Location, Location, Location Season 44 Episode 6

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Transcript

00:00This time, we're back with house hunters who needed some grown-up guidance.

00:05Whee!

00:06I'm still set-a-half.

00:08So they could put down roots for the future.

00:10I'm impressed.

00:11I love it so far.

00:12I really do.

00:13Relocating first-time buyers in a fast-moving market.

00:17It's all about feelings.

00:18Oh, wow.

00:19It's a head-scratcher.

00:21And about doing what we do best.

00:23Newsflash.

00:24Phil Spencer likes looking round houses.

00:30This time, we're catching up with two families who were looking for future-proof homes with

00:40room to grow.

00:41For one, a move to Leeds was on the cards to upgrade from a small London rental to their

00:46own property.

00:47And for the other, first-time buyers returning to Essex to be closer to parents before starting

00:53a family.

00:54Home is where the heart is.

00:55It's just that Kirsty and I had to find the homes first.

00:58In June 2021, we were helping Kinga, Dave, and daughter Lily navigate the fast-paced

01:06Leeds market.

01:08And back in June 2019, first-time buyers Adam and Becky wanted to move closer to family

01:13in Essex.

01:19Adam and Becky started as flatmates at university before falling in love and going on to travel

01:24the world.

01:25Becky's lovely.

01:26Becky's lovely.

01:27We've always gotten really well ever since we've known each other.

01:29We just get on, don't we?

01:30It just works.

01:31Here we are buying a house together, which seems a bit bizarre, to be honest.

01:36Civil servant Adam and commercial media producer Becky live in a rental in Hadley in Suffolk,

01:42but both commute for work to Colchester in Essex.

01:45We're looking to move closer to her parents back in Essex and somewhere that's a bit bigger

01:51with more space so that we can start a family in the future.

01:54We're looking between Morden and Colchester and all the little places in between.

01:58They've had 25 viewings, two offers and no success.

02:03And like many first-time buyers, they're having a tough time in a tricky market.

02:08The first offer, we were outbid.

02:11The second property we offered on was accepted, but then there was problems along the way with

02:17the sellers.

02:18I feel like we're doing everything we can, but we still can't find the right house.

02:21Despite the disappointment, they are focused on what they want.

02:24We're looking for a small town.

02:27Definitely has to have a pub.

02:28We like the quiet life.

02:30We want a good-sized garden.

02:31It catches the sun.

02:32Yeah, it's nice that we can have enough space to socialise and there's enough space to grow things.

02:39As I used to be a tree surgeon, I've got a few chainsaws and power tools and things like that.

02:43And they stink of petrol, so they need to go locked away in a garage.

02:46You were like a big project, weren't you?

02:49My dad's got a hardware store and I've seen him do up his house and helped him along the way

02:54so I can see the potential it's got rather than what it's currently there.

02:58And just a house that we can stay in hopefully forever, really.

03:01Yeah.

03:02We're ready to go straight away.

03:04We've just got to find the house.

03:05Well, we'd better get this right.

03:07Now, tell me about your search so far.

03:10What's been going wrong?

03:11The first house we ever saw, we put an offer in.

03:14Okay.

03:15And I think, in hindsight, now we know that was not the right house.

03:18It didn't have any further potential.

03:20They'd done everything that they could to it.

03:22Whereas we want something that, in the future, we could maybe grow into a bit more and have more potential.

03:27So are you actively looking to do work?

03:30Yeah, I would like to.

03:31I think it's nice to put your own mark on something.

03:33The maximum budget's 300.

03:35I mean, the budget is tight.

03:36So are we expecting to find, if it's 300, that you walk in, turn the key and unpack?

03:42I would say so.

03:43It doesn't have to be completely to our taste.

03:46It has to be livable.

03:47Yeah.

03:48I would disagree.

03:49Would you?

03:50Because I don't think we will find a house that will be ready to move in.

03:53So if we could get a top budget and then spend money along the way, then I'd be happy to do that.

03:58You're both right, because it does have to be livable.

04:01I suspect you'll want to put your stamp on anywhere that you live.

04:04Let's not make this any harder than it has to be.

04:06OK.

04:07So we're focused.

04:08Yes.

04:09We're realistic.

04:10Ready to go.

04:11Sensible.

04:12Prepared.

04:13Decisive.

04:14Yeah.

04:15We'll see.

04:16We'll see.

04:17We'll see about that.

04:18Well, can't decide if they're decisive?

04:20Maybe a clue in there, Phil.

04:22Adam and Becky's maximum budget is £300,000, aided by a whopping 45k saved deposit.

04:29They need three beds for future family, the potential for a project and a garden to grow some veg.

04:36And close to Colchester for both their jobs.

04:42Focusing their search on Essex, I'll be creating an almost equilateral triangle between Tiptree, Tollesbury and Malden.

04:49And 230 miles north, we're searching the highly desirable areas of Chapel Allerton and Moortown to the north of Leeds city centre.

04:58Dave is a social researcher and his Polish-born wife, Kinga, a civil servant.

05:04They fell in love after meeting at work and now married with a two-year-old daughter named Lily.

05:09They rent a flat in South London.

05:11Having Lily changed everything for us, really, because there's a lot of things about London that we love.

05:16Yeah.

05:17But we want a home for our family and we want to have enough space.

05:21And, like, slower life and being outdoors a little bit more.

05:25And with Dave's brother living in Leeds, getting back to his northern roots seemed the obvious choice for their lifestyle overhaul.

05:32But searching for their dream family home from the other end of the M1 has been driving them mad.

05:38The market is really fast. We sent my brother to look at a couple of places and by the time that we actually would have been able to get up and see them, they were gone.

05:47After ten months of searching, they thought they'd found their dream three-bed family home in the smart suburbs north of Leeds.

