5 Days and Our Reputation Is RUINED

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]And inside there's bits that I don't like. We got to fix make better. I didn't want to happen. But you can see has happened to put them on and something's happened.

[00:00:21]So, welcome back to every trade behind the build. I'm actually on holiday this week. I'm on a little UK station. Does anybody know where we are? I know some of you nerds out there will do. I don't actually know if it says on them flags there, but we love it here and we come every single year. We actually come twice a year if we can. So, in this episode, I'll still be here. I'll still be dipping in here and there, but I'm going to throw it over to Alex, my business partner, and we're going to make this an Emperor Property takeover.

[00:00:53]So, Emperor Property is mine and Alex's property development company. As you know, we've got about 30 student houses, HMOs. We've also got some commercial shops. We're building a commercial unit on project go, as you know, and we've got some land and a few other bits. So, we thought in this episode, we'll talk about what it's like trying to get a project over the line. We've got 5 days to finish project Connor. A lot of you guys have been asking about it. So, over to my business partner, Mr. Alex Riddick and Christian, our amazing project manager, and let's see if we can get our latest project finished in time.

[00:01:34]So, welcome back to the channel and this week is a massive week. 50 conorts, one that a few of you have been mentioning in the comments saying where's it up to and what's going on. This week is the deadline week. We've got to get it done.

[00:01:46]It's got to be snagged off. It's been sitting there for a while waiting to be done because we've been busy on other projects and as you know customer work comes first and our own stuff comes second and as always it sits there but now the deadline is this week and we've got to get it done and you know me a lot now and you know what I'm like and you know I like things done right. So inside I had a quick look and there's quite a few snags. Christian my main man is in here and I've tasked him with making sure it's done this week. There's loads that need doing. We've got to get all the furniture finished. Got to get all the appliances in. We got to snag off.

[00:02:20]We've got to paint. We got to silicone.

[00:02:22]Got to get the last bits of carpet in on the stairs here. Outside's got snags to do. There's loads of snags. And inside there's bits that I don't like. We got to fix make better. Yeah, we got the data to do. We got to get all the Wi-Fi on. So hopefully hopefully by the end of this week or by the end of this episode, it should be done to a point whereby I'm happy.

[00:02:44]So inside a few things jump out straight away. Not major, but the bed's in the wrong place.

[00:02:52]That bedside table there needs to go the other side. This needs to move there.

[00:02:56]You can see where the sockets are because you can't get into the desk.

[00:02:59]That's why we make it the way it is.

[00:03:01]Little small oversight there by Jamie by putting it in. But he's coming back today, tomorrow to finish that off. So that needs doing. There's also a nice decorative headboard going in there which is getting made out of fabric. The front of the beds is also getting some fabric put on as well. Beds are decent to be fair. Fairly good. Inside we've got to do all the mirrors. We got to do all the notice board as well. And then telly's going on in the walls too. And again, a little bit of a silicone round.

[00:03:31]In the bathrooms, they've been getting patched up to death. You can see taps on there because the mirrors that we chose had like a light that's back lit. You could see every single mark on the wall. So they've been sanded down, easy filled, sanded again, and then working through that.

[00:03:57]Look like that. So yeah, few bits that we need to work on. So Christian is on with it.

[00:04:04]Under snag.

[00:04:05]>> Yeah, >> under snag.

[00:04:07]>> Christine's on a snag list and I'm going to trust him that he's got to do it right. Got bits like this that need patching it in. Sanding bits on the ceiling that I didn't want to happen, but you can see has happened. We've had to adjust the lights. They need sanding back better. Marks there need sanding back.

[00:04:25]You can see just bits everywhere again.

[00:04:27]Look at that.

[00:04:28]>> Yeah, it's been cleared up. Just need to sand back and >> all the way around with the lighters.

[00:04:32]You can just see needs like a little rub that needs painting in starting to move.

[00:04:37]Bits are cracking. Silicone up there that needs wiping off as well. What's that?

[00:04:42]>> Silicone over.

[00:04:43]>> Yeah. Need to take that thing back.

[00:04:45]>> All the door closes going on back on the chrome.

[00:04:50]>> The door stops.

[00:04:51]>> Yeah. Can't put them on.

[00:04:53]>> Do you want?

[00:04:54]>> No. No. Got to be antiplass.

[00:04:57]>> Antiplass.

[00:04:58]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:05:00]>> Okay. Is that what you've got?

[00:05:03]>> That's what I ordered. Yeah. So legs.

