Why your Business Needs a VA Right Now| Imogen Cook | PCN Pod #31

Why your Business Needs a VA Right Now| Imogen Cook | PCN Pod #31

Virtual assistants for property investors, building a VA business by accident, and why 100,000 applications a month still only produces a handful worth hiring: Imogen Cook of The Freedom Geek breaks down how she went from corporate London to HMOs in Birmingham to running a global VA agency that's placed thousands of Filipino virtual assistants into UK property and business owner teams since 2017. If you're a property investor drowning in admin, a business owner who keeps saying you'll hire someone when you're ready, or just curious how a rigorous recruitment process filters 100,000 applicants down to 100 worth meeting, this episode is the one. We go through Imogen's accidental start after posting a £3 an hour advert and getting hundreds of applications overnight, how she modelled her screening process on investment bank graduate recruitment, why Filipino VAs consistently outperform every other region she's tested, and the moment she realised she was building a business nobody had asked her to start. You'll also learn why Upwork and Fiverr aren't the same thing as a proper VA relationship, how to train a VA when you're too busy and too chaotic to even prepare, why you should never delegate something you don't understand yourself, and why one of her best ever sales VAs is now an actress on Philippine television. In this episode you'll learn: Why 100,000 applications a month still only produces around 100 candidates worth presenting to clients How Imogen built her screening process using investment bank logic and aptitude tests The real cost comparison between a Filipino VA and a UK hire — and why it's not even close Why Upwork and Fiverr serve a different purpose and aren't built for long-term business support The biggest mistake new VA hirers make and why it takes most people a year to fix it How to delegate tasks when you're too overloaded to prepare anything properly Why you should never hand a specialist task to a VA if you can't test the output yourself The time tracker, traffic light system and KPI model that lets Imogen manage 15 VAs without micromanaging Subscribe for weekly conversations on UK property, business operations, team building and the tools that actually give you your time back. Would you hire a VA or do you still think you can do it all yourself? Drop it in the comments. 🌐 Join Property Coaching Network: https://propertycoachingnetwork.com 📚 Property Coaching Intensive (PCI): https://propertycoaching.com/ 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_smart_property/ 📲 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@davidsmartproperty 📲 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-smart- 📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.smart.7393/ 📩 Business: team@propertycoachingnetwork.com 💻 Imogen Cook / The Freedom Geek: https://thefreedomgeek.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction — Imogen Cook and The Freedom Geek 01:22 How The Freedom Geek Started by Accident 03:00 From Corporate London to HMOs in Birmingham 07:00 Why Upwork and Fiverr Are a Different Proposition 09:30 The Screening Process — 100,000 Applications Down to 100 13:00 Aptitude Tests, References, Video Checks and Police Checks 16:30 The Blitz Group Interview That Filters 70% in 90 Minutes 19:00 Who VAs Are For and Who They Are Not For 22:00 Why You Must Train Your VA Before You Can Delegate 25:00 Loom, Scribe and Tango — The Best Tools for Handing Off Tasks 27:00 How to Spot a Bad VA Within the First Week 30:00 Filipino VAs vs UK Hires — The Real Comparison 35:00 What You Should Never Delegate to a VA 40:00 How Imogen Manages 15 VAs Without Micromanaging 45:00 Time Trackers, Traffic Lights and KPIs 50:00 The Specialist VA Problem and Why the Model Is Changing 55:00 Final Tips for Anyone About to Hire Their First VA 01:02:00 Where to Find Imogen and The Freedom Geek #VirtualAssistant #PropertyInvesting #UKProperty #PropertyPodcast #PropertyCoachingNetwork #FreedomGeek #VAForBusiness #Phili

