On Thursday’s instalment of BBC favourite Escape to the Country, presenter Jules Hudson was compelled to highlight concerns about a property as the prospective buyer expressed finding it challenging.
During the episode, Jules leapt into action to aid a couple in their quest to locate the perfect rural retreat in the scenic Perth and Kinross region for themselves and their two youthful sons, four year old Cooper and toddler Woody.
Jess, hailing from Bolton, and her Aberdeen-born husband Graham had six months prior bid farewell to their residence on the fringe of Warrington in Cheshire, opting for a rented abode in Pitlochry temporarily.
With a budget totalling £350,000, the pair sought a standalone home offering no less than four bedrooms. A priority was an office space to manage their outdoor furniture enterprise, and ideally, the abode would come with at least a quarter-acre plot boasting either mountain or forest views.
Sharing their motivation for this life change, Jess disclosed: “We want to have the best life ever for our children, for ourselves, our business and for our hobbies.”
Escape to the Country couple Jess and Graham (Image: BBC)
Graham elaborated: “We really want the opportunity just to be able to nip up and take yourself to the mountains in the winter. We want to be surrounded by nature so we can do some walking and bird-watching.”
Jules spared no effort, lining up an array of potential properties for perusal, yet it was the enigmatic ‘mystery house’ he suspected might truly captivate the couple’s interest, reports .
Priced at £250,000, a standalone residence on the fringe of Alyth caught attention with its dual three-bedroom flats and potential for transformation into a commodious family abode. It boasted ample garden space and picturesque countryside vistas.
Quick to manage expectations, however, was the revelation that the building demanded far more renovation than initially anticipated. Openly stating: “There is a catch and the catch is this is a totally renovation project.”
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Jules was on hand to help a couple find their dream country home in Perth and Kinross (Image: BBC)
Delving deeper, it was suggested: “Whether Jess and Graham keep the two properties separate, one for them and one for mum, or merge them into one but they’d need to knock it about a bit to make it work for their growing family.”
The challenge involved considerable creativity and investment. It was also said that “it’s going to take a lot of imagination and some money. But here is another bit of good news, it’s also the cheapest property of the week.”
Despite the optimistic view, Jess found herself daunted by the task, confessing: “I feel like I’m struggling to see the finished result. There are just a lot of houses and it is a nice house to look at but it’s whether or not we can take on such a big project right now.” Ultimately, the duo resolved against advancing any bids for the listings showcased.
Escape to the Country airs weekdays from 3pm on One and iPlayer