Let's Talk Property – Details, episodes & analysis

How well does your home broadband perform?

Guy Cocker, my guest today, reveals the multitude of frustrations caused by unreliable broadband speeds.

Unreliable internet means missing out on gigs and festivals - and with a summer of events and sport ahead of us - we don't want to miss our favourite shows. I can't wait for Wimbledon!

From buffering to lags, a lack of broadband speed causes issues for people on a daily basis. When multiple people are in the home at the same time, unreliable broadband can result in bickering, homework getting delayed, and for those working from home, project deadlines being missed.

EE unveils their most advanced broadband, with new FULL FIBRE 1.Gbps, delivering the fastest speeds and best reliability.

Our personal and professional lives depend on fully operational broadband. Research (RWB) shows that 30% of us have daily issues with speed.

Heat affects internet speed, servers and routers giving yet more misery to users.

If you're finding it difficult to work from home, or impossible to hand in assignments and projects to your school/college/employer, maybe it's time to make the change?

June 2023

The decline of UK hedgerows is contributing to the alarming loss of plant and animal species. A typical hedgerow encompasses over 2000 diverse species of plants and animals.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and ARLA farmers across the country are working together to redress the balance. We can also help at home, and make a difference by encouraging our children to get involved too.

My guests are Oliver Williams, Farmer, and Lizzie McLaughlin, Head of Commercial Content Solutions at Agriconnect, who both promote the idea that we can all get involved, whatever the size of our garden, and become 'Custodians of the Land'.

You don't need to be a farmer to become a landlord to a thriving population of diverse wildlife. You can create wildlife-friendly gardens and green spaces within your own garden, balcony, or local outdoor areas. Some simple ideas include introducing bee hotels, bee boxes, bee bricks and manage outside space to encourage the return of bumblebees, insects and hedgehogs.

How can you help to secure a brighter future for the remarkable wildlife we risk losing?

Simply - join in the conversation.

June 2023

Amanda Prowse, International Bestselling Author, joins me today to chat about the publication on 6 September 2022 of her memoir, 'Women Like Us'. 

Amanda's career has previously focussed on the lives of fictional women in a multitude of novels published around the world. What would Amanda do now, if she were to transpose herself into Vivienne in ‘I won’t be home for Xmas'? (from her ‘No Greater Strength’ series).

In today's podcast, Amanda speaks candidly about her weight, eating disorders and a toxic relationship with food. Telling me ‘Change is needed with a thought, not a fork’, Amanda goes on to say there is ‘no such thing as bad food’.

In this episode of ‘Let’s Talk Property’, Amanda offers a candid insight into how her need for authenticity encouraged her to write her intriguing memoir. 

Heather Hilder-Darling

September 2022

With a career spanning from the 1970s drought to today, my guest Gill Johnson of Sussex-based GKJ Consultants reminisces on her lettings' training start-up to successful business owner. 

Describing lettings as 'opportunities to be sued' Gill gives her recommendations on training the professionals and the need to choose your Lettings Agency carefully. 

As well as fulfilling her own intellectual curiosity in the industry, Gill enjoys seeing her trainees gain confidence in applying their new-found skills in managing Landlords and Legislation.

Together, we affectionately remember the 70s and 80s when technology was in its infancy and before CRM, FB, and What's App etc came into being. 

Heather Hilder-Darling

September 2022  

Did you consider starting a business during lockdown?

In 'Let's Talk Property' today, I chat with Brighton & Hove's Char Eid of CharBox Designs .

Char had the courage to follow his convictions and fulfil his dreams much earlier than anticipated.  Getting to grips with all aspects of running a business, Char shares his experience of working hard, being patient and thriving to be different.

His passion for design, plans for 5 years' time and how you can prepare in adolescence for becoming a business owner are all shared in this episode. 

Heather Hilder-Darling

September 2022 

I'm joined by Heb Bailey, Director at Robert Luff & Co to talk property.  

What do estate agency professionals think about the current sales process, especially in today's market?

Our lively debate of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it...' brings practical recommendations as to how to fix our broken property sales process.  Each year 300,000+ transactions fail, costing thousands of pounds in lost revenue, wasted time, effort and stress.

Listen in, and share your thoughts with us.

