Single mother with £1.25 million budget is slammed too ‘picky’ on Location, location, location

Location Location Location viewers slammed a single mother with a £1.25 million budget for being too ‘picky’ as she turned down all three properties which viewers said most people could ‘only dream of setting foot in’.

In last night’s episode of the Channel 4 show, business owner Digi was looking to ditch London living to find a future-proof four bedroom home in Hertfordshire with a studio space, granny annex and in a location close to good schools for her daughter Emily. 

But despite an impressive budget of over £1 million, she rejected all three of the properties on the show because she was unwilling to compromise on her lengthy checklist. 

Viewers were stunned she didn’t snap up any of the properties, with one saying: ‘Just highlighting the north/south divide in this country! Southerners being picky with million pound homes that most people can only dream of even setting foot in!’

Location Location Location viewers slammed single mother Digi, from London, with a £1.25 million budget for being too ‘picky’ as she turned down all three properties which viewers said most people could ‘only dream of setting foot in’

The first property she saw was a stunning 16th century home, with large living spaces and two annexes, perfect for Digi to run her business from (pictured, one of the living rooms)

The first property she saw was a stunning 16th century home, with large living spaces and two annexes, perfect for Digi to run her business from (pictured, one of the living rooms) 

Meanwhile the second property Digi visited with Kirstie was a beautiful bungalow near Stevenage - but the single mother said she couldn't compromise on the noise coming from a nearby road

Meanwhile the second property Digi visited with Kirstie was a beautiful bungalow near Stevenage – but the single mother said she couldn’t compromise on the noise coming from a nearby road  

Meanwhile another person wrote: ‘These people are always so picky!’ 

As she began her property search, Digi said she and her daughter lived a ‘very active life’ and were an ‘outdoorsy’ family.

They were leaving their Victorian terrace in Highgate to move closer to nature with Digi’s mother, with Digi explaining: ‘I was bought up in Yorkshire so for 18 years was very familiar with only the countryside.

‘Because of that, there’s a feeling in me that I would like my daughter to experience the same.’ 

The third property the business owner viewed was a gorgeous listed cottage in Lyinghoe Aston and was in great condition - but Digi didn't like that she couldn't add a conservatory to the home

The third property the business owner viewed was a gorgeous listed cottage in Lyinghoe Aston and was in great condition – but Digi didn’t like that she couldn’t add a conservatory to the home 

Meanwhile the single mother also complained about the low ceilings within the gorgeous listed property and said she was unwilling to compromise to buy the home

Meanwhile the single mother also complained about the low ceilings within the gorgeous listed property and said she was unwilling to compromise to buy the home 

But Digi’s list of requirements was lengthy, with a need for four-bedrooms and a large garden. 

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She also wanted to be close to good schools, with a granny annex for her mother and a studio space for her to run her business.

She also wanted to future-proof the home with ease of access, revealing:  ‘In 2018,  I discovered I had a degenerative disc disease called spondylosis and it’s a very painful condition. I have one to two hours of rehab a day and I want to have the space to do it each day.’

After 27 years in Highgate, her online hunt for a four bedroom property was fruitless.

She said: ‘We need Kirstie’s help because so far we have’t managed to find anything appropriate.’ 

The family started their search for their dream property in the village of Smallford, four miles from St Albans, which is a commuter hot spot. 

As Kirstie and Digi walked up to the £1,250,000 property, the presenter explained: ‘It’s one of the most complicated houses I’ve ever seen in my personal or professional life. Hansel and Gretal have nothing on this.’

The 16th century property came with two annexes, as well as four living spaces with stunning period features and four bedrooms.

Kirstie continued: ‘It needs a major refresh, there’s no doubt about that. It’s very quaint. It will require money on top of the asking price.’

The first priority in the main house would be to knock down the wall between the kitchen and conservatory, while the rest of the home also needed a major refresh.  

The family started their search for their dream property in the village of Smallford, four miles from St Albans, which is a commuter hot spot with a stunning £1,250,000 property

The family started their search for their dream property in the village of Smallford, four miles from St Albans, which is a commuter hot spot with a stunning £1,250,000 property

Despite it's charming exterior, the interiors of the home were outdated, dark and dingy (pictured, the master bedroom with an ensuite)

Despite it’s charming exterior, the interiors of the home were outdated, dark and dingy (pictured, the master bedroom with an ensuite) 

Kirstie suggested the single mother undertake major work to renovate the cottage into her dream property, including knocking through a wall to make the kitchen larger

Kirstie suggested the single mother undertake major work to renovate the cottage into her dream property, including knocking through a wall to make the kitchen larger 

But Digi was unimpressed, saying: ‘It’s probably all a bit much. The higgedy-piggedlyness is the charm but I don’t think it will work. There’s lots of little steps and the stairs are already difficult to manipulate.’ 

