The Scottish Property Podcast

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Newlands, a 26-year-old accountant who rebuilt his finances and went on to build a 13-property portfolio after losing £30,000 in his early 20s.Adam shares a brutally honest account of how chasing “rent-to-rent” opportunities in England — influenced by online algorithms and high-profile property education — led to financial losses, compliance issues and hard lessons. But instead of quitting, he regrouped, refocused on Aberdeen, and built a sustainable business through deal sourcing and disciplined investing.This is a powerful conversation about resilience, accountability and why local knowledge always beats hype.

🔑 Key Highlights

💼 From Apprenticeship to Investor
Completed a modern apprenticeship with a large chartered accountancy firm in Elgin.

Qualified as an accountant before seriously pursuing property.

Took a different route from the common offshore career path in his hometown.

💸 The £30,000 Lesson
Invested in rent-to-rent service accommodation in Margate and Bath.

Projected £200 nightly rates turned into £90 realities.

Faced significant monthly losses and compliance issues.

Lost approximately £30,000 of personal savings by age 22.

Learned the dangers of relying on online “guru” projections without local knowledge.

🔄 The Pivot
Sought local, in-person education in Aberdeen.

Prioritised community and accountability over remote training.

Switched focus to deal sourcing to generate upfront capital.

🏘️ Aberdeen Opportunity
Identified strong opportunities in the Aberdeen flat market.

Secured their first profitable deal on Jasmine Terrace for a £1,500 fee.

Built momentum by finding credible deals first — then matching them with clients.

🚀 Portfolio Growth
Reinvested profits strategically.

Built to 13 properties by age 26.

Used early failure as fuel rather than an excuse to quit.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven sit down with Scott Miller, founder of Miller Estate Agents, for a no-holds-barred conversation about the reality of the estate agency industry, how it’s changing, and what sellers and buyers should actually be paying attention to.
Scott shares his journey from dropping out of university, to cutting his teeth in a corporate agency environment, becoming a top performer at Purplebricks, and eventually walking away from six-figure earnings to launch his own independent agency built around trust, service, and transparency.
This episode pulls back the curtain on the parts of estate agency most people never see — from upsells and awards, to commission pressure, portals, and the growing role of AI.
Scott explains how he entered the industry after leaving university, starting out at a family law firm–linked estate agency.
Over four years, he learned prospecting, valuations, and negotiation in a highly corporate environment — gaining volume experience but also seeing the limitations of the model.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

🚪 Breaking Into Estate Agency
Joining Purplebricks in 2017, Scott arrived during its peak as a major industry disruptor.
At just 27 years old, he was earning over £130,000 per year, handling extreme volume:
70–80 valuations per month

50–60 live sales

Supported by a wider team

However, the business model shifted — moving from a self-employed, high-reward structure to a salaried employed model with reduced earning potential, prompting Scott to reassess his future.

🚀 The Purplebricks Years
Scott made the leap to start Miller Estate Agents on just two weeks’ notice.
His approach was intentionally different:
A personal agency model

Only 6–10 clients per month

Direct contact with Scott from valuation to completion

🏗️ Launching Miller Estate Agents
The goal was simple: deliver a better service by avoiding volume overload.
Scott lifts the lid on industry practices many sellers aren’t aware of:
Some corporate firms make more profit from mortgage referrals than from selling homes

This can create conflicts of interest when advising buyers and sellers

Commission pressure can lead to overpricing just to win instructions

⚠️ The Shadier Side of Corporate Estate Agency
Scott is openly critical of industry awards where agents must pay thousands for tables and sponsorship to “win”.
He describes them as:
Misleading marketing

A racket that doesn’t reflect real service quality

Designed to impress consumers who don’t know how they work

Scott argues the industry needs stronger regulation:
To stop underqualified people entering estate agency

To prevent agents racing to the bottom on fees

To protect consumers from poor advice and service

🤖 The Future of Property & AI
Looking ahead, Scott discusses how AI could reshape property search, potentially allowing buyers to search across all agent websites using detailed criteria — reducing reliance on portals like Rightmove.
That said, he’s clear: agents still need to be where the buyers are, and for now, that means the major portals — with social media acting as a powerful supporting tool, not a replacement.

Episode OverviewIn this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Shanta, property expert, letting agent, and returning guest, for a deep dive into the Scottish property market at the start of 2026.Together, we unpack what’s really happening across sales, rentals, tax policy, and regulation — cutting through the noise to give landlords, investors, and property professionals a clear, on-the-ground view of where the market stands and what’s coming next.From flatlining rents and budget uncertainty, to Aberdeen’s standout performance and the rise of alternative investments like paddle courts, this episode is packed with insight you can actually use.

