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00:00House moves in 10 years. I know. Please don't make me move again.
00:04Yes, it's a man with a wondering eye.
00:06I'm definitely a serial house shopper.
00:08But not without reason.
00:10There's just so many people in the house, it can feel a bit claustrophobic.
00:13That would be absolute mayhem.
00:15And while I would never encourage anyone to play away from home, well...
00:20Oh wow, look at that.
00:21You're trying not to like it.
00:22You're doing really well, but you're clutching at a straw.
00:26Enough fooling around.
00:27We've never kind of thought about the layout.
00:30This way around.
00:30Renovation budgets are a serious matter.
00:33We just didn't have any sort of wiggle room.
00:35But they can also bring some serious joy.
00:37This is a fantastic space.
00:39Look at that.
00:40So can I hope for a happy ending?
00:42We had to try and find a solution to this back and forth.
00:46As we settle their debate once and for all.
00:48Are you going to love it?
00:50Or let's do.
00:50Today we are just south of Glasgow, in the countryside of East Renfrewshire.
01:02How beautiful is this?
01:04Very pretty.
01:06It's lovely, isn't it?
01:07While Kirsty's busy admiring the view, I thought I'd test her on some local Scottish phrases.
01:17What does gaff mean?
01:19Phil, everybody knows what gaff means.
01:21OK, well, that was just a warm-up.
01:22Obviously, it means home.
01:23Yeah, it is a house or a house pass.
01:26Yeah.
01:26Flittin'.
01:27Flittin'.
01:27Yeah.
01:28As in flittin' about?
01:29Yeah.
01:30Flittin' means flittin', hasn't it?
01:32Yeah, you've got to do better than that.
01:33Well, no, it means flittin' about.
01:35It's a moving house.
01:37So, it's a good guess.
01:39And finally, a rather fitting one.
01:42This is the one that I need to perfect.
01:44OK, right, OK, OK.
01:46Hod, you wished.
01:48I'm just going to say it all day.
01:49OK, what does it mean?
01:50It means be quiet.
01:54Very funny, Phil.
01:55But I don't think our Scottish friends are going to thank you for that accent.
01:58Well, hopefully, one couple that will thank us eventually
02:05are busy parents and business owners, Julia and Simon.
02:10I'm team List It because I feel that this house isn't working for us as a family
02:14and I feel like we're all falling over each other.
02:17I'm team Love It because the house, for me, is amazing.
02:21I think that the house just has so much more to give.
02:24I'm not ready to give up on it.
02:26This 1960s four-bed detached might seem like a decent size, however...
02:33When we bought the house two and a half years ago,
02:36it was just me and Simon and Oliver.
02:39Louis came along a month later.
02:41Then Remy came along.
02:44Then Simon's son, my stepson Jack, moved in with us.
02:47With the family now doubled in size,
02:50Simon feels their home no longer meets their needs.
02:52The kitchen is a big bugbear for me.
02:56I don't really enjoy cooking in that facility because it's so small, it's bulky.
03:01The dining area doesn't really feel like a dining area.
03:03It's just so busy.
03:04It's like everybody congregates in that middle part of the house.
03:07It feels a bit like a roundabout.
03:09Basically, since we moved in, we've started renovating from day one.
03:13We've already spent a substantial amount in the house.
03:15It's still not right.
03:15I think Julia would just keep spending money on it.
03:18With so much time spent on renovations and a home that's still not working,
03:23Simon's ready to call it quits and move.
03:26But for Julia, these investments haven't just added value,
03:29they've deepened her determination to stay put.
03:32I want to be in a house that I love, even if I have to spend that wee bit more.
03:36For me, the house fits so much of our family needs.
03:39I still drive up to our house every day and think,
03:44I can't believe this is my house.
03:46I would say that, for me, it's our forever home, definitely.
03:50It's a classic clash of heart versus head.
03:56The house is set over two floors.
03:59Downstairs, there's a small WC and coach storage.
04:02At the front of the house is the living room.
04:05Towards the back is the dining room,
04:07and off to one side, there's a downstairs office
04:10that is currently being used as a bedroom.
04:13The kitchen sits towards the rear,
04:15leading through to a sunroom serving as a children's playroom
04:18in an old side extension, which overlooks the garden.
04:22Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and the family bathroom.
04:26There may be lots of room,
04:28but not even Julia thinks it's working well.
04:31I think Kirsty would be great at giving me some ideas,
04:35helping me do the right layout.
04:37Control your spending.
04:38Yeah, probably.
04:40But the thought of moving gives me the absolute fear,
04:42because we've done it so many times.
04:44That's two days of pain,
04:46whereas a renovation is a completely different...
04:48It's two days of pain for you,
04:50because you basically just hop in the van and go...
04:54I'm going to carry boxes.
04:54Off we go, Jules.
04:55These two might not be able to agree on everything,
05:00but there is something they do have in common.
05:03I think we're both in agreement that this house isn't working,
05:06and for our family life to function better,
05:09we need something to change.
05:11Don't worry, Simon.
05:13Change has just pulled up outside.
05:15It looks like it's seen better days.
05:21Well, no, but they've redone the front door.
05:23That's probably smart.
05:25Yeah.
05:25Hello.
05:26Hello.
05:26Good morning.
05:27Good morning.
05:27How are you?
05:28Hi.
05:28Come on in.
05:29Right.
05:29Okie-dokie.
05:30Who wants to love?
05:35Who wants to list?
05:36So, I want to love.
