Rye dad wins through to final stages of X Factor-style competition for property investors
Richard
Snell is hoping to make a million by the end of 2019 after entering a
competition organised by a property wealth education and training company.
The dad from
Rye, in East Sussex, is one of 40 contestants who entered the Millionaire Maker
challenge at the start of the year and, after passing an audition, he’s being
mentored by judges before facing a public vote in December.
The aim of
the contest, organised by Doncaster-based Touchstone Education, is to help as
many contestants as possible to generate a turnover of £1million or more.
The first to
reach the target will receive a VIP package worth £15,000, including an
all-expenses paid trip to a Formula One race weekend with Touchstone.
Richard, 63,
who lives in a converted barn on a farm near Hastings with partner Andrew
Templeton, 59, and their 17-month-old son James, has been a property investor
since 2004.
He has a
portfolio of more than 100 properties, equally split between buy-to-let and
houses of multiple occupancy (HMO) as well as some commercial projects at
locations from London to Edinburgh.
The businessman,
who has a London-based office but works from home as much as he can, hopes to
top the £1million mark by converting former commercial properties into
residential flats as part of a joint venture (JV).
Richard, who
let his first property in 1994, said: “Millionaire Maker has already
significantly boosted my knowledge and networks, further turbo-charging my
property journey. Whether I win or not, I’ll have learnt so much and be so much
further ahead in my property business I feel I've won a big prize already.”
He added: “I’ll
need to raise my game to win but it will give me the financial freedom to start
giving back - to my family, to the property community and to causes like
conservation and education in South Africa where I grew up.”
In January
competitors submitted business plans and each was asked to explain what they
wanted from the process and what they hoped to achieve, other than to make
money.
A final
group of 25 was selected by judges, based on the quality of their submissions
and on their determination to succeed.
They have
been split into two teams, one mentored by Touchstone’s Chief Executive, Paul
Smith and Managing Director Abi Hookway, and the other by Paul’s wife and
business partner, Aniko, and the company’s Commercial Director Gordon Dutfield,
with each battling to produce the first millionaire.
After
visiting judges’ houses for an intensive training weekend, the contestants are
now putting their business plans into practice with help and advice from
mentors during weekly catch-up sessions. Each contestant is keeping a video
diary to provide a record of their investment journey.
Touchstone, which
runs courses and seminars across the UK focused on investment in property,
launched the competition as a way of bringing investors together to share their
experiences and expertise.
Paul said: “We’re always looking for new ways to impart our knowledge and this X-Factor style competition helps to generate some energy and excitement around the process.
“By adding a competitive edge, there’s an added incentive for our investors, with help from our staff, to push themselves further to make their property portfolios worker harder for them.”
He added: “We’ve already seen some early wins for our investors and, even at this early stage, several are on course to reach the £1million mark by the end of the year.”
For more information or high-resolution photographs please email carlos@carlosalbamedia.co.uk or telephone 0141 637 6399 or 07880505647
Notes:
- Touchstone, founded by Paul and Aniko Smith in 2004, promises ‘freedom through knowledge’ with a series of training courses, ranging from an online webinar to ongoing monthly learning as well as masterclasses and other learning materials.
- It is the first provider of wealth education training in the UK to be certified by the CPD Certification Service.
- The company operates a series of Six figure Summit throughout the year across the UK where learned spend two full days of intensive training with Touchstone Education’s top professionals where they are given access to high value knowledge about proven property investment strategies.
- Delegates who wish to learn more can attend follow-on specialist workshops on topics such as serviced accommodation and commercial portfolio management.
- All the course materials are created in-house and owned by the company. As well as trading in the UK, there are plans to introduce Touchstone courses in the US, Europe and the Middle East.