(lively folk music) - [Phil] This week, we're back in seductive Scotland.

- I love you two.

- Fabulous.

- Cool, I haven't had one of those in a while.

- But even a good relationship can go off kilter.

You hate me today, don't you Scott?

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Practical doesn't have to be dull.

- [Phil] To make it through the rocky patch, we need to get radical.

- This house is not for sale.

- Oh, you're mean!

- It's the only way to keep 'em keen.

Keep her on edge for a little bit longer, please.

(upbeat funk music) This week, we're catching up with two couples who had come to Aberdeen with work, and were searching in and around the famous Granite City to find their perfect family home.

- [Kirstie] In the last 40 years, Aberdeen has become the oil capital of Europe.

- [Phil] And because of all that oil, and the jobs it brings, property prices have remained strong, despite all the world economy has grown with the market.

- [Kirstie] Engineer Scott Laing, and his wife Kirsten, are just one of the many families relocating here for precious job opportunities.

(pleasant music) - [Phil] Also making Aberdeen home are Brian Clarence and Helen Barr.

Seven months ago, this engaged couple were living in Essex, expecting a baby, when Brian was offered an oil industry job too good to refuse.

So they relocated the length of the country, just in time for two to become three.

- We came up in a rush, mind, so.

- We did, we actually moved into our house three days before Frankie arrived with us, which was a bit of a rush, but it was all right for me.

- [Helen] Yes, and it's why we're renting and we haven't actually found a house in Aberdeen yet.

- [Brian] Yep.

- [Helen] But, and we're still all a bit new.

- And we've now got number two on the way, as well.

So, in amongst that there's not really been a huge amount of time to- - Do anything.

- To do other things.

- [Kirstie] First time parents, another on the way, a new job, and a brand new city.

That's a lot of stress in one move.

(baby babbling) - [Phil] But that's nothing to these two.

Their last job was decommissioning nuclear power plants.

Surely, finding a house for this nuclear family should be simple.

- We've had Frankie.

We've been looking for a house.

We are planning a wedding.

We're getting married in a couple of months' time.

- In the last two years, I think we've done all those big, stressful life events that people say that you go through.

- You know, if we can get the right house, in the right place, and settle for a few years it would give us a chance to catch my breath.

- And do all the things that we haven't been able to do yet.

- Yes.

- As a family.

- [Kirstie] Good luck, Phil.

Careful not to cause a meltdown.

- Fear not, Kirstie.

Working with you, I deal with meltdowns all the time.

You guys don't do things by halves, do you?

It's kind of all of the things that people struggle to do one at a time, you're trying to do them all simultaneously.

How much are you prepared to spend?

- We've got around 350,000.

We can stretch a little bit more.

- If I was a magician, which I'm not, and I could conjure up your perfect house, what would it be like?

- Well, my perfect house has got some curb appeal.

It's got some character that makes it feel- - Something quirky.

- Yeah, that you wanna actually live in.

- Not just a square box.

- [Brian] It's gotta be above, and it's gotta be value for money.

- It is your number one criteria, really.

- It is my number one criteria.

I'd probably put it above a garage, if I'm honest, and that's saying a lot.

- And I would be able to talk him round to most things, but not this.

- I can find opportunities, and I can show you how you might be able to add value, and I can negotiate prices, but I can't beat the market.

- No, we're realistic on what you can get, but by the same token, we're not gonna pay top dollar for anything.

- [Phil] Would you do any work to a house?

- Our views our slightly different.

We'll do decoration, and- - I think it's less that.

I think it's more that you would want to do all the work yourself, and I want your time, or Frankie and I want your time.

- I'm not very good at paying workmen to come and do jobs that I can do.

- So slight point of difference, but you know, there's arguments on both sides, isn't there?

We need to get on with it, don't we?

- [Brian] That's a good idea.

(all chuckling) - Let's make a start.

- Excellent.

- [Kirstie] To do work, or not to do work, that is the question.

Let's hope Phil has the answer.

- [Phil] Their ideal budget is 350,000, but they could stretch to 400 grand for the right house.

- [Kirstie] They'd like four bedrooms for guests and future additions, and somewhere with a bit of character, and a garage.

- [Phil] For Helen and Brian, spending quality family time together is key.

So I'll be looking within easy commuting distance of his office in the west end of the city.

(upbeat music) - [Kirstie] While I'm with Kirsten and Scott, who might not be moving as far as Phil's pair, but whose search is just as complicated.

Scott, Kirsten, and their two children, Natalie and Max, currently live in the coastal town of Kirkcaldy.

(upbeat music) - [Phil] But when engineer Scott discovered he was being made redundant, family life as they knew it was about to change.

- [Scott] It was very out of the blue, totally unexpected announcement.

- So we had one night of feeling a bit sorry for ourselves.

- Yeah, have to turn it all around and get the positives out of it.

Don't throw yourself in that pit of despair and feel sorry for yourself.

- [Kirstie] So my resilient couple picked themselves up, and just three weeks later, Scott thankfully secured another job.

- [Phil] But with his new position 100 miles north in Aberdeen, it means the family are currently separated during the week.