05:53Once we had the offer accepted, we really started to envisage living in that house.

05:58Yeah.

05:59When it fell through, it was quite, it was quite dispiriting.

06:02Yeah.

06:03The sellers had a change of heart, but Kinga and Dave have picked themselves up, transferred their jobs up here, and with their 375 grand budget, are more determined than ever to make this life-changing move a reality.

06:16That's good news, Phil, because your only trump card in a market like this is flexibility.

06:22Never a truer word, Kirsty, but first I want to know what they know.

06:26I understand that you both work in research, so what do you need me for?

06:33I think the logistics is just the biggest challenge.

06:36We had one property we called up the same afternoon, it went on the market.

06:40They said they had 60 viewings booked in and we could be 31st on the waiting list.

06:45I can get you further up the list.

06:47Exactly.

06:48Let's talk about what you're looking for.

06:49Well, we're after a three-bed property, four if we can squeeze it somehow.

06:55If possible, an open plan downstairs and in the garden, obviously.

06:59With Lily, we really want to have a bit of space for her to be able to go out and play.

07:03We need to get it done, but it is very fluid and fast moving.

07:06We'll just have to roll with the punches and adapt as we go.

07:09We're ready for it.

07:11Yeah.

07:12They're lucky to have you in their corner, Phil.

07:14Kinga and Dave have saved hard for a deposit of 81 grand and, along with a mortgage, have a maximum spend of £375,000.

07:24They want a character property in moving condition, with three to four good sized bedrooms and an open plan kitchen.

07:31Outside space is a must, as is a good primary school for Lily.

07:36We're starting off in their number one spot of Chapel Allerton.

07:44As we search, good houses around their budget are going for £50,000 over asking price and selling fast.

07:51We are starting right in the very heart of Chapel Allerton to see a Victorian townhouse.

07:59Wow, that's...

08:00That's amazing.

08:01Amazing.

08:02It does have a compromise.

08:03The garden is at the front.

08:04That is...

08:05Yarden.

08:06A garden.

08:07Yeah.

08:08That's all you think.

08:09Follow me.

08:10I don't imagine Kinga and Dave are going to give up on a garden that easily, Phil.

08:15You never know, Kirsty.

08:17This double-fronted Victorian end terrace is quite the find.

08:21On the ground floor, there's the must-have open plan kitchen diner with feature fireplace.

08:27And the lounge is charming.

08:29On the first floor, there are two lovely bedrooms, one for Lily and an office for Dave, plus a family shower room.

08:36The second floor has the main bedroom and a fabulous ensuite with bath.

08:41Plus, there's a huge basement for storage.

08:44It has the character they asked for.

08:46Although the lack of rear garden isn't ideal, this is what makes it so affordable.

08:51At £300,000, it's £75,000 under their top spend.

08:56But it's expected to go for around £3.30.

09:00Straight into the kitchen.

09:03It's perhaps a little basic and it's finished.

09:06But the potential is good.

09:07Pop your heads into the living room for a minute.

09:09Wow.

09:10What did you think?

09:11I quite like the kind of quirky shape of it.

09:14Faye Wendell was amazing.

09:15Yeah.

09:16I really liked that.

09:17They've actually said interested parties need to let them know today.

09:20Hmm.

09:21I think this area for us would probably need a little bit of work.

09:24But the location's amazing, isn't it?

09:26Yes.

09:27And the house itself is gorgeous.

09:28Yeah, yeah.

09:29This pair seemed game for a bit of DIY, which is great.

09:32They could transform this kitchen for minimal costs and the rest of the house wouldn't need to be touched.

09:38The main bedroom with its bathroom.

09:41The main bedroom here, lovely and light and bright and big.

09:45This is a great room, isn't it?

09:46Yeah, it's gorgeous.

09:47Something to bear in mind given Lily's age is the stairs are steep and there's lots of them.

09:53Things to think about.

09:54Yeah, for sure.

09:55I think you've piqued their interest, Phil, but they'll need to be willing to compromise on the things they can't change.

10:01It's a beautiful house that's got a lot of potential to be something that we'd really enjoy living in.

10:06I think there's just one or two question marks for us.

10:09Yeah.

10:10Garden.

10:11Yeah, the garden, the stairs.

10:13It's got its challenges, but it's also got its opportunities.

10:16Mm.

10:17So, yeah.

10:18Let's move on from here.

10:19Perfect.

10:22Kinga and Dave love most of this house, but they don't seem ready to commit to it today and by tomorrow it'll be gone.

10:37This time we're catching up with two sets of house hunters who needed room to grow.

10:42In 2021, Kinga and Dave were relocating from London to Leeds, but the first house I showed them fell short.

10:50That's a yard in the rub.

10:51A yard in the rub.

10:52A yard in the rub.

10:53Yeah.

10:54And in 2019, Becky and Adam were desperate to get on the property ladder in Essex.

11:03My first property for them is in Tiptree, a lovely village close to Becky's family.

11:10This is the house.

11:11Yeah.

11:12Before we go in, we'll tackle the garden.

11:14And I know the garden's important, you want to grow vegetables and all of that.

11:17Yep.

11:18How does that strike?

11:20I think...

11:21I think you can make it look really lovely.

11:22Yeah.

11:23I think it's a good space to work with.

11:24Yeah.

11:25And you're not overlooked, so even though there's a house right there that doesn't have a window.

11:28Hmm.

11:29Located in a quiet cul-de-sac, this four-bed semi is a roomy family home and a blank canvas inside

11:35and out.

11:36A wrap-around garden on three sides of the property means space aplenty.

11:41Downstairs, the bright lounge is south-facing.

11:45Adam's desire for a project could be satisfied by extending the kitchen into the garage, but

11:50keeping some space for his tool storage.

