The Scottish Property Podcast

🎙️ Episode Highlights🌍 From the Shetland Islands to Scaling a Business-Gavin shares what it was like growing up in the Shetland Islands and why leaving at 18 was almost inevitable if he wanted to build a business.-With limited local opportunities and a strong entrepreneurial drive, he moved south and began experimenting with online ventures early on.-Those early years laid the foundations for a mindset focused on independence, problem-solving, and long-term thinking.🏗️ Building Yatter to Sell — Not to Be the Face of It-After years of growing a personal brand, Gavin made the strategic decision to build Yatter as a business that could be sold without him.-He deliberately separated himself from the brand, focused on systems and processes, and avoided relying on his own profile to win work.-Every decision — from hiring to operations — was made with exitability in mind.👥 Hiring, Culture & Scaling to a 12-Person Team-Yatter grew methodically from a one-man band to a 12-person agency without external investment.-Gavin discusses why he often hired for attitude over experience and trained people internally.-He challenges the idea that culture is “values on a wall”, explaining that real culture is behaviour, energy, and how people feel walking into the office.🌐 The “Halo Effect” of Long-Term Marketing-Some of Yatter’s best clients didn’t convert for months — sometimes over a year — after first seeing ads.-Gavin describes the “halo effect”, where repeated exposure builds familiarity and trust long before a buying decision is made.-He explains why attribution is often misleading and why not everything that works can be tracked perfectly.🤖 AI, Personal Branding & Cutting Through the Noise-As AI-generated content explodes, Gavin believes personal branding is becoming more important, not less.-People are increasingly drawn to real voices, real experiences, and genuine opinions.-He shares how he uses AI as a thinking partner, productivity tool, and decision aid — while warning against relying on it to replace authenticity.💼 Selling Yatter — A One-Year Exit Process-Gavin walks through the reality of selling an agency, from hiring M&A advisors to packaging the business for buyers.-The deal took a full year and was completed one minute before midnight ahead of major tax changes.-He reflects on the emotional toll of the process and the relief that came with finally closing the deal.🏡 Property, Wealth & Why Business Came First-Although Gavin successfully renovated and flipped several properties, he chose not to scale a large portfolio.-He explains why, for him, capital and energy delivered better returns inside a business than in property.-Property became a wealth preserver rather than a growth vehicle — a strategic decision based on skillset and time.🧠 Life After Exit, Identity & What’s Next-After stepping away completely, Gavin shares the unexpected challenge of redefining identity without a business to run.-He talks openly about slowing down, spending time with family, and reintroducing sport and balance into daily life.-The episode closes with a look ahead to his next venture — a tech-led healthcare business built around solving real-world problems.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven jump on the mics for a no-guest, no-filter conversation covering what they’re seeing right now in the Scottish property market.From landlord sentiment and ADS frustrations, to interest rates, buyer behaviour, tenanted sales, and why so many people are quietly exiting the sector, this episode is a candid market update based on real conversations with investors, agents, and landlords across Scotland.It’s an honest, boots-on-the-ground discussion about what’s actually happening — not what headlines or politicians claim is happening.🎙️ Episode Highlights:📊 What’s Really Happening in the Scottish Property Market-Nick and Steven discuss how the market feels on the ground versus what’s reported in the media.-While demand is still strong in certain areas, confidence among landlords has clearly shifted.-Many investors are sitting on their hands, waiting for clarity around legislation, rates, and long-term direction.🏘️ Why So Many Landlords Are Selling Up-The guys unpack the growing number of landlords choosing to exit — not because property has “failed”, but because the rules keep changing.-ADS, tax pressure, compliance fatigue, and uncertainty are pushing small landlords to cash out.-This is especially true for older landlords who didn’t plan for constant legislative change.💷 Interest Rates, Stress Tests & Affordability-Discussion around how higher interest rates have changed deal analysis.-Stress testing is now non-negotiable — thin-margin deals no longer stack up.-Nick and Steven explain why yield matters more than ever, and why “hoping rates fall” isn’t a strategy.