[00:05:05]>> No. Got to be anticip That's like putting chrome hinges on with an antique glass.

[00:05:21]>> Got it.

[00:05:22]>> Got to be antique glass.

[00:05:24]So yeah, inside the kitchen is just going to get finalized by Jamie, our furniture guy. Once he's finished off the bedrooms, he's going to whip through, get all this lit up, done. Then we can start snagging down ourselves.

[00:05:36]Medical fridge freezes going in there.

[00:05:39]Then we've got tumble dry, wash machine going down here. Outside there's a few snags to do. Got to get that drain pipe down and put a shoe on it. Need some concrete going in and collars going in on the drains. You know about them kissed on me? Yeah.

[00:05:55]>> Yes.

[00:05:55]>> You know about this one down here as well.

[00:05:59]>> The condensation.

[00:06:00]>> No. No. It's just concrete round. Put a collar on it.

[00:06:03]>> And there. Yeah, that one.

[00:06:05]>> And good wipe again.

[00:06:06]>> Yeah. Good wipe. Yeah. Silicone.

[00:06:11]Um, make sure that pack is cut out there though. See there? Packer on the door.

[00:06:17]>> Yes. Same like on the front. Yeah.

[00:06:18]>> And then the screed. The screed poured out there.

[00:06:22]>> Mhm. Just need to knock off a bit.

[00:06:24]>> Knock that off before he silicone others go straight away.

[00:06:27]>> Yeah, that's on the list. That's on my list.

[00:06:29]>> Caps.

[00:06:30]>> And caps. That's in the van.

[00:06:32]>> You got them?

[00:06:32]>> Yes, I got them.

[00:06:33]>> White.

[00:06:34]>> White.

[00:06:39]>> Hello YouTube. Adam here checking in for Oswald Road.

[00:06:45]As you can see, we've got all the steel work done.

[00:06:50]All the steels are in.

[00:06:54]All the brick work propped and structurally sound.

[00:07:02]The chimney out and propped.

[00:07:09]All the joist picked up. Beam filling back packed up underneath the original brick work. Nice and solid.

[00:07:24]And for anyone thinking why this end has been left out like that. So if you come outside, you've got the byfold doors going in across the front which the steel is going to go underneath those two steels and then the biffold doors will be going in there.

[00:07:44]But yeah, absolutely fantastic couple of days on here.

[00:07:49]And what a space.

[00:07:51]Take you back to where you'd be coming in.

[00:07:58]Absolutely massive.

[00:08:02]This wall still to be cut down to there.

[00:08:05]Yeah, there's a few little bits still need doing like a bit of uh welding going on up in that corner.

[00:08:16]welding of this steel and this steel and the mad drill holes to be put in there.

[00:08:24]Yeah.

[00:08:25]Progress. Yeah.

[00:08:30]>> Um ovens. Are they all on? No.

[00:08:33]>> Uh it's been fitted. It's been connected. I think just need to screw it down. It's not been screwed down. Yeah.

[00:08:40]>> But do you know what, Alex?

[00:08:44]If you're here about the fixing, I'm okay to fix it that side. You see?

[00:08:52]>> Yeah.

[00:08:53]>> But not sure about that side.

[00:08:56]>> Ask Jamie when he comes.

[00:08:57]>> I asked Jamie.

[00:08:58]>> Yeah.

[00:09:01]>> Downstairs. All done with the switch for >> uh sensor. So as soon as you walk, it's switch up.

[00:09:06]>> Yeah.

[00:09:06]>> It's come up. Yeah. It's safe.

[00:09:08]>> No, I don't like that.

[00:09:09]>> Hey. Yeah.

[00:09:10]>> You can't. No. Because the door is going to have a door closer on by the time you get to it's not on still and the lights off. It's not on still. When it comes on when you're down here being pitch black won't work.

[00:09:20]>> We need to extended the sensor straight away.

[00:09:22]>> Why is it not on the switch?

[00:09:25]>> Kevin does that.

[00:09:26]>> It's not going to work cuz we just you just seen then that'll be on a door closer that'll be shut. I was down on this fourth step here before it come on.

[00:09:35]So you be in full pitch black. Can't do that.

[00:09:37]>> M okay. Just need to extend it up. Yeah, >> you need to change just need to change the sensor.

[00:09:45]>> Can't do that.

[00:09:48]Sent them. We're getting Jamie to also make normally we would make a table that goes in there with the timber ourselves, but we're getting Jamie to do it the same as the wardrobes. We all be matching a nice little shadow black detail. Telly's going to go on the wall.