11:53Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, one more than they asked for.

11:57And again, with a little vision, they could make this place their own.

12:02Perfectly liveable for now, work would have to be done over time, especially as this is

12:07top of budget and offers in excess of 300 grand.

12:12Come on in out of the rain.

12:14There we go.

12:15How does it strike you?

12:17It's nice going straight out into the garden and having all the light come in.

12:20Yeah.

12:21The kitchen, I think, is a good size.

12:23It's just a bit drab.

12:24You know, it's brown, it's brown, it's brown.

12:27But the size is okay.

12:28Hmm.

12:29There's not really enough space to fit, like, a good-sized table that we've got now.

12:32Maybe there's a dining room.

12:34Is there a dining room?

12:35There's a garage.

12:38So, knocking through would give them a bigger dining kitchen and the project they want.

12:43Oh, look, this is the big one.

12:44A master...

12:45Yes.

12:46This is a really good size, isn't it?

12:47Yeah.

12:48I think it's...

12:49Well, it's much bigger than I expected it.

12:50Yeah.

12:51So, this is good.

12:52Yeah, definitely.

12:53Nice view.

12:54And onto the street.

12:55That's nice.

12:56Nice little park.

12:57Yeah.

12:58Seems positive.

12:59That's more than enough space, isn't it?

13:01Well, then, it's your area.

13:02If we brought the kitchen out, like, how much would you need left?

13:06It's about here.

13:07Hi.

13:08Hello.

13:09Hey!

13:10Enough room for all your chainsaws and what have you?

13:11Definitely, yeah.

13:12More than enough space.

13:13Good.

13:14Until we could knock through as well to there and extend the kitchen tiles.

13:17Yeah, you want all the square footage that you can.

13:19Definitely.

13:20Yeah.

13:21What did you think of the house as a whole?

13:22I really liked it.

13:23Yeah, I think having the fourth bedroom is, like, an added bonus.

13:26Yeah.

13:27Well, we'll start it off on a good foot.

13:28Yeah.

13:29Let's see if we can beat it.

13:30Okay.

13:31Come on, then.

13:32That's one in the running.

13:34Clearly, they've got a bit of vision, and that bodes well for the rest of the search.

13:41As for Kinga and Dave, living in London and looking in Leeds, with a toddler in tow, has

13:46left them tired and ticked off.

13:48They're ready to put this search to bed and get on with their lives.

13:52So, I'm hoping my next property is going to give them something to smile about.

13:57We've come to Moortown, a smart suburb to the north of the city which they know and like.

14:02In fact, it's just down the road from the property they loved and lost.

14:07Fancy seeing you here.

14:09Hello.

14:10Right in the epicentre.

14:11Yeah.

14:12And we've got a really big semi.

14:15Yeah.

14:16With four bedrooms.

14:17What's up?

14:18Garage and a garden.

14:19Brilliant.

14:20It looks great from the outside.

14:21That's great.

14:22Yeah.

14:23Very similar to the one we almost got.

14:25Very, very similar.

14:26The seltzer is literally the same from the outside.

14:28Okay.

14:29A three bed.

14:30Let's get in.

14:31Another good reaction.

14:33Let's hope this house has the magic formula.

14:36Move-in condition is important to them and here they get a stunningly refurbished 1950s

14:41semi.

14:42On the ground floor, there's a fabulous open-plan kitchen diner plus lovely spacious living room.

14:49There's three delightful double bedrooms on the first floor and a family bathroom.

14:54But unlike the last property and their loved and lost house, there's a fourth bedroom.

14:59The loft has been converted into this wonderful main suite with its own shower room.

15:04Perfect for Kingo and Dave.

15:06And the joy continues outside.

15:08There's a good sized rear garden that they could really make their own.

15:11Plus a garage or potential home office for Dave.

15:15All of this comes at a price though.

15:17At £370,000, it's just five grand under their maximum spend of £375,000.

15:24And it's already had 18 viewings.

15:28The current owners have done it themselves.

15:31Wow.

15:32So it is walk-in ready.

15:34I love the kitchen.

15:35It's really spaced out.

15:36It's actually really similar to the one we offered on.

15:39Yes.

15:40Good.

15:41In taste and style and everything.

15:43Yeah.

15:44Good feelings to staff.

15:45Definitely.

15:46Good, good, good.

15:47Let's see some more.

15:48Smiles inside and I doubt the garden will put them off.

15:52Little patio and out onto a south-east facing garden.

15:55Which could be absolutely lovely.

15:57Yeah.

15:58It's perfect for Lily to run around in.

16:00Exciting.

16:01We could get a swing and a slide.

16:02Yeah.

16:03It's really good.

16:04Exciting?

16:05Yeah.

16:06Everything appears rosy in the garden and with plenty of space inside as well.

16:11This house could see this family through the next 20 years or more.

16:15That's good.

16:16Yeah.

16:17Same size as the one we almost bought.

16:19Yeah, it's like the same layout but it's a big bedroom, isn't it?

16:22It's good.

16:24I'm feeling super grateful and fortunate that this is so similar to the one that they offered on before.

16:33I've struck it lucky here.

16:35You're a jammy devil, Phil, but you wouldn't have got here without the legwork.

16:39I don't often get compliments on my legs but thanks all the same, Kirsty.

16:43Oh, that's great.

16:44I like that.

16:45Perfect shower and bath.

16:47Yeah, yeah.

16:48The bath's great, isn't it?

16:49Definitely fit Lily in there.

16:51Yeah.

16:52Kinga and Dave are starting to imagine themselves here, which is a great sign.

16:59I think we have a new front runner.

17:01This could be the house that changes everything for this family.

17:04And back in Essex, my project positive pair had the vision at property one, so with a change of location.

