First-Time Buyers in Cambridge – Location Location Location – S18 EP1 – Real Estate TV

Join us as we explore the challenging Cambridge housing market in this episode of Location, Location, Location. Watch as two couples embark on their house-hunting journeys. Doctors Michelle and Philip search for a home that will bring them together while contending with a demanding market. Chris and Louise, ready to invest their life savings, navigate the competitive Cambridgeshire countryside for their dream home. Discover the properties they explore, the tough decisions they make, and the guidance of expert Phil Spencer.

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Location, Location, Location takes you on a thrilling journey of house hunting and real estate adventures.

Join Phil Spencer & Kirstie Allsopp as they guide you through the world of interior design, home restoration, and house transformations. Discover inspiring locations, gain expert advice, and explore creative DIY projects for your dream home. Get ready for an exciting blend of house hunting, interior design inspiration, and valuable real estate insights.

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Banijay Home & Garden features the best shows on home renovation, gardening tips, and stunning landscaping projects. Explore our collection of full episodes from popular series like Location, Location, Location, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and Portrait Artist of the Year. Join us on this exciting journey of transforming houses into dream homes and creating beautiful outdoor spaces.

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In the UK our home is our Castle oh miss where  the heart is and that’s where we come in heart   is with this one wow the world those are words we  like yes we’re back with a sparkling new series  

If you want a house ring Phil and Kirsty this  isn’t a flat white I’ll flatten you up trying   to find home sweet home for House Hunters all  expecting property Wizardry with my laser vision   great house Hunter great house I’ve forgot about  it this flat is a miracle but even a miracle isn’t  

Always enough you’re gonna kill me I probably  need persuading yikes I understand this isn’t   going well so it’s up to us to sprinkle our  magic and find them the perfect pad because   after all there’s no place like home smashed  out of the park he has I like it come on we  

Better get to work then the nation needs their  homes thank you this week we’re in glorious   Cambridgeshire where years of house hunting may  be starting to take their toll on everyone what   have you done with your thumb I think I’m more  traditional there’s no fault it seems to be  

Affecting our senses don’t what you think that  I’m losing my touch and our tolerance it is your   job to advise quite something isn’t it I’m not  convinced I don’t know what the point of this is   too big and it’s potentially too cold it’s  double glazed but hopefully it hasn’t damaged  

Our judgment wow it is very cool buy now  buy anything doesn’t matter just buy it This week we’re house hunting in and around  Cambridgeshire taking an educated approach to   a high-flying market I’m mentoring a couple who  keep missing the mark and I’m tutoring a pair of   first-time buyers [Music] a wash with history and  Architectural Splendor Cambridge is a university  

Town with a high-flying reputation but don’t  be fooled by the picturesque backdrops and   the Beautiful facades it’s Don eat Don out there  house prices here have risen more than any other   British town or city over the last seven years and  average house prices are now 13 times the city’s  

Average salary and there’s no sign of letter with  a growing Army of commuters wading into the market   gleeful at the 50-minute direct train linked to  the capital this property scrum is now spilling   out into the Charming towns and Villages of wider  Cambridgeshire when it comes to house buying this  

Place is no punter’s Paradise our first set of  house hunters are two busy doctors impatient to   start their life together but there’s a problem  they live nearly three hours apart while Michelle   works at Adam Brooks Hospital in Cambridge and  studies for a PhD Phillip spends his days as a  

Radiologist in Oxford lovely seeing you that  property search has barely got a pulse being   in Oxford and looking for property in Cambridge  has been actually really difficult you have to   move pretty quickly which is difficult when you’re  working and you have someone else in a different  

City that needs to see the property and it’s not  just the distance their hunt for a first home   together has got other complications doctors move  around a lot so whatever property they buy May at   very short notice have to be rented out making  location critical plus in a market where speed  

Is everything they’re struggling with a slight  cultural difference I’m originally from Germany   and what we do in Germany is we rent for quite a  while and then maybe when you start thinking about   settling down permanently then you buy one one  property in Germany we’re not used to to buy until  

We’re actually quite old but at this rate they’re  going to be quite old before they get settled   well Phil the fact that small family homes are on  average twice as expensive here as in Germany is  

A bitter pill to swallow they’re 350 gram budget  would be a huge amount elsewhere in the UK but in   the areas they want to live in this city it barely  gets them a starter home meanwhile all they want  

To do is live together living in the same city  and in the same property will be the key start   to our lives together yeah I’m really looking  forward to it now long distance relationships   are tough so I’m desperate to help them next  time someone asks if there’s a doctor in the  

