The Refurbishment Mastery Podcast

Should you employ an Architect, a Planning Consultant or both on your next project?   Well, the answer is often 'it depends'.  In this podcast, I outline the roles of each so that you can understand what they bring to the table and I'll give you a rough set of criteria to help you work out for yourself who you need.           Martin has been supporting property investors with their refurbishments...

This is another topic that I regularly get asked for my opinion on and sadly, sometimes by property investors who have lost money when their builder has disappeared.  In this episode, I'll explain the pros and cons of paying in advance and how you can reduce the risk as much as possible.   I'll also talk you through the options for recovering this money as the project runs through as that is frequ...

I regularly speak to property investors who, I think, are potentially spending too much on their refurbishments.  This could be because they have just followed what they have seen other investors do or because they don't understand their market. In this episode I talk through some elements of a refurbishment where it's very easy to spend too much money especially if you aren't working at the top e...

This is a topic that I regularly discuss with members of my community and every time someone is surprised that it is not straightforward.  This also means that it isn't that cheap either so if you don't understand what you need to do you could easily be caught out. In this episode I explain the whole process and give away indicative costs so that you have the knowledge you need next time you see a...

If you are putting off refurbishing your property because you don't know what software or apps to use to help you manage things then this episode is for you.  I'm here to encourage you to get started and can tell you that you don't need anything special. There's a bonus as well - you don't need to buy anything! Listen for full details.       Martin has been supporting property investors with their...

If you want to add value to property then you have probably realised that not every property that needs refurbishing is a good deal.  This is where what separates the amateurs from the professionals and in this episode I explain something that the professionals know so that they can find more deals. Become a professional property investor and find better deals with this knowledge.     Martin has b...

In this episode, I explain the things that you need to consider when agreeing payment terms with your builder and what can happen if you get this wrong.  Paying too frequently can be expensive but so can paying too slowly, which one do you choose.   Listen now for full details.         Martin has been supporting property investors with their refurbishments since 2012 and he's here to support you a...

Alex joined me for one of my weekly Q&A sessions to share what he had learned building a block of 4 flats with members of my community.  He explained the good, the bad and the ugly of the project, what he did wrong, the improvements he would make next time and how close to the wire he came financially. This episode might put some of you off attempting a larger new build project and if it does then...

Are you a Property Investor or a Developer?  Do you know the difference?  Is it even important? In this episode, I explain the difference just so that you know and can answer the question if asked.     Martin has been supporting property investors with their refurbishments since 2012 and he's here to support you as well.  Whether you just need an answer to a question or want to chat through the wa...

This is a really common question that I get asked along with what should I look for when I visit my project.  In this episode I answer both questions, which for some might be quite surprising and go into the reasons why you might be visiting too often.   Martin has been supporting property investors with their refurbishments since 2012 and he's here to support you as well.  Whether you just need a...

Ultimately this is your responsibility and can't be outsourced to your builder so you need to understand your responsibilities before there is an accident. I'm not qualified to give health and safety advice so this episode provides an overview of the legislation so that you understand the advice that you need to take from a qualified health and safety consultant. This podcast could save you a lot...

Did you know that Article 4 Directives don't just apply to HMOs? Many property investors avoid investing in areas with an Article 4 Direction in place, yet they could be missing out on some great deals. In this episode I explain more to ensure that you know how to use them to your advantage and be one step ahead of your inexperienced competition.   Martin has been supporting property investors wit...

Did you know that in certain circumstances you only need to pay 5% VAT for your refurbishment works?  Wouldn't it be great to save 15% every time you refurbish a property? Although I'm not able to give VAT advice, in this episode I explain my interpretation of the VAT regulations and help you understand them better.  I explain when the reduced rate applies and what you need to do to get the benefi...

Whilst amateur investors and the public are running away from property with structural problems I would encourage you to run the other way as with a little bit of knowledge there are some great deals out there. In this episode, I'll explain who your best friend is when it comes to properties with structural defects and talk through some ways that you can creatively acquire a property with structur...

Personally I don't buy listed buildings and maybe after listening to this podcast you won't either.   There's definitely kudos in owning a listed building but if you are a property investor they may not be ideal as I reveal in this episode.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for protecting our heritage but the one thing I dislike is too much RISK and in my mind that is a one word summary of buying and o...

It's alright using a formal contract on a large project but on smaller ones it just isn't practical. Smaller builders are often put off by a formal contract as they don't understand them so you need to find an alternative solution. In this podcast I outline a simpler solution and go through the important things that you need to think about, discuss and agree with your builder. This podcast could a...

Every week members of my community have the opportunity to ask me questions during a live coaching call and in this podcast I go through some of those questions.  Topics include: Installing new water and electric supplies How to negotiate the asking price of a house down How to work out what to do with a property Low water pressure The best person to give you an unbiased opinion on repairs needed...

It's not all about reducing build costs, the other side of the coin is increasing value. Tune in to hear about some things I've seen property investors do recently that have seriously impacted the value of their property or the rent that they can secure. These are real live examples of mistakes that you can so easily avoid,  this episode could make all of the difference to the success of your next...

Property Investors tell me that they hate this. I believe that's because they don't know how to manage the process and probably get involved too early. It doesn't have to take hours to snag a property and it certainly shouldn't lead to falling out with your builder.  Join me in this episode and I'll explain everything so that next time you need to snag a project you'll find it easier.     Martin h...

Do you know the difference?  Do you know why planning drawings aren't really of any use to a builder? Stay tuned and ensure that you are presenting yourself credibly to your builders. PLUS learn the connection with a chocolate cake recipe.   Martin has been supporting property investors with their refurbishments since 2012 and he's here to support you as well.  Whether you just need an answer to a...

Surely this is the most important thing for a Property Investor to know. Sadly I speak to too many property investors who have purchased a property and then found out the hard way that they have paid too much for it.  Wouldn't that be a great thing to ensure that every time you bought a property you never paid too much? The knowledge in this podcast could save you thousands of pounds and a whole h...

What do I need to ensure to ensure that I have a successful project? In reality, there are a lot of things, however, there are four significant elements that will make a massive difference and in this podcast I'm going to unpack them for you.   Martin has been supporting property investors with their refurbishments since 2012 and he's here to support you as well.  Whether you just need an answer t...

Go big or go home!! Whilst this is often the attitude of property guru's I have to say that when it comes to refurbishment and development it really isn't right, particularly if you have no one to guide you. In this podcast I share some great smaller projects to help you get started.  They can all add value and, significantly, if there are a few bumps along the way, you won't lose your shirt.   Ma...

If you're a Property Investor who is worried about paying too much for your next property, concerned that you don't know how to manage a refurb, or scared that you will be ripped off by a builder then this is for you. In these podcasts, I'm going to share over 30 years of experience of managing refurbishments and conversions to help you make more profit, save your time and ultimately enjoy the pro...