🔍 Episode Highlights

🏘️ Market Sentiment Across Scotland
Glasgow sales market remains steady but not buoyant
Standard stock continues to sell, while standout properties still attract closing dates and multiple offers
City-centre flats face more resistance compared to well-located suburban homes

💷 Rental Market Update
Scottish rents have largely levelled off, signalling the end of the post-COVID surge
Glasgow rents increased by just 0.6%, while Dundee saw a correction, with rents falling
Rising supply, affordability ceilings, and wage pressure are now capping rental growth

🧾 Scottish Budget & Tax Updates
Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) remains at 8%, despite rumours of a rise to 10%
New Council Tax Bands I & J (for £1m+ and £2m+ properties) set to begin in April 2028
Ongoing uncertainty around a potential 2% landlord income tax increase in 2027/28

📊 Smart Tax & Pension Planning
Mark shares how SASS pensions can be used to offset corporation tax
Directors can invest up to £60,000 per year, retaining profits within the business
A powerful strategy for long-term planning when used correctly

📈 Investment Opportunities to Watch
Paddle courts emerging as a fast-growing niche, especially in Glasgow — but roof height is critical
Aberdeen highlighted as one of the strongest investment locations in the UK, offering high yields and early signs of capital recovery

⚖️ New Regulations: Awaab’s Law
New landlord obligations around damp and mould, with stricter investigation and repair timelines
Emphasis on documentation, response times, and proactive property management
A major shift landlords need to prepare for ahead of expected implementation in late 2026

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven are joined by John and Luis from Prime Property Auctions to break down how their business has scaled rapidly, why auctions are becoming the go-to exit strategy for many landlords, and what really drives seller decisions in today’s market.
They reflect on a standout year for the business, discuss the realities behind auction volumes and growth, and lift the lid on the marketing, sales psychology, and lead-tracking systems that underpin their success. This episode offers a practical, behind-the-scenes look at how a modern auction house operates — and how investors can plug into it.

🎙️ Episode Highlights:

📈 2025 Performance & Business Growth
John and Luis recap a strong year for Prime Property Auctions, with the business doubling in size and revenue compared to 2024.
While monthly sales volumes naturally fluctuated, they achieved a record 38 completed sales in a single month, highlighting both demand and operational capacity.

📺 Why Prime Property Auctions Went Big on Marketing
A major theme of the episode is their deliberately aggressive marketing strategy.
The team explains why they invested in STV television advertising, alongside Facebook and online ads, to build brand credibility and trust with sellers at scale — particularly landlords who may not respond to traditional investor outreach.

📊 Tracking Leads From First Click to Sale
John and Luis outline how they use QR codes, attribution tools, and tracking software such as Hyros to understand exactly where leads originate.
This allows them to confidently measure ROI across TV and digital channels and double down on what actually converts into completed sales.

🧠 Founder-Led Trust & the Power of Personal Brand
Luis explains that as AI and automation level the playing field, service delivery alone is no longer enough.
People want to deal with real people they trust, especially when selling a property under pressure — making personal brand and visibility increasingly important.

📞 Sales Psychology: Speed Beats Negotiation
The team stress that conversion isn’t about haggling on price — it’s about solving the seller’s problem.
Speed is critical: Prime Property Auctions aim to contact new leads within one minute, dramatically increasing conversion rates.

🧲 Lead Generation for Investors With Time, Not Money
John shares a practical tactic for beginners.
A low-cost way to learn the market and generate income.

In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, Steven is joined by Fraser Walsh, an architect with over 20 years’ experience and co-founder of W9 Architects, to explore what really happens when investors move beyond buy-to-let and into commercial property and complex conversions.
Fraser shares a behind-the-scenes look at commercial-to-residential projects, planning risk, listed buildings, and why even seasoned investors can get caught out when scaling up. Drawing on his experience working with major housebuilders, Scottish Government, and his own property investments, Fraser explains how projects can be de-risked, phased, and structured to stack up financially.
This episode is packed with practical insight for investors looking to move into commercial conversions, apart-hotels, guest houses, and mixed-use projects — and avoid expensive mistakes along the way.

Episode Highlights:

Why commercial conversions are a completely different challenge from buy-to-let

The biggest risks investors underestimate when scaling up

How to buy property subject to planning to reduce exposure

Planning vs building warrant: what really causes delays and cost overruns

Fire safety, sprinklers, sound insulation, and compliance costs explained

How to assess whether a commercial building is viable — or a deal-breaker

The importance of phasing developments to create early cash flow

Lessons from large housebuilders that property investors can apply

How networking accelerates learning and unlocks unexpected opportunities