for sale signs Kirstie allsopp biography

Expert Panel About: Kirstie Allsopp

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Date Published:
27/06/2008
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Kirstie Allsopp's rich background includes a period spent in India teaching English. Upon returning to the UK she worked for Country Living and Food & Homes Magazines, gained a wealth of experience within the interior design field at Hindlip & Prentice Interiors and studied the History of Art at Christie's – all of which have helped give Kirstie an eye for detail when viewing properties.

Kirstie founded Kirmir Property Search, striving to find the perfect property for every client and making it as painless a process as possible. However, once her television career took off she left the company to write books, contribute to countless charities and to become a mum.

Kirstie co-presents Location, Location, Location and Relocation, Relocation for Channel 4 as well as being a regular contributor to magazines, television programmes and she continues to make her views on UK housing policy very very clear!

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  1. kirstie, i have almost given up hope, please help!! we have just bought and oldie worldie black and white cottage by the sea, i think is 1920's ish. we're trying to do up the bathroom keeping the old bathroom suite and keeping costs to a minimum. What i'm aiming to do is use white flat (not bevelled) metro tiles for the walls, finished with a ceramic white dido rail half way up the wall and ideally white or black and white hexagonal tiles on the floor....this is proving an impossible task. The wall tiles are not a great problem, but matching them up with a dido of the same white is-and don't get me started on the hex tiles the only ones i've found are mosaic size and way too small for the floors. just wondering whether you could shed any light on this for me??? big thanks and can't wait for homemade homes to return xx
    Posted by carolyne on 02/10/2009 18:11:22
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  2. kirstie, i have almost given up hope, please help!! we have just bought and oldie worldie black and white cottage by the sea, i think is 1920's ish. we're trying to do up the bathroom keeping the old bathroom suite and keeping costs to a minimum. What i'm aiming to do is use white flat (not bevelled) metro tiles for the walls, finished with a ceramic white dido rail half way up the wall and ideally white or black and white hexagonal tiles on the floor....this is proving an impossible task. The wall tiles are not a great problem, but matching them up with a dido of the same white is-and don't get me started on the hex tiles the only ones i've found are mosaic size and way too small for the floors. just wondering whether you could shed any light on this for me??? big thanks and can't wait for homemade homes to return xx
    Posted by carolyne on 02/10/2009 18:09:51
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  3. We really need some practical advice and guidance on a property we have inherited or should i say partner has inherited. My partner lives in the property dating from the 1800s it is in Stalybridge Cheshire SK15 on the edge of the pennines it stands in half a hectare of land is old dark cold and tired looking it has been rendered to the outside it has a cellar 2 floors and a loft accesable via a staircase and has no modern amenities at all.It has several outbuildings and an extremely overgrown garden As it stands it is valued at 500k the Inheritance Tax has been paid and we have to sit on it for 12months but then we are wondering do we sell part of the land and use the funds to renovate the house only problem with this is there is a tree preservation order on 7 trees within the property and we don't know if there is enough room to build around them also there is a piece of greenbelt at the side of the property which we believe restricts our building. We know it is better to sell the land with planning permission but we have no idea what you do to get that. As for the house itself we have been told it is a lovely property and we should hold onto it but we have no idea what the cost would be to renovate it. My partner has no mortgage but doesn't particularly want one as he is retired from his own buisness and is 56 I have a small semi worth around 230k I am 54 and although still working i don't want to work forever but i would like to hold onto this property for the time being although we have thought do we both live in this and sell the Stalybridge property or do i sell it to my daughter it seems a rather large mountain to climb and we don't know where to start we really need your help and perhaps you could invent a TV programme just to deal with this property Ha Ha it could last for several episodes. Thanks for looking at this look forward to hearing from you if you have more questions to ask please just ask them. Marie Bailey
    Posted by marie bailey on 24/07/2009 10:41:06
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  4. Hi Kirsty, HEEELLLLLPPPPPP. PLEASE. my wife was watcting your homemade house program. in the playroom you have used a nautical themed fabric. i have looked everyehere but can find it. please help. By the way the show is fab.