17:14I'm hoping that makeover mood continues.

17:16Historic Talisbury is famous for its oysters.

17:19No wonder Adam and Becky have acquired a taste for the tranquillity of this area.

17:23It's one of their top spots.

17:26Nice and near the water.

17:27Yeah.

17:28It's a really lovely village.

17:29It is lovely.

17:30We love it.

17:31It's the curb appeal that we're after.

17:32This is what we want.

17:33How about that?

17:34Okay.

17:35Okay.

17:36I wasn't expecting you to do that one.

17:39I thought that was like the village hall or something.

17:41Well, exactly.

17:42I mean, it's full of character and interest and history.

17:45I think it's an absolute crack-up.

17:47Yeah, certainly.

17:48But come on in.

17:49Let's have a look.

17:52This late Victorian three-bed semi is a project which Adam and Becky aren't scared of, but it's also a real find that offers incredible value for money.

18:02Downstairs, the room sizes are huge.

18:04The 19-foot lounge is bright and light.

18:07And while both the kitchen and dining area are dated, if opened up, they'd create a fab space.

18:14The all-important garden is north-facing, but it's so long that it'll still get sun at the far end.

18:20There are also outbuildings for Adam's tools.

18:25Upstairs are three large bedrooms.

18:27Ample room for the couple who want to start a family.

18:30And with this kind of space, bath times could be fun too.

18:34If they're willing to take on the work, they could create a standout family home here.

18:39And although at £315,000, it's £15,000 over budget, we do know the vendor would take £300,000 for a quick sale.

18:47Pretty amazing room, fireplace.

18:49Love that.

18:50Perfect.

18:51I like the ceilings.

18:52Yeah, it's got space.

18:53Yeah.

18:54It's got something to it.

18:55Yeah.

18:56It's not just a box.

18:57I love it so far.

18:58Good.

18:59I really do.

19:00Good.

19:01Do you like to see a proper dining room?

19:02No.

19:03No, not at all.

19:04Kitchen at the back is...

19:06I mean, it's dated.

19:07You would redo it.

19:08And if you were, one day, to open it up through to the dining room, it would be the most sensational room.

19:14Yeah.

19:15That's what we'd like to do, isn't it?

19:16Definitely.

19:17Yeah.

19:18Lots of positivity here, Phil.

19:20Yes, and outside, I think it'll only get better.

19:23Wow.

19:24That's a fantastic space, isn't it?

19:27I wasn't expecting it.

19:28That's so nice.

19:29You've got a greenhouse.

19:30Yeah.

19:31Perfect.

19:32You've got a greenhouse.

19:33I spotted that.

19:35Everything's really nice.

19:36What's going to have to go wrong upstairs?

19:37Two bedrooms.

19:38Yeah.

19:41It's just two bedrooms, isn't it?

19:44Stop teasing them, Phil.

19:46Would I do that?

19:47The bedrooms are all present and correct.

19:49The only surprise up there is the super-sized bathroom.

19:52Oh, my God.

19:53It's huge, isn't it?

19:54Yeah.

19:55You could fit the ping-pong table in there.

19:58You could have a nice, like, roll-top bath.

20:00Let me just, like, splash in the cash that we don't have.

20:03But it's good.

20:04It's top of budget and needs work, but it's a project they could get their teeth into.

20:09Best go and see if they're in a biting mood.

20:11How'd you get on up there?

20:12I think the house has all the space that we need.

20:15Yeah.

20:16It is a forever home contender.

20:17It is.

20:18And it doesn't all have to happen at the same time, which is what we need to remember.

20:21Yeah.

20:22You're in danger of talking yourselves into it.

20:23I know.

20:24Yeah.

20:25We don't know what to say, do we?

20:26Because it's...

20:27It's great.

20:28Well, look, let's carry on.

20:30Got another house.

20:31Kirsty's coming.

20:32Yeah.

20:33We'll see what happens.

20:34It'll probably all go to pot now.

20:35The surest way to make sure they're sure is to show them another property for comparison.

20:44Back with Kinga and Dave.

20:46They love property too, but it was close to their maximum spend.

20:49So for my final offering, we're back in their top spot of Chapel Allerton to see a significantly cheaper, but also smaller property.

20:58Kirsty's joining us.

21:00Good morning.

21:01Hello.

21:02I'm Phil Setterhoff.

21:03First impression of standing here.

21:06Yeah.

21:07I think first impressions are good.

21:09It's had 11 viewings.

21:11There's seven more at the weekend, and there is an asking price offer.

21:14Looks nice.

21:15I think we really like the area.

21:16Yeah.

21:17Keen to get it.

21:18Get inside and have a look.

21:19Come on.

21:20You tell him.

21:21You speak slow.

21:22It's what we like.

21:23Bit of oops.

21:24Otherwise, this place will be sold before we get inside.

21:28That would be a shame, because this smart 1960s semi has got a high degree of polish.

21:34On the ground floor, the open plan kitchen diner hits the wish list, and there's a cosy lounge.

21:40Upstairs are three bright bedrooms.

21:43Two doubles and a single, or potential home office for Dave.

21:46Plus, there's a family bathroom.

21:48Outside, there are gardens to the front and rear, so plenty of space for a swing and slide for Lily.

21:55But the real selling point about this property is price.

21:58It's being marketed at £290,000, a staggering 85 grand under budget.

22:04But with the amount of interest, it's set to fly.

22:08So we've got a very similar layout to other things that we've been looking at.

22:12It's just on a slightly smaller scale.

22:14Yep.

22:15It's a lot cheaper.

22:16But it's lovely.

22:17Oh, it's really lovely.

22:18Yeah, it's really nice.

22:19Very nice.

22:20Very well done.

22:21I like it.

22:22You could be onto something here, Phil.

