(upbeat music) - Into battle we go.

- We're back.

Bonjourno.

- How do?

- [Kirstie] in the property rat race.

- Is that a definite no?

- [Phil] We'll need to use all our years of professional expertise.

Whoops!

- [Kirstie] And face up to some home truths.

- I may have gone backwards.

- That's a first for me.

- Are we giving you mixed messages?

- [Phil] But although our house hunters may push us to breaking point.

- Oh no!

We'll get through.

- You've just bought a house.

- Yay!

(Phil laughing) - Oh, brilliant!

- [Kirstie] As long as we can count on each other.

(Phil laughing) This week, the stakes are high with two sets of house hunters who aren't afraid to speak their minds.

Initial thoughts?

- I don't like it.

- To stay on the right track.

Come on, give us a smile.

- A work lot?

(Anisha laughing) - We need to use all our charms.

I was a bit cross with you.

- [Phil] Be prepared for any eventuality.

- That has a huge impact on the rest of the search.

And not be afraid to deliver some tough love.

You can't go on the way you've been, it's just not realistic.

- [Phil] But could the house hunting process prove too much for some?

- Sometimes in a flat, you just need somewhere where you can hide.

(cheerful music) (soft upbeat music) - This week, we're in a city and out of town as we try and find dream homes in East London and Essex.

- We're with very different house hunters, with very different budgets, in very different markets.

- [Kirstie] I'm searching for properties in Essex with husband and wife, Tom and Lisa, a couple seeking their forever family home.

- [Phil] And I'm in East London, helping Workplace Designer, Anisha Hurst, and her husband, Webpage Designer, James, battle their way through the frantic and unpredictable London housing market.

This artie pair met at university studying sculpture and are keen to get on the property ladder while staying in the creative buzz of the city.

- We currently live in White Chapel and we absolutely love it.

We love the kind of vibrancy of where we are at the moment.

And I suppose in our house search, we realize we're slightly scared of suburbia.

- [Kirstie] And it's not just the area that's important, what's inside is also key.

- We are both creative from education, creative now in our own jobs, and so we would want a house that we can sculpt ourselves into what we want.

- [Kirstie] They've been married three years and are beginning to look to the future.

- We're not looking at it purely as a family home immediately, although we would like it to become that.

- [Phil] This couple openly admit they've hit a stumbling block, having viewed more than 50 properties and losing out on the five they've offered on in the last two years.

Not good news, considering London house prices have risen by 9% in the last year alone.

- I think we have started to lose not only our minds, but also track of what we're trying to achieve.

- Yeah, we have got decision paralysis and I think we just need Phil and Kirstie to boss us around a little bit and just tell us how it is.

- [Kirstie] Careful what you wish for.

Phil, it's over to you.

- Let me get this straight.

You guys have been out and you've looked at 50 properties.

You've lost out on five.

- Yeah.

- And now you call me.

- Yep.

- Yep.

(group laughing) - What is this?

A case of all else fails, call Phil.

- I'm not sure if it's the areas or if it's our criteria.

- [Phil] Okay.

- But something's not working.

- There's an element of we know the market's moving really quickly, and we're just not sure we're getting there quick enough.

- I'm here to help.

I'm absolutely on your side.

But let's talk about what you're after.

I understand you're happy to take on a project, I was just unsure as to the level of work that you would accept.

- Yeah, we're not scared of work as long as it's not too much structural work.

- The interior's something we can put our own mark on.

Walls, that's fine.

- Ideally, what kind of a house would you be after?

- I think we know more what we don't want, so we're not after new builds.

- So we better get started.

(soft upbeat music) - [Kirstie] And fast.

As you sit there with your tea, property prices are only going up.

- [Phil] Anisha and James are after a three bedroom property.

They'd love a place with plenty of character and that means that new builds are a no-no.

- [Kirstie] They'll consider a degree of work to really put their own stamp on the place, but it's got to be found for under 425,000 pounds.

No mean feat in such a competitive part of London.

- [Phil] They're searching in Upper Walthamstow, Bushwood, and Wanstead Flats, but aren't as keen on nearby South Leytonstone.

With housing stock around their price bracket in short supply and demand high, properties can be under offer in a matter of days so time is of the essence.

- [Kirstie] Although I don't envy Phil's task in East London, I doubt mine will be any more straightforward, despite having a million pounds to spend.

I'll be searching for Tom and Lisa Gregory, who live on the London, Essex borders in Woodford Green.

Tom's a Business Executive and Lisa set up her own online reward and loyalties business three years ago.

They both work hard and are hoping a move out of London will bring some well earned respite.

- Owning your own business, you just never switch off.

My mind's always going.

So for me, this is a case of having that peaceful, quiet place where I can work as well as switch off.

- [Phil] With boys, 15 year old Joshua and Kaia, who's 11, approaching exam age, there's one sticking point that's driving the search.

- We don't want to move our children from their existing school, so we took a radius point round the school and we can drive probably about half an hour, I think.

- Yeah.

- [Kirstie] But location isn't going to be the trickiest problem.