House I want the answer to be yes two of them the  Cambridge Market is racing so hard that I just   feel like sitting down and saying to you buy now  buy anything doesn’t matter just buy it obviously  

That isn’t the intelligent way so you tell me what  you want and I’ll see if we can find it for me the   key thing is something sensible within a half an  hour commute of Adam Brooks probably you have at  

Least two bedrooms we’re both working as doctors  and we’re probably just going to be here for three   more years ideally we want to be here longer so  what you need is a property that will sell rent or  

Stretch exactly that sounds good we have to make  very good use of this time you’ll both hear during   the day during the week in Cambridge this is a  golden opportunity and we can’t fresher it away   with that 350 000 pounds my old-fashioned pair  of first-time buyers want a house with at least  

Two double bedrooms and some outside space It  should rent well just in case their circumstances   change and they don’t mind a bit of cosmetic  updating as for location preferably on the south   but no more than more than 30 minute cycle ride  to Adam Brooks hospital for Michelle’s work

Our other set of house hunters are Chris and  Louise bushby Quest is a school’s partnership   instructor and Louise Works in HR for an  international company they’ve played the property   game well and with the proceeds of their house  sale and some help from a mortgage are now ready  

To buy their dream home in the Cambridgeshire  Countryside for around 800 Grand but despite their   best efforts they’ve been met with a string of  disappointments so we’ve tried to buy three houses   so far I think we’ve very unfortunate with the  way that they’ve by the fallen through or we’ve  

Not actually managed to land those ones it feels  like somebody else is controlling our destiny and   nobody likes that and usually they’re renting back  that old house near Kettering from its new owners   meaning they’re exactly where they started only  now they’re paying rent we want to move on with  

Our lives we’re ready simple as that you know for  six months now where we thought we were moving   um we now just we’re stuck Chris and Louise  have been searching for the last 18 months   and have had a bit of bad luck but they are  pinning their life savings on this long-term  

Dream home so understandably quite particular  their impressive new property must be within   three miles of a station with direct trains to  the capital selfishly my number one criteria   is making my journey shorter than it currently  is when you get back relatively late at night  

Then getting back in the car for another 20-25  minutes that for me is that was like a waste   of time Louise is not alone cambridgeshare stiff  with people looking for a better work-life balance   which means a budget of 800 000 pounds won’t  guarantee them success because housing stock  

Is so low here there’s no room for complacency  it’s the 15 20 years yes this this is the one   this is the the property that we want to live in  now which is why we’re not going to get it wrong  

You’re feeling daunted Phil want to swap don’t  be silly you know I perform best Under Pressure   it strikes me on the face of it you’re in an  excellent position you’ve sold your house you’ve   got money in the bank yep you’re in Clover  as fast that’s concerned and everyone keeps  

Saying you’re in a prime position you’ll be top  of the list and we don’t seem to be I wonder why   not everything’s there everything’s there we could  we’ve been upset in the estate well we just don’t  

Seem able to buy a house well that’s my job here  is to put you top of the list yeah just talk to   me more about the kind of specifics of the house  things that you like things that you don’t like  

I would like a very big wow kitchen so I we spent  a lot of time in our kitchen it’s a very sociable   house and we’d like a really nice sized Garden  we’re fully aware that the areas we’re looking are  

House prices are rising you’re right there’s not  a lot out there the market is fierce and there’s   there’s slim pickings in your price bracket  it’s tough out there yeah but it’s going to   get remarkably easy absolutely a master class in  expectation management from Mr Spencer glad you  

Were taking notes kirstals Chris and Louise  have got a budget of 800 000 pounds and what   a statement property with plenty of entertaining  space and preferably four bedrooms it must have a   large garden for Chris and for Louise be no more  than three miles to a railway station this means  

We’ll be looking west of Cambridge as far north  as Huntington and south of Saint neots focusing   on the towns and villages with direct train links  to London and easy access to the A1 for Chris   good morning Phil Spencer I like the mode of  Transport you’re getting into the Cambridge  

Team aren’t you well the thing is I have it in  London but I thought I brought it down and I   did yeah how are you getting on two doctors yeah  very matter of fact and he’s German so he’s quite  

Shocked obviously by what you can get in the  UK for the money and feeling positive because   they’ve got an intelligent analytical approach to  it quite medical well my couple need a bit of a   reality check they have asked for a semi-rural  house that’s very close to a train station oh  

