Takeaways from my from my experience as a Judge at the Property Investor Awards ceremony & dinner 2022

As a regular judge for the I was enthralled to be able to attend the first in-room award ceremony dinner since Covid-19 and the lockdowns that followed.?

We started off well with the event being hosted at a new location and the atmosphere was excellent. The ballroom and anti-chamber at the Grosvenor Square Hotel in Mayfair was an excellent choice to kick off the in-room live event.

Fortunately I arrived early to attend a pre-drinks session with some peers and of course to catch the world cup action with France and Denmark. Another reason for attending the event early was to make it in time to go through the running order for the evening.

As well as having the pleasure of being one of the judges for the awards, I get the added fun and benefit of providing some of the entertainment for the evening.

Why be a Judge for an industry level awards platform?

For me the decision to join the judging panel for the Property Investor Awards was fairly simple. My decision was based around the following considerations;

1. I love doing deals, I love looking at deals to do and I love seeing deals that others are doing.?
2. The quality of the other judges and the organiser’s certainly had a positive impact in my decision to join the panel.
3. Learning opportunity! Some of the deals are either structured, managed or concluded in really interesting/ unique/ creative ways. Seeing these things in practice adds greatly to my knowledge of what is possible and what it looks like in real terms.

What do I like most about the two judging days and the celebration ceremony/ dinner?

The judging days are insane! That seems like a good place to start from.?

It is two all-day, full-day sessions which are jam packed with reviewing applications, winding up Ranjan and arguing the toss on some applications and the merits of those applications as well as sitting back in awe when you uncover something blindingly brilliant that someone has structured, done or achieved which sets their deal apart from all others in the field (happens more often that you’d think).

We are well looked after in the offices of Howard Kennedy LLP and I probably eat more than I speak whilst I am there (ok, that's not true). It is a very good opportunity to catch up with the other judges. What deals are happening, what plans they have for the year to come, what they are seeing in the market and what deals they have found the most interesting.

No meeting or such minds can be concluded without topping the two days off with a drink and a bite to eat. The chats after the two days are done are absolutely dripping with gold. I hear that? there are a few more judges joining the panel and I am super excited about it.

The awards dinner is a spectacle, or at least I’m a spectacle at the awards ceremony!

Let me start by saying that by the time the awards ceremony arrives, I can hardly remember the scores I gave each of the applications and I have no idea what the other judges have scored anyone.

The mystery is intensified with every day that passes from the judging days to the awards evening. This year was a completely sold out room, packed with applicants, finalists, solicitors, accountants, friends, family, property investors and developers and people maybe looking to apply next year!

Ten awards are handed out and ten judges along with Helen Chorley and Ranjan Bhattacharya (co-hosts) declare the winners and hand out the awards. Not forgetting the organiser Cyril Thomas (and crew)? of the Property Investors Bureau (PIB) who put the whole thing together and who this year celebrated the 14th year anniversary of the Property Investor Awards.

One of the benefits of being a judge is getting to hand out an award at the awards evening. This year I had the opportunity to hand out the award for Trader of the Year. This is especially meaningful as not only have I been a property trader for a little over 20 years but, a good friend of mine Saif Derzi was a finalist, and I thought it would have been amazing to hand him the award, should he be the winner.?

Saif and his team at SDGB Properties did win this award and it was a great pleasure announcing they had won and handing over the award. They should also get the award for the most enthusiastic celebration of the evening. Narrowly beating Xaun’s dancing to the stage and Max Scott's table and the noise they had created when he won property investor of the year.

There were a number of the award categories that I had recused myself of judging as some of the applicants, then finalists and eventual winners had either attended workshops, international retreats or been members of our Auction Buyers Club.?

Although I had no hand in the deals that they had submitted and most of them hadn’t worked with us for quite some time, I wanted them to apply and win without there being any claim of favouritism or bring a shadow over their accomplishment, so I abstained from judging their or their competitors submissions.?

So proud of Xuan Meng who was the only double award winner at the awards this year for best HMO (six rooms or more) and HMO Investor of the year awards.?

It was also great to see other real estate friends winning awards. Manni Chopra of Chopra Property Group and Jack Jiggens & Ben Richards of XP Property. It was great to see so many new applicants and first time winners breaking through with some amazing deals, investments and projects.

Bonus: Entertainment, Networking & Frivolity?

When I say entertainment, what I really mean is, I get up on stage throughout the evening and generally make a fool of myself. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy it - but I’m unlikely to win either Britain's Got Talent or The X-Factor.

We start with a fun game of heads or tails as an icebreaker for the room - this involves flipping a coin into the air (note to self - bring a coin next year) and telling the attendees to pick either heads or tails. If they choose heads - they put their hands on their heads. If they choose tails they put their hands on their derrière’s.?

We keep flipping until we are down to the last ten or so and then invite them up to the stage to embarrass them a little further. The winner this year was Mark Lloyd who beat 499 others to take the bow.

Normally we run the heads and tails game as a fun way to raise money for a worthy cause. If anyone has any suggestions, I’ll be happy to forward them on to Cyril and the team for next year.

Between the Saxophonist, the DJ and AV guys, there is always a good vibe in place throughout the evening. This year we had a real feast for the eyes with an interpretive dance duo, who really blew me away.?

I love going to an event where I know everybody, I really enjoy going to events where I don’t know anyone at all. At the awards this year, it was equal parts I know everyone on that table and who the f*ck is that… let me go say hello.?

To signal the end of the awards and the start of the party, I kicked things off with a conga-line (shout out to the blonde who snuck to the front and dragged me around the room twice! Loved your energy, don’t tell my wife).

My best tips for networking at the awards dinner?

1. Rugby tackle the winners and find out more about them and the deal/s they did that got them the trophy.
2. Seek out the finalists and do the same. Find out more about them and the deal/s that got the recognition of making it as a finalist.
3. Rugby tackle the judges and ask them what was their favorite award category, deal or personality.?
4. Drink (doesn't have to be alcohol, but it helps), dance (the conga-line is mandatory) and talk to people.
5. Smile and the world smiles with you.

Overall, I have to say it was fantastic being back to in-person events like these and the team really did pull it off without a hitch. So happy for all of the finalists and the winners for all they have achieved.

The whole evening was made all the more better for being sat with fellow judge Helen Chorley at the Property Sisters UK table with the likes of Jo Lightfoot - The Human Battery Charger ? ? , Amy Rowlinson , Jessica Macaulay and Dominic Ormonroyd - good quality bunch and a good laugh.

I have no doubt that you, dear reader - can do an amazing deal, that is award winning in its procurement, delivery and exit! That you could be there next year, celebrating with a room full of people who want to see you succeed.

See listed winner's below