No doubt it has been a tough year for the property market and it looks like the downturn is going to continue for a while yet. But don't despair - there are always ups and downs and according to the Governor of the Bank of England it will improve, albeit next year.
My advice would be to sit back and wait for now and see how things progress in the economy. And in the mean time make improvements to your home, as that is one way you can up the value for when the market is up and running again.
It's been a hectic year for me - I've given birth to my third son and then eight weeks later my appendix burst and I had to go to hospital and have it removed! But I'm back on my feet now and have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline including recording the eighth series of my show Property Ladder, which is still proving so popular with you viewers, even after seven years! In fact, we had the 100th episode in the last series and I'm so pleased it's still going strong - it's all down to the amazing people we get who allow the camera crew to record what can be very stressful decisions about their home.
And for a bit of light relief my dating website, mysinglefriend, is doing spectacularly well - we've had dozens of weddings and a couple of babies too, so it shows that getting your friends to big you up, rather than having to sell yourself, is much the best way to promote yourself if you are looking to find true love!
This magazine is packed full of advice for those of you who are looking to renovate your home, to expand up or down, or to buy and sell, with tips from property experts and featuring case studies of people who have all been there, done that and lived to tell the tale! I hope you enjoy reading it.
Sarah Beeny
SARAH'S TOP 10...
- Modern house or period home?
Both have their place, but I'd have to say period as it's easier to live in chaos, as I do,
in an older property - Move or Improve your home?
Generally I'd say move as it is far less traumatic but in this current climate my advice would be to sit tight for a while and make small improvements instead - Shower or bath?
Definitely bath, I can't imagine who invented showers, they're just cold, horrible things and if I was the Prime Minister I'd make them illegal - Loft or basement?
Loft - the light is so much better than a basement - Wallpaper or paint?
I'd go for wallpaper but it does need to be well hung - Decking or lawn?
Lawn, but that said, there's nothing more depressing than a poorly-maintained lawn. If yours looks like a chicken run, you need decking - Town or country?
Town because you have the benefit of all those amenities close at hand - Central or underfloor heating?
I prefer central heating because with underfloor if anything goes badly wrong, you have to pull up the whole floor - Solar panels or home turbines?
Solar panels are better as they're more energy efficient - Wooden or UPVC windows?
Wooden, apart from anything else they're better for the environment. Well-maintained wooden windows will last forever
Written By Sarah Beeny
Photographs: john carey
First Published in At Home with Sarah Beeny, September 2008
