area.

19:09Yeah.

19:09But you don't seem averse to the distance.

19:13I don't think it's too far away.

19:14No, not at all, no.

19:16Thought-provoking?

19:17Thinking.

19:18I really like the space, yeah.

19:21Yeah, it's a nice space.

19:22It's got a nice feel to it, hasn't it?

19:23It has.

19:23I was wondering if our sofa would sit in there, or I might have to buy a new sofa.

19:28It's not the end of the world.

19:30It's like you're moving in.

19:33Well, you can't argue with the feeling down here, but for this family, the bedrooms have

19:37to be right too.

19:39It's quite a big bedroom, isn't it?

19:41Oh, it's a bit bad.

19:41A bit better.

19:43Well, they both seek open and realistic, which is always a relief.

19:48Trying to think where his bed would go.

19:51Yeah, it's kind of an odd shape, isn't it?

19:52Yeah.

19:52Given all the things that they're looking to achieve with the garden, space for a gym,

19:58secure parking, this is a very strong house at a sensible price point, so I am hopeful.

20:04You might need to temper that thought, Phil.

20:06I'm not sure the second bedroom is going quite to plan.

20:10I feel a bit sad, because downstairs is really nice.

20:13Well, let's hope the garden gets you back on track.

20:17Oh, wow, this is nice.

20:20I think the main thing is that second bedroom.

20:22Second bedroom again lets it down.

20:24It's a real shame, though.

20:25It is a shame, because it's a really nice house.

20:27Yeah.

20:28I feel that's an issue that we're likely to come up time and time again, simply because

20:32the nature of these houses, at your price point, you have a parent's room, a kid's room,

20:38and a box room.

20:39This is great, on the whole.

20:40Let's leave it for now, but do me a favour.

20:43Don't write this off.

20:45No.

20:45Have a think about it.

20:46Yeah.

20:47At least you've given them food for thought, Phil.

20:50Yep, and if a bigger bedroom for Ollie is top priority, my next house could be dish of the day.

21:02In West Yorkshire, even though Emma and Ollie liked my first house, I'm going bigger and better

21:06in the idyllic village of Ben Ridding.

21:10Known for its stunning countryside, it has a cute high street for pottering, Ollie's train links,

21:16and this beautiful period property.

21:20Just to say, before we go in, you could have walked from Ben Ridding Station, and it would

21:25have taken you a minute.

21:26A minute.

21:27A minute.

21:28That's pretty good.

21:29It's not a bad commute.

21:30It's a really cute house.

21:31It is a really cute house.

21:32I'm a bit obsessed by this house.

21:34I won't mind if you don't buy it, but I might cry.

21:37Well, I'm hoping the only tiers around will be ones of joy, as this house could offer the

21:44perfect set-up for Emma and Ollie.

21:48Downstairs has a separate sitting and living room leading to an extended dining kitchen.

21:53Like many houses in the area, the rear garden isn't huge.

21:56But we've added views with access to dog-walking fields.

22:00And there is a front garden.

22:03With working from home and future family in mind, the four double bedrooms across the first

22:08and second floors deliver too.

22:11It tips the budget at £525,000, but we feel they could snag it nearer their £500 max spent.

22:19This is the kitchen.

22:22Wow.

22:24So this is obviously an extension into an old-fashioned courtyard.

22:27There's so much storage and space, isn't there?

22:30Yeah, it's massive.

22:30Yeah.

22:31And then here, you've basically got your sitting rooms.

22:35Yeah, you don't expect that.

22:36Come and have a look at that, because obviously this is quite significant to your decision-making.

22:42Oh, wow.

22:43Yeah.

22:44You're off.

22:45Oh, my gosh.

22:46Yeah.

22:47Yeah.

22:47I think, from your perspective, I'd reinstate the gate.

22:50Yeah.

22:51The only thing that I'm slightly reserved about is zero outdoor space at the back.

22:56Yeah, the front garden the dogs can use.

22:58Yeah.

22:58It's just about gating the front.

23:00Yeah, make it secure.

23:00Yeah.

23:01This is a very charming house.

23:05It's huge.

23:06Yeah, that's what I'm, like, blown away by.

23:08Yeah.

23:09I can't wait to see the rest of it.

23:10Right, go on.

23:11You go in.

23:12Nice.

23:12Go in.

23:12I feel I'm holding you back.

23:16This is so charming that it's really hard just not to be overwhelmed by how charming it is.

23:23Oh, yes.

23:25Really cool.

23:27Yeah.

