From managing refurbishments on construction sites to running a profitable serviced accommodation portfolio, Albert Lis has transformed hands-on building experience into serious property wealth.
Before joining the Samuel Leeds Academy, Albert was working as a project manager in residential construction. Loft conversions, extensions, full refurbs. Property was familiar territory. But owning assets is very different from working on them.
Today, he generates thousands per month through Rent-to-Rent and serviced accommodation, has completed a £190,000 uplift BRR, and is building a family legacy business.
Here is how it unfolded and you can watch the full video here
A Natural Move Into Property
Albert grew up around construction. His father has run a building company in London for nearly two decades. Architecture and design had always interested him.
So investing in property felt like a logical next step.
But knowing property and monetising property are two completely different things.
After discovering strategies such as Rent-to-Rent and Buy, Refurbish, Refinance, Albert realised he could use his skillset to create long-term wealth rather than short-term income.
Starting With Rent-to-Rent
Albert’s journey began with Rent-to-Rent serviced accommodation.
Using platforms like OpenRent and Facebook, he approached landlords directly. It took around six months to secure his first deal. The turning point came when he stopped trying to pursue multiple strategies at once and focused fully on one.
Today, he operates four Rent-to-Rent units and is expanding.
He attributes early progress to mentorship and structured guidance.
“I wanted to understand exactly what I was signing and presenting to landlords. The mentors were priceless.”
Landlords trusted him because he spoke their language. He understood property condition, compliance and maintenance. For serviced accommodation to work, the property must stay in excellent condition. That aligned perfectly with landlord priorities.
The £220K Property Nobody Wanted
Albert’s first BRR deal came through estate agents in Kent.
He made it clear he was looking for rundown properties that others were avoiding. Eventually, an agent mentioned a house that no one wanted to touch.
That is usually the one worth seeing.
The property was a four-bedroom semi-detached house overlooking the sea. On a clear day, you could see France from the master bedroom.
But the condition was severe:
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Nearly 20 tonnes of rubbish removed from the garden
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Overgrown landscaping hiding structural features
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Mould issues
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Ceilings collapsed
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Full renovation required
Purchase price: £220,000.
Where others saw a liability, Albert saw margin.
A £60,000 Refurb
The refurbishment cost approximately £60,000.
Because of his background, Albert carried out much of the work himself and sourced materials intelligently. He estimates outsourcing fully could have cost £80,000 to £90,000.
Construction knowledge became a profit multiplier.
When the project was complete, the lender valuation came back at £410,000.
That is a £190,000 uplift.
Refinance Instead of Flip
Originally, Albert planned to flip the property.
But after reviewing the capital gains tax implications of selling quickly, he pivoted.
Instead, he refinanced.
By refinancing, he extracted equity without selling the asset. Technically, he had not made a taxable profit. He had simply borrowed against increased value.
The property now operates as a high-end holiday let, complete with:
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Hot tub
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Family-friendly layout
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Premium design finishes
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Seaside positioning
It generates income while preserving long-term appreciation.
Raising Finance Through Joint Ventures
While completing his BRR, Albert secured a joint venture partner.
They structured a limited company with equal shareholding:
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The investor provides capital
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Albert provides expertise, time and management
Clear contracts were drafted. Roles were defined. Exit routes were agreed.
This allowed him to scale without relying solely on his own funds.
“I’m putting in the knowledge and experience. The investor is putting in the money. It’s balanced.”
Early Serviced Accommodation Lessons
Albert’s first serviced accommodation unit launched just before Christmas. Premium festive bookings came in quickly.
Then January arrived.
He kept pricing too high and experienced heavy losses.
Rather than quit, he sought advice, analysed competitor pricing and implemented dynamic adjustments. By February he was near break-even. From March onwards, the property was consistently profitable.
Mistakes became education.
Automation and Systems
Albert strongly believes in systemisation.
He uses channel management software to:
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Synchronise calendars across booking platforms
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Prevent double bookings
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Implement dynamic pricing
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Automate guest messaging
He also uses AI to reduce manual communication time.
Now that the business is profitable, the focus has shifted from income generation to workload reduction and scalability.
He is enhancing guest experience further by introducing optional add-ons such as private chefs and in-property treatments. Higher experience value leads to better reviews and stronger occupancy.
Becoming Comfortable With Discomfort
Albert highlights mindset as the biggest shift since joining the academy.
Negotiating below-market offers. Pitching landlords. Raising finance. These are uncomfortable conversations.
But repetition builds confidence.
“You almost have to look for uncomfortable situations if you want to grow.”
That mindset has helped him become an Inner Circle leader, build networks and strengthen leadership skills.
Building a Family Legacy
Albert’s motivation centres on his daughter.
He wants financial security, educational support and a strong mindset passed down through generations.
Property is the tool. Legacy is the aim.
“I want her to never have to work for survival, but to work with passion.”
What He Would Do Differently
Looking back over the past 18 months, Albert says he would take more educated risks.
With training and knowledge, risks become calculated rather than reckless.
Everything is now budgeted, forecast and stress-tested before execution.
Final Thoughts
Albert’s journey proves several key principles:
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Focus on one strategy until it works
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Look for properties others avoid
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Construction knowledge adds enormous leverage
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Refinancing can outperform flipping
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Joint ventures accelerate growth
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Systems create scalability
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Mindset determines pace
From £220,000 purchase price to £410,000 valuation. From January losses to consistent serviced accommodation profit. From construction employee to property entrepreneur.
The opportunity is there.
The only question is whether you are ready to take the first step.
Samuel Leeds’ Verdict
“Albert has combined practical construction expertise with smart strategy selection. By focusing on BRR, serviced accommodation and joint ventures, he has built both income and long-term equity. His growth is a result of action, education and strong relationships.”