[00:10:04]Door mats got to go on again. More more filler going in there. Getting that sorted. Handrail kissing it.

[00:10:10]>> Yes. Big Z handrail to go up. You can see this layout's decent. So we've got again waiting for the fabric to come for the headboards. Fabric to come here for this good little mattresses. Door fronts to go on. Same color as the door fronts on the wardrobes. Mirrors going in there. Notice board that side. Telly over there. And then silicone round all mic up properly.

[00:10:36]>> Is it?

[00:10:37]>> Yes. Tommy Tommy does that for us. And then coming through there dust everywhere is he got a lot of cleaning to do. Me too.

[00:10:50]>> This one was the smallest room in the house and still is but it's decent layout because where the bed is.

[00:10:56]Normally we would have our on suite from bedroom two in that corner but this time we've been able to jig it better cuz the outrig is much wider and it just makes it better. All the built-in furniture is better. So much compact, tight, decent, good fit. Come on through into this one.

[00:11:17]>> Oh, mate.

[00:11:19]>> Yeah.

[00:11:22]Alfred.

[00:11:23]>> Alfred.

[00:11:24]>> Alfred. Alfred's the best cleaner going.

[00:11:28]>> He's got about four or five times he's got to do this now to get to get it out.

[00:11:33]This is just the first go and then he's got to do it again and again and again until you get it to the bang on point.

[00:11:39]Anyone who does building work knows how hard it is to clean a site properly. You can do a builder's clean but to get a sparkle clean takes a lot of work and to know where it is. A bit of science behind it. So on there it's going to be a little seat getting made. Same fabric that's going on the headboards and the front of the beds. Tell over that side on suite to box in there. Mirrors going there. Notice sport deer lodger.

[00:12:06]Hope you're enjoying the episode so far.

[00:12:10]Mr. Riddick very capable hands as you know. He as he's explaining is the man for detail and making sure our properties are tiptop. And the reason we do it as he might have already said is because we see them as a lifelong investment. We see all of our rooms in our HMOs as a hotel. And if like any hotel, you let your standard slip, the finish isn't as nice, then less people want to stay and you can charge less.

[00:12:41]Whereas consistently we're getting zero voids. So that means we've always got every room sold and we're getting the best rents in the city. So yeah, it works for us. We go in there every summer, we throw a team out, we spend lots of money, and we get them looking tiptop. So when the next group of students move in, they feel like they're getting a brand new as if that was renovated that year. So yeah, it's good.

[00:13:11]I always say the best strategy, buy a mile, cash flowing business and a property business that appreciates over time and cash flows you all the time.

[00:13:24]Yeah. But the cash flow from our property business at the moment, we're just reinvesting back in back in to the point where we go, you know what, we've got enough. We'll stick with what we've got and we'll just live off the rent roll. But we're nowhere near that point yet. We're still young. Well, Alex is and we just want to keep going, see where we end up. But that's hopefully what will give us a nice life in future.

[00:13:48]But we're also contractors. As I say, a cash flowing business and work resumes cuz we've got this nice weather. Work resumes on Project Moss. So, let's head over to No, it's not Project Moss. Why do I keep saying that? Project Big Bill.

[00:14:02]We've had two Project Mosses up to now.

[00:14:03]Project Big Build. and catch up with Ste the Bricky, Adam the Bricky, and Mike the Grafter.

[00:14:15]Morning.

[00:14:16]Back on project big build. Um, we had to drop off before the bank holiday weekend as the weather was a bit hit and miss uh with laying the blue brick. It's it's a no-go. If there's any any sort of rain, then obviously we had the bank holiday weekend. But we're back now and we're going to uh get our bums in the air and our hands on the ground and get it back up to scratch, pick the pace up and get it back on time schedule. Um so yeah, today we're going to be setting all the internal walls out or starting to set the internal walls out. Uh we've had Mike here yesterday preloading everything for us.

[00:15:00]Um, we need to do this so we can order the block and beam.

[00:15:06]Once the block and beam are ordered, they take about a week to 10 days. So, that'll work right with us getting everything up to level and then we can start putting the block and beam on and get the blam, the be the blocks in and we're then up to floor level and it's all go from there.

[00:15:26]Um, we've also got the grabs coming to take the rest of this today and tomorrow.

[00:15:33]And then that'll be flat. So, we're at a good good level then. Everything's nice and flat for us. So, yeah. Um, that's the plan for today and tomorrow.

[00:15:45]And then we'll be back. We're back on here now pretty much till it's done.

