The cynic in me says that a property investor who claims every deal they've done has made them money is a liar and is just out to impress. Every investor I know has in the past had at least one deal go 'Pete Tong'.

Thankfully my 'white elephant' has at last found a buyer. I am not getting too excited as this is the second buyer to raise their head above the parapet. The last buyer ran a mile after reading that the property showed signs of a past beetle infestation (I already had a guarantee to cover this) and showed signs of damp in one room.

The 4-bed detached house in Devon has been on the market for just over a year. I gutted the house from top to bottom resulting in a showroom finish, but my house was nestled in the top sale price tier of houses, which meant that my target buyers were fewer. Local prices then declined over 12 months, which ultimately meant I had to drop my own asking price to make it attractive.