AA & Co Group

An article in about me came out a few days ago:

My journey over the last 4 years from leaving home at 19, to working 3 jobs, my first fundraise, buying 11 properties in 15 months and everything in between to present date has really been 0-100. However this wouldn’t be possible without all my investors and everyone who’s supported me. Thank you all. I look forward to taking you all along my journey of exponential growth that you’re about to witness in 2024 and beyond.

In 2023 I bought over £1 million of property assets but within the next 4 weeks I will have completed on over £1.4 million worth of property, adding 9 more properties to the portfolio and I have no plans of stopping. The year is still VERY young and I aim to finish off 2024 strongly and use that momentum for an even better 2025.

A big thank you to Grace and the team for working on this piece, another great experience!

The mission is far from finished, so in the words of the late but great Kobe Bryant “Don’t rest in the middle, rest at the end”

Full article link below:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/28022146/sainsburys-11-homes-worth-million-23-cash-rich/

This photo is from the day I collected the keys to my first ever property, 30th June 2022. That day I also had a viewing at one of my current projects- which just goes to show how long the process of securing this deal to present day has been.

Here are just some of the challenges I’ve faced at this project:

- This property had to be title split from the other two neighbouring properties before the purchase was completed.

- The property originally didn’t have a gas, electrical, water or sewer connection.

- The developer who built the entire estate went bankrupt and the planning conditions had NOT been discharged, nor had building control signed off on the property. This led to my purchase almost falling through and resulted in needing several extensions to complete.

Furthermore, there are a lot of conditions I’m working through to resolve before getting a retrospective warrantee for the property; it never had one in place though it’s been built for over 10 years now.

Last but not least, whilst resolving all the above, a high end quality product must also be created.

I’m simultaneously working my way through this in addition to my other ongoing projects and latest acquisitions, but as they say: if it was easy, everyone would do it.

The size of your success correlates to the amount of pressure you can tolerate.

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Another offer accepted! That’s now two deals in conveyancing!

This one’s a block of 4 apartments: here no refurbishment is needed, it’s a straight title split of all four units (this is where the value is added) before refinancing all apartments as individual properties as opposed to a block.

This quarter I’m making up for lost time, so I’m still on the hunt for more deals.

More to come.

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The neighbour who’s meant to give a statement of truth under oath as evidence for obtaining a Certificate of Lawful Use (to get planning signed off retrospectively) pulled out last week Thursday.

I spent the day thinking of alternative means of evidence and even spoke to geologists about testing the soil/ground material but they weren’t willing to help.

Eventually, I realised Google Earth and street view is all the evidence I’ve needed all along as they show works had already begun, which my builder confirmed. This will allow me to get the sign off I need!

I definitely felt the beginnings of another migraine coming through after getting the bad news from the neighbour, but almost there now.

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If it’s worth it, then the cost doesn’t matter.

Sewer connection installation finally underway, works should be completed by the end of the week.

It’s been a right battle, but we’re finally getting closer and closer to finishing this project with each week that passes🙌🏾

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The results we look for is in the work we must put in, there is no other way.

Either I grow, be better and become the person worthy of achieving “xyz” goal

OR

I achieve “xyz” from the work I’ve put in

Whether or not I get the outcome I want, I’ve become better regardless and can apply the lessons learned along the way to tackle the next obstacle.

New property deal loading…

This project which will be my biggest yet, was won at auction (my 3rd auction purchase!): converting this 5 storey former bed & breakfast into either 5 apartments or a 12 bedroom HMO.

The 5 apartments will give a higher GDV and be an all money out deal, but the net cashflow of the property as a HMO could be up to 3x that of apartments. Of course, if my architect detects that more bedrooms can be created, even better!

After having multiple deals fall through last month, one could say this deal isn’t such bad a consolidation prize.

However, this project alone isn’t enough for me. The standards and expectations I have for myself means I’m always making offers and looking for more deals.

If you’re interested in property and would like to get involved in any of my property deals I’m happy to discuss further.

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Your potential is limitless.

If you never quit you can’t fail. It’s the fear of giving up, not motivation, that leads to breakthroughs.

The onus is on YOU to create your own future.

Future you awaits.

This photo was taken in February 2020:

I had just finished my A Levels the summer before, saved some money during the holidays and spent it all (with just enough to get the train back home) on a down payment for a £12,000 property course.

I was 19 years old, in a room full of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
I’ve always understood that I’ll need to get comfortable being uncomfortable to reach the next level.

Unfortunately, I didn’t gain any value whatsoever but even back then, I wasn’t afraid of investing in myself because I always understood that I’d reap the rewards more than ten times over down the line via the knowledge I’d obtain learning from those ahead of me.

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It’s ALWAYS been Me vs Me.

Things are finally moving at this project after being limited in terms of work that could be done:

After having 2 previous applications from Yorkshire Water declined for a sewer connection we approached The Council instead who have given us a Section 50 Permit in order to dig up the road and install a sewer connection to the property. This will commence in early April and once completed we can finally permeable pave the front driveway.

Last week Building Control also visited site and said we could fill up the pit at the front of the house that’s been exposed for the last few months. Once this has been completed, full access to the garden will be restored and my build team will finally be able to complete the necessary works to create an excellent outdoor area.

Internally, we’re waiting for the arrival of the French doors and window (these are currently boarded up). Once these have been fitted in, the kitchen floor can be levelled before the kitchen finally gets fitted in. After this, we begin working our way through the remaining outstanding points on the building control list.

