From Property Flips to a Scottish Aparthotel Development
Episode Overview
Michael Mower built his property career by taking on the projects other people avoided—from tired Glasgow flats to fire-damaged auction purchases. After years of running a stressful renovation business, he and his wife Liana decided to start building assets for themselves.
That change led to successful property flips, buy-to-lets and serviced accommodation. Michael shares the numbers behind a Glasgow flat bought for £39,000 and sold for approximately £85,000, as well as a Newtown Mearns home bought for £350,000 and sold for £650,000.
Now, Michael is converting a long-empty B-listed building on Callander Main Street into serviced accommodation, commercial space and offices. He talks Nick and Steven through the £100,000 purchase, estimated £250,000 refurbishment and targeted £630,000 end value. He also speaks openly about alcohol addiction, rehab and recovery.
Episode Highlights
- From plumbing apprentice to running a renovation company
- Why Michael and Liana stopped renovating for clients and began investing for themselves
- His first Glasgow flip: bought for £39,000 and sold for approximately £85,000
- Why their one-bedroom flips typically produced profits of around £35,000–£40,000
- The Newtown Mearns home bought for £350,000 and sold for £650,000
- Moving from flips into buy-to-let, auctions and serviced accommodation
- Michael’s honest experience of alcohol addiction, rehab and recovery
- Why his serviced accommodation can also work as long-term rental property
- Callander units listed at approximately £270 and £210 per night
- Transforming a B-listed building that had been empty for approximately 25–30 years
- The planned serviced accommodation, commercial and office spaces
- The £100,000 purchase, £250,000 refurbishment and targeted £630,000 end value
- How extensive dry rot affected the work and bridging-finance plans
Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 – Meet Michael Mower
- 00:56 – Michael’s background and early life
- 04:58 – From plumbing apprentice to building contractor
- 09:23 – Leaving client renovations behind
- 11:40 – Flipping property in Glasgow’s south side
- 17:08 – The figures behind Michael’s flips
- 18:28 – Moving from flipping to holding property
- 20:11 – Launching a salon and renovating in Newtown Mearns
- 23:16 – Buying property at auction
- 25:46 – Alcohol addiction and the road to recovery
- 34:35 – Michael’s property portfolio today
- 35:25 – Moving into serviced accommodation
- 37:28 – Nightly rates for the Callander units
- 39:45 – The Callander aparthotel development
- 42:50 – The planned layout of the building
- 44:35 – Purchase price and due diligence
- 46:23 – Refurbishment costs and unexpected dry rot
- 48:23 – Funding the development
- 49:46 – The targeted £630,000 end value
- 50:58 – Local reaction and the planned opening
- 53:24 – What comes after the development
- 54:20 – Where to follow Michael
Useful Links
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Would you take on a derelict B-listed building, or stick to smaller property projects? Let us know in the comments
