The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Property Investing: A Day in the Life

Today was one of those maddening days. I don't know what image you have of a property investor, but many people picture them just like a forex trader or stock investor, surrounded by glamour and wealth. Well, let me tell you, it’s not like that. Today, I felt more like the builder's apprentice, but with the added stress of potentially paying for a wasted day with no work done.

Here's how my day unfolded:

I bought a property on auction, thinking it would be a quick flip. Unfortunately, we discovered it had rising damp that I didn’t spot initially. But no worries, I got it at a good price and had factored in some unexpected costs. I found a reputable company specializing in damp proofing, and today they arrived, ready to get the job done. They weren’t local, but they were specialists, so I was optimistic.

We met at the property, and surprise! No electricity.

I don’t live locally, so I assumed that switching the utilities would be straightforward. It wasn’t. The property had one of those prepaid meters that you need to top up. So, with the entire team waiting, I had to figure out how to top it up.

Now, I’m a software engineer, but this task felt like rocket science. I had to google instructions, make multiple phone calls, and finally managed to top up the meter. The payment obviously went through immediately (to take money suppliers are always very efficient!), but still no power.

More calls, more waiting. Everything was supposedly fine on the utility company's end, but still no electricity. Meanwhile, the team was getting nervous, and I was lying on the floor, trying to follow the reset instructions for the meter.

Long story short, I eventually found out there was an unpaid balance on the meter. Once I paid it off, the electricity came on. I have no idea how to reclaim that ￡67 from the previous owner, but it’s probably a lost cause. At least the team could start working, and I finally made it to Starbucks, where I could connect my laptop and do something more rewarding.

Moral of the story: property investing isn’t always glamorous, but hey, at least I got my coffee fix!???????