I am going to start posting properties I get offered, just in case any of you take a fancy to one or more of them. They will all be in Lincolnshire, will all have been checked by me personally, and will all be good deals for an investor.
I have an incomplete 'project' for either a builder or keen DIYer. It's a four bedroom semi detached house with an unfinished conversion of the garage into a granny annexe. The rewire has been done, but a redesign of the layout would probably benefit the property overall.
This is available exclusively through me for £115,000 including fees, and I could also arrange and manage a refurb team if you wanted.
All enquiries to: richarddrakes@gmail.com
Tel. 07920 165858
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Sunday, 16 October 2011
A Day With The Agents
On Thursday of last week, I decided to pay a visit to all my local estate agents. You don't always get to know everything that's going on unless you visit the office itself, and it proved to be quite an interesting day.
I probably spent around four or five hours doing the rounds, and surprisingly I was the only customer in most of them. Lots of people about on the streets, but no one looking to buy houses it seems. If they only knew where to look and what to ask for, it might be different because I was offered several juicy deals on the day.
Almost everyone I spoke to in the agents' offices was helpful, eager to please, and generally very nice. Worryingly, there were a couple of exceptions from staff I hadn't met before. Disinterested, preoccupied and bordering on the rude in one case. I can simply choose to take my custom elsewhere, but I do worry that some people don't understand you have to do more, not less in these troubled times.
There, rant over.
Another great reason I like to actually visit the offices is to dig out some of the deals that don't always come my way, and sure enough, Thursday produced a few gems.
There was the nearly new apartment owned by a part exchange company who "just want an offer...any offer", to a builder buy back of a structurally defective property, cash buyers only! And the biggest surprise came after a simple enquiry I made about a stylish little apartment.
It turns out the vendor has fourteen other properties to sell, all in nice locations, and would offer a generous discount for a multiple purchase. With a valuation of over £2 million, that's a lot of savings to be made.
Now where did I leave that money lying around?
I probably spent around four or five hours doing the rounds, and surprisingly I was the only customer in most of them. Lots of people about on the streets, but no one looking to buy houses it seems. If they only knew where to look and what to ask for, it might be different because I was offered several juicy deals on the day.
Almost everyone I spoke to in the agents' offices was helpful, eager to please, and generally very nice. Worryingly, there were a couple of exceptions from staff I hadn't met before. Disinterested, preoccupied and bordering on the rude in one case. I can simply choose to take my custom elsewhere, but I do worry that some people don't understand you have to do more, not less in these troubled times.
There, rant over.
Another great reason I like to actually visit the offices is to dig out some of the deals that don't always come my way, and sure enough, Thursday produced a few gems.
There was the nearly new apartment owned by a part exchange company who "just want an offer...any offer", to a builder buy back of a structurally defective property, cash buyers only! And the biggest surprise came after a simple enquiry I made about a stylish little apartment.
It turns out the vendor has fourteen other properties to sell, all in nice locations, and would offer a generous discount for a multiple purchase. With a valuation of over £2 million, that's a lot of savings to be made.
Now where did I leave that money lying around?
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Lord of The Manor?
Some things just aren't what they seem.
I had a call from an agent last week with a property I just 'had to view.'
"Ok, is it new on the market?" No, it had been on since last year. "Hmm. What is it, where is it, and why do I need to view it?" It's the Manor House. "A Manor House?" No, the Manor House. Intrigued, I arranged to meet the agent later that day.
The first thing I notice is, it's not a Manor House; in fact it's quite an ordinary house, but somehow strangely appealing. Towering, majestic trees, an imposing pair of large wrought iron gates, and a generous but overgrown garden. I could just picture those gates opening onto a long, sweeping driveway that leads to a large gravelled turning circle. Shame there's no room for that. Oh well.
Inside the house, it's plain and rather awkwardly designed, but I could see what difference a few walls knocked through, and maybe a modest extension would make. There's definitely an opportunity to add some real value here.
A chance meeting with a neighbour told me that the previous owner had either bought or assumed the title of local Lord of the Manor, hence the house name, and had adorned it with turrets, battlements, etc., which he thought would improve the appearance of the house. Sadly for him, the local planners didn't agree, and had him remove them.
