We are expanding @seed_ball again!!! Just signed on a triple space size factory space - ready for next month! Not gonna lie all this scaling up is nerve wracking but amazing too ✨👍😜
"Just keep swimming" Dori, Finding Nemo
Yay! It's number crunching day! I have what feels like a gazillion properties to run numbers on and follow up on numbers so it's a bit of a rollercoaster day! Fingers crossed some deals work and get accepted 🤞😆
I love property when things are going fast - deals being accepted, refurbs getting over the line, tenants moving in! At the moment things are on the go slow! Two HMOs have been in conveyancing for what seems like an age ... their solicitor is literally communicating by snail mail 🙄and three buy to let refurbs are also going really slowly! One that we'd hoped to be finished by today had a last minute electrical problem and the other one due to be finished today decided to spring a leak in the pipe inside the kitchen wall!! Gah! The third, due to be finished by the 17th looks nowhere near and the project manager 'let go' of the majority of the build team due to them being lazy 😑
It's fair to say this moment in property feels like it's lasting an age! So grateful for Seedballs fast paced progress and excitement at the moment... another reason to have multiple businesses and streams of income 🤑❤️
Soooo proud and slightly obsessed with our new Wildlife lovers seedball match boxes - available on Not On The High Street! I'm so lucky my sister in law is a book designer so she could hand draw the designs and make them just right 😍 ... as a side note - sooooo difficult to get onto Not On The High Street. It's taken a ton of effort to get online with them but 100% worth it!
Lately, it's all been a bit much hasn't it?! It's certainly taking extra will power to keep on pushing toward goals in this current climate. What I have learned about myself is that I'm pretty good at home schooling and small things like candles, music and cups of chai make a massive difference to mood and my ability to keep on keeping on.
You might be thinking that now is the time to quit, you've got far.. not quite your goal but pretty good. Stop! Take a moment... say to yourself ...
"I didn’t come this far to only come this far."
What you have achieved so far has been tremendous! Nothing should stop you! Now is the time to make yourself unstoppable.
But of course, you are human. Be kind to you! Stop, if it's too much. But don't stop because of one moment in a lifetime, making you tired.
Take a break to rest, to recharge, grab a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit - take time to think and plan next steps! And, get back to what you were doing when you are ready to!
Becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.” – Michelle Obama, from Becoming
If you'd told me a year ago that @seed_ball would be squeezed in our new manufacturing and assembly units - I'd have laughed!! Now, we're super focussed on working out how to increase productivity and efficiency in the spaces we have... in a business that has it's own mind and just keeps growing!! Setting up Seedball and my property business at the same time along with a young, young family has been super fricking hard. But, my, oh my! It is so worth it!! Guys YOU NEED multiple streams of income. If it's not on your goals for this year - get on it! your life will change ❤️
A quote to inspire your day 💕
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”– Mark Zuckerberg
"Organise around business functions, not people. Build systems within each business function. Let systems run the business and people run the systems. People come and go but the systems remain constant" (Michael Gerber, E-Myth Revisited). 💡Put it on your to-do list - read the E myth right now! 💡
You want success - without losing your mind? Get systems in place... no matter how small your business is. Systems help reduce errors and brain space needed in general tasks - improving productivity and efficiency. Spend time now carefully planning out your systems - I swear it will pay dividends for years! We need to build checklists and peer review and resilience into how we work. I've done it with property and we've done it with Seedball.
Along with lessons about money, lessons about building systems are missing from our schools. The idea of implementing checklists and processes seems something others do, they’re beneath us. Yet, working on systems can also really help mental health - instead of reacting to an error with horror, having systems means we can respond with, “I can build a better system.” If it what you're doing matters enough that you must do it carefully and properly - then start systemising right now!
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“Little strokes fell great oaks" Benjamin Franklin
This week I was listening to an audiobook by Jeffrey Ries - "Kaizen for Small Business Startup: How to Gain and Maintain a Competitive Edge by Applying the Kaizen Mindset to Your Startup Business and Management" So decided to distil some of the key points for you guys 🤩💁
I LOVE the concept of Kaizen.. it's not too dissimilar from The Slight Edge concept of small steps taking you far... but adds extra methodology in... Each day you just focus on making a small improvement – whatever your objective is –and these small, systematic changes will add up to make a whole heap of difference over time. These small improvements make systems and help you put habits in place that increase your efficiency and effectiveness, health and wellbeing over time. When you improve with purpose a little each day, eventually big things occur. Kaizen is not about fast results, it's more of a tortoise and hare approach. So instead of huge wins this week - why not go for small improvements that effect long term change in your life and business?!
"Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.
Bob Parsons"
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
Literally one of my favourite books every is The Richest Man in Babylon. I love it, not only for its lessons, but because it talks about making Babylon the richest country in the world, by making every citizen rich.
It's an interesting concept and one I think about regularly...
Just because the rich exist, does it mean there must be poor? To be successful myself, I don't have to make anyone else less successful. We can all win! We all have different goals (and if we had the same goals - like buying nature reserves 😆 - couldn't/wouldn't we work together?
If you want to be successful, focus on you and applaud those who are doing well and building their own success. Here are 7 tips to create success in your life now!
1. Take ownership: Stop with the excuses! Own everything – you failed (first attempt in learning) it was your fault, you won – you did that!! It works both ways. The blame game didn’t get anyone anywhere – nor did giving your power to someone else.
2. Add 5 people you admire into your circle: Reach out to successful people, engage with them. Get mentored/coached by them. If you want to get ahead, get around people that have done what you want to do!.
3. Be grateful: Practice gratitude every single day. Look always, every day at what you have and be grateful for that! Focussing on your wants will only serve to make you unhappy.
4. Fight for you: You must fight for what you want – yes it is frightening, it’s often like a rollercoaster. You may feel you are going mad, or broke or drinking too much wine (just me?!) but after taking a sensible look at the risks you must feel the fear and do it anyway. Do whatever it takes to make it happen for you!
5. Get focused: Set goals, set systems for achieving those goals – turn successful behaviours and systems into habitats and execute on them every day. No excuses! You wanted this… go get it!
6. Get disciplined: Choose to do what you have to do, not what you want to do! And, show up every day to do it!
7. BE HAPPY: Become someone who pursues happiness. Design your life, for you. Reward yourself when you make tiny wins.
Have a fab day! See you at the top 👆😆
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“If we define risk as ‘the likelihood of an irreversible negative outcome,’ inaction is the greatest risk of all.” Tim Ferris
I printed a big 1440 on a piece of paper and stuck it onto my vision board. Nothing else. Just “1440” in my favourite Calibri font. Every day we all have 1,440 minutes.
The single most important thing when it comes to productivity mindset. Hence why I started with a quote from the 4 hour work week by Tim Ferris... read it! It's life changing.
People who are successful see time differently. We can lose money, friends, health and they can all return. Time cannot. Time is your single most important asset. How different would life be if we had a clock ticking down the 1,440 minutes in the day? I think we would probably waste time less and move much faster toward making our goals a reality.
Have an amazing day! See you at the top 👆🚀.
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it is built for.” Albert Einstein
I get it! Stepping out of our comfort zones is exactly that - uncomfortable! The great thing is, you can make small steps out of your comfort zone and grow your confidence in risk taking slowly. I remember four years ago my comfort zone stretching challenges were literally to ask someone something in the day (could be the time of day or directions) also to answer my phone even when it's an unknown caller (eek!) and to open a door (ha! Yep... I literally would wait and watch for others to push or pull the door first before I would go through 😂🙈). It's fair to say my comfort zone is waaaaaaay beyond any of the issues I had when I began this daily practice!
Stepping outside of your comfort zone on daily basis can massively change your life and is essential if you want to be a successful entrepreneur. So ask yourself this: "What would my life be like if every day I did something that made me afraid." Now what about trying it? Here's a 7 day challenge for you! Every morning write down a challenge for yourself - nothing too huge, just a tiny risk and go and do that one thing! Here are a few ideas to start with: - Ask a stranger the time of day/directions
- Go somewhere new - Ask for something you probably wont receive - a discount on coffee or a free coffee if you're at Pret
- Let the world know your biggest goals
Then, check in with yourself each day after the challenge and at the end of the 7 days... if you're like me you'll have such an insight into what personal growth can happen via tiny tasks of risk that you'll keep the challenge going for years!
