This Week In Property Podcast

In today's show, we sit down with a young man whose family, background, and nurtured thinking have led him on a journey to seek out opportunity everywhere in life.

An entrepreneurial spirit, a drive to solve problems and succeed, and a restless, insatiable appetite to question and test and seek out ways to 'join the dots' in business and in life. Many viewers and listeners will find a kindred spirit in today's guest: Taylor McDonald...

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Taylor speaks of the challenging school life, varied early work life, and the characters who've played special parts in his growth, that have all determined the path that he's tread to date.

He shares the story of the first commercial project that boosted his desire to push on and grow his property business.

Taylor speaks of the business and family dynamics of a father-and-son relationship.

He also speaks of the support and creativity found with a partner who shares the same entrepreneurial drives.

Hear Taylor speak about the various projects in the commercial and residential property worlds, and the profits and returns that he's enjoyed from them.

Listen to him talk of the fascinating and creative opportunities he sees around him, from property, to pet grooming, to abandoned train carriages, to launching a future property staging business.

He's a young man on a mission, and he's just building up steam...

I hate social media. I'm introverted and private. I detest fakeness. I'm too busy with my real business. Common objections and reasons given by most busy professionals and property investors when it comes to even considering jumping into the online world of social media.

And also the exact same initial thoughts of today's guest, Billy Farrell.

But after changing how he viewed the social media world and decided how he would personally approach and use it, he went on to build and establish a powerful networking and marketing tool that he uses to real effect when it comes to business and profits...

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Listen to Billy open up honestly right from the start about the single biggest mistake he ever made when it came to his online presence.

Hear Billy explain how to steer clear of fakeness and B.S. and instead operate with authenticity and transparency.

Listen to Billy talk about the capital and the leverage that these digital tools can bring into your real-world business of contacts, resources, finances, and opportunities.

Billy speaks about the various platforms and tools available, but why it doesn't have to be confusing and paralysing.

Billy talks about content and the ways to make being on social media a very easy and actually a fun thing to do.

Links to the special Social Media Masterclass for Property Investors can be found below...

In today's show, we hear from Lynda Clark, editor of First Time Buyer Magazine...

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Lynda looks back over her fascinating career and all of the twists and turns that have taken her up to and through a long and successful connection with the magazine.

We discuss the crucial key role that first time buyers play in the property market.

Lynda reviews how the market and the first time buyer demographic has been affected through the pandemic.

Hear Lynda speak about the big disadvantage of the pandemic restrictions that actually led to a very surprising advantage.

Lynda covers the various challenges, successes, lending, products, services, and opportunities available to first time buyers, and how they affect the market as a whole.

Lynda lists the key things that all first time buyers should be considering when looking to buy.

And Lynda also covers how developers play their part in serving this crucial part of the marketplace.

In today's show, we sit down with Guy Horne, one of the co-founders of HSPG, the UK's leading social impact real estate investment firm.

You'll hear how along with his long-time friend since school, David Searle, they have managed to unite, build an amazing team, form powerful partnerships, and make a gigantic impact in UK property that is helping so many lives...

Guy reflects back on the very first project that he and David got together on: a low-cost HMO investment project in Manchester. And how a crazy 6 and a half year journey has seen HSPG grow into working with over 30 housing providers, over 60 Local Authority partnerships, over £350m in invested funds, and over 4,000 new bed spaces created.

It's a highly-impressive journey that's been making waves in the affordable and supported housing areas that face up to the gigantic housing and homelessness crises in the UK.

Listen to Guy tell the "William Hill" story and how the changes in Permitted Development and a creative way of achieve affordable housing have brought about unique ways of solving problems.

Guy speaks of the individual human tales he saw around him, which inspired him to find ways to help so many people, and to tie into the public and private partnerships that could bring the expertise and solutions required.

Listen to Guy tell about their "Project 2000" initiative and how they're not just on track to meet it, but to blow it out of the water.

