One of the biggest lessons my property journey has taught me is that sometimes the strongest funding source for your next deal can come from a business you built outside of property. I’ve owned my online pet brand for years, and over time, it became much more than just another business. The income it generated gave me something I really valued in property: flexibility. When the right opportunity came up, I didn’t always have to start thinking about mortgages, finding a JV partner, or taking out a loan just to make the numbers work. There were deals where the cash flow from my business helped provide the capital I needed to move forward. And that completely changed how I looked at property investing. I stopped thinking: “How can I find someone to fund this deal?” And started thinking: “How can I build businesses and income streams that give me the ability to fund my own opportunities?” I’m not saying property should be replaced by another business. For me, the two actually complemented each other. Property created long-term opportunities, while my pet brand provided an additional source of income that could be put back into those opportunities. That experience really changed my perspective on diversification. Sometimes the goal isn't simply to find more ways to borrow money. Sometimes it’s about building something that gives you more options when the right opportunity comes along.

Income expansion isn’t always about working harder. Sometimes it’s about thinking differently. One thing I’ve been reflecting on lately is how easy it is to think of an additional income stream as simply: “Let me start another business.” And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, starting something new can completely change your financial trajectory. But I think the bigger question is: What kind of income stream are you building, and what can it eventually do for you? A good additional income stream can become more than money coming in each month. It can give you: - More flexibility in the decisions you make - Capital to reinvest into other opportunities - A stronger financial cushion - The ability to fund projects without constantly relying on outside sources - Another asset that can grow alongside your main business That last part is something I find particularly interesting. Sometimes the real value of building another business isn’t the income it produces today. It’s what that income allows you to do tomorrow. So when thinking about expanding your income, perhaps the question isn’t just: “What can I start?” Maybe it’s: “What could I build that creates opportunities for the next thing I want to accomplish?” So, when you think about creating an additional income stream, are you mainly looking at extra monthly income, or are you thinking about what that income could eventually help you build?

One thing property investing has taught me is that the spreadsheet can tell you whether a deal makes sense on paper, but experience can sometimes tell you what the spreadsheet is missing. Earlier on, I found myself focusing heavily on the obvious numbers, purchase price, rental income, costs, yield and projected returns. Over time, I started paying much more attention to the things that don't always fit neatly into a spreadsheet: - How realistic the assumptions actually are - The condition and potential of the property - The area and tenant demand - How motivated the other party really is - The people involved in the transaction - What could go wrong that isn't immediately visible in the figures That doesn't mean ignoring the numbers. Quite the opposite. For me, the numbers are still the starting point. Experience simply helps me ask better questions about those numbers before making a decision. Sometimes a deal that looks great on paper has too many unknowns. Other times, a deal that initially looks average becomes interesting once you understand the situation behind it. I'm still learning from every deal and, honestly, I think that's one of the most valuable parts of property investing. For those of you with some experience in property, when have you trusted your judgement or experience over what the spreadsheet was telling you, and how did it turn out?

I’m based in the UK and have been involved in real estate investing for a while, with a particular interest in apartments. I’ve had the opportunity to work on and complete a number of deals over the years, and each one has taught me something different. Alongside property, I’m also interested in business growth, the digital space, and networking with ambitious people. I’m also the owner of a pet brand, so there’s usually something keeping me busy! I’ve only recently joined Skool, so I’m mainly here to meet good people, learn how others are approaching things, exchange ideas, and be part of the community. Looking forward to getting to know everyone. Where is everyone based, and what are you currently working on?

One thing property has taught me over the years is that a deal can look very attractive on paper and still have something underneath it that changes the whole picture. Earlier on, I was much more focused on the obvious numbers, purchase price, projected returns, rental income, and the overall opportunity. With experience, I’ve become much more interested in the things that aren’t immediately obvious. - Sometimes it’s the assumptions behind the numbers. - Sometimes it’s the condition of the property. - Sometimes it’s the area, the people involved, the financing, or what happens if the original plan doesn’t go exactly as expected. I’ve found that some of the most valuable lessons in property don’t come from the deals that go perfectly. They come from the ones that make you stop afterwards and think, “I should have looked at that much earlier.” I'd like to hear from those who have been investing for a while: What’s one thing you now check on a property deal that you didn’t pay much attention to when you first started?