Case Study Guy and Kate
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Standing in the open plan living dining room of their newly finished rental, we chat with Guy and Kate about their BTLH experience.
Buy to Let Hunter has helped many people navigate the market to purchase a property as an investment – some go on to rent them out as serviced accommodation through our sister company, Smarter Rent. This is not Guy and Kate’s first rodeo, in fact they are well versed in the advantages and pitfalls of investment property as they already own others – and perhaps it is this which attracted them to use BTLH.
We asked them what had led them to this point:
“We were interested in adding a few more properties to our portfolio, but are well aware of the hassle and so wanted to use BTLH to try to avoid the headaches we know are inevitable.”
How did they find out about BTLH? “We heard about BTLH through a local magazine. Knowing as much as we do about the whole process, it sounded like a good option. We had been considering buying another property outside of London (we find the property there is generally overpriced and frankly too expensive now) but we just didn’t know where to start.”
Both Guy and Kate are youthful yet retired - never driven by their jobs or defined by them, they both believed that work was a means to an end. Their intention was to leave the rat race before they turned fifty and whilst they still had the energy to pursue their interests.
Having achieved that, they now spend their days pleasing themselves and when we caught up with them, they had just returned from a few days biking in the New Forest.
When asked why BTLH and why now, Guy explained:
“In the past, I have tended to go for longer assured shorthold tenancy (AST) with my investment properties. While I could see the attraction of a short/ medium term serviced let, it had never been feasible for me as I just don’t have the time to dedicate to managing the property.”
“The whole BTLH experience has been very good. We had an initial meeting with Alex on the phone and then met with Adrian at The Lensbury where we chatted through our options. That was just three months ago, and we are now standing in our new property, ready for our first guests!”
Ever the pragmatist, Guy continued: “The long-term plan is to hang on to the house for ten years, but we have the flexibility to sell it before then if our ideas change. We will see how the maths looks in six months to a year and if it is all as positive as it seems, we may go for another one.”
Asked if he had any advice for other potential property moguls looking to snaffle up a good deal in the excitable market of today, Guy said: “Property has always been my best investment – better than stocks or corporate bonds. With my other properties I have always had an emotional connection as they are closer to my home and I manage them myself. It seemed the perfect time to try to be totally detached - to treat an investment property with no emotion and
BTLH helped Guy and Kate find and purchase their property and then to decorate, furnish and prepare it for the market, taking care of all the annoying niggly bits. The property has been styled and professional photos taken, utilities set up and then marketed on a number of platforms for maximum visibility, all in super-quick time.
Guy added: “I know that I am not locked in to my decision here which makes me very comfortable with the whole set up. It was a quick turnaround given we only completed the purchase two weeks ago, and now we are ready for our first tenants. My prerequisite was that the whole experience be hassle free and I am pleased to report that it has been - I have had to do very little – just perfect.”
Music to our ears!
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