A Place in the Sun presenter Ben Hillman was left speechless after a couple made an unexpected decision on the hit Channel 4 programme. Nick and Denise, who hail from Brighton and have been together for over three decades, were on the hunt for their dream holiday home in Corfu with Ben's guidance. With three adult children, the pair had a generous budget of £300,000 to find a seaside property boasting at least two bedrooms and an outdoor dining space. Ben remarked on their "huge" budget, but Denise pointed out: "That doesn't get you a lot here.".
The Channel 4 star warned that they might have to make some compromises due to the high costs in the area. The first property, priced under their budget at £280,000, pleasantly surprised them. Nick admitted: "I didn't expect it to be this good so early on." However, despite its potential, Denise had reservations about the "close proximity to each other's outside dining spaces.".
Their opinions diverged when they viewed the second property, which was over their budget at £322,034. Denise, in particular, was not taken by the external staircase required to access the upper level. Trying to lift their spirits, Ben took them to a local beach, only for Denise and Nick to express a preference for another beach they found "calmer" and "prettier" than the one shown by Ben.
Ben was left gobsmacked during the show when he exclaimed, "Stop right there – you're telling me this is rough sea." However, Denise was quick to set him straight, retorting, "It can be actually." Despite the initial hiccup, Ben remained optimistic that the couple would warm up to the area as he showed them a third property, which featured four bedrooms and its own swimming pool. Both Denise and Phil were taken with the house.
Yet, Ben found himself at a loss for words when they revealed they thought the property was "too big" for a holiday home. Fans on social media echoed the sentiment, with one commenting, "They didn't like the property as it was too big. That's a new one.".
Ben bounced back with the final viewing, presenting a property that quickly became a "super strong contender." The couple were enamoured, calling it the "piece de resistance" and were eager to make an offer. But the pair's decision to bid under the asking price because they'd have to "drive to get a coffee in the mornings." This left viewers stunned, with some criticising their rationale for going almost £40,000 below the asking price.
One viewer scoffed, "Cheeky sods. £38k. Ffs because they have to drive for a coffee. Heard it all now." while another questioned, "How is the property owner responsible for 40k of morning coffee runs?". In a twist of fate, Denise and Nick managed to snag their dream home for £322,000.
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