- Lisa's a little bit picky, but there's been some where we've rocked up and I've thought, "This is quite nice," but Lisa kind of gets the instant, "No, this isn't right."

- I can instantly tell when I walk into a property whether I'm going to like it or not.

- [Kirstie] Good.

I prefer decisive to dithering.

- [Phil] Seems like it'll be up to you to find a property that serve to their liking, Kirsalls.

- Kai, do you want a sausage?

- [Kirstie] It's not just Lisa that needs satisfying, the plan is to find a property with a separate space on site so Lisa's mom can move in with them, but still retain her independence.

- The annex for my mom needs to be her own space where she can do everything there.

I love my mom to death, but you know, there can't be two captains of a ship.

- [Phil] Kirstie, take note or you could find yourself without the proverbial paddle.

- Aye, aye.

Lisa, Tom, this search seems to me to encapsulate the dilemma that so many people have.

It doesn't matter what your budget is, you can't necessarily get what you want.

- One of the main problems has been that this is our forever home.

So whereas we've moved before and been able to make compromises because we know it's not going to be the final one, this time, I'm sort of going, "I don't want to compromise.

I want the home of my dreams."

- What are you searching for from this move to a more rural area?

- Somewhere where we can go and just really relax and just chill out as a family.

- That's what I grew up with.

- [Kirstie] Yeah.

- And you always have a little bit more space around you, a little bit of tranquility there.

- Right.

(upbeat guitar music) Drink up.

We've got some house hunting to do.

- [Phil] Sounds like finding them a place to chill out is going to be hard work for you.

- [Kirstie] Yes, especially with this wishlist.

My couple is searching for a five bed family property, a self-contained living space for Lisa's mom is essential, as is a sensible drive to the boys' school.

And they want somewhere semi-rural with their own land.

- [Phil] With a sizeable one million pound budget to work with, or even up to 1.1 at a real stretch, they've set the search around Nazeing, Loughton, Ongar, and Matching.

But properties fulfilling all of their criteria here can easily command asking prices of up to 1.5 million.

- [Kirstie] And of course, Tom and Lisa will need to factor in stamp duty.

At 5% for property's over a million, that's a minimum of 50,000 pounds once the million pound mark is hit.

Oh!

- [Phil] But no matter what the budget, both our couples have high expectations and it's up to a certain duo to deliver.

- Bonjourno.

- How do?

- How's it going?

- What an interesting situation.

They've been looking for two years, they've seen 50 houses.

But what strikes me is two years ago, they could have bought exactly what they wanted.

- Snap!

- Yeah?

- Snap!

What's your budget?

- 425.

- Oh, not so much snap.

- Ah.

What's yours?

- A million.

(Phil and Kirstie laughing) - Great!

- But super, super, super fussy.

- So you're not going to have a quiet week.

- Nah.

When do I ever get a quiet week?

- When I'm not around.

- Yeah, that's true enough.

- Well, Kirstie, while I leave you in peace, I'll be starting my search in Wood Street in Walthamstow, an area popular with young creatives and well within James and Anisha's prescribed search area.

In three days time, this house will have an open day, but we've managed to get them in ahead of that for an early viewing.

How does that strike you to start with, just the look of it?

- Yeah.

- It's quite sweet.

Yeah.

- [James] It's looking a bit skinny, if I'm honest.

- [Phil] Skinny as in small?

- As in slim, as in narrow.

- Let's get on in.

Come on.

Let's see what happens inside.

(relaxing music) - [Kirstie] Not the most enthusiastic response I've ever seen, Phil.

It may seem slender outside, but through the door, I hope they'll find a lot to love.

- [Phil] This Victorian property has the character I know they're after.

Downstairs, there's a living room and a dining room leading to a galley kitchen.

- [Kirstie] Upstairs is a good size master bedroom, bathroom, and it's perfect for the future with two additional bedrooms.

- This is a cracking property that they can really put their own stamp on.

Price-wise, it'll be marketed at its open day with a guide price of 325 to 375,000, which would mean they'd have plenty left over to unleash their creative flare.

What do you think of this front room?

- Yeah.

Proportionally, it works.

Like with the windows, there's nothing weird going on which is quite nice.

- James, you're looking worried.

- I always look worried.

It's my default look.

Um, it does seem, again, quite compact.

- Yeah.

Okay.

Let's see some more.

- [Kirstie] Anisha seems keen, but it looks like you'll have to work harder, Phil, to get James to turn that frown upside down.

- So this house, it is quite a rare find.

- Yeah.

- In that it is in its original layout.

Most of these round here will have been opened up.

- [Anisha] Yeah.

This makes sense for us having that separate dining room linked with the kitchen, and it's a good size dining room.

- Head on upstairs.

- [Anisha] Great.

- Check out the bedrooms.

Three of them.

It's going okay.

Got a lot to learn, I'm here to teach.

- [Kirstie] I hope the space in the bedrooms puts this house top of the class.

- Oh this is really, really lovely.

- [James] Yeah.

Very airy, very light.

- [Anisha] Yeah, this is cool.

- Fireplace feature.