Okay that’s a bit tricky it’s the commute that’s  going to be the problem okay I think they’re going   to be picky oh um a mandolin you know one  of those vegetable Choppers yeah was making   potato it’s really painful so I’m quite sharp and  Beaty so in other words it’s business as usual  

With so many exacting requirements to juggle  on Chris and Louise’s Countryside search it’ll   be easy to get lost in the detail my job is to  gauge the importance of location versus commute   versus house to see what the priority is for them  and that’s exactly what I’m doing with our first  

Property we’re kicking off in rural Roxton just  on the Cambridgeshire bedfordshire border that’s   the footpath which goes down to Roxton Lakes okay  dog walking and that kind of thing it is six miles   rather than the ideal three to the railway station  and a drive rather than a walk to the Village but  

If they can get over that then the property  more than makes up for it what’d you make of a   house yes quite quite different actually a normal  typical square box it’s a big house inside yeah it  

Looks it looks big from here you’d be 15 minutes  into this train station okay yep come on in well   I seem to have passed the location test and the  house bit should be a breeze built just nine years   ago this spacious and stylish property should  give them plenty of scope for entertaining with  

A huge kitchen breakfast room and four good-sized  reception rooms plus a lovely secluded Garden   there are five double bedrooms and four bathrooms  so arguably more than they need for just the two   of them but the price is very competitive at 695  000 pounds a whopping 105 gram below their budget

I like it it’s very high specters on the floor   heating all this lovely surface  that’s very nice yes nice size oh nice size Garden which includes a double garage  and some stabling here oh wow and Chris you’re  

After being able to grow your own veggies and that  kind of thing there’s plenty of space here for us   to do that certainly yeah the garden makes this  this very special I would say teen month search  

One spencer special and it could be all over well  let’s hope the super size upstairs doesn’t prick   your super-sized ego fill felt nice nice size  yeah what on Earth are you going to do with all   these bedrooms well that is a good question in  order to get you the living space that you’re  

After you’re going to end up with a big house and  lots of bedrooms you can run a guest house why   don’t you have one before the other bedrooms  if you’ve got any questions give me a shout   questions like how much should they charge and  should they put a kettle in the room perhaps  

It’s like an area in areas it is good all seems  to be going rather too well in my past prophecy   I’m waiting for this big butt  that’s bound to come at some   point if I were you I’d just cross my  fingers and keep smiling Phil [Music]  

I’m not normally this easily pleased let’s try and  pick holes in it we don’t need anything this big   how about the geography of it we just need to  check the driving distance to Simply its Railway a  

Bit more research yeah but we’re in a good place  after a good property one good place yeah stop   good stop but I do seem to be guilty of supplying  too much space whether in the end they’ll be happy  

Spending the money on that remains to be seen  it’s never been exactly easy to get a foothold   on the property ladder but in a rising market  where properties are snapped up in a matter of   days there’s no time to hang around so what are  we doing here hanging around come on let’s go

The first house I showed Chris and Louise in  the Cambridgeshire Countryside went down better   than expected I’m not nowhere this easily please  having said that it did have too many bedrooms   and bathrooms but luckily even in a tricky Market  I’ve got three more fantastic options to show them  

As for our doctors with a distance between  them Michelle and Philip we’re on the   hunt for a property that will unite them in  Cambridge but with average house prices at 348   000 pounds nearly twice the national figure  it’s not an easy place to be a first-time buyer  

They’re looking for a two to three bed house with  a maximum budget of 350 000 pounds but what would   this size of property cost them elsewhere in  the UK an affluent tring in Hertfordshire they’d   be looking at around 514 000 pounds for the same  space whereas over the Border in Glasgow they’d be  

Paying less than half their budget for a three-bed  property similarly Nottingham offers great value   for money this time 161 000 pounds for the same  square footage certainly a lot cheaper than   Cambridge for Michelle and Phillips First Property  we’ve come three miles east of the city to the  

Picturesque and popular Village at fenditten right  next to the river Camp we’re not a person rural no   it feels really nice it doesn’t feel like you’re  in Cambridge with only a 20-minute cycle ride to   Adam Brooks hospital for Michelle this place  gives them the best of both worlds here we are  

Semi-detached three beds probably at the top  of the house attractiveness in terms of plot   good first impression good first impression yeah  fantastic that’s what we liked here let’s get in   straight to the point clinical just what I  expected this has is a semi and built in the  

