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00:02Property Godmother Chappers is on a quest to find Daddy Bear, Mummy Bear, Baby Bear and Grandma and Grandpa Bear
00:11a home.
00:13And Otto, what are you after?
00:15A nice big garden, playing.
00:19Pleasing them all isn't straightforward.
00:22But who's going to make the final decision, I wonder?
00:24It's usually the ladies, isn't it?
00:26Is it? Yeah.
00:27So, when it looks like her job might be done...
00:30It's perfect, to be honest.
00:32Hank is at the ready.
00:34You're making me well up now.
00:36You're making me.
00:59Whatever the age or inclination, whether it's window shopping through the streets
01:04of a pretty country town, striding across the moors or building your very own castle in
01:10the sand, the family-friendly county of Devon has something for everyone.
01:17Think big skies and sea air.
01:20Think golden beaches and gorgeous countryside.
01:24Think winding lanes leading to villages where the clock seems to have stopped at the perfect time.
01:32Think peace.
01:33Think quiet.
01:35Think cream first.
01:37Jam on top.
01:39Think Devon.
01:41Word on the street has it that the southwest English county of Devon is very much the cream
01:47of the crop when it comes to coastal locations to call home.
01:51At least, that's what the locals say.
01:54I've always lived here and I travel a lot for work and although I've seen all these places,
02:00nothing feels better than coming back here.
02:02There's lots of festivals.
02:03We've got bands on pretty much weekly and we've got the beautiful seas.
02:09We have the beaches.
02:11We have the countryside all on our doorstep.
02:15We have amazing transport links.
02:17You can jump on the train and be in Penzance in Cornwall or nip into the city in Exeter and
02:24the bus routes are really handy too.
02:26I used to come here on holiday and it is so unique.
02:29My parents moved down here and then I moved down here and I've been here for nearly 20
02:34years now.
02:34I can capture the sunrise over the hills of Exmouth on the beach and it's just a beautiful
02:40start to the day.
02:46For many of our escapees, moving closer to family is a big motivation.
02:52But for today's buyers, they are going one step further.
02:56They're all escaping to live together.
03:00Hi, I'm Mark, Matt's father-in-law and we're looking to go to Devon as well with them
03:06to help them out with young Otto, who I'm sure is a handful, and to find some open green
03:13spaces with some sea thrown in.
03:18Recent retiree Mark and his son-in-law Matt, a tennis analyst, currently live 25 miles apart
03:25in the West Midlands.
03:26They're looking to pool resources to live together, with their wives Pauline and Emma and one-year-old
03:32Otto.
03:33The destination is Matt's former stomping ground of Devon.
03:37I used to live in Torquay, and also I'm based in Exeter for work. I'm home-based at the moment,
03:43but I'll be able to go into the office when I want. And also, I absolutely love the scene.
03:48We've been thinking of moving to Devon for a little while now, and it would be nice to
03:54have a bit of time down there with Emma and Matt. You probably could do with a bit bigger
03:59house, couldn't you?
04:00We need an extra bedroom as well, really, and a playroom for Otto, so we need someone
04:06that we can grow into.
04:07Grow into.
04:08Yeah.
04:09We can help each other out. Childcare for Emma and Matt with Otto, and they can support us.
04:18We're all getting older, and obviously the pound goes further with two rather than one.
04:27By combining budgets, the family has £950,000 to buy a property with two dwellings, or one
04:35that can be split. Ideally, they want two kitchens, and Matt would like an en-suite. There are for
04:42a big garden for Otto with space for a tennis court, and a quiet location that's safe for their cats.
04:57If you think about it, multi-generational living, if you all get on as a family, so makes sense.
05:04Obviously, you've got to find a property that's big enough to accommodate everybody. We all need
05:09our own personal space, so I've got to make sure that every single person has their needs catered for,
05:15which is, at the end of the day, quite a big ask. So, wish me luck.
05:26My first house is in a rural location two and a half miles to the west of the village of
05:31Dunsford,
05:32where we're meeting outside the village inn.
05:36Well, Mark and Matt, welcome to Devon. This is going to be a very interesting few days,
05:43because it isn't just about the two of you, is it, with this move?
05:45No, it certainly isn't. There's a lot involved in this one.
05:48So, we have your wife, Pauline.
05:50Correct.
05:50We've got Emma, your wife.
05:52Yes.
05:52And we can't forget baby Otto, can we?
05:54We can't.
05:55Most important one. Our first grandchild.
05:57Oh, well, congratulations.
05:59But who's going to make the final decision, I wonder?