- [Kirstie] At last, could James be seeing this property's merits?

- I think this is a really good house, 'cause there's a lot of opportunity here as well.

Is it big enough for them right now?

Perhaps not.

I mean, they're already talking about it feeling a little compact, so I think they're being polite.

But they could make it bigger.

- [Kirstie] Other properties on the street have extended upwards to create more space and they could fill in the side return to make a bigger kitchen, as and when time and budget allowed.

- [Anisha] It's a cute little single.

- Yeah, it's definitely a single room there.

It is on the smaller side.

- Welcome to the garden.

- Yeah.

- [Phil] How did you get on upstairs?

- It still feels quite small up there.

- Our flat in White Chapel actually has more space in some areas, so like the bedroom is bigger and the living room's bigger.

- And that's a situation that I've come across recently quite a lot in London is that people are renting quite nice places.

- Yeah.

- And then when it comes to their first time buy.

- Having to downsize in a way.

- But you're upsizing in life, you know?

You're paying off your own mortgage as opposed to paying off somebody else's.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- This slim line house has given them food for thought, but I think I'll need to work a little harder yet to satisfy James and Anisha's property hunger.

(cheerful music) This week, I'm trying to help phobic first time buyers, James and Anisha, get over their decision paralysis in a property market where if you blink, it's gone.

- And I'm in Essex, helping Tom and Lisa find their million pound dream home.

But let's get one thing straight.

Big budgets do not an easy search make.

Tom and Lisa have spent the last three years seeking their forever family home.

I'm starting their property hunt in Bishop Stortford, seven miles north of their search boundary, but with just cause.

This market town on the Essex, Hartfordshire borders is popular with those wanting a bit of peace and tranquility, but still embarking on the daily London commute with direct trains taking just under 40 minutes.

I want to show them this 16th century, grade two listed barn conversion, which could be the semi-rural property that satisfies all their criteria.

- The initial house itself, I think looks- - That looks lovely.

That... (airplane roaring) - Might be a problem?

- Yes.

- [Phil] A turbulent start, but the inside really should make up for a little noise.

- [Kirstie] There's a 30 foot living room, separate dining area and kitchen, three bathrooms and five bedrooms.

- [Phil] Outside, the plot boasts four acres of land, which should satisfy Tom, as well as a self-contained annex, perfect for Lisa's mom.

It's on the market just shy of 900,000 pounds, so well within their budget.

- So what you've got here is your main reception room.

- Wow.

First impressions.

It seems quite open, but quite light for a barn.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

See more?

- Yes.

- Yep.

- [Kirstie] Right.

- [Phil] A positive turnaround.

Could the plane noise be no more than a distant echo?

- Kitchen.

Light.

- Yeah, it doesn't seem big enough.

- [Tom] What do you think of the AGA?

- Sell it to me.

If you buy the house and you don't want the AGA, I'll give you a good price.

- There you go.

(Lisa laughing) - I'll give you good money for that AGA.

- [Tom] Deal.

Done.

- [Phil] Come now, Kirstie.

Don't let this couple lose focus.

- So what we've got here is what's currently used as the master bedroom suite.

What is fantastic is: ♪ Da, da ♪ Have a look in there.

- Oh wow.

- Oh wow.

- An ensuite.

- There's a very nice ensuite.

- [Tom] Oh now, that I like.

(relaxing music) - [Kirstie] I knew this search wouldn't be easy, but I'm finding Tom and Lisa hard to read from room to room.

Hopefully, they'll appreciate the upstairs space on offer.

- [Tom] Oh, I like the high ceiling.

- High ceilings are nice.

It's not huge.

- No, but for one of the kids, this would be plenty big enough.

- Yeah.

- Lisa isn't searching for a house in a, anything's possible type of way.

She is genuinely searching for problems.

And if you're searching for problems, you are always going to find them.

- Possibly there's nowhere to put a desk.

- But Tom is clearly just wanting to get on with it, and I think that is what is gonna push this search.

- [Phil] Don't fret, Kirstie.

If they didn't find upstairs big enough, they're sure to be won over by the annex for Lisa's mom, already in a good state and with well proportioned rooms to boot.

- It's big enough in terms of the footprint, I'd say.

- It's also very nicely positioned in terms of- - [Tom] You don't think so?

(Lisa laughing) - What?

- She pulled a face.

- You don't think it's big enough for your mom?

- Um, no.

- Really?

- Really?

Huh?

That has a huge impact on the rest of the search 'cause this is a big space in annex terms.

It's certainly a lot bigger than my one bed flat, which I lived in very happily for about 12 years.

(Lisa and Tom laughing) - [Phil] At almost 650 square feet, finding larger annexes in budget could be nigh on impossible.

But I suspect it's not just the space that's playing on Lisa's mind.

- This space for me is the easiest space to sort out with in this house.

I think there's other compromises in this house as a whole, but this isn't it.

- I can't get over the noise.

- [Kirstie] The noise of the planes.

- Yeah.

- Right.

Moving onwards, moving upwards, hopefully.

It just goes to show, a hundred thousand pounds or a million pounds, the hunt for the perfect property is never simple.