From Engineer to Hotel Empire | David Liddell | PCN Pod #30

From hydraulic engineer to hotel empire builder, and the moment he nearly quit it all over a coffee in Partick: David Liddell of Bide Hotels breaks down how he went from sourcing deals he hated, making himself homeless twice, and nearly chucking property in 2023 — to securing three boutique hotels across Scotland with a target of 200 rooms by 2030. If you're early in your property journey, trying to find your lane, or curious how someone raises £1.5 million in investment for Scottish boutique hotels with no track record and no money to start, this episode is the one. We go through David's path from designing hydraulic systems for offshore pipeline vessels in Aberdeen, to a first flip in Coatbridge that took 20 months to pay out, to moving into his own hotel on Boxing Day with a two-month-old baby, and eventually running three boutique hotels remotely from a laptop in Marbella. You'll also learn how David spent £10k on a brand name and logo and why he'd do it again, why a 50-page deal pack landed investors that ads never could, how commercial hotel valuations actually work, and why doing ten things you hate is sometimes the only way to find the one thing you love. In this episode you'll learn: Why David nearly quit property in 2023 and what changed in the first week of 2024 How commercial hotel valuations work and why bricks and mortar pricing is irrelevant The £385k purchase in Thurso that ended up £100k short on lending at the 11th hour Why a 50-page investor deal pack closed deals that ads and fancy pitches never could How David raised £1.5 million across three hotels using shareholders instead of fixed returns The real numbers — purchase prices, build costs, end values and net profit targets across all three hotels Why making yourself homeless twice was the move that kept the business alive How sourcing, assisted sales and SA management led him to boutique hotels without ever planning it Subscribe for weekly conversations on Scottish property, hotel investing, deal structuring and the journeys that don't go in a straight line. What would you do — build a portfolio or go all in on one thing? Drop it in the comments. 🌐 Join Property Coaching Network: https://propertycoachingnetwork.com 📚 Property Coaching Intensive (PCI): https://propertycoaching.com/ 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_smart_property/ 📲 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@davidsmartproperty 📲 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-smart- 📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.smart.7393/ 📩 Business: team@propertycoachingnetwork.com 🏨 David Liddell / Bide Hotels: https://www.instagram.com/bidehotels/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction — David Liddell and Bide Hotels 01:37 Where the Name Bide Came From and the £10k Brand 03:24 From Hydraulic Engineer to Property Investor 05:26 The First Deal — A Coatbridge Flip That Took 20 Months 10:25 Making Themselves Homeless to Fund SA Cashflow 13:17 Nearly Quitting in 2023 and the Coffee in Partick 15:13 Going All In on Hotels — January 2024 19:30 How Commercial Hotel Valuations Actually Work 22:00 The Thurso Deal — £385k Purchase, £100k Lending Shortfall 29:00 Running the Hotels Temporarily Before Refurb 31:00 How David Raised £1.5 Million From Investors 38:00 The Three Hotels — Numbers, Locations and End Values 45:00 Living in the Hotel With a Newborn and Working From Marbella 50:00 The 200 Rooms by 2030 Goal 55:00 Advice for Anyone Starting Out in Property 01:02:00 Final Thoughts and Where to Find David #ScottishProperty #HotelInvesting #PropertyPodcast #PropertyInvestingUK #BoutiqueHotel #PropertyCoachingNetwork #BideHotels #UKProperty #SAProperty #ServicedAccommodation #PropertyJourney #InvestorMindset #CommercialProperty #NC500Scotland #ScotlandHotels #PropertyInvestor #RealEstateScotland #PropertyStrategy #200Rooms2030 #PropertyNetworking

Kitchen Wrapping, TikTok Leads & Trade Business Scaling | Alex the Kitchen Wrapper| PCN Pod #29

Kitchen wrapping for landlords, building a trades business off TikTok, and the viral characters that turned a kitchen company into a household name in Scotland: Alex from Kitchen Wrapper breaks down how playing The 40-Year-Old Labourer and The Man-Child flooded his diary, doubled his showroom traffic, and built a brand that property investors actively seek out. If you're a landlord trying to cut refurb costs, a trade business owner looking at social media to drive leads, or just curious how an absurd TikTok character turns into hundreds of thousands of pounds of real work, this episode is the playbook. We go through Alex's move from sign fitter to running a CNC machine, wrap room and showroom, the early Facebook leads that paid for the kit, the COVID pivot that nearly ended the business, and the night he watched a guy in a forest with a baldy head and decided to point a camera at himself. You'll also learn how kitchen wrapping really compares to a full refit on cost (the truth behind the "save 80%" claim), why Alex automated 13,000 inquiries instead of hiring more admin, how the labourer accidentally became the best lead funnel he's ever built, and why a small, relevant audience beats a million-follower brain-rot account every time. ⸻ In this episode you'll learn: Why kitchen wrapping cuts refurb costs by 50%, not the 80% the industry claims How a viral TikTok character turned into walk-in showroom traffic and serious landlord clients The automation funnel handling 13,000+ inquiries with one admin person and a spreadsheet Why authenticity outperforms polished content for real business conversion How to know when your audience is the right audience (and when it's just views) The standards problem in a trade with no formal training, and how to scale anyway Why splitting the funny account from the business account saved the brand How posting your real personality builds enough trust that clients pay you to fix mistakes instead of attacking you for them ⸻ Subscribe for weekly conversations on UK property, refurb strategy, trade businesses and the social media that actually generates revenue. What would you do, run the funny account, the business account, or both? 🌐 Join Property Coaching Network: https://propertycoachingnetwork.com 📚 Property Coaching Intensive (PCI): https://propertycoaching.com/ 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_smart_property/ 📲 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@davidsmartproperty 📲 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-smart- 📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.smart.7393/ 🔧 Alex / Kitchen Wrapper: https://kitchenwrapper.com 📩 Business: team@propertycoachingnetwork.com

Building an 8 Figure Portfolio Using Investor Finance | Barry John Corr PCN Podcast Ep #28

