Let's Talk Property

What are you planning to do with your children during the looming school holidays?

Dr Elizabeth Kilbey, Child Psychologist and Expert on Channel 4's 'The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 year olds', reveals that 90% of parents are not necessarily looking forward to the Easter holidays. 

The cost of living crisis, the expense of keeping a child entertained and reliance on devices including the TV and social media all add to those concerns.

Dr Kilbey urges parents to see the benefits of children playing outside to encourage activity, let off steam and build character.  Activities do not have to be expensive.  

As a child of a different generation, I was always playing outside - no 24 hour TV, no social media, and no regrets!

Research was carried out by Fruit Shoot who have created an activity booklet.  Download the activity pack with ideas for activities that children and adults can do together during the Easter holidays at https://fruitshoot.com/media/1664/280322fruit-shoot-activity-pack.pdf

April 2022

Moving home is in the top 5 of stressful life events.

Imagine the financial and emotional costs of tackling a barn conversion.  Not any old barn conversion, but a Grade II listed barn conversion.

How would you go about tackling such a project?  My guest today, Suzanne Evans, English journalist and politician, talks about the bureaucracy of undertaking such a mammoth task.  

Budgets overrunning, over-extended time-frames, weather delays, waiting for planning decisions - is it all worth it?

Suzanne chats about bats, birds and bureaucracy with property eloquence.  I find out about her CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) charge, pre-development conditions, and the people she really couldn't have done without.

Suzanne's Top 3 Tips for budding barn builders for refurbishing and converting include

1. Don't rush in!

2. Never underestimate the costs of bureaucracy

3. Choose lovely neighbours

I can agree to those.

March 2022

‘The Mortgage Maze’ with Dean Haysom, Mortgage and Protection Specialist, of Compass-Mortgages

In today’s show, navigate with me through the mortgage maze as I put various mortgage questions to Dean:

1. What can you do if you don’t have the cash for a deposit on a property?

2. What are my guest’s TOP 3 RECOMMENDATIONS when you decide to take a leap of faith into home ownership?

3. What is the role of the FCA?

These and many other topics are covered in under 60 minutes.  Dean's original sporting career has clearly fast-tracked him and given him the discipline for a strong work ethic.  No distractions, no diversions.  Join me and my guest Dean Hansom, Mortgage and Protection Specialist as we make our move through the mortgage maze.  Dean and his team are based in Steyning, West Sussex.  

14 March 2022

'Don't play with fire...'

Fire is serious, and deadly.  In the home, candles, unattended cooking, electrical fires and smoking can cause havoc.  The Grenfell Tower disaster has awakened our senses to the devastation caused by fire.

What does a Fire Door Inspector do?  How does the Fire Safety Act impact where responsibility lies?

Stuart Dickson, Director of Dickson Consulting Limited, began his career as a Master Carpenter.  He takes us through a journey covering the Building Safety Bill, Fire Safety Regulations, Fire doors (from FD30 - FD240) in this episode of 'Let's Talk Property'.  

Most shockingly, the statistics that, of buildings hit by fire, 50% do not re-open.  Of course insurance costs are huge.

Importantly, who is defined as the 'responsible' person for complying with the Fire Safety Order?  Today's podcast is a 'must' for Letting Agents, Managing Agents and Landlords.  

Stuart explained, 'When it comes to costs, you have to take a risk based approach'.  I've seen at first hand the 22 checks that Stuart performs on a door to establish its resistance to fire.

Find more information here: Fire Safety in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats and Advice for Housing Landlords.

4 March 2022

'Keep it Quirky' say British Homebuyers

Research commissioned by TalkTalk has found that many people now hanker for non-traditional homes.  Quirkiness is a way to express personal style whilst unusual property is now a top priority.  Needless to say, a fast and reliable broadband connection is essential as households now use multiple devices at the same time, especially as more people crave working from home, or hybrid working.

In today's podcast, Anna Richardson, TalkTalk Total Home WiFi Ambassador and TV Presenter shares her top five tips for living in a quirky home with me.

24 February 2022

January 2022

EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT PROPERTY ON THE PROM!

And who can blame them?  Beach Huts trended earlier this summer all over the UK as visitors and residents scrambled for a beach hut of their own.

Many local Hove residents tried to acquire a 'plot' on the seafront, too, sending sales prices in an upward curve.

Beach huts are very like marmite - you either love, lust after or hate beach huts (unceremoniously described as glorified garden sheds by some).  

My guests today have an overwhelming love of beach huts.  Join me for a relaxed hour chatting about our Hove static icons.

Could you write a poem about beach huts?  My talented guests submit their original poems - and leave me flabbergasted at the talent uncovered.  I also chat to Alan Elsey, a new beach hut owner, who's simply LOVING his property on the prom.

"It's all about beach-huts..."

Heather Hilder-Darling

December 2021

As winter approaches, there's still plenty to do in your garden in preparation for spring time.  

As I chat to Rachel Goozee of Garden & Planting Design I begin to understand her passion for being outdoors, choosing garden and plant designs to intoxicate her clients and her sense of purpose for creating beautiful landscapes.

Rachel's expert advice if you're considering going into garden design is well placed:

1. Do your research on suitable courses 

2. It takes time to become a practising garden designer - be patient

3. The best courses will provide lots of skill sets, to be used in hands-on experience.

Listen to my chat with Rachel as we uncover the health benefits of gardening and planting, planting opportunities, and encouraging wildlife.

Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelgoozeegardendesign or Facebook Rachel Goozee Garden & Planting Design.

November 2021

Have you been scammed by a misleading image of a kitten which you just couldn't resist - only to find it looked drastically different when you collected the wee thing?

Cats Protection warns against buying kittens online through unlicensed or unregistered sellers who are offering them for sale at an age too young to be separated from their mothers.

Action Fraud has also reported a huge spike in instances of cat and kitten fraud.  Data reveals that in the 2020/21 financial year there were over 6 times more reports of fraud than in the previous year (1,146 vs 190).

Cats Protection's tips for purchasing a kitten include:

November 2021

Instagram 'Money Mum' and Fabulous Magazine Columnist Gemma Bird shares how to save some extra cash for Christmas.

Gemma reveals that many of us reach for takeaways for dinner, costing in the region of £100 a week.  Gemma and I agreed that the takeaway habit has grown from being time-poor.  But has this contributed entirely to our loss of appetite for preparing our own food?  Are we nutritionally investing in ourselves?

Join Gemma and I as we uncover research from frozen pizza company Chicago Town.  

Gemma also shares her Top Tips to save cash for Christmas.

November 2021