- And it's hardly plain sailing with my couple.

Despite being full of character, James and Anisha felt property one wasn't quite big enough for them.

But I'm hopeful that my next option will deliver on space.

It's in Leytonstone, a little bit out of their preferred search area, but it has plenty of opportunity to get this pair's creative juices flowing.

I'm hoping Kirstie will help them see its merits.

Well, here we are.

The next little piece of joy for you.

- It looks like it's got potential, definitely potential, and some nice features.

- [Phil] And you're familiar with where we are?

- This was in our red zone, actually.

It's just that rows and rows of houses that affects us a little bit, or maybe me more.

- Okay.

This is a lot bigger than where we've come from.

And that was, I know space was something that you were grappling with in the last house.

- Yeah.

- Mm.

- And it's got very respectable neighbors.

- Yeah.

- Judging by their garden.

- Right.

- Let's get on in.

Come on, follow me.

Neighbors not included, this end of terrace house is on the market at a scrap under 385,000 pounds, comfortably within their 425 budget.

But here they'd need every penny they could save.

The property's been owned by one family since the 1920s and is certainly the project they've asked for.

- [Kirstie] It's well proportioned with a 25 foot sitting room, kitchen, and separate dining room, and a fair size garden by London standards.

- Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms and a bathroom.

With an internal floor area 280 square feet larger than property one, this place will surely give them the space they're after.

But will the amount of work be too scary a prospect?

Well, you wanted somewhere to put your own stamp and this, you definitely will put your own stamp on it.

- Yeah.

Spatially, it feels much better and I'm loving some of the retro features.

- I love those lights.

I've actually bought a light very similar to that very recently.

- This is a house that you would want to do all of the work straight away.

It's on the market for just under 385.

- Right.

- By the time you've done the work, you've spent all the money.

- Right.

- Mm.

- Yeah.

- At the moment it seems manageable.

(soft upbeat music) - This is looking promising, Phil.

Anisha and James don't seem to be put off by the task at hand, but they haven't seen all of it yet.

Kitchen.

This is where the majority of your work would be done.

- It is slightly worrying, looking at it from here, how much that might need to be done.

- Yeah.

By the way, there are cracks in this house.

- Yeah.

- End of terrace houses are prone to the pressure of the buildup of the houses.

- [Anisha] Yeah.

- It is the type of thing which is easy to sort out.

(soft jazz music) - [Phil] However, if you're worried about the condition of a building, it's still worth getting a structural engineer's report.

- [Kirstie] I just hope you can keep James smiling in the bedroom, Phil.

- [Phil] Steady on, Kirstie.

So you got great size bedrooms.

- Yes, unlike the other place, it was a bit thinner, this feels a lot wider.

The niggling feeling is the terraced houses, 'cause you can't change that.

We can change everything internally, but we can't pick the house up and put it anywhere else.

- What do you feel Anisha will be saying about this house?

- I grew up in London, so I'm used to terraced houses.

I'm used to rows and rows of it.

She comes from more open spaces and it's something that she's never really adjusted with.

- Well, I'll leave wife management to you.

I have enough trouble with mine and Kirstie.

- You don't know the half of it, Phil.

I was a bit cross with you because you told them the price before they asked.

- Yes.

- Well, don't.

- But it's just- - It's such an indicator of whether someone's interested or not where they- - True.

- You do not check out the price of a dress until you're genuinely interested in trying it on.

- But if you needed to alter that dress substantially, like you need to alter the house, you need to.

You just need to- - But you still have to ask.

You'd ask.

Interest is shown when people ask the price.

That's how we can read people's minds, Phil.

- [Phil] If you could read minds, Kirstie, you'd know I'm doing all I can to bite my tongue right now.

- [Kirstie] It may be irrelevant.

Seems James and Anisha's interest could be waning.

- I think for me, the concern is end of terrace cracks.

- Yeah.

- Something we'd need to look into.

- Yeah.

- [Phil] Could the prospect of some structural work be putting Anisha and James off?

- Sometimes in a flat, you just need somewhere where you can hide.

(Anisha laughing) - [Kirstie] You can hide all you want, James, but you'll have to face us sooner or later.

- You know, I can't tell.

Is that smiles or grimaces?

- Smiles 'cause we're excited by it.

But also, we have to think about it financially.

- I would say that it is a real contender.

- [Kirstie] It's great to see that James and Anisha are so open to this project.

I could really do with the same luck with Tom and Lisa on my next property.

After small bedrooms and the noise of planes meant the first house failed to take off, (airplane roaring) I've brought them to Dunmow, Essex market town with boutiques and cafes right on their doorstep, and where houses are in high demand.

However, I'm really pushing the limits on distance.

A 30 mile drive from the boys' school, but if they want a spacious semi-rural property with land and room for Lisa's mom within budget, compromises will have to be made somewhere.

Fortunately, in this case, it won't be on the look.

This house is stunning.

- I like the house, the outside.

And there's no airplanes.

- [Tom] I have a big problem with this house.

- [Kirstie] Why?

