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00:01It's a Suffolk homecoming for me today, property hunting with a mother-daughter double act.
00:06Oh my goodness, how gorgeous is that?
00:08This is beautiful.
00:09What a beautiful garden.
00:11They're after room to grow and rooms to let.
00:14Oh, what a great space. I'd like to come on holiday.
00:18We'll have to try each house for size.
00:21So we don't think it's too big, too small?
00:24No, I don't think either.
00:27Purely in the name of research, of course.
00:31Oh, are you all right there?
00:32Well, I'm just trying to get in the zone of what your new guests might be enjoying.
00:57Last year, Suffolk welcomed more than 36 million visitors.
01:02From its wool towns to its coastline, this is a county made for escape.
01:08Whether that's for a day or for a lifetime.
01:12Suffolk isn't just about gorgeous countryside and lovely coastlines.
01:16It's also switching on to the future, too.
01:19Right across this county, communities and businesses are investing in cleaner energy and greener infrastructure.
01:27All together, defining Suffolk now as a county that is definitely looking forward to a sustainable future.
01:35Suffolk lies to the far edge of East Anglia, the UK's most easterly county.
01:41Some 50 miles of coast is dotted with holiday resorts, including the colourful town of Southwold and the enchanting village
01:48of Thorpness.
01:50It looks on the surface quite a sleepy place, quite traditional.
01:54It's a very rural county.
01:55But it's also perhaps an interesting and more alternative place than you might expect.
01:59We have a Green Party MP.
02:01We've got, in mid-Suffolk, the country's only majority Green Party district council.
02:06A lot of artists and creative people have traditionally been attracted to this part of the world and moved here.
02:12It's just got an awful lot going for it as a place to live.
02:15In 2018, the county created the UK's first open access EV charging network for electric vehicles.
02:23And now, with 6,000 new charging points on the way, the county is powering towards its goal of net
02:29zero by 2030.
02:32So, in a county famed for its wide open skies, it's nice to know Suffolk is committed to keeping the
02:38air beneath them clear.
02:41Now, when today's couple, a mother and daughter duo, came knocking on our front door asking for help,
02:47well, I couldn't help but feel a little bit nostalgic because they've decided to house hunt in my old patch
02:54where I grew up.
02:59Our move to Suffolk is something that we've been thinking about for several years.
03:03Keep talking about it and time keeps going on and on.
03:06And if we let too much more time pass by, maybe we won't do it at all then.
03:10So, now's the time. Take the ball by the horns.
03:13Retail assistant Karen has spent her entire life in the Essex coastal city of Southend-on-Sea.
03:20Along with her husband Richard, home for the past 35 years has been a four-bed detached property where they
03:26raise their now grown-up children.
03:28So, the reason we've chosen to move to Suffolk is we've spent lots of time up there on holidays and
03:34mini-breaks.
03:35I just want to have a bit more space around us and a bit more greenery and just not feel
03:39quite so hemmed in like we do.
03:42Karen also hopes the county is where her long-held dream of running a holiday-let business will be realised.
03:48She's enlisted the help of her daughter Amy to support her on the search.
03:53My plan is to move with mum and dad initially and then I plan to move abroad hopefully in the
03:59near future.
03:59But it would be great to find a lovely house that me and my brother can come back to and
04:04still feel like it's home.
04:06That is very important to me. I do want the next place that we live in Suffolk to be, feel
04:10like home for you.
04:12With the current home already sold, the only thing standing between them and their new life in Suffolk is the
04:18right property.
04:20When I think of mum and dad making this move, I think it's just going to have such a positive
04:26impact on their lives.
04:28You don't realise how stressed you are all the time, especially when you live in a very busy place.
04:33You don't realise and I think it's actually sometimes going up to Suffolk on breaks and you think,
04:39you just feel like your whole body starts to relax. It would be nice to feel like that all the
04:44time.
04:47Karen and Amy are working with a £600,000 budget to find a low-maintenance property with open-plan living
04:54and holiday-let potential.
04:55It should have a minimum of three bedrooms, including a principal en-suite and they'd like to have amenities close
05:02at hand.
05:13Well, needless to say, I am delighted to be back in Suffolk.
05:16And it's clearly worked its magic on today's buyers because it's persuaded them to move away from somewhere they've known
05:24for decades.
05:2535 years in the same house. Wow. Moving and saying goodbye to all of that is an emotional wrench.
05:33There's no two ways about it. But fingers crossed, what they find here in East Anglia will more than make
05:41up for it.
05:47And where better to meet my buyers than at the historic hamlet of Pin Mill,
05:52a place long associated with Suffolk's maritime trade and industrial heritage.
05:58Wow, look at this. This is one of my favourite spots.
06:01It's beautiful. Really beautiful. Very peaceful.
06:04Isn't it just? Yeah.
06:05Well, Karen, Amy, welcome to Escape to the Country and welcome to a part of the world I was lucky
06:12enough to grow up in,
06:13but where you now want to make your new home.
06:16We do. We do. It's beautiful.
06:18And you've sold, right?
06:20We have. We've accepted an offer.
06:22Wow. So it's all ready to go.
06:24I know. It's getting real now.
