Overview
Our latest NAPSA Member Spotlight, focus’s on Nick Leadbetter, one of the Directors of North West based Eight Property Group and how he and his wife Sarah got into property sourcing and what advice he would give to others looking to enter the property sourcing sector.
About Eight Property Group
Based in Blackpool, we’re your gateway to the North West’s lucrative property market – a region famed for low entry costs, high yields, and abundant stock. Our decade of local investing experience is your key to success across Lancashire and beyond.
From sourcing high-potential properties to bespoke portfolio building, we offer a comprehensive, personalised service with options for hands-off investment for passive income seekers.
Whether you’re looking to acquire turn-key properties for Buy-To-Let (BTL), properties to add value through the Buy, Refurbish, Refinance, Rent (BRRR) model or properties to flip and sell, we’ve got you covered.
At EPG, we’re not just building portfolios; we’re creating financial freedom, beautiful homes, and brighter futures for investors and communities alike.
Geographical Area: North West – Lancashire, Liverpool & Manchester
Focus Strategies: Buy-To-Let (BTL), Buy Refurb Renovate (BRR), Flip
What does NAPSA Membership mean to you and your business?
Our priority is providing a top-tier service to investors and maintaining brand reputation. Being a member of NAPSA ensures that we align with reputable sourcing agents and distance ourselves from unreliable and unethical practices.
Through our NAPSA membership, we aim to elevate sourcing industry standards which includes the better protection of investors. Investors can also play their part by opting to work with NAPSA approved members for safer investing.
Why did you start a property sourcing business?
The decision to start a sourcing business was two-fold…
- 1. Monetise property leads that didn’t fit our investment criteria
- 2. Counter unethical sourcers and misinformation in the industry
Leads that didn’t meet our criteria provided a 0% return on investment yet they could work for others and sourcing enabled us to generate an additional stream of income.
Secondly, too many investors lost money or ended up in financial difficulty from purchasing bad investments due to unscrupulous and unethical sourcers. Top Tip: A professional sourcing agent will never provide financial advice as it’s illegal for us to do so!
We knew we could better serve investors through our core values of Excellence and Transparency. We insist on the highest standards of professionalism and integrity is at the core of everything that we do.
Transparency builds trust.
What made you choose your sourcing location?
We only source in the North West of England because we have in-depth knowledge of this region. Born and raised in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, we’ve lived here all our lives.
Our decade of local property investing experience, combined with extensive corporate employment of 20 years regionally across Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester gives us unparalleled insight into the region’s communities, demographics, and market dynamics.
This deep local knowledge sets us apart as true North West property specialists.
What has been your most interesting or favourite experience in the property sector so far?
From a business perspective, the people you meet and connections you make. Property is a numbers game but a people business!
From a personal perspective, the UK is amid the largest ever housing crisis and we feel a strong social responsibility to increase the availability of housing and improve the standard of living for people.
Our mission is to reduce the amount of uninhabitable or inadequate property and transform this back into use for future generations.
Transforming dated, neglected or empty houses back into homes for years to come provides a great sense of purpose and satisfaction.
What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve seen whilst viewing a property?
Whilst not bizarre, we’ll never forget the houses that were flea infested, had dead rodents everywhere or had dirty underwear stuck to the bedroom wall – don’t ask!
However, you can never fully appreciate how a house is constructed until you’ve seen one torn apart and used as a cannabis farm!!
What would you like to see from the sourcing sector?
More regulation to elevate standards and better safeguard all parties.
There are too many unscrupulous and unethical sourcers damaging (and devaluing!) the industry reputation in the UK.
We believe that NAPSA approved members and investors can come together to create a powerful, trusted network and force out the bad actors.
What makes your business different to other sourcing agents?
Whilst property has always been my passion, my corporate background is in security and risk management.
I have extensive industry experience in leadership roles operating within Fortune Global 500 and FTSE 100 businesses and a proven track record in asset protection, profit protection, crisis management and business recovery.
Aside from always being calm in a crisis, you will be working with a strategic thinking people person with the ability to maintain valuable relationships, embed positive attitudes and develop innovative ideas. We understand that speed matters in business, most decisions and actions are reversible.
Security and risk management are at the forefront of everything that we do! We are always transparent with the figures; the risks associated and provide a minimum of two exit strategies to mitigate risk.
What questions do investors often ask you?
Why do I need a sourcing agent? The honest answer is; maybe you don’t…
To be a good property investor, you need the following:
1. Time
2. Knowledge / Experience
3. Money
If you have all three, you don’t need a sourcing agent. Our clients have number 3 but lack numbers 1 and / or 2.
When you appoint a professional sourcing agent, you leverage their time, knowledge, experience and more importantly their network.
What would you advise to someone looking to get into the property sourcing sector?
I would recommend thinking long and hard. It’s nothing like how it is sold on courses or social media. If you find a great deal, the money DOES NOT follow!!
If it’s not your primary strategy, it becomes a distraction that steals time, energy and resource (money) away from your core strategy that likely provides greater returns in a faster period.
However, if you love problem solving, putting deals together, trading and helping others to achieve their objectives, then sourcing is a very rewarding strategy!
If you’re going to do it, do it well!
What’s your business goal for the future?
We aim to work with a small number of investors long term.
Our vision is that once clients have achieved their goals, they’ve enjoyed the journey so much they say “what’s next?”
As relationships grow organically, hopefully our clients will stay on in a different capacity for e.g. a joint venture or angel investing in our own projects.
Get in Touch
NAPSA Profile: Eight Property Group
Email: [email protected]
Website: eightpropertygroup.co.uk
Facebook: Eight Property Group
Instagram: NIck Leadbetter
Linkedin: Eight Property Group
Want to Get Your Sourcing Company Found?
We’re always on the look out for professional property sourcing and deal packaging agents looking to get found by investors. You don’t have to be fully compliant to join – all our Members get 25% off training and documents, so if you’re just setting up now could be the perfect time to get your business on board!
