JOINED PLATINUM
PROPERTY PARTNERS
2014
PREVIOUS
CAREER
Teacher
PORTFOLIO
LOCATION
Luton
NUMBER OF
HMOS
4
BIGGEST
BENEFIT
Support
Support along every step of the way
Throughout her six years as a Platinum Franchise Partner, Laoise has called upon all of Platinum’s in-house experts and followed the business model intently as she grew her HMO portfolio.
Indeed, joining the franchise has turned her into blossoming networker – something she admits was way out of her comfort zone.
“Every stage of the journey, I’ve had help,” she says.
“I’ve had support and have had amazing chats with people at the regional meetings we have. I always pick up useful tips because I’m always so busy running around talking to people at the events Platinum holds.
“It’s absolutely brilliant. I never saw myself as much of a networker and I used to shy away from that, but there is a natural network at Platinum and you just feel really part of it.
“People are really helpful and often they want your advice too, so being able to help others is fantastic.”
“I reaped all the benefits of the training and processes that come with doing this through Platinum and as well as it paying off financially, it’s also paid off mentally and physically.”
Taking the plunge
Laoise, however, admits she was faced with a major dilemma and a degree of scepticism before taking the plunge and joining the franchise back in 2014.
While the numbers stacked up for her in her Luton investment area and there was a clear pathway to superb returns and a great income from her properties, the initial financial commitment of doing property investment through a franchise was a scary prospect.
“It was a bit like The Matrix,” laughs Laoise.
“There was a blue pill and a red pill and I had to decide whether to take one and put all this initial money down, or take the other and wake up thinking it was all a dream!
“There was a little part of my brain that was sceptical. You look at the business plan and you can see you’ll get back your money in a certain amount of time and then some, but there’s always that part of your brain there because of the amount of money involved.
“But I can say now that there was a return on investment very quickly.”
Not only that, Laoise admits the prospect of investing in HMO property on her own was a risk she would never have been prepared to take.
“I would have given up after a year, I think,” she admits.
“I don’t think I would have even got to my first house because I know there would have been so many things I’d have struggled with.
“I reaped all the benefits of the training and processes that come with doing this through Platinum and as well as it paying off financially, it’s also paid off mentally and physically.
“I’ve always been a healthy person, but I’ve really loved getting involved with all the health programmes Platinum run and the things they’ve championed over the past few years.
“Joining has given me a lifestyle, not just financial security. It’s not just about the HMOs – it’s far more rounded than that.”
As well as those health, lifestyle and financial benefits, Laoise has also bought into Platinum’s quest to make all their Franchise Partners’ properties eco-friendlier and more sustainable.
“After my first year with the franchise, I decided to buy all my tenants Christmas presents,” says Laoise.
“I went into Lush and bought them a whole load of plastic-free soaps and they went down really, really well.
“Since then, I always buy new housemates a glass water bottle and recyclable straws and all those things have encouraged them to be more eco-conscious, too.
“My houses are all doing so well on the eco, sustainability side and one house even collects things to give to charity, like old shoes and clothes. There’s a real ethos of ‘Re-use, Recycle, Reduce’, which is amazing.”