    Posted by Guy Western on 01/07/2009 14:14:02
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  5. Hi I just bought a lovely property in london and will be putting another window in the side for more light, but coud you give me some advice on what colours create light, mirrors and positions they should be in perhaps?Its my first buy and want it to be just perfect. The floor is light wood, perhaps a colored rug?what colours to use?creams and whites? Thanks Deb
    Posted by Deb on 14/05/2009 17:37:47
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  6. Hello Kirstie, It's good to see some individuality once again, thank you. Could you tell me whether you used the original timber flooring in the Devon house or new. If the latter could you let me know what you used. Thanks Sheila
    Posted by Sheila on 09/05/2009 15:29:30
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  7. Hello Kirsty, I'm really enjoying your new series about renovating a house in Devon using local crafts/tradespeople. I love the curtains in the sitting room. can you let me know what fabric you used? many thanks Gwyneth
    Posted by Gwyneth Radcliffe on 06/05/2009 12:01:44
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  8. Hello, i recently bought a house with a free standing roll top bath. I am having difficulty in finding a show rail that will hang from the ceiling. I have seen an oval one with legs that attach to the ceiling, online but it £170 think this is too much money for a shower rail! have you got any ideas or tips for what could be used many thanks Adele
    Posted by adele on 20/04/2009 16:01:23
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  9. Hi, I have a studio apartment in Primrose Hill London which I am wanting to sell. My idea is to use the profits from the sale and look to buy a house outside of London. I'm looking at renting the house initially on a long term basis but also looking at the long term prospect of having the house as a 'get a way from it all' in the future. I'm thinking perhaps an area that is commutable either by car or train aswell-perhaps a maximum of 2 hours from London and not too far should I have to visit for any reason. Do you have any suggestions of areas that are within my desired distance and that are good ares for renting. I was a first time buyer when I bought in Primrose Hill so it's all a little bewildering to me. My budget is a max of £220k Many thanks Ray
    Posted by Ray on 16/04/2009 08:01:40
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  10. Hi Kirstie, im looking to buy a second home location is unknown as of yet but somewhere like italy france or maybe even spain is an option. i am wheelchair bound but still enjoy keeping fit so somewhere i could enjoy cycling and other sports is a must. i dont know if im e-mailing to the right department but i suppose what i am saying is, i would like to use your expertese to find me a suitable home thank you
    Posted by Luke on 07/04/2009 22:17:27
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  11. Hi Kirstie - can you help us? We are currently in the process of purchasing a property that is in receivership, for use as a holiday home; our mortgage is in place and we expected to sign documents today only to find that the receivers solicitors will not give Full or Limited Title guarantee; they have expressed no title guarantee and require us to take out an indemnity insurance - our solicitors will not allow us to sign, quite rightly, due to the risks - but what are the risks and how would they manifest? Throughout the process the agent has harrassed us mercilessly pushing all the time and threatening that the property could 'still go to auction' if we are not quick enough with the purchase; he also says this is standard practice for a property in receivership - is that the case? We cannot but help feel that someone somewhere has an ulterior motive to drive it to auction - could this be the case? How do we solve this problem? (wish we had done this through your tv prog - i bet it would not have happened!)
    Posted by Sue on 02/04/2009 12:26:50
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  12. I am trying to develop my own HIP, but cannot find how to get forms LLC1 and CON 29 to submit to the local council for the search. The system seems designed to make sure that one cannot save money by preparing this unnessecary document at a minimal cost. Help please. Thanks Wendy
    Posted by Wendy Barker on 25/03/2009 19:11:31
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  13. Hi Kirstie, We have been in our brand new house for 7 years now, and it is starting to look very tired. I have had quotes to have it all painted, and I am currently choosing all the colours. I want different colours in dirrerent rooms, all with a similar tone, but still different colours. My husband totally disagrees and suggests the same colour throughout the house. Please could you advise. Thank you very much.
    Posted by FIONA BOULTON on 01/02/2009 16:39:03
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  14. Hi, we are a family looking to relocate to South of France. I am a farmer looking for work in any area of arable farming or would consider outdoor work etc... We have three children under 6 who will need educating! We are looking for spacious accommodation on a restricted budget, on the outskirts of a village, bicycle ride into the village or to the bus stop for their schools. We are hoping for a complete change from our current lifestyle in Essex. We have no idea on the cost of moving out to France and the legalities of it all but are desparate for some help and guidance. Please help!
    Posted by Richard on 21/01/2009 19:58:03
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  15. Hi, Me and partner have 2 children and really want to move to Australia but havent a clue where to start. Obviously we are going to have a trip out there first to look around and then we would rent first just to be sure but i have been told of certain forms i have to fill in first which can be expensive, are these forms to see if i would be elegible to move over there, any advice would be great on where to start, thanks.