06:02It's usually the ladies, isn't it?
06:03Yeah. Well, we're going to meet them a little bit later, which will be lovely.
06:07But I know this has sort of been galvanised by having baby Otto.
06:10So, Matt, what childhood did you have? Did you grow up in the country?
06:13Well, I got brought up in, like, the West Midlands, so it's quite industrial.
06:17Yeah.
06:17So, I'm really looking forward to bringing Emma and Otto to Devon, where I've previously lived.
06:22Ah, so you know the countryside well, then?
06:25Yes.
06:25And what's it like, the idea of all of you living together?
06:28It's something we're not going to know until we're done it, obviously.
06:32We're close as personalities at the moment, but, unfortunately, distance is the problem.
06:38So, travelling up and down is something we could do without.
06:42So, communal living, but also private spaces, too.
06:45That's it. I think you need both. It's, it's, you need time out sometimes.
06:50Yeah.
06:51Young and old.
06:52I'm really looking forward to it, um, especially as, er, babysitters.
06:57Oh, of course.
06:59Unpaid babysitters.
07:00You want Otto to have the best possible start in life, I'm sure.
07:04And being a tennis analyst, you've got your eye on country.
07:07That was, that was pretty good.
07:08Was that all right? Yeah.
07:08That's as good as my tennis gets, yeah.
07:10Well, we have got some delightful things to show you.
07:13We're going to explore the county together.
07:15Look forward to that.
07:16Very excited.
07:17Shall we get started?
07:18Certainly.
07:18Come on then.
07:19Right, off we go.
07:22Set just inside Dartmoor National Park, Dunsford is peppered with traditional thatched homes.
07:29The inn provides a bar, restaurant and accommodation.
07:32And there's a shop and post office.
07:37A bus service runs to and from the city of Exeter, eight and a half miles away,
07:42making the location of my first property a very manageable commute for the days when Matt
07:48needs to be in the office.
07:52So we've got to find our property or properties to accommodate three generations of family.
07:59And this is our first one.
08:01And there's actually three barns in total.
08:04So you've got two separate dwellings and then you've got a third option there.
08:08Wow, we're definitely in the country, as you can see behind us.
08:11It's certainly got a bit of everything of Devon.
08:15All rolled into one.
08:16It has.
08:17Looks like we're going to have a lot of space here.
08:19Yeah.
08:19I can see the girls being impressed.
08:21Oh.
08:22I think we'll start with this house first and then we'll move on to the barn, yeah?
08:26Sounds good to me.
08:28Excited.
08:30Originally a complex of 19th century stone barns set around a courtyard,
08:36the main home is entered via a stable door,
08:38taking us through a boot room to begin our tour in the country kitchen.
08:44The kitchen is quite large and it leads into the dining area as well.
08:48And you've got that fantastic view on the end.
08:51All the best parties are in the kitchen.
08:53So you want some where you can sort of expand and sort of chill.
08:57This would be a good space for you and Pauline, wouldn't it?
09:00Oh, we're arguing over who's who.
09:02Oh, I'm liking this.
09:04Straight away, Matt's giving you the house.
09:07It would be probably better for Mark and Pauline because maybe of the step here for Otto as well.
09:12We don't want any falling, Otto falling.
09:16Oh my goodness, yes, right.
09:16Because when you've got young children, you do have to adapt houses, don't you?
09:20So we might be getting numerous stair gates and everything to keep it.
09:24But no, that's a very, very good point.
09:26Okay, ready to see a little bit more?
09:28Yes, please lead on.
09:31From the kitchen, we pass the foot of the stairs to reach a triple aspect reception room.
09:37They certainly keep me busy.
09:39There's plenty of windows for me to be cleaning and looking after.
09:43It's big though, isn't it?
09:44It is, it is.
09:45We've got biggish furniture, so we can certainly fill it.
09:49For Otto, he'll be able to crawl around.
09:51We'll probably get him, we'll probably lose him actually.
09:55You have the most amazing view at the end there.
09:58Now at the moment, the current owner's got the TV in the way.
10:00Certainly the telly wouldn't be the feature of the room, it'd be the outside.
10:05Exactly.
10:08Back off the stairs is a sunroom and a ground floor cloakroom.
10:12I'm sending Matt and Mark to explore the floor above,
10:15starting at one end with the largest of the three bedrooms on offer.
10:22Juliet balcony.
10:24I'd love to make up those views.
10:27Next to this is a smaller double with an ensuite.
10:32It looks like your wish list.
10:35Yes.
10:35You'll have to fight your son for this one.