Have a fab day! See you at the top 👆😆
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson
So, choose yourself. Yep - I said it - choose you! 🙋♀️ Your path, your decisions, what you want to do and who you want to be! So often we find ourself living a life that's for other people. It's not selfish to choose you - it's sensible. You can drive yourself bonkers 🤪 trying to work out what decision is right for someone else. So, why not spend some time in 2020 checking in with you. Develop your sense of self knowledge and your intuition.
We work best when we listen to both the mind and the body ❤️ That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach? Butterflies in your chest, Shiver up your spine? It's telling you something 👂. When a decision or situation isn’t right for you, no matter how many times your mind is telling you to go ahead, your body will feel heavy and constricted thinking about it. Conversely even if your mind is full of fear to move forward on a plan you may feel your body bussing with electricity! 🚀
Make it a priority NOW to stop second guessing and living for other peoples wants, and start checking in with what you really want! I generally find that my mind loves to take me on a rollercoaster, but that sinking feeling? That excited feeling ? Well, that stays constant and steady. Choosing to pay attention to that makes you true to you and as far as I've experienced is certainly the happiest path you can take ❤️
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
(Art - Eddie Colla, Feet - mine 😆)
Children are trained to ask for permission to do just about everything. Then there comes the transition to adulthood, without being taught/trained to make our own decisions. The fall out of this lack of transition = a lot of people hanging around and waiting for someone to give them permission to do the big things in life.
Quit your job?
Start investing?
Take that big exiting trip? etc. etc.
The easy decisions are those that society condones - get a job, buy your own home... But what about the path of an entrepreneur? We don't have a set of "pre-permission-ed" decisions we can take. It's our own route the whole way. And that can leave even the most confident amongst us... well.. a little shaky 😜
As I've gone through life, I've worked with Professors, those high up in government, well known investors and business people. All of them at some point have expressed self doubt. What does that teach us? No one really is 100 certain but those that get far act anyway.
So, what do you want in 2020? Go, give yourself permission to act... or if that's a step too far - I definitely give you permission!! ❤️⭐
“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” ―Thomas Jefferson
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“Real estate investing, even on a very small scale, remains a tried and true means of building an individual's cash flow and wealth.” ― Robert Kiyosaki
⭐ For the love of.... ❗
So... you are starting out investing in property or upping your investment game this year? Congrats! Make 2020 the year you go all in!
I'm not going to lie - it's a rollercoaster. Property investment is both exhilarating and frightening and there are quite a few bits of property investment that cannot be controlled, even if we do fantastic due diligence (hello 👋 re-valuation surveyors who value according to their mood, or the time of year, or the weather etc. etc.)...
But, I don't think there is much that can compete with property investment as a strategy for wealth creation. Plus, it's one, when done right, is so so satisfying. There is not much better than providing beautiful homes and knowing you are the best landlord ever! While being able to live the life you dreamed of and knowing you will be able to carry out huge goals (like creating nature reserves 😆❤️🎯).
For the model of investment I use... buy, refurbish, refinance 🔁 you make your money when you buy. I repeat - you make your money when you buy!!
So - view more properties people!! Check out my blog on viewing and match me - go for a viewing every half an hour and stick to a 'viewing day'... at least do this for the first quarter of the year - if it doesn't work for you, bin it, but I'd be shocked! You need to FILL YOUR HOPPER with viewings like the one above! Old tired houses, ones where you can add plenty of value and show the surveyor what a HUGE difference you have made in your before and after pics! This one a) smelt - so no one even wanted to view b) had swirly carpets - ch ching 🤑 c) out of date heating/electrics/kitchen/bathroom, d) wall tiles and ceiling tiles everywhere!
What are your 2020 property goals? Let me know in the comments below!
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” —Pablo Picasso
It's NEW YEARS EVE! Literally one of my most favourite days of the year ⭐⭐ Time to sit down and set your goals and work out a plan!! It's been my tradition for the last 8-9 years that New Years Eve I review the goals set the year ahead and begin goal setting. I say begin, as, I used to set all goals in one night. Now, I've realised its not so realistic for me to do that... So, today I will make a start and the first week of the NEW YEAR I will continue to refine the high level goals I have set.
