Transforming Property Business Mindsets: How Coaching Empowered NS Property Solvers

Discover how a business coach helped NS Property Solvers change their mindset and open new doors for them.

Natalie Allen started her property business, alongside her dad, as a step to futureproof their lives. With little experience as a business owner and no other business owners in her circle of friends and family, she was struggling to get the key advice she needed to move her company forward.

With that in mind, Natalie wanted to feel more at home as a business owner. So, she attended an ActionCOACH business and breakfast event in May 2022. With the help of business coaches Kerry Malster and Matt Bull, Natalie has grown more confident, opening doors for her business she previously may not have seen. 

Starting out

NS Property Solvers started as an investment opportunity for Natalie and her dad, Stuart. “I’d done a lot of property training so decided to leave my job and go full time with the business,” explains Natalie. “This was in 2020 and we’d managed to get several good contracts, but then COVID happened and we had to change our strategy.

“We’d chat with people who often hadn’t had the best experience with similar property management companies, so we decided to start sourcing properties for others. We had external letting agents at first, who weren’t doing the job we wanted them to do so we took back control and did it in-house.”

After changing their model with relative ease due to their experience in the property industry, Natalie encountered the issue of getting NS Property Solvers recognised and trusted in the community, which blocked their path to growth. “No one I knew was a business owner in any shape or form. I didn’t see myself as a business owner either, which meant it was quite hard to get our foot in the door and get the business off the ground. That was when I came across a business and breakfast event put on by ActionCOACH.”

Changing mindset

The event, in Loughborough, was run by Action Coach Matt Bull. “At first, I didn’t know what ActionCOACH was or what to expect, but I wanted to meet some new people. I started fortnightly group coaching where I learnt more about business – listening to other people’s experiences and using the group as a sounding board to reaffirm the decisions I was making. I’ve learned more than I could have ever imagined.”

Natalie initially met with Matt before being introduced to Action Coach Kerry Malster. “The first thing we ran through together was working on my confidence as a business owner. I needed to set boundaries and not try to please everyone. Initially, I’d felt I needed every customer I could get my hands on, but Kerry told me to take a step back and consider whether they were the right fit. 

“Also, continuing going to group coaching sessions was giving me exposure to more business owners. It was a really good opportunity to network, but the main benefit for me and my business was seeing what business owners should be doing. Kerry encouraged me to learn which things were necessary to me progressing my business. Having 90-day plans, focus sheets and cash flow documents are just some of the examples of what I started applying in those initial months of working with ActionCOACH, and I could see the difference right away. 

“They all seem like such simple things, but I think it was switching to that mindset of being a business owner and having constant dialogue with peers in those sessions that really instilled confidence in me. It made me think… I can be successful and I can grow this business.”

Opening doors to new opportunities

For Natalie, changing her business mindset was key to unlocking new opportunities for NS Property Solvers. “It seemed like after a few months of working with ActionCOACH, we were seeing more avenues and directions we could take the business in. Maybe they were there before, but Matt and Kerry’s coaching certainly helped open my eyes to them.”

By late 2022, an opportunity had arisen for NS Property Solvers to acquire an estate agency business. “It wasn’t our initial plan to carry out a business acquisition, but I felt prepared and confident we could go for it. Before ActionCOACH, I don’t think we would have taken this direction, so they’ve really played a massive part in transforming my business. 

“Buying the estate agency entailed lots of work at first, but we had the tools to help us manage that process. It has allowed us to enter into the residential sales market too. It goes back to ActionCOACH opening my horizons. We have seven residential properties on the market now, and it’s an area I believe we can continue to grow. We’ve gone from managing eight properties to 57 in the last 18 months, so we want to continue on that trajectory.”

A community presence

Growth is not the only thing on Natalie’s agenda. “I think the big goal for the business is to have our own office on the high street. I want to be in a position where I have the staff to open numerous offices across villages in Leicestershire. We want to be seen as a property company that’s trusted. Having our office spaces feel like an extension of the local community where people feel comfortable and relaxed knowing they’ll receive the best possible service.”

Beyond her professional goals, Natalie is looking to prioritise her personal time. “I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, so I want some more time for myself. I’ve also got a dance company providing classes in our community, being able to devote more of my time there is great.”

Recommending an ActionCOACH

“Would I recommend an ActionCOACH? Absolutely, 100%!” ActionCOACH has enabled her to spend time with fellow business owners, leading to Natalie feeling more at home in her role. “Attending group coaching has given me the platform to really improve my self-confidence as a business owner. You can never stop learning either. You always walk away from a session finding out something new to help your business. It’s gone full circle now too. I love sharing my experiences with others, hoping they can take from it what I did in the early days.”

On what the coaches deliver, Natalie knows there is no magic formula, but Action Coaches like Kerry equip you with the tools to make a difference. “You don’t just get a checklist of jobs to complete to achieve success. The coaches empower you to think about your business in different ways, opening your eyes to new opportunities or pointing you in the direction you want to take. I’m not sure I’d be where I am now without ActionCOACH, and I’m looking forward to seeing where their help can take me in the future.”

The coach’s perspective

Kerry Malster has been a coach with ActionCOACH since December 2018. “I love coaching Natalie. She’s learned to be very self-aware and prepared to look at what has worked, what hasn’t worked and be creative in the solutions she comes up with to overcome challenges. She’s also a great peer at group coaching sessions, always willing to share her experience and learning to other business owners – she’s an integral part of the group. We’re now working on growing her team so Natalie has more time to do what she wants to do outside the business.”

Find out how a coach can help your business by speaking to one of our advisors. Alternatively, visit our learning centre for free business resources.