05:38And I would like to list.
05:39Okie.
05:40Give us the kind of background.
05:41So, we moved here about two and a half years ago.
05:45When we first moved in,
05:46obviously the house needed top-to-bottom work done,
05:50and I just feel like we've sort of given round a bit of a halt now.
05:52Everything feels a bit unfinished.
05:54When you moved in, you did lots.
05:56So, we kind of done everything at the front of the house,
05:58but nothing at the back of the house,
06:00because I don't really know what to do with it
06:02to make it work for us as a family.
06:04We changed the entrance point when we came in, didn't we?
06:07Yeah, yeah.
06:07So, we had to sort of access the living room,
06:09then come through.
06:10Unfortunately, we've now created a room
06:12that's got four doors and a...
06:14Yeah, so this room doesn't work.
06:17Mornings is chaotic.
06:19There's one bathroom.
06:20So, there's one bathroom.
06:22There's one toilet downstairs,
06:24and then there's one bath that doesn't even have a bath.
06:27So, there's one shower.
06:30One shower upstairs.
06:31And you are shower people?
06:32No, so the kids all bath,
06:34so you'll find an interesting solution.
06:37I bought a camping bath.
06:38Yeah.
06:39Which was a temporary...
06:41It's meant to be a temporary fix two minutes later.
06:44The thing that's the main issue, I would say,
06:46is that once they go to bed,
06:48nobody sits round this table
06:49because we're aware of the fact that we'll wake them,
06:52so we never entertain any more
06:55because we've got kind of nowhere to put everybody.
06:57And when you've got four kids,
06:59we don't really go out.
07:00So, we have done six house moves in ten years.
07:04I know.
07:05And I'm like, I can't...
07:07Like, I can't move.
07:08I said, literally, I can't move.
07:10Please don't make me move again.
07:11For me, I think the house could be something amazing.
07:14I just...
07:14I'm not quite sure how to make it work for us as a family.
07:17But you have got to the stage
07:18where you've been out looking at houses.
07:20Yeah, so Simon is regularly looking at houses online.
07:23It's something that he...
07:23I would say you do that daily, actually,
07:25and try and show me houses online.
07:27I've never really fully settled here.
07:29I think I've always had an eye out
07:31and always been looking.
07:33And I think because it's been, like,
07:34a source of frustration for me,
07:36thinking I don't really see the right end of the tunnel,
07:38I've always wanted to look out.
07:39There's a good, strong difference of opinion here.
07:41Yeah.
07:42How long's that been going on?
07:43About two and a half years.
07:44No, I would say the whole time we've been together, really,
07:48you've never really felt that settled in anything
07:51that I've probably forced Simon to buy.
07:54Yeah.
07:54Darren likes the problem, really, doesn't he?
07:56We love this area.
07:57Like, we really enjoy living here.
08:00It's just...
08:01Well, it's just a house.
08:04Right, I think we need to look around the house.
08:06Agreed.
08:11Oh, it's super small.
08:13But it is...
08:14It's a cracking example of a house
08:16where, however tidy you keep it,
08:18you can't get on top of the logistical issues.
08:22This, Phil, is about flow.
08:24Completely.
08:24Yep.
08:25And that would be absolute mayhem.
08:27Yep.
08:28And they've clearly been flitting about.
08:32Nothing.
08:32Not even a smidge of praise for my local lingo.
08:36Rude.
08:36On the surface, this house looks great.
08:39But for a young, busy family, the layout simply doesn't work.
08:43The dining area sits awkwardly in the middle,
08:46turning a relaxing, entertaining space into a chaotic corridor.
08:50The kitchen is small, enclosed,
08:52and nowhere near big enough for a family of six.
08:54And the view leaves a lot to be desired, too.
08:57I must admit, I'd be inclined to put up a wall,
09:00because that feels a big invasion.
09:02Into their garden?
09:03Yeah.
09:04Because, actually, this is their kitchen window.
09:06I mean, you can just see straight into that garden,
09:08and then they can see straight into your kitchen.
09:11I've got a very healthy, love-it budget of £150,000
09:15to give Julia the forever home
09:17and the stability she's been longing for.
09:20But with the ceiling price of the street at around £625,000
09:24and their home worth about £500,000,
09:27do they really want to spend it all?
09:30Julia's reluctance to consider moving
09:32is due to the fact that they've moved a lot in the past...
09:35They've moved too much.
09:35..and she just doesn't want to do it again.
09:36She doesn't want to do it again, and I'm with her.
09:37Yeah.
09:38She's got a one-year-old.
09:39Yeah.
09:39A three-year-old, a seven-year-old and a 16-year-old,
09:43and she runs her own business, and so does he.
09:46I'm amazed they're sane.
09:47Hmm.
09:48I mean, it's beautiful.
09:50Sell it as it stands and move.
09:52Again, six moves in ten years.
09:54Just get it done.
09:55I can lose my mind.
09:56Yeah, no, I completely get that.
09:58The thing is, they may be lacking square footage inside,
10:02but definitely not outside.
10:04Look at that plot size.
10:05Oh, my word, the garden's amazing.
10:07Absolute haven for children.
10:09Yeah.
10:10Hmm.
10:11That's got me rumbled.
10:13This bit's not quite finished, but really useful space.
10:16I mean, it's clear they need a playroom and a utility room.
10:19They've been trying to make that old-school extension work,
10:22but it's failing.
10:23With the playroom out of sight,
10:25Julia and Simon are constantly struggling to keep an eye on the kids.
