Property Solopreneur with Rachael Troughton Rachael Troughton

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

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

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/ 

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

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

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