In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven welcome back Caroline Claydon, who first appeared on the show in 2020. Since then, Caroline has transformed her property career, moving from HMOs and planning gain projects to building her own boutique aparthotel brand – the Archibald Hotel Collection.

Caroline shares the highs and lows of her journey – from overcoming £80,000 of debt in the 2008 crash, to creating multimillion-pound developments in Edinburgh. She opens up about the challenges of planning refusals, rogue contractors, and refinancing setbacks that “nearly broke her,” as well as the systems, AI tools, and design-led approach that now make her business stand out.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

🏁 From Debt to Property Success

• Losing her first business in the 2008 crash and facing £80,000 personal debt

• Investing £22,000 in mentorship despite fear – and making it back in her first deals

• Starting with social housing buy-to-lets before scaling into HMOs in Birmingham and Liverpool

🏨 Building the Archibald Hotel Collection

• Why she skipped serviced accommodation and went straight to aparthotels

• First deal: converting a B&B outside Liverpool into an 11-bed aparthotel, opening just as COVID hit

• Launching a boutique, staffless hotel brand named after her late dog, Archibald

🏗️ Edinburgh Projects – Triumphs & Challenges

• Stafford Street: buying a derelict office, battling vigilante opposition, tram contribution confusion, and a £1.5m refurb that resulted in a valuation just under £4m

• John’s Place: a painful townhouse project plagued by refused planning, a rogue contractor stealing materials, and lenders pulling funding – leaving her with £27k/month bills and severe burnout

🤖 Operations, Systems & AI

• Running staffless hotels with smart locks and digital guest access

• Using AI receptionists and chatbots to handle enquiries and bookings

• Dividing roles with her husband Nick – she leads acquisitions and development, he runs systems and operations

🛋️ Designing for Premium Value

• Why boutique, vintage interiors are core to her business model

• Working with designers to create unique looks that command higher rates

• Investing heavily in interiors (£170k on Stafford Street, £250k on John’s Place) to elevate guest experience

If you’ve ever thought about scaling into commercial conversions or boutique hospitality, this is an unmissable conversation.

In this episode, Nick and Steven sit down with Stephen O’Neill, founder of Newton Property Management, which now manages around 40,000 properties across Scotland. Stephen shares his fascinating journey from growing up in his family’s estate agency business, to launching and selling his own lettings company, and then scaling Newton into one of Scotland’s leading factoring businesses.

Known for his straight-talking approach, Stephen unpacks the challenges of reputation in the factoring industry, the realities of acquisitions, and the importance of culture in building a generational business. From surviving mistakes in early ventures to instilling a people-first ethos at Newton, this episode is packed with lessons in growth, resilience, and leadership.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

🏁 Early Lessons in Business

• Growing up around his father’s Glasgow estate agency

• Watching the family firm lose control after rapid expansion

• Key lessons on ownership, shareholding, and capitalisation

💼 From O’Neils to Newton

• Founding O’Neils Lettings in 1995 and hustling for growth

• Selling the business in 2000 for ~£750k

• Why factoring, with its long-term recurring revenue, became his focus

📊 Scaling Newton Property Management

• How Newton grew to 40,000 properties and ~85 staff across 4 offices

• The “30/30/30” profit model that funded growth and acquisitions

• Buying competitors at rising multiples – and why Newton is “not for sale”

🏠 Factoring, Reputation & Regulation

• Why factoring has a bad public image and how Newton tackles it

• Robust credit control and chasing arrears through debt collection/legal routes

• Calls for stricter regulation and annual audits of client accounts

• Challenges with under-resourced tribunals

🌍 Culture, Leadership & Vision

• Returning from Bali to rebuild service quality after rapid growth

• Creating a people-first company culture: loans, therapy, office lunches, stocked fridges

• His ambition for Newton to be “the best employer in the country”

📈 Market Views & Next Steps

• Why Stephen is bullish on Aberdeen and sees “Park Circus prices” potential

• Reflections on being a manager, not a landlord

• Balancing growth ambitions with the goal of running a generational business

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In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Declan, founder of Vitality Property, who at just 24 years old has gone from plumbing apprentice to running a thriving refurbishment business and completing multiple property deals – including highly profitable assisted sales.

