Running a Property Business vs. Being a Property Investor

From Investor to Business Owner

After a fast-paced and intense 2022, we decided to slow things down in 2023 while we focused on finishing several of the projects from the previous year. The year before had been all about rapid acquisitions and large refurbishments, meaning we were constantly putting money into projects with little immediate return. In comparison, 2023 felt like a shift—we finally started seeing cash flowing back into the business.

The first half of the year was particularly strong for refinancing. Several of the larger projects from 2022 were completed, allowing us to refinance and release capital. Seeing those refinanced properties generate strong monthly cash flow was a significant turning point for us—it felt like we had moved past just investing and were now running a fully operational property business.

While we slowed down in terms of new purchases, we still took on two key projects:

• A 3-bed house conversion into a 7-bed, 7-en-suite HMO (initially considered as an 8-bed, but 7 made more sense in the end).

• A 6-bed HMO, which we purchased at a great price and successfully converted into an 8-bed. We refinanced this one using a commercial lender and managed to pull all of our cash out.

At the same time, we were finishing off some of the biggest projects from 2022, including a 9-bed, 9-en-suite HMO, as well as a couple of smaller conversions.

The Shift to Running a Property Business

As the year progressed, we started to recognize that we weren’t just property investors anymore—we were running a property business. That realization meant shifting our focus from just acquiring properties to optimizing our operations, systemizing processes, and building a team to support long-term growth.

One of the most important steps was bringing the right people into the business:

• Finance Support – Helping with cash flow management, accounts, and financial planning.

• PA – Assisting with organization, scheduling, and operations to keep everything running smoothly.

• Social Media & Marketing – Our first-ever hire for this role, though the current person managing our marketing is different.

Having the right team in place meant we could step away from many of the day-to-day tasks and focus on big-picture strategy, deal structuring, and business expansion.

More Than Just Property – Building a Brand & Network

Beyond systemizing the business, 2023 was also a year of expanding our network and building our brand. We got more involved in mentoring, speaking engagements, and sharing insights with others in the industry.

One of the biggest shifts was realizing that branding and credibility matter just as much as deal-making. By positioning ourselves as experts in the property investment space, we created opportunities to connect with investors, partners, and new business ventures.

A key part of this was working with Fielding Financial, where we had the chance to share our journey, teach other investors, and help them navigate their own property ventures. What started as a way to give back to the community quickly turned into an opportunity to grow and strengthen our business relationships.

Key Lessons from 2023

• Cash Flow is King – It’s not just about acquiring properties but making sure they generate strong, consistent income.

• Quality Over Quantity – Instead of chasing more deals, the focus shifted to securing better, higher-quality projects.

• Systemization & Team Building – Having clear processes and the right people in place made operations much smoother.

• Branding & Visibility Matter – Being active in the industry opened doors to new deals and partnerships.

• Adapting is Key – Every year presents new challenges, and staying flexible is what allows a business to thrive.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, our focus is on larger deals and diversification. We’re refining our business model to scale efficiently while ensuring that every project adds long-term value to our portfolio.

In the next blog post, we’ll talk more about how we’re approaching bigger investments, what types of projects we’re targeting, and how we’re evolving our strategy to stay ahead in a changing market.

Stay tuned—exciting things are coming!