Location location location

[Jux]

they're doing East Molesey. DH and I grew up a couple of miles away. In those days, East Molesey was the arse end of the universe; where the poor people lived, the roughest of the Council tenants were dumped. Dangerous and nasty.

We are greatly enjoying the fact that this particular couple may not actually be able to afford to live there, when they are clearly very well to do. In our day if you couldn't afford to live there, then you were seriously on your uppers.

The contrast between then and now is extraordinary, and making us laugh like drains.

[Horsemad]

I watched this - couldn't believe Kirstie found a property on one of their designated streets & they didn't want to pay a fair price for it!!!

[sailorsgal]

I wish I had their budget.

[CiderwithBuda]

I know Horsemad! Unbelieveable! Property not even on market yet. Why on earth would the owners agree to sell for so much less than their asking price!

I don't know East Molesey at all but do know some parts of Surrey well. House prices there are why we decided on Somerset on returning to UK after years overseas. We lived in Ewell for a few years and did well on the house we owned there but DH was panicking at the thoughts of current Surrey prices.

[exoticfruits]

They were mad. They couldn't afford any house they wanted in such a small area. They leafleted the house-why on earth would the owners take a low price when they hadn't even put it on the market?! Common sense says they need to change the area.

[Arithmeticulous]

We decided that they couldn't change the area because otherwise they'd lose the school place.

[exoticfruits]

It can't be the only good school in Surrey!! There were no houses for sale in their 18 streets and they couldn't afford the ones they liked, even if they were for sale!

[sailorsgal]

I thought they were crazy but then realised it was probably down to school catchment area.

[noddyholder]

These programmes are full of the most ungrateful people I have ever seen. Their 'requirements' are ridiculous!

[AKissIsNotAContract]

I missed the end. What did they offer on the house? Was it refused?

[exoticfruits]

Yes-it was refused-they offered far too low when they hadn't even put it on the market.

[exoticfruits]

Sorry-can't remember what they offered, but way below what they wanted.

[mrspink27]

840 and then 870

[Horsemad]

They offered 830k I think. Was up for 927k!

[RandomMess]

Ended up getting one over the road that needed work doing to it!

[Horsemad]

Yes, was 840 as mrspink says.

[Horsemad]

That was the other couple random

[wonderstuff]

The primary coundn't possibly have only had a catchment of 18 streets all with price of around a million surely? I loved the first house they showed them. What does one do to be able to spend £950K on a house?

[diddl]

OMG it was fucking hilarious.

What made you think the couple were well to do, Jux?

Seemed very ordinary to me.

[Jux]

Certainly well to do in comparison with us! We couldn't even think about houses in that price range! They looked well heeled, but people can dress up a bit for tv, I expect. (Even if I dressed up, I wouldn't look like that, though. )

I suppose I was still thinking of East Molesey as I knew it, when it was a place where the dregs of society were dumped, alongside people who couldn't afford Surbiton, Wimbledon, Ewell (which was also a bit down-market). That's really what was making me laugh. Along with the knowledge that we could never afford to,live there ourselves, either!

[redskyatnight]

I had a big row with DH over the school catchment. I pointed out to DH that if they were moving before their eldest started school then they actually needed to move before school applications closed (so they had an address in catchment). DH pointed out that people who had 950K to spend on a house were probably going to send their DC to private school (sweeping generalisation alert). But then neither of us could work out why they were so set on just 18 streets!

[diddl]

Oh yes-the money-well, that´s only a dream amount to us as well!

So well off, yes.

I suppose I think of well to do as well spoken, which they didn´t especially strike me as.

[Galaxymum]

DH and I had a good giggle at this last night. We're planning to move and have such an open area but his parents (also moving) have a list of four roads they want to live on. We're thinking of sending them to Kirstie and Phil!

[whatkungfuthat]

I missed the last quarter of this. The 18 streets people were clearly arses but did the other couple buy a house near the water in the end?

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Apparently they had such a big budget because they worked hard and saved

Most people work flipping hard and never in a million years would have a budget near that!

They were not very likeable, that couple. Stupidly small search area and didn't want to pay for it. I couldn't help thinking they'd be better to privately educate if schools were the issue, it appeared they could afford it!

The other couple did find a property near water. Opposite the one they liked, not the wooden chalet style one, the other one.