06:27Now, as I understand it, this is the first time, Karen, that you personally have ever gone in search of
06:33a house.
06:33It is, actually.
06:34Yourself. Yes.
06:35How has that come to be?
06:37I moved down the road from my parents' house into my husband's house.
06:41Wow.
06:4235 years ago.
06:43So that was it. There was no choice to be had.
06:45No. We made a lot of changes and it became home. I've never thought of it as anything else.
06:49It's our home. It's where the children grew up.
06:52Now, I know that you're also interested in creating something of a holiday let.
06:58After many years selling the idea to so many other people, I decided to jump in myself.
07:03About three or four years ago, we created a holiday let, Shepherd's Hut, at home.
07:08And I have to say, it's been great fun. Really rewarding.
07:11Not without its challenges. It can be hard work. But I'd certainly recommend it.
07:15Is that the sort of thing that you're interested in doing?
07:17Yeah, I'm open, actually. Either if there's an annex already there or if there isn't, if there's a bit of
07:22space,
07:22I'd definitely be open to a Shepherd's Hut or a lodge of some cabin, something like that.
07:27So we've got some money to spend. We've got some property, some people and some places to visit. Shall we?
07:34Yes. Come on then, follow me.
07:39Our first stop is on the Shotley Peninsula, sandwiched between the rivers Orwell and Stour, in the village of Chilmond
07:46Diston.
07:47It's just a mile from Pin Mill, around a 20-minute walk from its famous Button Oyster public house,
07:52first recorded as a pub in 1553, nearly five centuries ago, when the pub was also used as a court.
08:00But the property we're about to investigate is much, much greener.
08:06So, as you can see, not a million miles away from Pin Mill and the River Orwell, we've got this
08:11for you. What do you think?
08:14Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It almost looks like it's been newly painted. It's not as old as our house.
08:21And it looks like it's had... But it's got a lot of character. Yeah.
08:25I mean, stylistically, is this different to what you've got already?
08:28Oh, very different. Very different. It's a lovely style. I really like the windows and that lovely carport as well.
08:35Really nice. I mean, you have got the reassurance with this one in that it is quite new.
08:39Yeah. Oh, that's good.
08:40But it's borrowing some of the style that you'd expect to find in this part of the world.
08:45Shall we have a look? Yeah, please. Right.
08:48This detached house was built in 1984. Inside, a very spacious hallway gives access to the reception areas,
08:56which include a dedicated dining room and the dual aspect living room.
09:01In any other property, you might think this had been knocked through, but this is how it was designed.
09:04Right. To give you that kind of dual aspect and the working fireplace.
09:09Really nice. Like the patio doors out into the garden. Lovely. Yeah.
09:12I mean, I think what this offers you is a very social space because it all does flow together.
09:18So hopefully, you know, it would feel that way. Yeah, I like that. All the rooms off the hallway.
09:22Because for much of the time, it's going to be just you and Richard, right?
09:25Yeah, but I don't think from what I've seen so far that it will feel too big for us.
09:28Yeah. No. No.
09:29I can see it when, you know, Scott comes home and when I come home, we like to spend a
09:34lot of time together as a family.
09:35And I can see that in here. Yes, I think so. Definitely.
09:39Good. Let's have a look at the kitchen.
09:44So here we go then. Very much a kitchen diner, as you can tell.
09:50Lovely. Really nice. This is really nice.
09:52Yes, I like that. I like the sort of semi-island there and the eating area there. It's really nice.
09:58And the oak panelling and the oak sort of banquette, as it were, over there.
10:03That's a nice feature. Yeah, it's lovely, isn't it? Have a look. It is.
10:07Really nicely finished as well. Yeah, it's beautiful.
10:09And all the oak doors complementing the whole thing.
10:12Yeah, it's lovely. Really nicely done.
10:16Karen and Amy need a minimum of three bedrooms and here there are four doubles.
10:21All bright and well-proportioned square rooms with a smart family bathroom to top it all off.
10:28So of the four bedrooms up here, this is the only one with a dedicated en suite shower.
10:34Yeah, it's lovely. Yeah, it's really nice. It's all you need, isn't it?
10:38Flooring's nice. Yeah. I really like these doors. Aren't they nice?
10:43Yeah, they're lovely, actually. They're really nice.
10:44I mean, I think there's a few things you could tweak if you wanted to, if you wanted to upgrade
10:48a few things here and there.
10:49But it's certainly one, I think, you could just come into and get on with it.
10:54Yeah, you could.
10:55I know Karen and Amy will be keen to see the annex, which benefits from its own entrance and separate
11:01downstairs bathroom,
11:02making it well-suited for a holiday let.
11:07Ah, this is lovely. Cute little space.
11:10It's like being in a tree house or something.
11:12I can picture Dad working from home from here.
11:16Yes, possibly a little bit small for a holiday let, because I wanted it to be self-contained.
11:21So, but a lovely working space, definitely. Yeah.
11:24It's really nice.
11:25With a little bit of imagination, I was thinking that the attractive oak carport out front
11:31could be repurposed to help extend the footprint of the annex.
11:35The back garden consists of a level lawn, plus a paved patio and some outbuildings for storage.
11:41All in all, it's a lot of house, so I'm interested to know what they reckon it might cost.
