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Kirstie and Phils Love It or List It - Season 11 - Episode 02: St Osyth, Essex
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00:00This time, a seaside bungalow that some might argue has gone to the dogs.
00:05This is the most expensive doghouse you will ever find.
00:09The layout is a bit of a shocker.
00:11That's madness.
00:13But that's not the only surprise in store.
00:17This could become a fourth bedroom.
00:19You want a fourth bedroom? You can't suddenly have a fourth bedroom!
00:23I too am in for a rude awakening come the property search.
00:27It's a bit on the small side, is it?
00:28Yeah. Oh, really? That's a bit harsh.
00:30And my ability to keep calm and carry on is seriously challenged.
00:34There's only 12 units in here.
00:37In 25 years of house hunting, I've never seen someone walk into a room and go,
00:41it's only got 12 units.
00:44All this leads me to revealing my deepest, darkest secret.
00:48I love lino.
00:50Yeah.
00:50The number of times I walk in and say, you're going to keep the lino,
00:52and people look horrified.
00:54And in the end, even the dogs can't look us in the eye.
00:57I'm not sure the situation's resolved at all.
01:00Yeah.
01:01No.
01:08This time, we're on our way to the Essex coast,
01:11and the village of...
01:13Hmm.
01:14I'll let Kirsty handle this one.
01:15St Oth.
01:16St Oth.
01:18I think it's Osseth.
01:20St Osseth?
01:20Osseth?
01:21It's an Osseth.
01:22Like it's got a Z.
01:24It's an Oz...
01:25Osseth?
01:26Yes.
01:27We can't get this wrong without setting the locals.
01:30Well, we're just visiting it for the first time.
01:33St Oth.
01:34St Oth.
01:34It's a highly desirable location,
01:36with beautiful beaches, historic buildings,
01:38and a picturesque village.
01:41But answer me this, Kirsty.
01:43Have you brought your dancing shoes?
01:45When it comes to footwear,
01:46you know I come equipped for all eventualities.
01:51Richard and Carol became a couple eight years ago
01:54bonded by a passion for rock and roll boogie.
01:58We both enjoyed dancing, and that's how we met.
02:02We both have a love for rock and roll music,
02:05and for 40s music, Glenn Miller, et cetera, et cetera.
02:08It just grew from there.
02:10Carol invited me around for coffee,
02:12and I'd never moved out.
02:14Richard may not have moved out,
02:16but they have moved on.
02:1818 months ago, IT service manager Carol
02:21and part-time delivery driver Richard
02:23bought this three-bedroom home near Clacton-on-Sea.
02:27Come on, Jojo.
02:27With their two German shepherds, Lulu and Jojo.
02:31It was a move brought about
02:33by a sudden change in circumstances.
02:36Tomorrow's my birthday, and I'm 67.
02:40Just after my 60th birthday,
02:42I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,
02:44and it was locally advanced,
02:46so it'd gone further than they'd like it to go.
02:51Richard is living with cancer long-term,
02:54and is undergoing hormone therapy to stop its growth.
02:58Not long after he was diagnosed,
03:00he'd had quite a bad reaction to some of your medication, didn't he?
03:04To the point that he couldn't walk.
03:06And if it ever came to the point
03:08that I had to get him up or downstairs,
03:09I just wouldn't have been able to.
03:11So we decided that we needed a bungalow.
03:15The bungalow was meant to future-proof
03:17Carol and Richard's home care
03:18in the event of future illness.
03:21But it's causing problems, not solving them.
03:25So, who is the happy homeowner?
03:27And who's the determined house hunter?
03:30I'm Tim Lovett.
03:32Because of the space,
03:33every room is a nice size,
03:35apart from the kitchen.
03:37And I do feel that we can make it workable.
03:41I'm Tim Lovett,
03:42because I don't believe that we can improve
03:44the flow of this house
03:45and still achieve a decent-sized kitchen
03:47without having to sacrifice another room.
03:50There's no second bathroom.
03:52I hate, absolutely hate,
03:54the decor in the house.
03:55It's old-fashioned.
03:57The arches are very decorative,
03:59but you can't put doors on them,
04:01which means it's always cold.
04:03Carol would like to list it,
04:04because I might not follow.
04:07That is true.
04:10You're not fooling anyone.
04:15Like many bungalows of a satin age,
04:17the layout is far from ideal,
04:19starting with separated and isolating reception rooms,
04:22an excessively large bathroom,
04:25and, arguably, the most essential room in the home,
04:27the kitchen being the smallest,
04:30which, speaking practically, makes little sense.
04:33You guys already need to come.
04:37And with two adults that like to cook
04:39and two dogs that like to eat,
04:41the kitchen is somewhat overcrowded.
04:43The dogs do like to come and help in the kitchen,
04:46which is when there's already two adults in there
04:48and you've got two full-size dogs.
04:49It's very cosy.
04:52We can't get a washing machine in there.
04:54The washing machine's outside in the garage.
04:57Can I put the washing on, girls?
04:59Come on.
04:59There's no internal access to the garage from the house,
05:02so you have to go outside to get to the garage
05:04to get to the washing machine.
05:08Before open-plan living and utility rooms were the norm,
05:11kitchens were often tucked away.
05:13So, with a dated layout and decor,
05:15why haven't Richard and Carol made any changes in 18 months?
05:20Every solution that we've come up with creates another problem,
05:24so we've done absolutely nothing.
05:27Racked with indecision,
05:29Richard and Carol are in desperate need of our help.
05:32I have a million ideas and I've thrown them all out there,
05:36but nothing's ever quite right.
05:39And Kirsty can come in and pick one idea
05:42and Carol will think, that's good.
05:45Sometimes all team love it needs is one good idea.
05:49All team list it needs is the removal van on speed dial.
05:53Is that a new jacket, Phil?
05:55No, but you haven't seen it for a year or three.
05:57OK.
05:58Hello.
05:59Hi.
05:59Nice to meet you.
05:59Very nice to meet you.
06:00Hi, I'm Phil.
06:01Hi, I have.
06:02Come on in.
06:02Nice to meet you.
06:03Thank you so much.
