- 5 days ago
Touring and Visiting
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00:01Sisters Diane Parry and Helen Kavari are looking to escape the pressures of London life and find a peaceful holiday
00:08haven here on one of the sunniest islands in Greece, Corfu.
00:39Sisters Diane and Helen work with each other, live near each other and now want to buy a holiday home
00:45with each other. With a very close relationship but property ideas pulled apart.
00:51I'm just worried too much.
00:52Will they manage to find a solution to the sibling rivalry?
00:56We love it. 10 out of 10.
00:57Or will these sisters end up doing it for themselves?
01:09Diane Parry and Helen Kavari are as close as sisters get.
01:14Having known each other for over 30 years and worked together in Helen's letting agency before, they now want to
01:21own a mutual escape from the fast pace of life back home.
01:24With a large family, a boyfriend, a husband, children and some very strong opinions to accommodate, Diane and Helen are
01:33now hoping to find a retreat in the sun for some much needed family fun.
01:37And where will they be looking?
01:40In the most northerly Ionian island of Corfu.
01:44Known as the Garden Isle of Greece, the island is covered by up to 4 million olive trees.
01:51Agriculture and tourism are two of the main sources of income here.
01:55Holiday makers have been coming here since the 1940s to enjoy the island's history and beauty.
02:01Property here has gone up by 20 to 30% over the last couple of years and prices look set
02:08to increase next year.
02:11Helen is putting in 60% of the £120,000 budget, although they are both seeing this as an entirely
02:18joint project.
02:21So tell me, why is it that you want to buy a holiday home here in Corfu?
02:26Well, Helen's always loved the Greek islands and I came here years ago and I really fell in love with
02:31it.
02:32How many years ago?
02:32Yeah, 17.
02:33So it's a bit different.
02:35I think you'll find it's changed a fair bit since then.
02:37Just from there it was probably one of my favourite islands.
02:40So the two of you are buying this together as sisters, but do you have separate ideals when it comes
02:45to the style?
02:47I think so, yes.
02:48Oh, you do?
02:49We do.
02:49We definitely do.
02:50I'd want to go somewhere that I can just put my suitcase down, unpack and the kids can go running
02:55around somewhere, maybe with a pool or at least near a beach.
02:59I'm happy to get out my power drill and paint brush and do a bit of work.
03:03That's what I'd like to do.
03:04Right.
03:04So yeah, it's going to be a difficult one I think, but ultimately we are going to buy together.
03:08Yeah, that's the thing.
03:08It is something we've decided.
03:10So one of you isn't going to try and persuade the other or fall in love with a total renovation
03:15project or anything?
03:16Don't know.
03:18No.
03:18No, not something that's really big.
03:21I don't mind getting something that needs a little bit of work there.
03:24As long as we can still go there and holiday and if it needs a little bit of work then
03:27Helen can be doing that when she has her holiday.
03:30I mean, the chances are I'm going to be out here more than Diane, so she'll be working in the
03:35office.
03:37Excellent.
03:37Well, it is a bit of a tall order trying to please two sisters with completely different tastes, but let's
03:43hope there's no family feuding and we'll find you a property that meets in the middle somewhere.
03:47Shall we go and have a look?
03:49Absolutely.
03:51Well, it looks like they're up for viewing a good variety of property, but I wonder if the difference of
03:57opinion will throw some spanners in the house hunting works.
04:00To kick off I thought I'd start the search in the northeast of the island.
04:05Renowned for, among other things, its five mile stretch of glorious sands, this part of the island is well sought
04:12after.
04:12For a pace of life away from the city bustle is the village of Curasades, set back from the beaches.
04:21Established in 20 BC, the village today has 13,000 inhabitants and is the third most populated village on the
04:28island.
04:30So I know one of the reasons that you both want to come to Corfu is to escape all the
04:35pressures of London life.
04:36Yep.
04:37So how about this with a bit of peace and quiet?
04:39Lovely.
04:40It looks really, really nice.
04:42Really pretty.
04:43Best of all, first house is just a five minute drive from here.
04:46Alright.
04:47So this is your nearest beach spot.
04:49Yes, that's really good.
04:49Should we go have a look?
04:50Yep.
04:50Yep.