10:39At the other end of the floor is the third bedroom, which sits next to a family bathroom,
10:44featuring a separate bath and shower cubicle.
10:48We're heading across the courtyard to the property I had earmarked for Mark and Pauline.
10:53Let's see if they agree, as we go through the central front door and step into an open
10:58plan kitchen and reception.
11:04I was going to say house Mark II, but you might think I'm talking about you.
11:09But it's much more modern, I think, and more self-contained.
11:13There's everything in one place here.
11:15I'm not sure it would be suitable for me and Emma.
11:17I don't think she wants the kind of the open plan with the kitchen in with the living room.
11:23Yeah.
11:23What are your thoughts, Mark?
11:25Pauline's got a thing about cooking smells.
11:28It's not something she'd be comfortable with.
11:31We do have another bedroom on the ground floor.
11:35So in a way, I'd be tempted to divide it up, have this as the kitchen,
11:39perhaps make a little bit more of it, but still keep it cosy with the dining table.
11:43But I would substitute that downstairs bedroom for perhaps a snug.
11:49I'm sending them off for a candid assessment of my plan.
11:53I could see what Nicky meant when she said you could convert a bedroom into a lounge.
11:58Into the lounge, yeah.
11:58It'd certainly work.
12:00Yeah, it's a good space.
12:01You've got the window.
12:01I can see you and Pauline on the sofa here watching the TV.
12:07There's a ground floor shower room and a spiral staircase leading up to two
12:12further bedrooms set in the eaves, the first of which is a double with his own shower room.
12:32And bedroom three in this additional home is a good-sized guest double,
12:37which is served by a family bathroom.
12:40But that's not all.
12:42Across the courtyard, a third part converted but disused barn offers further potential over two stories.
12:53And then there's the garden, much of which is in need of a drastic trim
12:58and has a stream that feeds the nearby River Teen.
13:02It runs to the side of the house cutting through the garden.
13:06So the one thing I probably would do, the first thing is put a little fence up around there
13:09just to keep it safe from the little man.
13:11But it's beautiful.
13:13We don't need the radio.
13:14We've got the music from the water.
13:16Yeah. And then you've got a footbridge going over.
13:18And then all of that is your garden as well, up to the hedge.
13:20You've got a summer house in the corner.
13:22It is actually a large garden.
13:24And I know you have a combined budget of £950,000.
13:29How much do you think these properties, plural, are on the market for?
13:34I'd go £875,000.
13:36OK. £875,000.
13:39Matt, what are you thinking?
13:40I'm going to be a little bit more optimistic and say £850,000.
13:43OK.
13:44Well, you are the closest, but you're both out.
13:47And it's recently been reduced. £795,000.
13:51There's certainly something in the budget to make it a super-dwelling.
13:56There's definitely a potential.
13:58Potential.
14:00With a guide price substantially below their budget,
14:03this complex of 19th-century former barns comprises a three-bedroom main house,
14:09a further two-to-three-bedroom home,
14:11and a potential third dwelling subject to the right planning permission.
14:15There's a large garden and it's in a rural location within commuting distance of the city of Exeter.
14:23There's three bits to house one, so it's workable.
14:26We were almost sorted who has what.
14:29The main house would be, I think, fit better for me and Emma and Otto.
14:34From where we're living now, it's got the wow factor.
14:37And also, there's plenty of room for Otto to play around.
14:40We need to sort of report back to base and see what the other halves had to say.
14:47I think we could be back for another visit.
14:49All four of all five of us.
15:04The opening of a railway in 1846, complete with a station built on the sea wall,
15:11saw the Georgian resort of Dawlish blossom as a coastal destination.
15:23It's a real historical place, and it's been welcoming visitors for 250 years.
15:28So all the architecture that you see around here, most of it's Georgian,
15:33because we're in a conservation area, so they can't change shopfronts or the buildings or anything like that.
15:42As well as bringing growing numbers of holidaymakers,
15:46Locomotion drove a surge in local dairy production.
15:50Devonshire creameries sprung up to supply Londoners with milk,
15:54as the capital's own cattle made way for factories and workers.
15:58And with stiff competition upping the quality...
16:02I know we should have asked for the double cream on top.
16:06Dawlish ice cream even tastes good in the rain.
16:10Our creamery has been in my family for 100 years here in Dawlish.
16:14We're celebrating that this year, and my son and my daughter are about to take over,
16:19and so that'll be fourth generation.
16:22It's best when it's nice and soft.
16:26As a collective, I think we've got wonderful produce, you know, from Red Ruby Beef to South Devon Dairy.
