Airbnb Blueprint

From Redundant to Rental Riches: How I Built a 6-Figure Property Business in Under 2 Years

This week Kelly Maxfield joins the podcast as she shares her journey from corporate redundancy to building a thriving short-term rental business. With determination fuelled by her clear "why" of more freedom and family time, Kelly and her husband built a 6-figure portfolio within just 2 years - all while continuing to travel the world. Learn Kelly's key strategies for acquiring properties, automating and systemising processes, and designing memorable guest experiences without breaking the bank or burning out. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Making strategic moves early in life like investing in property can have massive compounding effects over time. Kelly bought her first house at 17 through creative financing. Work cultures can easily turn toxic. Kelly left her stable corporate role after 13 years due to new management and policies. Major setbacks often open new doors. Kelly was made redundant but saw it as the perfect opportunity to focus on building her short-term rental business. You don't need huge capital or in-depth training to start in property. Kelly started small with her own cash and learned key concepts through online research. Systems and support staff like housekeepers are vital so the business can run smoothly with less owner involvement. Consistent cash flow funds Kelly's nomadic lifestyle but legacy wealth for her kids via property is still her long-term "why". BEST MOMENTS  "We get a lot of contractors. We’re about 50 per cent direct booking contractors, which I love, I love. Contractors are the best." "This is another reason why we took on the rent to S8. We ran out of properties she said, have you got anything else? She'd filled all three of our houses. Constantly!”   "Just, just do it. Just jump in and do it. As long as you've got, because we didn't do it completely blind of like no, you know, no financial knowledge at all." "We lived in rubble for such [a long time], and that's just not us at all, but it's quite funny, we've never ever looked back and missed that lovely comfy house that we had." "I always say I'm very local to the property, so if there's anything you need just let us know. And quite often we don't hear a thing, and I don't mind not hearing a thing." ABOUT THE GUEST Kelly Maxfield LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-maxfield-b6009282?originalSubdomain=uk Mobile/WhatsApp: 07530420542 Email: kelly.maxfieldpropertiesltd@outlook.com HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges. CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

Transform Your Life: Rae Smiths Blueprint for Success

Pooh and Alex chat with renowned mental health expert Rae Smith about how to improve your life and business. They dive into crucial topics like handling stress, managing time, sharpening your mind, and leading a happier life. Alex shares how Rae has helped him personally to overcome hurdles and build his business more efficiently. Listen in as Rae guides the audience through a visualisation breathing exercise to demonstrate the power of the mind. You won't want to miss her concrete advice on establishing empowering habits, securing your mental health, and achieving your ultimate potential. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Mental health issues often go unnoticed until pointed out by others who care about you. Stay connected. Structure your life around your core values and morals to understand motivations and align with suitable people. Make unfamiliar routines familiar through small, daily steps over 21+ days until ingrained as habits. Stress impacts rational thinking. Use breathwork techniques to self-regulate emotions and physiology. Your body responds to mental imagery as if it's physically real—leverage visualisation. Social media depicts an incomplete picture of people's realities. Avoid false comparisons. Seek personal referrals to find a qualified therapist or mentor you can trust. BEST MOMENTS  "When you can't control the outcome to get exactly how you want it, we usually go into that fear state and stress starts." "Your body doesn't know what's real. It only knows what you tell it." "How amazing we are when you want to make changes. You want to change habits. That's where you have to start." "The human connection. The human connection. It's the speech, the speaking, the hearing someone's voice that holds power." "Don't fall in love with looks. Don't fall in love with how they make you feel giddy...Fall in love with the character of the person." ABOUT THE GUEST Rae Smith Psychotherapist Hypnotherapist Mobile: +61 408098226 Email: raesmith244@gmail.com HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

