Snooping around: Rural, urban or renovation

Wreck of the week: Trent, near Sherborne, Dorset. This four-bed, 16th-century cottage has bowed floorboards, holey walls and a weary thatch up top. With a bit of restoration you could create yourself a £700,000-plus house with dining room, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, bathroom, workshop, garage, carport and study/games room. Saying that, £700,000-plus country house owners tend to prefer a more secluded setting. Yours for £425,000.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt, 01935 813577 Photograph: Greenslade Taylor Hunt/Greenslade Taylor Hunt

In the country: Great Steeping, Lincolnshire. A farmhouse past survives at this £350,000 detached effort in the form of two acres of lawned garden and paddock and a five-bay cart shed/coach house. Inside are four double-bedrooms, a hugely hospitable entertaining space and views over the Lincolnshire Wolds. It is close to the market town of Spilsby and within easy reach of the coast, but is around one hour from a main road and rail links.
Humberts, 01522 546444 Photograph: Humberts/Humberts

In town: Southwell, Nottinghamshire. The rustic flavour is deceptive – this three-bedder is close to the centre of a market town lauded by John Betjeman for its Georgian splendours. For £325,000 you get new oak floors, a designer kitchen and a landscaped garden with an attractive slated sitting area/sun terrace and further areas of flagstoned patio. One of the bedrooms is small.
Gascoines, 01636 813245 Photograph: Gascoines/Gascoines

Dream home: Worcestershire. The Battle of Evesham was fought in 1265 in the grounds of this manor, and a tower and obelisk were built to commemorate Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, who was killed in the fighting. Today it is a quieter spot presided over by a Gothic manor, now divided into three homes. This enormous portion includes a beamed and vaulted drawing room, an orangery with views to the Cotswolds and Malverns, three bedrooms and a loggia, all set in 30 acres of parkland. Cost: £695,000.
Hayman Joyce, 01386 858510 Photograph: Hayman Joyce/Hayman Joyce