06:05Who wants to love it and who wants to list it?
06:08So, I want to list.
06:10And I want to love it.
06:12Carol, I mean, you've only been here, what, 18 months?
06:15It's long enough, Phil.
06:16Is this a case of buyer's regret?
06:18Possibly.
06:18We moved from our previous house
06:21because we needed to be in a bungalow.
06:22And although I liked the house when I saw it,
06:26having lived in it for a while,
06:28I've come to not like it so much.
06:31I've never liked the fact that it's north-facing.
06:34I got talked into it.
06:36I'm from New Zealand, so I love the sun.
06:37I love being outdoors.
06:39And to have a patio off a room like this
06:42that's in constant shade,
06:44I find quite depressing.
06:47I've never liked the fact that it's got such a small kitchen.
06:49And since having lived in the place,
06:51I don't like there's no storage.
06:53There's no utility room,
06:54so the dog's paraphernalia is all in the hallway.
06:58I hate the dado rails with a passion
07:01because it's just more cleaning.
07:02And it's cold.
07:03The house is cold.
07:05As Richard loves it and wants to stay,
07:07this is a bit of a dilemma.
07:08This is a bit of a problem.
07:09Apart from turning the house around,
07:11everything can be addressed.
07:13Dado, Raul's, Kirsty's going to correct for us.
07:16The kitchen, we always knew we needed a new kitchen.
07:20The coldness can be addressed.
07:22And I think if that's there,
07:24some decor,
07:25and Carol will become very happy with it.
07:28Could you lose a bedroom?
07:30Why?
07:30Why would you want to lose a bedroom?
07:31If it solves all the issues.
07:33Why would you take a three-bedroom house
07:35and make it too bad?
07:36And the dogs have free roam everywhere?
07:38They have a free roam everywhere, you know.
07:41It's us that don't get a free roam.
07:43This is the most expensive dog house you will ever find.
07:47We have two dogs.
07:49We take them out walking
07:50and they're always coming in wet.
07:51We've got the small hallway to get them in
07:55and if we don't get them to stop,
07:57they're off into the bedrooms or into the...
07:59No, that's not practical.
08:01So we need a porch to...
08:03Somewhere to come in with the dogs
08:04that we can get them dried, cleaned up
08:06before they come into the rest of the house.
08:08But you've got a lovely garden for the dogs.
08:10If I was to let the dogs out there,
08:11they'd probably zoom around the raised beds I've built.
08:15So you're good at your DIY, Richard?
08:17Yeah, I haven't got the strength that I used to have
08:20because of my medication.
08:23But, yeah, can we have a look around?
08:25Yes.
08:25Yeah, help yourself.
08:28It's obvious Carol never loved this bungalow.
08:31She settled for it.
08:33She's been living in a cold house
08:35that doesn't reflect her taste
08:36and that has a dog's dinner of a layout.
08:39Even Richard can admit there's room for improvement.
08:47Oh, God.
08:48That's madness.
08:51The kitchen is tight.
08:54It's actually a quite big hallway.
08:57But I totally see what they mean
08:58about if that's where the dogs come in,
09:02there's nowhere to wash them.
09:03They're going to be away in the rest of the house.
09:05No, but, I mean, it's not just the dogs.
09:06It's the whole thing.
09:07I mean, the kitchen's not infeasible.
09:08What this should be is a utility room
09:11so that you can come in the side door with the dogs
09:13and get everybody all cleaned and everything.
09:16Yes, in a dream world.
09:18Making dreams come true is what I'm here for.
09:21However, if I do make this the utility,
09:23where does the kitchen go?
09:26Oh, enormous bathrooms.
09:28Huge.
09:29And it is the only one in the house.
09:31But even I can't conjure up two bathrooms
09:33and a kitchen from this space.
09:37This is obviously the spare room.
09:39I think what screams from this house is redecoration.
09:43It just needs a total revamp.
09:46My love-it budget of £60,000
09:48won't stretch to an extension,
09:51so I need to transform the layout
09:52within the existing footprint
09:54and without sacrificing a bedroom.
09:57Then there's the not-so-simple task
09:59of boosting heat retention
10:00and revamping the fixtures and fittings.
10:03This is lovely and sunny and bright and big and generous.
10:08Since Richard's cancer diagnosis,
10:10he and Carol have slept in separate bedrooms
10:12as Richard has disturbed sleep and hot flushes.
10:16His bedroom's at the front of the house.
10:18As it gets the most sunlight, it's the warmest room,
10:21which is why Carol also uses it at her home office.
10:27So the only way into the garage
10:29is to go out of the house,
10:30either round the back or round the front,
10:32and yet in here is the freezer,
10:35the washing machine.
10:37So they'd be in and out of here quite regularly,
10:39I would have thought,
10:40and there's an awful lot of stuff.
10:41I think it's challenging
10:43to keep the third bedroom
10:44just reduces Kirsty's options of what she can do.
10:49Don't fancy a chance as much.
10:51I'll struggle to match their vast garden,
10:54but I'm confident I'll find one
10:55with sunlight in the right spots.
10:57I have a listed budget of 525,000,
11:00180,000 more than the average detached house sales
11:03for around here.
11:05But Richard and Carol need a bungalow,
11:07and those are in short supply.
11:09Don't forget, they'd also have to cough up
11:11just over 22,000 in moving and legal costs.
11:14Money better invested here.
11:17Hello.
11:18Awesome garden,
11:19although it faces the wrong way,
11:21but it's long enough to get away with it.
11:23Big room?
11:24Yes, I'm going to cut a little bit out of it.
11:26Are you indeed?
11:27This is a great room,
11:29we just have to find out why it's so flaming cold.
11:32If I can heat up her home,
11:34maybe I can warm Carol to the bungalow too,
11:37but it all hinges on me cracking the layout.
11:40While you do that,
11:41I'll crack on with a list-it wish list.
11:44Carol, on the search side,
11:46what am I going to need to find?
11:48A bigger kitchen,
11:49a nicer layout,
11:50and a nice flow through the house.
11:52A south-facing garden,
11:54somewhere that we can keep the dogs,
11:57paraphernalia,
11:57and somewhere that we can bring them in,
11:59clean them off before we let them loose into the house.