A passionate team, a demand-driven strategy, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an open and vulnerable approach to learning and working with others around them, HSPG is a formidable force that isn't anywhere near stopping in it's vision...

Today's show isn't just one not to miss, but it's one not to miss visually seeing.

That's right, if you start by listening to the show on your podcast player while driving or working around the house, make sure whenever it's safe to do so, that you watch the show back in its video format.

Because for Landlords, Serviced Accommodation Managers, Property Managers, Property Developers, Sourcers, and other property professionals, you'll be able to see a live demonstration of a new software platform that could make your business life a whole lot simpler...

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In true entrepreneurial style, Lisa Best "scratched her own itch" by launching the "Rlet" platform.

All of those noise and pain points that many of us know in the property world - communication, staying in control, running projects, getting information to key people, managing documentation, providing and getting updates, monitoring developments or repairs - all get attended to by Rlet.

Live on the show, Lisa runs us through the platform that can be used on desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile phone.

Having key information to hand, collating and storing all of your related documents under the relevant property, and communicating with tenants, property managers, agents, builders, and staff? Rlet allows you to do it all in one, pleasantly designed interface.

Being able to securely store private property files, or able to easily share more generic documents that will be key to the contacts that you invite and control their access? All in place for you.

An easy-to-navigate timeline of conversations, updates, repair pictures, or development videos? Yes, all that too.

And with a kind offer to give listeners to the podcast a chance to not only enjoy a free trial, but go beyond that with the power to influence and guide future features and upgrades for the app, today's show is really not to be missed...

Some people might think that taking a big chance during the lockdown of a global pandemic would be a scary prospect.

But Simon Cox, Managing Director of the new land agency, Walter Cooper and Co, is someone who has the courage, the mindset, and the optimism to see it as the perfect moment for opportunity and change....

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In today's show, Simon talks about seizing the moment and the gratitude he has to his many clients and friends who have backed and supported his vision.

We discuss the risk:reward ratio of the land and development area inside the world of property.

Simon speaks of the challenges, the risks, the obstacles, and the "planning crisis" that stand in the road of progress.

But he also speaks of the rewards, the satisfaction, and the ability to help community and families grow and prosper from this specialised vehicle in the property world.

Rather than the typical approach of waiting to gather riches and then think about contribution and charity, Simon explains how his team have immediately started to help the community around them from the very start.

Simon also shares the vision of what Walter Cooper aims to achieve and the impressive drive and motivation that he brings to that vision.

His philosophy around what land development can bring to a nation, his mindset around life-long learning, and his views and opinions of all that's good and problematic in where the landscape is right now. Simon doesn't hold back adding value to the conversation...

Take a housing sector concept such as "Shared Ownership" that's been running for several decades, and then add in a young, vibrant and creative Digital Marketing Manager...and you have a powerful combination that's helping many many people to get on the property ladder.

Today's guest in the hot seat, whom has been recently awarded as "Woman of the Year (Leadership)" at the Women in Housing Awards, is Violet Pugh...

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Listen to Violet share her personal career journey that has collected skills and knowledge from customer service, design and creativity, and housing and marketing, that she has skilfully put into action in her role with SO Resi.

SO Resi, as the award-winning Shared Ownership brand of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing - the 5th largest housing association in England - has helped tens of thousands of people to become homeowners.

Violet explains the concept and the products behind Shared Ownership, and how her innovative team constantly strive to design and implement new ways to help their customers.

Hear Violet speak proudly of her team of eight women, and how access to equal opportunities and supporting diversity in the workplace is a passionate area for her on a personal level.

Violet describes the fast moving pace of digital media and marketing, and how cutting-edge platforms are being used by her team to get the message out of how people can be helped.

Listen to Violet reflect on the challenges that her organisation and the sector face, and also the satisfying milestones and fulfilling achievements that she's experienced through her career.

Finally, hear Violet reflect on her own personal journey so far, and the key lessons learned along the way...