16:32They've got a great Jersey herd, so it's just quality on your doorstep.
16:35I think we've got a great job.
16:37Added into the mix of independent shops selling local produce are the attributes of both Shingle and Sand Beach.
16:44This is on your request list, to be close to the sea.
16:49And cafes to enjoy a Devonshire cream tea.
16:53My nice tea cream tea.
16:55Gorgeous.
16:56Thank you very much.
16:58When in Devon, cream first, of course.
17:01And if the destination of Dawlish has left my house hunters feeling rather jammy about their move to the county,
17:08we'd better get back to exploring the cream of the local properties on offer.
17:22Next up, we're in the village of Harberton Ford.
17:25Located three miles from the seaside town of Totnes and half an hour's drive from Exeter,
17:31this historic crossing point of the River Harbourn gives the village its name.
17:38The community runs the shop and post office and it's just a two-minute walk from that
17:44to the heart of village property we're here to see.
17:48And this is our next home.
17:51I'm going to say it's a bungalow from the front.
17:53It's a little similar to where I live now, to be honest.
17:57Is it?
17:57Yeah.
17:58I've noticed it's semi-detached.
18:00Yeah.
18:00Which, I think that was one of our compromises, wasn't it?
18:03Yeah, yeah.
18:04Shall we start?
18:05I'm intrigued.
18:06Can't wait.
18:06Yeah, I know, it is an intriguing house.
18:08I'll show you why.
18:12Now, although this 1980s home may look like a bungalow from the front,
18:16from the back, its three stories are revealed.
18:20And entering through the front door, there's an inkling of the scale of what's on offer.
18:27So, step into the generous hallway.
18:31It is impressive, I could use the word.
18:34And then we're going to start off the tour.
18:35Come on in, in the kitchen, stroke dining area.
18:38Modern.
18:39It's got baking and sort of family written on it.
18:43Has it?
18:44Matt, are you a bit of a chef in the old kitchen?
18:47Yes, I do like my cooking.
18:48Through that door, you actually have a studio flat.
18:52And you can close it off, and they have a separate entrance.
18:55Right.
18:56So, across the way, we've got a family bathroom.
18:59But then I'm going to take us down here, because this has got a fantastic view.
19:06A small flight of stairs takes us a half level down to a reception,
19:10with a sunroom extension onto the garden.
19:15Multifunctional, I should imagine. You could do anything here.
19:17It's a good space.
19:18Yeah.
19:19Lots of windows, lots of light.
19:21Well, that's what we're looking for, is view.
19:23Looks destined for some motorised lawn mowing equipment.
19:27Is that going to be you?
19:29We might squeeze in a tennis court.
19:31Do you fancy going and exploring on your own?
19:34We certainly do see what it's got to offer.
19:37Yeah.
19:37See you soon.
19:38I'll see you later.
19:39There's a lot to see.
19:42Off the reception is an office that doubles as a laundry room.
19:48Reached by the kitchen or its own entrance,
19:51Matt and Mark are investigating the self-contained studio flat,
19:55which has planning permission to add a floor above,
19:58and comes with a kitchenette plus separate shower room.
20:03I presume that's the en suite in there.
20:06Looks like there's a nice view of the garden.
20:10Up on the top floor of the main house are three bedrooms,
20:14all with views to the back garden, starting with the largest, a double room.
20:19Next to this, a single room.
20:21And lastly, a guest double with built-in wardrobes.
20:26Then, two flights of stairs down, the lower ground floor offers another option
20:31for self-contained accommodation, including a reception room with access to the garden.
20:37This would be, I presume, your lounge seating area.
20:43To one side of this is a family bathroom, and to the other, a double bedroom, again with a kitchenette.
20:49We'd fit it better with the high tissues, I think, from the cusp.
20:56Outside, the plot of around half an acre includes handy off-street parking on the front driveway.
21:03There are also a couple of sheds.
21:05And to the rear, a generous garden provides a patio, a wildlife pond,
21:11and lots of lawn for cats or kids to romp on.
21:15This is exactly what...
21:17Who's looking for for Otto?
21:19For Otto, yeah.
21:20This also comes with private river frontage that includes fishing rights.
21:25The owners, when their children were younger, they had a little picket fence across for safety,
21:29but the kids loved the river, so they used to paddle in it, we used to wade up to the
21:34shop and back.
21:35Wild water swimming.
21:36Yeah, you're paddling.
21:38So you've had time to take stock of the property. There is an awful lot to it.
21:43What's the overall feeling? What are we thinking for this house?
21:47It's been surprising, obviously, from the front being one thing and being something from the back.
