Your perfect place – at the right price!

NO ONE has exactly the same idea of a dream home – with period, location and space varying according to who is doing the dreaming. Which makes sense, considering the huge variety of housing that we live in. Some might love the community feeling and historic details found in the terraces that so many of us have as our homes or were brought up in. Others might like the quieter life offered by more suburban houses; some might crave the wide- open spaces of the countryside, while others might prefer more modern houses with eco features.

So, here, Life’s property experts have handpicked a selection of five homes from across the country, all on the market, to give a flavour of the range of housing on offer in Britain. And we have let Kirstie Allsopp loose on them to tell us what she really thinks, and where they each have potential. Because, whether dating back to the 1400s or having been built in the past few years – and whether costing less than £400,000 or £ 2 million – they all have room for improvement.

Kirstie says: ‘One of these could be your dream home but, as I always say, only if it’s in the right location. If the area you live is where you feel happy, then almost any property there will be the right one. I think what happens is that, sometimes, we look for a home that we feel projects our aspirations. But really, you should just think, “Where do I want to live?” And then go for it…’