23:28I don't get to see houses like this this much.

23:32They really make my heart sing, and it's clear that Ollie and Emma feel the same way,

23:37and it's just really nice to have people who aren't scared off by an old house.

23:42This does give us more than the first house.

23:45The compromise for this is the garden space.

23:49This is a great old house, and maybe the garden is too much of a compromise, but I'm glad we saw it.

23:57I am excited about this house, though.

24:00Yeah, what a house.

24:01You've certainly got them in the right mood, but it needs to be good enough to make up for the garden.

24:07We're getting the feels for it.

24:10We like it.

24:12Yeah, there are quite obvious compromises.

24:15Yeah.

24:15So the price.

24:17It's on a 525.

24:18We are given to understand that if an offer began with a 5, it might be reasonably considered.

24:27I think it's what I was expecting.

24:27It's where I thought it would be.

24:28Yeah.

24:29Yeah, because it offers so much.

24:31From a family perspective, there's a lot of internal space in this house.

24:35Yeah.

24:36There is a football pitch where you can walk dogs across the road.

24:41Yeah.

24:41But in my head already, because we like the feel of it, we're trying to think about how we'd make it work.

24:48Well, you got them by the heartstrings, Kirsty, and if they can live with the garden here,

24:52that's two houses in the running for you.

25:00This time, we're searching between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

25:06I'm with Ollie and Emma, who are trying to balance head and heart, interior and exterior.

25:14My outdoorsy pair have reacted positively to both my properties so far.

25:18We're getting the feels for it.

25:20We like it.

25:21So I'm cheered that either house could end almost a year of squaring married life with living at Ollie's parents' house.

25:28And my search is threatening to become a bit problematic.

25:31In the bedroom.

25:32After 13 years of renting, carpenter Craig and his wife Ruth want a family future in owning.

25:38But so far, neither of my properties have hit the mark.

25:42Yeah, I think the main thing is that second bedroom.

25:44Second bedroom again.

25:48So a bigger bedroom for son Ollie is the order of the day.

25:51And for that, we've had to travel 14 miles from Sale to the town of Northwich.

25:57Here, they get the space they want, but it's just over 30 minutes' drive back to school, friends and family.

26:03It's house versus location.

26:06Northwich, which I know has been on your radar.

26:09We know that we can get a lot more for our money out here.

26:11Definitely.

26:12Which is already quite apparent.

26:16Three, six, five.

26:18Damn it.

26:19Yeah.

26:19Second bedroom's joyful.

26:21Right.

26:21And that's been our challenge.

26:23Yeah.

26:23Yes.

26:23It's just the distance in terms of organising, going to see his friends, things like that.

26:28But if he wants a bigger bedroom.

26:30I know.

26:30Get it?

26:33This kind of look.

26:35I feel for Ruth, but if they can see past being further from Sale, this turnkey house is everything they want and more.

26:44Internally, it really shines.

26:46And most exciting are the three large bedrooms upstairs.

26:51No issues with Ollie's room here.

26:53And there's a family bathroom.

26:56Downstairs, there's a bay-windowed lounge that leads to a high-spec kitchen diner and doors out to a large rear garden.

27:04There's off-road van parking and space to build a garage for the gym.

27:07So it's an attractive package.

27:09And coming out here means it's £10,000 under budget, too, at £365,000.

27:18Come on in.

27:19Fully turned key, ready to go.

27:22Wow.

27:25Very nice.

27:27It's a big space.

27:29Yeah.

27:30Yeah.

27:30It's lovely.

27:32It's really nice.

27:34In terms of a dream house, it's there, isn't it?

27:37So it's quite the thinker.

27:43Oh, gosh.

27:45Yeah.

27:47Ruth's looking quite emotional.

27:49Yeah.

27:52It's the sort of house you love, isn't it?

27:53Yeah.

27:54Straight off the bat.

27:55So being in Northwich is a bit...

27:58It's not where your friends are?

28:00No.

28:01Are you OK?

28:02I think so.

28:04It's just a lot to take in.

28:05Mm.

28:07There's no doubt Ruth loves this house, but it'll take a lot to sway her to this location.

28:13Well, a large bedroom for Ollie could make it feel worthwhile.

28:18Gosh, yeah, it's a lot bigger.

28:20I know you're finding this hard, and I feel for you.

28:23It's exactly what I want inside and outside, to be fair.

28:27So it's just the location.

28:30But is it the location because you're not familiar with it, or is it just because it's not where you want to be?

28:36A bit of both.