The Ups and Downs of Serviced Accommodation with Superhost Mum Katy Tyler

Alex and Pooh are joined by real estate investor and entrepreneur Katy Tyler for a fun and inspirational conversation on what it’s really like juggling a growing family with running a successful Airbnb business. Hear the ups and downs of mixing family and business, the importance of honesty and authenticity, plus tons of practical advice on getting started with short term rentals. An eye-opening inside look at the world of serviced accommodations from a dedicated superhost mum. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Going "all in" on a business venture can provide an essential distraction when dealing with grief or other trauma. Consistency and small steps are key when learning a new business, don't put too much pressure on yourself starting out. One bad review won't kill your vacation rental business, be level-headed responding to any negative comments. Achieving a big goal doesn't necessarily equate to long-term happiness, re-evaluate priorities over time. Speaking openly about the highs and lows of business ownership creates realistic expectations. Renting out property you own outright is lower risk than rent-to-rent long term. Serviced accommodations can work well mixed with other strategies like flips or HMOs. Training courses tend to only cover the "fun" parts of the business, running it day-to-day is another matter. BEST MOMENTS  "It was either sink or swim for me at that time. And I chose to swim." "You can always make money. There's always time to make money, but there's never time to get the first few years back with a baby." "I've had worry and worry in the last few weeks and yeah. So honestly, at the moment, probably, probably I'm not at my best." ABOUT THE GUEST Katy Tyler contact detailsInfo@coastalaccommodation.co.uk   HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

Fire Safety SOS: Critical Info to Save Your Business with Steve Hearn

Alex is joined by fire risk expert Steve Hearn in a fire safety masterclass you can’t afford to miss. Learn what you need to do to get compliant and protect your business and clients. From fire alarms to emergency lighting, Steve covers the key requirements in simple terms that even beginners can grasp. Don’t let the changes scare you off—with the right knowledge, you can implement the necessary precautions without breaking the bank. Steve even shares clever hacks to work around tricky compliance issues. Whether you’re an experienced host or just getting started, this episode delivers the clarity you need on critical but oft-ignored fire safety rules. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS The recent Section 156 legislation requires all hosts, even small operators, to fully document fire risk assessments and precautions. To be compliant, you need proper fire alarms, emergency lighting, escape routes, maintenance logs, and emergency plans. Work with qualified professionals like Steve to ensure you correctly implement precautions and manage fire safety. When sourcing properties, carefully vet them for any existing or potential fire safety issues before signing contracts. Update booking terms and conditions to forbid guests from using unapproved electrical devices that increase fire risk. Long-term rentals require extra vigilance as guests often try converting units into homes. Digitise all fire safety documentation so you have records if ever needed for insurance claims. Educate yourself on requirements through specialised training to confidently self-manage precautions. BEST MOMENTS  "Cost is not an influencer on whether you comply with fire safety, one property or 100." "Your homework again is really important... Do the due diligence on the deal." "Take action. Don't do nothing. Don't sit on it because the fire service are auditing this now." "This stuff isn't going away... You've got to be prepared." "Recognise your own limits of what you can do. Seek help when you need it." ABOUT THE GUEST Steve Hearn Web:  Totalriskmanagement.co.uk  Email: Steve@totalriskmanagement.co.uk    HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

How to Wow Your Guests and Drive Bookings with Daniela

Alex welcomes hospitality expert Daniela Iannelli to discuss how to excel in the service accommodation business. They dive into Daniela's background working her way up in the hotel industry and eventually starting her own service accommodation company with her dad during COVID. Daniela explains how they grew the business to 20 units before selling it to start her own hospitality consultancy. She shares invaluable tips on providing exceptional customer service, driving bookings through strategic relationships, and the importance of mental health as an entrepreneur. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Start from the bottom to gain respect for all roles and understand hotel operations. Getting rejections brings you closer to a "yes" - persisting through no’s is a numbers game. Build strategic relationships with long-stay guests to drive direct bookings. Meeting guests in person and resolving issues well saves bad reviews. Stop caring what people think, get imperfect, and remove toxic people to find confidence and happiness. Invest in mental health as running a business can trigger anxiety. Specialise in an area you're passionate about to provide unique value. Secret shopper feedback identifies hospitality issues to fix. BEST MOMENTS  "I used to sell my sandwiches at school. I used to do a lot of competitions at school." "The main two roles are housekeeping and pot washing because you can survive without a general manager but you can’t operate without housekeepers or people washing the dishes." "I worked my way up, I worked in pretty much every area of the hotel. If not, if I didn’t work in it, I made sure I did cross experience in it." "Just stop caring. Just, honestly, who cares about anyone, anything?"   GUEST LINKS Instagram - the_hospitality_CEOLinked in - Daniela iannelli Contact - daniela@thehouseofhospitality.com   HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

Finding the Perfect Business Partner in Property with Serviced Accommodation Pros Fatima & Laura