11:47So, let's have a think then about the price of this one.
11:50OK.
11:50I think it's only fair that you go first, Karen.
11:53I'm going to go for £585,000.
11:56£585,000, yeah?
11:57I think I'm going to go a little bit lower.
12:00I'm going to say £550,000.
12:03£550,000.
12:04Well, the good news is this has just been reduced to £595,000.
12:12Oh, yeah.
12:13So, right, it was over £600,000 to start.
12:15Yeah, it was over £600,000 to start with.
12:16But as you can see, you get a property that you don't really need to do very much to,
12:20notwithstanding your own ambitions for a holiday let.
12:23No, it's lovely.
12:24Lovely start.
12:25Good start.
12:26Just five grand shy of their £600,000 budget,
12:30this detached home offers almost 2,000 square feet of accommodation.
12:35It's got four double bedrooms, including a principal ensuite,
12:38plus a fifth in the attached annex, and a private rear garden.
12:43I really love the kitchen in this house.
12:47It feels like a proper countryside kitchen.
12:50It feels really cosy.
12:53I think this is a real family home, and I think that's a big part of what we're looking for.
13:00My first thoughts when I approached the property were, wow, it was an amazing-looking house, really pretty.
13:07We'd have to look into the holiday let side of it, because it is quite close to our budget.
13:11But the house itself, yeah, it's a lovely house.
13:25Karen and Amy are leaving behind the buzz of Southend-on-Sea.
13:29They're ready for more space and countryside calm, but still want life's essentials close at hand.
13:35So we're taking a break from property shopping to visit the historic market town of Eye.
13:42Built around a Norman castle, it may not be Suffolk's largest town, but it more than pulls its weight.
13:48Whether that's for errands, a day out, or simply joining in with a community that locals are proud to call
13:54their own.
13:55Life in Eye is great. I've lived here all my life in and around the area, and I've traded for
14:0021 years here.
14:02People socialise, businesses all collate and help each other, so it's a really good business environment and friendly place to
14:09live, really.
14:10So welcoming, since I came in this place. Like a family, you know, they all support each other in here.
14:17Lovely people in Eye.
14:19When we opened the shop, we had local residents and local businesses all coming in to wish us well, giving
14:25us cards and gifts and generally just being really supportive.
14:28So it was absolutely fantastic.
14:31There's a strong sense of collaboration running through many of Eye's businesses, as well as a respect for the town's
14:38long history.
14:39On the edge of town, Abbey Hall is an event space built on the site of Eye's 11th Century Priory,
14:45whilst back in town, Bank Arts Centre is its cultural heart today.
14:51Established in 2012, it provides inclusive access to social and skills development opportunities through the arts.
14:58The centre director, John Betts, made his own move from Essex to Suffolk seven years ago, so Karen and Amy
15:05are meeting him for a chat.
15:09John, this building looks amazing. Can you tell us what sort of things you do here at the Arts Centre?
15:14So it's a non-profit arts centre. It's run by predominantly volunteers.
15:19We have lots of different types of evening events, including comedy, live music.
15:24We also do lots of workshops for different creative subjects. We've got a lovely gallery space.
15:30And we try and make sure we do as much as possible to keep the community happy.
15:35Yeah, it's really nice.
15:36And how have you found your transition to life in Suffolk?
15:40I love it. The community is fantastic. The countryside is beautiful.
15:46It's a pleasure not having to queue in traffic all the time to do short distances.
15:52Everything's just here. It's fantastic.
15:54And why did you get involved in the Arts Centre?
15:57When I first came to the place, the first room I went into after walking through the front door was
16:01the vault downstairs,
16:02which is the original bank vault. It was just a disused storeroom at the time, but I absolutely fell for
16:08the place.
16:09I had this idea that it could be a great place for kids to do training and gaming.
16:14And since then, we've had over a thousand kids come through for training sessions, and it's been very successful.
16:21With shops and services, plus plenty of ways to get stuck into local life,
16:26I looks like it would be a welcoming spot for Karen, Amy and the rest of the family.
16:30But now, let's get back to our search.
16:37Travelling into Mid-Suffolk, our next stop is in the village of Great Brysett.
16:42Just five miles from the historic town of Needham Market,
16:46Great Brysett is known for its thatched cottages and 12th century church.
16:52There's plenty of trails to explore in the surrounding countryside,
16:55and a welcoming pub to return to afterwards.
16:59Our second property looks out onto that landscape.
17:02So this is it.
17:04Oh, lovely.
17:06Come with me.
17:06Really pretty.
17:08But it's best viewed from the rear, where the full scale of what's on offer comes into view.
17:14Wow. Very nice.
17:16So you get that, you get that, and you get all of this.
17:20Yeah. Wow.
17:22It's really nice. Really lovely.
17:25It's lovely. I love the colour of it.
17:27Yeah, it's these sort of pastel colours Suffolk is famous for, not least the Suffolk pink.
17:33But this is lovely, this ochre, I would describe it as.
17:36Come and have a look.
17:40This substantial detached home is thought to have been built around 1900.
17:45Entering at the rear, our tour begins in the breakfast room which adjoins the kitchen.
17:50Okay.
17:52There we go.
17:53Oh, lovely.