10:30Yet the large garden could be the solution to all their problems, and mine.
10:35The bathroom's totally big enough to have a bath.
10:37Yes.
10:37Did she say it was a camping bath?
10:39Yes.
10:39Blimey.
10:40They're doing well.
10:42Yeah, she's doing...
10:43They're coping.
10:44We can put a bath in there, there's room.
10:46Phil, this family of six doesn't just need a bath,
10:48they need a second bathroom.
10:50But with so much downstairs needing attention,
10:53finding the right spot for that might be a challenge.
10:55With four-bed homes in the area selling for an average of £575,000,
11:01my listed budget of £650,000
11:04means getting the extra space should be more than doable.
11:08But getting Julia on board for a seventh move in ten years,
11:12that's the real test.
11:14And with LBTT, that's Scottish for stamp duty,
11:18and moving costs nearing £50,000,
11:21that's a lot of cash better kept in the family.
11:25But the problem I'm worrying about
11:27is that in order to sort out the layout difficulties that they have,
11:32they will spend an absolute fortune extending the ground floor.
11:36Phil, Hudgerwisht, design and budget are my department.
11:40Everybody is trying so hard in this house
11:43to make the space that everyone needs.
11:46This is a lovely teen room,
11:48but it's also an office for two people who run their own business.
11:51It's got a great combination of needs.
11:55How'd you get on?
11:58It's just not working.
11:59It's just not working.
12:00And they have to invest in it,
12:01cos they've done all this work upstairs.
12:04It's beautiful.
12:04And to the sitting room, and to the front hall.
12:06They just have come to this point,
12:08and they've had two babies,
12:11another child come and live with them,
12:12and they've gone into crisis points.
12:15It's a beautiful house, and it would work,
12:17but not for a family of that number.
12:19That's what I'd be reluctant to spend very much on it at all.
12:21The question is, Phil,
12:23not whether you do the work or not.
12:25The question is whether you can do the work
12:27to balance up the house.
12:29Don't spend too much money on this house.
12:31It'll be beautiful.
12:32I'm not going to spend too much money.
12:33I'm not going to spend too much money.
12:35I'm not going to spend too much money.
12:35I don't think he'll let you, actually.
12:37I don't think Simon would let Julia,
12:39cos he wants to go.
12:40Well, let's see.
12:43Let's see.
12:45Will they love it?
12:46Just because you can...
12:47..or will they list it?
12:47..doesn't mean that you have to.
12:50No, no, I accept your challenge.
12:52I accept your challenge.
12:54Careful, Kirsty.
12:55I play to win, even against friends.
12:58You might play to win, Pip.
13:00I just win.
13:02What a great house.
13:03I see why you now have to sort out the downstairs,
13:05regardless of whether you go or stay,
13:07because you've invested in upstairs.
13:09Yeah.
13:09Shall we talk a bit about what you would need to see
13:12in order for you to give up this dream?
13:16I think we need five bedrooms.
13:17We need clear living space.
13:19I think we need a bit more privacy, utility rooms.
13:22I like the fact we're detached as well,
13:23so the kids can make as much noise as they want
13:25and I'm not worried.
13:26If you were to move, where would it be to?
13:29I think because we love the area.
13:33Childcare, school, work, you know,
13:36it makes sense to stay within this area.
13:37It does narrow the search down a wee bit, doesn't it?
13:40Yeah, yeah.
13:41Well, look, leave it with us.
13:42This is what we're here to help with.
13:43OK.
13:44We'll do our best.
13:46Well, I don't usually stick my neck out,
13:48but it's got to be a list.
13:51It's got to be a list.
13:52I don't think you're going to get a plot anywhere like this,
13:56so I feel pretty confident.
13:58I think Kirsty's got our work out, absolutely.
14:01I think we can do a great job on this house
14:03and it will be really lovely
14:05and we will build on the investment they've already made.
14:09And then move.
14:09I'm definitely a serial house shopper.
14:21I'm always on the lookout.
14:23I would say that, for me,
14:25it's our forever home, definitely.
14:27In the village of Waterfoot,
14:30nestled in the Scottish countryside,
14:32Julia and Simon are torn
14:34as to what is best for their family.
14:36We moved here two and a half years ago,
14:38the family's got bigger
14:39and this house is just not working for us now.
14:42I think it's just got so much more potential within it.
14:45Potential.
14:46It's not my middle name, but it should be.
14:49And with a budget of £150,000,
14:54I can unlock it and create a home
14:56that truly flows for the whole family.
14:59It's a funny old house, this.
15:00It doesn't work at all.
15:03The garden is so huge
15:04that I really believe
15:06that we can do something really good with this house.
15:10Really good.
15:11The space is there.
15:14Flow is the key challenge here.
15:17Upstairs may need a few tweaks,
15:19but my focus is making the downstairs work perfectly
15:22without breaking the budget.
15:24It's actually fascinating looking at this.
15:27This is a sensational room.
15:29Yeah.
15:29I think it's those kind of rooms that sold it to us, actually,
15:32because you knew as a family
15:33you were going to be in these big rooms a lot.
15:35But it's not working.
15:36No.
15:37So, over the next page is a plan.
15:44OK.
15:44I want to start
15:48by removing the old playroom.
15:49They could then extend into the garden,
15:52creating the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space
15:55they've been dreaming of.
15:56By adding glass doors,
16:00it means the kids will have easy access to the garden.
