In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Declan, founder of Vitality Property, who at just 24 years old has gone from plumbing apprentice to running a thriving refurbishment business and completing multiple property deals – including highly profitable assisted sales.

Declan shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16, experimenting with side hustles like Amazon FBA and crypto, to building a trusted refurbishment company that now generates off-market deal flow. From his first buy-to-let and early flips to teaming up with other investors and raising £275K in just two days, this is a masterclass in hustle, networking, and creative property strategies.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

🏗️ From Apprentice to Property Entrepreneur

• Growing up in Croydon before moving to Scotland

• Leaving school at 16 to become a plumbing & heating engineer

• How his trade background became the foundation for his property journey

💡 Early Side Hustles & First Property Steps

• Amazon FBA, crypto, and reselling – lessons learned from failed and modest successes

• Investing in mentorship and paying £6k for property training at age 20

• Buying his first flat, learning about yields, cashflow, and tax pitfalls

🔨 Flips, Refurbs, and Learning the Hard Way

• Turning a heating job lead into a profitable flip in just a few months

• The Paisley project: overspending, travel challenges, and why he’d never do it again

• Building credibility and leads through his refurbishment business

🏠 Mastering the Assisted Sale Strategy

• How assisted sales work and why they benefit sellers and investors

• Legal safeguards: charges on title, option-to-buy clauses, and ensuring all owners agree

• Case studies of successful assisted sales – including inherited properties

🤝 Collaboration & Raising Finance

• Partnering with Kyle White and the Scope Property team to scale projects

• Raising £275K in two days through networking and past clients

• Leveraging other people’s skills and networks for bigger deals

📈 Scaling Up & Diversifying

• Building a pipeline including flips, buy-to-lets, serviced accommodation, and commercial conversions

• Why collaboration beats competition in the Scottish property market

• Using social proof and track record to win trust with sellers and investors

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn trade skills into a property portfolio – or want to understand the assisted sale model from someone doing it right now – this episode is packed with actionable insights.