17:54Oh, I like this.
17:55Oh, that's really nice, isn't it?
17:57Yeah.
17:57It's lovely.
17:58Yeah.
17:58Well, you've mentioned open plan.
18:00You know, I wouldn't say it's a dedicated open plan sort of set up, but it's certainly got a nod
18:05to it.
18:06Yeah, it feels like it.
18:06The kitchen obviously in two halves, dining there, kitchen here, there's a utility room through there with loads of space.
18:13That is, it does feel very open.
18:15I like how you've got...
18:16And with the big window out to the garden as well.
18:18Yeah, exactly.
18:18You can be cooking and looking out onto the garden.
18:21I like that.
18:21Yeah.
18:23Beautiful.
18:23Oh, so we don't think it's too big, too small?
18:27No.
18:28Don't think either.
18:30Excellent.
18:31Just right.
18:31Excellent.
18:32Well, if you want a sense of open plan, have a look at this.
18:36Here we go.
18:37Look at that.
18:37All the family.
18:38Oh, wow.
18:39Lovely.
18:40Sat around there.
18:41Really nice.
18:43I really like this.
18:44Lovely space.
18:45You can see how it's been adapted and, you know, improved over the years.
18:48And then you've got another huge reception room in here.
18:51Oh.
18:52Right, yeah.
18:53It feels cosy and you've got that sort of cottage feel but then it's still bright and then sort of,
18:59yeah.
18:59I like how each room kind of like flows into the next one.
19:03They all do that.
19:04Yeah.
19:04Yeah, that's the joy of this.
19:05I'm thinking our furniture will go quite well in here as well, which is obviously something to consider.
19:12You see, I love it.
19:13Amy's moving in.
19:14I am.
19:14In my head I'm already here.
19:18The ground floor is made for family gatherings.
19:21Then upstairs five bedrooms mean there's space for everyone to stay.
19:26Karen and Amy are taking some time to explore these rooms by themselves.
19:32Oh, wow.
19:33Lovely.
19:34It's a good size, this room.
19:35Yes.
19:36And the fact that you've got all refitted wardrobes, you don't really need to put anything else in here, do
19:41you?
19:41So there's plenty of room.
19:42I like this sort of built-in dressing table.
19:47Yeah, that's really cute.
19:47Yeah, I like it and the en suite.
19:49Yeah.
19:49Which is a good size.
19:50It's a very good size, yeah.
19:52I have a good feeling about this one.
19:53It's very nice, I like it, yeah.
19:56The property's separate annex is also set up and ready to go, with its own section of garden outside and
20:02two bedrooms inside.
20:04And because it's already established, running it couldn't be simpler.
20:11Oh, I like this.
20:12Oh, this is really nice.
20:13Yeah, this is really nice.
20:15Oh, what a great space.
20:16Great size.
20:18It's a little kitchen area.
20:20That's perfect, isn't it?
20:21It is.
20:22I'd like to come on holiday.
20:24Yeah.
20:25Come and help me decorate it.
20:26I will, definitely.
20:29The double garage offers potential should they wish to extend the annex further.
20:34And another huge bonus here are the solar panels located on the sunnier side of the annex.
20:39A renewable energy source which also helps to reduce bills.
20:46The main garden has been zoned to make the most of the sun at different times of day.
20:50So that might mean mornings in the hot tub and evenings on the terrace.
20:55This is great.
20:56I'm loving it.
20:57I'm loving the smiles because it tells me you're excited about it.
21:01I think we are.
21:02Yeah.
21:03I really like this house.
21:04Yeah?
21:04Yeah.
21:05Okay.
21:05Well, let's have a think about the price then, shall we?
21:07Because all of that's going to have an important bearing on your deliberations.
21:11Amy, your mum went first last time.
21:13Yeah.
21:13So.
21:15I think this one is probably at the top end of our budget.
21:18So I think it is probably 600.
21:20That's my guess.
21:21600,000 pounds.
21:23Yeah?
21:24625.
21:25I think it's over.
21:26Yeah.
21:27You see the wisdom.
21:29The wisdom of mum.
21:30This is on the market for 600 and, curiously, 37,000 pounds.
21:37Right.
21:37However, they are keen to sell.
21:41Okay.
21:41And I would suggest around your budget, maybe a little bit more.
21:44Who knows?
21:44But I don't think you'd need to go all the way.
21:46And if you did satisfy them on the price, they'd probably throw in the hot tub.
21:50Hopefully.
21:51Right.
21:52I'm well informed.
21:53Whether for you or your guests.
21:55Yeah.
21:55Yeah.
21:5837,000 pounds over budget, but with vendors motivated to sell, this detached country home
22:04has room for the whole family, with four reception rooms and five bedrooms.
22:09There are two more bedrooms in the annex, plus further holiday-let potential in the double
22:14garage.
22:16This house, for the first time, perhaps more than the last one, I could actually see us
22:20living here.
22:21It just feels right for our family.
22:24I can see our furniture here.
22:25Yeah.
22:25It has got pretty much everything that we asked for, really.
22:28Yeah.
22:29The garden's really nice, walking around the side like that.
22:32It's really pretty.
22:32And the style of it is really nice, and the final question is, yes, can we see ourselves
22:36here?