- The big thing that's hit me the hardest is probably leaving Kirsten and the kids to drive up to Aberdeen.

I managed to hold it together, and fortunately, Kirsten and the kids did as well, so it didn't end up this sobbing family in the street.

- [Kirsten] That's really the impetus to get us together.

(pleasant music) - [Kirstie] So, to keep the family as one, Kirsten and the children are following Scott to Aberdeen, and leaving behind their beloved home in Kirkcaldy.

- We bought the property two years ago, which was my grandparents' old house.

They lived here for over 30 years.

I remember them moving in, and we have spent the last two years.

- [Scott] Lots of time and money on it.

- Renovating it, and making the perfect family home.

And I've got so many family memories of being here.

- [Kirstie] Kirsten and Scott loved the idea of their kids growing up in this house, adding their names to the height chart where Kirsten herself was measured as a girl.

(emotional music) - [Phil] But this canny couple have a plan.

For now, they're going to rent out the house in Kirkcaldy, so they can keep the place they love in the hope that one day, they can move back.

- And the home, at the end of the day, it's where the four of us are going to be.

- [Kirstie] So it's up to me to find the all important stopgap in the granite city, so that this foursome can be back together again.

No pressure.

Obviously, redundancy is a very scary word.

But you two have got a really positive attitude.

You picked yourself up, and you said right, okiedoke, off to Aberdeen we go.

- We want to keep the family up in Scotland, and the only opportunity was for me to come up to Aberdeen.

- I think at issue is the fact that you have your forever family home.

That already exists.

- Mm-hmm.

- So, in Kirkcaldy is this house which is where your heart lies.

- [Kirsten] Yes.

- So, you're not looking for that.

- No.

- But at the same time, this house is where you're gonna bring up your children.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- [Kirstie] And, it's going to be important.

And your budget is around the 200,000 mark.

- Yes.

- 200, maximum.

- Maximum.

- Max.

- Maximum, max.

- I won't play with that, don't worry, it's fine.

200,000 max.

You're aware that for 200,000 pounds, you're not going to get anything palatial in Aberdeen.

- Acutely.

- I think, you know, the old tired house that seem to not really have much done to it for a long time, the expectation is that's the level we'll be pitching in at.

- Right.

- 'Cause we would rather go in at that, and have space, than have a walk-in that doesn't have the other attractive things like space, yeah.

- [Kirstie] So you're not afraid of doing stuff.

- No.

- No.

- We've even taken walls down.

- Scott, I'm beginning to feel a bit inadequate.

(both chuckle) - [Phil] Well, that's gotta be a first.

- Thank you, Phil.

Kirsten and Scott have a 200,000 pound budget, and they want a rather large house.

They're looking for a semi-rural property with four bedrooms, but they are happy to take on a project.

If I were looking within the city itself, I'd be really concerned.

But Scott's new office is near the airport in Dyce, so they're searching further afield than Aberdeenshire, where their money should go further.

I got a lovely couple.

They're realistic, they know they can't get anything as good as what they had.

- Yeah.

- And they're just incredibly grateful for the help.

- My couple are sensible about it.

They kind of know-ish what they want.

But, Brian made it very clear straightaway that he wants a bargain, otherwise he ain't buying.

- Right.

- In a city where I just don't think there are any bargains.

- Nope, Aberdeen is not known as the granite city, home of the bargain.

I don't think so.

- No.

This time, we're both playing the relocation game, where the perils and pitfalls of buying a house are magnified.

- With an average house price of 185,000 pounds, Aberdeen is second only to Edinburgh as the most expensive city to buy property in Scotland.

Prices here are more linked to the need for oil than anything else, and because the jobs market is so buoyant, the demand for family homes is huge.

There's new houses going up everywhere, and there's all the, you've still got all the old granites, which is- - Beautiful properties.

- Yes.

- What's it like?

- Great, good for business, good for families, good for schools.

- House prices don't seem to be affected here.

I mean, we've really been quite cushioned by the oil industry, so I would say prices are still very, very good.

- [Kirstie] Good for sellers, perhaps.

Not so good for buyers.

- [Phil] For my first property, I'm taking Brian and Helen to one of Aberdeen's new family centered developments in Westhill.

I know the houses here lack the character they asked for, but with a young baby, and another on the way, this house is all about having an easy lifestyle.

Now, almost everybody that we spoke to recommended coming and having a look in Westhill.

- [Helen] Okay.

- It's got playgrounds, and space.

It was designed with young families in mind.

But I just thought this was a sensible place for us to start.

- Okay.

- It's a start.

(Helen laughs) - Won't be a finish, well, I sensed that.

Come on, we'll go in.

- [Kirstie] Uh-oh, that didn't sound like a glowing endorsement from Brian.

Good luck, Phil.

(upbeat music) - [Phil] This modern detached property has four bedrooms with loads of space.

It's on the market at offers over 340,000, and I'm confident I can bring it in on target.

- [Kirstie] It doesn't need any work, and the kitchen-conservatory combo is perfect for a young family.

