Practical Property Talk

Industry insight!

This week Joe and Taylor jumped on with me to help round out the year and reflect on what’s been a proper journey — 52 podcasts, no shortcuts, no skipped weeks. What started as a challenge turned into something else entirely: real industry insight, real conversations, and real reassurance. The biggest takeaway from 2025? The stronger the group The better the relationships The clearer (and easier) the path becomes Property will throw problems at you. That part is guaranteed. But if you: Structure the process Build the right systems Stay consistent when it’s uncomfortable You’ll get there in the end. A genuine thank you to everyone who’s listened in over the year — it doesn’t go unnoticed. And a massive shout-out to everyone who jumped on, gave their time, and spoke openly and honestly. This series only worked because of you. For now, we pause. The next series will come soon enough. Enjoy the break — but stay focused on your path. Best regards Gav 83 Property Ltd

It’s like being a parent for the first time!

Property is like becoming a parent for the first time. You don’t do it as a hobby And you definitely don’t squeeze it in on the way to work. This week’s podcast was a proper one. A very colourful, very honest conversation with Des Taylor, where we deep-dived into the real world of property — not the Instagram version. What we covered: The legal realities of being a landlord and property professional The Housing Act and the consequences people sleepwalk into How one phone call led to a fine — and ultimately sparked Des into helping others avoid the same mistakes As the conversation unfolded, the same patterns we’ve seen all year showed up again: Systems Structure Due diligence Understanding the business you are actually in Des shared his journey openly: Selling his portfolio in the early 2000s when emotions were high Heading to Florida and flipping / back-to-backing properties Dipping into other professions And, as it so often does in property, one conversation in Ireland with another investor pulling him right back in To finish our 52-week run of conversations, speaking with Des felt like the right full stop. Honest. Experienced. Zero fluff. A fitting way to close out 2025. Huge thanks to Des — and to everyone who jumped on this year and spoke openly and honestly. Until next week. Gav

Two left to go!

After hours of listening to founders, investors, developers, operators and dealmakers on podcasts, a few truths keep smacking us in the face. Not the sexy stuff. The stuff that actually makes money. Key takeaways that repeat every single time: • Consistency beats talent The ones winning aren’t smarter — they just show up longer than everyone else. • Relationships compound faster than deals One good relationship will out-earn ten rushed transactions. • Speed creates trust Call backs, follow-ups, decisions. Momentum is a currency. • Boring systems make exciting money CRMs, checklists, processes. No one brags about them. Everyone who wins uses them. • Brand is doing what you said you’d do Logos don’t build reputations. Behaviour does. • Most people quit just before it gets good The gap between average and exceptional is usually six months of discomfort. Podcasts don’t give shortcuts. They give receipts. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or impatient — good. That usually means you’re right where progress starts. Now crack on. And do the unglamorous work again tomorrow

How will we pivot!

From a young age, property was always an interest — but coming from a family that only ever rented, it felt more like a dream than a destination. That was until tragedy struck. Rochelle suddenly lost her husband, leaving her alone with two young children. In the middle of grief, shock, and trying to rebuild a sense of purpose, a conversation with a friend planted a seed that would change everything. Seeking out property education was the first step — but then another hurdle arrived: Covid. After investing heavily in training, Rochelle reached back into her previous career in marketing and used those skills to build an online presence. She began attracting clients, taking on renovations, and helping others build their portfolios as a way to create income and momentum. But even when the first deal came along — a property she planned to keep in her own portfolio — the challenges kept coming. She was quoted one refurb price, only to find out mid-project it was nowhere near accurate. An extra £10,000 had to be added. It wasn’t just a numbers lesson — it was a real introduction to: how to price jobs, what refurbs really feel like, and how quickly things can go off-plan. It became an education far beyond any training course. Fast forward six years — and more than 50 property transactions later — Rochelle now openly shares how hard property can be and how crucial it is to seek advice from the people around you… not just those in property. Sometimes the right guidance comes from unexpected places. This is one hell of a story — a genuine inspiration. A reminder that even in the toughest moments, good things can happen. And that sometimes it’s the everyday conversations we have that lead us down a path we never imagined. From searching for a distraction during heartbreak to completing over 50 deals — Rochelle is another example of what happens when you put yourself out there, talk to people, and keep moving. Until next week, Best regards

Not even excited!

Being developers ourselves — hunting planning uplift, chasing opportunities, and sitting inside an exclusive developers’ circle — we see firsthand the pain many are going through right now. This week’s guest, Jamie, dives straight into those struggles people rarely talk about publicly. Born into construction, Jamie was almost destined for the trade. He started as a plumber and carpenter before eventually taking over the family business and running it himself. But the real story comes when he opens up about the brutal reality of a two-and-a-half-year development battle. On paper, a mixed-use commercial/residential scheme in Fulham sounds like the dream. In reality? Jamie talks us through the planning headaches, the vendor challenges, the endless back-and-forth, and the harsh truth that after two and a half years with no income and still a long road ahead — it’s hard to get excited about the project at all. That theme — the tiredness, the weight, the uncertainty developers are feeling — is something I’m hearing a lot in today’s market. We also get into how Jamie finds opportunities. Like us, he uses SearchLand, but with a very specific twist: instead of firing letters out at every possible plot, he focuses on lapsed planning, runs a full appraisal before sending a letter, and only approaches sites that actually stack. That way, when the calls come in, the deal already fits the model. Smart, simple, effective. A raw, honest conversation about the true cost of development — the time, the stress, the process, and the grit needed to actually get a scheme across the line. Massive thanks to Jamie, and wishing him the very best with the Fulham project. Until next week,