21:53Uh, I reckon...
21:56800.
21:57800,000 pounds. Mark?
22:00I think it's going to be higher. I reckon it's around the 900.
22:04If I said to you the asking price is...
22:07I feel there should be a drum roll.
22:10750,000 pounds.
22:13I am surprised with the price and the...
22:16Pleasantly surprised.
22:17...the garden. I am, to be honest.
22:20For a guide price well below budget, this attached three-storey 1980s property offers my buyers
22:27a three-bedroom main home, a self-contained attached studio apartment with planning to extend above,
22:34and a lower ground floor one-bedroom flat. The half-acre plot backs onto a river,
22:40and it's in the heart of a lovely village just half an hour by car from Exeter.
22:46We did love the garden. It was a massive open space. The self-contained flats probably
22:53more so for teenagers, and yeah, it wouldn't work for Otto.
22:57A bit disjointed. I don't think it's as a multi-generational fit for us, so I'm not quite sure it
23:07could work.
23:07A bit disjointed.
23:14House tour's done for today. We've got a seaside catch-up with the others who are part of this move.
23:20Wives Pauline and Emma, and of course, baby Otto.
23:25Well, this is lovely. It feels like the final piece of the jigsaw meeting you both.
23:29And Otto, obviously, as well, the star of the show. How do you think they've done today?
23:35Oh, it's exciting. We just want to find out more and see what's been found for us.
23:40Well, you should give the feedback.
23:41The first house, there was like separate living. That would probably work for both families.
23:47And then the second one was a bigger property with lots of individual bits,
23:53but the bits didn't quite fit together. It may have done with some work.
23:59What we're tending to see today is homes that need a little bit of work.
24:03OK. I'm surprised what you can get down there for your money.
24:07Both houses, I think, have plenty of space, which is what we want.
24:12And Otto, what are you after?
24:13A nice big garden. You're playing.
24:17You are, aren't you? You can crawl about and climb.
24:20And this is going to make a huge difference to all your lives, isn't it, Emma?
24:23Definitely. I think, at the moment, we live quite far away from each other.
24:26So, in terms of childcare, it's quite difficult.
24:28Just him seeing his grandparents more often as well, really.
24:31And we've obviously got something special tomorrow lined up, so we'll see.
24:35Can't wait for the mystery house, then, can we?
24:37Yeah. Come on to you.
24:38You're not going to sleep tonight. I'm definitely not going to sleep tonight.
24:42Well, let's see how we get on tomorrow with the mystery house.
24:45I'm excited. I'm excited, yes.
25:00The average price paid for a detached house in Devon over the last year sits at £483,000.
25:08That's £42,000 above the average for the UK as a whole.
25:13For those looking to spend less but still reap the benefits of my buyer's search area this week,
25:19opting for an attached home can yield results.
25:27For £240,000, this attached cottage in a small village will delight lovers of character and charm.
25:35There are two double bedrooms and a very pretty and private garden with a summer house,
25:41all safely enclosed for any children or pets.
25:45And staying with the rustic, this Grade II listed three-bedroom thatched and attached cottage
25:50will shiver the original timbers of anyone looking to live in a popular village not far from the sea.
25:57Drink in the scenery as you dine al fresco in the garden.
26:01On the market for £450,000.
26:07If modern vibes are more what floats your boat,
26:09this contemporary detached one-bedroom waterfront home with a private slipway and boathouse
26:16could be yours for a guide price of £550,000.
26:21Hot tub by separate negotiation.
26:26Today we've got more of this gorgeous county to explore with Matt and Mark,
26:32including our mystery house that can accommodate two families living side by side
26:38with more space and they'll know what to do with.
26:43My Devonian mystery pic is rurally situated near the village of Trusham
26:49and a five-mile drive from the shops and services of Bobby Tracy.
26:54Set at the edge of Dartmoor, the town has supermarkets, pubs, tea rooms, restaurants,
27:00dental services, plus a good range of local groups and activities to get stuck into.
27:05But before I send Matt and Mark to recce the location,
27:09we're starting our second day of house hunting in the town's Riverside Park.
27:16So I thought I'd bring you to the historic market town of Bobby Tracy.
27:20People know it really is the gateway to Dartmoor National Park.
27:23The river Bobby runs through it.
27:25There's lots of trails around here, bike trails, running trails.
27:29So I'm into my running and I've done some half-mouthings.
27:33Have you?
27:33Walking looks superb here, do you know what I mean?
27:36Gateway to the moors, what more do you need?
27:38I know. This is a lovely community.