- Ooh.

Oh, that's nice.

- Oh, it's a big kitchen.

- [Phil] Key reason why I want to show you this house is the layout.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- It is built with almost you guys in mind.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, this is nice actually, isn't it?

- [Brian] It is, that's nice that it goes around the back to a conservatory.

- Very nice.

- [Phil] I knew Helen would love it.

- [Kirstie] And you may even be winning Brian over.

- I just wanted to show you something to see if you could be seduced by the ease of this.

It is absolutely turnkey.

- [Helen] It is, isn't it?

- [Brian] It is, you'd come in and that'll be you, and- - [Helen] That's nice with the doors, as well.

- That's nice, and it ticks all of the boxes, but it's your biggest purchase, and if it doesn't, if it doesn't take putting a smile on your face.

- I know it's putting a smile on my face for now though, isn't it?

- Sure.

- This house is all about stress free living, and after their hectic last year, I thought an easy life would appeal, but it looks like Brian's gonna need some convincing.

When you got together, and you thought up about the type of house that you were going to buy together.

- [Helen] It wasn't this.

- You didn't have children.

- I accept that you do have to be more practical.

Practical doesn't have to be dull.

(Helen snorts) It doesn't.

Practical doesn't have to be dull, and I'll be honest, it's nice and fit for purpose.

And it is just nice and fit for purpose.

Spending this much money, it's not gonna be on this house.

Even before we see upstairs, and see the rest of it, it's not gonna be on this house.

- Okay, as long as we know where we are, that's fine.

- [Kirstie] I think we all know where you are, Phil.

Standing in the wrong house.

- Yes, thank you Kirstie.

(upbeat music) This week, we're back in and around Aberdeen, the oil capital of Europe, with two families who are both hoping to bag a bargain.

But bargains in Aberdeen go together about as well as oil and water.

(pleasant music) The first property I showed Brian and Helen was also an uneasy mix.

The space made Helen smile, but Brian thought it was, well, in a word, dull.

- [Kirstie] Fingers crossed I have better luck with my couple.

I'm searching for a property that will reunite Scott, Kirsten, and the kids.

- [Phil] Their modest 200 grand budget won't go far in the city of Aberdeen.

But luckily for you, Kirstie, they want semi-rural.

- [Kirstie] So I'm searching here, across the beautiful countryside to the north of the city, where properties, on average, go for 80,000 pounds less than in the more popular parts of Aberdeen.

And we're starting in Hatton, a small village just outside the bustling town of Ellon.

- [Phil] 16 miles north of Aberdeen, Ellon is an area popular with young families.

It has good primary schools, and a strong community feel which is perfect for Scott, Kirsten, and the kids.

- And I think my first property, and its picturesque setting, will get me off to a great start.

So, first house of the day.

It's more about that than that.

- I am loving- - This.

- Yes.

- [Kirstie] This modern detached bungalow with its stunning views has a generous open plan kitchen, a separate dining room, and a child friendly back garden.

- [Phil] And it's on the market at a fixed price of 195,000 pounds.

- Let's get in and see the house.

- Yep.

- Great.

- [Kirstie] Apart from a bit of redecoration, it doesn't need any major work.

So, Scott won't be reaching for his power tools just yet.

But I don't think that's such a bad thing.

Doesn't need anything doing to it, really.

- [Kirsten] No, I know.

- But, you could do stuff together at the weekends.

- Could decorate and- - Yeah, we could have a life.

- Yeah.

(all laugh) Initial impression so far?

- Very positive.

- Positive, yeah.

- Okay, good.

- [Phil] Great start, Kirstie.

- Yes, but this place is a gamble.

They want a fourth bedroom for guests, but at their budget, in this setting, they only get three.

Time to see if these two are as open-minded as they seem.

There are two options.

The first is to have a bunkbed in one of the children's rooms, or to curtain the window between the dining room and the sitting room, put a sofa bed in there, and then have your dining table in your sitting room.

The word sofa bed makes people's heart sink, but there are so many fantastic ones on the market now.

- We have one.

- That's what we use.

'Cause we use- - We've got that in our spare room.

- Yeah, play room and our place has a spare room with a sofa bed.

- I know you wanted four bedrooms, but we felt that this house had so many other ticks in the boxes.

- We do need the extra space for people to come and stay.

- [Kirstie] Yes.

- But, it's as and when.

I'm kind of pretty good with it.

- Be my guest, go and look at the bedrooms.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- [Kirstie] Kirsten and Scott said they'd compromise, and they might just mean it.

(lively folk music) - Okay.

Nice white room again, and it is actually a good size.

And a lovely view, as well.

- Yeah.

- [Kirsten] Really, really nice view.

- It's all my Christmases come at once.

A couple for whom being together as a family is what matters.

The view's great, the location's great, it's got lots of space.

We're gonna enjoy being here as a family.

That's what matters.

- [Phil] Well, that was all remarkably positive.

Is that a skip in your step, Kirstie?

- [Kirstie] You can hardly blame me, Phil.

- Well, there's no skipping back here in Aberdeen, but I've learnt my lesson about new build estates.

