As I’m taking a small break to complete some big projects, I want to give you a selection of past episodes that offer nuggets of knowledge and wisdom on your property journey. I believe we should all look at the experiences that other people have had to give us an insight not just into how wealthy property can make us, but also what will happen if we don't have our businesses correctly set up and if we don’t have a strategy behind it. Because the business part of the property business is the backstage, the unsung hero of it all - it is what makes you or loses you the money. So I know you’ll find these nuggets as invaluable as I do, because they are your shortcuts to success.

Must-Listen Episodes: 

-Ep 136 - Inside the Mind of a Property Developer with John Howard 

-Ep 110 - The Long Game: 40 Years of Property Investing with Halstead Ottley

-Ep 098 - Demystifying Mortgage Lending with Simon Hodgson

-Ep 092 - A Legal Perspective on Property with the Biking Building Barrister Susan Francombe

-Ep 063 - How to Deal with a Diva

-Ep 062 - What is a Snag List, and Why Do I Need One?

-Ep 057 - A Personal View of Property Investing with Suzanne Smith

-Ep 017 - You're Never too Young to Start in Property with Arthur Dallimer

Whatever you do with these episodes, don’t forget to contact me via email, voice note, DM, or book a half hour call with me. Being a solopreneur doesn't mean we have to put up with being small. With modern technology, with VAs,or outsourced consultants, the business can be anything you want it to be. But first of all, your business does need a strategic plan.

Resources:

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Check out my Website

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Welcome to the last episode of this season, before I come back with Season 3 in the autumn. Until then, please revisit the catalogue of 137 episodes I released so far, and enjoy today’s interview with my fabulous guest, Ross McSkimming.  

Ross and Sophie McSkimming live and work in Edinburgh. In the past five years, they have gone full time into property to find financial and time freedom. Their company Nichol Smith Investments sources, develops, flips and holds investment property in Edinburgh. Ross has grown and scaled their business from doing one property at a time to working on several simultaneously and having a pipeline of projects across the HMO, single let and flip business models. The McSkimmings have two young children and two dogs, and are therefore very careful about how they network and use their time.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of being strategic in order to scale up your business, setting long-term goals and adapting to market changes. Ross shares his insights about setting up a pipeline of projects, managing finances, building relationships with high net worth investors, how to maintain work-life balance, the value of mentorship and much more. 

What is Covered: 

-Why strategy is key for success in property investing and development

-How to adapt to market volatility with diversified strategies

-The importance of financial management for scaling up a property business

-How to create enjoyable and mutually beneficial relationships with investors

-What it means to define your avatar and how to find the right investors for your business

-How rapid changes in government legislations can impact your business

-The importance of building a reliable tradesmen team

-How to transition to a hands-off role and focus on high-value tasks for business growth

-Strategic use of social media to build social proof and visibility in the industry

-How to balance work and time off in a family business to maintain a healthy lifestyle

Resources:

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Nichol Smith Investments https://nicholsmithinvestments.com/

-Connect with Ross and Sophie McSkimming on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nicholsmithinvestments/

-Episode 40 Sophie McSkimming - Flipping in Edinburgh https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1cb52e1b-12e8-48f8-b7b9-85d90211624a

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

This week’s guest is well known to many of you because you’ve seen him on Property TV. John Howard is one of the UK’s most experienced property consultants, developers, traders and investors, with over 40 years of experience within the industry. John has bought and sold nearly 4,500 properties in 87 different locations across the UK, from traditional houses to hotels and large scheme developments. One of his more recent projects is the £27 million construction of 150 apartments at Ipswich Waterfront. 

People like John, who’ve built big property businesses, have been through quite a number of boom and busts in the property market. The thing about boom and busts is there are key elements that are the same, and some that are different, but you've got to know what the difference is if you want to survive. That’s why I invited John onto the show to share little nuggets of his expertise that can make all the difference to us. 

What is Covered: 

-The importance of changing your strategy as the market changes

-Why you need to invest in the right team for your business

-What is a developer vs. what is an investor? 

-How a recovery fund supports developers who need some money to finish a project

-How to know what projects to prioritise when market changes

-Who are the people who can read the property market best

-John’s experience with various property TV shows 

-The art of planning and how politics affect it on the national scale

-John’s best deal to date 

-How things have changed in the last 30 years in the property industry 

Resources:

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Connect with John Howard at https://www.johnhowardproperty.com/ 

-Listen to episode 084: Property Renovating and Developing Successfully with Tristan Gordon https://player.captivate.fm/episode/49991bbd-0bfb-42e9-8406-2ad7ffa3209b 

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

This week my guest is Ed Fowkes, whom I first met over 10 years ago when he was the host of the biggest pin meeting in London. He was already a property veteran by then, enthusiastic and truly inspiring. Since then, he's gone on to create multiple businesses, and today he's still working in property, in new areas where he helps other entrepreneurs and property people.

