A night to cherish & remember - West Midlands Property Tribes @IamaLandlord @LandlordTweets

[Vanessa]

WHAT A WONDERFUL EVENING!

Congratulations to Phil and Pat for organising the event.  I know the effort involved, so well done to you both!

Mary & Mark - WOW!!

Mary ... what can I say?  What an AMAZING lady!  So knowledgeable and experienced.  I learned more from your presentation than I have from the last 20 networking events I have attended.  So refreshing to hear your take on the reality of being a landlord.  My head was nodding all the way through.  You told us things that I have never heard of - important things.  It would be fab if you could write a short summary of your presentation mentioning things like the issue of holding keys, the landlord who quibbled over £15.00 and lost £30K as a result, and also the AST vs. Premium let issue.

I am so delighted that you will be joining us on the panel of the Great Landlords Brainstorm at the Property Investor Show.  You are a natural and authoritative speaker and I am so glad and honoured that you found your way to PT to contribute here.  When you spoke with such passion about how being on PT had changed your life, it brought tears to my eyes.  That is so gratifying for myself and Nick, I cannot express it in words.

Mark ... I am so proud of you and your story.  Of course I know it.  But to hear you speak it and feel your pain, passion, and commitment was a privilege.  Your strength of character and resolve to fight through such knocks was inspirational to say the least.  And then to learn your awesome news .... well, I was gobsmacked.  I recorded a video interview that Nick will post here as soon as possible to let the tribe know Mark's news.

Both Mary and Mark are inspirational people.  There is so much we can all learn from them.  Much love and respect.

The people in the room .... You are all stars in your own right.  Professional, experienced, committed, supportive, generous with sharing your knowledge.  It was lovely to meet so many tribes people in person and find out more about you.  You all have such incredible stories and you are all inspirational.  Don't go changing!

Nick and I were humbled that a little thing we started 2 years ago has blossomed into an event like WMPT and attracted the calibre of people that were in the room last night - 50 odd exceptional people who treat property like a business, tenants with respect, and want to work as a community to improve the image of the Landlord.

Thank you for the wonderful flowers and standing ovation that you gave to myself and Nick.

We very much appreciate it, but will never forget that PT would be nothing with you all.

Last night reinforced to me that:

1.  You can never learn less.

2.  There is strength in numbers.

3.  None of us is as smart as all of us.

4.  When people come together to share for the greater good of the community, magic happens.

... and not a "guru" in sight. :)

There was magic in the air last night.  Nick and I felt privileged to be part of it.

As Woody Allen said "80% of success is showing up".  Keep showing up at events like WMPT and PT and you'll be armed to survive the challenging times ahead.  You will have your friends around you to support you moving forwards.

Pictures and videos to follow when Nick gets back from golf. :)

I hope Pat and Phil will make this a regular event and we will support them in any way we can.

Original discussion about WMPT >>> here.

In five years time, I think we will look back and say "I was there, at the first ever meeting!".

Thank you one and all.

P.S.  Rich - we missed you.  So sorry you got stuck in traffic. x

[Richard Greenland]

Well all I can say is I'm GUTTED I missed out on this one. I left Bristol a bit late at 4.45 but should still have been OK. Then about 6 miles before junction 9 for Tewkesbury (where Nick Parkin resides) the traffic slowed and it took 1/2 hour or more to do the 6 miles. There were overhead warnings of Long Delays all the way to junction 5 because of an obstruction in the road. If I'd been staying over I'd probably have pressed on regardless, but I had to be back last night to babysit early this morning so I knew it just wasn't going to happen and turned round at the Tewkesbury exit. 

 

It sounds like an amazing night, I just wish I could have been there. Yes Mary if you can manage to post a few of your pearls of wisdom re Vanessa's suggestions 'the issue of holding keys, the landlord who quibbled over £15.00 and lost £30K as a result, and also the AST vs. Premium let issue.' I'd be very grateful. 

[MARY LATHAM]

Guess who feels humble now.

Last night I felt like I was being allowed to stay up with the grown ups, anyone of of the people that I spoke to would make a great speaker at future events.

The two guys who have been friends since early childhood and are building a sound property business together. A really wonderful example of two men, from different ethnicities, who share a trust, a fellowship and dream. I know just that their dream will come true and I look forward to following their journey together.

The lovely young couple who realise that together they have the skills that neither of them has alone. There were many examples of couples who succeeded through team work including the lovely Vanessa and Nick an inspiration to all young couples setting out on the rocky road to success.

The great couple, who travelled all the way from Stoke and who have worked hard for many years to provide a service for landlords in their area.  I look forward to meeting them again when I speak at Newcastle next week.

The guys, who are just beginning their journey into property, in the UK, and are keen to understand their obligations and opportunities before they set off.  If every landlord began like this the word Landlord who have a whole new meaning. They taught me about letting in the USA, which is entirely different to letting in the UK, and I had no idea about anything they taught me. Thank you

The guy to has the keys to open the doors to social networking and is willing to teach me all he knows. I really look forward to being the willing pupil.

The guy who has learned all there is to know about a niche market and does it so much better than so many providers.  This will be the growth market of the future and I look forward to working with him to bring his skills to other landlords.

The lovely landlords who are my friends and valued colleagues who make the lives of their tenants so good because they embrace the responsibilities that come with those rent payments.  They were my comfort blanket last night, as they have been so many times in the past, and I love them dearly.