04:53For our first house, I thought I'd take the girls to see one of their requested styles and Diane's modern
05:00low maintenance house.
05:02So I know I've got two of you to please, but I'm going to start with Diane's ideal.
05:06But hopefully, Helen, I think you'll be able to see the holiday home potential with this one.
05:10Well, it does look very pretty.
05:12This house has two bedrooms, two terraces and is all brand new.
05:17It's on the market for £112,000.
05:21So the swimming pool here is only accessed by the owners of these four apartments.
05:25So it's never going to get too puzzled.
05:27It's a lovely pool.
05:28Yeah, it's nice to have this, isn't it?
05:29Yeah.
05:30Somewhere for the children to play and somewhere for me to sit and relax.
05:33Sit and sunbathe, yeah, and cool off.
05:35If you're going to have a look in sunbathe.
05:38So how do you feel about this?
05:39It's open plan with your kitchen and this will be your main living area.
05:43This is very nice.
05:44Oh wow, this is lovely.
05:45As far as new is concerned, I would normally say not for me.
05:51Yeah.
05:51But in actual fact, it's been done in a really nice style.
05:54I love the windows.
05:55And what about this kitchen?
05:56Is that all enough for you?
05:57Is that big enough for you?
05:58Perfect.
05:59Do you want to come out and have a look here?
06:01Same size as the living room, really, isn't it?
06:03So table and chairs.
06:05Oh, how lovely.
06:06So what do you think?
06:07Is this green enough for you?
06:08Look at the view, isn't that lovely?
06:10That is beautiful, actually.
06:11I didn't expect it to be quite so green and I did want to see trees.
06:14So that's lovely.
06:15Well, there's plenty of trees there.
06:16So, you're quite happy with the downstairs, the swimming pool and the view.
06:20Perfect.
06:20Doing well so far.
06:21Very, very well.
06:21Excellent.
06:23Let's go and have a look upstairs and see your bedrooms.
06:27So, on the upstairs, you've got a bathroom with bath and shower there.
06:32Very smart.
06:33Nicely done.
06:35One of your bedrooms, complete with terrace.
06:38Oh wow.
06:39And this is your second bedroom.
06:40They're both a similar size and they've both got their own terraces.
06:43Lovely sizes.
06:44Very good.
06:45I have to admit, I thought this was going to please Diane, but I wasn't so sure you would
06:49warm to it so much.
06:51Well, I haven't warmed to it because I was absolutely adamant I did not want a mod and
06:54build property.
06:55But, because it feels a little bit more traditional with the wood, the shutters and I can't fault
07:01it.
07:01This house has an advanced phone operated heating system.
07:06So that the house is heated on arrival, simply call up, enter a PIN number and the system
07:11is activated.
07:13Well, I knew this house offered the practical family holiday home that Diane was after, but
07:18I didn't quite expect Helen to have such a positive reaction to it.
07:21So, pretty good start.
07:23I mean, for me, it's got the nice views, it's quiet, it's got space for you.
07:30I think it's ideal.
07:31Like you said, it's just somewhere where, for us, we can just come here and unpack the
07:35suitcases.
07:36It's very peaceful.
07:37I love the outlook.
07:42So, what is the final conclusion on the first property?
07:46We love it.
07:4710 out of 10.
07:49Well, that means I can't beat it.
07:50I've already sent a text message to my other half showing him a photograph on it.
07:55Well, I hope now you've seen a modern build that it's totally up and ready to go, you're
07:59not put off the idea of a bit of hard work.
08:00No, not at all.
08:01Good.
08:02Because the next property is going to require your vision.
08:04Okay.
08:04Let's hope Diana's has taken it with the idea of a bit of work as well.
08:09Good to have a look.
08:10Absolutely.
08:12Phew.
08:13The sisters aren't squabbling over our first house, even though it fits Diane's ideal rather
08:18than Helen's.
08:19To incorporate a balance, though, I'm going to show them something from Helen's house hunting
08:24list next.
08:27I thought I'd take Diane and Helen to the south of the island, near to Corfu's old town.
08:33The village of Cerenadas largely consists of 18th century properties.
08:38Being close to the airport, interest in the village is quite high.
08:4215 foreign families have bought here in the last five years.
