Dom didn’t get into property because he wanted a new job. He already had one.
“I’m a full-time accountant, and so is my other half,” he says. “We both wanted to get into property for quite a while, but we had busy lives and no time to really trawl through Rightmove. Even if we did, we wouldn’t really know what we were doing.”
Like many professionals, Dom had long believed in property as a way to build wealth alongside a career.
“Everyone knows property is a good thing. Wealthy people nearly always have property. It’s one of the most passive ways to grow your wealth while carrying on your day job.”
The problem wasn’t motivation. It was figuring out how to do it properly.
When Belief Isn’t the Same as Progress
Dom and his partner started where most people do, looking locally in the Midlands.
“We viewed a few properties near us, your typical starter homes. But the upfront cost where we live and further south was big, and that really put us off.”
Even knowing property made sense in the long term, Dom found himself stuck.
“You get to that point where you know it’s a clever move, but you don’t quite know what to do or who to trust. There’s so much online and you don’t know what’s real.”
What changed things was talking it through with people who did this every day.
“From the first calls, it was about our position and what we actually wanted. It became clear quite quickly that the North East made sense. There’d been great growth over the last few years, good forecasts, strong yields, and a much lower entry point.”
The distance didn’t worry him.
“I’m not going to be fixing boilers or chasing rent. That’s all remote anyway, no matter where you live. So it makes sense to invest where the numbers work best.”
Choosing a Strategy That Fits Real Life
Rather than defaulting to a standard buy-to-let, Dom chose service accommodation.
“We really liked the service accommodation model. We liked the cash flow it generated and the idea of renting on a nightly basis with a relatively simple furniture pack.”
There was also a practical benefit.
“It removes the long-term tenant risk. You don’t really get that with service accommodation, and the returns are stronger.”
What mattered most was that the strategy felt thought-through, not rushed.
“I’m an accountant, so I understand the numbers, but property was still a new space. The more you talk about it and research it, the more comfortable you get. Having conversations that are tailored to you makes a massive difference.”
Trust Comes Before Commitment
Dom is open about the fact that committing upfront capital wasn’t easy.
“Paying a sourcing fee feels quite scary at first. You’re handing over a few thousand pounds and thinking, will this work out?”
What helped was doing his homework.
“Trustpilot was big for me. Seeing hundreds of five-star reviews matters. Speaking to other investors who’d already done it helped as well.”
Just as important was realism.
“The deal sheets and the numbers are accurate. They’re not overselling. What you’re shown is what you actually get.”
Seeing the Results Speak for Themselves
Today, Dom owns three service accommodation properties in the North East.
“Our first one is about three years in now and it’s gone up around forty thousand. That’s been great to see.”
Occupancy has been even more reassuring.
“Kove worked on around seventy percent occupancy, which they said was conservative. Our first one is usually between seventy and eighty percent, and recently it’s been fully booked.”
The other two properties have been even stronger.
“They’re around ninety-five percent occupancy and nearly a thousand pounds a month cash flow on each. They’re flying.”
Despite that performance, Dom isn’t hands-on day to day.
“You get access to an app where you can see bookings and gaps, which I really like. The team manage everything, but if you want to check in, you can.”
Support When It Matters Most
Dom is clear that property is never completely smooth.
“There are always little bumps. Down valuations, negotiations, things like that happen.”
What made the difference was having experienced people around him.
“When something comes up, they just say, ‘This happens, here are your options.’ You don’t panic, because you know it’s been dealt with before.”
Communication played a big part.
“I really like using WhatsApp. You get quick replies, often outside normal working hours. If you finish work and put your property hat on in the evening, you can still get answers.”
Refurbishments were another area Dom had no interest in managing himself.
“We’ve had refurbishments around twenty thousand pounds with major work involved. I don’t know anyone up there, so trying to manage that myself would have been a nightmare.”
Instead, things stayed largely on track.
“They’ve been pretty much on point with timelines and costs. Some slightly under, some slightly over, but always within reason.”
Building Quiet Momentum
For now, Dom keeps the cash inside the business.
“With the three properties, we’re probably making around fifteen hundred to two thousand a month net. After tax, it’s still over a thousand.”
Rather than spending it, he’s letting it build.
“The idea is to snowball it, refinance where it makes sense, and keep growing.”
The longer-term goal is clear.
“We’d love to get to fifteen or twenty properties. At that point, you’ve got solid cash flow, equity, and real options.”
Why Dom Recommends Kove
“I’d recommend Kove to any investor, especially for service accommodation.”
For Dom, the value comes from having everything under one roof.
“Sourcing, refurb, furnishing, letting. You’re not dealing with loads of different people. It just works.”
And for anyone still unsure?
“If you’ve done your homework and you know property is a long-term play, you probably just need to take the step.”
As Dom puts it:
“The best time to buy property was yesterday. The second best time is now.”
Want results like this?
If Dom’s journey proves anything, it’s that replacing – or adding to – your income through property doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.
With the right strategy in place, you can build predictable monthly cash flow without sacrificing your time or taking on another job.