So I'm bringing Helen and Brian closer to the city, to the more established suburb of Mannofield, where I've got a fantastic family home to show them.

West end of Aberdeen.

Much closer to work.

- Yep.

- Yep.

- Still a very good family area, good amenities.

These type of '60s houses.

- Yep.

- Okay.

- It's better than the last house, by a stretch.

- [Phil] Thank goodness for that.

- [Kirstie] This 1960s semi-detached house has four bedrooms, a good-sized living room, and a huge open plan kitchen at the back.

- It is more expensive than the last house, but still within their ideal budget of 350 grand.

And there's no denying this property would give them the practical family space, and the curb appeal they've asked for.

Now, the owners of this house lived here for 10 years, and they've had three babies in the house.

So it is absolutely road tested for small children.

- Oh, this is lovely.

- This is a nice room, isn't it?

- Yeah.

- This is the extension, everything that we're stood in here, they've put on.

- [Helen] This is lovely, this is perfect.

- [Brian] Aye.

- I like the layout.

It's kind of a slightly smaller version of where we've just come from, but it offers the same in terms of family living.

- [Helen] Yeah.

- [Phil] With access to the garden.

- Yeah, that's lovely isn't it?

No, fabulous.

- Fabulous?

Go on, haven't had one of those in a while.

- It's really good, it's really nice.

Good layout.

- It's exactly what you want in a kitchen diner area, isn't it?

- Yeah.

(gentle guitar music) - [Kirstie] Looks like you're bang on the money with this one, Phil.

Helen has not stopped smiling.

- [Phil] And Brian seems pretty taken with it, too.

- Oh, perfect.

- That's a good size.

- It's a Frankie room.

- It is, it's already a Frankie room with pink.

- And this is where the little person lives, obviously.

I mean, how does the house sit with you?

- I like the layout downstairs, obviously, with my fabulous.

- Yeah.

(Helen laughs) - So, it's working for me.

- And Brian?

- Was definitely a bit step up from the first house.

I would know if he hated it.

- Yeah.

- He definitely likes it.

Whether he loves it or not, I don't know.

- We'd better find out what Brian thinks.

(Helen laughs) Well, if you had to mark it out of 10, what would you give it?

- I would give it eight, I think.

- Six and a half to seven.

- Okay.

- Which isn't a bad score.

For me.

- You'll never give anything 10.

- Nothing ever gets 10.

(Helen laughs) Ever.

- They're asking for offers over 348 grand, and it's been valued at 350.

- Yeah.

- I'm not surprised at all.

It could probably do with a bit more work for us.

There's no adding any value to it.

- [Helen] What sort of work?

(both laugh) - Well- - Decoration, or real work?

- Bit of both wouldn't do any harm, would it?

- If we've got a reasonable tick in this box, let's go and explore something where there's more work, and more opportunity.

- Okay.

- I think so, just to see how that compares.

- Yeah.

- Yep.

- We've got more to see tomorrow, come on.

(Helen laughs) We'll keep on.

Helen really fell for this property and its practical family layout.

- [Kirstie] But it seems Brian won't be happy without a project.

- [Phil] These two want quite different things.

I just hope I can find a middle ground.

(pleasant music) - [Kirstie] Over in my camp, I have a family to reunite, and a fabulous first house to improve upon.

- [Phil] Scott and Kirsten are after a semi-rural family home on the outskirts of Aberdeen, and Oldmeldrum is a charming little village that would suit them perfectly.

- [Kirstie] I found a house that gives them the charm they love, and if they liked the last property for its views, then they'll go mad for this place.

I think it's about time you met my dream buyers, Phil.

- Is this semi-rural enough for you, do you think?

- Yeah, it's a fantastic location.

- It's lovely.

- Beautiful scenery.

- [Kirsten] And very quaint, as well.

- As I promise you, there will always be compromises, and this compromise is not on the look, not on the location, and not on the scenery, you know?

Those three things are absolutely 10 out of 10.

- Ticked box, absolutely.

It's space, probably.

- Oh, well.

Well, let's get in the house.

- Great.

- [Phil] She's got this one sussed, Kirstie.

- [Kirstie] This 1950s cottage is on the market at offers over 199,000 pounds.

It's top of their budget, but I'm confident we could do a deal.

- [Phil] It's smaller than the first house, and they've said space is their priority.

- [Kirstie] But, there is room for improvement, and I hope my star pupils can see the potential.

- Come and see what you think.

- Wow.

- Big kitchen diner.

- Yeah, lovely view again.

From the outside, you know, it's really beautiful and quaint, and I was a bit worried when we came in, it would be quite aggressive.

- Claustrophobically small.

- [Kirsten] But no, I have to say, it's actually better than I thought it was going to be.

- [Scott] Yeah.

- It's on the market at 199.

Been valued at 200.

There is opportunities longer term, but obviously there's a budget implication, and this is top end of budget now.

- We fully anticipated coming into something that would need work done, but we knew we weren't going to be able to do it straightaway, so it had to be livable with, which this is totally, totally livable with.