28:37Well, listen, take your time.

28:38Have a chat with Craig.

28:41Don't worry.

28:42It's all OK.

28:42It's all going to be fine.

28:43Mm-hmm.

28:44I believe you, Phil, but I'm not sure Ruth's 100% convinced.

28:54Wow.

28:55Yeah.

28:58This is tough for them.

29:00I really feel for them, I do.

29:02They certainly don't want Ollie to move school.

29:05This is much more along the lines of where they currently live in their beautiful rental in sale.

29:11But they can't afford to buy it there.

29:13It feels like a very grown-up house.

29:16Yeah.

29:17And we are grown-ups now.

29:19Trying to be.

29:22And, like all adults, big decisions have to be made.

29:25Over to Craig and Ruth.

29:27Big garden.

29:28Yeah.

29:28Massive.

29:29Turnkey, isn't it?

29:30Yeah.

29:31What would you like to do now?

29:33I'd quite like to go up Northwich High Street.

29:35Have a look round there, see what that's like.

29:37Good idea.

29:38OK.

29:38That's a very grown-up thing to do.

29:42And hopefully, after a potter, Northwich may start to feel a bit more like home.

29:51Back in West Yorkshire, there's two in the running for Emma and Ollie.

29:54But my next house improves on the garden issue at Property 2 and is in familiar territory.

30:01Balden is a picturesque town they've tried to buy in before.

30:04Here, their budget stretches further, meaning we can tick the boxes inside and out.

30:11It's another character charmer, and not the only one here, I might add.

30:15It's a little bit strange we brought you to the back of the house.

30:20The front of the house is seriously.

30:21Yeah, but the back of the house was a discussion topic in the last house.

30:25You're not fluffing.

30:26I'm not up to.

30:28Yesterday, where the back wasn't big or secure, but this yard is enormous and completely secure.

30:37Yeah.

30:37What do you make of Balden?

30:39We offered on a house just down the road, actually.

30:41But then since we've been living more further out, more Wharfdale way,

30:45that's sort of been our primary place that we'd want to go.

30:49Shall we get in?

30:50Right, yeah.

30:50I'd like to get in.

30:51And quickly, I'm sensing some area apprehension, Kirsty.

30:56Perhaps, Phil.

30:57But I've high hopes, as this house is full of the character they loved from the last one.

31:02With none of the compromises, it could be a forever family home.

31:06Downstairs, there's a charming living room, a large open-plan kitchen diner,

31:12a utility, a bedroom and a shower room.

31:15Whilst across floors one and two are the remaining four bedrooms.

31:18That's five in total, plus a family bathroom.

31:22It is in need of some updating, but nothing our couple can't handle.

31:26Unlike property two, the back garden here is large,

31:29and by simply reinstating the gate, it's doggy secure too.

31:33A sprawling basement even offers more space to play with in the future.

31:38At offers over £450,000,

31:41they should secure it within their top £500,000 budget.

31:47Now...

31:48Whoa.

31:49I know.

31:50Huge ceilings.

31:50Yeah.

31:51Huge ceilings.

31:52Everything's so immaculate.

31:54Yeah, we just want to put our own stamp on it.

31:55Yeah, exactly.

31:56It does give you the opportunity...

31:58Which is exciting.

31:59...to put your own stamp on it.

32:00I want to take Emma and go and stand on the front doorstep.

32:03OK.

32:04Well, I'd like to talk about where the dogs live and come in and go out and get washed.

32:08Really?

32:08Dog space is...

32:09Dog space is more important than my space.

32:12Well, I beg to differ, Olly.

32:15I want to show Emma the front where there's a treat in store.

32:18Now, they've built in this lovely little terrace that's off the office.

32:23So if you were working from home, you could just come and sit out here.

32:27Take a moment.

32:28Take a moment.

32:29So in terms of washing the dogs off,

32:31if you've come back from a muddy walk or a run...

32:34Yeah.

32:35Straight through those doors.

32:37Yeah, that's so handy.

32:37In the last house, you looked all lit up.

32:42In this house, you've looked more nervous.

32:45I think it's probably the house that fell through being just down the road.

32:51Right, it's too close.

32:52It almost feels like we'd put an end to this.

32:58It could be this house just doesn't feel like home forever.

33:01You've got incredible proportions.

33:03Yeah.

33:04And it would evolve with you as life evolves.

33:07I can see that.

33:08Already, it feels like such a fluid house.

33:10Olly is liking this one more than Emma,

33:12but she hasn't seen it all quite yet.