08:45I wanted to show Diane and Helen this next house so that Helen could see what work can be involved
08:52in a renovation project.
08:53Helen, I hope you've got your restoration head on.
08:57A little scared.
08:59Not scared as Diane looks well now.
09:03Don't worry, hold your hand around this one.
09:04Let's go and have a look.
09:05This house has three separate sections around a triangular courtyard, potentially has four
09:12bedrooms and is on the market for £68,000.
09:17Okay, now don't be too alarmed by this room.
09:21Oh my gosh.
09:26This was never lived in, okay?
09:28This was more likely to be the stable because of a collection of farm buildings.
09:35I'm still a bit, um...
09:37Good!
09:39Oh goodness.
09:40Okay, I think it gets better.
09:41It's not only a lay, just like, I expected it to maybe be a bit old, but...
09:44Yeah.
09:45Question is, I know you want to get your hands dirty, Helen, but just how dirty?
09:49Yeah.
09:50This is...
09:50Would you be willing to take this on?
09:53She would love to.
09:54Probably, yeah.
09:55Yeah, she would.
09:56But that's a good start because it gets better.
09:58Good.
09:58Follow me through.
09:59It can't get any worse.
10:02So the stable leads out onto the central courtyard.
10:06You get an idea now of the three different parts of the house.
10:10I love it.
10:11Yeah?
10:13I'm still in shock.
10:15I think it's a bit...
10:17It's terrifying when I think of it.
10:19Has it?
10:19I just think of how much work really needs to be done.
10:22So you can see that this level is so much brighter than the room downstairs, isn't it, Diana?
10:28Is this better for you?
10:29Yeah, this is a bit brighter.
10:30Feeling a bit happier now.
10:31To me, this is just cosmetic.
10:33Mmm.
10:33Doesn't bother me.
10:34I think it looks a bit more than that.
10:36I mean, there's a lot of work here.
10:38It really is.
10:39If I had the time to do it, then yeah, it'd be brilliant.
10:41I don't think it's a concern.
10:42I still love it and I think it could be done.
10:43We're going to go and have a look at another bit of the house now.
10:45It's a really interesting room.
10:47So I hope you like it.
10:48Okay.
10:50So through here, this traditionally would have been where they would have stored the
10:55olive oil and the wine.
10:58The shock and horror's coming back to our space.
11:01Well, yeah.
11:02It's scary again.
11:03This room's a bit scary.
11:04I like it.
11:04Just the way it is.
11:05I like this room.
11:06Okay.
11:07Well, there's a couple more rooms that we've not yet explored above us here.
11:10So I might just leave you two to go and have a look at the bedrooms there.
11:15Please try not to fall out and have a think about whether or not, once and for all, you
11:19could take on a project of this size.
11:21Okay.
11:21All right.
11:22Off you go.
11:23All right.
11:23Thanks.
11:24To convert the unused space into living or bedroom space would cost around £30,000,
11:30which would still bring Diane and Helen under budget.
11:35So these are the bedrooms.
11:37Yep.
11:39This is nice.
11:40It's split level.
11:43Okay.
11:43So one double bedroom up here.
11:45Mm-hmm.
11:46There's twin beds in here.
11:48But both these rooms don't look as though they need much work.
11:50No.
11:51Personally, I don't think it's too big a...
11:53You really like it, don't you?
11:54And if I thought we had enough time to do things, then...
11:57I'm just worried too much.
12:01Are you still talking to each other?
12:03Yeah.
12:04Are you both loggerheads on this property?
12:07Yes.
12:07Yeah, I think so.
12:09If it were down to me, I'd probably be putting an offer in right now.
12:13I just think it's too much work.
12:15There's just so much work to be done in there.
12:17Your heart's sat on this one.
12:18Yours is on the first one.
12:19Let's just hope we can find a compromise with the third house.
12:22Yeah, well, it's not over yet, is it?
12:25Two more to go.
12:27Yeah.
12:27All right.
12:28Thank you very much.
12:28Let's go.
12:31With two houses so far crossing two very different ends of the property spectrum and dividing
12:37opinion, will what I've got lined up join our sisters in perfect property harmony?
12:43I like this.
12:44I really like this one.