12:02And where can I go looking for this?
12:04I personally don't really mind.
12:07I would like to be close to the coast,
12:09I'd like to be able to take the dogs for a walk
12:11along the beach,
12:12but I do have to be mindful
12:14that I have to go into the office,
12:16so it can't be too far away
12:18for the train journey to make it.
12:20Where's the office?
12:21London.
12:22I think you've found everything
12:24you're asking Phil for.
12:26I think we just need to...
12:27What, here?
12:28Yeah, I think it's all here.
12:30We'll see about that, won't we?
12:31We will, we will.
12:32I have every faith in you, Phil.
12:33I agree with you, Kirsty.
12:37Oh, sun's out.
12:39Might warm up a bit.
12:41That house has got insulation problems
12:43that need sorting out.
12:45It's colder in there than it is out here.
12:46I know.
12:48What stands in my favour
12:49is they're not restricted on area.
12:51You've got your bike clips on?
12:53Yeah.
12:54Oh, you'll have fun.
12:56Come on.
12:56Seaside House Hunter.
12:58Happy days.
13:07I'm definitely team listed.
13:09Definitely.
13:10Find me the house, Phil.
13:12Kirsty will 100% convince Carol to stay.
13:18On the Essex coast,
13:19Carol and Richard have challenged me
13:20to improve the flow and heat retention
13:22for their three-bedroom-to-bungalow,
13:24while making it more dog-friendly,
13:26adding a second toilet
13:27and a utility room.
13:29So my plan is for this
13:32to be a sort of dog-cleaning pantry
13:36type of room.
13:38My £60,000 budget rules out extending,
13:41but if they want to add rooms
13:42without increasing floor space,
13:44compromise is the key.
13:49I've got some ideas
13:51that I want to discuss with you.
13:52OK?
13:53OK.
13:53Right, so here we are.
13:55Turn it over.
13:57So we're starting at the front door.
13:58No, hold on.
14:00We're not coming in the front door.
14:01We've come back from a walk.
14:02We've got filthy, dirty dogs.
14:04We go in the side entrance
14:05and into the utility laundry dog wash area.
14:10My plan involves turning the kitchen into a utility room
14:13with dog-washing facilities.
14:15The side entrance is ideal for mucky pups.
14:19And by pinching a little space from the vast bathroom,
14:22the entrance to Carol's bedroom would become a shower room.
14:26Carol's bedroom would become the kitchen,
14:28and here we have options.
14:30They could have it open plan,
14:32they could have it closed off,
14:34or they could have retractable panelling
14:36so they can pick and choose as they please,
14:38and the dining room would become a bedroom.
14:41All of this could be achieved for £40,000,
14:45leaving 20 to improve insulation and revamp the interior,
14:48including removing the archways
14:50and adding doors to help with heat retention.
14:57Carol, you are being super quiet.
14:59I'm being too late.
15:00This is nice,
15:01but we had a galley kitchen in our last house,
15:04and it was OK.
15:05But you were always working to a wall,
15:07which is what I was hoping to avoid again.
15:11This wall here,
15:13if you put a door into the garage,
15:18make a utility room there,
15:22this one here could become the bathroom,
15:27then this could become a fourth bedroom.
15:30You want a fourth bedroom?
15:32It's got to be used for something.
15:33You can't suddenly have a fourth bedroom.
15:35That wasn't in the plan.
15:37Would it not add value?
15:40No, because you've still only got one bathroom.
15:42There's a lot of thinking to do,
15:44but I think you definitely need another bathroom.
15:46Yes, absolutely.
15:47You definitely need a really slick dog utility
15:51which works for you and works for buyers.
15:54There's a lot of sun here,
15:55and I think this would be a lovely sunny kitchen.
16:02Let's be honest.
16:03We haven't quite cracked it yet,
16:06but that house doesn't work for Carol,
16:08and if he's honest, it doesn't work for Richard.
16:11So, one way or another, it has to be sorted out.
16:20Seven months later, I'm thrilled the project is underway,
16:23and even under the summer sun,
16:25tackling heat loss as first priority makes sense.
16:31Just getting the windows in, I feel like we're getting there.
16:35It's the official start, if you like.
16:37You know, something is actually finally happening.
16:39After all the months of going around in circles,
16:42months and months and months and months.
16:45We pondered on this, agonised on this,
16:49and the good thing is, when the things are done,
16:52we can't change our minds.
16:55Replacing the old, thick-framed windows
16:57with slimmer-framed modern ones
16:59will add curb appeal and boost heat retention,
17:01but it wasn't part of my plan.
17:05Carol and Richard have made other changes too.
17:07They're moving the kitchen into the dining room
17:09and adding partition doors
17:10to create a semi-open plan layout.
17:14The shower room will now be Carol's en suite,
17:17though, unconventionally,
17:18she'll have to walk through it to access her bedroom.
17:22They're going ahead with my utility idea
17:24and adding the doors and insulation I suggested.
17:27I don't like to sacrifice the dining room,
17:29but at least that puts the kitchen central
17:31to all of the rooms in the house.
17:33And I still think the layout,
17:34the flow of the house doesn't really work,
17:36even with the improvements that we're going to make to it.
17:39So I'm definitely on Phil's side.
17:41He's going to find me that dream home.
17:44Two months after Richard and Carol's renovation began,
17:47we're on the road.
17:49My search area spans countryside to coast,
17:52but the wish list is long.
17:54A three-bed, two-bath bungalow,
17:56a spacious kitchen with good flow
17:59into the living area and a sun-trap garden.
18:04So how have you both been?
18:06Yeah, well, I've been fine.
18:07Yeah, yeah, yeah, apart from my treatment, yeah.
18:10It's not good to start chemo
18:12in the middle of knocking the whole house down.
18:15Richard's hormone therapy prostate cancer treatment
18:18is ongoing and he's now started chemotherapy.
18:21I know he loves getting hands-on with a building project,
18:24but I want to show him and Carol homes that are move-in ready.
18:27How are you feeling about today?