- I love it but I'm worried that it's gonna be too far away.

- It is absolutely too far away.

- [Tom] Yeah.

- But it is the forever family house.

- [Lisa] This is exactly how I would envision my forever home to be.

- [Kirstie] That's just the reaction I was hoping for, Lisa.

Inside, there are three reception rooms, a dining room, a large kitchen, and a conservatory looking out onto an acre of garden.

- [Phil] There's a master bedroom boasting an ensuite bathroom and dressing area and four additional bedrooms.

But unlike the pre-built annex at property one, the garages would need converting into a self-contained space for Lisa's mom.

- It's on the market at over their one million pound budget, but as the vendors have already purchased their next house and are ready to go, we think there'll be room for negotiation.

It's very old-fashioned, this house.

It's grand.

This is a handsome house.

- [Tom] Yeah.

- Yes.

Lots of light as well.

- Yeah.

- [Lisa] Which is nice.

I think the downstairs space is really nice.

It feels like it's a big house.

- The previous house lost some ground on the bedrooms.

- Yes, definitely.

- Let's see how these bedrooms match up to the downstairs.

- Okay.

- Okay.

- [Phil] I hope for your sake, Kirstie, this fits the bill as they'll be hard-pressed to get more space for their budget while satisfying all their other criteria.

- And this is the master bedroom.

- This is a decent size.

- [Tom] A better size.

- Yes.

Double windows, high ceilings.

This is more like it.

- South facing.

Yep.

- [Phil] A big thumbs up.

But the space for Lisa's mom could prove problematic.

It's over 100 square foot smaller than the annex she rejected at the last property.

- So you've got the two garages there.

Obviously what you would do is you would have this as a sitting room.

- [Lisa] Yes.

- So you'd totally have French windows there.

And then here you'd have the bathroom at this end and then you'd have the bedroom with some windows out.

- It's big enough.

- [Kirstie] Lisa hasn't vetoed the size of this space for her mom, so surely the house has won her over.

- So what do you think?

- It's a lovely house, Tom.

- Yeah.

For me, the house is not in doubt.

I love the house.

- Yeah.

- It's the location.

- It is very pretty.

(Lisa sighing) - It's all Kirstie's fault.

(Lisa laughing) - Happy to take the rap for this one.

I've just stolen something from your new house.

- Oh!

- Good apples.

- Oh wow.

Apple tree as well.

- Yeah.

- You'll love that.

- [Kirstie] Where are your heads at?

- It's a lovely house.

I think what we've gotta get past is the location.

- The reason this is available at your budget is because of where it is.

Are you, by trying to remain close enough to the boys' school, creating an impossible situation for yourselves?

- One thing this has brought home to me, this house, is how important location is to me.

Because for me, this is the nicest house I've seen, ever, probably in my life.

So I think I'd make a different compromise to get a better location, even if it's not the loveliest house I've ever seen.

- I am determined that we crack this search in some way.

- Mm.

- [Lisa] Yes.

- Because you can't go on the way you've been.

It's just not realistic.

- [Phil] Well, something's gotta crack over there.

I just hope it isn't you, Dearest.

(cheerful music) (upbeat music) - Funky East London's where it's at for me this week, as I try to find James and Anisha a little piece of it to call their own.

But boy, is it proving problematic.

- And I'm in the Essex countryside, trying to find Tom and Lisa a forever family home.

After viewing 30 properties, they're pretty desperate.

But are they desperate enough?

I know I am.

Tom and Lisa failed to be won over at property number one.

And although they love the second property in Dunmow, the distance to the boys' school could be a deal breaker.

- My first time buyers, James and Anisha, weren't sold by their first property either.

But with the project property in Leytonstone a strong contender, I'm trying something a bit risky with my third option.

It's a new build, something James wasn't keen on.

But I'm hopeful they'll see its merits, especially as it's in one of their top locations, Wanstead Flats, 450 acres of open grassland.

Well, one of the things that you guys have been struggling with is the fact that you wanted a blank canvas.

How about if you could (hammer banging) actually design your own home from scratch?

(Anisha laughing) - I'd say I was not expecting that.

- Yeah.

- But okay.

(Anisha laughing) - Okay.

So kind of like a new build?

- [Phil] Yes.

- Yeah.

- I know new build wasn't up on your list, James.

- No, it wasn't on my list at all.

But I'm open to all possibilities.

- [Phil] I do hope he means that, because I'm personally really excited by this opportunity.

This is one of four properties due to be completed within the next four months and all being built in a Victorian style, to be sympathetic to the surrounding area.

- [Kirstie] Once completed, the house will have a sitting room and separate kitchen.

Upstairs will be a family bathroom and three bedrooms, with the master bedroom looking out over the grassland.

- The unit I'm showing them is on the market at their maximum budget of 425,000 pounds.

Not yet complete, James and Anisha would be able to agree a specification for the property, which should certainly appeal to this design conscious pair.

I'm not sensing a degree of excitement at all.

- It's really interesting to see James so thrown by this.

It's not often you're kind of stumped for words.

I can tell by your expression.