33:15Oh, my gosh, it's huge.

33:18Yeah, it is.

33:19It's round the corner from this house that they lost out on,

33:22and I think they spend a lot of time afterwards

33:24trying to persuade themselves that it was a good thing.

33:26So now they've got to do a massive vault fuss

33:29and decide they like the area again.

33:32That's quite hard.

33:33Too big an ask.

33:34What was Olly saying?

33:35It was perfect for the dogs.

33:37It's quite overwhelming because there's so much of it.

33:41Oh, my goodness.

33:42Oh, my gosh.

33:44It just keeps going and going.

33:47Yeah, I'm genuinely, genuinely baffled by it, to be honest.

33:50Yeah.

33:51But I never thought a house would feel too big.

33:53Mm.

33:53With Emma's area worries and Olly's concerns about size,

33:58they're struggling with this one, Kirsty.

34:02Hello, hello, hello.

34:03Come and join us.

34:03Hello.

34:05A lot to take in, isn't it?

34:06Yeah.

34:07Yeah.

34:07A lot.

34:07Yeah.

34:08Actually overwhelmed by the sheer size and scale of it, to be honest.

34:13The last house, it was obviously also huge.

34:16Yeah.

34:16But we could really see how we'd use all of the space.

34:19I think we need to go somewhere and have a chat.

34:22Yes.

34:22Yeah, that would be good.

34:23Yeah.

34:24Well, this house hasn't won them over in the end.

34:28But with property too foremost in their minds, it's all to play for.

34:37Back in Greater Manchester, and my last property in Northwich,

34:41was everything Craig and Ruth wanted in a house, but in the wrong spot.

34:46So, in my final attempt to get my renters into a home of their own,

34:50we've come to Irmston.

34:51It's a leafy suburban town back in South Manchester.

34:56A happy 15 minutes drive from Sale and Ollie's school gates.

35:02What do you think of Irmston?

35:03Not bad.

35:04Yeah.

35:04Not a bad area.

35:05I feel like I'm less likely to cry in this one.

35:08It's another semi with parking.

35:11What do you think?

35:12Not as nice as the other one.

35:14No.

35:15But this is more in my comfort zone.

35:17It doesn't have the wow factor of the previous one.

35:20However, it's the biggest house I'm going to show you.

35:22Okay.

35:23I caveat that, but it's also the most expensive.

35:25Right.

35:26This is £3.85.

35:28There's a little bit of wiggle room in that price.

35:29Okay.

35:30Okay.

35:31Let's get in.

35:32Yep.

35:32Well, a big tip for location, Phil, and for a family-seeking space, this 1930s house sure packs a punch.

35:41Downstairs, there's a separate living room and a fabulous open kitchen diner.

35:46Upstairs, there's a family bathroom and the three spacious bedrooms they want.

35:50One for Ollie and one for the office.

35:53There's even a bonus attic room that could be a great teenage hangout.

35:57Gardens, front and rear, offer plenty of space for Carpenter Craig to build his gym.

36:02And, of course, for the van, there's off-road parking.

36:05On at £385,000, it's up there.

36:08But they will listen to offers nearer our couple's £3.75 budget.

36:12Now, something in this house that I haven't been able to show you until now is a separate living room.

36:19Oh, okay.

36:21And then we've still got a nice big kitchen diner.

36:26Yeah.

36:26Okay.

36:27This is quite large, isn't it, actually?

36:29Yeah.

36:29This is good.

36:30Three good bedrooms.

36:32Okay.

36:32And then there's an attic room as well.

36:34Oh.

36:34Oh, okay.

36:35Interesting.

36:36Mm.

36:37So far, so good.

36:40Up here.

36:41Yeah.

36:41You look much happier.

36:43Yeah.

36:44Whilst Ruth soaks up the living space, I'm giving Craig a sneak preview of the upstairs.

36:50So, we have family bathroom, Ollie's room, access to the attic.

36:58Yeah.

36:58And then this would be the main bedroom.

37:00As nice as the last house was, this seems kind of roomier, so...

37:05Ruth looks much more...

37:06She's happier.

37:07Content.

37:08How about you?

37:09Top of budget?

37:09Does that trouble you?

37:10Yeah, our budget is £3.75.

37:13We haven't really got any more than that, so...

37:16Okay, heard you loud and clear.

37:18You better see what Ruth's up to.

37:20Okay.

37:20I might have plucked it out of the bag right at the last minute.

37:28I wouldn't get too cocky just yet, Phil.