18:29I'm kind of dreading him looking at houses, really,
18:32because every time we settle on a decision,
18:35within a day, I guarantee he'll say,
18:38well, what about this?
18:39We could change this.
18:41You're heading into one of my favourite towns.
18:43OK, well, that's a good start,
18:45because I've got a crack at the house.
18:47Yeah, yeah.
18:48My first pick is in the village of Great Bentley,
18:51only a short drive from their current home,
18:53so still within easy reach of their favourite dog walks.
18:56Plus, there's four daily trains direct to London for Carol's work.
19:01On the market for £450,000,
19:04£75,000 under their max,
19:05is this ready-to-move-into three-bed bungalow.
19:11So, we have a very smart bungalow,
19:16three beds, loads of parking, garage.
19:19Yeah.
19:20I really like this, as a first, even Richard smiling.
19:25What do you make of the look of it?
19:26I think it looks quite nice, yeah.
19:27Quite tidy?
19:28Yeah, it's a bit smaller than our one,
19:30but the loft isn't big enough for me to do a loft extension,
19:33so you're all right, you're all right.
19:35Come on, let's have a look.
19:38The bungalow has a large kitchen diner,
19:41ideal for Carol to get her bake on,
19:43with a semi-open plan flow into the living area.
19:46Very cosy.
19:49There's the family bathroom and three bedrooms.
19:54The primary is en-suite
19:55and supplies the wow factor with the dressing area
19:59and access to the large wraparound garden,
20:02which means there'll be sun somewhere in the garden all day long.
20:06Come on in.
20:08See what you think.
20:09So we have kitchen diner.
20:12It is opened up at the moment.
20:14Whether you like it that way or not, I mean, come and have a look.
20:17Yeah.
20:17It's quite easy to close it down again
20:19by reinstating this wall if you wanted.
20:22I would definitely put a door in there.
20:24Yeah.
20:24Or something.
20:25I really don't like open playing.
20:29What about the actual space living room kitchen?
20:32It's a bit small.
20:34It's a bit small, yeah.
20:35Yeah, and we probably had to renew the kitchen.
20:39Yeah.
20:40Oh, really?
20:40That's a bit harsh.
20:42We like smooth doors.
20:45I work on a rule of 19 kitchen units.
20:49There's only 14 units in here,
20:52including the washing machine and including the double oven,
20:56so that takes it down to 12.
20:58That's good, isn't it?
20:59No, I'm looking for a minimum of 19.
21:02In 25 years of house hunting,
21:05I've never seen someone walk into a room and go,
21:07it's only got 12 units.
21:08I would need 19.
21:10But that's because when they buy it,
21:11they come in and they say,
21:12we haven't got enough units.
21:17Richard's through the door
21:18and immediately planning renovations.
21:20Given that I thought this place was super smart
21:23and ready to move into,
21:24that was not quite the reaction I was expecting.
21:27Yeah.
21:27It's a bit on the small side, isn't it?
21:29It's a little small,
21:30and it's a shower above a bath,
21:31which is the greatest.
21:34Oh, a dressing area.
21:35Oh, this is nice.
21:37This is nice.
21:38I like the space in here.
21:40Only en suite.
21:41Yeah, en suite.
21:41There's your shower.
21:42There's your shower.
21:44This is nice.
21:44It's got a nice bath.
21:45Nice bed.
21:45And then a nice look out to the garden.
21:47Let's look.
21:49Especially in the summer,
21:50on a Sunday morning,
21:51doors open,
21:52and sit and have a cup of coffee
21:54after getting out of bed.
21:55Yeah, I like this room.
21:57Some words of encouragement at last.
21:59I knew this would be a tough search.
22:01I didn't quite realise how tough.
22:04Come and join me.
22:06Garden, it is fenced,
22:07so it's safe for the dogs.
22:09What did you make of it inside, Carl?
22:11Um, that's the nicest room.
22:14The main bedroom.
22:14The bedroom is the nicest room.
22:16In my head,
22:17which you know is a bit funny,
22:20that's almost going to become
22:21the kitchen diner,
22:22and then we'll worry about
22:23the bedroom over there,
22:25and maybe an extension on the side.
22:28But then that's all the work
22:29that I'm trying to avoid doing.
22:31Yeah.
22:31Richard, is it in your DNA
22:33to want to play and improve and develop?
22:37I'm going to have to say yes.
22:39I'm just running out of energy.
22:41So we don't...
22:42And I'm running out of patience and tolerance.
22:44Yeah.
22:46Well, I'm here to help.
22:47Yeah, I'm here to help.
22:49I haven't hit the home run I'd hoped for.
22:51It appears my ready-to-move-into
22:53is Richard's fixer-upper.
22:56Having said that,
22:56I also think that Richard
22:57is going to want to do works
22:59to anywhere I show him.
23:00It's just in his very nature.
23:03But he's not going to do them to that house.
23:12In the coastal village of Sentosa,
23:14the renovation of Richard and Carol's bungalow
23:17is well underway.
23:19But living on a building site
23:20has its challenges.
23:24Some of the frustrations or difficulties
23:27is where temporary walls
23:29have been put up to block dust.
23:31If I needed anything out of my bedroom,
23:33I had to clamber in through the window.
23:36Richard has been living with prostate cancer
23:39for almost eight years,
23:40but his treatment has recently changed
23:42from hormone therapy to chemotherapy,
23:44leaving him extremely tired
23:46and unable to be as hands-on as he'd like.
23:49You hear about chemo.
23:51Everybody reacts different to it.
23:55I'm six weeks into my treatment.
23:57I've still got another four and a half months.
24:00I'm looking after my health.
24:01Carol's looking after my health.
24:02I do work where I can
24:04and if I can't do it,
24:07I don't do it.
24:08Despite the bungalow getting a new look,
24:10the old divide remains.
24:12Still not quite right,
24:14so come on, Phil.
24:18After the lukewarm response to my first pick,
24:21I need to up my game.
24:23Well, we did actually find online our ideal property.
24:29Almost new, moving.
24:32OK.
24:33Loads of sunshine.
24:35All the rooms were lovely,
24:37but it was in Spain.
24:38I was going to say, where was it?
