How a Property Owner Earned £77k+ While Waiting for the Right Buyer
“Having owned our property for exactly 40 yrs, my wife and I decided to realise our profits, and to reinvest the proceeds by buying a few more properties.” – CB
Selling a property in London’s competitive market can take months – even years! That was the case for CB, who had to wait 2 years before receiving an offer he was happy with. Rather than leave the property empty, he turned to City Relay to generate rental income while waiting for their property to sell.
Find out how CB was able to improve the property’s condition, increase its market value and earn over £77,000 in net rental revenue in 2 years.
Challenge:
Before partnering with City Relay, CB faced the following issues:
- The property needed full refurbishment to impress potential buyers and secure a competitive offer.
- The existing tenant made the viewing process complicated, but terminating the agreement meant leaving the flat empty.
- The London property market made it challenging to find the right buyer with a fair offer for the property.
- Keeping the property in good condition for viewings would incur additional costs.
Solution:
Together, we developed a strategy focused on maximising income, increasing property value, and maintaining flexibility for viewings.
Refurbishment and market readiness. City Relay advised the owner to go through a full renovation to bring the flat up to a high standard for both short-term guests and potential buyers.
“City Relay advised us, our Architect, and contractor – throughout the renovation and refurbishment process. Their input enabled us to create a truly beautiful and extremely desirable property.” – CB
Professional management to maximise earnings. After months of renovation, City Relay handled the property management, including cleaning, maintenance, dynamic pricing and guest communications.
“All the management services offered by City Relay are excellent… Bea Botes has been a mentor, adviser, manager and a friendly/approachable person… our go-to contact at City Relay.” – CB
Flexible letting and sales strategy. Through short-term letting, the flat remained available for viewings. The frequent housekeeping ensured it remained spotless and well-maintained between guest stays.
“[Having a well-maintained, high-quality property] made a huge impact throughout the marketing and selling process. It influenced the final sale outcome too!” – CB
Results:
In just two years of partnering with City Relay, CB enjoyed 2 wins:
Strong financial returns
- Total of 531 nights booked across 94+ stays
- Total net rental revenue: £77,000+
- Average monthly income: £3,200+
Enhanced property value
- Frequent housekeeping and maintenance kept the property spotless, in premium condition and ready for last-minute viewings.
- Professional staging and presentation highlighted the property’s best features, attracting serious buyers and increasing its perceived market value.
“City Relay was highly recommended to us by a friend of ours, who uses their services. After we had spent a lot of time and money, modernising and renovating our flat… Partnering with City Relay enabled us to recoup all our expenses within 18 months or so. The renovation and refurbishment process increased the value of our property and it made it easier to sell.” – CB
A Smarter Way to Sell in a Slow Market
“The decision to rent instead of selling was the best decision that we could have made, as the rental returns and the occupancy rate have been incredibly good. City Relay was recommended to us and I would definitely recommend this company not only to those who are in a similar position as us, but also those who want to get an excellent investment return from the holiday letting rental business.” – CB
If your property is sitting on the market, don’t let it sit empty. City Relay offers a smart way to sell through flexible letting. Earn income, boost property appeal and keep it in perfect condition for viewings.
Maximise your property’s potential before selling!