Property investing UK, deal sourcing, investor finance and cash flow: Barry John Corr breaks down how he built a portfolio that actually performs, not just looks good on paper. If you’re trying to grow a property portfolio, attract investor finance, or understand how deals really come together in the UK market, this episode gives a clear and practical look at what actually works and what doesn’t. We go through Barry’s move from football into property, the early pressure to replace his income, and why focusing on cash flow and portfolio quality matters far more than simply owning more properties. He explains how deals start to come to you once you’re known as a serious buyer, and why relationships with agents, landlords and investors are key to long-term growth. You’ll also learn how to build credibility, raise investor confidence, reduce risk through better deals, and structure a property business that can scale over time. ⸻ In this episode you’ll learn: •⁠ ⁠Why cash flow and portfolio value matter more than property count •⁠ ⁠How to get started in property without overcomplicating it •⁠ ⁠The mindset shift needed to handle risk and criticism •⁠ ⁠How to become known as a serious buyer and attract deals •⁠ ⁠Why networking drives deal sourcing and opportunities •⁠ ⁠How to build investor trust and raise private finance •⁠ ⁠The role of refinancing when scaling a portfolio •⁠ ⁠How to structure deals for long-term growth ⸻ Subscribe for weekly videos on UK property investing, deal sourcing, investor finance and building cash flow businesses What matters more to you right now, cash flow or portfolio size? 🌐 Join Property Coaching Network: https://propertycoachingnetwork.com 📚 Property Coaching Intensive (PCI): https://propertycoaching.com/ 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_smart_property/ 📲 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@davidsmartproperty 📲 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-smart- 📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.smart.7393/ 📩 Business: team@propertycoachingnetwork.com ⸻ Chapters 00:00 Portfolio Value vs Number of Properties 00:30 From Football to Property Investing 02:00 Early Struggles and Replacing Income 05:00 Building a Cash Flow Portfolio 08:00 Mindset, Risk and Criticism 12:00 Early Funding and Support 18:00 Understanding Risk in Property 25:00 Becoming Known as a Buyer 31:00 How Deals Start Coming to You 36:00 Networking with Agents and Landlords 42:00 Raising Investor Confidence 48:00 Deal Structuring and Refinancing 55:00 Scaling Sustainably ⸻ #PropertyInvestingUK #DealSourcing #InvestorFinance #CashFlowProperty #PropertyPortfolio #UKProperty #PropertyBusiness #BuyToLetUK #PropertyEducation #Entrepreneurship

SA UK: Build Cash Flow | Molly Garioch | PCN Podcast #27

Rent to rent UK, serviced accommodation (SA), and property investing: in this episode, Molly Garioch breaks down how she built a profitable rent-to-rent business, scaled to 60+ units, and generates cash flow without buying property. If you’re looking to start rent to rent in the UK, understand serviced accommodation, or build passive income through property, this episode gives a real, practical breakdown of what actually works — and what doesn’t. We cover how Molly went from rejecting the corporate path to building a rent-to-SA portfolio, why most beginners lose money on bad deals, and how to properly analyse properties without overcomplicating it. This is a must-watch if you’re trying to get started with low capital or scale an existing property business. You’ll also learn how to source deals, work with letting agents and landlords, avoid poor “packaged” deals, and why booking strategy, reviews, and pricing are critical for profitability in serviced accommodation. ⸻ In this episode you’ll learn: • How to start rent to rent UK with low capital • What makes a serviced accommodation deal profitable • The biggest mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them) • Why most deal sourcers get it wrong • How to analyse deals without “analysis paralysis” • Molly’s strategy for scaling to 60+ units • How to source deals through agents and direct landlords • Why booking strategy and reviews impact your income • How to build passive income through rent to SA ⸻ 👉 Subscribe for weekly videos on property investing, rent to rent UK, serviced accommodation, and building cash flow businesses 🌐 Join Property Coaching Network: https://propertycoachingnetwork.com 📚 Property Coaching Intensive (PCI): https://propertycoaching.com/ 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_smart_property/ 📲 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@davidsmartproperty 📲 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/david-smart- 📲 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.smart.7393/ 📩 Business: team@propertycoachingnetwork.com ⸻ Chapters 00:00 Rent to Rent UK Explained 01:00 Molly’s Background & Corporate Exit 04:30 Why Rent to Rent (Low Money Strategy) 08:00 Early Mistakes & Bad Deals 12:30 What Makes a Profitable SA Deal 18:00 Booking Strategy, Reviews & Pricing 24:00 Sourcing Deals & Working with Agents 30:00 Why Most Packaged Deals Fail 36:00 Scaling to 60+ Units 42:00 Building a Mentorship Business 48:00 Systems, Outsourcing & Passive Income 54:00 Social Media & Growing a Property Brand 58:00 Beginner Mistakes & Final Advice ⸻ #RentToRentUK #ServicedAccommodation #PropertyInvestingUK #PropertyBusiness #PassiveIncomeUK #CashFlowProperty #PropertyEducation #UKProperty #Entrepreneurship #PropertyPodcast