22:24The cheaper price tag is bound to be appealing, and this place comes with opportunities of its own.

22:29So you can see what that house has done.

22:30Yeah.

22:31You can see what that house has done.

22:32They've got a huge extension.

22:33Yeah, wow.

22:34There's got to be potential here for a double storey extension, or to come out the back.

22:38I mean, there is lots that you could do.

22:40I mean, otherwise it's great, because it is the right size.

22:43Like, it can still fit the slide.

22:45Every time you say a slide and you smile, it's lovely.

22:48Yeah.

22:49That's obviously really key.

22:51We've been promising Lily that all her sacrifices will result in a little garden and slide.

22:57It's looking like this might be the one for Kinga.

23:00Let's hope Dave is down with that as well.

23:02There's no furniture in this room, apart from this cupboard.

23:05It's a small room, and you wouldn't necessarily notice that on first viewing.

23:08It's a nice room.

23:10Definitely.

23:11Seems the cheaper price tag isn't winning Dave over.

23:15Maybe size does matter.

23:16I feel a little bit tired.

23:18And obviously, you know, with being out of bed and the house purchase falling through,

23:22I think we're just ready to finally get it done.

23:24Yeah.

23:25I guess whenever you're buying houses, it's a trade-off between different things.

23:29It's a head-scratcher.

23:32With another buyer interested in this place, Kinga and Dave will need to make a swift decision.

23:36But they'll have to agree first.

23:38How'd you get on with Dave?

23:40I think they'll go for the bigger one.

23:42Hmm.

23:43But I think he's looking at this in an interested fashion.

23:46It's a simple, straightforward option.

23:48Yeah.

23:49You can find the houses, but keeping them and keeping everybody else out of them, it's tough.

23:54I'd say they both like this house.

23:56It's just a question of whether there's enough of it.

24:00So, folks, how does it stack up on the spreadsheet?

24:03Well, I think it would actually tick lots of boxes, but it's so much smaller.

24:07Yeah.

24:08Yeah.

24:09Yeah.

24:10These are big decisions.

24:11But let's move on from here.

24:12Okay, darling.

24:13Okay.

24:15Both property two and property three are in the running.

24:17But if Kinga and Dave want to actually buy either of them, they'll have to move fast

24:22to beat the competition.

24:23We're back catching up with two sets of house hunters who are each looking for a future-proof

24:36home to grow into.

24:39In Essex, Adam and Becky have seen two houses, with property two leading the pack.

24:45Wow.

24:46That's a fantastic space, isn't it?

24:49And in Leeds, Kinga and Dave have a big decision to make.

24:52Wow.

24:53I love the kitchen.

24:54It's actually really similar to the one we offered on.

24:56Yeah.

25:02For my final throw of the dice in Essex, I've unearthed a property in another of their top

25:07areas, picturesque Malden.

25:09But Malden's beauty does come at a price.

25:12With their budget, to live here, they'll have to compromise on character and space.

25:17Nonetheless, it's still delivering on garden, bedrooms, project and commute.

25:22This hinges on how much they love Malden, which they do love it.

25:26But Malden's more expensive.

25:28Well, Malden should be more expensive.

25:30It's pretty as a picture.

25:32Come and join us.

25:33There's happy, smiling faces.

25:35Well, we are in Malden.

25:37Hello.

25:38Hello.

25:39Hello.

25:40It is a very pretty place.

25:41Yeah.

25:42Admittedly, here, you could be anywhere.

25:43Initial thoughts?

25:44I prefer the other place, to be honest.

25:48Yeah.

25:49From the outside?

25:50Yeah.

25:51And the area?

25:52You prefer the other area?

25:53Yeah.

25:54It's nothing like as characterful or as big as where we've just come from.

25:58They're asking between 300 and 315.

26:00Standing here right now, knowing this is smaller, and it needs a bit of work, and it's where

26:05it is, and you can't get it for less than 300.

26:07Yeah, it's a no, though.

26:08It's a no.

26:09Yeah.

26:10I feel like we need to see it to say that.

26:11Becky is looking for the feeling, and you're Mr Practical.

26:14Yeah.

26:15So he's straight away, no, but we've not got inside to see it yet.

26:17Why don't you take Becky have a quick squeeze in?

26:19Okay, I'll take Becky in.

26:20Not a great start.

26:21I think Becky needs some of that all-stop vision.

26:25This place could be the perfect lesson in not judging a book by its cover.

26:30It's got real project potential.

26:32Inside the kitchen is big enough for a dining table, and the lounge is roomy and opens onto

26:37the garden.

26:38French or bifold doors here would help join the house to the outdoor space.

26:43Which is fab for my pair, a great social space for barbecues and plenty of room for veg growing.

26:50Upstairs, updating and modernising are required.

26:53The master bedroom is large, and the two other bedrooms perfect for when Adam and Becky start

26:57their family.

26:58Located in Malden, it has a guide price between £3,000 and £315,000.

27:04We think Adam and Becky's £300,000 should do it, but whether we'll get that far is up to you, Kirsty.

27:11A little office, and then you've got a kitchen diner-ish, which you could knock down that wall

27:18and put an island...

27:19Yeah.

27:20..if you wanted to have this as one room.

27:24I quite like having a separate lounge.

27:26I'm trying, Phil, but I don't know if I'm helping.

27:29And you've got a big garden.

27:31The garden is fine.

27:33How does it strike you?

27:37OK, OK, that's fine.

27:38That's fine.

27:39Yeah.

27:42What are you chuckling at?

27:43I don't know what Becky thinks of the house, because...

27:48..she didn't tell me.

27:51She asked me if I liked it, and I just don't really have any words.

27:53It's not awful, but like you said earlier, we could be anywhere here.

27:58I said that earlier, to be honest.