1990s it’s got a spacious living room leading  into a separate dining room and decent sized   kitchen upstairs two double bedrooms box room  and a bathroom currently rented out so might   need a bit of cosmetic attention and the garden  is more than adequate for a bit of sunbathing it’s  

Being marketed at 340 000 pounds 10 grand under  their budget and fits the bill as a rental house   too in case they have to move elsewhere what  you’ve got here is a very conventional layout   First Impressions I like the fact it’s relatively  modern it’s actually quite nice it’s easy to work  

With it’s a black canvas yeah this is a very  good example of a house which can be quickly   easily and cheaply freshened up it feels a  little bit cramped and might be the lighting   today I would say I don’t think there’s any  need for the Nets you’ve got a perfectly  

Good hedge out here unless you intend dancing  naked around a sitting room which I’ve got no   objection to anyone doing well that’s good to  know that doesn’t apply to you Phil clothes on   at all times please there’s a good cupboard  there and this wall would be really easy  

Really be a lovely big kitchen leading on  to the Garden nicely sized Garden it’s a   nicely sized Garden yeah do you want to see  the nicely sized Garden yes please yeah am   I imagining it or did you just speak German  Kirsty nine right now this is a generous Garden  

I think it would be the right size it’s not  too much work the house is absolutely fine I   could very happily live here Phillip most  of the hospitals I’m going to work at are   actually on the other side of town the A14 is  notoriously bad so are we saying this has these  

Losing points for location I think yeah well  hopefully it can get those points back upstairs   there’s a window so isn’t too dark oh it’s nice  and light up here to a certain extent this is a  

House hunt with one hand tied behind my back and  a dodgy thumb because we don’t actually know where   Phil is going to be working we actually need  to be thinking about the roads and the traffic  

So a bit of a bit of regrouping there if their  jobs took them elsewhere they could rent this   place out for around a grand a month and the fact  that it’s got two bathrooms would only make it  

Easier okay and I assume this is master bedroom  two nice sized bedrooms say one we could rent   out for a while the extra shower in the bedroom I  don’t know what the point of this is honestly any  

Future tenants will thank you for it it’s a great  house but I fear that Phillips so far hypothetical   commute maybe the fly in the ointment but do you  think the location has struck it off I think it  

Hasn’t completely Struck it off overall day I  think it is actually a quite nice property okay   I must be more careful with that term struck off  it makes doctors very nervous back with Chris and   Louise and although they liked the first house  giving them the living space they wanted brought  

With it more bedrooms than they needed but I think  with my next property I can improve on that as   well as their commute they haven’t specified this  location so it is a bit of a gamble now you’re  

Probably wondering why on Earth are we here we’ve  come 24 miles east of their preferred patch to the   Village of stuntney near Ely to get them all the  things they want I think it’s a risk worth taking  

This house I’m going to show you is the closest  to a train station of any house that I could find   yeah we’re about four minutes in into anything  it’s not my third location it’s a long commute   here it’s a long commute for me it’s  easy drive to the station on the one  

Hand but yes I make that make your life a bit  harder definitely well the property [Laughter]   but I think it is in fact I think it’s stunning   ham inverted School pack Ed full of carrots  not only does it have an amazing double  

Height sitting room but also an impressive  kitchen opening out onto a landscaped cart   too many bedrooms was an issue at the last place  this has four but two on the ground floor and two   upstairs which gives them much more flexibility  in terms of usage there’s a guide price of 750  

000 pounds 50 Grand under their budget and they  wouldn’t need to do a thing it’s a dream house in   every respect different it does feel still  like a school ever dreamed of living in no   and I’m not convinced it’s for me either not  soaring to the top of the class are you Phil  

It’s similar to when you see people come at  churches it’s that kind of feel for me well   for most people that would be a good thing but  at least for the couple who like entertaining the   kitchen must surely get full marks I think it’s  impressive you’ve just got to have a long think  

About could you live in it would you live in it  it just doesn’t flow for us yeah and I think the   location side of things would put this house  out of the equation yeah go for it after you

It’s a lesson learned isn’t it Phil don’t want  you think that I’m losing my touch this always   was a gamble losing your touch perish the  thought back in Cambridge with Michelle   and Philip and the other fields tagging along  for our second property to be honest after the  

Way things just went at the last place I’ll  be glad of a break there’ll be no slacking   here Phil having taken on their concerns about  location we’ve come to the sought after Village   of trumpington the right side of the city for  Philip and just a six minute cycle to Adam  

