For Property Investors
There are two services I offer to residential landlords and property investors – individual consultancy and bespoke portfolio building.
If you are someone who has been on one of those overly hyped property investment courses run by the latest self-styled "guru" and are going to tell me that "I only buy 20% BMV", then my services are most likely not for you.
I have worked in investment property for a long, long time and have seen these people rise and fall as their schemes unravel and the smoke and mirrors become apparent, and have frequently been involved in trying to pick up the pieces of the costly trail of destruction left in their wake (my last PAYE job - over twenty years ago at the height of the buy-to-let boom - was working for one of these "gurus" and so I have first-hand experience of how they operate).
What I can do for you is guide you to buying the right property, in the right area, at the right price.
I've said for years that property is not a get rich quick scheme – mid to long term it still outperforms pretty much any other asset, and you can minimise your risk by being sensible with what you purchase. The only people I see get their fingers burned are the ones who try and make a killing short-term, or try to run before they can walk and more often than not these are the same people who have been on a weekend training course and read far too many books on the subject by the people who run them.
I have worked with numerous clients for over two decades to help them build property portfolios and have many, many testimonials available from them to evidence that I generally do know what I am talking about.
Property Consultancy
I would take you on in a similar capacity as I would with a coaching client (although I must emphasise that consultancy is very different from coaching) for a minimum of two one-hour sessions conducted by Zoom and would guide you through the pitfalls associated with investment property and advise on how to make a successful purchase.
You can ask me anything and I will do my utmost to assist you in everything from raising finance and choosing a solicitor, to finding a property, holding your hand through the purchase process, advising on refurbishment and then choosing a letting agent – you would have all of my experience accrued over decades in the industry at your disposal.
Portfolio Building
I offer a unique hands-off service that will take you the whole way from not owning a property to having paying tenants living in it. (I say "hands-off", but your involvement can be as much as you wish it to be, although the vast majority of clients tend to leave everything to me.)
As mentioned elsewhere on this site, I own Fielding Properties, an established and successful property management company based in Daventry, Northamptonshire that has been trading for over ten years. Prior to this, I owned another property management company in the area and have lived and worked in the town since 2003 – as a result, I know it like the back of my hand and have forged close relationships with many estate agents, solicitors, mortgage advisors and others in the local industry. All of this means that I am ideally placed to find the right property for you to invest your money in.
Initially, I will spend time with you to ascertain your requirements and assist with arranging finances if necessary.
Then, using my network of contacts, will begin to search for a property that is suitable for you – this may take a couple of days, this may take a few weeks.
We're talking about a solid, reliable property in an area with high tenant demand, decent yields and good capital growth, which should only ever be empty if maintenance is required between tenancies.
It won't be a pretty country cottage or some state-of-the-art newbuild apartment or a student HMO (I actively avoid the latter for numerous reasons) – it will more than likely be an anonymous ex-council house that looks like your typical 1970's box and won't be remotely exciting, BUT it WILL make you money.
Once located, I will negotiate on your behalf to secure it at the best possible purchase price.
I should stress that it's not so much about getting it "below market value", it's more about making sure that it's you who gets to purchase it as it is likely that there will be a fair few people after the same thing – that said, my fee is often covered by saving you what you would likely have paid if you had tried to buy it yourself and occasionally I do come across properties available for much less than they are worth, but these are the exception and not the norm.
When a purchase has been agreed, I will assist you in instructing solicitors and applying for a mortgage if required, then work with you throughout the transaction to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
Upon completion, I will arrange to collect the keys and instruct any necessary refurbishment or remedial works required (from paint and carpets through to new kitchens and bathrooms) and also the various safety checks to get it ready to rent.
When works are complete, your property will be passed over to Fielding Properties to let and manage, although in all likelihood they will have already lined up an employed, fully referenced professional as a tenant prior to the paint being dry, so your void period will be the absolute minimum.
In short, the only requirement of the Client would be to sign the necessary paperwork and pay the contractors for the work done – the majority of my clients do not even view the property prior to purchasing (in any case, given the time pressure of ensuring that you get the property and not somebody else, there generally is not the scope to wait two or three days for you to find time to view and make a decision – I ask that all of my Clients trust me to do this on their behalf, and I have never had a complaint yet).
If you would like to discuss either property consultancy or portfolio building in more detail, then please get in touch today to schedule a call.