- Yeah.

I'm so out of my comfort zone at the moment.

- I'm actually really excited, really excited about it.

- Come on, give us a smile.

- Yeah?

A work lot?

(Anisha laughing) - Let's go see the rooms.

- [Kirstie] I just hope you wind up with a more convincing smile than that, Phil.

- Into living room.

- Okay.

- This really is reflecting the Victorian style with a fantastically high ceiling.

- [Anisha] Absolutely.

- It's a great space.

It's...

It's changing my perception.

- This is your finished product.

- Yeah.

- Finished in four months time.

No hassle, no stress.

- Cool, I think.

- Is it cool?

(group laughing) You're really not sure, are you?

- Well, I'm so out of my depth, I don't, yeah.

Ah... (soft upbeat music) - [Kirstie] James may feel out of his depth, but after two years of searching, they can't go on treading water.

- This is gonna bust my noodle.

It's already busted my noodle.

I'm like egg fried noodle right now.

- I know.

It's hilarious.

- [Kirstie] Poor James has gone delirious.

- This is fascinating in here.

James in his own mind had written off new builds, so coming here is really challenging his perception of what they offer.

I think this could be a very strong option for them, I really do.

And of course, it's also in their number one location.

But I don't know if they're gonna go for it or not.

(upbeat music) - [Kirstie] Is Phil the man to return James to his right mind?

- Here is the first floor, the main room at the front.

- Good sizes.

One big and two medium.

- [Phil] There's samples of walnut floors.

- [Anisha] Yeah.

- Slate tiles.

They've allowed for a certain sum for the floor.

But if you choose to put in a more expensive floor, you'll pay a bit more.

- Mm.

- Yeah.

- Bit more money for it.

- Absolutely.

- [Kirstie] The chance to be creative seems to have put new builds on the table.

- What would you like to do now?

- I think I would like to see property number two again.

- Yeah, I think that makes sense.

Thinking about how much would it cost and how much time would it take to get it to a state where we would then move into, versus what we've just seen.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- Come on then.

After dismissing so many houses in the past, it's exciting to see two viable options that seem to suit Anisha and James's needs.

- [Kirstie] If only I had the same luck.

I've been hard pressed to find somewhere in the right location and on budget for Tom and Lisa's family.

This is my last chance to impress, so I've brought them to Nazeing, which should appeal being only 10 miles drive to the boys' school.

This property is set right in the middle of 1,000 acre River Lee Country Park, so it's certainly got tranquility and a royal visit.

Look, there's Phil Spencer.

- [Phil] Morning.

- Morning.

- Morning.

- [Phil] Welcome.

- Morning.

- Thank you.

- So, initial thoughts?

Straight up.

Lisa, don't hold back.

- I don't like it.

- The look of it?

- Yes.

From the outside of it, it doesn't catch my eye.

- Everything else, which is closer in, is going to have more compromises.

- [Lisa] Yeah.

- [Tom] Mm.

- And that, and we've got to analyze, because otherwise we've moved no further forward with Tom and Lisa's search.

- We?

(Tom and Lisa laughing) - Okay.

Well, if you don't wanna be here, you don't have to be here.

- No, I'm here to help.

I'm here to help.

- Either you're here to help- - Come on.

Let's get in.

(Phil laughing) - [Kirstie] If location is as important as they've been saying, they can't afford to write this place off.

This converted barn is vast.

There's a 34 foot living room and spacious kitchen, as well as a separate dining room.

Also downstairs is a master ensuite, family bathroom, and three additional bedrooms, with a fifth bedroom upstairs.

- [Phil] Outside is truly spectacular with over an acre of land and adjacent to 135 acre lake.

Plus there's a barn garage, ripe for development for Lisa's mom to live in.

- But closer to London equals a bigger price tag, and this one's on at nearly 1.2 million pounds.

It's the blankest canvas I've ever seen, but it is absolutely fantastic.

- I think in a moment it seems very industrial.

- [Tom] I like this.

This room's lovely.

With the height of the ceilings and the beams, you can make a great feature of this room.

- [Phil] Yeah.

Now he's in the right location, Tom seems happy.

But I'm worried Lisa's struggling to see the amazing potential the property has to offer.

- And then you've got this enormous kitchen.

Room for a table.

- [Tom] It's massive.

(Tom laughing) - It's huge.

It's massive.

- You could swing two cats in here.

- [Kirstie] You could swing 10 cats in here.

- You're not gonna grow out of this, that's for sure.

- No, you're not gonna grow out of this.

- Yeah.

- Why don't we split up, 'cause we've got loads to have a look around?

- [Kirstie] I suspect outside will seal the deal for Tom.

- So the ground's, I think, just about an acre.

- Okay.

- Which follow the fence line down there.

- I love the lake.

- I love the lake.

- I love the lake.

- [Phil] And yet, but within 20 odd minutes of Woodford Green.

- Yeah.

Which is pretty special.

- [Kirstie] This sounds promising, but I'm not sure it's enough as I still have to convince Lisa.

So that would be your mom's.

- And I think it's big enough.