27:39Look at the play area for Otto there.
27:42So this could be somewhere you'd come to if you like our mystery house.
27:47It's not that far from here, you'll be pleased to know.
27:49So I want you to go and have a little mooch around.
27:51If you find any Devon fudge, I'd like you to get me a packet.
27:54Right. That's a small request.
27:56I'll let you go. You're going to go in that direction.
27:59Right. I'm off down there. I'll see you shortly.
28:01Thank you. Thank you.
28:04Leaving my buyers to familiarise themselves with the area
28:08and, fingers crossed, track down that fudge,
28:11I've got the sweet treat of a sneak peek into my mystery property for you.
28:16So this is a beautiful country cottage dating back to the 1700s.
28:21I mean, just look at that for a fireplace.
28:24There is the compromise of semi-detached, but that's not the twist here.
28:30We have not one, but two mystery houses with a hidden element.
28:36And that's why it's our mystery house.
28:38Now, do you know what? I'm not going to tell you.
28:41I'm going to wait till the boys arrive and all will be revealed.
28:49I am super excited to show you both our mystery house.
28:56It's...
28:57..'sizz'.
29:02It's...
29:03Words aren't coming at the moment.
29:05Oh!
29:05First impressions, it's getting close to kind of the wow factor.
29:10Ooh!
29:11We are semi-detached, so you do have neighbours there.
29:14We have got an excellent bungalow next door.
29:18All self-contained.
29:19If that wasn't enough, and we're going to throw a curved tennis ball your way...
29:25You're getting better.
29:26Oh, is that right?
29:26Yeah.
29:26I'm going to come for lessons, I tell you.
29:28You're the professional.
29:30As you go down, all the way down to the river at the end, the River Teen,
29:33there's a stable block on the side.
29:35That is included.
29:36Then if you follow the land around, all five acres of it, you've got a barn.
29:42And in that barn, you have a shower, facilities.
29:47So family could come to stay.
29:49And also, should you ever want to do some coaching,
29:52you've got enough room for a couple of tennis courts there.
29:55Wow.
29:55I do miss it.
29:56Do you?
29:56So I'd love to get back into it.
29:59Phew.
30:00There's a lot to get around with this property.
30:02Shall we get started?
30:04Yes, the surprise is that this mystery house is not just two homes,
30:08it's a five-acre smallholding, a challenge I hope they're up for
30:13as we enter through the gate of the Grade II listed attached cottage
30:17to access the hall and travel back into the 18th century.
30:21You can tell we're stepping back into a little bit of history.
30:27It's got a lot of character, this room.
30:29Yeah.
30:30It's certainly unlike anything we've seen before.
30:32No.
30:32I think Emma would love it.
30:33I'll let you explore on your own.
30:35Matt, if you wouldn't mind leading the way.
30:40Perhaps Mark and Matt will come to an agreement as to who has what as back through the cottage
30:45hall or entered via another front door, there's a country kitchen diner for them to assess.
30:52A kitchen maid for Emma.
30:54Emma would, yeah, love it in this space.
30:58Again off a hall is a study where Matt could work from home and a handy cloakroom.
31:04Spiral stairs in the reception room lead to three bedrooms.
31:09Crikey, comes complete with cash.
31:11Yes.
31:13At the far end, a spacious double in the eaves.
31:17Wow.
31:18We know this is yours and Emma's.
31:21Yes, Emma would love this space with these amazing views as well.
31:26There's a family bathroom and then Otto could have his pick of two bedrooms,
31:32a single or a double with built-in wardrobes.
31:38Outside, there's a lovingly created cottage garden perfect for a morning cuppa and enough to keep
31:44felines a feline fine.
31:50So that leaves the question of a home for Mark and Pauline.
31:53Cue the bungalow the current owners built for their own multi-generational living 20 years ago,
32:00where I'm rejoining the party to lead them through past the kitchen
32:04and onto an L-shaped reception with doors to the garden.
32:08So very different feel.
32:10Yes.
32:11This really does benefit from the garden and you've got an outside area there for entertaining.
32:17It's perfect to be honest though. I'm going to have first dibs on this.
32:21We're going to agree on this one.
32:22We don't normally agree.
32:24I think this would be perfect for you and Pauline.
32:27There's no arm wrestling involved.
32:30It's a plan coming together.
32:32We're getting very warm with this one, aren't we?
32:34Yes.
32:35And you haven't seen everything yet.
32:36and check out the rest of the bungalow and then go for a wander around your five acres
32:42and then I'll meet you when you're ready. But take your time.