37:30You still need Ruth's approval up here.

37:33It's quite a big space, isn't it?

37:34Crikey.

37:35Well, I picked this one as I felt it was the middle ground, but actually, having said that, it's the only one with a separate living room, it's the only one with the attic, and Ollie, crucially, gets a decent-sized bedroom as well, what you would do.

37:49The only stumbling block, of course, is the price.

37:51What do you think?

37:53Yeah, I like it.

37:54Yeah?

37:56So far, so good still.

37:57Yeah.

37:58Okay.

38:00Well, I think we can safely say this one is the front runner.

38:04Here's hoping.

38:06How's it sitting with you?

38:08It's sitting well with me.

38:09You like it, don't you?

38:10Yeah, I do.

38:11Yeah, I feel like it's a happy medium.

38:14That is exactly what I was hoping for.

38:16Yeah.

38:16Yeah, it's a nice space.

38:17Shall we go and get a drink?

38:18I think so.

38:19Yes, please.

38:20Yes, please, she said.

38:21Come on.

38:23It sounds like you've found the one, but it is a budget buster.

38:27One word, Phil.

38:29Negotiate.

38:29All set here, Kirsty.

38:40This time, we've been searching across counties, with house hunters looking for first-family homes.

38:46And with Craig and Ruth in Greater Manchester, it's all about the budget-busting Property 4 in Urmston.

38:54Property 4.

38:56Yeah.

38:57Biggest house I've shown you.

38:58Yeah.

38:59But top of budget, if not over budget.

39:02We can live in that space very happily, can't we?

39:05Yeah.

39:05Do you think Ollie would be happy then?

39:06Yeah.

39:07Yeah.

39:08100%.

39:08This is your first home together.

39:11Yeah.

39:11Buying it.

39:12So we've got to get it right.

39:15They're asking 385.

39:17Yeah.

39:17Which I do think is a bit top-it.

39:19You've got nothing to sell.

39:20No.

39:21And you're flexible on timescales.

39:24Yeah.

39:24So I think we should chance our arm at 373.

39:29Be happy with that.

39:30Yeah, absolutely.

39:32Yeah.

39:33Shall we give it a go?

39:34Yeah.

39:34We should have got a stiffer drink now.

39:41Stephen, it's Phil.

39:43Hi.

39:44They very much like the house.

39:45It is over their budget.

39:47They don't have that kind of money.

39:48My buyers have come up with a figure of 373.

39:53They've got nothing to sell.

39:55And they would offer flexibility on completion.

39:59Terrific.

39:59Thanks so much.

40:00Bye.

40:01Bye.

40:02He sounded a bit disappointed.

40:04Did he?

40:05OK.

40:06OK.

40:07No, that's fine.

40:08It's a negotiation.

40:10And you're not quite done with this one, Phil.

40:13In West Yorkshire, Emma and Ollie liked property one in Burley and Wharfdale and property two

40:19in Ben Ridding.

40:20I'm hoping they've come to a decision to move things on.

40:23You've had an open-minded attitude to all three of the properties that we've seen.

40:28Yeah.

40:29Like, every house we've left thinking, this could be perfect for us.

40:33Yeah.

40:33I think it has the process of, number one, having everything and ticking the boxes, but

40:39not having that one thing, which was the buzz and the excitement that you saw in number

40:44two.

40:44In number two.

40:45And house number one is great, except in this process, you've realised that what you

40:51want is a Victorian house.

40:53Yeah.

40:53Or at least a house with a bit of charm.

40:57It'll come down to property two.

41:00House number two is the dream.

41:02It's garden fell off the back.

41:05We were almost frantically trying to think how you could make it work, and it's taught

41:11us a lot about what we love about a house.

41:13Yeah.

41:14But the garden was too much for it to be the house, I think.

41:18So this search isn't going to end today, but I feel these two are close.

41:22Given that three, two, one haven't quite hit the spots, how do you think your search

41:28has changed, if at all?

41:29We're much clearer on what our absolute preferences are now, I think.

41:33Yeah.

41:34Yeah.

41:34But I am really confident that we will really know when it is the feeling is right.

41:40It's almost there.

41:42I think you will be ringing me quite soon and saying, can I send you some details?

41:46I want your view on this.

41:48Given my renewed passion for houses up here, I'd love to see the one that hits the nail on

41:55the spot.

41:56And thank you for...

41:57Not at all.

41:57No, I've loved it.

41:58I've loved it.

41:59Yeah.