And it's a longer term thing if we're gonna do work.

- Good stuff.

You were right, these two are such a pleasure.

- [Kirstie] What did I tell you?

Like the first property, this has just three bedrooms, but there is a huge loft ripe for development, which will give Scott the renovation project he craves.

- [Phil] And it'll comfortably provide the fourth bedroom they asked for.

- Space is definitely, obviously we're compromising on.

But, location is kind of winning out on me just now.

- You said it was all about space, this search.

- I know, I know.

- Luckily, I didn't take your word for it.

Luckily, I didn't believe you.

- I know.

I bet, if he's gone up in that loft with Phil, he's already planning out the space of what he's gonna do.

- Could do a lot with this.

- You were the one that wants to put your stamp on somewhere.

- Yeah.

- I reckon up here you get two bedrooms and still have a loft.

- [Scott] Easily, yeah.

- It's huge!

- It is, definitely.

- And something for the future.

- Yeah.

And it wouldn't be too difficult to do, 'cause the roof structure's the right shape.

- [Phil] Yeah.

- The two properties are so much better than I ever anticipated that you would show us.

(Kirstie sighs) - Can you come and be with us every week?

- I'm so pleased.

- We'll just clone you.

- Everybody has worked so hard- - And dress you up differently every week.

- I'd do it every time.

(gentle guitar music) Oh, this is a nice big room as well.

- [Scott] Yeah.

- This is totally livable with.

- [Scott] Walk in again.

- Didn't I tell you you'd be pea green with envy?

- Yes, I am.

I mean, to be fair, you've got the good houses.

- You bet.

- You've got this thing taped.

And making it look easy.

- I know, but they're so sweet and they're so positive, and their attitude is- - [Phil] They just want to get the family together, and sorted, and move on.

- [Kirstie] I know.

- How are you getting on?

- Good.

- Yeah?

- Actually, yeah.

- We love the place.

Very enthusiastic about it.

- I can tell.

- I think we may want to buy it.

(all laughing) - Fair tea.

- Do we say that a lot?

- Ah, do you mean?

- You should keep her on edge for a little bit longer, please.

- I love you two, I really do.

Okiedokie.

I'm so taking that as two out of two, but can I make it a hat trick?

- [Phil] I think you should quit while you're ahead.

- [Kirstie] Where's the fun in that, Phil?

Where's the fun in that?

(birds chirping) (upbeat music) (pleasant music) - [Phil] This week, we're back to see two families in Aberdeen.

I was finding a home for for new parents Brian and Helen, who have moved to the city for work.

While Kirstie was with Scott and Kirsten, looking for a home to bring their family back together after Scott's new job in Aberdeen has separated them.

They'd loved the first two properties they'd seen, but I wasn't having as much luck with Helen and Brian.

The two properties I'd shown them gave Helen the practical family space she wanted, but Brian was after more character and project potential.

I was hoping my next property, with major curb appeal, would get me back in the game.

Well, we couldn't come house searching in the granite city, could we, without having a look at a very traditional granite house?

- [Helen] That's lovely.

- That's much nicer.

- Isn't it?

- Yeah.

- Aye.

- Built in the 1860s, stuffed full of character and interest, but it is gonna throw up lots of different choices.

- Much better?

- Much better.

- Let's get inside.

- Excellent.

- [Kirstie] Was that an excellent from Brian?

Good start, Phil.

(upbeat music) In an ideal world, when relocating, rent first in order to familiarize yourself with different areas.

It's paying off for these two.

This house is close to where they've been renting for the past year, so they already know how well the area caters for family life.

- On the market at offers over 375,000, this detached granite cottage is 25 grand more than they'd ideally want to spend, but it's the biggest property I'm showing them, with four bedrooms, a formal dining room, and loads of living space.

And then the family living room in here, which is also bigger than any living room we saw yesterday.

- This is what I look for in a house, this is great.

It's lovely.

- [Kirstie] I think you may have caught his attention with this one, Phil.

- [Phil] In terms of the price, the owners are looking for offers over 375,000.

- It's slightly over, but it's not too far over that I'd worry about it.

- For the perfect home, Brian and Helen said they could add 50,000 to their 350 grand budget.

And so far, bargain man Brian isn't put off by the price.

The issue with the property at the moment, it doesn't have parking.

The owner here has agreed in principle to buy access out onto the road, meaning you could build a garage here.

- [Brian] Build a garage here.

- [Helen] Perfect.

- So that's gonna cost you a little bit more, but it's gonna add some value to it as well.

- You get to build what you want.

- You do, yes.

Thank you.

(soothing music) - [Phil] Building a garage would give Brian the project he wants, without taking up too much of his time, which will be music to Helen's ears.

- Oh my god!

This is amazing!

The fireplace in your bathroom.

In your en suite bathroom.

- Your en suite, that's an en suite, isn't it?

- Look at the radiator.

(Brian chuckles) - This beautiful cottage gives them the curb appeal they want, but it isn't quite the open plan family space they were after.

- It's not what we discussed, or were really looking for, but it's got something about it.

It's got that indefinable character, it's lovely.