24:42I can't do Costa del Sol,
24:45but I can do Clacton-on-Sea,
24:47a traditional seaside town
24:49with direct rail links to London.
24:52There's also lots of live music venues,
24:54so there's a classic rock and roll scene
24:57for Richard and Carol to enjoy.
24:59My next pick is currently under construction
25:01in a development of bungalows,
25:03so we're going to look around a show home
25:05with the same layout.
25:08Right now, Richard,
25:10in the interest of stopping you doing any projects,
25:13it's a new build.
25:15Yep, yep.
25:17Three bed, 465.
25:19It looks good,
25:20and it's got enough room up there for a loft.
25:23No!
25:23No, Richard!
25:25You're encouraged.
25:29You're encouraged.
25:30Purchasing a new build under construction
25:32is all about choice
25:34and achieving a bespoke,
25:36truly turnkey finish.
25:39Carol and Richard could have a kitchen
25:40exactly like this two-tone delight,
25:43or they could pick another
25:45that would be fitted by the developer
25:47before they move in.
25:48The joy of a new build
25:51is quite clear through here
25:53because this is a big, lovely,
25:55bright, beautiful kitchen, dining
25:58and through the living room.
25:59Yes.
26:00Like the kitchen,
26:01like the kitchen diner, yeah.
26:02I even don't mind
26:04the sort of open plan
26:05to the lounge,
26:06although I would probably
26:07put doors on there.
26:08Yeah, really simple.
26:09And it's got 19 units.
26:12Have you counted it already?
26:13How do you do that so quick?
26:16Because this is the show home
26:18and the actual one
26:19that I think would suit you
26:20is across the way,
26:21that's not finished,
26:23you have the opportunity
26:24to choose the floor,
26:26the tiling,
26:27the kitchen units,
26:28everything,
26:28and it would be done
26:29to your spec on completion day.
26:31You're ticking my turnkey.
26:34Thumbs up from Carol and Richard
26:36on the kitchen diner.
26:38I'm delivering on flow and space.
26:40It's almost 40% larger
26:42than theirs will be once completed.
26:44And there are three large double bedrooms.
26:48This is a second bedroom,
26:50so, yeah,
26:50it's sizable enough.
26:52Good light.
26:54With the main one en suite...
26:57Oh, it's a master bedroom.
26:59Oh, en suite.
27:00Yeah.
27:00Oh, lovely en suite.
27:02Yeah.
27:02Yeah, lovely.
27:04There's no utility,
27:05but in the plot
27:06I'm eyeing up for them,
27:07there's a garage,
27:08which I think could be converted
27:09into a dog-friendly one.
27:12Nice light.
27:13It's a nice size, yeah.
27:13Yeah, good light coming in
27:14through the doors.
27:15Nice and roomy and airy.
27:16How are you getting on?
27:18Yeah, no, it's quite impressive.
27:20It's a nice size lounge.
27:21Yeah, the lounge
27:22into the dining room,
27:23into the kitchen.
27:24I like that flow.
27:25This is lovely.
27:27This is perfect.
27:28My only criticism
27:30is there's not enough storage
27:31in the bedrooms.
27:32Yeah, yeah, no.
27:33If I could take this section
27:34and stick it into our house,
27:35I'd be perfect.
27:41That's a very positive viewing.
27:43They are feeling optimistic
27:45about things.
27:46The thing with the new build
27:47is that it still gives Richard
27:49great choice and freedom
27:51and creativity,
27:52and yet he doesn't have
27:52to do the work himself.
27:54You know what?
27:54I've got so much respect
27:56for Richard and Cal.
27:56They are dealing with
27:57such a lot at the moment,
27:59and yet they're doing so
28:00with a really positive mindset.
28:03Congratulations,
28:04you've managed to get
28:05half a house right.
28:06Back at home,
28:07I'm determined to get it
28:08100% perfect.
28:10It is nine months
28:12since I was last here,
28:14and I'm really excited
28:15to see how they're getting on.
28:18Carol and Richard
28:19are out walking the dogs,
28:20allowing me
28:21to have a good nosy around.
28:22Now, this was an enormous
28:27family bathroom,
28:28but a stud wall has gone up
28:29to provide an en-suite
28:31for Carol's room.
28:33The original bathroom
28:35was so big
28:35that we've been able
28:36to get two good-sized
28:37washrooms out of it.
28:41Aha!
28:43So this is going to be the kitchen,
28:45and then it's going
28:47to transition through
28:48into the sitting dining area.
28:54Hello, hello, hello.
28:56I don't think I could have
28:57let myself in
28:58if the dogs had been here.
29:00I'm sure their bark
29:01is worse than their bite,
29:03but I'm not going
29:04to put it to the test.
29:06What is your thinking
29:07floor-wise?
29:09Undecided.
29:09Yeah, it's possibly
29:10just going to be...
29:12I'm going to use the word
29:13lino.
29:15Like an LVT.
29:16Thank you, Richard,
29:17for using the word lino.
29:19I love lino.
29:20Yeah.
29:20The number of times
29:21I walk in and say,
29:22are you going to keep the lino?
29:23And people look horrified.
29:26As well as lino,
29:27there is, as Carol said,
29:28LVT,
29:29or Luxury Vinyl Tiles.
29:31Having the same flooring
29:32in the hall,
29:33kitchen and living area
29:34can enhance flow,
29:35but the trick is finding
29:37one that suits all the rooms.
29:42So, while Richard stays
29:44at home with the pups,
29:45Carol and I are going
29:46LVT shopping.
29:48I do think that looks
29:49really nice.
29:52LVT can mimic stone,
29:53marble or wood
29:54at a much lower cost.
29:56It's durable and easy to clean,
29:58making it a budget-friendly
29:59option for dog owners.
30:02I do like the kind of honey
30:03colour.
30:04That is really nice,
30:05and that is the kind of thing
30:06that could go through the hall,
30:08into the kitchen,
30:09into the sitting room.
30:11While real wood flooring
30:12can range from 50
30:13to 120 pounds
30:15a square metre,
30:16LVT can offer
30:17a similar style
30:18for half that.
30:21Oh, what do you think
30:22about that one?