22:37I think in this house we can.
22:38Yes, I think we can.
22:39Yeah.
22:41Well, after such a successful house tour, the ladies are taking one more look at that
22:46wonderful annex to consider exactly how they might make it work for them.
22:54I was thinking, like, there's a great outside space there just for the holiday-let.
22:59Yeah.
22:59But if we could try and keep it a little bit separate from our garden.
23:03Our garden.
23:04Put some sort of a hedge up there or something.
23:07Yeah.
23:07Make it private for them as well.
23:08Yeah.
23:08It should suit them as well.
23:10I think that's it.
23:10Can I come in?
23:11I don't want to interrupt the floor.
23:13Can I come in?
23:14Yeah, got some ideas then?
23:15I think so.
23:16Yeah, I think we have.
23:17Yeah.
23:17It's a really great space.
23:18It's quite a blank canvas at the moment, so I think there's probably a lot you could
23:22do with it.
23:22I think that's exactly how I would describe it.
23:25But all the key things are here, all the services and all of that.
23:28Yeah.
23:28And it's all a really good size as well.
23:29Yeah.
23:30So it's exciting, isn't it?
23:31It is exciting.
23:32Is this sense of excitement, Amy, helping get over the hurdle of leaving Southend behind,
23:38do you think?
23:39I think so, yeah.
23:40I think when you can see somewhere new and actually see our family here.
23:44Yeah, it makes a difference.
23:45Yeah.
23:46Because I think this, if I'm honest, this is the first time I've actually been able
23:50to see it.
23:51And yeah.
23:52In this house.
23:53It's a nice feeling.
23:53Yeah.
23:54Good.
23:54I think so.
23:55Well, that would suggest we're getting somewhere.
23:57Yeah.
23:58Well, it's not over yet.
24:00One more day tomorrow.
24:01Yes.
24:01Yeah.
24:01One more property to come.
24:03Famous mystery house.
24:05But I'm delighted to think that we have at least got one good viable option.
24:10Yes, I think so.
24:11Definitely.
24:11On the table for you.
24:12Definitely.
24:13Okay.
24:13Fancy a drink?
24:14Yeah.
24:15Sounds good.
24:15Let's go.
24:16Come on.
24:35Right now, house prices in Suffolk are a tiny bit higher than the national figure,
24:39with buyers paying on average just under £439,000 for a detached property compared to £438,000
24:47across the UK.
24:49The best value in the county is found in East Suffolk, which includes towns like Framlingham
24:54and Lower Stoft, where the average figure falls to around £415,000.
25:01Here's a small selection of other properties currently available that might just inspire your own move to Suffolk.
25:09This two-bedroom end of terrace in a mid-Suffolk village is ideal for first-time buyers.
25:15With two reception rooms and a small low-maintenance garden, it's offered chain-free for a guy price of £250
25:22,000.
25:26All this double-fronted Victorian home has four bedrooms plus striking period features in both reception rooms.
25:33Other bonuses include a conservatory and a walled garden.
25:36It could be yours for offers in the region of £475,000.
25:43If you fancy a unique holiday in the county, this spacious yurt is one of five, each sitting in its
25:49own wildflower meadow.
25:51With access to a rustic outdoor bar and a natural play area, the yurt sleeps six, with prices starting at
25:58£115 per night.
26:06Well, we have one more day of house hunting ahead of us with Karen and with Amy.
26:10Of course, much of this search focused upon their wish to create a holiday let.
26:15We've given them some options already, but our mystery house now, our final offering,
26:20will, I hope, give them the opportunity to build one from scratch
26:23and we can get a real sense of just what this new life they're picturing will look like.
26:30Our mystery house is taking us to the village of Little Waldingfield,
26:35which benefits from being just three miles from popular Lavenham.
26:38One of the best preserved medieval villages in England,
26:41Lavenham's timber frame buildings are a legacy of the wealth once brought by the wool trade.
26:46The village is still thriving today, so Karen and Amy are taking some time
26:51to explore its independent shops and cafes, whilst I go on ahead to the property.
26:58So here then is our mystery house, our final property of the week and also the smallest.
27:04But at the end of the day, for much of the time, it is going to be just Richard and
27:08Karen here.
27:14Well, what our mystery house may lack in size, it more than makes up for in a crisp, recently renovated
27:20finish,
27:20but it also crucially comes with a holiday let option.
27:25Well, tucked away at the end of its very long and beautifully arranged garden is this completely separate space.
27:34I think this is crying out for a bespoke and bigger holiday let right here.
27:40What's more, it overlooks the village church.
27:43For anybody wishing to get away for a weekend and enjoy a quintessential view of the English countryside,
27:49I am confident this would work.
27:54The Lavenham walk complete, the stage is set for Karen and Amy's final property tour.
28:00Well, good morning you two.
28:01Morning.
28:02Aren't you feeling inspired by what you've just seen in Lavenham?
28:05Yes, beautiful, beautiful town.
28:08Isn't it gorgeous?
28:08I mean, I love all of this county to be frank, but this area, this patch, the architecture,
28:14the sense of history and community that comes with these villages, just super.
28:18But in terms of property, yeah, what do you think, Amy?
