Investor led. Property focused.

We've sold our first project as Asset Collective, I've discovered that tradespeople who actually do what they say they're going to do exist, two investors have come to us this month, me and Emma managed to get away to Leeds for the weekend, and I'd say I'm at least average at padel now. 😂

Not a bad 7 days!

There's a lot happening at Asset Collective at the moment, and after six months of working towards this, it's nice to see some of it actually happening.

Anyway, here's what's been going on.

Last week I spoke about whether we should spend £2,500 staging Camm Street.

Well, we did.

And I'm bloody glad we did!

We'd had several viewings but no offers, and I was seriously considering reducing the asking price by £10,000.

Instead, we spent £2,500 on staging.

A week later, we've agreed a sale for £18,000 more than what the reduced price would've been.

Pretty solid ROI if you ask me.

But here's where it gets better.

The first viewing after staging went straight to an offer.

£2,000 over asking.

Now, our guide price had a £15,000 range, and I wanted to be at least somewhere in the middle.

The estate agents couldn't seem to get the buyers there.

So I said, "Arrange a second viewing and I'll meet them there myself."

Arrogance or self-belief?

Who knows, but it worked. 🤣

We got the buyers to where we wanted them and agreed the sale.

Our first project as Asset Collective, sold for the price we wanted.

And in a softer market, I genuinely couldn't be more chuffed.

I think there's a lesson in there somewhere about not rushing to reduce your price, but I'll save that for another day!

I turned up to Project Two this week and, for the first time in a long time, I left site genuinely happy.

And what did it take?

Something really quite simple.

The lads did exactly what they said they were going to do.

That's it.

We've recently started working with a new team who came through someone we're looking to use as our project manager.

They turned up on time, the finish was good and they'd done everything they said they would.

And to be fair, our plasterer and landscaper has always been brilliant at doing exactly what he says he's going to do, and he delivered again this week with the garden.

We even had a new tiler turn up, do a good job and come to us with a solution rather than another problem.

Although, quite funny actually, he ended up having to reskim the ensuite ceiling.

Why?

Because the previous joiner couldn't get the joists level.

Anyone who's been reading these newsletters for a while will know exactly which joiner I'm talking about.

Yes, we're still fixing his problems! 😂

Anyway, I digress.

The challenge has always been getting a whole team working to the same standard.

Our new team of joiners had four small problems on site this week.

Normally, that means four problems for me to go away and solve.

But not this time.

The lads already had solutions for all four.

All I had to do was make four decisions.

Four problems. Four solutions. Four decisions.

I was in and out of site in five minutes.

Honestly, I've spent so long asking myself why people can't just do their jobs.

Why am I paying skilled tradespeople to do a job if I've then got to tell them how to do it?

Turns out it doesn't have to be like that.

And that's exactly what I want as we grow Asset Collective.

A team that can get on with the work, solve problems and come to me when a decision needs making.

If I can get to the point where every site visit is like that one, I'll be a very happy man.

I woke up Saturday morning to a message from someone wanting to arrange a meeting about investing with Asset Collective.

That's now two investors who've approached us this month.

One has already agreed to invest, and we're expecting the funds next week.

And it got me thinking.

Six months ago, I genuinely had no idea how I was going to raise my first £100,000.

Now we're starting to have people approach us.

So what's changed?

I don't actually think much has changed in what we've been doing since we started six months ago.

I've just consistently shown up and completed the same non-negotiable actions every week.

Going to four or five networking events.

Posting on social media.

Telling at least one person every day that I'm a property investor.

Creating referral programmes.

Getting myself into rooms with people I wouldn't normally meet.

And for a good part of those six months, I've been asking myself why it isn't working.

But it turns out it is working.

I'm just starting to see the results now.

Something I've learnt about raising private capital is that it's a long game.

People need to get to know you, like you and trust you.

You can't expect to go to one networking event, meet someone for a coffee and walk away with a £100,000 investment.

Although if anyone reading this wants to prove me wrong, I'm happy to arrange a coffee. 😂

I think what's been interesting for me is realising that all those conversations I've had over the last six months haven't been wasted, even when nothing seemed to be coming from them.

It's just taken longer than I expected.

And it's nice to finally see some of that work starting to pay off.

With Camm Street sold, me and Emma decided to have a little break in Leeds.

One thing we try to do is celebrate the little wins.

We work really hard, but I also think it's important to enjoy what you're doing along the way.

So naturally, we went to Flat Iron.

Steak, mac and cheese, garlic truffle mash, fries and a 0% beer.

Yes, that was my cheat meal. 🤣

Although looking at that order, I think I might have taken the word "cheat" a little too seriously.

Me and Emma do pretty much everything together.

We work together, play padel together, go to the gym together, go to sleep together and wake up together.

We're genuinely best friends.

And I don't mean that to sound cheesy. We're definitely not one of those couples!

But sometimes it's nice to switch off from being business partners and remember we're still boyfriend and girlfriend.

Something I've always believed about relationships is that you can get so caught up in doing life together that you forget to actually enjoy each other's company.

Forget the house, the bills, washing the pots and building a business for a minute.

Can you still go out together, just the two of you, and have a really good time?

If the answer's yes, I think you've got something.

Everything else is just life.

Anyway, that's my two pence after 15 years together.

Didn't expect to be talking about relationships in a property newsletter, but there you go!

Before I finish, I should probably give you an update on the actual projects, considering this is supposed to be a property newsletter and not my personal blog. 😂

Project One - Camm Street

Sold subject to contract!

We've agreed the price we wanted, so now it's over to the solicitors.

Project Two - Industry Street

We're getting towards the finish line.

The new team is making good progress, the garden is coming together and we're aiming to get it on the market in November.

Project Three - Loxley Road

We're progressing with the purchase and arranging the finance.

We've already secured £50,000 from an investor, and we're working through the remaining funding and legal requirements.

Project Four - Talbot Street

Our first buy and hold project for Asset Collective, and one that'll be a nice addition to our existing property portfolio.

We've had our offer accepted at £68,000 and we're progressing the purchase.

The plan is to refurbish, refinance and keep this one for the long term.

Four projects, all at different stages.

And if everything goes to plan, November should be a pretty exciting month.

Looking ahead to November, I'm genuinely excited.

Because we're getting to the point where we're starting to see the original idea behind Asset Collective actually working.

When we came up with the name, the idea was simple.

Using assets to build wealth collectively.

We'd spent years investing in property to build our own pension pot.

But we started asking ourselves, how do we take that experience and turn it into an actual business?

And more importantly, how do we create opportunities for other people to benefit from what we're doing?

That's really where Asset Collective came from.

And the next couple of projects are starting to bring that idea to life.

We're also getting close to another milestone.

Being able to repay our first investor or offer them the opportunity to reinvest with us.

Which is pretty exciting when I think that six months ago, I didn't even know how I'd raise my first £100,000.

It's all just coming together quite nicely, to be honest.

We've still got plenty to do, and I'm sure there'll be a few more problems to solve along the way.

Hopefully not any more from the old joiner! 😂

But for now, I'm enjoying it.

Have a great Sunday!