And I would be tempted to put glass here.

- Yeah.

The whole thing.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- It'd be lovely.

- A positive reaction from Lisa, but there's a lot to think about in this place.

How will Lisa be thinking at the moment?

- I think her challenge is gonna be, is it gonna leave her mom too isolated?

So I think that's the one thing that she'll need to get over.

- Okay.

Of course, if she was somewhere closer to neighbors, then you're not gonna have a semi-rural secluded setting.

- And then: ♪ Da, da ♪ - And this is a great size.

- Bedroom.

Given how negatively you felt when you came in, where would you rate this house now?

- From the inside, I can tell that it's definitely got potential.

- [Phil] There seems to be some turnaround, although I'm worried Kirstie isn't being told the whole story.

- Did you glean anything from Tom?

- His concern was actually on her behalf, or on her mom's behalf.

- [Kirstie] Yeah.

- And whether living here, her mom might feel too secluded and just out of things.

- Come again!

- Yeah.

- You cannot get an acre of land, semi-rural, at this budget, in this neck of the woods, in the middle of a picturesque village with a pub that she can walk to.

Is that what we're saying?

(Phil laughing) - He knows that, but it's obviously his mother-in-law.

- This is a whole new issue.

- [Phil] I think you, ah, I mean we, really need to get to the bottom of this.

(geese honking) - [Kirstie] I appreciate being in the middle of a beautiful setting means it's a fair distance back to civilization, but as I've said a million times, you can't have everything.

- Lisa, I talked to Tom and interested in your thoughts.

Tom was concerned on your behalf and on your mom's behalf, whether she might feel secluded.

Is that something that- - Has been a challenge?

- You talked about?

- Yes.

And it's something that we have been talking about as well.

I think on this one, she may feel secluded.

- I think the three of us need to go and have a chat.

And Phil, you need to go back to Leytonstone.

- I do indeed.

(relaxing music) - [Kirstie] Three fab houses, yet it seems none of them are quite hitting the mark.

- [Phil] While Kirstie, Tom and Lisa head off to mull things over, I'm heading back to property number two with James and Anisha, as the new build in Wanstead Flats has definitely given them plenty to think about.

I reckon it'll come down to a question of the amount of work and money that will be needed to get the Leytonstone property up to scratch.

So we're meeting up with Anisha's contact, Mendo, a Construction Estimator, who's helping them price things up.

- Approximate budget for everything, including the windows, the new electrics, bathroom, kitchen, and so on, we're looking about 60,000 pounds.

- [Anisha] Yeah.

- That's plus duty.

And in terms of project duration, it's about between two and three months.

- How do you feel about that?

- In my head, I had a figure of about 50K to get it to a stage of how we'd want it to be.

- So three months renovation would take us into the same arena as the new build in terms of costs.

Add that onto the asking price.

Again, that takes us into the new build.

So then now it just becomes about back down to the property and the area again.

(relaxing music) - [Kirstie] It's also worth considering that, unlike the new build, which would be completed before they moved in, if they went for this one, they'd be paying a mortgage and still renting while work was carried out, massively increasing their monthly outgoings.

- In terms of satisfaction, this one would give us more.

But the other one, it would be nicer to be walking up to because of its location.

- But this is an old period property.

It's gonna have problems, you know?

You put a nail in one wall and the other side, something else could fall over.

However, it is vast.

You could probably put the other house in here twice.

- Yeah.

- [Kirstie] Well, not quite twice.

Although this property is almost 200 square foot bigger than the new build.

- Poor James's head is spinning so fast now, he's no idea what's going on any longer.

And the danger of course is that they'll end up not doing anything, and that's where they've been for a very long time, that's why they've called me in to try and help.

Well, let's go and have a bit of a chat about it.

See what you wanna do.

James, you look as though you need a drink.

- Yeah, I think that could be well received.

(Phil laughing) - [Phil] Poor you.

Oh.

- [Kirstie] Looks like you and I are in the same boat, Phil, each with a very confused couple.

(cheerful music) - [Phil] We're in London and Essex this week, and in East London, James and Anisha have been struggling to make a decision on their first property purchase.

- I'm so out of my depth, I don't, yeah.

- [Kirstie] And with a stringent wishlist, Tom and Lisa have also had it tough.

The Nazeing property was full of potential, although it was too isolated for them.

Whereas they were wowed in Dunmow, but travel time to the boys' school was a sticking point.

It's high time we thrash this out once and for all.

I think I know the answer to this question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.

Are you any further forward in your search?

- I think I may be a bit confused.

I may have gone backwards.

- That's a first for me.

(group laughing) - You've shown us a house that I've fallen in love with, but is a fair distance away so now my head is muddled.

- You've got conflicting search requirements and that is a fatal cocktail.

- Mm.

- So the desire for peace and quiet, the desire to be near the boy's school, and the desire for your mom to be in a community that she can access without driving.

- [Lisa] Yesterday, the house was the best house we've seen.

- [Kirstie] Is it good enough?

Is it worth the drive?

- Yeah.

- That's exactly it.

- Yeah.