28:21I think it's gorgeous.
28:22Yeah, it looks fairly new, actually.
28:25Well, you may be picking up on the fact that the windows are all new.
28:28There's a hint of the recent renovations that have made over this essentially late Victorian building
28:34into an interior design treat, okay, which I think will appeal to both of you.
28:40Yeah, definitely.
28:41Yeah, really nice.
28:42It's very different to what we've seen, but it's nice to see a variety of houses.
28:45Okay, let's see what you think.
28:46Come on.
28:47This is going to be a treat.
28:49This double-fronted Victorian cottage is our only semi-detached property of the week.
28:55Come on in, grab the door, Amy.
28:56Lovely.
28:57Here we are.
28:59Ooh.
28:59Really nice.
29:00Yeah.
29:02And inside, the stylish entrance hall is presently used as an office.
29:09And then it leads down into this.
29:11This is nice.
29:12Yeah.
29:13This is gorgeous.
29:14Isn't it?
29:15That travels onto the garden, which looks beautiful.
29:17Yes, you've got a utility room round there, downstairs Lou, etc.
29:21Yeah.
29:22Ooh.
29:23Brilliant.
29:24Yeah, that's beautiful.
29:26I'm a big fan.
29:28You're a big fan?
29:28Yeah, I thought you would be.
29:30Yeah.
29:30It's really nice.
29:31It's really nice.
29:32Lovely.
29:32Beautifully done.
29:33It's exquisite, really.
29:35I can't wait to see them on.
29:37Yeah!
29:39Right, come and have a look at this.
29:40This is the living room.
29:44There.
29:45Again, probably the smallest of the lot this week, but again...
29:48Lovely room, though.
29:49Really nice.
29:50Lovely fireplace.
29:51Yes.
29:51Yeah.
29:52Yeah.
29:53It's really lighty, but it's cosy as well.
29:55Yes, it is.
29:56And they've got shutters.
29:57Yeah.
29:57You said that you wanted shutters.
29:59I don't quite like shutters.
30:00Yeah, I really love shutters.
30:01I've seen them become more prevalent over the last decade or so, but they're so effective.
30:06It's a lovely room.
30:07Yeah, it is.
30:08It's lovely.
30:08So you would be happy to visit.
30:09Would you be happy to live here?
30:11So far, yes.
30:13Good.
30:14I thought you might say that.
30:15No, it's really nice.
30:16Excellent.
30:17Really nice.
30:18I had a feeling the smart presentation here would catch Karen and Amy's eye.
30:23And upstairs tells the same story.
30:26Three bedrooms, a smaller footprint than our previous properties, but a contemporary
30:30finish that's hard to beat.
30:34Oh, this is nice.
30:36Wow.
30:37Oh, what a gorgeous bathroom.
30:39I love the floor.
30:40The floor is really nice, isn't it?
30:41And the doors as well.
30:43Yeah, and the doors as well.
30:43You said about in the last...
30:44Yeah, I like the doors.
30:45I like those finish, that finish.
30:47Yeah.
30:48This is really nice.
30:49It's been done so nicely.
30:51It has, hasn't it?
30:51It's so fresh.
30:51Jules was right about that.
30:56Oh, this is lovely.
30:58Oh, my goodness.
31:00What a gorgeous room.
31:01This feels like a hotel room.
31:02It does, doesn't it?
31:04Imagine.
31:04It's beautiful.
31:05I love the beams.
31:06And the light's gorgeous.
31:08I was going to say, what would you change?
31:09You wouldn't have to change anything here.
31:12No.
31:13It's gorgeous.
31:14Beautiful.
31:15And there's an ensuite.
31:17That's nice as well.
31:19Yeah.
31:19Lovely.
31:21Yeah, beautifully done, isn't it?
31:22I really, really like it.
31:24It really is.
31:25Full of character with modern touches that completely make the most of its rural setting.
31:32Look at this.
31:32Oh, my goodness.
31:33How gorgeous is that?
31:34This is beautiful.
31:35What a beautiful garden.
31:37I think you can see the church from here as well.
31:39Oh, that's beautiful, isn't it?
31:40Yes.
31:41And even though the house is a little bit smaller, I feel like you'll be spending so much time
31:45in the garden.
31:47Mmm.
31:48This is stunning, ma'am.
31:51Well, this is lovely.
31:54Hopefully, they're loving the rest of this property, but when they get down here, I think
31:57this could be the icing on the cake.
32:00Not because I'm lying here, but because of where I am.
32:03Oh, gorgeous.
32:08By-folds from the kitchen open onto a paved terrace, leading to a lawn that's generously
32:14filled with mature shrubs, a calm oasis in the shadow of the church.
32:18But that's only half of this garden's story, as Karen and Amy are about to discover.
32:25Oh, are you all right there?
32:29Well, I'm just trying to get in the zone of what your new guests might be enjoying.
32:34Yeah, look at this.
32:35This is amazing.
32:36I can't believe there's this much more space.
32:38Yeah.
32:38I know, I didn't expect this at all.
32:40Amazing.
32:40And it's completely separate.
32:42Yes.
32:42They've got this lovely summer house here at the moment.
32:45It's obviously not enough for a holiday let, I would suggest, but look at the thing it sits on.
