Over the weekend I had an email from a developer called Martin Swatton. He’s a designer based in Sussex, whose talent lies in turning average properties into awe-inspiring contemporary living spaces. read more

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We’ve teamed up with MyBuilder, with the aim of simplifying the process of finding a reliable, reasonably-priced builder.

Put simply, MyBuilder allows you to post a building job for free on their site. There are over 30,000 registered tradespeople in the MyBuilder community, so you’re likely to get a range of quotes. You can then view feedback from each builder’s real-life clients before choosing which company is right for you.

Of course, the number one bit of advice when looking for a builder is that word of mouth counts for everything. MyBuilder have essentially captured this in a handy online tool.

You can get started finding a builder, plumber, kitchen fitter or any other tradesperson here.

Let us know what you think of the MyBuilder service by leaving your comments below…

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In a somewhat unusual episode of Property Snakes & Ladders, tonight sees Sarah following developers Colin and Jenny as they embark on an epic project to completely renovate and convert a disused, Grade II listed Devon railway station. read more

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Every now and then I hear about a unique property so interesting that my imagination instantly starts running away with me. This disused water tower in Warwickshire is no exception. With a guide price of £25,000 and wonderful views over rolling farmland, if ever a property were ripe for the Grand Designs treatment then this is it. read more

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I thought Property Ladder made for fascinating viewing last night – especially as I bought my house in April 2007 at the height of the market. Luckily for me, unlike last night’s developers, I’m not thinking of selling any time soon, so I could watch the rollercoaster ride they were on with sympathy, but a certain detachment. Can’t wait for the rest of the series now, and I think this series, more than any other, deserves future revisits – in a year or so – to see just how these ambitious, would-be developers managed over time to realise their dreams, if at all.

If you’re looking for clarification of Sarah’s remarks about the housing market, we have our own expert take on the property market. It’s realistic, it’s not all pretty, but it’s by our expert Kate Faulkner, who knows exactly what she’s talking about. Don’t miss it. And let us know what you thought of last night’s show, too.

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After an entertaining and expensive series opener, lots of viewers got in touch via Twitter to tell us what they thought of George’s second coming. Here are some of the responses:

HouseHistorian: ‘Home show was great..I actually live nearby & was shocked the house had got into such a bad state..fab that they kept the fireplace!’

SJSInteriors: ‘Loved it, thought Kirstie would be a heard act to follow, but George did not disapoint. Tough house to make over. Roll on Thursday’

LivingRoomBuzz: ‘Kitchen space was great but a lot of money to spend without adding extra space – did George’s changes add value in current market?’

Home4AllSeasons: ‘I thought that for such a huge budget there would have been more of a change. only because previously great things done on much less’

What did you think of the new series of The Home Show? Leave comments below for the 4Homes team, or contact us on Twitter.

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The dust has barely settled in the 4Homes office after a hectic few weeks of Kirstie’s Homemade Home, but there’s no time for resting on laurels as we gear up for the return of everyone’s favourite architect, George Clarke. A brand new series of The Home Show starts tomorrow (Thursday) at 8pm, so we’re turning our attention from crafts to renovation with a whole host of new DIY and home improvement advice.

As well as the regular episode information, we’ll be going all out to bring you plenty of step-by-step DIY advice from George. He’s also provided us with lots of his top 10 tips for various renovation jobs, all of which can be found on The Home Show’s homepage.

The first programme sees George tackling a troublesome house in swanky Parsons Green, London. Tired, dilapidated, and in some respects downright dangerous, Anthony & Alicia’s family home is in shabby shape. Fortunately this couple have a huge budget to play with, although even this is stretched by some nasty surprises in the roof. Once they hand the cheque over to GC his very capable hands set about working their magic, with wonderful results.

Catch The Home Show on Thursdays at 8pm on Channel 4, or watch any time you like at channel4.com/catchup.

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I spent much of my Sunday this weekend getting to grips with Grand Designs 3D Self Build & Development.

It’s an enormous bit of kit, and is virtually all you’ll need if you’re planning an extension, self build project, or, like me, you still harbour long-failed ambitions of becoming a world-famous architect. read more

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We all got used to seeing inexperienced developers making a killing on Property Ladder, usually due more to the rising market than their own profit-making prowess.

Now, Sarah Beeny is to examine how developers have adapted to a falling market, meeting some of the big winners and losers of the house price slump.

Her new show, Property Snakes And Ladders, forms part of the Channel 4 spring/summer schedule. Expect to see it on your screens in the not-too-distant future.

Are you a property developer? Interested in what Sarah will have to say in her new programme? Leave your comments below…

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