27:59Phil didn't say that earlier.

28:00Oh, come on.

28:02I like looking round houses.

28:05Newsflash!

28:06Phil Spencer likes looking round houses.

28:08What do I spend my time doing?

28:09I do it at the weekends.

28:10I do it at the weekends.

28:13Adam and Becky only have eyes for property, too.

28:16As it's top of budget and needs modernising,

28:19we're going back for another look,

28:21and we've lined up a local builder to advise.

28:24Good morning, Lee.

28:25Good morning.

28:26In the short term, they'd like to remove the wall

28:27between the kitchen and the dining room

28:29to create a huge family space.

28:31Just taking the wall up to the chimney,

28:33and then you're not losing your wall for your kitchen units,

28:36but you've still got a much wider walk-through.

28:39And in the longer term,

28:40they want to make sure there's scope

28:42to create a fourth bedroom in the attic space,

28:44should they ever need it.

28:46Its potential is fantastic.

28:47I mean, for me, it's more,

28:48can we do it in the future if we need to?

28:51Let's go and sit down somewhere

28:52and see if we can knot it through.

28:53Yeah.

28:54Okay.

28:55The house was originally on the market at 325,000

28:59and was reduced to 315,000,

29:01but we know the vendor is keen to move

29:03and would now take 300,000.

29:05But anything more we could save them

29:06would certainly help with the work.

29:09It's just put us in a bit of a dilemma, hasn't it?

29:11Yeah.

29:12Of what work we could afford.

29:14We do want to stay there for a long time,

29:15so perhaps we do that big work in the future.

29:18Do you have a plan?

29:20We want to put in an offer.

29:22Yeah.

29:23I think initially we'd be looking at offering 295,000.

29:26It was on the market at 325,000.

29:28Yeah.

29:29We're going to need quite a case.

29:30Yes.

29:31Yeah.

29:32To persuade him to sell it for less than 300,000.

29:35Let's do it.

29:38It's ringing.

29:39With serious chain-free buyers,

29:41you might just stand a chance.

29:43Hi, Matt.

29:44I do have an offer for you.

29:45To put it into some context,

29:47I can absolutely guarantee

29:49if the paperwork came through nice and quick,

29:51then we could have that deal done in a month.

29:54Yeah.

29:55The offer that they are able to make is at 295.

30:01Sure.

30:03Cheers.

30:04Bye.

30:05He didn't have much comment.

30:07OK.

30:08I think the vendor will have a bit of a choke.

30:10And then hopefully digest the offer positively.

30:16And back with Kinga and Dave,

30:17there are two houses in the running,

30:19but their favourite is property two,

30:21the four-bed semi in Moortown.

30:23Having previously loved and lost a similar property nearby,

30:26I don't want to see Kinga and Dave miss out again.

30:29It's on the market at 370.

30:31Mm-hm.

30:32I know there were two more viewings today.

30:34Mm-hm.

30:35One of those is a second viewing.

30:37We think that we would like to make an opening offer of 350.

30:42Yeah.

30:43Wow, that's a great starting point.

30:45That's still £24 below the asking price, Phil.

30:48But let's hope.

30:50Charlotte, hi, it's Phil Spencer.

30:52We've just been having a good council of war.

30:55There is another one that's in consideration

30:57that is in beautiful condition.

30:59However, yours has a longer-term house,

31:02but we've struggled to get comfortable with the 370 asking price.

31:07And the offer they've asked me to put forward is for 350,000.

31:12If we can't get this, we need to switch horses

31:15and get something else before we lose it.

31:18Thank you so much.

31:19Good luck.

31:20Thanks, Charlotte.

31:21Right, right.

31:22It's just the wait now for them to call us back, isn't it?

31:24Yeah.

31:25It's an anxious wait.

31:26Thankfully, whilst Kinga and Dave still have fingernails to nibble,

31:30the agent calls back.

31:33Here we go.

31:35Hi, Charlotte.

31:39That's a big ask.

31:41Leave it with me.

31:42I'll let you know.

31:43Thanks, Charlotte.

31:45The vendors come back and said no.

31:48They would do a deal around 365.

31:52I think coming up to 365 is too far from a starting position of 350.

31:59360?

32:00I think, yeah, 360.

32:02And they take it off, I think, is a fair ask.

32:05Yeah.

32:06Let's do it.

32:07Charlotte, it's Phil.

32:10Charlotte, it's Phil.

32:11They would put 360 on the table on the condition that that was accepted today

32:17and the property removed from the market.

32:20OK.

32:22Bye.

32:23Dave and Kinga are so close to owning a wonderful first family home of their own.

32:29I just hope we've done enough to secure it.

32:35In Essex, we've been waiting for an answer on Adam and Becky's offer of 295k.

32:40Oh, God.

32:41My stomach's just gone.

32:4220 grand under the asking price.

32:44Hi, Matt.

32:46Hmm.

32:49OK.

32:52That's kind of the answer that I was anticipating.

32:55They would put another two in the pot to try and get it done today.

32:59It's 297.

33:02OK.

33:03Thanks a lot.

33:04Bye.

33:05He's not going to budge.

33:06I would doubt it.

33:07It's not going to change his mind.

33:08It's going to be 300 or nothing.

33:11All we can do is hold our nerve.

33:14Over with Kinga and Dave, I'm keen to bring their gruelling 10-month search to an end.

33:19I'm hoping our cheeky offer, 10 grand below the £370,000 asking price,

33:25will be enough to win them the Moortown house.

33:28Here we go.

33:29We're getting very nervous at this end.

33:34OK.

33:35I will pass that news on.

33:38Thank you, Charlotte.

33:39You just bought a house.

33:45360.

33:47Congratulations.

33:52Oh, that's amazing.

33:54Wow.