32:50Yes.
32:50It's bigger, isn't it?
32:52I think you could build something bespoke here.
32:54Yeah.
32:55It's really lovely.
32:55Dad would be more than happy to do that, I think.
32:57He loves the project.
32:58Would he?
32:59Yeah.
33:00He would.
33:01Does he know what's coming?
33:02No.
33:03Not yet.
33:04No.
33:04But it's charming, isn't it?
33:06It's really lovely.
33:07It really is.
33:08And they've done all this in the last couple of years, as well as the house and the garden.
33:13I mean, they've given the whole thing, top to bottom, the most inspiring making.
33:17They really have.
33:18It's beautiful.
33:19All beautiful.
33:19It's like being on holiday in your own garden.
33:22It's a nice feeling, isn't it?
33:23That's the idea, isn't it?
33:25Okay.
33:25So, Amy.
33:27Oh, you're going first.
33:27You're going to go first on this one.
33:29Final guess of the week.
33:30How much do you think our mystery house is on the market for?
33:34It's a complete guess, because I have no idea, but I'm going to say 575.
33:43Okay.
33:44Mum?
33:45I'm going to go for a hopeful 560.
33:49560.
33:50560,000 pounds.
33:51Yeah.
33:51Okay.
33:52560 would work.
33:52It would give you some change left over to do this.
33:56More than do it, I would think.
33:59However, this is currently on the market for 485,000 pounds.
34:08Is it?
34:10Oh, my goodness.
34:12Yes.
34:12I can't believe that.
34:15That's unbelievable.
34:16This Victorian cottage has been thoughtfully renovated, blending a modern finish with three
34:20bedrooms and extensive gardens.
34:23It has amazing holiday-let potential, and at £115,000 under budget, it's little wonder
34:30Karen and Amy are falling for it.
34:33I think my favourite part of this house was when we went upstairs into the main bedroom,
34:40and then you just see that balcony over into the garden.
34:43It was beautiful.
34:44I think that's when Mum and I kind of looked at each other and went, oh, this, we've got
34:50a good feeling in this house.
34:52I really like this house, if you can't tell.
34:55My smile says it all.
34:56I think if we were to live here, I feel like life could be quite idyllic.
35:01The village looks lovely, the house is beautiful, the garden is beautiful.
35:05The fact that it's got the separate access at the bottom, I think it would be a really
35:09nice space to offer as a holiday-let.
35:13Beautiful.
35:23The town of Woodbridge, set on the banks of the River Deben, has a proud tradition of
35:28boatbuilding that stretches back to Tudor times.
35:31Since 1889, Woodbridge Boatyard has been repairing, restoring and crafting bespoke vessels
35:38from modern designs to historic classics.
35:42I've come to meet manager Matt Liss, to see how his team continues shaping boats with
35:47the same care and skills as the generations before them.
35:54Matt, nice to see you.
35:55Hi, Joes, good to see you.
35:57Yeah, just caught the tide, didn't we?
35:58Yes, come on.
35:59Well, look, I am no stranger to Woodbridge, as many people know.
36:02But to have the chance to find out more about the boatyard here and the great traditions
36:07of boatbuilding on this river.
36:09I mean, there's some lovely examples down here.
36:11Are these typical of what the Deben was all about?
36:15Yeah, so the Deben Cherubs were designed and built here in the 1920s and 30s.
36:18And they were one of the first pocket cruisers and one of the first production boats.
36:23So before then, almost every boat was a one off.
36:27And in terms of the history of the boatyard and its future, you know, obviously not an easy
36:33thing to keep running in the modern age, I suppose, but nonetheless vital for maintaining
36:38those ancient skills.
36:39Yeah, it's absolutely a challenge.
36:41It's a challenge finding and producing new people with the skills to cater for the diversity
36:48of boats that we see.
36:49No two days are the same, which is fantastic in terms of job satisfaction.
36:54Yeah.
36:54But it means an awful lot of skill is required and a lot of training is required to get to
36:58that point.
36:58So we'll head inside now and we'll meet Talia, one of our apprentices.
37:02Fabulous.
37:03Come on then, let's have a look.
37:04These look lovely.
37:05They're so at home, aren't they?
37:06Oh, absolutely.
37:10Talia has been an apprentice at the boatyard for almost a year.
37:13But today, she's the master and I'm very much the student as she's given me a crash course
37:19in splicing, a traditional technique that involves joining two ends of rope together
37:24without using a knot.
37:26You're going to go over the top.
37:28Like that and through.
37:31Over the top edge of it.
37:33That one?
37:33And back towards yourself.
37:34Oh, that way?
37:35That way.
37:35Okay.
37:37There's a reason I'm not very good at this.
37:39I've never done it before.
37:41Right.
37:42So, Talia, what first piqued your interest in becoming a boat builder?
37:47So, my dad's always been in sailing, but it was about three or four years ago, I came
37:54across this gorgeous boat and I just thought, what's stopping me from kind of being a part
37:58of that?
37:58And how would I learn to be a part of that?
38:00And I can't actually remember the first time that I heard about Woodbridge, but I know that
38:05I always wanted to be a part of what they do here.
