How a 23-Year-Old Built a 40-Property Management Business

<p>How do you build a successful property business at just 23 without family wealth, substantial savings or years of property investment experience?</p><p>In this episode of <em>From The Ground Up</em>, Steve Doran sits down with former police officer and property entrepreneur <strong>Ellie Cockbain</strong> to uncover how she used rent-to-rent, serviced accommodation, contractor bookings, property management and private finance to build a rapidly growing property business.</p><p>Ellie explains how she went from joining Durham Constabulary at 18 to managing around 40 properties, with another six in the pipeline. She reveals why it took nine months to secure her first rent-to-rent deal, how networking three or four times a week helped her find landlords and why starting with accommodation demand was more important than finding properties.</p><p>She also shares how she walked onto construction sites carrying doughnuts and sausage rolls, returned to the same site three times and eventually secured a £56,000 contractor accommodation booking.</p><p>Want to learn more and find out how to transform your financial future in just two days? Connect with Steve via <strong>https://stevedoran.co.uk/home</strong></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Key Moments:</strong></p><p>0:00 How Ellie built a property business at 23</p><p>01:01 Managing around 40 properties with six more coming</p><p>02:21 Joining Durham Constabulary at 18</p><p>04:51 Discovering property and financial freedom</p><p>06:09 Why imperfect action beats perfect inaction</p><p>08:08 Being told she would never leave the police</p><p>09:57 How rent-to-rent property works</p><p>10:57 Taking nine months to secure her first deal</p><p>12:55 Networking three or four times every week</p><p>14:27 Securing three rent-to-rent deals in quick succession</p><p>15:20 How to approach property networking events</p><p>16:40 Why investors should start with accommodation demand</p><p>18:46 Growing a property management business through word of mouth</p><p>22:05 Building a business without a website or social media</p><p>22:59 Deciding to leave the police</p><p>24:51 Trusting yourself to generate your own income</p><p>28:52 Using a £15,000 credit card to furnish two properties</p><p>29:51 Making approximately £2,000 profit per property</p><p>32:44 How serviced accommodation management works</p><p>34:13 Finding contractor bookings on construction sites</p><p>36:11 Securing a £56,000 booking after three visits</p><p>38:48 Managing 40 properties with another six in the pipeline</p><p>39:12 Building a remote property management team</p><p>40:58 Finding her first property investment deal</p><p>43:01 Understanding leasehold, freehold and property valuations</p><p>44:29 Buying a property using £120,000 of private finance</p><p>45:43 Generating £2,800 per month from the property</p><p>47:09 Buying a non-standard construction property at auction</p><p>49:15 Why investors must check auction legal packs</p><p>51:42 Recovering her refurbishment costs and an additional £12,000</p><p>52:40 Launching the refurbished property on Airbnb</p><p>53:18 Dealing with solicitor and mortgage delays</p><p>56:40 Why resilience is essential in property</p><p>58:30 Overcoming personal hardship and refusing to make excuses</p><p>01:01:16 Changing the people and environment around you</p><p>01:08:14 Why you must back yourself and invest in education</p><p>01:09:29 Avoiding burnout and making time to switch off</p><p>01:11:58 How coaching helped Ellie progress faster</p><p>01:13:44 The reality of building a property business</p><p>01:15:27 Being a young female property investor</p><p>01:18:32 The qualities successful property investors share</p>