This entire project has been plagued with challenges and setbacks from the moment I got an offer accepted on the property until now so I’m very much looking forward to getting this completed as soon as possible.

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1. In the kitchen: Celotex insulation installed before fire boarding👷‍♂️

2. Fire board has been installed and is now ready for the plasterer. The scrim tape (orange tape) is used to fill any gaps that form between the plasterboard panels 🛠️

3. Over the next few days, the living room ceiling will be fire boarded and plastered. After getting sign-off from Building Control last week the steel acrow props have been removed 🧱

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Last week the rotten lintels at this project were finally replaced✅

Building Control are due for a final inspection at the property tomorrow to confirm they’re happy with the replacements my build team have fitted in and the steel acrow props will then be removed🧱

Once this has been completed, the exposed ceiling can then be plasterboarded and the living room can finally be prepared for painting👷‍♂️

The decision we choose to make or not make, is the hard we must ultimately live with.

Describing the challenges I’ve faced so far during this project as “difficult” would be an understatement:

The property was partially finished by a developer who was repossessed - I bought this with no electrical, sewer, water or gas connections. In fact, the build itself has been in breach of planning regulations as the property was built WITHOUT the 19 different planning conditions being discharged! On top of this, the property never got sign off from building control and has a full list of conditions that need satisfying in order to get sign off and then get a retrospective new build warrantee.

The biggest challenges faced so far include:

- A 3 month delay and several cancellations by EON before they finally provided the property with a new electric meter.

- Being unable to complete the back garden or front drive due as a large pit remains open at the front of the property whilst we work through the building control list for sign off.

- Being unable to get the sewer connections completed as these planning conditions were never discharged, so my previous applications have been rejected to get this done.

- The real icing on top has been dealing with the vagueness and lack of support from the Council during this whole matter, who’ve even said they’re unwilling to put any advice into writing and that I should get legal advice on the best way to progress matters.

I’m glad that each week more and more progress continues to be made and we’re working our way through the building control list and solutions have been found for overcoming the planning conditions by obtaining a Certificate of Lawful Use.

Property investing does come with it’s unexpected curveballs and obstacles, some more difficult than others - it’s definitely not get rich quick!

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What most people don’t understand is that life is 100% mindset.

Once you conquer your mind, you can reprogram your mental model & beliefs to achieve anything.

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Kitchen transformation at The Cottage🏠

The kitchen at The Cottage was revived from a tired looking space into a modern area!

The old kitchen was rather dingy and putting spotlights in made quite a difference to the brightness of the room.

The sink and units were moved into the previously unused corner at the back for better utilisation of the space.

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An increased output can solve most problems in any part of life.

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Kitchen/living room apartment transformation:

The non-load bearing wall in the living room was removed to utilise the space and make an open plan kitchen, creating a modern feel whilst the original beams maintain the character of the property.

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Back to work.

This bathroom transformation at the cottage is probably my favourite bathroom that I’ve designed to date, especially as it was done on a budget after correcting the works of a bad build team (since then I’ve enforced several layers of thorough due diligence to mitigate this)

Though I didn’t tile floor to ceiling as I’d normally do, I proceeded with my usual “marble effect” finish throughout the bathroom resulting in the white and gold elements complimenting each other well.
These lighter features are offset well by the darker matching taps and door handle.

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Sometimes, saying “this is as hard as it gets” is the most comforting thing to hear.

I’m aware of challenges waiting at the next level, but I know that if I overcame the trials of yesterday, I can face the obstacles of tomorrow and use the past as reference to keep on going.

The lack of clarity itself of how long the season of storms will last for is an unspoken hard, but the storm must still be weathered because the work must still get done.

The only alternative is to give up and that simply isn’t an option.

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I had my eye on this property since May 2022 and finally completed the purchase in August 2023. In this timeframe, I had gotten at least 10 different quotes from builders ranging from £10,000-£90,000🤦🏾‍♂️

“ How do you know which build team to work with? “

Well, I base my decision off some of the following:

Previous Experience - Have we worked together before? If not, can I visit your current projects as well as your previous 3-5 projects? How did they turn out? How were any unexpected circumstances handled? Can I speak to the clients?

Number of Referrals - The greater the number of referrals the builder has, the more reputable they may be (however I would still be weary and still do my own due diligence - guilty until proven innocent!)

Online Presence - Does the builder have a website and/or any social platform where they evidence their works? Are they on Companies House?

Energy - How do they come across? Do they seem genuine? Are they confident in their abilities? What sort of terminology are they using when talking about the materials required for the project - do they know their stuff?

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, are they happy to sign a contractual agreement and/or a personal guarantee that outlay the terms of us working together and what may occur in the event of terms not being fulfilled?

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This apartment block project became a two phased development; with the second phase being the current ongoing refurbishment of a vacant unit.

Part of phase one entailed resolving any hidden structural issues and bringing a tired looking building back to life.

Lots of hurdles to jump over behind the scenes as per usual but this was successfully completed.

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Inspired by a few, but my mind really drives itself like Tesla.

A compilation of self reminders and lessons that stood out most to me in 2023.

Accept it’ll get harder before the journey bears fruit, but everyone has their hardships before they have their breakthrough.

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With a plan and an understanding of the next step, all that’s needed is some momentum to push forward and move closer to the desired outcome.

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