- How about Helen?

She was quite taken with the layout of some of the houses yesterday.

- It's a compromise that we need to have a chat about and see if she's willing to make, but it's a lovely, lovely house.

It's over budget, it's not what we asked for.

- It's funny the way things- - Doesn't really matter.

- You're admiring the bath.

How have you been getting on?

- It's quite impressive.

Just trying to imagine how we would actually live in it.

- [Phil] Yeah.

- [Helen] I don't know if the dining room will be wasted space.

And the kitchen's a decent size.

Can't get the big fridge freezer in, and it's not the open plan.

- [Phil] No, no.

- But, the house is gorgeous.

(Helen laughs) - It's, you said it all.

It delivers 10 out of 10 in a couple of aspects.

- Yeah.

- And it slightly makes you forget about some of the other aspects, but they are important aspects.

- If the one that we needed 10 out of 10 was the open plan living, and the practicalities, then yesterday's houses would win.

And right now, this is by far the one that grabs you.

(upbeat music) - [Phil] There's no denying this isn't what they asked for, but they've both fallen for its style and charm.

- [Kirstie] Well done, Phil.

Looks like you're back on track.

Kirsten and Scott fell for the cottage just outside Oldmeldrum, but I've got one more house to show them that's right in the heart of the village itself, and I've got a feeling it might give them some tough decisions.

This is Oldmeldrum.

- Yes.

- And if you lived here opposite the playing fields, children would walk to school, and you'd be in the center of a lovely community.

It would be a very different kind of life.

And not involve the car very much.

- The conversation I have just had with Scott.

- [Kirstie] So, here we are.

- Okay.

Good, oh you're mean!

- I'm not mean.

- That is so cruel.

- I'm not mean.

(Scott laughs) - [Phil] This 1940s four bed detached villa is on the market at offers over 210 grand.

- But I have it on good authority that their budget of 200,000 pounds would be considered.

Scott and Kirsten want somewhere they can do work to, and they'd have a field day modernizing this place.

- Okay.

- [Kirstie] Is this better than what you thought you'd be buying?

- [Kirsten] Yes, from a location point of view.

- It's not doing it for me as much as the other two properties did, but again, it's a very different animal, isn't it?

- [Kirstie] Right.

- [Phil] Oh dear, that's not the most positive response from Scott, but Kirsten definitely loves the location.

- Really struggling to get my head round this whole thing.

- What's pulling me here is the fact, you know, I don't know if you're gonna end up working away, as well.

You know, if you're gonna end up being away overnights and stuff, how I would feel maybe being out there on my own with the kids.

All right.

- I'm not totally put off by it.

- No, I know, I know.

I think we just need to think about it.

- Yeah, yeah.

- Consider it.

- Kirsten loves being at the center of the village, but with Scott pining after the rural cottage, it's not what he wanted to hear.

You hate me today, don't you Scott?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, okay, that's good.

I'm glad we got it out the way.

- It's just totally not working for me at all, this house.

- This house is not the builds that you would really like, is it?

- [Scott] No, it's the shape and the way it flows.

It doesn't really- - No, it doesn't.

- It's not in here.

- [Kirstie] But it will never be where your heart lies.

- No, that's right.

You know, if Kirsten wants to buy this house, we'll buy it.

And I will deal with that, and move on from where I am at the moment.

- But, Kirsten loves you, and wants you to have a house that you love, particularly when you're working so hard to provide for your family.

It's nice.

Listen, I like it when people don't buy houses because they love each other too much.

(both laugh) - [Phil] Oh that must be why we've never bought a house together, eh Kirstals?

- Oh.

- I know, I'm sorry, Scott hates me.

He's come out and said that.

(Scott laughs) He doesn't know whether he hates me or the house more.

(both laugh) What do you want to do?

- We have to go back.

- [Scott] Go back and look at the other one.

- Yeah, we have to definitely do that.

- [Kirstie] What, the second house yesterday?

- Yes, uh-huh.

- See if that makes anything any clearer.

I had thought I had this all wrapped up, but after this property, my perfect house hunters are torn, and I'm just not sure which way they'll go.

- [Phil] The next day in Aberdeenshire, Kirsten and Scott have a big decision to make.

Scott loved the rural cottage three miles outside Oldmeldrum, but Kirsten preferred the villa in the center with the amenities of the town on her doorstep.

- [Kirstie] But they've decided to come back to the cottage Scott loves to see if the same house can feel like home for both of them.

It's this fire I'm heading for.

Not interested in anything else.

Blow the house, it's the fire.

- [Kirsten] Yes.

- We dashed in because it's very cold and windy, which even more makes me think what happens in the winter?

Have you got a four by four?

- [Kirsten] We've got a Volvo.

- Okay, right, we won't talk about what happens up here in the winter, 'cause Scott doesn't want me to talk about that.

And I'm not to be negative about this house in any way.

I'm just backing off at this point.

Call me back off Kirstie.

Go and have a look around.

- Okay.

- [Kirstie] Scott and Kirsten want a home where the family can be together again, but on this second viewing it's important that they think with their heads, and not their hearts.