    Posted by Jay on 03/01/2009 16:08:18
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  16. I wonder if you can give us some much needed advice. We took a bit of a lifestyle change a year ago and bought 3 holiday cottages and an owners cottage that we live in on 6 acres of land with fishing rights on the River opposite,just a year ago, moving 60 miles across Wales. The cottages are let to holiday makers all year round. Basically we have decided that we wish to move back home closer to the family and we want to know what is the best way to market our property and with whom. The reason I ask is partly because our property is in West Wales a mile from the new Ffos Las Racecourse due to open next June. We purchased the cottages for a reasonable price and only wish to cover our costs not make a huge profit but is there some way that we could perhaps target Racehorse enthusiasts / punters, or people with horses as we have land, for hopefully a more straight forward sale. Please take a look at our website and also cottages4you/3382 /83/84 for video views of the land . The cottages draw in a good income and we currently have a commercial mortgage.
    Posted by Catherine on 01/12/2008 09:46:42
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  17. Hi Kirstie, I'd really like some advise and am unsure of where to seek it please can you advise me. Back in July 2006 i took advantage of a shared ownership scheme in my home town of Shrewsbury, at the time i thought it was the answer to my prayers but have discovered something disturbing since which has changed my mind. I bought the smallest flat available as i couldn't afford the larger one and have struggled through the first 2 years with not too many cutbacks which is fantastic but i recently discovered that some of the flats are paying far less in rent then i am even though their flats are worth more and are larger which effectively is going to price me right out of the market, who wants to pay more for a smaller flat? The reason for this is that around a year after i bought my flat the government introduced a limit as to how much rent can be charged on the remaining equity held by the housing association consequently all new shared ownership flats are cheaper in rent, some of those flats in my develpment were still owned by the association at the time of the change in law and have since been sold on, as the change only applies to newly selling flats their rent is cheaper. Did the government really mean to not apply this law to existing sharers? did they really mean to price those first time buyers who where quicker on the uptake out of ever being able to move up the ladder? I really need to find out what i can do about this and who i can speak to about it, i can only gain a small amount of information from Marches Housing Association who are the association in my case and all of that information i have just given to you. I know sometimes these things just happen but i just can't accept that I've been totally screwed over by the governments attempts to try and help and would really appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks, By the way love the show, you and Phil are fab to watch together especially with the trying nature of many of those you have to deal with, keep it up, Gwyneth
    Posted by Gwyneth on 21/11/2008 14:17:37
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  18. Hi Kirstie. After publicly annoouncing they'd be no house price crash last year, have you eaten that hat yet as promised ?
    Posted by Will Hicks on 18/11/2008 14:41:05
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  19. I am intrested in more information the goverment 89,000 loan intrest free for 1st time buyers that was talked about on last nights show. where can i find this info and see if this could work for me?
    Posted by ms clarke on 18/11/2008 09:35:25
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  20. We are a family of 4 who have recently moved from SA to the UK. Our teenage children are happily settled at a school in Reading. Where do we begin to look to buy? Our preference is a period home in a rural location which will still allow easy access to Reading and a daily commute to London. Where is the best location given our situation? Thanks!
    Posted by Debbie on 13/11/2008 11:26:18
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  21. Kirstie,what have you done to your hair.I watched Location,Location on 2/10/08(Southampton).You look much prettier without the fringe-its more you.
    Posted by y o'keeffe on 02/11/2008 15:54:54
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  22. Hallo kirstie, We have just managed to sell our house after many months and are moving to ealing area where my husband now works. On the web site about a month ago was a mortgage link abouy mortgages for key workers that dont have to start repayments for 4 years - cant find it now - can you help at all? Thanks Hazel
    Posted by Hazel Wynn on 31/10/2008 17:10:06
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  23. Hi Abigail See the answer I've given to Juliana - same applies. Good luck!
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 08/10/2008 21:14:39
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  24. Hi Jamie Sorry, I don't think there is a simple way to do this. I've had to do this before for insurance purposes and we had to take a rough guestimate of how much each item within our home cost and was worth to get within about £1000 of where what we thought was right.
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 08/10/2008 21:11:45
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  25. Hi Paul Can I suggest you contact our sister site - www.aplaceinthesun.co.uk? Lots more appropriate advice on there.
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 08/10/2008 21:10:00
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  26. Hi Juliana Phil and Kirstie don't tend to advise people where to buy - but what they have said to me before is that you should buy where you'll feel happy, near your friends and within reach of work. I would, in this market, advise you to look for up and coming areas (think regeneration, growth, redevelopment, etc etc) in the hope that this will help you keep the equity you put in...