16:03For a family of this size,
16:05I'm also suggesting part of the new extension
16:07becomes a much-needed utility and extra shower room.
16:10And with the oldest child, Jack,
16:14currently living in the office,
16:16moving his bedroom to the old kitchen
16:18gives him his very own wing of the house.
16:21Best of all, the plan comes in under budget,
16:24with quotes just over £130,000,
16:27which will keep them close to the ceiling price of the area.
16:30This is why we needed your help, Kirsty.
16:33It's clever.
16:34Yeah, it's clever.
16:35If we are working,
16:37you could potentially put some sort of desk
16:39into these areas as well.
16:40Well, I think you could put a desk in here.
16:42If you have a desk made,
16:46which is like a sort of hidden one,
16:48what is really nice is when you can shut the door.
16:50Yeah.
16:51You've seen them on the thing.
16:52Yeah, just fold them.
16:53Where you just go, chum, chum.
16:54It's really good.
16:55Yeah.
16:55I think it gives us everything that we need.
16:58Exciting.
16:58Mm-hmm.
17:00Earlier on, Phil really laid down the gauntlet.
17:06So, I mean, give it to him with both barrels.
17:10This house is going to be spectacular
17:12and he's going to be eating his words.
17:16We'll soon see about that, Ms. Allsop.
17:25It's been a long six months since I revealed my plans,
17:28but work is finally underway.
17:30After much to-ing and fro-ing,
17:32Julia and Simon are extending into the garden
17:34to create an open-plan living space.
17:37But they've decided to tweak my design,
17:40adding a few extra square metres
17:41to make room for a large utility and shower.
17:45They want Jack's room to stay where it is,
17:47so what was the old kitchen space will now become a playroom.
17:50It got to the stage where, when we were pricing the extension,
17:55which was quite tough,
17:56and Simon was just, like, constantly looking at houses
18:00and constantly taking me to look at houses.
18:03So, I just never thought I would see the day
18:05that we actually put a brick down and got it started.
18:08Their budget of £150,000 might have seemed healthy before,
18:16but the extra square footage means they're now spending most of it
18:19getting the extension built to first fix.
18:22And with the kitchen, flooring, utility, WC and furnishings
18:26still to account for, the budget is looking rather tight.
18:33We took quite a long time to sort of figure that out,
18:37actually, before pressing the button to go,
18:39because we knew that we had a budget that we had to stick to,
18:44we just didn't have any sort of wiggle room.
18:47To stretch what's left of the budget,
18:49Julia and Simon have decided to take charge of the decorating
18:52and a few finishing jobs.
18:56With the extension now taking shape, Julia's full of confidence.
19:00I've never swayed, not even once, to team list it.
19:04I've always been team love it.
19:06There's just too many pros for me for staying here.
19:10I think it's about time I threw a spanner
19:14into Kirsty's love it plans.
19:20On paper, this search looks straightforward.
19:23With my budget of £650,000,
19:26I can find a detached house with a bigger kitchen,
19:29more space to entertain, five bedrooms, a utility room
19:32and even an extra bathroom.
19:34Though the real hurdle will be convincing Julia
19:37that moving again is their best option.
19:41But I'm glad to see at least they're aligned on one thing.
19:46I'm liking the matching outfits, by the way.
19:48Oh, was it?
19:50Am I matching you or am I matching you?
19:52That was my digital.
19:53I thought they're both on the same team.
19:57To kick things off,
19:58I'm taking them to the village of Jackton,
20:01a mere three miles from their current home.
20:03The house we're here to see is this five-bed detached,
20:08built only two years ago
20:09and on the market for offers over £550,000.
20:15So here we are.
20:17You're buying what is, for all intents and purposes,
20:19a new build, but the community is already here.
20:22Yeah.
20:22I think it offers an awful lot of what your house doesn't,
20:27to be fair.
20:27It's got definitely more curb appeal than ours.
20:30Nice features.
20:32Yeah.
20:32OK.
20:33Let's see what it's like inside.
20:35OK.
20:35Sounds good.
20:37We're off to a cracking start,
20:39but the inside of this house is where it really shines.
20:43Right.
20:43Lots to see in this house.
20:46Come on, Julia.
20:47I know you're reluctant.
20:48I'm like, what do you mean?
20:52Downstairs gives Julia and Simon exactly what they want,
20:55a space that is practical and sociable.
20:58A generous living room leads into a bright, open-plan kitchen diner.
21:04There's a family room that could double as a playroom,
21:08plus a handy utility.
21:09I reckon this house is the polar opposite to yours.
21:15Yeah.
21:16Because everyone can spread out.
21:19It's really nice.
21:19Like all the kind of clearly defined areas.
21:22So as you said, it's got a bit of space for everybody,
21:25which is really good.
21:26Your house is not an easy house to live in.
21:30Yeah.
21:30You're going to improve that, I get it.
21:32Yeah.
21:32But it's not going to end up like this.
21:34No.
21:35Have a look around upstairs.
21:36It's all going on here.
21:37Yeah.
21:37It's a nice staircase, like.
21:43Can I tell you how it winds round?
21:44Ours winds round.
21:47That's the one thing, like, ours will never have, is like, this.
21:52Looks like this house is already starting to charm Julia.
21:56Upstairs doesn't hold back either,
21:58with five double bedrooms, a family bathroom and two en suites,
22:04which means plenty of room for everyone.
22:06It's one of the double rooms.
22:08It's a nice size.
22:09Yeah, it's good, isn't it?