For me the most effective way to plan my year is to set high level goals first to cover different areas of life - ie. business, health, lifestyle, family. For example, covering how many properties I would like to buy, what profit level I would like to achieve, what friends I would like to visit and parties I would like to throw and when, how many holidays I would like and where, healthy habits I need to include, etc.
I then separate these goals into what needs to be done each quarter. To improve motivation and to give space to add in goals as they come up I front load my year, aiming to achieve most goals before quarter 4. I then laser focus on a quarter at a time... breaking each quarter into 20 day sprints. This gives roughly a 10 day spill over period if things go a little astray. Building flexibility into the model.
I then set a habit of sitting down each Sunday to do a high level plan of the week ahead, looking in depth at what needs to be done in each day. I then plan each day as part of my Miracle Morning routine by splitting the day into 1 hour slots - usually giving 45mins to do a task and 15min break...
So, if you're a bit stuck or overwhelmed in goal setting. Try the above as a method to get you on your way. This approach really helps you react with flexibility as the year goes on while still keeping your high level goals in sight!
I hope you have an amazing day! Do you do have goal setting tips and tricks? I’d love to know! Drop me a comment below…
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” ~Buddha
As an academic (from environmental sciences) affirmations were not such a stretch for me… why? Well, as part of my PhD I studied a bit about what makes people volunteer for conservation and make a HUGE difference to the cause… and later I followed up with research that looked into how impacts could create real world impact. This in turn ended up with me (and my colleague) actually advising universities and governments across the globe on creating impact in a company that has now spun out and is run by Prof. Mark Reed - www.fasttrackimpact.org - check it out for awesomeness 💻🎯📈. The answer resoundingly showed that those that thought they could have a massive impact and do the things they were doing were the ones that actually did have impact. I was convinced - the evidence to me was clear, “whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right”(said by Henry Ford). I mean, that is amazing all you need to do to change your life, or do something amazing is just believe you can! AFFIRMATIONS are the way! Well… for me anyway!! Sceptical? Try it!! What on earth have you to lose? But do try it properly and fully! Give yourself a 30 day challenge - start the day every day from this minute with affirmations - either the video I have included above or your own affirmations (I’ve given my ten below to get you started)…
Above is a video that I played daily when I began my property journey … and sometimes more than daily! So if you’re new to affirmations I suggest starting out with watching/listening to this video or something similar to help train your mind to visualise what you want to achieve.
As you progress you may want to create your own affirmations, to create personal affirmations take the following steps:
Identify your negative self-talk and beliefs.
Create affirmations out of those beliefs.
Begin using the new affirmations.
See the “magic” gradually unfold.
Over the last few months I’ve been on quite an affirmation kick . I’ve truly had so much going on, so needed to depend on the power of a healthy mind now more than ever to stay focused, optimistic, and filled with energy.
Below are the affirmations that I found really work for me! They form part of my miracle morning routine. I find that taking 5-10 mins in the quiet with a cup of coffee (optional coffee) to really feel them makes such a huge difference to the way my day goes! I do hope they have a similar impact for you!
– I am so grateful for this day
– I am so grateful for the family and friends in my life
– I am going to make this day the best day of my life
– I am able to achieve anything I want
- I live to my full potential
- I deserve success because I give so much value to the world
- I think big and dream big without reservation.
- I am making the world a better place by being a positive, powerful influence
- I am grateful for my financial success
- Today I will live this day as if it is my last day on the planet!
I hope you have an amazing day! Do you do affirmations? Are there any affirmations you find particularly powerful? I’d love to know! Drop me a comment below…
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dr.anaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
“Wake up! No one is going to save you. No one is going to take care of your family or your retirement. No one is going to make things work out for you. The only way to do so is to utilize every moment of every day at 10X levels.” Grant Cardone, 10X Rule
If you are serious about property you need to maximise the effort you put in! You can’t just sit around and wait for the right deals to come along, you need to go out there and see as many (of the right kind) of houses as possible! In order to carry out a buy, refurbish and refinance strategy where you can pull out most (if not all!) of your money - there are not a lot of properties like that. And, most likely you are starting from a position where you don’t have a lot of time to do viewings… So, here are some tips to make sure you maximise the potential deals that will come off as a result of your viewing day!
