Property guru Sarah Beeny joins us for live webchat on Tuesday 6th July between 1 - 2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that property guru Sarah Beeny is joining us on Tuesday (6th July) between 1 and 2pm for a live webchat. Sarah is launching Cancer Research UK's new 'Charity Begins at Home' campaign, which urges people to delcutter their homes and donate good quality, unwanted items to the charity's shops. With one bag of items being worth as much as £30, the campaign aims to raise significant funds for the charity's life-saving work to beat cancer. The campaign will run throughout July 2010. For more information on Cancer Research UK's shops, including restrictions on what they can accept, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/shopping

Sarah started her career at the age of 24, setting up her own property development company. She then went on to become a household name in programmes such as Property Ladder. After the success of www.mysinglefriend.com, Sarah has just launched a new website, www.tepilo.com, which aims to bring a change to the way we buy, sell and let houses.

So make a date in your diaries to join us next Tuesday at 1pm and if you've got a burning question to ask Sarah but can?t make it at that time, post your advance questions to this thread.

Dear Sarah

If someone were to invest in a buy to let house or flat, what are the best options to go for?

For e.g. would it be better to buy a flat near a motoway network, or a small house 1-2 beds, with a garden?

What would be of most interest to the potential rental market person, and of course what would be the best to invest in for good future income?

Thanks very much indeed. Jane

Saltyseadog, 32 windows?! Our flat has 5 windows. I am imagining you in some kind of mansion now.

Sarah, we tried and failed to sell our Edinburgh flat (Victorian tenement) in mid-2008 just as the credit crunch really bit. We are really cramped now with two small children, but scared to try againas it was so stressful last time. Fortunately not in negative equity though. Have you any tips for the Edinburgh market?

Thanks and I also want to know if you're on MN, and whether you lurk or post.

Hi Sarah

My favourite programme Property Ladder was with the girl from Didsbury who did up her flats with broken glass in the fireplace and that appalling "wet look bubble" lino in the bathroom.

She ignored everything you said - and it looked to me like you couldn't bear each other. Last time I saw her she had a property programme on Channel M and a column in a magazine.

She had a huge portfolio in the end, but it was all buy to let and I can't help wondering if it was all a house of cards!

I would love to know whether you did find her "difficult" or are you still in touch - or indeed with any of them -(I'm thinking of the city banker guy who also ended up with a huge portfolio and a tile shop and then in the follow up programme he was buying a house in a cemetry)?

(Love all your programmes by the way - I have a sad encyclopedic knowledge of them all)

Hi Sarah. Love your show.

We have a 2 bed 30's lower villa (block of 2, whereas most on the street are blocks of 4) in Edinburgh with a largeish garden to front, side and rear. We have had a 2nd child and are really cramped now. We are considering

A)selling and buying something bigger (we bought in 2007, so would prob lose money and can't afford anything more than we pay currently)
B)extend to the side or back (enough room to stick 2 bedrooms on side or back) which would cost approx 40k according to the two quotes we've had
C)rent out current house and rent something bigger until the market improves

What would you do? Thanks in advance...

ps I don't love the house we're in and don't want to live here for the nxt 10 years!

Vuvuzelaplenticlew if it is a mansion it is a very fugly 1950s one (don't worry - tis not a mansion, just a house designed by an architect with a liking for a LOT of windows ).

I am at you living in Edinburgh - I left in 1999 and I still miss it.

I have another question

actually a couple

You've been pregnant a couple of times (I think?) on your various series. What is it like having a such a "public" pregnancy? Did you hate filming and did dealing with the idiots punters drive you to despair more than usual?

Also...

Between you and Kirsty A, I think you've been very high profile female figures in what I suppose is generally thought of as traditionally a 'male' area (construction and property). How do you feel about the idea of being a role model and do you think you've changed the sex balance of the industry or has it always been a 'hidden' female sphere?

Hi Sarah,
What is the best way to add value to my home, it's terraced with no chance of extending and if I were to put a conservatory up I would lose half my garden? Is there anything else I could do that could add value?
Thanks,
Pebble

Property Developer Doldrums

Refurbished a property in 2008, could not sell, decided to rent, they have now trashed it, will try and sell again but have lost ALL my Property Developer confidence - what should I do?

