Nurture your network!

Today I had a breakthrough in my thinking that I wanted to share with you.

I learned the true value of being part of a network of like-minded people of a shared interest, in this case property development.

We are all bombarded every day with social media hype – and of course the likes of twitter and facebook allow us to connect and interact with many more people which is amazing.  However we need to remember that it is not about technology it is about people and always has been.  Communities both on and off-line are where we can find support and answers for any problem no matter how big or small… and mine was quite a big one!

I am a member of the Property Tribes Forum , a very busy landlord and investor community.

Today I was having a coffee with another member and asked her for input to my dilemma.  She did not know the answer… but she knew someone from her network that did.  His name was Phil Stewardson, a fellow developer based in the West Midlands.  My friend was able to get Phil on the phone straight away and he gave us some extremely helpful input which could potentially solve my quandary.

Photo caption:  Phil Stewardson (front) and his brother, Mark.

I would just like to acknowledge Phil and thank him for his kind input and hope I can return the favour one day.

So what I have learned is that being connected to one person actually makes me connected to everyone that they know and everybody that they know knows!

Surely this is the “purest” value of social media and is nothing new.  Humans have been sharing good information and good people since time began – but thanks to the web – we can now do it on a much bigger and much quicker scale.  We can tap in to a hive mind of knowledge and contacts that can help us and ignite serendipity along the way.

So don’t ever let lack of knowledge or contacts stop you moving forwards.  Nurture your network!

P.s  There is a video of Phil being interviewed by Property Tribes that you might be interested to watch.

Jane Skynner is a property developer who loves pokiez, specializing in eco-friendly family homes in S. W. London.  Jane is always delighted to hear from fellow property developers and anyone interested in JV’ing or investing in her projects.

 

Mob:  07970 515410   Email:  jane@janeskynner.com

 

Posted in Blog, Networking by / January 25th, 2012 / Comments Off on Nurture your network!

Ten things men should know about a woman when she buys a home:


– Women are in the financial driving seat as inevitably they book the viewing selections and make the final choice.

– Women shop a lot and always know what they want even though they never quite explain what it is.

– They also know the rest of the family’s wish list  – even if it has not been openly discussed.

– Women are social animals and excellent at networking so they generally have a good knowledge of the area they are looking in or at least know of someone who does.

(This includes knowledge of the best schools and crucially their selection criteria.)

–  the kitchen is always key; attention to where the washing will be dried, how big the fridge/freezer is and what is the make of the oven, is weighed up in a nano- second?

– Upstairs – wardrobe space counts – storage everywhere is an essential ingredient.

– Good light in the bedroom or ensuite’ matters.

– Shower or bath – preferably both, must have a hand- hose for hair washing.

– Consideration of fairness of bedroom size for the children – at this stage the majority of her existing furniture will already be imagined in place.

– And once outside, is the garden big enough for the children?

Ten things a man considers when he buys a homeclick here

Jane Skynner is a property developer specializing in eco-friendly family homes in S. W. London.  Jane is always delighted to hear from fellow property developers and anyone interested in JV’ing or investing in her projects.

Mob:  07970 515410   Email:  jane@janeskynner.com

Posted in Blog, ten things by / May 11th, 2011 / 1 Comment »

Ten things a man considers when he buys a home:

– What is the cable and broadband access like?

– How old is the boiler?

– What is the water pressure like in the shower?

– How big is the loft and is it easy to get too?

– And probably the most important consideration inside – where will the sofa and the plasma fit?

– And once outside – how much lawn is there to mow and where are the dustbins kept?

– Only a momentary thought – is there enough outdoor space to squeeze in an extra motor – sometime in the distant future?

– And finally when he leaves – does the roof look sound?

– He wonders how much the council tax is?

– If at all interested, he then enquires how competitively priced the house is?

Ten things men should know about a woman when she buys a homeclick here

Posted in Blog, ten things by / May 11th, 2011 / 1 Comment »