Brooks for Michelle certainly pretty peaceful  it was certainly popular unfortunately yes   feels right properties here don’t hang around for  long so we’re lucky that there’s even one house   to show them within their 350 000 pound budget  so architecturally not so hot yeah no but what  

You lose in Beauty you gain in square footage  what are your little thoughts standing here   okay I think Phillips really struggling  with what you get for your money around here oh so you know I think I’ll give it a try okay  

Very kind of him I know it is a bit aesthetically  challenging but this 1960s house could really give   them all they require upstairs two double bedrooms  and a good sized single downstairs a big living   dining room modern kitchen and a well-kept garden  it needs updating but taking on work is how they  

Will get the extra space in this area but it is  top of budget at 350 000 pounds it’s very spacious   I’m just wondering like with these big Windows  I’m a little bit worried about heating one has to has to be too cold it’s double  glazed it’s double glazed we’re  

In Germany is triple quadruple I know it is I know that that’s the case yes but for the  price it doesn’t get much bigger or better   in Cambridge and it would rent out like a  treat if they needed it to I think Philip  

Could do with a reality check the Market’s gone  up by 21 around here in the last 12 months yeah   so you need to get on with it I think it’s still  coming from from slightly a different background  

Where where previously lived but it’s still hard  for me to put so much money in something still   feeling a little bit uneasy about it I have  to admit the two of you will live together that’s very true um does Philip sweat the small  stuff in terms of the houses I don’t want to  

Look as if I’m dismissing his fears I think  you’d be honest if you’re not a house yeah I   think he doesn’t shy away from honesty did you  walk in and think wow fantastic big space that   we could do loads with yes right so you’re  saying this might be the one for you yeah  

Potentially wow a refreshingly intelligent way to  shop for houses I wish I could say the same for   Phil it’s an excellent house so did you tell  him that yeah well it’s up to him no oh God  

I had a pound for every time you say that yes  I know it’s their decision but it is your job   to advise and people are expecting you to advise  don’t hang back from that it’s a brilliant house  

And I just prefer the drip feed method over the  double dose custom okay assistant master it’s   quite nice isn’t it needs the The Superficial  deck or sort of done up but we could give her  

Very happily and very comfortably and that would  be very nice for a few years if we start a family   we definitely have enough space enough space to  to to to deal with that I like this pair they’ve   correctly diagnosed that this particular 50  year old needs a facelift rather than major  

Surgery apart from the dubious aesthetic nature  of 60s properties can’t complain in terms of area   um size just have to get the terms  with the outside I think that luckily eater do anything I think the answer is just  to sit tight well that would make one gamble  

Each let’s hope yours pays off better than  mine Kirsty buying your first home can be   daunting but Shrinking Violets need not apply  Swift and decisive is the order of the day   and admittedly while my couple have a bigger  budget competition for a home with the perfect  

Work life balance here in the commuter belt  is fierce I might need a bit of luck behind me I’m helping Michelle and Philip who are currently  frustrated by living in separate cities after   initially reacting badly to the 1960s house in  trumpington they now appreciate its inner beauty  

As for my search with Chris and Louise it’s  clear that location is one thing I need to   nail so for my third property we’re playing  it safe we’ve come to needing work a 20-minute   jaunt Huntington Station for Louise and an easy  drive to the A1 for Chris I have a rather passion  

For this house because it is a proper house for  entertaining do you remember the good life was it   Margot in the kitchen but at the same time it’s  a real it’s a real party house and I think you   could really celebrate its 1970s eccentricities  and really go for it kirsty’s got her platforms  

I’ve got my flares let’s hope Louise and Chris  have got bears what this has gives them is space   where they want it there’s a huge kitchen with a  contemporary rustic feel three reception rooms and   a fantastic half an acre of garden overlooking  Farmland there might be five bedrooms but the  

Emphasis is definitely on the downstairs social  areas massive amount of space Oh My Goodness well   leading right through the dining room it is 50  Grand over budget at 850 000 pounds but there’s a   bit of flexibility in the price and we’ve managed  to find them a house that’s not on the open market  

Another living space dining space up the end and  a great big kitchen it’s a lovely kitchen and it’s   conservative proper built conservatory and yeah  that brings a lot of light in doesn’t it this   house is not on the market as yet you are the  first people to see it brilliant you’re always  

First with Phil well I did I did say to you I  didn’t have many talents yeah yeah so you’ve   um you’ve done it there’s no doubt about it  once this place goes live it’ll be inundated   with viewings and the last thing we want  is for Chris and Louise to miss the boat  