Becoming an Accidental Landlord through one of your own homes is a classic story amongst people in the property world.

However, an off-the-cuff car chat that then propels that further into a highly successful family business is a touch different.

And that's just one chapter of the fascinating story kindly shared by today's guest, Andrew Lindsay...

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In today's show, we have a wide-reaching conversation that touches on a host of areas including civil engineering, land development sites, climate change, multi-million-pound calculations, serviced accommodation, buy-to-lets, high-end-finish refurbishments, and end-market focus.

Hear Andrew's interesting life journey through lessons and failures, successes and achievements, and looking back to join the dots.

Andrew shares the moments and encounters that have grown his team and contacts, revealed new areas of the business such as interior design and holiday let management.

Listen to Andrew speak about his engineering focus and how his ability to solve problems has unlocked opportunities, overcome obstacles, and restructured deals with various exit options.

Andrew reveals how the power of networking and collaborating with a like-minded community has propelled his business and opportunities, and how the value he gives and shares with others has led to continued growth and success.

Finally, listen to Andrew ponder his journey to this point and what he feels he's learned about himself along the way...

We sometimes put our heads in the sand with how life works out, convince and justify things to ourselves, or declare that it's just a sacrifice for a greater good like our children.

Today's guest, David Smart, can bravely and honestly attest to that.

But unlike most people, David had the drive, the direction and the determination to change it all...

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David openly shares his own fascinating personal journey from leaving school without direction, earning money through hard work and progress, and then facing a light-bulb moment in life where the birth of a son caused him to re-evaluate who and where he was.

David shares the rollercoaster trip of some challenges but many more successes as he used property as the vehicle to change life for him and his family.

The conversation covers the plans and marketing, networking and contacts, strategies and approaches that David has built through his business.

Listen to David reveal the challenging aspects of protracted sales, deals that have fallen through, and handling puzzles and challenges in business life.

Also listen to David reveal the amazing goals and targets he's reached, the huge profits he's banked, and the numerous people that he's already helped, such as sellers, investors, agents, and partners.

Listen to David explain how he continues to source multiple property deals at the same time, how he rewards investors who have chosen to work with him, and how he runs multiple businesses with his trusted partner.

Hear David speak of the emotions and satisfaction he felt on reaching his ultimate goal of going full-time in property and being able to stay onshore and spend quality time with his young family.

David's story is a remarkable example and inspiration of what's possible for anyone with the same plan and the same determination to follow it through.

Take everything you thought you knew from the old world of property and business, and throw it in the bin...

Middle-aged, buttoned-down, conservative, stuffy, and quite frankly, boring. Into the bin you go.

Usher in some new thoughts and style...

Martial Arts, tattoos, TikTok, online gaming, and some flashy fun toys to enjoy the journey like fast cars and cityscape apartments.

Bye bye, Mr Boring. Hello, young entrepreneur, Richard Dickson...

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At 25-years-old, Richard has already managed to achieve an amazing level of success. And he has no intention of stopping.

Multiple businesses, multiple investment and revenue streams. He has an energy and excitement to conquer more and more landscapes.

Vibrant, edgy, and not afraid to have his real authentic self on display, as he makes his way through the world forging his own path.

From an early exit from school to a trades background. Turning passing interests into crafted obsessions. Finding mentors and tracing the patterns of success. Launching and tweaking business models. It's a constantly moving crafting of business and lifestyle for him.

And carefully layered on top of the fun, the interest, the variety, the tech, and the style, is an undeniable solid focus on service and value.

Hear Richard talk about the amazing returns that his business provides for his investors.

Listen to Richard speak about the short-term Deal Packaging strategies and the longer-term Land Development projects that he focuses on to deliver value to the market, to clients, and the community.

And hear Richard speak about how he's on a mission to share and supply his skills and knowledge onto the wider group of potential young entrepreneurs who are out there ready to forge their own paths if given the right direction and encouragement...