There were so many stories in that room and I really want to hear them all when I come the WMPT meetings in future. I felt very proud and happy to be part of the community of landlords and especially the community of Property Tribes.

Well done Phil and Pat I look forward to seeing your post for the next event.

 

[Richard Greenland]

I'm not going to miss the next one, even if it means I have to leave at lunch-time. So disappointed to miss Mary's talk. Mark is great too, I've seen him twice already now in Ipswich with Angela, and at SWPT. And next time hopefully no babysitting commitment so I'll be able to stay for a few beers!

[MARY LATHAM]

There certainly were a few beers hahahaha

Richard Greenland said:

I'm not going to miss the next one, even if it means I have to leave at lunch-time. So disappointed to miss Mary's talk. Mark is great too, I've seen him twice already now in Ipswich with Angela, and at SWPT. And next time hopefully no babysitting commitment so I'll be able to stay for a few beers!

[Nick Parkin]

Richard Greenland said:

I'm not going to miss the next one, even if it means I have to leave at lunch-time. So disappointed to miss Mary's talk. Mark is great too, I've seen him twice already now in Ipswich with Angela, and at SWPT. And next time hopefully no babysitting commitment so I'll be able to stay for a few beers!

Aren't you going to LandlordSOS? That has to be THE event of the year seeing as there are local authorities there giving their advice on LHA claims, it's a wonderful location - I think great food & drink being laid on (plus it's free) . Plus I believe that our own Mary is one of the speakers!

 

I was booked up to go - in fact we were going to have a holiday in the Peak District based around it because I commited to go 6 months ago, however my inability to walk has restricted me somewhat. 

[Delroy Smith]

This is without a doubt the best property networking event Ive been to, I met so many people who were willing to chat with me and give me advice without starting the coversation "If you pay me £xxxx". The the evening was insperational and informative thanks to Mary and mark who were very aproachable, no nonsense, helpfull people.
I would also like to thank Pat and Phil who organised it and to those individuals who spoke to Stephen and myself  thank you for for welcoming us into this new found family. 
Nick and Vanessa great to see you their and what good people you are. Thanks for starting PT and bringing us all together.
I would just like to finish by saying I learnt so much that night and it has given me a clearer direction of what I need to do, where I want to go and most of all what I have to do to get there.

[Delroy Smith]

Sorry you couldnt make it Richard, I wanted to talk to you, but will catch you next time.

Richard Greenland said:

I'm not going to miss the next one, even if it means I have to leave at lunch-time. So disappointed to miss Mary's talk. Mark is great too, I've seen him twice already now in Ipswich with Angela, and at SWPT. And next time hopefully no babysitting commitment so I'll be able to stay for a few beers!

[Richard Greenland]

I am seriously considering it Nick. It's on Thursday, yes? I'm working on a couple of Nick Dare's houses in Barry next week, nothing major but the tenants have had a shower leaking thru the kitchen ceiling so I couldn't really put them off. Barry is even further from Stoke, but we'll see. 

Nick Parkin said:

Aren't you going to LandlordSOS? That has to be THE event of the year seeing as there are local authorities there giving their advice on LHA claims, it's a wonderful location - I think great food & drink being laid on (plus it's free) . Plus I believe that our own Mary is one of the speakers!

[Vanessa]

Thanks Delroy.  It was a pleasure to meet you too!  I hope you will contribute more to PT as you know more about property than you realise. :)

Good luck and keep moving forwards in your own style, which I thought was really sensible and well thought out.  x

[Mark Alexander]

None us us are in a fit state to play pool today! The hardcore didn't leave the bar until 3:15 am. It's took me until now to even think about looking at a computer screen.

 

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!

Susanne said:

sorry to have missed it all..   sounds like a good night was had by all.. is Pat Flatley still playing pool ??  (winks)

[Duncan Belton]

I finally got to bed at 4.30. What a fantastic night. Met some great people. Phil Wheeler gave us a dancing display with his lovely girlfriend, Pat gave us a lesson in how to drink and Mark can apparently walk on air.
My head still hurts.

[Steven Ball]

It was indeed a cracking night and I am really glad I travelled up for it; thanks to Virgin it was £13 each way on the train and took less than 3hrs door to door.  I would definitely do the trip again.   

 

BIG thank you to Pat (who looks bugger all like his photo), Phil (who looks just like his photo) and their good ladies for taking the trouble to organise it and to Mark and Mary for their very interesting talks.  Mary is a mine of information that many of us probably do not even realise exists; I had no idea that unless a tenant gives permission for us to do so the LL (or their LA) can not legally retain a copy of the key(s).

 

It was great to meet some PT'ers for the first time (Jai, Ravi, Steve Griffiths, Nicholas Dickinson, Mark and Phil Stewardson and of course Mary, Pat and Phil) and catch up with others I already know.  

 

Top tips:

1.  Do not get in to a Guinness drinking match with Pat.

2. Do not get in to a dance off with Phil (Wheeler), he and his good lady put on an impromptu seroc exhibition and they are VERY good.

3.  Unless you are reaaaaaaly hungry do not go for the Belly Busting Breakfast. 

 

One to remember that is for sure.

 

PS for Pat - I will change my photo shortly, hopefully it will be good enough for you.  LOL