One hopeful buyer on Escape to the Country was disappointed when her dream home fell short due to a significant issue she refused to overlook.
In Monday’s episode (April 28) of the beloved BBC programme, host Denise Nurse helped a prospective buyer find her ideal North Yorkshire home.
Former florist turned funeral celebrant, Kate, desired to relocate from Aldridge, West Midlands, to be nearer to family and spend more quality time with her two-year-old grandson.
Her best friend Judy, whom she met during her floristry days, joined her in the property hunt. The avid gardener had a budget of £320,000 for a two-bedroom property in a village setting with access to countryside walks. Crucially, it needed to be within a 30-minute drive of her daughter, who lives near Whitby, reports Yorkshire Live.
Kate was adamant about one thing—the outdoor space. She insisted that the property must boast a large garden so that she could continue cultivating her plants and vegetables.
Denise went above and beyond, organising several property viewings. However, one particular house caught their attention, but it came with a problem.
The property under scrutiny was situated in Stainsacre, North Yorkshire. The contemporary bungalow featured a bright and roomy kitchen-diner.
Nestled in the heart of a village, it offered three bedrooms and a countryside vista. Despite the attractive £40,000 price drop to £279,950, Kate couldn’t warm up to the garden size and layout, lacking space for her green-fingered ambitions.
She opened up about her thoughts: “It’s a lovely patio area and I do love the way that the bedroom opens up onto the patio. I could see myself sitting here in the sunshine, but for me, I’d want to be growing veg and gardening, and I think I wouldn’t have enough to do in this garden.”
Evidently, Kate was not ready to compromise on her dream garden and chose to walk away from the property. Her pal Judy commented on the potential sacrifice: “The compromise Katie would have to make would be the garden, which I don’t know if it’s just a stretch too far.”
Kate also saw the positives, noting its closeness to her family: “It’s quite close to where my daughter lives, so that would be really convenient. It’s near to the coast and it’s near to the town.”
Yet, the garden’s size was a deal-breaker for her: “I could see myself living in a bungalow like this, but unfortunately not this one because of the garden.”
In a twist, though she did not bid on any of the three properties shown, after filming, Kate had her offer accepted on a place just two miles from her daughter’s house.
Escape to the Country airs weekdays from 3pm on BBC One and iPlayer