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 08/10/2008 21:09:03
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  27. Hi Hashmath Have a look at this: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/property-money/house-prices/what-are-house-prices-predicted-to-do-in-2009-08-09-15_p_1.html, then click on the links within that feature to go to other ones. All the experts are agreed that the market will continue to decline for a little while yet. Is it a good time to buy? Depends what, where, how and for how long... and your situation.
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 08/10/2008 21:06:40
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  28. Hi, I would like to findout from your experts if its a good time to buy a home as house prices are falling around in london. thank-you
    Posted by hashmath on 04/10/2008 23:46:45
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  29. Hi Kirsty! We need your advise in where to buy our first home. I am a caretaker in central london and we would like to buy our first home not too far it. At first, we wanted to rent out...is Brighton a good place to buy and easy to rent? Appreciate your help, love your program!
    Posted by juliana deliyannis on 30/09/2008 08:35:01
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  30. Hi Kirstie, Just wondering if ou could give me some advice on the best way/direction to buy properties in Portugal? Information on setting up contracts in regard to buying the property, any development/extension that i might want to do to the property and any legal requirements that you may feel necessary, as this would be our first time developing outside of the North of Ireland. I can becontacted at this email address... Thank you. some info on this......property............. Restoration Project with 10,980 Sq metres of land in idyllic location 10 minutes from Ansiao, Central Portugal. Located just outside the typical Portuguese hamlet there is one main house with annex, and 2 further outhouses. Together these cover a total area of 170 Sq Metres. The main house covers 2 floors, with the ground floor housing the Adega. Stairs lead up to what were the main living area, of one main room and 2 bedrooms. The old kitchen is housed in the attached annex. 10 metres from the main house there is a second 2 storey property with stone stairs leading to the first floor. The 3rd property is next to the old threshing circle. The property is accessed from the road, the land is flat at the bottom and rises steadily up to where the houses lie. This land is of good quality with numerous Olive and fruit trees. Behind the properties the land rises steadily up the hill. This gives the property total privacy, yet without being isolated. Mains water and electric are supplied to the land. The property is approx 1,5 hours from Lisbon and Porto airports and 10 minutes from Ansiao where you have banks, restaurants, medical centre etc. Perfect opportunity to restore to 1 main home, with 2 separate cottages that could be converted into holiday lets
    Posted by paul on 21/09/2008 12:24:07
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  31. Hi Kirstie just wondering if you could give me some advice on how to calculate the value/deprecation of purchased items with in your property. I need to calculate a far figure of all the house content with in our house. i.e if we where to sell all the items with in the house. If you could give me an idea of a simple calculation that would be great. Thanks for your advice.
    Posted by Jamie on 20/09/2008 18:22:58
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  32. Hay kirsty, i was woundering if you could give me advise on how to become a property finder or an estate agent, baring in mind im 18. Ive always had a strong interest in property and i would love to work in the property area, so your advise and experiance would be very helpful. Please get back to me. Thank You
    Posted by Phil on 09/09/2008 20:49:36
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  33. Am a huge fan of Location x3! Myself and my mum are looking to relocate to devon but are not sure which area. We want to be close to the sea, have a large garden, near good schools but are considering an area we would get more for our money. We need a five bedroom. If you could suggest some areas of Devon we could look into would be very grateful. We have a budget £300,00. Many Thanks
    Posted by Abigail Hope on 24/08/2008 23:38:17
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  34. Hi Louise Kirstie's off on maternity leave, so I'll answer this for you if that's okay. The best I can offer you is my own experience - the residents in my road have also been fighting a proposed development in the backlands at the rear of our gardens for nine years. Each year the developer comes back with new (scaled down) plans; each year he gets rejected. How has it worked so far? The whole community is against it and we've used every trick in the book, from complaining about the loss of wildlife, to the trouble we'll all have with parking, to the dangers of builders' lorries going up and down a residential street. Most importantly, we've got the local MP on board - and I think a petition to your with signatures of as many people as possible is the best place to start. Sadly, you have to be enormously proactive and get everyone involved to be successful. But then you probably knew that. Good luck and let us know what works
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 19/08/2008 12:02:33
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  35. We love to watch Location Location, and moved ourselves 8months ago from manchester to shropshire in the hope of a better, safer, healthier life for ourselves and our two children. The village where we live is now facing a terrible fight against a proposed planning application to build an estate of housing association homes in the meadow next to us, the density of which is that of an inner city urban development. Have you any advice or ideas to help us try to preserve the way of life we moved here for?
    Posted by Mrs Louise Haslam on 07/08/2008 15:59:24
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