Ed and I discuss the importance of treating property as a business, of looking after your finances, and the difference between being a business owner and an entrepreneur. We talk about the benefits of networking in the property world, the impact of interest rates and taxes on property investments, as well as why we all need time to step back and reflect on our business and life.

What is Covered: 

-Why networking with a giving mindset is crucial for business success

-How to treat property as a business and treat tenants as your best customers

-How to deal with fluctuating interest rates when making investment decisions

-Why understanding financial matrices is crucial for success in property investing

-The risk of relying solely on rent income to become a property millionaire

-Why tax is such an important consideration in property investing 

-The ABCD framework - Achievement, Benefit, Concerns, Discuss

-Why it’s crucial to take time to think and reflect for business success 

-How to measure your success beyond financial achievements

-What TableNetwork is and how it helps entrepreneurs and business owners

Resources:

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Connect with Ed Fowkes https://www.linkedin.com/in/edfowkes/ 

-TableNetwork https://www.tablenetwork.co.uk/ 

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

The buzz that goes around property sourcing is that it’s a fun and quick way into making big money; a way of property shopping when you're not actually paying the bills. 

But, there's always a ‘but’. In this case it’s that there are a lot of rules and regulations about it. That’s why I invited Tina Walsh, known as the Queen of Compliance, onto the show. Tina has been operating in the property investment sector since 2006, and since 2012, she operates a part-time sourcing business. She also has a training company and has set up the National Association for Professional Sourcing Agents. 

As someone who has a finger on the pulse of all things legal when it comes to property sourcing, what Tina talks about is probably going to horrify some listeners. Others will just see it as an easy system of rules and regs within which they can work. Either way, you’re going to learn a lot in this conversation!

What is Covered: 

-Common misconceptions about property sourcing

-The definition of a professional property sourcer

-The importance of compliance and the consequences of non-compliance

-What you need to know to be a professional property sourcer

-Why you need to educate investors on legal requirements of sourcing

-Understanding buyer due diligence

-How to avoid the risks of money laundering in property

-Available complaints procedures and redress schemes in property

-Upfront and refundable property sourcing fees 

-How to get insurance as a property sourcer

-Compliance renewal in property sourcing 

Resources:

-Connect with Tina Walsh at https://napsa.org.uk/ 

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

-The Property Ombudsman https://www.tpos.co.uk/ 

-Property Redress Scheme https://www.theprs.co.uk/ 

-Insurance-Desk Services https://www.insurance-desk.com/ 

-Blue Bricks Magazine https://bluebricksmagazine.com/ 

-Young Professionals Network https://ypn.realtor/ 

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

When you’re a property investor, one of the most important things is to have your portfolio diversified, consisting of multiple different tenant and housing types. However, social housing is something I don't know much about, so I invited the best person onto the show to talk about it. 

Sue Sims has been in property for more than 30 years. She’s got a varied portfolio of properties with buy-to-lets, HMOs, social housing and SA apartments. She is a Director at the property management company Genie Homes, and the co-founder of Partners in Property network meetings. As a fan of social housing done the right way, in this episode Sue talks about the difference between social housing and other housing types. We discuss the importance of doing due diligence before going into this property niche, the benefits and risks of investing in social housing, as well as the correct mindset for doing it successfully and ethically. 

What is Covered: 

-The difference between social housing and LHA tenants

-Different types of social housing providers

-Misinformation and risks in social housing investment

-The importance of due diligence before investing in social housing

-Mortgages and insurance for this type of properties

-The challenges of rent-to-rent strategy for new landlords

-How to find the right letting agent for social housing

-Long-term considerations for social housing investment

-The importance of networking and knowing your business partners very well

Resources: 

-If you’d like to suggest a guest on the Property Solopreneur Podcast, send me a VoiceMail

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-The Big Social Housing Debate Online Event, April 15th (FREE) https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-debate-sue-sims-sarah-walker-lisa-brown-toby-wilde-simon-kerr-tickets-848444238557?keep_tld=1 

-The list of ongoing Partners in Property Events https://partners-property.com/event/social-housing-seminars-2024/ 

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Check out my Website

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

Marketing is something we've all got to do. Although it sounds like a big commercial word, basically, marketing is just letting other people know who you are and what you do. 