Join host Alex and his inspiring guests, best friends turned business partners Fatima and Laura, for a raw and candid conversation about their journey in the service accommodation industry. From a chance gym encounter to trailblazing property pros, hear how they leverage their complementary skillsets while tackling the real struggles women face in business. Learn about sourcing high-end corporate rentals and managing an empire fuelled by drive and transparency. Between juggling kids and early mornings, they share their wisdom on time management, mindset shifts, and supporting each other. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Complementary skills lead to success. Recognise your weaknesses and find a partner who can fill those gaps. It's not about being good at everything. Transparency and authenticity set you apart - don't try to be someone you're not. Agents and landlords value real over scripted. Go all in locally at first in property. When first starting out, focus on your immediate area to leverage connections and manage issues hands-on. Outsource what doesn't drive you. Block your calendar ruthlessly including non-negotiable self-care rituals like the gym. Scheduling brings sanity. Talk about the tough stuff with your business partner learn how to voice overwhelm and get back on track. Skill beats script, you can learn systems but not innate personality. Play to your natural strengths. BEST MOMENTS  "People perceive us in a certain way, and I think even our friends and family, it wasn’t until we hosted a New Year’s Eve party at our penthouse that people actually turned up and they were like, oh." "Just go into the shop be confident strong handshake have a business card be prepared” " I have self-respect and I have morals and I have ethics and that means so much more." "I think I was slightly perimenopausal last year as well because there was something going on where I was getting up from bed and I was tired." "We literally just pick each other up and just sit in the car crying, wouldn't we, for ages. And the other one would just be like just hold space."   HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

From Prison Officer to Property Pro with Heidi Louise

Heidi joins the podcast to share her motivating journey from working in prisons to becoming a full-time property investor. She details how she built profitable HMO and serviced accommodation businesses despite having little money, using strategies like rent-to-rent. An expert on homelessness, Heidi explains her bigger vision to provide housing for marginalised groups. Her tips: graft hard, be consistent, focus on one strategy, leverage social media, and don't be afraid to ask for help. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Heidi rented out rooms in her landlord's HMO to save for a deposit on her first investment property, proving you can start with little money. To succeed, graft hard, especially on difficult days, stay consistent, and focus on mastering one strategy before expanding. Heidi decorates her properties to appeal to both contractors and leisure guests, maximizing occupancy and income. Guest issues must be addressed instantly in serviced accommodation unlike regular lets, so have strong processes and teams in place. Heidi's bigger vision is to provide housing for marginalised groups like prisoners and veterans by bringing together investors, landlords and the government. Mindset is key - view every setback as a learning opportunity to keep you motivated. BEST MOMENTS  "I lived in a HMO, calculated what they was getting and I was like, I'm gonna be a millionaire” "You can't teach tenacity and consistency...battling through on the shit days - that's what property and business is." "I pay for Guesty and Pricelabs because time is really valuable for me." "The schemes need to be available to pay for any damage because inevitably there will be at some point." "Have something to motivate yourself every year...there's no way I'm passionate about folding towels into swans for life." ABOUT THE GUEST Heidi Louise Info@highdemandproperties.co.uk HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

Looking After Your Mental Health as an Entrepreneur

In this raw and candid episode, hosts Alex and Pooh discuss the topic of mental health, particularly focusing on men and entrepreneurship. They share their personal struggles with relationships, business pressures, and social media comparison, emphasising the loneliness entrepreneurs feel and the alarming male suicide rates. Alex describes a cathartic emotional healing retreat, while Pooh talks about using exercise as self-care. They agree being honest with yourself and finding sustainable self-improvement routines lead to better mental health. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Comparing yourself to curated social media feeds harms mental health. Stay aware that no one's life is perfect. Men often bury emotions and don't talk openly, contributing to high suicide rates. Men's support groups encourage healthy emotional release. Find sustainable daily routines like mindfulness, exercise, and alone time to support mental health. Skip routines sometimes rather than quit. Emotional healing retreats with plant medicines like San Pedro cactus can help release buried feelings. Prioritise sleep, which makes handling stress and moods easier. Don't overschedule your day. Make sure evening routines allow family time. Know yourself, work on yourself, and become your best you. This builds resilience. Do your best every day. You can't always win but you can control your efforts. BEST MOMENTS  "I guarantee almost everyone will break down in tears. Once you dig deep enough and you dig into their soul." "Instead of helping me to go forward, social media pushes me back into that deep dark place even more." "Exercise is massively underrated. There's nothing really advanced, just go out, make yourself sweat." "You can't be so naive as to believe everybody's doing so much better than you." "At the end of the day, just do your best with yourself."   HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