33:56Yeah, honestly, thank you.

33:57Thank you so much.

33:58No, it's all a pleasure.

33:59It's a life-changing thing for us.

34:00Yeah, amazing.

34:01Oh, well, well.

34:03With the coffee cup and everything.

34:04Yeah.

34:05Brilliant.

34:07Nice deal, Phil.

34:08You smashed it.

34:10I'm overjoyed for Kinga and Dave.

34:12It's a fabulous family home and a top result.

34:19In Essex, with the work they want to do, 297k is Adam and Becky's top offer.

34:25But that's still 18 grand below asking.

34:34Hi, Matt.

34:36What news?

34:39Got to be 300.

34:40Yeah.

34:41But I'm afraid our couple can't get to that.

34:45Which is a real shame.

34:46All right.

34:47Thanks a lot.

34:48Thanks for your help.

34:50We should leave it.

34:51Yeah.

34:52Okay.

34:53It's not the ending we'd hoped for.

34:57In fact, it may not be the ending at all.

35:00Well, I wasn't expecting another call, Matt.

35:03What's happening?

35:07Yeah.

35:08If you put another grand in, you'll do it.

35:11Okay.

35:12Yeah, let's do it.

35:13We have a deal at 298.

35:15Fantastic news.

35:17Thank you so much.

35:18Bye.

35:19Amazing.

35:20Amazing, amazing, amazing.

35:21But that is a sensational deal.

35:23We have finally brought your search to an end.

35:26Thank you so much.

35:29They are tears of joy, I hope.

35:33A fantastic deal and a fab new home.

35:36In Leeds, it's been two years since Kinga and Dave secured the keys to their four-bed semi in Moortown.

35:50And big changes have been afoot.

35:52So, since moving to Leeds, we've had a new little boy, Teddy.

35:56He's eight months old and, yeah, delighted to have him.

36:00Having found the right house, they've spent £20,000 on building work to make their home perfect for family life.

36:06We've made quite a few changes downstairs.

36:08We've made quite a few changes downstairs.

36:09We've opened the floor, so it's more free-flowing and bright.

36:13Changed the floors and the colour schemes to kind of match what we like a little bit more.

36:18Within sort of three or four months, the work was beginning to start.

36:21So, that was really good because it meant that we could move on with getting things in place before Teddy arrived.

36:30And we finished just before he got here.

36:33It's kind of all come together nicely and I think we're pretty pleased with the final fact.

36:40Leaving their London rental behind, they wanted to put down roots in a home closer to family.

36:45I think we've settled in really nicely and Lily loves the new preschool.

36:50I'm fishing for a fish in the sea.

36:53She loves playing in her bedroom and it's a really nice-sized bedroom for her.

36:58And providing Lily with the all-important garden was essential to their search.

37:02Lily got her slide and she loves playing pirates on it as well.

37:06Yeah.

37:07Yeah, she's chuffed.

37:08What do you want, Daddy?

37:10There's a lot that we kind of feel really grateful and proud of on a daily basis.

37:14You know, when we look out to the garden, you can see the kids playing there.

37:17It's just a really nice feeling.

37:19A perfect family home for the kids.

37:22Kinga and Dave have also worked hard to create a relaxing space for themselves to unwind in.

37:28I think we really enjoy having our own space upstairs.

37:31That means that we can really enjoy the time when the kids are asleep and just, you know, like, relaxed.

37:37And there are plans for the future.

37:39Kinga definitely has plans to do things, further things to the house.

37:42I have no idea what they are.

37:44I think I'd love to, you know, work on the insulation in our bedroom and maybe get solar panels.

37:50It's definitely has become like a long-term house for us.

37:55You know, we have the space that we need for now and for later.

37:59You can see there's a lot of potential for us to, you know, father make it our own, especially when the kids grow up, you know, change it into whatever suits them.

38:07I'd just like to say like a big thank you to Phil for looking after us through our search and helping us find a place that we can call home.

38:17And I think also helping us make the right choice because there was a moment when we were a little bit swayed maybe to something smaller but closer to the hip area.

38:26But actually this is the right house for us.

38:30Very happy to have helped.

38:32And I'm so glad to hear it's all worked out for the whole family.

38:36In Essex, it's been four years since we helped Adam and Becky secure their first home.

38:47And there's been big changes there too.

38:58When we last saw Adam and Becky, we'd done the deal on the doer-upper, exactly what they were after.

39:03And now I'm really looking forward to seeing what they're actually done.

39:08It's been four years since Adam and Becky moved to the charming village of Toulsbury.

39:13The three-bed Victorian semi we found them had huge potential to become a perfect forever family home.

39:19And I can already see they've been making their mark.

39:23Very smart new door.

39:26Looking forward to this.

39:29Hello, hello, hello. Oh my word, there's somebody new.

39:32Hello. Can I come in?

39:34Of course.

39:36Oh, this is all a bit different.

39:39And who's this?

39:41This is Amara.

39:42Hello, Amara.

39:45They moved here with the view to starting a family.

39:48And that's exactly what they've done.

39:50Amara was born four months ago.

39:53Look at the beautiful eyes.

39:54And that's not the only change.

39:56And how about this? You did take the wall out.

39:58Yeah.

39:59And it's made such a difference.

40:01Where once stood a dated 70s kitchen and dining room now stands a stunning new kitchen diner.

40:08It has transformed the space just as we imagined back when we first saw it.

40:12Yeah.

40:13That it would.

40:14Because you guys knew straight away when you arrived at this house.

40:17As soon as I walked in this house I knew that this was the house I wanted to live in.

40:21Adam and Becky have done 90% of the house renovations themselves.

40:26Having spent top of their budget to secure the property they saved for three years to do the major works downstairs.