Like they have for the last 18 months we need  to make hay while the sun shines bet you’ve   always wanted one of those haven’t you you’ve  got every excuse that’s why I wanted to break   um quite a good patch of lawn it’s lovely mature  trees a couple of stables Greenhouse veg patch  

Just what I’d adore I’m not sure Louise will ever  see Chris if they moved in here indeed it’s all   very good but the house is not without its niggles  all fixable though this is your master bedroom so  

You’ve got that lovely balcony that’s the one  before bed yep all of this here is unnecessary   and then weirdly you’ve got another door which  you don’t need it’s Madness so this could all   be in your bathroom this is literally yes wasted  space it’s great that Louise isn’t daunted by a  

Bit of roomy jigging as for the rest of the house  yes it could do with a bit of updating but it’s   Immaculate so they could take their time and when  money allowed make the decor fit their style what  

I really really like is it’s so open in the flow  because you can go from one room to another room   really easily this is all sounding rather positive  so I don’t want to put a spanner in the works I  

Genuinely think that the your only problem here  is is is getting price is getting it for the money   I’m just pleased to have found someone that  they’re positive about it on on all levels   area Garden commute and you’ve done brilliantly  and I will tell you that 100 times and I will go  

On television you’ve done really well this is  an amazing house well done Phil can I go now   almost home two was a massive effort don’t push  a lock fill look at the house that could be yours   all you need is a man cave at  the bottom of there and we’ll  

Be fine I know there’s a shirt there’s a  wonderful shed yeah it is a special house   having said that I’ve got another house to show  you which I’m rather pleased about and the next   house is one of the best I’ve seen in years  800 000 might get you a lovely five bed house  

In Cambridgeshire but how would this budget fare  elsewhere in pricey pool you’d be looking at over   double the money for the same space at 1.8 million  whereas in Manchester a five better would cost an   average of 438 000 pounds but Tyne and Weir  offers better value giving you the same space  

For just over 330 Grand one thing we’ve learned  on this job every town has a different Market back in Cambridge with Philip and Michelle and  although the trumpington house came up trumps   the exterior was an issue for them so for my next  property we’re fast forwarding two decades to the  

1980s close to Mill Road one of the coolest places  to be in the city it’s an area our young dogs know   well I really like the location it’s Michelle  lingard to work very quickly nice nice bars in  

The cinema I’m not going to say what happens to  bars and Cinemas at a later stage in your life given the speed at which houses sell here it’s  my turn to be big headed as we’re the first to  

See this house it’s a probate sale and won’t be  hitting the market for another couple of days   it obviously needs updating throughout and  isn’t as big as the trumpington have but it   does have a decent sitting room and kitchen  Diner the garage has been converted into a  

Downstairs bedroom with ensuite and there are  further two bedrooms upstairs the garden is   secluded and a good size it’s a fixer oven  it’s a fixer-upper yes it’ll come on at 325   000 pounds so 25 Grand under budget but work costs  do need to be factored in does it feel exciting  

Yes I’m not put off by the fact you need something  done this wallpaper yeah oh do you not have work passage to spend at least one weekend  with a large industrial steamer which   you rent and for the first half  hour it’s so satisfying and a  

Lot of fun I think a good advice  of the weekend you wanted to die   sounds like a weekend with the in-laws not mine  obviously this would rent 1300 pounds a month [Music]   certainly costs for a new kitchen boiler  and decoration would set these two back  

Around 15 grand and they might want to spend  a few quid on that staircase too [Music] okay   so it’s a small double this is a double it is  considerably smaller than the previous house   it’s the more short-term purchase in my opinion  it seems to be way more work than the Place we’ve  

Seen in trumpington yeah but it’s potentially a  better area but actually probably not a better   area to live in the vital signs are looking good  it’s just a case of these two doctors going for a   routine examination of the pros and cons of each  property we’re a little bit torn between which  

Of the two properties is the better investment it  would be nice if we were going to put an offer in   our property to actually have a second viewing in  some senses as well just yeah or we can do that do  

You want to go back yeah I like this methodical  approach methodical is good yes but you know me   Kirsty I’ll never pass the opportunity to stir up  a bit of passion and that’s what I’m hoping we’ll  

See at the final property I’ve lined up with Chris  and Louise we’re in the picturesque town of Saint   neots an area they love just over five minutes  drive to the train station for Louise close to   the A1 for Chris amenities on the doorstep and  that’s even before we talk about how fabulous  

