Just how does the property guru, who has not only bought, revamped and sold many of her own properties, but also fascinated us all with the transformation of her stately manor, approach the renovation of a wreck?
If you do encounter a major problem, what steps do you naturally take? Who do you call on?
Sarah says: 'If you do find a major problem, the important thing is not to bury your head in the sand and hope it will go away. You need to find the problems and sort them out as quickly as possible. So get a roofer in quickly to fix any roofing problems. If you have damp, don't immediately call on someone until you have looked at it very carefully and tried to work out why it's damp - a wall can't be damp unless the water is coming from somewhere - work out where it's coming from and then how to stop it and you will have fixed the damp problem.'
When, if ever, should you just call it a day and cut your losses?
Sarah says: 'Actually I have been doing a project recently that I would have loved to just go away! Cutting your losses though is a tricky one - once you have started work a building is generally worth less than when you started until you finish it. It's best to complete one job and not start another rather than start lots and finish none.'
When taking on a refurb, which basic elements should you always look at first?
Sarah says: 'Number one is keeping the water out. So, the roof, gutters and windows need to be sound. Next up, it's the plumbing and wiring. Once you've dried the place out, you will be able to see what other problems lie within.'
What are your top tips of things not to ignore?
Sarah says: 'Really you should make sure you don't ignore the warning signs. If you think you see, smell or hear a problem then check it out, before it's too late.'
For anyone brave enough to take on a wreck, what's your advice?
Sarah says: 'Make sure you really look into what is wrong with the property and that you have deep pockets - as a general rule if it's selling cheap, there's a good reason why!'