30:23It's an interesting pattern,
30:24isn't it?
30:24For DIY enthusiasts
30:26like Richard,
30:27LVT is a good option
30:28with easy installation methods,
30:30like click lock
30:31or glue down.
30:32This makes it even more
30:34budget-friendly,
30:34as you can save money
30:35on tradespeople.
30:37What do you feel
30:38about that one?
30:39Certainly lining up
30:40the hallway.
30:41I think I'm leaning
30:42more towards this one.
30:43Yeah, I think that one's
30:44very nice.
30:44I do like that one,
30:46but it's maybe a bit
30:46too honeyed.
30:48I think you'll be very pleased
30:49with that in your kitchen,
30:50and your sitting room,
30:51and your hall.
30:53Just now,
30:53I got the feeling
30:54that Carol may be
30:56coming round.
30:57She's taking a keen interest
30:59in the decor of this house,
31:00and it's a good sign for me.
31:03Don't get ahead
31:03of yourself, Allsop.
31:05My previous pick
31:06in Clacton-on-Sea
31:07even had Richard
31:08admitting it was turnkey.
31:10It had the perfect flow
31:11in the living areas,
31:12but there wasn't enough
31:13storage in the bedrooms.
31:14So for my final roll
31:16of the dice,
31:17we're in Colchester,
31:18a charming blend
31:19of modern convenience
31:20and easy access
31:22to the countryside.
31:23Here, I've found
31:24a four-bedder,
31:25maybe one more
31:26than they need.
31:27It's over-budget
31:28at 550k,
31:29but it's truly turnkey,
31:31which, given in the
31:33seven months
31:33since I last saw Richard,
31:35his treatment
31:35has really intensified,
31:37so surely
31:38would be a bonus.
31:39The second property
31:40that we looked at,
31:41I know that got you
31:42both thinking
31:43about the prospect
31:44of moving,
31:44but I also know
31:45that it didn't have
31:46enough storage,
31:47which brings us to this.
31:48It's tidy,
31:49clean, presentable.
31:51Follow me.
31:54The wide,
31:55welcoming hallway
31:56makes a great
31:57first impression,
31:58unlike the narrow corridors
32:00of their current home.
32:01At the rear
32:02is a kitchen,
32:03dining, living area
32:04with the three functions
32:05each having a well-defined space
32:07and patio doors
32:09flow seamlessly
32:10into the large garden.
32:13The main bedroom
32:14is incredibly spacious
32:15and has access
32:16to a Jack and Jill bathroom.
32:18The second largest bedroom,
32:20despite being full of furniture,
32:22still feels roomy.
32:26And the fourth bedroom
32:28is currently set up
32:29as an office,
32:29which would be handy
32:30for Carol
32:31when she works from home.
32:32There's also a utility area
32:34and the family bathroom.
32:39I thought,
32:40a really generous hallway.
32:42It is a good hallway.
32:43Beautiful bedroom,
32:45second bedroom,
32:46there's a bathroom
32:47between those two.
32:48Yeah.
32:49It's a Jack and Jill bathroom.
32:51Cheat ensuite.
32:52Cheat ensuite.
32:52Fair enough.
32:54There's no getting one over
32:55on Richard.
32:57You can.
32:58The cabbage.
32:59So,
33:00this is the extension.
33:03But very open,
33:04you've got the kitchen,
33:05the dining and living,
33:05which I know
33:06is not the way
33:07that you live at the moment.
33:08But I felt
33:09it was big enough
33:10and it was bright enough
33:13and it had 19 units.
33:15I can see Richard counting them.
33:17It's got more than 19 units.
33:19I wouldn't forget that.
33:21That was important to me
33:22the aspect out into the garden
33:24from your living space
33:25so that's quite nice.
33:26And it goes back
33:27quite a bit further.
33:28I think the dogs would enjoy it.
33:29Why don't you have
33:30a wander around the bedrooms?
33:31They go both sides.
33:32I particularly like
33:33the current fourth one
33:35which is an office.
33:36Yeah,
33:36if the door's locked,
33:37don't come a knocking.
33:40Bit of cosmetic decor
33:42but that depends
33:43on how much you like
33:44the wallpaper really.
33:46The cheat on the street's got a bath.
33:47As long as I've got a bath,
33:49I'm fine.
33:51The Jack and Jill
33:52could be a Jack only
33:53simply by locking the door.
33:55No cheating.
33:57This bungalow
33:58is only slightly bigger
33:59than their current home
34:00but it uses the space brilliantly.
34:03It feels much larger.
34:05Oh, look, dog space.
34:07Oh, the utility room.
34:09Oh, that's nice.
34:10Oh, that's nice.
34:12Oh, this is my office.
34:14Here's your office.
34:15Yep, here's my office.
34:17Oh, perfect.
34:17Lovely.
34:18With the aspect
34:18out into the garden.
34:19It's really nice.
34:20And in the summer,
34:22let the dogs out.
34:23Lovely.
34:23They can wander in and out.
34:24Yeah.
34:25When I retire,
34:26it can become my hobby room.
34:28There's been plus points
34:30to every property
34:31I've shown Carol and Richard
34:32but here I feel
34:33I'm ticking every box.
34:35It's spacious,
34:36has fantastic flow,
34:38more bedrooms
34:39than they asked for
34:40but they've hit me
34:41with curveballs before
34:43so I'm braced for impact.
34:45550, top end.
34:47What did you make of it?
34:48I do like the full bedrooms.
34:49I do like the office room
34:51at the side,
34:51looking out into the garden.
34:53That's fabulous
34:53but it's quite a bizarre layout.
34:57The square footage is ample
34:58but the arrangement
34:59isn't what we would like.
35:01A big percentage
35:02of the square footage
35:03is hallway
35:04which is nice
35:05but it's also
35:06a luxury.
35:08There's a lot of square footage
35:09in that hallway
35:10but it's the hallway
35:11that kind of allows
35:12the bedrooms
35:13to be apart
35:13from one another.
35:14So we've found
35:15the right square footage,
35:16we've found good locations,
35:18we've found
35:19things with 19 units.
35:21Yeah, yeah, yeah.
