John Manciameli of Slipstream chats with Sally Prowse, CEO of Sandcastle Finance, about how property investment referrals have grown her business
What first attracted you to help your clients with their investment property aspirations?
I’ve always had a passion for property, and I completed a Property Investment Advisers course just before I started working with Slipstream, where I discovered some of the basic foundations. I love exploring the future with my clients and asking them: where do you want to be in 10–15 years’ time?
Why did you choose to work with Slipstream?
Anyone who has started working in the investment property space, whether it’s with their clients or just for themselves personally, will know how many cowboys there are out there. The industry is completely unregulated at the moment and so one of the biggest things that attracted me to work with Slipstream is that they are an aggregator of accredited research houses and buyers’ agents who you can really trust.
I had the opportunity to meet the panel at the first Slipstream workshop I attended, and the high standard was obvious. They really understood the whole process from beginning to end and immediately set to work helping me to set out a realistic and manageable process I could follow.
What are the key benefits of working with an independent aggregator of investment property research and buyers’ agents?
A huge issue is knowing who to trust in the sector, and this is a crucial component of the referral business, so knowing Slipstream has this covered is a huge weight off my mind.
Slipstream’s vetting process for the research houses and buyers’ agents is really strict – this is the way you know you’re working with the best of the best in the industry.
The other unique benefit of working with Slipstream is the access to expert advice, as well as opportunities to share and collaborate on ideas around marketing, business growth and investment opportunities.
What feedback have you received from clients you’ve worked with?
I work with mainly female clients, and for many this is their first exploration into property investment. They honestly say to me it’s like a light bulb has been switched on.
I have clients who are now on their third investment property, and they can’t get enough – they’re surprised at how easy it all is when you partner with the right companies, and wonder why they didn’t start sooner!
How much has Slipstream impacted the bottom line of your day-to-day business?
I’m delighted to say that last year I saw a huge 40% profit increase, which I can attribute to this extension of my business. I started working with Slipstream in late 2015, so this is an incredible result to achieve in just two years.
What’s the most important piece of advice you would share with other brokers who haven’t diversified their offering?
I would tell them you have nothing to lose. With the criteria around lending tightening all the time, this is an easy low-risk way to diversify your business while still operating in the property market.
