Emma and Sean, who spent 20 years in Canada, returned to the UK on the BBC show Escape to the Country. They viewed a £950,000 Georgian property in Powick, Worcestershire, but decided it was too large for their needs.
Return to the UK after 20 years
The couple had sold their family home in Toronto and hoped to find a remote lifestyle in Worcestershire or Warwickshire. Their eldest son stayed in Canada for university, while younger children Brody and Harrison prepared to move with them.
Emma said Worcestershire was chosen for its schools, but admitted: "We know nothing about this part of the UK, so it's all very unfamiliar." With a budget of up to £1 million, they wanted a four-bedroom detached character property with space for Sean to work from home, plus a nearby pub.
The Georgian property in Powick
Presenter Chris Bavin arranged three viewings. The second house, a Georgian property in Powick, was on the market for £950,000 and featured a spacious country kitchen, five double bedrooms, a large study, and a converted coach house.
Despite falling for the character property, Emma and Sean realised it was simply too big for what they actually needed. The size left them questioning whether it was the right fit for their family.
Search continues
Chris's house hunt did not produce the hoped-for happy ending, leaving the couple back at square one. Reflecting on the search, Emma said: "This has been a really great journey. The next part is just going out and really starting to look, knowing now what we really do want. Hopefully, we'll find something in the next few months or so."
Their priorities had shifted: "Before, we were really focusing on a village or town but that's actually changed. We'll now maybe go remote." The couple's search for a UK home continues, now knowing that bigger does not necessarily mean better.