35:23But we haven't actually
35:24found the right
35:25square footage
35:26in the right place.
35:27I'm still team listed.
35:28You just haven't got
35:28the right place
35:29for me yet, Bill.
35:32There are couples
35:33that pitch me curveballs
35:34and then there's
35:36Richard and Carol.
35:37Richard really
35:38has been dealing
35:39with a hell of a lot
35:40both at home
35:41and in hospital.
35:44The search side
35:45of things,
35:45I've certainly showed
35:46them three solid options
35:47and I feel
35:49I've got them
35:49a little bit more aligned
35:50than they were
35:51to start with
35:52but I've no idea
35:53what they're going to do
35:54and I don't think
35:54they have either.
36:02A few months
36:03after work began,
36:04contractor issues
36:05have caused
36:05the renovation
36:06to stall.
36:08Richard is negotiating
36:10chemotherapy side effects
36:11and can no longer
36:12do any of the work
36:13so he and Carol
36:15are now living
36:15surrounded
36:16by unfinished jobs.
36:20I think we've dealt
36:22with how we normally
36:23do, Carol moans
36:23at me and I don't
36:24listen.
36:25Yep.
36:26And we crash on.
36:29Their 60 grand
36:30budget is gone
36:31so they're hiring
36:32tradespeople
36:33as finances allow.
36:36We're getting
36:36what we want
36:37slowly
36:38and painfully
36:40but we're getting
36:42there.
36:43Carol always sees it
36:44after a year or two.
36:46Yeah, that was right
36:47Richard, you know.
36:48I hate having to say that.
36:50And I can wait.
36:51I can wait.
36:53Even with financial
36:55and contractor issues
36:56Richard and Carol
36:57are persevering
36:58and with these two
37:00nothing would surprise me.
37:06Almost 16 months
37:07since we first set foot
37:08in St Oseth
37:09we're back.
37:10With Richard exhausted
37:11from his chemotherapy
37:12and cancer struggle
37:14and Carol supporting him
37:16while working full-time
37:17whatever they've
37:18accomplished
37:18will be an incredible
37:19achievement.
37:21They've invited us
37:22to see their progress
37:23so far.
37:25Richard has been
37:26insisting on doing
37:26a lot of the work
37:27himself.
37:28Yeah.
37:28And as you know
37:29he is not a well man.
37:30No.
37:31So it's been
37:33going slowly.
37:35It's very funny
37:36I'll leave it to Carol
37:37and Richard to tell you
37:38but there was a very
37:38funny incident
37:39with the floor
37:40and the dog
37:40let's say
37:41that the dog
37:42didn't quite realise
37:43that a drying period
37:45was required.
37:46What?
37:47No.
37:49Carol and Richard's
37:50renovation may not
37:51be complete
37:51but improvements
37:52are evident
37:53from the outset.
37:55The new
37:56energy efficient glazing
37:57has increased
37:58heat retention
37:58and curb appeal.
38:02Hello.
38:02Hello.
38:03Only us.
38:05Nice to see you again.
38:06Very nice to see you.
38:07Good to see you.
38:08Would you like to come in?
38:09Thank you so much.
38:11Carol and Richard
38:12bought their bungalow
38:13with retirement in mind
38:14but Carol was never a fan
38:16of the old-fashioned
38:17architrave
38:18or Artex ceilings.
38:24Now the hallway
38:25is freshly plastered
38:26smooth and modern
38:27with stylish new doors
38:28in place
38:29of drafty archways.
38:32The smallest room
38:33in the house
38:34was their tiny kitchen
38:35cut off
38:36from the living area
38:36but Richard and Carol
38:38wanted a spacious hub
38:39for their home.
38:43And they've got it.
38:45Cool grey cabinets
38:46and a classy marble worktop
38:48showcase their love
38:49of modern design.
38:51The old kitchen
38:52remains completely unchanged
38:53but it is now used
38:55as a utility
38:56and dog drying room
38:57while the new
38:58open-plan kitchen,
39:00dining and living space
39:00gives them the flow
39:02they were dreaming of.
39:06So, what's been going on?
39:08Quite a lot.
39:09Yeah, we've done a lot
39:11and there's still a lot to do.
39:12Not that much.
39:13But it's coming together.
39:14It looks fantastic
39:15and you've really broken
39:16the back of it
39:17and I have to say
39:19this is such a perfect island.
39:22Good size, narrow island
39:24with proper pan drawers.
39:25Are you pleased
39:26with this island size?
39:27I am, yeah.
39:28See, I would have liked it
39:31maybe a little bit longer
39:33not the island
39:34but the worktop
39:34a little bit longer
39:35so you could do like
39:36a brick for spa type thing
39:38but we couldn't go
39:39any further than that
39:40because it intrudes
39:41into the walkway
39:42between the doorways.
39:44Key question, Richard.
39:45How many units have you got?
39:47There's at least 20
39:48depends on how you're counting.
39:49Plus we've got
39:50the utility room.
39:51Ah!
39:52What's in that corner?
39:53This is the ladder.
39:54Oh!
39:56Equivalents of four.
39:57Four units, I think.
39:58That's lovely.
39:59That's four cupboards.
40:01Yeah.
40:01Look at that.
40:02And once I get
40:03all my stuff organised
40:04I'm going to label
40:05everything up
40:06so everything's really...
40:07That is fantastic.
40:09What happened to the floor?
40:11Well, they wanted to see
40:12what was going on.
40:14Can you tell?
40:14I like that
40:15because they've made
40:16their imprint.
40:17Yeah, yeah.
40:17Can you tell
40:18whose is whose?
40:19No.
40:20We're surmising...
40:21Not my paw prints.
40:22Yeah, surmising it
40:23was Jojo
40:24because Jojo's
40:26the naughty one.
40:28Jojo's made
40:28a lasting impression
40:30as has the great work
40:31Richard and Carol
40:32are doing.
40:35They wanted
40:36separate bathrooms
40:37which they've managed
40:38to achieve
40:38by splitting
40:39their oversized one.
40:43Richard went all in
40:44with a bold gold theme
40:46and a shower
40:47with more knobs
40:48than I know
40:48what to do with.