42:00I'll come back up here like a shot.

42:02Next weekend?

42:03Next weekend, yeah.

42:04Here's hoping you make good on that promise, Kirsty, but for now, their search goes on.

42:12Meanwhile, with Craig and Ruth, we're a little on edge as we wait to hear about their offer

42:17of £373,000, £12,000 under the asking price.

42:29How'd you get on?

42:31Grateful for the offer.

42:32It's been declined.

42:336.

42:34Tансさ $37,000.

42:35375 is the number.

42:36It's the number.

42:36It's the bottom number they would go to.

42:38That's how our budget is in it.

42:40Let's do it.

42:42Are we doing it?

42:43Yeah.

42:44Yes, we've got two nods of the head, Stephen.

42:46375, we'll take that. Thank you very much.

42:51Off the market and viewings cancelled.

42:53Well done, thank you. Cheers. Bye-bye.

42:59Oh, my goodness.

43:01Your house hunt has concluded.

43:04Very, very successfully.

43:06And I'm sure someone else will want to hear that news, Phil.

43:10We've got a new house. Really? Yeah.

43:12Oh, my God.

43:13Thanks to this man.

43:15Hi, Ollie. We found you a nice house.

43:17That's really nice.

43:18Great bedroom. It's got an awesome attic

43:20that you and your dad are going to have to have a fight over.

43:23Is it his office or is it your gaming room?

43:26My gaming room.

43:27There you go. Sold.

43:29There you go. Sold.

43:31Bye. Bye-bye.

43:33Happy little boy. He is a happy boy.

43:35I'm a happy home finder.

43:38Brilliant. Cheers. Well done. Thank you.

43:40It's been a great pleasure. Cheers.

43:41Isn't this just the best part of the job, Pip?

43:46I couldn't agree more.

43:51Two weeks later, Craig and Ruth are getting used to the idea

43:55of being homeowners again.

43:56It makes me feel quite grown up

43:58to own a house again.

44:01Ollie is so excited.

44:03He's very excited.

44:04He's got big plans, hasn't he, for the last room?

44:05He's got very big plans.

44:06You never stood a chance of getting that room.

44:09And so, as long as the kids are happy,

44:11Mum and Dad are.

44:12Right?

44:13It's everything we needed, really.

44:15Yeah.

44:15Bar the garage.

44:16Oh, who's going to mention the garage?

44:18Live without that.

44:19OK.

44:20I'll build one.

44:21We're building one.

44:22We are building one.

44:23It's fine.

44:23With Craig's carpentry tools on standby,

44:26they're hoping to have their keys in six weeks' time.

44:29You're excited about buying some new things?

44:32Yeah, I don't mind buying some new stuff.

44:33There we go.

44:34A little bit.

44:34We've got that on camera now.

44:36Here and there.

44:37We've got a beautiful home that's ours.

44:40Time to move forward.

44:41Yeah.

44:42And that's a good thing, I think.

44:44Absolutely.

44:44It's exciting times.

44:46Yeah.

44:48And many more of them ahead.

44:53A few weeks on from our search,

44:55Emma and Ollie have been taking stock.

44:57Kirstie helped us realise that we really need to love somewhere

45:00and just making sure we made the right compromises.

45:04We really quickly decided that location and way of life

45:08is the most important thing right now.

45:10Well, you know what they say.

45:11Location, location, location.

45:13Kirstie and the team shared us the list of all the different houses,

45:16areas that we hadn't really explored yet,

45:18one of which an area called Addingham.

45:21It's literally the gateway for Dales.

45:22And ultimately, that's where we want to live, isn't it, now?

45:25Well, and they've been house hunting.

45:28We have just this moment had a call from the estate agents

45:32to accept our offer.

45:34We've got the house.

45:37It's an old cottage, two bedrooms,

45:39so it's a lot smaller than houses that we were looking at previously.

45:44It's early days, but all being well, this will be their new home.

45:47And by compromising on size,

45:49it's come in nearly £150,000 under budget at £355,000.

45:55We were really focusing on houses that were maxing out our budget,

45:59that were bigger than we need and more than we need.

46:02Such a long journey to get to this moment,

46:04but yeah, it just feels really right

46:06and feels like the best news we could get.

46:10So, yeah.

46:11Yeah, over the moon.

46:12Sounds like it was worth the wait.

46:14I couldn't be happier for them.

46:18If you'd like help finding your next home,

46:21then we want to hear from you.

46:23You can apply online at channel4.com slash take part.

46:27We'll see you next time.

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