- The compromise is the boys' school and just having to work at the logistics of getting them to school.

That's the one thing which you know will eventually go away.

- Yeah.

It is the country house that we wanted.

- That is our dream home.

- [Kirstie] I really hope they don't throw away this property for a school run that won't last forever.

So what do you do now?

- [Tom] Cry.

(Tom and Lisa laughing) - I can't tell which way this is going to go.

And James and Anisha have a decision to make too with the dilemma of a period property in need of substantial renovation in Leytonstone, or a new build, not yet completed, but in their top location, Wanstead Flats.

Is the way ahead any clearer now?

- Yes and no.

- Please don't feel any pressure from me to make a decision on either of those houses or right now.

- These last couple of days have probably been more insightful than the couple of years of searching we've done before that.

- Take the weekend to think it through and really crunch it between you.

- Hear what you're saying, but I don't think we're far off.

- No.

- Making a decision.

- Personally, I've always bought houses for location.

To me as an individual, location wins every time and I will adapt a house to make it suit me.

Anisha, what are you veering towards?

- I am veering towards Wanstead Flats.

- [Phil] James?

- I'm veering towards Wanstead Flats because location, there are no gremlins in the walls, there is no cracks.

It allows us to have a sense of creativity without the risk of unearthing more that a period property brings with it.

- Another reason why we're veering towards a new build is we're a bit tired, you know?

Two years ago, if the project house had come up, we'd be, okay, great.

- Yeah.

- So we're a bit knackered of it all and we sort of just wanna move in.

- You wanna get on with your life.

- Yeah.

- [Phil] How do you wanna leave it for now?

- I'd like to put an offer in.

- [Kirstie] Anisha and James seem to be making headway, but Lisa and Tom are still struggling to commit to the property in Dunmow.

- I think we need to decide whether or not we go for that one.

- [Tom] Mm.

- I think once we did that drive a couple of times, then we'd know pretty quickly in our minds whether or not it is doable.

- [Kirstie] It's doable.

- Yeah.

- In which case, I am at the end of a telephone.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

- I would be thrilled to see you in that house.

- [Tom] Mm.

- With no immediate decision from Tom and Lisa, it's down to me to see if we can get things moving for at least one set of our house hunters.

However, given the Wanstead Flats property is a custom specification new build, it won't be as simple as just putting in an offer, as the finishes they want will affect the price.

So you want me to set up a meeting?

- Yes.

- As soon as possible, go in, just start the ball rolling.

- Yeah.

- Yes.

- Yeah?

Discuss the finishings and then we'll make a plan from there.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

- Great.

Cheers.

- Cheers.

- Really pleased to have got us to this point.

- Thank you.

- Yeah.

Thank you.

- There was a time or two when I didn't think we would.

(Anisha laughing) (upbeat music) - [Phil] After meeting the developer and after a bit of negotiation by yours truly, James and Anita secured the new build for 420 grand, five grand under budget.

And two months on, their new home is really taking shape.

They hope to be moving in in three months time.

- The building works have been progressing and we've been choosing and changing and redrawing a couple of things so we can get them in before completion date.

- [Phil] The fact that we got them in early means they can now tailor the design and layout so that it's perfect for them.

- Anisha drew out the kitchen, the bathroom, as well as choosing all the fixtures and fittings.

- Well, thankfully Phil kind of ignored our requests 'cause otherwise, we would never have seen the new build.

Yeah, he made us realize what we actually wanted or thought we wanted wasn't as important.

- I think the location of the property is exactly what we wanted.

It is that nice blend of London living with a view out onto greenery.

Great the scaffolding's come down.

You can start to see the view, and that's what we wanted.

- Mm.

We're just really happy with how things have turned out and really excited about moving on with the next chapter of our lives.

(enchanted music) - [Phil] Tom and Lisa have finally made a decision too.

After driving between the property in Dunmow and the boys' school a few times, they've realized it wasn't as bad as they first thought.

They made an offer and eight weeks later, they've just picked up the keys.

- There's a big compromise in this house, which is the travel distance to the boys' school.

But in terms of everything else you get, it was by far the best house we had seen by a long shot.

- [Lisa] In the last two years, I think.

- [Tom] In the last two years.

- [Lisa] Yeah.

Yeah.

- And that's something which Kirstie- - As Kirstie said.

- Really helped us get to the bottom of.

The kids are only gonna be at school there for a few more years and this house is gonna be for us for the next 40 years.

- [Phil] They secured their new property for 980,000 pounds, 20 grand below their budget.

- What Kirstie did for us was kick us over that last hurdle.

Because I think without her words, we possibly could have still been searching for- - Another two years.

- Yeah.

- [Phil] With the search now over, Tom and Lisa are settling into their new family home.

- As we opened the door for the first time, it was really kind of emotional because this is where we're going to spend the next 40 years of our life.

Also for the kids as well, for the boys, and for my mom and bringing the whole family together.

It's a real family home.

- [Tom] Firstly, Kirstie found us the house and secondly, she persuaded us to buy it.

- She has found us the perfect house.

- Yes.

(cheerful music)