12:45It is beautiful.
12:46Or will the girls be reaching for their sisters' sledgehammer?
12:49Do I have to go through that shock again?
12:58Sisters Diane Parry and Helen Kavari are looking for their ideal holiday home here in Corfu.
13:04Diane wants something modern that's ready to move into.
13:08However, Helen has other plans and she likes the idea of a renovation project.
13:15sisters Diane and Helen have seen two houses so far and both have hit the mark the only problem
13:21is they each like different ones well what I've got to show them next give them something to
13:27agree on trying to find other words for stunning gorgeous I thought for our next area I'd keep the
13:39girls in the island's south and take them to the historic village of Gasturi close to the beach
13:45just five minutes away a wealth of activities and some bathing opportunities are on offer here
13:50people also flock here to visit the famous Archillian Palace this stunning piece of
13:57architecture was built in the 19th century when Empress Elizabeth of Austria decided to have her
14:03summer retreat here I wanted to show the girls this next house as it was once owned by the Achillian
14:09Palace's gardener at the turn of the 19th century so all this area in front of the property comes with
14:15a house but your house is the pink one oh wow this house has three bedrooms two bathrooms and a
14:24garden
14:24it's on the market for a hundred and nine thousand pounds come inside and bring you through into the
14:31kitchen dining area first oh wow beautiful kitchen this is really pretty it's been well renovated
14:39doesn't it yeah it was fully renovated 15 years ago by the current English owner and she told me
14:47apparently this was split into three rooms which I find really hard to imagine so she obviously had
14:52quite a vision when she renovated it absolutely so come through and have a look at the rest of the
14:57kitchen because they've kept loads of original features you've got this that would have been
15:02the old cooker there and although it might break you back now if you try doing your washing up on
15:08it
15:08that's the original sink the very original sink from the house was built oh wow butler style sink
15:13isn't it so back across the hallway and in here you've got a really good sized family room
15:21this is lovely this is actually very elegant this is really pretty so can I ask is this both your
15:27cups of tea or are we actually pleasing you both here well I think it's really nice I like it
15:33too
15:33seems to be going pretty well so far I think that I can leave you to to explore the upstairs
15:38on your
15:38own you've got three bedrooms up there okay so you go and have a look up there and I will
15:42wait for
15:42you out in the garden lovely lovely okay gorgeous staircase it's so spacious it's so airy and bright
15:50bathroom okay that's really big oh look at this one she's done a really nice job oh this is lovely
16:01it's very aesthetic this is just amazing it's been beautifully done it's charming it's elegant
16:10stunning isn't it oh it's oh this is amazing it's master bedroom oh this is really lovely
16:17nice ensuite shower room oh this is really it is oh this is really lovely I really like this
16:23yourself here hmm I like this I really like this it is beautiful if the girls wanted to add a
16:31pool to
16:32the low-maintenance garden to put one in would cost around 15 to 20,000 pounds hi it's me hello
16:41darling hi I'm all right are you okay we found a really beautiful house so were you as happy with
16:49the upstairs yes it's stunning trying to find other words for stunning gorgeous it's beautiful well I hate
16:59to bring this up Helen but you did give me 10 out of 10 for the modern conversion and then
17:03you got
17:06very excited about the possibility the renovation project yes even though Diane didn't agree we
17:12decided to do this together yeah so we've got to stick to that decision mm-hmm so so far this
17:17is the
17:18one that's top in the list is the site of our next house and would offer the girls an attractive
17:23alternative to their pace of life back home okay so obviously that last house it's gonna be really
17:35difficult to beat oh but I think this one could really work for you as well it's a 200 year
17:46old
17:46olive press that was converted into a house about three years ago boy well before we go inside let's
17:52just come and look at the land around here oh my gosh look at the size of the garden it's
17:56more
17:56appealing to you for the lads isn't it well that's what I thought as pretty as the garden was in
18:00that
18:00last house what you didn't have was a practical area for your boys to run around and play in and
18:05it
18:06comes with a punch ball oh wow it's just there's just this would just space here there's just so much
18:11space look at the views they were up a mountain but you thought that road was kind of hairy is
18:17it worth it
18:18when did you get up here that really worried me the road coming up here but it's like completely
18:23gone not worried anymore this house has two ensuite bedrooms a plunge pool which needs a bit of a clean