22:10Yeah.
22:11I do feel like it's quite a dark space.
22:15Maybe because we're so used to bigger windows and things like that,
22:18I feel like it's quite dark.
22:20That's nice.
22:20It's nice.
22:21Really fresh.
22:21It's so done, yeah.
22:23Lovely.
22:24They can walk straight in here.
22:26They don't have to do any work.
22:28It pretty much solves all of the problems that they have at home.
22:31And it's only three miles away,
22:33so it's not exactly an upheaval.
22:35If I was them, I'd know exactly what I'd be doing.
22:40Easy, Spencer.
22:41Don't count your chickens just yet.
22:43Yeah, it's nice.
22:45I just feel like I still want to change things.
22:49Let's go see, Phil.
22:51Come and join me.
22:52In the garden, there's not much to it.
22:58It is generous and big.
23:00The issue perhaps being it's a little overlooked.
23:02Yeah.
23:03Yeah, definitely.
23:04I think we're just so used to quite a private garden.
23:06I mean, we're totally spoiled with our garden,
23:08but it's a lovely house.
23:09There's no denying it.
23:11It offers an awful lot.
23:13Yeah.
23:13It is what it is.
23:14Yeah.
23:14OK, let's leave it at that.
23:15Thanks.
23:16That's a great start to the search.
23:20I'm super happy with it.
23:21Julia seems to have an open mind.
23:24She absolutely recognises the strength of this house.
23:27It is a bit enclosed and it is a bit overlooked at the back,
23:31but those are the things that I can work on.
23:33I like it.
23:35I don't love it.
23:37I like the space.
23:39I think the amount of space for the price of the house is really, really good.
23:43Yeah, true.
23:44The garden's a bit of an oaf for me personally.
23:46Hard to beat our garden.
23:48Looks like it's back to the drawing board, Pip.
23:50Back in Waterfoot, the renovation is still in full swing,
24:05with the team hard at work bringing the transformation to life.
24:08It's been so nice to actually see it come together.
24:11I still think there's part of Simon that until it's fully finished,
24:15do I trust that he will stay?
24:17No.
24:18No.
24:18Which gives me the fear.
24:25I'm in the countryside, south of Glasgow,
24:28on the hunt for a home to tempt Julia and Simon away from their current abode.
24:33My first property fell short on garden space and privacy,
24:38so now I need to show them somewhere that can deliver both.
24:41Can you now see what you're going to get in terms of the space?
24:45Yeah, so I think in terms of the downstairs space,
24:48like, it's given us everything we need,
24:50but probably the only downside is the fact is that it still hasn't really
24:55gave us the upstairs space.
24:58We're in the very popular town of East Kilbride.
25:04This stunning five-bed detached villa is located less than a ten-minute drive from their current home,
25:10meaning it's close to schools and extended family.
25:14Not surprisingly, it's closer to the top of their budget,
25:18and equally not surprisingly, it's already had an offer made on it.
25:22But that's because it's a very des res.
25:28Private gates.
25:30We're in a state, this is, practically.
25:33Wow.
25:33If you are needing space, this is going to deal with that form.
25:38Brestle.
25:41Stick your breath.
25:42No way.
25:42Shush.
25:43Come on, let's get in, show you around.
25:47This home doesn't just deliver what Julia and Simon are after,
25:51it supersizes it.
25:53Downstairs is all about space.
25:56Off a generous hallway, there are two separate living rooms
26:00and a large kitchen-dining space,
26:03absolutely perfect for family and for entertaining.
26:07And for extra brownie points, there's a study and a utility room.
26:12I can almost taste victory.
26:16Come on in.
26:17This is a big barn of a place, just to warn you.
26:19It's 300 square metres, so that's double the size of yours.
26:24Feels big, doesn't it?
26:25Really spacious.
26:25Yeah, that's amazing.
26:27It's a superb layout for a big and extended family.
26:30Everybody's got space away from one another.
26:33Yeah, I could see us in here.
26:35You like it, don't you?
26:37You're trying not to like it.
26:39The only thing I would say...
26:40Go on, try.
26:41This is the only thing.
26:42I feel like it's quite low.
26:44Ceilings, mate.
26:45Yeah.
26:45I like kind of higher ceilings,
26:47which I think is why I'm sort of still slightly more attracted
26:50to kind of older-style houses.
26:52You do really well, but you're clutching at the door.
26:54I admire your tenacity.
27:00I'd be serious.
27:01You're on the ropes.
27:05Check out upstairs.
27:06Five good, generous bedrooms and four bathrooms.
27:09Two once weeks.
27:16That's really nice.
27:18There's no denying it would be so nice to have that right off your bedroom, wouldn't it?
27:23Looking round, something like this has surely got to get Julia to seriously think about the benefits of moving.
27:31I think she's on the ropes.
27:32I really do.
27:34Oh, Phil, you really do love a bit of drama.
27:37Even though the outlook is houses, you're still quite high up, aren't you?
27:41So you can see...
27:41Yeah, a good vantage point.
27:42Yeah.
27:43A lot of plus points.
27:44Mm-hm.
27:46The garden may be slightly smaller than their own, but it's still a generous size.
27:51And pretty easy to maintain.
27:53Yeah, it's lovely.
27:53Yeah, it's fantastic, yeah.
27:54Yeah.
27:54It's a fantastic problem.
27:56What can I learn going forward?
27:58It'd be nice to have a bit more traditional character, maybe.
28:01Maybe a bit more private.