Make sure you view regularly - ideally every week or every other week
Book viewings, if possible during the week. This maximises the chance that the person showing you around actually knows a little about the property and its history
Find the properties you want to view and pre-qualify them! Go through rightmove and look for the grungy properties and see if there are ‘done-up’ properties that have sold on that street or in the nearby area for much more. Set up a spreadsheet and pop in a nominal refurb value i.e. £10k and then look at what properties in this area of a similar type are renting for. Play around with your spreadsheet! Add in a contingency fund to cover unexpected expenses and insurance (I do around 10%) and to cover a letting agents expenses (again about 10%), then see if the property will still cash flow if, for instance mortgage payments go up to 6%. Does this property look like it might work? Great! pop it on your ‘to view list’.
Organise the to view list, by area and by agent. Try to clump viewings by agent and then by area.
Create a viewing time sheet and organise your viewings into one per half hour. This gives you about 15 mins to view and 15 mins to get to the next viewing! Aim to book in viewings from 10:30am until it gets dark (you may be able to book viewings earlier but most agents wont start viewing until 10:30am.
Ring up/email estate agents to book in your viewings at the times requested.
FILL your viewing sheet up! Aim to get viewings into double figures every time you go. If an agent said one of the properties you wanted to view is no longer available go back to point 3 and see if there are any gems you may have missed. Perhaps a little further outside of your area.
Use a viewing checklist on the day and take lots of photos (see my previous blog) and take along some flyers to pop in houses that maybe look run down on the street you’re viewing (i.e. “want to sell your home? Call Ana on ….”)
Spend a little time on the street before each viewing - while you are checking out the roof - if a neighbour is about ask them a bit about the area and anything they know about the property.
I hope those tips were helpful! Do you have any to add to this list? Do you want to get started out with a buy to let portfolio? I’d love to know or help you out! Drop me a comment below…
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dranaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!
Starting out in property can be daunting. So, you’ve taken your time working out what your strategy will be based on your money and time available, you’ve found your initial investment area. Now, for the most important bit - you have to find a power team!
Power teams can make or break a deal. Also, when looking for your power team keep in mind that “if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”!
You need to have a strong team to make this work, for me this consists of:
Accountant
Solicitor
Builder
Surveyor
Insurance broker
Letting Agent
Sourcing Agent
Estate Agent
Coach/Mentor
Accountant
Look for an accountant who understands (and preferably has worked in) property. You perhaps need to speak with a few accountants to find someone who understands your situation and how you want to build your portfolio. I found my accountant through recommendation and instantly knew he was the right person to be working with. Working with my accountant as soon as I had decided to get into property helped me to understand the most tax efficient way to buy property and manage business from the start - it in fact super charged my investment journey! We have a great relationship, which has paid untold dividends in getting deals over the line.
Solicitor
I’ve worked with quite a few solicitors. Always go with recommendations from current clients. You are looking for a solicitor that understands your process and can work fast when the time is needed. Get a good few recommendations and interview a few solicitors - either via email or phone. Find out what their fees are, what mortgage boards they sit on (as there are often only a few lenders I can go to for my deals this is super important), and how fast they are able to complete paperwork in a normal purchase, as well as in case of a corporate sale which often has to be completed very quickly and you can be gazumped throughout the whole process. My solicitor 100% has my back on deals and she is excellent at negotiating with the other side when their requests become unreasonable or when I encounter a problem during the purchase.
Builder
I do LOADS of due diligence on builders (and even then I have still had/have problems)….So, I’ll probably do another blog just on working with builders! To find your builder, get recommendations from local letting agents and landlords, look online at websites that rate builders and google them and their business name to see what comes up in the search results. Then meet a few. Go on viewings with them and get to know them and see how well you may be able to work together. Talk to them about their work process and how they like to get paid. Ask them to put together a quote for the house you have viewed and also go and see at least one of their previous projects. Score builders on a system of how well you get on with them, how highly they are recommended, cost of quote, time to finish builds and the finish of their builds. Take a view - you’re probably not going to find the perfect builder - if you do pass him my number!