Heather Hilder-Darling

September 2022

Today I'm chatting about property perspectives from three different angles.  

My guests are Char Eid of Charbox Designs, Gill Johnson of GKJ Consultants and Heb Bailey of Robert Luff & Co.

Char of Charbox Designs enlightens me on 'working hard, being patient ... and thriving to be different'.  Starting in business in lockdown demands courage and conviction.  Char's tips for becoming a creative designer are clear and concise - and possibly not what you would expect!

Gill Johnson of GKJ Consultants a proponent of 'Learning never exhausts the mind...' spells out her top 3 recommendations for anyone in the Lettings Industry.  With experience since the late 1970s in lettings and industry training, Gill knows exactly what it takes to become proficient in the industry.

My lively debate of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it...' with Heb Bailey, Director at Robert Luff & Co brought practical recommendations as to how to fix our broken property sales process.  Each year 300,000+ transactions fail, costing thousands of pounds in lost revenue, wasted time, effort and stress.

Heather Hilder-Darling

August 2022

On today's show 

'Tiny Batteries, Huge Risks' ...

How many children are treated as an emergency for swallowing batteries each year in our homes?  

2,800 - that's 2,800 too many. And according to GOSH, 2 children die per year across the the country.  This is avoidable.  Today I find out from Emma Hammett (registered nurse, campaigner and Founder of 'First Aid for Life') how Duracell has found a replacement to make children spit them out.

Are you a parent, care-giver, grand-parent in Brighton & Hove?  Then you'll want to know that

• 60% of Brighton & Hove parents say their child has been able to open devices exposing the coin batteries
• 11% of Brighton & Hove parents have no idea if these dangerous types of battery are lying in devices at home (you'll find them in remote controls, watches, calculators, electronic toys, key fobs, LED lights, monitoring devices and digital thermometers

Would you know what to do if your child ingested one of these batteries?  Sadly, the danger is not limited to small children, but affects teenagers too.  Check out Emma's website 'First Aid for Life' to gain the skills and confidence to help in a medical emergency - before it's too late.

'Expose those hidden moving costs'...

Phil Spencer, presenter, author, businessman and property investor, as well as co-presenter of the long-running Channel 4 series Location Location Location offers his tips on how to avoid unexpected or “hidden” moving costs as well as what it is that is still giving so many of us that drive to move, regardless of the current cost of living crisis.  

'Where to start when it comes to Wills & Probate?'...

Whether you're buying or selling, getting your paperwork in order is a great way to reduce the time it generally takes for the conveyancing process.  Selling a property due to the loss of a loved one is made more difficult without a will.  Will Mumford of Healys Solicitors in Brighton explains the complexities in the absence of a will in this scenario. 

Let's Talk Property - Conveyancing - with Jonathan Howgill.  

Jonathan is Director of X-Press Legal Services Sussex.  His business, located in Hove, East Sussex,  provides conveyancers and Solicitors with 56 products, including Property Search Packs.  In turn, the conveyancing process is delivered quicker. He is well aware of the pressures of working in conveyancing, due to managing paperwork and multiple files.

Jonathan took me on an interesting journey from his paper round at the age of 10, where he learnt the importance of cashflow, to his school days  through to Portsmouth University, where he obtained his Degree in Property Surveying.

Find out Jonathan's goals for the growth of his business, partnership with the National Land Information Service (NLIS) and how conveyancing can only get better with full integration of Anti Money Laundering (AML) and additional compliance systems.

10 May 2022

Why is ‘Planning’ so contentious when it comes to housing policy?  

If you've been searching for the answer, Damian Sullivan, Senior Planning Manager at Sigma Homes Group in Horsham, has practical experience and ideas as to how the Planning System could be improved.  

Explaining some of the major changes in Planning that have been introduced in the last 2-5 years, plus the Levelling Up Bill, and policy changes we should expect this Spring/Summer of 2022, Damian gives us an insight into the workings of an industry which is at the heart of brand new homes and strategic land acquisition.  

We also take a detour around Local Council Planning Department resources, Environmental Impact Studies, and Appeals.

Damian is in agreement with me that the property and construction industries make fascinating career choices due to the variety of disciplines within.  We should encourage more graduates and apprentices to explore the opportunities offered in both these industries.  

April 2022