28:02What I would ask you over the next couple of weeks, just to think of priorities.
28:06Yeah.
28:07There's a lot we're trying to balance out here.
28:11I don't think the worm is for turning, Pip.
28:14I have definitely proved, without doubt, that it is possible to solve the issues of location and space 100%.
28:23But Julia is now talking about wanting to be less surrounded by other houses and perhaps finding more character.
28:31And I'm really not sure that that is all possible.
28:34Not round here, anyway.
28:37Phil, she's not asking for a castle with a moat, just something with a bit more charm and space.
28:41Use that imagination of yours.
28:48At home, finally, the extension is watertight.
28:51So it's an ideal time for me to drop in and see if it was worth the big investment.
28:57Last time I was here, it was over six months ago.
29:00It was winter.
29:01Now it's summer.
29:02And I'm really keen to see what Julia and Simon have done.
29:09This is a fantastic space.
29:11Absolutely amazing.
29:14I mean, look at that.
29:15It may be summer, but it's a grey old day and it couldn't be more light in this room.
29:22The kitchen is going to be at this end and then the dining room down there.
29:27Wow.
29:28The garden doesn't feel compromised at all.
29:31It's still a wonderful, really big garden.
29:34The time Julia and Simon took at the start of the build to really interrogate the details has paid off.
29:41By creating extra square footage, they've been able to reposition and enlarge the utility and shower room.
29:47And by choosing some clever, budget-friendly features, they don't have to sacrifice an ounce of style.
29:56Look, this is a double-glazed unit.
30:00You've still got loads of air, loads of space.
30:03And this would be considerably cheaper than an expensive bifold door.
30:09With Simon at work, it's the perfect time for me to catch up with Julia, who has been driving this renovation forward.
30:16Hello.
30:17Hello.
30:18How are you?
30:19I'm impressed, that's how I am.
30:22It's really fantastic.
30:24I'm really pleased you didn't go for bifold doors.
30:26They're so expensive and you don't actually need them.
30:29See, to be honest, I think this day and age, you've got to make compromises.
30:33You have to.
30:34This is the area that I'm kind of struggling with.
30:36Right, OK, so...
30:37How do I make that feel like a snug?
30:39Textiles are the key to creating a sense of warmth and cosiness in an open-plan space like this.
30:46A rug can help zone the space, while soft cushions add warmth and relaxation.
30:52Opting for soft-edged furniture helps give the room a welcoming, cosy vibe.
30:57Well, this is what's really interesting.
30:59This, in itself...
31:01Yep.
31:02...makes it feel snug.
31:03OK.
31:04So, would you put a chair there?
31:06I would have a sofa here.
31:07Oh, really?
31:08I would have an actual really nice sofa here that you really like.
31:12So, you think face that way?
31:14Facing that way.
31:15OK.
31:15Even something that's quite, like, sinky.
31:19OK.
31:20A sinky sofa.
31:21That's...
31:21Is that why I ask for one?
31:23I go in.
31:24You sell sinky sofas.
31:26And then, because...
31:28I don't want to encourage you to sit on the cement bags, but when you come into this space...
31:33Yeah.
31:33..you can see the playroom, but you're not in it.
31:35Yeah.
31:36You can totally see the kitchen.
31:38The whole idea is when I'm cooking, I want to be able to talk to her as here.
31:42I'm also keen to hear what their plans are for the room Simon described as a roundabout.
31:47My plan is to put storage all along there, because, you know, we have no storage.
31:52Yeah.
31:53Seeing the kids, even in this space, having space to move makes me realise how much space they'll have in here as well.
32:00Phil's got his work cut out.
32:01No.
32:03Oh, wow.
32:06Do you know what?
32:07It's lovely to hear from someone who is actively enjoying the experience of redoing that house.
32:15Obviously, I know that isn't the case for everyone, but it can be a really positive thing.
32:22Problem is, they might fancy doing it again.
32:25And then Phil would win.
32:28They may be busy parents and business owners, but to keep the budget on track,
32:32Julia and Simon are rolling up their sleeves and tackling some of the work themselves.
32:36Day number 262 of painting.
32:43We have lost the plot and are on the beers.
32:47Say hi, Jules.
32:49Go painting!
32:51While the paint dries, it's time for another house search.
33:02And if my last pick was anything to go by, Julia might just be joining Team Listed.
33:07So what was going through your mind after those first two properties?
33:12We liked the second property.
33:13Yeah, I think it was one of those ones where we probably would have had a wee conversation about it.
33:20For me to move it would have to be, like, tick a lot of boxes, but then the reality is our house still probably won't tick every single one of our boxes.
33:29Well, hopefully my last roll of the dice will be just what they're looking for.
33:36To stand a chance of winning Julia over and giving her everything she wants, I'll need to stretch both the search area and the budget.
33:43And my third pick does exactly that.
33:48Located in East Paisley, just 12 miles from their home, is this elegant five-bedroom detached sandstone villa on the market for offers over £685,000.
33:59Detached Victorian villa, I promise you, with all the bells and whistles you could ever wish for.
34:08Aesthetically, this one outside is right up my street, isn't it?
34:11It's full, yeah?
34:11It's full.
34:12I'm really keen to show you this.
34:13Come on.
34:14Sounds good.
34:16Julia wanted character, and this house has plenty of that.
34:23Step inside, and to your left is a generous office space, perfectly suited for these two business owners.
34:30There's also a spacious living room, a downstairs WC, and a utility.