40:53Shut the door
40:54you can see
40:55the shower
40:56in all its glory.
40:57This is
40:57fully James Bond.
40:59It's very flassy.
41:01Where did you
41:01first see
41:02such a thing?
41:03I'm looking everywhere.
41:05Carol says
41:06I can't find such
41:07and she said
41:07I'll find it.
41:08I must have
41:09when he showed me
41:10that he wanted it
41:11for this bathroom
41:12I said
41:12it's horrible
41:13but now that it's up
41:15it kind of...
41:15It settles into the room.
41:17And it is a nice shower.
41:18It's amazing.
41:19It's absolutely...
41:20I mean I'm rather jealous
41:21of it.
41:21It's extraordinary.
41:26As is Carol's en suite
41:27the soft toned tiles
41:29and vanity
41:30combined with the chrome accents
41:31create a sophisticated
41:32and elegant design.
41:39Come and have a look
41:40at the en suite.
41:41And it's done
41:42as a wet room.
41:43And it's done
41:43as a wet room.
41:44This is really nice.
41:46It really is.
41:47It is a nice...
41:48It's a little bit odd
41:49that you've got to come
41:49into the en suite
41:50to get to the bedroom
41:51but that was the trade-off
41:53that we had to make.
41:55I mean you are
41:56touching distance
41:57from the end.
41:58It really doesn't
41:59feel like that
41:59when I look around
42:00and I think about
42:01how much is still
42:02left to do.
42:03It's trying to stay positive.
42:05Trying to stay positive.
42:06That is...
42:06I mean if it's
42:07any consolation Carol
42:08I have worked
42:09with so many people
42:10who are at this stage
42:12have been at this stage
42:14thinking why
42:14did we start this?
42:17And then
42:18it gets finished
42:19and they see
42:20off the last
42:21workman
42:22and they're like
42:24great.
42:25It's getting there.
42:27I'm still working
42:27full time
42:28and because of
42:28his health
42:29I've got to walk
42:29both the dogs
42:30on my own.
42:32It's been a stressful time.
42:34I try and
42:34keep telling myself
42:36it will be worth it
42:37when it's finished.
42:39Project managing
42:40a renovation
42:40is never easy
42:41but throw on top
42:42work,
42:43dog walks
42:44and fighting illness
42:45Richard and Carol
42:47have achieved
42:47remarkable things.
42:50Evident in Richard's
42:52former bedroom
42:52which is now
42:53an inviting living space.
42:54With new insulation
42:56underfoot
42:56and chic new radiators
42:57this room
42:58is now a cosy retreat
42:59with space for Carol
43:00to work from home.
43:09Richard you are
43:10touching distance
43:11of finishing this
43:12aren't you?
43:12Yeah.
43:13So close.
43:14You've done so much.
43:16It's closer
43:17than it looks.
43:18Finish the floor
43:19put the skirting down
43:21we're more or less there.
43:22We actually lived
43:24in Carol's bedroom
43:25for a week
43:26because that was
43:27the only room
43:28that wasn't ripped up.
43:29I'm looking forward
43:30to being able
43:32to sit here
43:33of an evening
43:33and not think
43:35oh that's got to be done
43:37but I haven't got the energy.
43:38My mind boggles
43:39at the multitude
43:40of things
43:40that you've had
43:41to deal with
43:43and face
43:43and decide about.
43:44In life
43:45if something goes wrong
43:47you either
43:47put up with it
43:48get on
43:49or you give up on life.
43:51And we don't
43:52give up on life.
43:55Now is not the time
43:56for a decision
43:57but with the layout changes
43:58and the interior
43:59decor revamp
44:00I feel Richard and Carol
44:02are really making
44:03this home their own.
44:06At the beginning of this
44:07you were both
44:08quite defiantly
44:09in your camps
44:11to love or to list.
44:13Yeah.
44:13I don't think
44:14I've changed my mind
44:15once it's done
44:17peace of mind
44:19garden like that
44:20for the dogs
44:21it's perfect.
44:22At the moment
44:23I don't love it
44:25I'm just sitting here
44:26and looking at the garden
44:27I'm feeling depressed already
44:29by how much work
44:29has got to be done
44:30out there
44:31we haven't finished
44:31in the house yet.
44:33I'm not sure
44:33the situation's
44:34resolved at all.
44:36No.
44:37But when you keep in touch
44:38we'd love to know
44:39when it is finished.
44:41So would we.
44:42Yeah.
44:46Overall
44:46it has been
44:48hellish
44:48but
44:49we've made it
44:51almost.
44:56Because I'm so down
44:57about everything
44:57that's happened
44:58and how far
44:59behind we are
45:00I still
45:01want to list it
45:02just to get away
45:03from the problem
45:04but then
45:04I know he still
45:05would probably
45:06love to love it.
45:08You never know
45:08I might get my strength
45:09back and think
45:10we'll list it
45:10so I can go
45:11and do it again.
45:12It's about right.
45:15Richard and Carol
45:16are in sparring.
45:17Soon I'm sure
45:18they will have
45:18finished a home
45:19where Carol can relax
45:20and Richard might
45:21finally stop
45:21planning renovations.
45:24They're getting there
45:25but it has obviously
45:26been really hard.
45:28In many ways.
45:29Yeah in many ways.
45:30They've been so resilient
45:31and they've done so much
45:32in difficult
45:33difficult circumstances.
45:34We haven't resolved
45:35the situation.
45:37But you know what
45:38it's very good
45:40to remember
45:41that it's not
45:42always possible
45:43to resolve it.
45:43That's why we do
45:44what we do.
45:45It's very real.
45:46It's their money.
45:48It's their time.
45:48It's their effort.
45:50Here's to
45:51keeping it real.
45:53Keeping it real.
45:55Very sadly
45:55only seven months
45:57after Phil and I
45:57last saw them
45:58Carol let us know
46:00that Richard had died.
46:01We send love
46:02and want to say
46:03thank you
46:03from the bottom
46:04of our hearts
46:04for sharing
46:05your story with us.
46:13And the
46:13we see
46:13there's not
46:13we see
46:15the
46:15the
46:15the
46:15the
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