The house is I thought I’d throw something a bit  different into the mix here first thoughts of this   intriguing two very different buildings which  looks quite exciting indeed it is this is a   modern extension joined onto a 19th century bar  and it’s absolutely amazing it was converted two  

Years ago to create a series of beautiful rooms  including a magnificent double height open plan   living space and high-spec kitchen an additional  win offers four luxurious bedrooms all of good   size there are two fabulously indulgent bathrooms  and even a family room comes snug it comes as no  

Surprise that it’s 50 Grand over their budget  at 850 000 pounds but we do have it on good   faith that the vendors are open to offer it  off at the kitchen it’s a bit more than just  

The kitchen it is very cool is it the kind  of space that you could see yourself living   I personally good I’d probably need persuading  yeah oh that’s a surprise okay and by the look   on Louise’s face I’d prepare yourself for a charm  offensive Chris so there’s nothing I don’t like  

About this house but I’m guessing it might not  be quite your taste I think I’ve still got to get   used to it I think I’m more traditional because  it’s an old fart have a wonder I’m not saying  

Anything not quite the kind of charm offensive I  had in mind yes absolutely fascinating because now   Chris is very much on the back foot and Louise is  trying to sell him the house maybe she could have   your job Phil they were really really good sizes  aren’t they you’re itching down the garden aren’t  

You I do want to see the color if I had to pick a  weak point with this place it would be the goal so   this could be Chris’s moment to fight his corner  I feel a very civilized Showdown coming on it’s  

Tight from my opinion if I could just bring our  thoughts back to the need to be close to transport   versus Space this is as good as you’ll get I  would imagine the combination is pretty strong  

Here the pub at the end of the road I keep coming  back to your the first property that’s my problem   I think but there is no amenities I’ve probably  got a favorite and you’ve got a clear favorite  

I thought number one was my favorite until I  came here oh dear this could all fall apart if   they can’t agree between this place and the new  build in rural Roxton and it was all looking so   promising back in the city Michelle and Philip  are also torn between two properties the 80s do  

Are upper near cool Mill Road on 325 Grand  and the spacious 60s house in sought after   trumpington top a budget at 350 000 which  we’ve come back to see see I look at it and   I think oh you clever little Tardis therefore  the perfect home for a doctor or two [Music]  

This house feels stronger yeah definitely  yeah it’s always going to be a good house   to rent take out the stair lift do a bit of  work on the bathroom you’re fine come three   years time when you discover where you’re  going to be living that’s the moment you  

Decide to knock down this wall and enlarge your  kitchen the other has all you can do is do it up   this as you can add value by making it more  extraordinary very true sorry I’m still not  

Quite clear which house do you like Kirsty easily  the best house we’ve seen inside isn’t it yeah and   way better on on second viewing I actually start  liking it I have to admit yeah yeah it’s a grower   this is a really well-built fantastic family  house and I think people are getting more and  

More sensible about 60 sizes and they’re seeing  that space is what matters it’s definitely at the   upper range of what we wanted to spend we would  need to get it for the 350. otherwise I think it  

Would be too high for for us this is the place  they want as their first home together and it’s   a good decision but there is another offer on the  table and more viewings booked in scalpels at the  

Ready it’s going to be a delicate operation in  Cambridge Michelle and Philip want to make an   offer on the 1960s house in trumpington problem  is it’s at their absolute maximum budget of 350   000 pounds with at least three other viewings  booked it’s essential we avoid a bidding war

As for Louise and Chris their pulls apart  in terms of which property to go for Louise   loves the unique contemporary Barn conversion  incident on at 850 000 pounds whereas Chris   thinks the more traditional new build in rural  Roxton priced at 695 000 pounds would suit them  

Down to the ground with the barn fresh in their  minds we’ve come back to Roxton to thrash it out   as I understand it this would take you an  extra commuting time of 20 minutes each   way at the asking prices there’s 150 grams  worth of difference the other part of that  

You’d have to get in your car to do everything if  you lived here the bar new community walk places   yeah there’s some things on your doorstep that  you don’t get here it’s a really difficult one yes  

Louise yes but remember Chris was very excited  about the size of the garden that’s a very similar   sized Garden to the barn isn’t that in terms  of distance back to the house yeah it’s just   enclosed yes this is a really fascinating  scenario Louise is kind of almost allowing  

Chris to have this viewing in the hope that  he’ll write it off and they’ll buy the more   expensive options I think that’s what’s happening  check out Dr Phil the Anthropologist at Large   so this is nice it is it needs some personalizing  the view is lovely yes it feels like there’s too  

