All under one roof: how we are helping a DIY expert grow a property portfolio

The experience of a happy landlord is a prime example of why Chinneck Shaw is the agency to come to for all your property requirements.

James McGuire bought a three-bedroom house in Kingsley Road, Southsea, we were marketing in the summer of 2021.

Having honed his renovating skills on properties he had previously lived in, James was keen to turn his new acquisition into a really desirable family home he could put on the rental market.

“When I bought the house, I could see the potential,” James explains in an article in the magazine Southsea Lifestyle. “I used to live in the next road up and I knew the area well. I knew it was a nice place to live in with schools and a park nearby and only a short distance to the beach.”

James, who comes from an electrical career background, did around half of the renovation work himself. For major works such as knocking a wall through from the dining room into the small kitchen, he had help from a friend who has a building company.

“I must admit I did get quite a kick out of seeing the transformation,” James said.

When the work was finished and the house was ready, he decided to turn to Chinneck Shaw to help him find a tenant.

In fact, he was so pleased with the service he received from us when he was buying Kingsley Road, he asked us to look after his wider property portfolio.

“They are the best estate agents I have ever dealt with,” he said of Chinneck Shaw. “I get along with them all so well. That’s why I asked them to manage my properties and help me find tenants for my houses.”

Discussing his move from DIY expert to property portfolio holder, James explained: “I started off with my own houses. I renovated the first one and sold that and then did that a few times until I built up a substantial fund when I sold my house in Drayton. That allowed me to invest in the Kingsley Road property and I’m now on the lookout for more properties.

“I’m doing this for the long term. I don’t want to have to work until I’m 70. When it comes to my retirement, if I can get half a dozen properties that then allow me to chill out somewhere with a glass of sangria, then that’s what I want to be doing when I reach a certain age.”

Our Property Manager Joe Rocks told Southsea Lifestyle: “We are really proud to be working with James and to share in this journey with him, from him buying a property and seeing the progress as he renovated it, right through to the end result and us finding him a tenant.

“The transformation of Kingsley Road had to be seen to be believed. James worked really hard and the quality of work and attention to detail is amazing. It really paid off and a tenant was found quickly.

“As managing agents, we share the values of our clients and work with them to ensure their property portfolios achieve the best results.”

For more information on how Chinneck Shaw can help you as a landlord, visit our ‘Let’ pages. You can also stay up to date by receiving our quarterly newsletter.

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