34:37However, where this house really stands out is at the rear, with a stunning double-story extension.
34:45A bespoke kitchen and floor-to-ceiling glass creates a space that's both light and airy.
34:52The star of the show is in here.
34:56Oh, wow.
34:57You like that, Joseph?
34:58It's a big island.
34:59I definitely think everybody could fit round that one, eh?
35:03Wow.
35:04This is an exceptional kitchen.
35:07I like the fact that it still looks quite traditional, even though it's an extension.
35:10They've kept it in keeping with the rest of the house.
35:12Big garden smell, eh?
35:14It's fantastic, yeah.
35:14It's nearly an acre.
35:16What, the garden?
35:17Yeah.
35:17Oh, really?
35:18Yeah.
35:18Veds, pats, football pits.
35:20Oh, gosh, so that's the original.
35:21Here's the gym.
35:21There's a ready-made gym for you, Simon.
35:24OK.
35:24That takes quite a lot of bolts of the enemy.
35:28Come on, you have a look.
35:32Upstairs is just as impressive.
35:35There are enough bedrooms for the whole family and a generous bathroom.
35:39But the standout has to be the main bedroom with a gorgeous en suite, walk-in wardrobe and a balcony overlooking the garden.
35:49Surely, this will win them over.
35:51This is the en suite.
35:53Oh, wow.
35:53Oh, wow.
35:54That's incredible, isn't it?
35:56That's really nicely done.
35:57Here's your bath, Jules.
35:58I was actually wondering where there was a bath.
36:01Wow.
36:02God, it's massive showers.
36:05This place is so cool.
36:08If it doesn't convince Julia to list it and move, then nothing will.
36:12I would give up, because that is the place.
36:20Come and join me.
36:22You didn't want to be overlooked, which is something that I know was important after that second house.
36:27Yeah.
36:27I can see why you picked it.
36:29It's very cool.
36:30There was life outside of where you live.
36:32I've been telling you this for a long time.
36:34Well, look, you need to finish up at home, and then we'll find out what you're going to do.
36:39That's good.
36:44I'm definitely finishing the search on a high with this one.
36:47And at least Julia now recognises, and I think accepts, that in order for them to get everything that they need and for it to suit everybody, they are going to have to change areas.
36:58Whether that's actually going to happen or not remains to be seen.
37:01I can imagine it's living here.
37:02I feel like there's definitely some things in our house that we'll never fully achieve.
37:08Whether that means that it might not be a forever home, I don't really know.
37:12It seems like this house has got Julia rethinking her loyalties.
37:18Hold that victory toast, Phil, because as the renovation nears completion, Simon may still be swayed.
37:24We're back in Waterford, where just over nine months ago, Julia and Simon asked for our help.
37:39And with six house moves in ten years, they're keen to get this decision right.
37:44Well, I was driving up here thinking, where's Kirsty going to take me for drinks?
37:53You think they're going to be listing it?
37:55I think they should.
37:56How did your search go?
37:57Pretty well.
37:58They didn't give anything away.
38:00I was absolutely blown away with the last house.
38:04Just phenomenal.
38:05One of the nicest houses I've filmed in for quite some time.
38:08That's the sort of word you'll be using very soon when you see the changes Tim Lovett have made.
38:13And the transformation starts from the outside.
38:16The garden looks all smart.
38:17I know.
38:18Carb appeal, Phil.
38:20Well, they wanted plenty of that on the search.
38:22Yeah.
38:25Hello.
38:26Hello.
38:27How are you?
38:29When we first arrived, the downstairs layout wasn't working for this busy family.
38:35The dining room, once dubbed a roundabout, is gone.
38:38And by extending into the garden, Julia and Simon have created a spacious, practical new hallway.
38:46We were sitting here when we first talked.
38:49At a table here.
38:50Yeah.
38:51Where?
38:51Here.
38:51Yeah, here, here, here.
38:52Yeah.
38:53Very different now.
38:54Yeah.
38:54I'm completely lost.
38:55Really?
38:56Yeah.
38:56So this was everything?
38:58Really, pretty much.
38:59This was the roundabout room, do you remember?
39:00Yeah.
39:01There was a corridor.
39:02Kitchen door was there.
39:03Kitchen door there.
39:04Yeah.
39:05Holy cow, what have you done?
39:06Yeah.
39:07You built another house.
39:10Julia and Simon dreamed of a space to entertain.
39:13And with this 78 and a half square metre extension, there's room for kids and extended family alike.
39:21This is all in the garden.
39:22I know.
39:23So this was the garden.
39:24And then, obviously, this was the sunroom kind of space.
39:29What have you done?
39:30It's funny.
39:30This is not playing fair in any way.
39:33Phil, I always said it.
39:35The garden was so big.
39:37Yeah.
39:37This is not overbuilding.
39:38This is making the house fit the garden.
39:42Julia's eye for detail truly shines through.
39:45From the perfectly chosen cabinets to the stunning worktops and backsplash,
39:49every design choice has been made with care, and the result is simply breathtaking.
39:55It really is.
39:56I remember sitting in there, quite cramped around the table.
40:00Yeah.
40:01And it was a corridor and people were struggling to move.
40:03Yeah.
40:04My goodness.
40:04It's funny.
40:05That became probably a space that we just totally disliked the most.
40:10Yeah.
40:11And it's now something really nice.
40:12Something really nice.
40:13It feels so spacious.
40:14And it gave us the ample storage that the house craved.