Declan shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16, experimenting with side hustles like Amazon FBA and crypto, to building a trusted refurbishment company that now generates off-market deal flow. From his first buy-to-let and early flips to teaming up with other investors and raising £275K in just two days, this is a masterclass in hustle, networking, and creative property strategies.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

🏗️ From Apprentice to Property Entrepreneur

• Growing up in Croydon before moving to Scotland

• Leaving school at 16 to become a plumbing & heating engineer

• How his trade background became the foundation for his property journey

💡 Early Side Hustles & First Property Steps

• Amazon FBA, crypto, and reselling – lessons learned from failed and modest successes

• Investing in mentorship and paying £6k for property training at age 20

• Buying his first flat, learning about yields, cashflow, and tax pitfalls

🔨 Flips, Refurbs, and Learning the Hard Way

• Turning a heating job lead into a profitable flip in just a few months

• The Paisley project: overspending, travel challenges, and why he’d never do it again

• Building credibility and leads through his refurbishment business

🏠 Mastering the Assisted Sale Strategy

• How assisted sales work and why they benefit sellers and investors

• Legal safeguards: charges on title, option-to-buy clauses, and ensuring all owners agree

• Case studies of successful assisted sales – including inherited properties

🤝 Collaboration & Raising Finance

• Partnering with Kyle White and the Scope Property team to scale projects

• Raising £275K in two days through networking and past clients

• Leveraging other people’s skills and networks for bigger deals

📈 Scaling Up & Diversifying

• Building a pipeline including flips, buy-to-lets, serviced accommodation, and commercial conversions

• Why collaboration beats competition in the Scottish property market

• Using social proof and track record to win trust with sellers and investors

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn trade skills into a property portfolio – or want to understand the assisted sale model from someone doing it right now – this episode is packed with actionable insights.

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Edinburgh-based property entrepreneur Graham Budge, who shares how his rent-to-rent journey has evolved into something far greater than just profit—it's now helping tackle Scotland’s housing crisis.

Graham walks us through the early days of scaling serviced accommodation units with no capital, the £130k investment loss he endured trying to expand down south, and how he pivoted his entire business model to supply temporary accommodation for local councils in Scotland.

Key Takeaways:

• How rent-to-rent offers a low-barrier entry into property with little capital

• The reality of scaling serviced accommodation pre-licensing

• How partnering with local councils created a more stable, long-term income stream

• Breakdown of profit margins, costs, and risk mitigation

• Lessons learned from losing £130,000 with a failed expansion into England

• The importance of investor trust and business resilience

• • Why providing high-quality homes for those in need is both ethical and profitable.

  
  

  You’ll hear the real-life highs and lows of property entrepreneurship—everything from making £1,000 per unit per month on average, to nearly losing the business when contracts were pulled overnight. Most importantly, Graham offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how private landlords can be part of the housing solution while still making a fair return.

  
  

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  Send the guys at Prime a message now: https://wa.me/447938603856

  ----------------------------------------------------

  
  

  Follow us on all of our social media accounts and join our monthly networking events in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee!

  
  

  Vist: https://linktr.ee/scottishpropertypodcast

  
  

• #scottishpropertypodcast #renttorent #propertyinvesting #temporaryaccommodation #edinburghproperty #servicedaccommodation #propertyentrepreneur #socialimpactinvesting #propertyjourney #financialfreedom

  
  

In this episode, we sit down with leasing director Harris Hiscoe, a Scotsman making waves in Dubai’s competitive real estate scene. From his roots in a 5th-generation showman family in Scotland to managing one of the most dominant leasing teams in Dubai, Harris shares the raw truth behind life, business, and building success in the UAE.

He opens up about the mental resilience needed to survive and thrive, the lessons learned from near-misses on multimillion-dirham deals, and why Dubai is attracting a growing number of UK-based property investors.

Key Highlights:

• From Scotland to Dubai: Why Harris walked away from the family business to build a life in real estate abroad.

• How he broke into the industry without any existing contacts or database – and what he did differently to succeed.

• Getting burned by a £50K commission deal that fell through – and the lessons it taught him.

• The power of leasing in Dubai: Why he believes it’s the best entry point for UK agents looking to make the leap.

• UK investors in Dubai: The typical investor profile and why the Dubai property market is booming.

• Primary vs secondary markets: What investors need to understand about payment plans, off-plan developments, and capital growth.

• What returns to expect: Rental yields, ROI comparisons, and why Dubai’s market isn’t just hype.

• Becoming a high-performer: The systems and support behind one of Dubai’s top-performing real estate agencies.

#scottishpropertypodcast #dubairealestate #ukinvestors #propertyinvestment #expatlife #dubaiinvestments #leasingdirector #propertysuccess #buildyourportfolio #financialfreedom

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Kris Dalziel, a Glasgow-based property investor and sourcer who has built serious momentum over the past 18 months.

Kris shares how he’s managed to source over 200 properties, build a portfolio of 80+ units, and generate £900K+ in sourcing fees—all while navigating the realities of fast growth, investor pressures, and the chaos that comes with managing multiple refurbs and build teams across the UK.