Mindset, Money and Making it Happen with Beth Cardy

Welcome to the first episode of the AirBnb Nomads podcast, host Alex welcomes entrepreneur Beth Cardy. Beth shares her inspiring journey from losing her bakery business during COVID, to now running a profitable property portfolio and staging company. She opens up about the mental health struggles she faced and how she overcame huge challenges to find success again. Beth talks about the key lessons she learned from failure, the power of mindset, and why surrounding yourself with the right people is critical. https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Beth went from being on Universal Credit to making 6 figures in property within 6 months, proving anything is possible with the right mindset and support team. She stresses the importance of a mentor for accountability, guidance and accelerated growth in business. Toxic relationships and losing independence almost broke Beth mentally and financially - removing herself from that environment was critical. Telling everyone about your business, rather than hiding away, can lead to unexpected opportunities springing up. For scalable income, systemising and automating areas like operations and marketing frees up time to focus on high-level strategy. Service accommodation provides a low-cost entry point to property investing compared to other models like buy-to-let. Surrounding yourself with positive, driven people will raise you up rather than drain your motivation and energy. BEST MOMENTS  "I didn't have any marketing. And somebody said to me, how much is your marketing budget? And I was like, nothing." "When I got there, it just wasn't for me. I guess at university they wrap you up in cotton wool and they don't prepare you for the real world." "I had the trailer, I travelled all this way, I can unhitch it on my own." "When you find the right therapist, it's definitely something that can really help if you're in a bit of a rough spot." "I'm more happy than I have ever been in my life."   HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/

From Mechanic to Millionaire: Unlocking the SA Business Model with Darren O’Reilly

Darren O’Reilly joins the podcast in this episode to share his inspiring journey from mechanic to property mogul! Learn how he went from redundancy to amassing a multi-million pound portfolio, including commercial units, HMOs and Airbnbs. Find out how the SA model allowed Darren to generate life-changing passive income with little money down. You'll hear the ups and downs of his ventures, from running a vinyl record store in his early 20s to overcoming huge personal obstacles before discovering creative real estate strategies. With insight on finding landlords, managing properties, avoiding common pitfalls and scaling your portfolio, this information-packed episode will not disappoint! https://bit.ly/DarrenOReilly https://airbnbconsultant.co/  KEY TAKEAWAYS Buy property early and hold it long-term, using rental income as your "pension pot" rather than selling. This avoids tax and generates more money. Be honest and genuine when approaching landlords - establish rapport and solve their problems to convince them your strategy is better than traditional lets. Use services like Airbnb and Booking.com to rent other people's properties to leisure and business travellers via your own company. This is the rent-to-service accommodation (SA) model. Aim for at least £1,000 profit per SA property per month. Meet costs like rent, cleaning and marketing to achieve this. Income fluctuates so focus on the annual average. Landlords worry about damage and many mistakenly think AST contracts protect them more than corporate lets. Explain the power lies with tenants and your business faces faster eviction. It's essential to have systems and staff in place to scale. Outsource cleaning and management using virtual assistants rather than doing everything yourself. This business allows passive income without needing to be there 10 hours a day like a regular job. The key benefit is earning good money while freeing up time. Rent to SA suits those wanting huge profits or simply an extra £1,000+ per month. It's the lowest input, highest revenue property strategy. BEST MOMENTS  "Buy property early and keep hold of anything that you buy, which is pretty much what I've done." "I can revenue the best month I had on the property was about 11 and a half grand revenue. And I think that was net profit to me of about three and a half to four grand." "It's the lowest input, highest revenue property strategy that's out there." "You got two ears for a reason and two ears and one mouth for a reason, don't you. So listen first and, and sort of talk later." "At the end of the day, none of us are getting any younger. You got just, just do it basically, just jump in and do it."   HOST BIO Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years.  This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor made ‘lifestyle by design’. Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.   CONTACT US Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lifebeyondbroke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondbroke TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebeyondbroke YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Lifebeyondbroke/