38:07And you see a shed like this and you go, oh my gosh, what did they do inside?
38:12And are you hoping to go into the industry full time now?
38:16Yeah, yeah.
38:16So, I work here five days a week anyway and in my spare time I work on boats as well.
38:22You've got it.
38:23You've got the bug.
38:24I love it.
38:24Brilliant.
38:25Absolutely.
38:25So, do you think you'll stay here in Suffolk around the Debon or will you travel?
38:28Yeah.
38:29I moved here three, four years ago and I absolutely love it.
38:32My family's come to join me here.
38:34Perfect.
38:35Yeah.
38:35It's been great.
38:36Hopefully, you will continue to do a far better job of your rope work than I am doing
38:41here.
38:42It's great.
38:43I might have to redo that one though.
38:44I would.
38:45I would.
38:45I certainly wouldn't tie anything to it.
38:49Boat building may be centuries old in Woodbridge, but so too is the timeless pleasure of casting
38:55off and enjoying the river.
38:57Well, Matt, this is what it's all about, isn't it?
38:59After all the hard work is done.
39:01Yeah, absolutely.
39:01I mean, it's so pretty and so much of it is about enjoying the bird life and the scenery.
39:06You don't need to be doing 100 miles an hour to enjoy it.
39:09In many respects, it's the ultimate green endeavour, isn't it?
39:13Because you're taking boats that have been built, timber's been felled and in repairing
39:18them and keeping them going in itself is a very sustainable undertaking.
39:23It is.
39:23That's another wonderful part of sustainability is actually we've developed a relationship
39:27with the National Trust at Sutton Hoo.
39:29So we can work with them for things like oak and sweet chestnut to fell trees that have
39:35to come down anyway.
39:36There's a wonderful romance to using timber that's been felled within sight of the boatyard,
39:41but that also has that connection with Sutton Hoo.
39:44Well, Matt, it's been such a treat for me to have a chance to finally go through the doors
39:49of the boatyard, meet yourself and the rest of the gang and see what you're doing.
39:53As ever, I've learned something new.
39:55So, mate, thank you very much.
39:56It's been a pleasure.
40:08So, Southend to Suffolk.
40:10That has been the direction of travel that has underpinned our house search this week for
40:15Karen and her family, ably helped by daughter Amy.
40:19But have we managed to find them a home that can genuinely feel like home once they've made the move?
40:25Well, let's go and ask them.
40:31Well, here we are then.
40:33Our final conversation of the week.
40:35It's been quick.
40:36Trying to make sense of it all.
40:37Yeah.
40:38It flies by, doesn't it?
40:39It does, yeah.
40:40But we gave you three to choose from.
40:42Best of three.
40:43Is there a best?
40:44I think so.
40:45Yes, there is.
40:46Yeah.
40:47We did really like the mystery house.
40:50I thought so.
40:50The other two properties were really nice as well.
40:52They were lovely, but just not quite right.
40:55Now, it's interesting with the mystery house, because it was the smallest of the properties
40:58that we got to show you.
40:59Yes.
40:59And when we got through the front door, it really kind of sold itself, didn't it?
41:04Yes.
41:04It did.
41:05Everything was done so beautifully in there.
41:07All the decor.
41:08Yeah.
41:09You couldn't fault it.
41:10So, what is going to happen next then?
41:13Well, we have spoken to Richard.
41:15We FaceTimed him in the house.
41:17Oh!
41:17Showed him around.
41:18You didn't say, didn't you?
41:19I didn't see that happening.
41:20No.
41:21We told him we found it and he wants to come and see.
41:24Yeah.
41:24So, hopefully he's going to come up at the weekend.
41:27Wow.
41:27So, you are not wasting any time.
41:29Let's not forget you've sold already.
41:31So, everybody knows the clock is ticking.
41:34I mean, not that the money's burning a hole in your pockets, but you do need a home soon,
41:37right?
41:37Yeah.
41:38It's happening.
41:38Yeah.
41:39Well, I wish you all the very best of luck.
41:42And wherever you end up, we'd love to have the chance to come back and see how country
41:46life is treating you all as a family.
41:48Yeah.
41:48Absolutely.
41:50Well, and I shall come and check out your holiday let and see what the competition is
41:53up to.
41:53We'll come and check yours out as well.
41:55Yeah.
41:55Well, here's to you.
41:57Best of luck.
41:57Thank you very much.
42:03Well, as excited as Karen and her daughter Amy clearly are about the prospect of moving
42:10from Southend to Suffolk, there's no two ways about it.
42:13They were also quite daunted, I think, by the whole undertaking.
42:17However, at long last, our mystery house has offered them the reassurance and I think the
42:23vision that what they're about to undertake is absolutely going to work.
42:28Now, we have sold our mystery house to them.
42:31They've now got to sell it to the rest of the family.
42:33But fingers crossed, if everything aligns sometime very soon, they'll be calling this
42:39glorious part of the world home.
42:42And I don't blame them.
42:43I'll see you next time.
42:46Karen returned to the mystery house with her husband Richard, who also saw its potential.
42:51They're now exploring the possibility of extending the kitchen and creating additional accommodation
42:56in the garden before deciding whether to make an offer.
43:00If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
43:04and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
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