Sarah, in the current climate, do you think that I would get my money back or make a profit if I spent around £30K on a simple but nice loft conversion to turn a three bed house with a four bed house. The house is in London, is a Victorian semi-detached with 45ft garden, currently worth around £430 -£450K (conservative estimate)? Also, is it worth replacing aluminium double glazed windows with new sashes? Maybe just at the front? The current windows have been painted white and look OK.

If not, what would you do increase the value of the house? It has a new kitchen and bathroom and is being redecorated in Farrow & Ball!

Hi Sarah!

We're currently renovating our bathroom and considering making it into a wet room. We'll keep the bath but have a shower in the opposite corner.

Are they easy to do? Is it worth it? Do you have any advice/ideas? Ta!

Hi Sarah

After months of trying to find a new house, we've come to the conclusion that the only way to get somewhere we like in our budget is to build it ourselves.

I wondered what advice you would give to a couple of first time self builders?

Thanks!

Sarah - we want to move to our 'forever' home and sell our current house (first time buyers house, three bed terraced to a four bed detached). Is now a good time to do this - the mortgage advisors seem to think the forever home will hold its value quite well even if market dips - but then they would say that

Also, how do you keep your cool with people and resist the temptation to run around saying nar nar told you so when they don't listen to you and you are proven correct?

LOVE LOVE LOVE THE BEENY!!!!!!!!

Now the gushing is out of the way, can I just say thank you to you Sarah? You kept me sane whilst showering in the back yard under a tarp for 6 months (putting a new bathroom in) and washing up in the bathroom sink for 12 months (putting a new kitchen in, before the bathroom).

WaitingForTheOtherHalfToThinkOfAQuestionAsI'mAcllGirlCrushTiggaxx

Oooooohhh, got one:

You always say buy at the right price is the best way to make money developing - how do you know what the right price is when buying? Is there a rule of thumb guide e.g. ceiling price less x% profit?

Tiny other question - what is the minimum % profit you'd make before embarking on a development.

NotBrilliantQuestionsButI'mAllOfAFlusterTiggaxx

Hi Sarah, 'charity begins at home' sounds like a great scheme but I'm always concerned about taking the 'wrong' stuff into charity shops and them not being able to shift it, what kinds of things would you recommend we give?

Sarah, you are never worried about saying when someone is making a bum decision with their project.

so, be honest, we are knocking down a wall in the house to make a bigger kitchen that we can have a table and eat in the kitchen with patio doors into the garden however this is at the expense of the utility room which we will no longer have. Financially which is more important for property value, a larger living kitchen or a small kitchen but with a separate utility??

I think you're a great presenter and looking forward to your next series.

I'd really like your opinion on the market at thee moment. Do you see potential for a double dip, a plateau, or prices rising slowly again? Or any other combo?

testing

Hi Sarah,

Love all your shows, and have 2 questions.

Do you think that the government's decision to cap housing benefit is going to have a knock-on impact on the buy-to-let housing market, with rents falling, and more landlords forced to sell up if the properties they're renting no longer make such good returns?

Converting a double bedroom-sized coal cellar in central london into a basement room with no windows - only a good idea if you need the room, or would it actually add value to the property?

Thanks!

Another fan of your show here

Property prices in my area don't seem to follow the national trends that are reported. This is a very rural area and I would say that prices have been depressed for some time and have fallen more than predicted nationally. Is it your impression that buyers are preferring properties that are closer to facilities (in towns and cities) and choosing them over rural retreats as commuting costs have risen?

Hi - loving your work! Except could you present from behind objects that obscure most of your body as my dh's lascivous drooling over you drowns out your words sometimes.

As you were. Will pop back if I think of something sensible to say.

saltyseadog - try a company called clemant - great replacements for crital windows - def worth keeping the look

Sarah's about to join us to help us with all our property questions as well as some advice on de-cluttering, so get your black bin bags out ready. Welcome to Mumsnet Sarah...