The second home she went to see was an impressive bungalow in Stevenage, with an internal garage that could be converted into Digi’s new office.

Inside, there were five ample sized bedrooms and a large lounge opening into a spacious dining room. Meanwhile the annex had three bedrooms, one of which was an en-suite.  

Kirsty said the £1,175,000 house was the ‘polar opposite’ of the first property that they had visited, with Digi saying sound from the road and another house overlooking the garden was ‘a bit of an issue.’

The second home she went to see was an impressive bungalow in Stevenage, with an internal garage that could be converted into Digi's new office

The second home she went to see was an impressive bungalow in Stevenage, with an internal garage that could be converted into Digi’s new office

She said the road noise was ‘more than she had in London’, adding that she was unable to compromise on it.

The final property in Ivinghoe Aston, which is also a popular choice for London commuters.

And though Emily’s preferred school is 45 minutes away, Kirstie hoped the charm of the house could tempt Digi into buying.

The delightful 17th century cottage was full of the charm she was after and in great condition with a huge kitchen and master-bedroom with an en-suite. 

Inside, there were five ample sized bedrooms and a large lounge opening into a spacious dining room. Meanwhile the annex had three bedrooms, one of which was an en-suite (pictured, one of the bright living spaces)

Inside, there were five ample sized bedrooms and a large lounge opening into a spacious dining room. Meanwhile the annex had three bedrooms, one of which was an en-suite (pictured, one of the bright living spaces) 

Kirsty said the £1,175,000 house was the 'polar opposite' of the first property that they had visited, with Digi saying sound from the road and another house overlooking the garden was 'a bit of an issue' (pictured, the study)

Kirsty said the £1,175,000 house was the ‘polar opposite’ of the first property that they had visited, with Digi saying sound from the road and another house overlooking the garden was ‘a bit of an issue’ (pictured, the study) 

She was initially impressed by the £1.25 million home, saying: ‘It’s got a great feel.’

It also had a larger barn which would be great for Digi’s studio, while the granny annex could be perfect for Digi’s mother after a bit of an upgrade.

Digi confessed: ‘If it weren’t listed, I think it could be the one. But because it’s listed, we can’t add a conservatory, we can’t expand the ceiling height. There are so many restrictions. It has to stay a small, cute, old cottage.’

Kirstie told her: ‘These were the top three houses that came close to fitting the criteria.’

Meanwhile Digi said the delightful 17th century cottage had a 'great feel' with a huge kitchen and spacious ground floor - but ended up rejecting the home because she couldn't expand the ceiling height

Meanwhile Digi said the delightful 17th century cottage had a ‘great feel’ with a huge kitchen and spacious ground floor – but ended up rejecting the home because she couldn’t expand the ceiling height 

But with such a  specific search, Digi had to go away and consider the options before speaking with Kirstie again.

She found all the houses she had seen had ticked some boxes, but not enough, as she revealed: ‘We haven’t found one. The house we’re looking for is quite special.’  

Five weeks on, the family’s search continued but with expanded horizons into Oxfordshire and Hampshire. 

It also had a larger barn which would be great for Digi's studio, while the granny annex could be perfect for Digi's mother after a bit of an upgrade

It also had a larger barn which would be great for Digi’s studio, while the granny annex could be perfect for Digi’s mother after a bit of an upgrade

There was also a breakthrough of sorts because Digi realised she needed to compromise, revealing: ‘I’d like to thanks Kirstie for all her help and for giving me the confidence to help elsewhere.’  

 However viewers were stunned Digi hadn’t snapped up any of the stunning properties, with one commenting: ‘Even with a £1 million budget, some people can still want the world and a bit more on top.’

Another wrote: ‘Everyone seems so picky but then I guess they couldn’t make a show without that.’ 

Viewers were unimpressed by Digi's efforts to find a property, with some saying she was 'picky' and should have snapped up one of the stunning period properties

Viewers were unimpressed by Digi’s efforts to find a property, with some saying she was ‘picky’ and should have snapped up one of the stunning period properties