As simple as it seems, it can cause some people to hit the wall and feel stuck, because to market themselves, they've got to feel happy with their identity. The identity they feel in property may not be congruent with what they feel they want the world to see. Is that you?

In this quick episode, I’m sharing my take on the challenges on marketing as a property solopreneur, how to overcome insecurity, be authentic on social media, and step into the shoes you’re comfortable in.

What Is Covered: 

-Why insecurity in one’s property identity is much more common than you think

-Two camps of property investors

-How to be authentic and recognizable on social media

-How to remain professional without fitting into categories or being pushed into a label

-How you can embrace multiple property roles

So don't let the small stuff stop you from doing the big stuff. Step into the property shoes that you're going to feel comfortable in. Trust me, it’s all just a mindset shift.

Resources:

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

Business has changed dramatically in the last 30 years since I started in it. I’ve become a great fan of lifelong learning, because I know that if I don’t upgrade my skills or widen my knowledge base, I’ll get stale and perhaps miss clear market indicators. 

In this episode, I offer my perspective on different learning formats and how to keep your knowledge and skills updated in the ever-changing world of property business. I discuss online courses, mastermind groups, workshops, day events and other learning methods to help you find the right fit for your learning needs. 

What is Covered: 

-Why continuous learning is crucial in the fast-paced world of business

-The value of working with a mentor and mastermind groups

-How technology and learning formats have evolved

-How to choose the right course and instructor

-How you can benefit from different learning methods such as one-on-one, group programmes or workshops  

-The importance of due diligence and research before you invest into a learning opportunity

-What you can take away from day events and hybrid learning

-What is the purpose of discovery calls?

So do I think courses are necessary? Oh yes, I do. I know I could not have done nearly as much as I have without turning up and committing to courses and one-to-one work. So start stalking online, find some networking groups, get on mailing lists and see what comes up. And don’t be afraid of discovery calls; in fact, you can try hopping on a call with me this week! 

Resources:

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

If you listen to the most successful podcasts or read articles on property investing, you may get the feeling that the expectation is that if you do property, everything you touch will turn to gold. This often from people who've only ever worked in the property world for a couple of years. They have never gone through a property cycle, which is when you find out that everything you thought you knew can be turned on its head.

Success is what we all want. However, it really is possible to be very successful in property in the short term, and then to lose everything in the long term. In this episode, I will talk about how to prevent that from happening and how to create a business that can ride all those waves of change. 

What We Cover: 

-How to measure success in property investing

-The most common mindset obstacles to taking actions in property

-Why success and achieving are not the same thing

-Why action is not the same as being busy

-How much time and effort it actually takes to find success in property

-Should you give up your day job? 

-The place of strategy on your journey to property success

-Planning and delivery - two little words that make all the difference

So don't be a busy barrel in your property business. Be an organised olive, an active Alice, all on the road to being a very successful Sydney. And if you feel like you need support, book a call with me and let that be the first step on your journey to success in property investing.

Resources:

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me

Before becoming a property solopreneur, Flora Russo worked in IT sales and was thinking of starting a wine-related business. After a trip to Australia, she became intrigued by the opportunities in property. She got into proper training first, figured out a business plan and started investing in the North East of the UK. Soon she got swamped with more offers than she could buy, so she started sourcing for other investors, alongside building her own portfolio. 

In this episode, we talk about the art of property sourcing, the advantages and challenges of investing away from home, the importance of high-quality training, networking and planning, and much more.  

What We Cover: 

-How passive property investing can really be? 

-What Flora’s typical deals are like

-How to manage client expectations as a property sourcer

-Pros and cons of investing in low value areas

-How to find the right sourcer as an investor, or the right client as a sourcer

-The value of learning through shadowing other investors

-How to keep yourself accountable as a solopreneur

Since she became a mother, Flora has had to become razor clear on what she does, what services she provides for clients, and what she has to outsource to others. With the right strategy in place to build wealth through sourcing and make business as passive as possible, one day soon there may even be space for the wine business!      

Resources:

-Connect with Flora Russo on Instagram

-Download my Property Business Checklist - The key building blocks for a sound and successful business

-Book a 30-minute discovery call with me - the first step to finding the right way to help you succeed in property

-Check out my Website

-Let's connect! Send me a VoiceMail

-Connect with me on LinkedIn

-Find me on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Book a Discovery Call with me