⚠️ The Ongoing ADS Problem-ADS continues to distort the market, especially for portfolio landlords.-The hosts explain how ADS discourages purchases of tenanted and empty homes — exactly the opposite of what’s needed to improve supply.-They highlight how simple policy tweaks could unlock thousands of properties without costing the government much at all.🏠 Selling Tenanted Properties: The Reality-Nick and Steven talk openly about the challenges landlords face when selling with tenants in situ.-Poor presentation, lack of documentation, and unrealistic pricing are common mistakes.-They also explain why specialist agents and realistic expectations are crucial in this part of the market.🧠 Why Education and Adaptability Matter More Than Ever-Those still doing well in the market are the ones adapting — not complaining.-The hosts stress the importance of understanding different strategies, cashflow models, and exit options.-Standing still in today’s market is effectively moving backwards.🗣️ Online Noise vs Real Life-Nick and Steven touch on how social media outrage and comment sections don’t reflect reality.-Most successful investors are quietly getting on with it, adjusting their models, and making rational decisions.-The loudest voices online are often the least active in the market.----------------------------------------------------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 Russel Godferry, a hands-on property investor who shares an honest account of navigating the realities of property investing through changing market conditions, COVID disruption, and shifting tenant behaviour.Russel talks openly about lessons learned from deals that didn’t go to plan, how his strategy evolved over time, and why resilience, adaptability, and realistic expectations matter far more than hype. This episode is a grounded, experience-led conversation that cuts through “Instagram property” and focuses on what actually happens once you’re in the game.🎙️ Episode Highlights🏠 Getting Started in Property — And the Reality CheckRussel shares how he entered property investing with optimism, only to quickly realise that real-world property is far messier than most online success stories suggest.Early assumptions were tested once properties were live, tenants moved in, and unexpected costs appeared.🦠 The Impact of COVID on Property PlansLike many investors, Russel saw plans disrupted almost overnight during COVID.The episode explores how lockdowns, uncertainty, and tenant issues forced rapid decision-making — and why flexibility became essential for survival.📉 When Deals Don’t Perform as ExpectedRussel speaks candidly about properties that underperformed and why projected numbers often fail to reflect reality.Void periods, maintenance, rent collection issues, and management challenges all played a role.🧠 Learning the Hard Way — Then AdaptingRather than quitting, Russel adjusted his approach.The conversation highlights the importance of learning from mistakes, reassessing assumptions, and not blindly copying strategies that worked for others in different markets or cycles.👥 Tenants, Communication & ExpectationsA strong focus is placed on tenant relationships and communication.Russel explains how misunderstandings, poor alignment, or lack of boundaries can quickly turn a “good deal” into a stressful one.📊 Why Numbers on Paper Aren’t the Whole StoryNick and Steven dig into why spreadsheet deals can look brilliant but still fail in practice.Operational reality, personal capacity, and tolerance for stress matter just as much as yield.🗣️ Honesty vs Hype in Property EducationThe episode challenges overly polished property narratives online.Russel’s experience reinforces that property success is rarely linear — and setbacks are normal, not failure.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Clark Adam, a 69-year-old property investor with one of the most fascinating life stories ever featured on the show. From growing up as a self-confessed “Ned” in Glasgow’s Cardonald, to joining the army at 15, to spending 25 years overseas protecting UK diplomats in some of the world’s most dangerous countries — Clark’s journey is anything but ordinary.After realising his pensions wouldn’t cover retirement, Clark began investing in buy-to-lets in 2008. Fast forward to today, he owns a high-cashflow portfolio in Montrose, earns close to £10,000 per month, and is part of an elite property group where only investors netting over £100k annually are allowed in. His favourite strategies now include serviced accommodation, long-term corporate lets, purchase with delayed completion, and upcoming moves into M&A and hotels.This episode is packed with wisdom, wild stories, and truly unique insights into risk, discipline, and building wealth later in life.