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.

downbutnotout - thanks!

jonicomelately - totally agree thats why we launched www.tepilo.com so you can sell or let your house free without having to pay an agent - sorry I didn't get to you in time!

I'd like to know, if you were to be asked to give advice to the Government on housing, what would you like them to give serious consideration to?

midnightexpress - its is possible but it will never be certain unless you actually put an application in

Hi Sarah,

Does it annoy you that even though you are an acknowledged expert in your field, people feel the need to comment on the size of your boobs?

Or, do you just accept that people will always make those sorts of comments, and not worry about it?

Thank you! Dh will pass out when he hears that you have "spoken" to me.

Seriously though, my mother's home is a nightmare of clutter, to the extent that we can no longer come and stay at her house because there simply isn't room. How does one persuade (a maybe slightly dysfunctional) someone to knuckle down and get rid of stuff? maybe beyond your remit, but that's my mother all over.

runningwithscissors - I don't think it will have that great an impact in the big scheme of things

can't find the question again now but someone asked about the charity begins at home campaign that www.tepilo.com are doing with cancer research uk - asking what do take in - we are looking for photoframes, art, china, ornaments, antiques, books, cd, dvd - no rubbish please -that needs to go to the dump!

Hi Sarah! Nothing to add, just want say I'm a huge fan, and I hope property ladder is back on soon! It's essential viewing in our home

iliketomoveitmoveit - doesn't really bother me as its their money - would make me very cross if it was mine!

Hi Sarah

This is a personal question so please ignore if inappropriate! Just wondering how many children you have and how old they are? Hard to tell given the time jumps in your programmes following up on people and you are often in varying stages of pregnancy during the course of one show!

A more relevant and less personal question: Does property developing work well as a flexible career that can fit in with spending time with your children?

sorky - i would like to see a reform of the VAT guidelines which is 5% for a new house and 20% for refurbishing an old house meaning that despite the environmental impact buildings are unnecessarily demolished and rebuilt

clarabella - thanks so much - no property ladder coming up but two other series - one next month called 'help my house is falling down' and one in sep/oct called 'beeny's folly' which is my own project

BellevilleRendezvous - 74!! no really I only have 4 boys though it feels like more most of the time! I do think property developing is a flexible career in many ways but its very hard work and quite high risk if you have a small family

"only" 4 boys!! There speaks a successful multi-tasker!

downbutnotout - I think this campaign is perfect for your mother - as if she takes her stuff to a cancer research shop someone is going to be able to enjoy/use it and she will be helping them. Also point out to her that its better she gets rid of it all now whilst she can enjoy going through it rather as a terrible rush when she is trying to sell/move out

Any advice when your neighbour builds the most awful looking extension to the front of the property - we could not objectto the plans on the basis it looks like the worst carbuncle ever. Do you think that 'taste' should be included as a valid reason in planning and that a build should be sympathetic to its location and surounding buildings?

Sarah,

We are hoping to move to our 'forever' house within the next couple of years. There's no desperate urgency, but we'd also be happy to move quickly if the right house came on the market.

In the current climate would you update a dated but large and functional kitchen, or sell it as is, assuming the buyers would want to update the kitchen to their own taste. For reference we would almost certainly be selling this house for less than we paid for it 4 years ago, despite having done lots to it (decor, guttering, flooring, bathrooms, garden). Bought for £325, would expect/hope to sell for £300 (but would be buying a much more £££ property), rural Herts. Does it make sense to spend another £15K+ on the kitchen or are we just throwing more money away? Or is a good kitchen needed to get a quick sale?

Hi Sarah,
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?

saucetastic - i think we hopefully have a bit of stability in the market - I very much doubt we will see a sharp rise but I have a bit of confidence we can maintain our current position especially as the current government seems to understand that we should stop spending more that we have

What's not to LOVE about the Beeny!

Met my DP on MSF

Have always smiled when you've appeared pregnant on tv ...Anyone pregnant in their 30s gives me (and a whole load of other mumsnetters!) hope!

And all boys

Property Ladder was possibly one of the first shout at your tv progs I wouldn't miss - have read all of the books too.

Is it true you're married to your brother's wife's brother (have read a whole load of magazine articles!) - family ties like that fascinate me?!? Must be HUGE crimbo celebrations etc

So much I could ask but am going with your Cancer Research mission - fab thing to get involved with btw - What's the "best" thing you've ever bought from a charity shop (flea market/car boot)?

All the best Ms Beeny! May your career/boys etc continue to be glowing

My Dh would dearly love to know if you've ever been tempted to say to people who are stubbornly refusing to consider that you could be right,

"have you ever seen this show before?"

MrsJohnDeere - you have just the right attitude to see that the more expensive house you are buying is also less money than you once would have had to pay so it is all relative. I don't think I would bother doing the kitchen unless it is unlivable in so that the new owners can do it especially if it is a family home. you will of course have to sell for less money but if you put it onto www.tepilo.com it is free to sell it so that will save you money you can take off your asking price.

Hi, moved into DP's house that was a bachelor pad needing work and have done extensive work; loft conversion, total renovation to downstairs, hand made cabinets/kitchen. But not a great location. Move? We love the house, but not the street.

Thanks for your answer