So there we are. The Manor House. For sale; unmortgageable, unloved, seemingly unwanted, except by me! I can see real potential here, but it won't be easy.
Somehow I think the negotiations will be long and complicated, but you never know, I might just end up with my very own Manor House!
I had a call from an agent last week with a property I just 'had to view.'
"Ok, is it new on the market?" No, it had been on since last year. "Hmm. What is it, where is it, and why do I need to view it?" It's the Manor House. "A Manor House?" No, the Manor House. Intrigued, I arranged to meet the agent later that day.
The first thing I notice is, it's not a Manor House; in fact it's quite an ordinary house, but somehow strangely appealing. Towering, majestic trees, an imposing pair of large wrought iron gates, and a generous but overgrown garden. I could just picture those gates opening onto a long, sweeping driveway that leads to a large gravelled turning circle. Shame there's no room for that. Oh well.
Inside the house, it's plain and rather awkwardly designed, but I could see what difference a few walls knocked through, and maybe a modest extension would make. There's definitely an opportunity to add some real value here.
A chance meeting with a neighbour told me that the previous owner had either bought or assumed the title of local Lord of the Manor, hence the house name, and had adorned it with turrets, battlements, etc., which he thought would improve the appearance of the house. Sadly for him, the local planners didn't agree, and had him remove them.
So there we are. The Manor House. For sale; unmortgageable, unloved, seemingly unwanted, except by me! I can see real potential here, but it won't be easy.
Somehow I think the negotiations will be long and complicated, but you never know, I might just end up with my very own Manor House!
Monday, 13 June 2011
Progressive Property JV Event in London
On Saturday, I travelled on the early morning train to London to attend another of Rob and Mark's brilliant networking events. The location was excellent, a two minute walk from King's Cross station, and I was pleasantly surprised by just how many people were there.
There was so much to take in on the day, but Rob's energy and enthusiasm kept us all (me anyway) spellbound. If you want to see someone with a real passion for what he does, go and watch Rob Moore talking about property - he is fascinating! Just one small subject Rob spoke about has changed my whole approach to property investing. With knowledge like this, it's not difficult it's easy. As the man says, you can pull money from thin air!
One thing you never get with a Progressive event, is the feeling you've been short changed. Proceedings started before 10.00am and had only just finished when I had to leave at 8.15pm, and I'm sure the guys stayed on long after I left.
It was nice to catch up with some familiar faces; Azu, Lubna, Romana, Juswant, Tanya & Gary, and I was lucky enough to meet some great people for the first time; Robin Shaw, Adrian, Chrys, and the charming Edna.
So, armed with an arsenal of investing know how, I pootled off back home on the train and managed to read the first 100 pages of one of Rob and Mark's books before reaching Newark station. With another 300 odd pages left to read, I was kicking myself that I didn't live in Edinburgh; I could have finished it in one sitting if I did!
Lots of inspiration, lots of education, it's time I got on with it. See you next time.
There was so much to take in on the day, but Rob's energy and enthusiasm kept us all (me anyway) spellbound. If you want to see someone with a real passion for what he does, go and watch Rob Moore talking about property - he is fascinating! Just one small subject Rob spoke about has changed my whole approach to property investing. With knowledge like this, it's not difficult it's easy. As the man says, you can pull money from thin air!
One thing you never get with a Progressive event, is the feeling you've been short changed. Proceedings started before 10.00am and had only just finished when I had to leave at 8.15pm, and I'm sure the guys stayed on long after I left.
It was nice to catch up with some familiar faces; Azu, Lubna, Romana, Juswant, Tanya & Gary, and I was lucky enough to meet some great people for the first time; Robin Shaw, Adrian, Chrys, and the charming Edna.
So, armed with an arsenal of investing know how, I pootled off back home on the train and managed to read the first 100 pages of one of Rob and Mark's books before reaching Newark station. With another 300 odd pages left to read, I was kicking myself that I didn't live in Edinburgh; I could have finished it in one sitting if I did!
Lots of inspiration, lots of education, it's time I got on with it. See you next time.
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