- How are you feeling about here, then?

- I think this has definitely got the best of everything.

'Cause we can move straight into it, there's a lot of potential for what we can do with it.

You know, you look at this space, what we can do with this up here.

- My head did say Oldmeldrum.

- Yeah.

- Being in town, being able to walk to school, having the park across the road was all perfect, but- - I just didn't like the house.

- I know, I know, and I'm okay with that.

- It's a great space.

- There's a lot, yeah.

Fantastic.

Okay, great.

- Okay.

(lively music) - I have this incredible sense that as long as they're together, that's all that matters.

- This is really pretty.

- It is.

We can get chickens.

- And I have to say, I think Scott and Kirsten are pretty inspiring.

- [Phil] Some people are just meant to be together, Kirstie.

- And some people are just stuck with each other.

Okay, you're both grinning like Cheshire cats.

So, the house is what you want.

- Yes.

- Yes.

- Definitely.

- Definitely?

- 100%.

- Mm-hmm, I can see myself and the kids being here.

- We should find somewhere warm, dry, and with a license.

- Yes, please, I feel the need.

- After you.

- Thank you.

- [Phil] So they want it, but it's priced at offers over 199,000 pounds.

This property is dangerously close to their maximum budget of 200 grand.

They want to start the ball rolling at 195.

- I think 1.95 is strong.

- [Kirsten] Okay.

- I don't, I wouldn't be ashamed of an offer of 1.95.

At this point, I would usually call the agent, but under the Scottish system, buyers often make their offers via their solicitors.

(gentle music) - We'd like to put in an offer on the house, please.

We're gonna go in at 1.95.

- [Kirstie] And that leaves it up to Scott.

- Yeah, 'cause we are in a very strong position, I think, so.

Okay, right, thanks Grover.

Bye-bye.

(Kirsten sighs) - So, it feels a bit weird.

I'm kind of on the other side.

With their offer on the table, Scott and Kirsten can do nothing now but wait.

- [Phil] And the next day, they have some news for Kirstie.

- [Scott] Hello, Kirstie.

- [Kirstie] Scott, is that you?

- It is.

I was just phoning to let you know that we have the house.

- [Kirstie] No!

- And we got it for 1.97.

- [Kirstie] Many, many congratulations.

I can't tell you how pleased I am.

- [Phil] Their successful purchase meant Kirsten, Max, and Natalie could finally join Scott up country, but it also meant leaving behind their lovingly restored family home in Fife.

So what was it like to move 100 miles north into a somewhat less perfect pad?

- It actually kind of felt like we were on holiday for about the first two months.

It was like being in a holiday cottage.

We had to kind of get back into the no, this is actually real life.

- [Phil] And 12 months on, how is real life?

- Everything works for me.

- [Phil] The rural location was always a strong pull for Scott.

It's a 20 minute round trip to the nearest shop.

- The mileage you clock up's quite impressive, just running around every day.

- Yeah, I do spend a lot of my life in the car, way more than I think I ever have done, and I did think it'd be an issue to start off with, but it's amazing how quickly you learn to adapt to it.

I think we've just settled in much, much quicker than we anticipated.

I think because we spent the last two years doing the house, everything was focused on that, and we've come up here, and made a lot of friends, and just seem to have had a life for the last year, which has been really nice.

- [Phil] The peace and quiet coupled with the close knit community of the area are not just a hit with Mum and Dad.

Natalie and Max have taken to their new home too.

- They love being out here.

You know, they love going up to the farm.

- [Scott] He's got curly hair, hasn't he?

- He's big.

- Yeah.

- [Phil] The decision to hang on to the Fife house means they don't have oodles of spare cash, so development plans for this house are on the back burner for now.

- If the option was here, I probably would've had walls knocked down- - He would've had walls down.

- I would've just dived into it and started it.

So it's not a bad thing that we didn't actually have the finances to do it.

- Yeah.

- [Phil] But even without any improvements, this home seems to be working its charms on the family.

- We knew whatever we were gonna come to was never gonna be as great as the house we left, but really, here has surpassed all our expectations.

- Where we are is a fantastic location.

We've definitely landed lucky with this place.

Now whether we would've ever found this house or not when we'd been looking ourselves, I have my doubts.

- [Helen] I think, you know, for as long as we're in Aberdeenshire, we would really like to be in this house.

(tractor rumbling) - Living in a rural location adds an element of control to what your children do as they get older, because you dictate where they go, when they go, and when they come back.

- [Phil] Sounds like Scott's got long term plans, but it's Kirsten's heart that's always been in Kirkcaldy.

- The plan always was, right, we'll come up to Aberdeenshire.

We'll do the work, but the plan will always be to go back to Fife.

And I'm amazed, probably the pull was probably more for myself to go back there because of my family connections, but I don't know that we would actually go back down to live there.

- [Phil] Give yourself a pat on the back, Kirstie.

That's quite some result.

For Helen and Brian, though, the path to a happy home was not as smooth.

Some devastating news made them rethink settling in Aberdeen.

