Snooping around – in pictures

In town: Essex. The third bedroom of this detached house in Colchester has a balcony overlooking a park. The decor could do with freshening and the garden cries out for green fingers, but it’s close to the town centre and comes with rare off-street parking. Cost: £380,000.
Fenn Wright
Photograph: Fenn Wright

In the country: Suffolk. Elegant modern grooming has enhanced the 17th-century origins of this £325,000 house in Wetherden, near Stowmarket. Open studwork separates two study areas; there are vaulted ceilings and large, beamed living areas; and three bedrooms. The latter share an upstairs shower room, but the only bath is downstairs off the kitchen.
Jackson-Stops & Staff
Photograph: Jackson-Stops & Staff

Wreck of the week: Northumberland. This is one of a row of four three-bed cottages, all for sale, in Chatton, near Alnwick. They’re in a hamlet with views over the Cheviot hills and each needs about £40,000 of rejuvenation. It’s four miles to the nearest shop, and farm vehicles use the track in front. Yours for £120,000.
Sale & Partners
Photograph: Sale & Partners

Historic home: Surrey.What’s not to love about this three-bed Victorian cottage in Farnham. OK, the front door leads straight into the living room, but as there is a large porch housing said door, your privacy and the room temperature are protected. The kitchen has been discreetly extended to provide a generous amount of work space, and the sink overlooks the garden, just as it should. There are two bedrooms on the first floor, including a master with en suite bathroom, and a further one on the second, which has an en suite showerroom. The only issue may be the lack of a family bathroom. Cost: £305,000.
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Photograph: Bourne