18:31and incredible views it costs a hundred and two thousand pounds so in we come open plan this time
18:40this is fabulous look at the wall isn't that warm amazing that is actually gorgeous I'll just show you
18:48this picture here which the owners have left out that is what it looked like the original you would have
18:55been very excited if you'd seen it that day now this is what I'm trying to tell you Diane you'd
19:00have
19:00hated it I would have done yeah I would have been too scared but now you're inside you're so excited
19:07outside I mean I think it's quite a good size room what do you think it is it is nice
19:12size there's
19:12loads of room in here isn't there well come down and have a look at the kitchen so you've got
19:16your
19:16space for a table and chairs but don't forget you're probably going to be out on that veranda
19:20many times and is this going to be enough cupboards and all your mod cons in place here for your
19:26kitchen I think so I love that the wood is lovely though yeah the cupboards the units but it is
19:31quite
19:31modern isn't it it's quite modern feeling in this kitchen yeah no it is a modern kitchen back across
19:36here because you've got your bedroom is just around here and you've got ensuite oh this is nice
19:42oh I like this this is really yeah it is nice but I'm not quite keen on it being off
19:47the lounge
19:48die and it's a bit too close do you intend on staying up and making lots of noise well that
19:53is usually the way and if I've got friends staying and they're staying here then I think it's going
19:57to be quite uncomfortable right so personally this bedroom is too close to the living room for me yeah
20:02well the second bedroom is a lot more private and it's accessed off the verandas so let me show
20:07you that if we go back out of this room so back out the front door and across the veranda
20:13is the
20:14second bedroom which is here and it's much more private isn't it oh this is really big
20:19actually yeah yeah so you see if you had guests to come and stay you could give them this room
20:24and
20:24they'll be totally self-contained yeah I think that's what that would be the best one well if
20:28that is nice actually to keep them away from yeah the other bedroom I always quite like that idea why
20:33don't you go and have a talk amongst yourselves have a think about it go back into the garden I'll
20:38leave you on your own and I'll meet you in a bit okay for the two months of the year
20:44that it gets
20:44chilly here Diane and Helen could install an open fire which would cost around 2,000 pounds our first
20:53impressions were the same it's absolutely stunning I couldn't believe it when you came up it was
20:57gorgeous the garden everything that's around here well the good things are the garden's fab the pools
21:02a bonus okay so have time to think through this house question is is there a clear favorite between
21:10the gardeners house in this one not you know there isn't no we can't say which one we like the
21:16best
21:18quite confused yeah would it help if you have more time to think things yeah a proper chance to just
21:24weigh it all up see if you can come to final decision and then I'll meet up with you then
21:29yeah okay well
21:29let's let's head off then okay with not one but two properties now agreed on I thought I'd leave
21:37the girls to mull things over after some much-needed thinking time I wondered if they'd managed to find a
21:43mutual solution okay so you've had time to think things through and I know immediately we can discount
21:51the first two so that's the modern conversion in the renovation project which leaves the gardeners
21:56house and the olive press have you come to any final decisions yes good after much consideration
22:03we have both decided to go with the olive press very exciting this is a decision you're both happy
22:10with yeah we've made no arguments over this one so what position are you in now do you want to
22:15put
22:15in an offer we definitely want to get the house and we would love to put in an offer but
22:20to be honest
22:21with you whilst the decision is ours we really would like the approval of our other house yeah okay
22:25so what are you going to do then you're going to fly them over that will be that is the
22:29plan for
22:30Helen and her her boyfriend to come over to have a look at the place well I hope all the
22:34men in your
22:34lives love that as much as you do because that one of press it's going to make an amazing holiday
22:39home
22:40and do keep me posted yeah well we'll do fantastic thanks so much on returning home both Diane and Helen's
22:48other halves were excited by the house they are all currently planning their next trip over to Corfu
22:55as Diane and Helen have discovered Corfu offers a variety of holiday homes be it modern or more
23:02traditional and a great value for money I hope you've enjoyed looking at the properties with me
23:06and I'll see you next time
23:15you
23:19you
23:36Transcription by CastingWords
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