32:46The bungalow has two bedrooms, a double with access to the garden
32:50and another good-sized double giving a choice for a principal or guests.
32:56Can you see you and Pauline in this room?
32:59I think we could. I think we could.
33:01A utility with outside access doubles as a boot room
33:05and next to this is a shower room.
33:10Then there are various outbuildings to consider,
33:14including that two-storey, four-room barn with a shower
33:18from where Mark and Matt can survey what could be their five-acre estate.
33:23They've got possibilities and lots of room for thought, I think.
33:28And those thoughts turn to how much room this mammoth-sized mystery
33:32might leave in their £950,000 budget.
33:37You two have done very well.
33:39I wasn't sure how long I was going to lose you for.
33:42I'm feeling overwhelmed, to be honest, how much land this property has to offer.
33:48We're going to have to put a price on all of this.
33:50It's the most difficult one.
33:52I'd love it to be the £950,000, but I've just got a feeling it's got to be over.
33:57Maybe £980,000.
33:59£980,000, Matt.
34:01Well, I'm going to go for £950,000.
34:06£950,000, the bang at the top of your budget.
34:08Yes. OK, well, brace yourselves.
34:11You ready?
34:13Asking price. Don't look so pained.
34:15I promise you, it's not that painful.
34:19£835,000.
34:21Is there... Is there something... A catch, or...?
34:24There is no catch.
34:26You're making me well up now.
34:27You're making me.
34:29Are you getting emotional?
34:30Who said men don't cry?
34:32I just can't believe it's that price.
34:34I know.
34:36It's happy tears for this attached 18th-century cottage
34:40with a contemporary bungalow that gives them five bedrooms across two homes.
34:46There's extra accommodation in a barn,
34:48plus there's a stable block and room for a tennis court, all three,
34:52in those five acres of land, all in a scenic rural location
34:56within a short drive of shops and services.
35:00The mystery house has the wow factor.
35:03I just love it.
35:04And also, just the views around the property is just stunning.
35:09Too good to be true.
35:10You've matched everything we asked for and more.
35:15The only thing you missed was Matt's en-suite, but I'm sure that isn't the downside.
35:20I think he can cope with that with everything else you've given us.
35:32For many people living and working in the countryside, it's their surroundings amongst all of this
35:39that gives them their inspiration, just like it does for Jessica.
35:44I'm originally from Devon, but at the age of 18 I decided I wanted to have a go at living
35:52in the cities.
35:53I first went to Plymouth to study my foundation diploma and then went on to Manchester to study
35:59textile design. And then I moved to Bristol for work and quickly realised that city life
36:07wasn't really for me. And I'm now living here on the edge of Exmouth.
36:11I've got nature, I've got the coastline, and I've got acres of more land to explore and to constantly be
36:17inspired by.
36:19And Jessica quite literally weaves the natural influences from her remote corner of North Devon
36:25into beautiful wool fabric, using hand looms in her home workshop.
36:33Jessica, so lovely to meet you. And you have brought me to the most beautiful spot.
36:38It's an absolutely stunning location, I can't really complain.
36:42And actually making the decision to move to Royal Devon, that was behind it, was it?
36:47Yeah, so just constant being out in nature. I kind of collect it all in my head and then
36:52sit at the loom and just start having a play and see what works.
36:55Well this must be one of the most enviable commutes to work.
36:59Out of these outbuildings, which one is your workshop?
37:01We're heading over here, just literally a few metres across the road.
37:05Let's see, there's no driving, there's no motorways.
37:07No, it's lovely.
37:08You've just got to look out for the cows and the sheep, haven't you?
37:11Yes, and the horses.
37:14Oh, this is beautiful.
37:16I'm loving your office.
37:17It's pretty impressive.
37:19Now that loom looks particularly old, is it?
37:22Yes, so this was actually my first loom that I got after leaving university.
37:27It was found rotting in a shed by some family friends,
37:30and I brought it back to life and it's one of my favourite looms.
37:33Gosh, so can I see you in action?
37:36You can indeed.
37:39Jessica works with 100% pure lambswool, sourced from discarded yarn that would otherwise be thrown away.
37:46So this here, these are your levers which lift your shafts and that separates your warp,
37:52which you can then put your weft, which is coming from left and right.
37:55Lifting those down, that brings it back to flat and we've got no gap to go through.
37:59Yeah.
37:59And then if we lift those, squeak, you'll see that there's a gap there again,
38:04which is what we're putting the weft arm through.
38:06And that's fine.
38:06And then you've just got to give it a good beat each time and it beats it in.
38:11So we're alternating on colours for this as well, so we are threading that through.