Episode Highlights:

📈 Massive Growth in 18 Months

• 200+ properties sourced since 2023

• 80+ units bought for himself and investors

• £900K+ in sourcing fees in 2024 alone

💸 Behind the Sourcing Business

• What it really takes to build a high-volume sourcing company

• How Kris finds deals, works with investors, and structures JV agreements

• Why transparency and systems are everything in this space

🔧 Builder & Refurb Management

• Managing multiple build teams across the UK

• Dealing with delays, pricing issues, and communication breakdowns

• The toll this takes when you’re running at full speed

🧠 Mindset, Burnout & Shifting Gears

• Why Kris is stepping back from the chaos to focus on sustainability

• The mental pressure of scaling too fast

• His new focus on paying down debt and holding long-term assets

🏢 Letting Agency Launch: Stanley Property Shop

• Why Kris started his own agency

• The benefits of bringing property management in-house

• Challenges of operating differently from traditional agents

⚠️ The Sourcing Industry – Red Flags & Real Talk

• What Kris thinks is wrong with many property sourcers today

• Key advice for anyone buying from sourcing agents or auction deals

• How to spot value—and avoid the fluff

Now, Kris is shifting focus. After a whirlwind 18 months, he’s prioritising sustainable investing, slowing the pace, and recently launched his own lettings agency to bring more control and long-term value to his business.

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Know someone looking to sell?

Send the guys at Prime a message now: https://wa.me/447938603856

----------------------------------------------------

Follow us on all of our social media accounts and join our monthly networking events in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee!

Vist: https://linktr.ee/scottishpropertypodcast

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven are joined by Taimur Malik, a former finance professional turned property investor, who shares his powerful journey from financial rock bottom to building a 7-figure portfolio.

After losing his job and facing a serious health crisis, Taimur found himself over £100,000 in debt and unable to walk. But through discipline, long-term thinking, and smart investing, he’s now on the path to full financial freedom—using a combination of property, stocks, and pensions.

This is a refreshingly honest and insightful conversation about building wealth slowly, understanding financial resilience, and why property is just one part of the bigger picture.

Episode Highlights:

📉 From Crisis to Clarity

• Losing his job at BlackRock and the moment his health collapsed

• How being in debt and housebound pushed him to take control of his finances

• Starting from scratch after moving to the UK with just £500

📈 Wealth Building Through Property

• Building a 9-property buy-to-let portfolio with a BRR strategy

• What he looks for in deals: cashflow, long-term demand, and sustainable lending

• Why he pivoted away from short-term lets in Edinburgh

📊 The Bigger Wealth Picture

• Why Taimur is just as passionate about stocks and pensions as property

• Understanding compound growth and why time in the market is more important than timing the market

• How small monthly investments add up to millions over time

🧠 Mindset & Financial Strategy

• Why more money doesn’t solve money problems—discipline does

• How to think like an investor, not a speculator

• The difference between income, wealth, and financial freedom

🧰 Tips for New Investors

• Don’t chase cashflow alone—look for balanced returns

• Invest in learning, not just property

• Think long-term and avoid get-rich-quick traps

This is a refreshingly honest and insightful conversation about building wealth slowly, understanding financial resilience, and why property is just one part of the bigger picture.

----------------------------------------------------Know someone looking to sell? Send the guys at Prime a message now: https://wa.me/447938603856----------------------------------------------------

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with John and Luis from Prime Property to explore what it really takes to build a successful career in the property industry. Fresh off a business development trip to Las Vegas, the duo shares what they learned from one of the top business minds in the world and how they’re applying it to grow their Glasgow-based business.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to work at Prime Property, how they train and incentivize their team, and why they believe building a high-performance sales culture is the key to long-term success. Whether you're a young person trying to break into the industry or an agency owner trying to attract top talent, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways.

🎯 Episode Highlights:

💼 Lessons from Las Vegas

• ​John and Luis reflect on the $20k business mastermind in Vegas
• ​Key insight: Identify the real bottleneck holding your business back
• ​How free value leads to long-term client trust and conversions

🚀 Careers in Property

• ​The real path for young people looking to get into property
• ​Why starting in a full-time job can fast-track your growth more than deal sourcing on the side
• ​Skills that matter most: coachability, confidence, communication

📞 Inside Prime Property

• ​What makes a top performer: 10+ property sales per month and a £10k payday
• ​Their transparent commission model and training systems
• ​Creating a culture of hustle, growth, and long-term opportunity

📊 Self-Employed Estate Agency Debate

• ​The pros and cons of the Keller Williams / EXP model
• ​Why low-value Scottish properties make self-employed models risky
• ​Building security and volume through a salaried + commission structure

👥 Recruiting and Building Teams

• ​The importance of video interviews, confidence, and likeability in hiring
• ​Why Prime looks for hungry individuals—not just qualifications
• ​How they support personal property investment within the team

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering a career in property—or those trying to grow and lead a property business. John and Luis bring energy, honesty, and real-world insights into what it takes to succeed. If you’re thinking of joining the industry or trying to level up your team, this is the roadmap.

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#scottishpropertypodcast #propertycareers #primeproperty #propertyjobs #salesculture #dealflow #lettingslife #propertyinvestmentuk #propertytraining #scotlandbusiness #estateagencycareer