- Helen had a miscarriage, unfortunately, while we were looking for a house up in Aberdeen.

It was fairly difficult.

It was even more difficult because there was nobody there.

- Understandably, they decided to live closer to family in Largs.

But since then, there's been another move.

So where's home sweet home now?

(upbeat music) Brian and Helen had fallen in love with a character house in Aberdeen, and been ready to settle there permanently when sadly, a miscarriage stopped them in their tracks.

Understandably, they put their relocation on hold, and moved down to Largs to be closer to family.

Well, that was a year ago, and now they're back, not living in a delightful character cottage, but in this modern estate full of the type of box houses that Brian swore he hated.

I think someone's got some questions to answer.

Their new home is in the Bridge of Don on the north side of Aberdeen.

It has four bedrooms and two reception rooms, including a large conservatory.

It's ideal for a growing family, and this family has grown.

- [Brian] Whoa!

- [Phil] Since we last saw them, Helen and Brian got married, and four months ago, baby Roxy joined the clan.

Brian.

- Phil, how are you?

- Good to see you.

- And yourself, come in.

- Thank you.

Things have really moved on for this resilient couple.

The last time we were together, of course, was at the characterful old cottage, which was looking good, and then things went all a bit haywire there.

- That was looking good, wasn't it?

- It was, it was a nice place.

- I think that was maybe the one.

- If, yeah, I mean we would've seriously considered that as a property, but obviously that just didn't happen for reasons that happened at the time.

- [Phil] Discovering they were pregnant again influenced their decision to return to Aberdeen.

Largs was great, but Brian's commute to Glasgow wasn't.

- I was up half four getting off in the morning, leaving the house at about five to five to meet the guys on the car share to drive across to get into work for six o'clock, and that was the only way I could get away for four o'clock in the nighttime to beat the traffic coming home on the nighttime, and I'd get in to see Frankie.

- And it was like, do we really want Brian to be getting up at half four and being this tired with a new baby?

That's when we discussed what our best options were, and as a family I think our best options were to come back where your work was, where we could have him at home again.

- [Phil] All the signs pointed north as being their best option.

Brian was able to transfer with his job, so then it was only a matter of finding a house.

They didn't have a lot of time, so they decided to opt for practical.

- Brian came, viewed it, thought it was great, put in an offer, offer accepted.

- [Phil] And where were you at this point?

- At work, in Largs.

Having not seen the house.

I'd seen it online, obviously, but not seen the house.

Seen photographs.

We realized that actually, this very much was the practical option at this given time.

(pleasant music) - And you've got a lovely garden as well.

They were keen to get the deal done so they could move in quickly, so they paid the full asking price of 340,000.

Still well within their original top budget of 400,000.

I was wondering how Brian was feeling now about this kind of house.

- I might've said sort of something like practical doesn't have to be dull.

- You did, you did, I remember saying that in a house not too dissimilar to this one.

- It wasn't too dissimilar.

And, it just made sense for us, to be honest.

And Roxy had a nice house to come home to, and it means I'm home for five o'clock every night, and it means that I'm sort of happy and cheery, or as happy and cheery as I'll get.

(Phil laughs) - Helen, Helen does happy and cheery for you, doesn't she?

- She does that for me.

I don't need to anymore.

So no, it does, it just works for us.

- [Phil] Brian's office is a mere three mile cycle ride away, so the location's perfect.

But most important is how the house works for them as a family.

- I have to say, it's worked out brilliantly the way it is for now, because life is hard with two small ones.

- Very small ones, yes.

- Yeah, it is.

- And how about the whole buying without seeing?

- Ah, well?

- That was very trusting of you.

- I mean, I do, I do completely trust him.

So I knew if he'd seen it and he said it was fine, then we would be good.

- But on the day of actually moving in, there has to have been a few nerves.

A few butterflies as you came through the door.

- The kids come first, so it was all about making sure Frankie was all right, and making sure we got her room set up so that things weren't too, so the kind of excitement and the nerves about the new house took a little bit of a back seat for that, I think.

I think we had three weeks before Roxy arrived, which had given Frankie enough time to sort of get used to the fact that this was home.

It had given us enough time to just get the furniture in and settled, and get things set up, and we were ready for you, weren't we darling?

Yes, little one.

Yay.

(upbeat music) - [Phil] It's great to see the family so happy and settled here, even though this might not be their prefect property.

- We've still got them dreams.

We actually went and looked at a house a couple of weeks ago, and went for a viewing a couple of weeks ago.

- Why?

- 'Cause it was a gorgeous house.

- To be fair, we did go and view it, and then come away and decide no, be serious.

Let's settle down for a year, a couple years, and just sort of chill out for a little bit, which is still the plan.

(Helen giggles) - Brian and Helen were initially after the perfect forever family home, but are very happy in their for now one.

While Kirsten and Scott wanted a for now place, and by the sounds of it, could be their forever.

Well, two very different house hunting stories, but both centered around children and bringing families together, which after all, is exactly how it should be.

So I'm just delighted to have been able to come back today, and check that all's well that ends well.

(upbeat music)