Roothome Journey: From Accidental Entrepreneurs to Property Powerhouse

Ever wonder how a couple of childhood friends ended up running a successful property investment company? Well, grab a cup of coffee and let me tell you our story. It's been quite a ride!

The Spark That Started It All

Picture this: It's about 3.5 years ago, and we're sitting in our property coach's office. He gives us a nudge and says, "Hey, have you guys ever thought about looking into social housing?" We hadn't, but that simple question set us on a path that would change everything.

We did some digging and thought, "You know what? This could work." We already knew a thing or two about finding good property deals, so we figured we'd give it a shot. Low risk, potentially high reward - why not, right?

Rewind: Our Accidental Start in 2008

But let's back up a bit. Our knack for sniffing out great property deals? That skill was born way back in 2008. We were young, eager, and really good at finding fantastic properties. The only problem? We didn't have the cash to buy them ourselves.

So, we got creative. We started matching these deals with people who did have the money. Before we knew it, we had investors coming to us with "shopping lists" of what they wanted. Talk about falling into a niche!

Learning the Hard Way (But Hey, We Learned!)

Now, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. We've had our fair share of facepalm moments:

• There was the time we accidentally got our largest housing partner excited about 900 units when we were just asking for a quick check. Oops!
• Or the provider who suddenly slashed rental rates by a third because some number-cruncher thought they weren't making enough money. (Spoiler: It backfired on them.)
• And who could forget the Wirral council fire-door drama? Nothing like a bit of small-town politics to spice things up!

But you know what? Each of these hiccups taught us something valuable. We learned how to navigate tricky situations, how to stand our ground when needed, and most importantly, how to keep our sense of humour through it all.

The Wins (Because Those are Way More Fun to Talk About)

It hasn't all been drama and learning experiences. We've had our share of wins too:

• We've built up a portfolio of 70 HMO units (though we quickly learned that "professional" tenants aren't always as professional as you'd hope).
• We've flipped bungalows (and learned some hard lessons about market timing).
• We've even had some lucky breaks, like the auction sale that turned out to be one of the highest returning properties the auctioneers had ever seen. Sometimes, it pays to just roll with the punches!

The Secret to Our Success? Teamwork (and a Bit of History)

Here's a fun fact: we've known each other since we were kids. Our mums moms went to school together, so we've pretty much always been in each other's lives. When it comes to business, we've been working as a team consistently since 2008. Sure, we've done some projects with other people, but at the end of the day, it's always been us two at the core.

Giving Back and Paying It Forward

As we've grown, we've made it a point to share what we've learned. We've even done some "moonlighting" for the real estate training company where we first learned the ropes. Every six weeks or so, we'd go back and share our experiences with the newbies. It feels good to help others avoid some of the pitfalls we stumbled into.

What We've Learned Along the Way

If there's one thing we've figured out, it's the importance of systems and processes. Being able to efficiently handle a large volume of leads has been key to our growth. We've also developed a kind of sixth sense for who to work with (and more importantly, who to avoid).

Oh, and remember our first project on Roslyn St? We decided to do the renovation ourselves to "learn how." Let's just say we learned a lot about opportunity cost and the value of hiring professionals!

Looking Forward

So, what's next for us? Well, we're always looking for new opportunities and ways to grow. We've built a strong reputation in the industry, and we're proud of the relationships we've fostered. People are now approaching us to collaborate, which is incredibly exciting.

At the end of the day, what keeps us going is knowing that we've consistently delivered for our investors. We've never lost an investor's money, and we've always met our agreed terms. It's not just about making money for us - it's about building trust and creating value for everyone involved.

So there you have it - the story of how two childhood friends stumbled into the property investment world and managed to build something pretty special. It's been a wild ride, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Expanding Horizons: Scaling Up for Future Success

As our property investment ventures have grown, so too has our organisational structure. We've strategically expanded our team to include dedicated back office staff, experienced project managers, and most recently, a Commercial & Operational Director. This robust team structure enables us to enhance our focus and improve outcomes across an expanded geographic area, significantly accelerating our deal flow and project execution capabilities.

Building a Strong Foundation

Our growth from a small partnership to a comprehensive property investment firm has been both exciting and strategic. The addition of key personnel has been crucial in supporting our expansion:

1. Back Office Staff: Ensuring smooth day-to-day operations and administrative efficiency.
2. Project Managers: Overseeing the successful execution of our property developments and renovations.
3. Commercial & Operational Director: Providing strategic oversight and optimising our business processes.

This team expansion has been instrumental in allowing us to broaden our scope, enter new markets, and take on more ambitious projects while maintaining our commitment to quality and investor satisfaction.

Strategic Developments and Future Plans

As we look to the future, we're focusing on several key initiatives to drive growth and capitalise on market opportunities:

1. Capital Raise: We're actively preparing for a significant capital raise to fuel our expansion plans. This influx of investment will allow us to scale our operations and pursue larger, more impactful projects.
2. Expanding Our Network: We're actively engaging with landlords who are considering selling their property portfolios. This initiative aims to increase our property acquisition pipeline and provide mutually beneficial solutions for property owners looking to divest.
3. New Partnerships: We're forging relationships with housing providers who require leased properties. These partnerships will allow us to expand our reach and provide valuable solutions in the housing sector.
4. Brand Evolution: Recognizing our company's growth and expanded capabilities, we're undertaking a rebranding effort. This refresh will better reflect our current scope of services and market position.
5. Yield/Turnkey Buyer Focus: We're developing new strategies to engage with yield-seeking and turnkey property buyers. This growing market segment presents significant opportunities for expansion and diversification of our client base.

Join Our Journey

As we continue to evolve and expand our capabilities, we invite you to explore potential collaborations with us. Whether you're an investor seeking opportunities, a property owner considering your options, or a business looking for strategic partnerships, we're eager to discuss how we can achieve mutual success in the dynamic property market.

Our journey from a small partnership to a growing property investment firm has been marked by strategic growth, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to creating value for our investors, partners, and the communities we serve.

We welcome you to connect with us and discover how our expertise and innovative approach to property investment can align with your goals. Together, we can navigate the exciting opportunities in today's real estate market and build a prosperous future.