🎙️ Episode Highlights🌟 From Glasgow “Ned” to Army CaptainClark grew up in Cardonald as part of the local gang “The Cardi”.Joining the army at 15 became his escape route — providing discipline, structure, and strong role models.He went on to become the Army Junior Squash Champion, played for the army, and was later sponsored for Sandhurst.A 14-week pre-Sandhurst programme taught him etiquette, culture, and public speaking — all funded by the taxpayer.🏘️ Starting Property to Fix a Pension Gap (2008)Clark began buying affordable buy-to-lets in Montrose, identifying early growth potential due to the deep-sea port and new bypass to Aberdeen.Properties were purchased for around £60,000, but early returns (£250–£300/month) weren’t enough — triggering his shift into property education.📚 £40,000+ Invested in Property EducationClark completed high-level training including Simon Zutshi’s masterminds.He believes every penny (plus the travel and hotel costs) has been worth it.Education accelerated his income from accidental landlord……to joining a club where members must net £100k per year.🏠 Serviced Accommodation & 5–10 Year Corporate ContractsServiced accommodation became Clark’s strongest strategy:One 3-bed Montrose property bought for £68,000 now earns £3,500 per month from wind farm contractors.He prefers long-term contracts with contractors, social housing providers, and insurance companies to eliminate tenant turnover.All his properties sit within the same DD10 8 postcode, making management effortless through his own local team.⚡ Why Montrose Is a Hidden Investment GoldmineMontrose is now a major hub for the North Sea wind sector.The construction of 72 new wind farms (Inchcape) brings huge contractor demand.Many workers prefer Clark’s properties over hotels for comfort and space — a major competitive advantage.🔧 Other Strategies: Rent-to-SA, Lease Options & PDCClark has completed:• rent-to-SA• converting BTLs into SA• purchase with delayed completion (PDC) — Scotland’s version of a lease optionWith PDC deals, he controls and refurbishes properties before final purchase.💰 The £100k Club — and Next Goal: £200kClark currently nets around £9,444 per month, slightly below £100k due to rising interest rates.His next milestone?The £200k Club, achieved through scaling serviced accommodation and long-term corporate leases.🏨 Next Moves: Hotels, Blocks of Flats & M&AClark is now eyeing larger acquisitions, including:• hotels• blocks of flats• major M&A opportunities in Scotland and EnglandHe’s inspired by peers already doing multimillion-pound deals.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Scott sits down with Portolio — Scotland’s specialist estate agency dedicated to selling tenanted properties. Since 2017, Portolio has carved out a unique position in the private rented sector by staying niche, focusing solely on tenant-in-situ sales, and championing transparency across the industry. In this conversation, Portolio breaks down how the market has shifted in 2025, why so many long-term landlords are exiting, and what serious investors truly look for today. From yields 📈 and fixed pricing, to MDR savings 💷, portfolio deals 🏘️ and industry ethics, Portolio gives a clear and honest look at what “fair sale price” means in the current market.🎙️ Episode Highlights🏡 How Portolio Built a Niche in Tenanted Property Sales• Launched in 2017 when tenant-in-situ sales were still uncommon• Built the business by staying niche, consistent and transparent• Focused solely on tenanted sales to build trust with investors and landlords👵➡️👨‍💼 Why Landlords Are Selling & Who’s Buying in 2025• Most landlord exits are driven by retirement after 20–30 years of ownership• Younger, more professional investors are now rapidly taking over the PRS• Buyers increasingly use limited companies to scale portfolios💰 Pricing, Yields & Setting Realistic Expectations• Portolio avoids inflated valuations and uses evidence-based pricing• Long-term stagnant rents can impact achievable yields and sale values• Some properties require rent reviews before a sale can succeed📌 How Fixed Pricing Speeds Up Sales• Fixed price avoids confusion and unrealistic offers• Serious investors act quickly when yields and numbers are clear• Many buyers now expect upper-6% or 7%+ gross yields due to lending conditions🧾 Why Proper Due Diligence Matters• Full compliance documentation is prepared before listing• Buyers get tenancy info, safety certs and rent statements upfront• Prevents surprises like arrears, missing paperwork or access issues----------------------------------------------------Know someone looking to sell? Send the guys at ⁠⁠⁠Prime⁠⁠⁠ a message now: ----------------------------------------------------⁠⁠⁠Follow us⁠⁠⁠ on all of our social media accounts and join our monthly networking events in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dundee!