Surveyor
Again, I go for recommendations in order to find a surveyor. A good surveyor can save you a lot of money - by acting as a second level of checks on what refurb might be needed, and that you are buying the property at the right cost. A home buyers survey gives you a good idea of what refurb is immediately needed and what may be needed in the future. It gives you the current valuation of the property and the reinstatement cost (needed for insurance purposes). Of course, if you buy with a mortgage they will send their own surveyor, its up to you if you also want an extra survey done.
Insurance Broker
Ask around and see what insurance broker other landlords are using. You can trail a few to see what quotes they get on buildings insurance, how fast they move and how they deal with more complex requests.
Letting Agent
A great letting agent is worth their weight in gold! I look for an agent that can handle pretty much all house issues without contacting me. Remember there are two ‘p’s in property - ‘people’ and ‘problems’ … do not get into property if you expect a fully passive income - there are always problems! So, start with this in mind and get letting agent recommendations, ideally you want them to be ARLA agents. You should ask for copies of their agreements and their ASTs, their process for finding and checking tenants, sign up fees to you, monthly management fees (and whether this is a proportion of rent collected or holds whether rent is collected or not), how they deal with minor issues i.e. deducting this from rent or holding cash on account. Speak with as many agents as possible and see who you click with… also it’s not a good idea to negotiate them down on their management fees (at least until you pass them lots of properties), as you want them to like you and do a good job! If you’re really not sure, trial a few letting agents … one for each new property you bring on board and make a decision after a year (check their procedures for cancelling a contract or how long your contract with them lasts).
Sourcing Agent
If you are cash rich but time poor, a great sourcing agent will get you to financial freedom at high speed! Again, go for recommendation when using a sourcing agent. Meet with your sourcing agent and see how well you click. Check they are compliant and part of an ombudsman redress scheme with liability insurance, ICO registration and HMRC anti money laundering. Remember, you must ALWAYS do your own due diligence on properties sent to you… run the numbers yourself, double check sold and let comparables and speak with letting agents in the area of the property to learn more about the property and the area. Find out how many properties your agent has sourced before, their experience in property and if you are doing a buy, refurbish and re-sell strategies find out about your agents knowledge of that cycle and re-valuation figures. Also, speak with them about whether they can manage the buying process for you, the refurbish/letting process and any extra fees for this.
Estate Agents
If you are hunting for your own deals, make friends with local estate agents. Make an effort to be friendly and get to know them, also aim to be memorable - for the right reasons! I recommend that when you start off in an area to block book viewings with certain estate agents until you get to know them. If you’re in the area pop by with chocolates, go to viewings that don’t necessarily match your strategy (they may just need to get viewing numbers up on a certain property and will appreciate you helping them with this. Be friendly and approachable throughout the buying process and thank them for their help during the process… as a side note I prefer working with estate agents than direct to vendor as they protect me and my time from the often crazy over expectations and paranoia of a vendor! When you’re offering on a property don’t offer too low as to be ridiculous, and always give an explanation for offering low … i.e. needs new boiler/damp etc. Always act in a way that means you are perceived as someone they would like to work with … especially if you are buying a property (so no bad mouthing other investors/agents, don’t gazump other investors - even on repo’s, don’t act heartless by wanting to kick out long term tenants from properties, and don’t randomly start offering lower on a property after your offer is accepted). My hope is that this is naturally you anyway!
Coach/Mentor
I would be literally be no where without having had a coach/mentor. They really help accelerate your journey. If you are looking for a coach/mentor look for recommendations and see who you click with. You MUST MUST do your due diligence! Check out everything you can about the person coaching you to make sure they are what they say they are (especially if they are coaching you on a specific strategy). You must work with them to help set and reach the goals that you want to achieve. Working with a coach, requires you to put in the work. So, if you’ve set goals together it’s up to you to go out and achieve those goals by next time you meet them - ideally exceeding the targets you’ve set yourself each time. Remember, it’s not a silver bullet! You need to put in the hard graft!!
Do you have any other tips to add to finding your power team? Let me know in the comments below!
Ana ♡
Want to connect? Find me on insta @dranaattlee, or why not pop along to a meet up? If you think I can accelerate your journey to your goals get in touch or book a coaching session!