38:15You're explaining that so well and my brain really isn't taking it in because I'm thinking,
38:21how do you get that end result?
38:23It's a magical process.
38:25It is.
38:26Would you like to have a go?
38:26Can I?
38:27Yeah, of course.
38:28And we've just done a row of whites, so we're wanting the grey.
38:31So you can pass that through the opening or the shed.
38:35If you keep it to the back, it sometimes makes it a bit easier.
38:38You did it so quickly, look at me.
38:40Pull that one through.
38:41Yeah.
38:41Lovely, that'll do.
38:43Yeah.
38:43And then you're going to change the shafts, so if you lift those up.
38:47Wee!
38:47Yes, it's got a mind of its own.
38:50And then we can lift these ones down.
38:52Sounds like my knees.
38:55Very squeaky, that's fine.
38:56And then sometimes if you just beat it forward,
38:59so you've got to beat that one forward to put it in place,
39:01you can be quite rough with it.
39:03There you go.
39:04I love the fact that these heritage crafts haven't changed.
39:08No.
39:09I just love the fact that it's this slow and...
39:12Well, it's not that slow, let's be honest, Jessica.
39:16It's a little slower than usual today.
39:18Give it a tiny bit.
39:19It's fine, you're doing well.
39:20A beat.
39:21A beat, yes.
39:23OK, I have done two very, very small rows out of thousands.
39:30Yes.
39:31Do you ever forget which one you've just done?
39:33Sometimes.
39:34Yes.
39:35I think industrial looms can weave a thousand picks a minute,
39:38so a pick is what you've kind of just done.
39:40They weave a thousand of those in a minute.
39:43I love the fact that this is your passion, this is your way of life,
39:48and it isn't just about the loom and the yarn and the business.
39:51It's about everything surrounding us here in Devon,
39:54and you're creating a livelihood for yourself at the same time.
39:57I feel very lucky.
39:58I would say I'll help you finish it, but we might still be here next month.
40:03It's OK, I've got quite a big order to get through.
40:07Ah, well, let's see if any of my properties
40:10successfully weave their spell on my buyers here in magical Devon.
40:17So, trying to find new lifestyles and homes for five people
40:22was always going to be a difficult task,
40:24but have we got close with the mystery house?
40:28Shall we go and ask them?
40:33Well, I brought us to a lovely, very picturesque spot,
40:35so that we could have a proper chat.
40:37Because it is one thing coming here on holiday,
40:39Yes.
40:40and it's another thing looking at it with fresh eyes,
40:42as in we are going to actually move here as a family.
40:45It certainly is.
40:46The last few days you've taken us to, shall we say,
40:49the real Devon with the real people,
40:51which isn't just the holiday side of it, it's the real deal.
40:55We try to do that.
40:56We try to explore areas that you might not have been to before,
41:00take you off the beaten track.
41:01Frank, what about the properties? Have we got close to any?
41:05I think you've got close. In fact, I think you've hit the target.
41:09Really? Come on, tell me, tell me.
41:11The mystery house, it works because the separate living spaces,
41:16and also there's opportunities for different projects.
41:21Business niches, perhaps.
41:23Yes. It really exceeded expectations.
41:26We're very mindful it isn't just about the two of you.
41:29We have made a phone call to see if we could do a second visit.
41:33Have you?
41:33But take the girls this time, and Otto.
41:36Oh, let us know how you get on, won't you?
41:38Of course. Yeah. Of course.
41:40And also, I've got a little treat for you.
41:43A little bit of Devon fudge to go with my cup of tea.
41:47How lovely. It's a sweet ending, isn't it?
41:50It is.
41:51A sweet ending.
41:52Thank you. We do wish you the best.
41:55I can't wait to hear how you get on.
41:56Thank you very much.
41:57And thank you for your help finding something.
41:59Here's to you being Devonians.
42:01I think that's what I'm going to call you Devonians.
42:03Thank you. Cheers.
42:09I feel a sense of fulfilment having spent the last few days with Mark and Matt,
42:15especially finishing with that beautiful mystery house,
42:19with the second accommodation.
42:21It had land, it had stables, and also that barn.
42:25Now, I can't second guess what their wives are going to think,
42:28but if they do have similar tastes, we could be looking at a very positive outcome.
42:35So I'm keeping everything crossed and wish them all the very best for their move here to Devon.
42:41So that's it from me. I'll see you again very soon.
42:48If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales,
42:53and need our help, why not apply online at bpc.co.uk, forward slash, take part.
43:00MUSIC PLAYS
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