40:33They've taken down the wall between the previous rooms adding strong steel supports which they've incorporated as a design feature.

40:40Adding this stylish contemporary kitchen has created a generous family space.

40:44And it's not just the house that's seen major changes.

40:48And tell me how else life has been in the Gap.

40:51What have you been up to apart from becoming a parent?

40:53Quite a lot.

40:55We got married.

40:56Congratulations.

40:57So renovation project.

40:59Baby.

41:00Marriage.

41:01Cat.

41:02Dog.

41:03Cat.

41:04You have been busy.

41:05It's really nice to see you.

41:06Kirsty and I both have very fond memories of our time up here.

41:09It was a good week search.

41:10Yeah it was.

41:11Yeah we really enjoyed it.

41:12We feel really lucky to have this house.

41:14Well you've worked hard for it.

41:16Removing panelling and plaster, Becky and Adam revealed a stunning brick wall tying in with feature brickwork found in the hallway.

41:24Full of good ideas, they even transformed the understairs cupboard into a useful WC.

41:30It's clear just how busy they've been.

41:33Another bright and fun room, another big generous room as well.

41:36Yeah definitely.

41:37I don't remember those.

41:38No, so we found the parquet floor under the lino that was in here.

41:43It's beautiful.

41:44You know we were tearing the house apart anyway so we thought let's rip it all up and see.

41:47What a result.

41:51The house certainly suits them as does the gorgeous village of Tollesbury.

41:55What's the pub like?

41:56Because that was important.

41:57Yeah it's a local pub.

41:58It's nice.

41:59And fairly close to the water as well.

42:01Yeah the water's lovely.

42:02We've bought some paddle boards.

42:04Upstairs they've stripped all the old wallpaper and plastered, painted and decorated throughout.

42:10There's been no need to go up into the loft because the space they have is working perfectly for them.

42:16All the rooms are so generous.

42:18Yeah so this was such a huge space.

42:20Yeah.

42:21That we could take a corner off it and create an ensuite the other side.

42:25Oh I see.

42:26So I built this wall and the bath moved over here and then we could put a shower either side.

42:31So one in the ensuite and one in the bathroom.

42:33I love the way you just casually say I built that wall.

42:37What were you like at the start?

42:38What were your skills like?

42:39More carpentry and woodwork from my experience.

42:42Yeah.

42:43But a lot of the tiling and other projects I've sort of picked up along the way.

42:47Which is slower but then by the end of it you're quite good at it.

42:50And you've also saved yourself a lot of money.

42:52Definitely.

42:53And it's nice at the end of a project where you can look back and you've done it yourself.

42:56Yes it's taken you longer than a trade but it feels like a real achievement.

43:01This has been a big project and initially there was some debate over how much work they wanted to do.

43:07In your certs before Kirsty and I came along would you have looked at this house do you think?

43:12This house was completely out of our budget so I think initially we wouldn't have looked at it.

43:18So without you and Kirsty we wouldn't have.

43:20It was a brave call of you because I knew it was top of budget and I also knew you were going to want to do quite a lot of work to it.

43:26But it felt like the right thing to do.

43:28Definitely.

43:29And it and we moved in knowing that not everything had to be done straight away.

43:33And we have stopped and saved for things and it's been a been a slow progress.

43:39They've worked out.

43:40Yes.

43:41It's great though you've done a terrific job.

43:43Outside they've added decking to the garden and have plans to add a new garden path by reusing the bricks from the old kitchen wall.

43:51There aren't enough hours in the day to do all of the things that you've been doing.

43:56You can't have had any sleep for about two years.

43:58I think lockdown helped us because there was nothing else to do.

44:02So every hour we weren't at work and we worked full time throughout.

44:07We were just renovating the house so it sort of helped us.

44:10You've got it done.

44:11Yeah.

44:12You really have put your heart and souls into this.

44:14You've worked so hard.

44:15When we set out on the search you said to me you wanted to buy a forever home.

44:19You didn't mind doing a project but you wanted it to be forever.

44:22Is it?

44:23It feels like it could be.

44:25Yeah.

44:26Definitely.

44:27We'd only move if we outgrew it which you know we're not close to at the moment.

44:31And it'd have to be a pretty special house to go anywhere else because we absolutely love it here.

44:36Obviously you did the vast majority of the work yourselves but any idea what you actually ended up spending?

44:42We spent in the region of around £50,000 to do all the work which has been obviously over the past few years.

44:49I wonder if you'd actually had to pay somebody else to do it rather than do it yourselves.

44:52You know that would have been the wrong side of 75 wouldn't it?

44:55We were able to do things ourselves and we managed to save a lot of money that way so we've tried to save money where we can.

45:02Having bought for £298,000 Adam and Becky's labour of love is now worth around £400,000.

45:09But I don't think it'll be on the market any time soon.

45:12With renovations complete now it's all about this exciting next chapter.

45:17We're really enjoying where we're at in this stage of life and enjoying Amara.

45:21So it's nice just to stop and slow things down and enjoy it.

45:25Got married, got the house, done the house, got a family, happy days, happy times, well done.

45:32Enjoy it, enjoy it. Thank you for having me, good to see you.

45:35Thanks for coming. It's nice to see you.

45:36Adam and Becky have put in the hard graft to create their fabulous family home and it's very well deserved.

45:43It's been a real pleasure catching up with Adam and Becky and also meeting Amara.

45:50The house looks spectacular. They have worked so hard to get it right and I know that they are going to have many, many happy years here.

45:58And having left London behind, also great to see Kinga and Dave happy and settled in the house that they've made into such a beautiful home.

46:07I'm just happy that Kirsty and I could help bring these families and their gorgeous forever homes together.

46:13If you'd like help finding your next home, then we want to hear from you.

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

46:43See you tomorrow.

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