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About me
Working with people and identifying what makes them “tick” is what I love to do. The passion that drives me as person and as a professional is helping people achieve financial and time freedom.
My own journey began many years back. Back in 1996 (and with two small children), I found myself with a small pot of inheritance money and took my first step into the property world with a student HMO. With no real knowledge of the industry, little did I know I was heading into a very steep learning curve. It was not an easy ride and I spent the next decade focusing on single buy-to-lets, whilst juggling employment and growing family commitments. I became a programme manager for Sure Start and completed an MA in Integrated Provision for Children and Families.
Working with families in the Cheshire area I witnessed a number of housing issues that resonated with me – from mould and damp, to poor quality housing and financial struggles – and this provided me with the fuel to inspire change. I wanted to work towards providing quality accommodation and a better quality of life, and to encourage others to change their financial outlook for themselves.
After a few years, it dawned on me that I could be doing this full-time. Not only did I want to leave a legacy for my children and secure my retirement fund, but I also longed to step out of employment and into a world where I had the time, flexibility, quality of life and money to spend with my family. Realising that more could be achieved from a property portfolio by investing in HMOs, I realised that it was time to rekindle my relationship with houses of multiple occupancy and to secure my future. I worked hard to develop my knowledge and today I have a multi-million pound property portfolio in Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent which includes a large portfolio of HMOs, single buy to lets, multi-unit blocks, commercial property and even a pub.
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Along the way I established HMO Success - my award winning training and coaching business and my own lettings agency - Best Nest - which enables me to fill houses for myself and other landlords so that we can get on with things we enjoy!
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One of my proudest achievements has been the campaigning which I have recently taken up - to change legislation for HMOs. This started with the HMO Council Tax Reform Group, and has mutated into the HMO Action Group.
Now I help others to overcome the hurdles associated with securing financial freedom whilst possibly juggling other employment commitments or family obligations. Through training, public speaking, mentoring and consulting, I help others to develop the mental muscle to give them the strength to keep pushing forward. Because success really is often just around the corner. Today, I see myself as more than just a “Legacy Investor”; I see myself as a “Lifestyle Investor”. And whether you are a stay-at-home-parent, in full-time employment, starting out in retirement or wish to grow a profitable HMO portfolio, I can work with you to help you create a future you will love. So if you feel that you could benefit from my 25 years of experience in the property world and know that you need someone who is on your side, but happy to keep you accountable as you learn, grow and see results, please feel free to get in touch.