40:19I think the most important thing about this build is not to think that a hall is a waste.
40:25Mm-hmm.
40:26Because you could have thought, oh, you've got all this space.
40:29What are we going to do with it?
40:30Yeah.
40:30But actually, it's a fantastic amount of storage.
40:33Can I show you what it does as well?
40:34It's our hidden office.
40:36Oh, let's see.
40:37It's our hidden office.
40:39Oh, my God.
40:40You did it.
40:40I did it.
40:41So this comes out.
40:43You did do it.
40:44And then Cy's got one as well.
40:46And we don't even have to speak to each other.
40:47Look.
40:47Oh.
40:48It was a good idea, actually.
40:50Because we thought, well, we don't have an office.
40:52So we thought, well, we'll go into here.
40:53Did all the decisions come quite naturally?
40:57I'm not going to take any credit for any of the decisions, though.
41:00No, Jules has got a good eye for things.
41:03So kind of, like, just let her get on with it, really.
41:05Because if you didn't know, you could come in here, not know that you did so much work yourselves,
41:09not know that you made decisions like not having bifolds.
41:14Yeah.
41:14Because you were watching the budget.
41:17Can we have a look at the playroom?
41:19You can.
41:19I love the playroom.
41:22What really impresses me is that Julia and Simon have saved nearly £4,000 through some truly savvy shopping.
41:30They may have changed my original idea of giving Jack his own wing.
41:33But they've transformed what was once a cramped, tired, closed-off kitchen.
41:37Into a brilliant playroom for the kids, and it's a space that can adapt with them as they get older.
41:46They've also added a utility and shower room, and best of all, proved you don't need to compromise on style.
41:53Using X display units from different suppliers saved Julia and Simon over £1,000.
42:00I bet the kids love it.
42:01It's just lovely.
42:02Yeah.
42:02It's really beautiful.
42:03It's good for the kids, and it will develop as they get older, so it's a good new room.
42:07I love this room.
42:08It's lovely.
42:09It's just lovely.
42:10I absolutely love it.
42:12OK, I've heard enough.
42:14Can we sit down and have a cup of tea?
42:18Julia and Simon's transformation is a triumph.
42:21But will it finally give Simon the homely feel he's been longing for?
42:26Or did my search prove to Julia that the forever home is just not here?
42:32You have been extraordinarily busy and productive.
42:36Have you enjoyed it?
42:36I think we have enjoyed it to a degree.
42:38I think the last few weeks have been quite difficult.
42:40Simon, your team listed.
42:42How did you find the search?
42:43I really enjoyed the search.
42:44I think what I wanted to get from the search was to more open Julia's eyes to the thought of moving.
42:52I think you did come around a little bit and looked at the kind of auctions we had and the opportunities to move away from you.
42:59The second house, I think that was a bit of a game changer, wasn't it?
43:02You were very taken with the social space.
43:04I think the second house certainly made you realise how much you crave the social space and how much we feel we need that.
43:12I think we were keen to have that social life again and have people over and family dinners and things like that.
43:18So it was really important that whether we stay or go, we create that.
43:22Or find it.
43:23It is a space designed to make family life easier and the children can go in and out the garden really happily.
43:29It means that the children can play just off the kitchen.
43:32It feels like you've been a really good team through this.
43:35It's funny because we are a good team anyway.
43:39Like we do agree on 90% of things that we go through life with, except we're not.
43:45And honestly, we need to put this to bed.
43:48Simon constantly searching for houses and me constantly refusing to move.
43:53We're in a genuine dilemma.
43:55We had to try and find a solution to this back and forth.
43:59Well, on that note.
44:00Simon.
44:01Jules.
44:02Are you going to love it?
44:05Or list it?
44:09We are going to...
44:12Love it!
44:14And why not?
44:16And why not?
44:17Simon, when did you make your mind up?
44:19What changed?
44:19I think probably when I started to get my hands dirty.
44:24All those days painting put a lot of effort into it.
44:27I think just seeing it coming together.
44:30From the very start, Julian and Simon made it clear that sticking to the budget was going
44:35to be tough.
44:36They may have spent £168,000 on the build, but with smart choices and a hands-on approach,
44:43they've managed to save themselves nearly £10,000.
44:46They've taken the house from a pre-renovation average valuation of £500,000 and raised it
44:53to a post-renovation average of just under £650,000, which is definitely worth celebrating.
45:00Do you feel it's going to enable you to spend more time off together as a family?
45:05I think even the build brought us together a wee bit, because we've spent a lot of time together.
45:09It's a family home now.
45:10Yeah, definitely.
45:13But most of all, I'm delighted that Julian and Simon now have a home they are proud of.
45:19And with ample room for family life and a beautiful space for entertaining guests in style.
45:26It's nice to see what you've created yourself.
45:29The whole house functions much better now.
45:31It's got rid of a bit of the chaos and streamlined everything.
45:34I always knew it could be something special.
45:37Yeah, it's totally transformed.
45:41Here we go, madam.
45:42Thank you very much.
45:45Did you think that this was a goner the second you walked into that big room?
45:49Yes, completely.
45:50We used the word transformation quite a lot, but that was a proper, proper transformation.
45:55They worked hard at doing something impressive in a practical way.
46:00Given the issues they had at the beginning, I think they've solved all of them,
46:04every single one.
46:05Yeah, no, I think you're right.
46:07I think you're right.
46:08Jules and Simon.
46:09We'll see you next time.
46:22Transcription by CastingWords
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