Many bedrooms for us yeah Phil I think  you’ve found them both the right house   pity is not the same one I love this  house I’d have no problems living here   what about the view that way it’s  just I know what you’re trying to do  

Point out the negatives I understand why  that’s okay it feels like we’ve got lots   more discussions to have so why don’t we head  to the pub it sounds like a great plan that’s   all the best problems resolved you’re so right  Phil that’s why I’m taking Michelle and Philip  

To what could very soon be their local Boozer can  you envisage yourselves in that trumpington house   yeah I think we can I think quite easily yeah so  I think we’re pretty happy with that as a plan   having agreed on the house the next step  is usually what do they want to offer but  

Today the plan is slightly different someone is  going to see it this evening now I do not want   an offer a reason offer on the table when someone  goes to see that house this evening what would you  

Recommend I think we hold off negotiating is such  that it’s all about the psychology as soon as an   offer exists everybody knows about it and it sets  that level I went into a shop today in Cambridge  

And I saw a pair of shoes and I said do you have  those in my size and the lady said oh they’re in   the changing room they’re being tried on at  the moment immediately I wanted before that  

Is exactly the same with house hunting Michelle  you’re happy to take my advice yeah I’m very happy   I think um yeah I’m happy too it sounds like a  good plan perfect as for Chris and Louise there’s  

Been a lot of discussion but I think we may be  reaching a breakthrough do I sense that you’re   coming towards the barn yes very determined yes  we are but I suppose I knew Louise was always a  

Fan of the bond and Chris you needed just a bit of  time yeah but it’s on the market at 850 000. I’ll   be being too cheeky going in under 800. that was  what was in my mind let’s try them as low as 785  

See what happens they can only say no that’s  the worst that can happen let’s go for it   right let’s get to it let’s see where we go deep  breath [Music] I’m Sue hello it’s Phil Spencer   hello there I am actually sat here um with  Chris and Louise and we’ve had long long  

Discussions about the wise and Waffles I’ve  got an offer for you uh and it is for 785   000. it it is made with a 50 cash  deposit mortgages all pre-arranged okay thanks Sue I’ll wait to hear bye [Music]  

Unfortunately 785 000 pounds is rejected  so we go in with our top offer of eight   hundred thousand it’s our last chance  to bring this 18-month cert to an end here we go kaisu what news yes I bet they  have had a long long chance yes

Mm-hmm so delighted to say we have  a deal many many thanks good news   all round thanks for your help  bye [Music] thank you very much well done yeah that’s fun thank  you congratulations Bottoms Up I think I deserve that drink [Music] as for  Michelle and Philip we let the other viewings  

Happen and over the following six days there was  much doing and throwing our final offer was 350   000 pounds but unfortunately an investor has come  in and bid two grand more Michelle it’s Kirsty can   you hear me kirsty’s ringing with the vendor’s  decision they have decided to go with you and  

Accept your offer of 350. I know it’s I couldn’t  believe it I was like oh luckily the vendor was   nice enough to want to sell it to someone who’s  buying it as a home rather than Investments   yeah thanks Michelle okay bye they have  taken a very sensible steady approach to  

Buying a house and they found the right one it’s  brilliant two months on Philip and Michelle are   excitedly waiting to exchange on their new  trumpington home I think it’s obviously the   start of a new chapter in our lives we’re  both really looking forward to to moving in  

Into our finally and joined place to live and we  haven’t lived together before and we’re very happy   are desperate to swap their stethoscopes for  wallpaper strippers one thing we plan to do is  

To renovate the bathroom I think we can do step by  step over the next few years and make it a really   nice place but until they’re actually through  the door they’re able to enjoy some brief respite  

It’s been nice to get back to a relatively normal  life not having to be totally preoccupied by house   buying they could uninstall all the apps from  letting agents and property search to actually   you know focus more on on yeah going traveling  and doing stuff together yeah it’s nice Happy Days

To do up over with Chris and Louise really  excitingly they completed early on their   stunning new barn conversion champagne getting  the keys was just a fantastic moment after the   last couple of years that we’d had to  finally get the place that we wanted  

This is the lifetime home now we spent some time  wandering around not really believing it was ours   oh bloody it looks quite big without Furniture we  can now make it ours personalizer and just enjoy   it really Louise may have had to persuade  Chris to make this place theirs but he has  

No regrets we’re over the main field did a good  job it’s now reality oh reality it is good it is   I know cheers don’t you just love  it when a plan comes together