[00:15:50]And let's make a good job of this. So, yeah, let's stick some time lapses on.

[00:15:55]There we go.

[00:16:22]Also, as we've got no electric on site, we have this power bank. I think you've seen it on one of Chris's other videos, which powers around, say, 10 mixes a day.

[00:16:35]plus our radio. Um, and then a few other little bits. You've got sockets here, USBs.

[00:17:21]So yeah, as you can see there now, we have a a plug there for Mike and his mixing and anything else he needs plugging in there. This is another one for an extension lead for the radio.

[00:17:33]This is a charger which is charging the batteries for the GoPro. That's 100%.

[00:17:39]So that'll last hours and hours most of the day. But then we've got that as a backup if we do run out. So yeah, decent.

[00:17:50]So we've had a little bit of a change of plan from what we were saying this morning. when we was going to do the uh internal walls for the block and beam.

[00:17:58]So, the architect um is going to send over the new buildup cuz you got to hit a certain U value when you're um doing your build up above your block and beam. So, we need to know to the millimeter what the buildup's going to be. So, once we get that, we can crack on with that. So, for the rest of the day today, we're just going to be putting the blues in there. Get some blues in there.

[00:18:24]Adam's over there putting them trench in and I'll probably start bringing them blues through. Um, so yeah, we're going to crack on with with blue brick for now. And then once that's moved, which is today and tomorrow, we can start getting the rest of the blues along the front. And then that's the build squared up. Um, so yeah, little little bit of a change of plan.

[00:18:42]Things happen. It is what it is. Um, there's always something else to do. So, we're going to crack on with these and yeah, I'll get a little time-lapse set up of me running this. So, yeah, enjoy.

[00:19:34]Heat. Heat.

[00:19:51]again. Bits of painting snags everywhere. You can see coming up the walls around me.

[00:19:57]There's a lot of marks that need painting and touching up.

[00:20:01]You can see there's bits up the top, bits around the skirts, off the flooring. It's the primer that that's gone on the skirt. All that needs painting.

[00:20:10]There's loads of bits of snags.

[00:20:12]Hopefully Christine's going to keep an eye on it. Work his way through cuz this is the last chance now we've got to do.

[00:20:17]It's got to be bang on. Furniture there.

[00:20:20]Bits of edge pro edge band to go on.

[00:20:25]No soft clothes on there.

[00:20:30]Soft clothes on that one. Check the soft clothes there. Um, >> it's on just looks like it's off or see >> when when is here. You have to make sure you go around them. Check walls.

[00:20:46]There's bits everywhere in it be's going to break it.

[00:20:56]>> So, yeah. Look at the size of this room.

[00:20:58]How decent is it? This is what we've been trying to achieve for ages in these houses. getting these two rooms as best we can. And because this property is in NES and you got the ridge going into the middle rather than halfway in the house and you got to run right down the center, it allows these two rooms to be massive. Really big blinds on Decent ones, aren't they?

[00:21:20]>> Mhm.

[00:21:22]>> Good, mate.

[00:21:24]Well done.

[00:21:24]>> Yeah. Same suppliers like all the blinds. that little piece. Then have you come up with an idea for that?

[00:21:31]>> Tommy or want me to swap different shape of >> Yeah.

[00:21:36]>> Because if you if you silicone that and put the silicone through there be that thick.

[00:21:40]>> Mhm.

[00:21:40]>> We have to put So have to do something else. See or see if there's anything else we can get like another trim to sit in and then silicone the trim in >> um on the floor heating work. Have you tested it?

[00:21:53]Yes, it's on. Yeah, I tested myself. It's come up nicely the screen. Yes, >> that needs checking.

[00:22:07]>> Mhm. One stop.

[00:22:08]>> Yeah.

[00:22:10]>> When it comes, just make sure um them.

[00:22:14]>> So then in this one, this is the daddy of all rooms.

[00:22:20]Is that there? There.

[00:22:26]glue or something. Chris Glue that has the same thing. But it's come up.

[00:22:33]>> Is it?

[00:22:34]>> This is come up.

[00:22:36]>> Yeah. Come up.

[00:22:37]>> This what you find. And again, builders or anyone who does stuff like this even worse in customs houses the customs going in overnight. Who can imagine you're working in high-end properties or even the even normal extension for normal people they're living in that house when you leave it's coming to the end like this albeit we know in our mind we'll get it to where it needs to be that's what you've got people coming in checking that that should never have happened >> in my opinion that like why I don't know why if it's a brand new floor why is that happening that's just costing more work and what I find is at the end of every job to get it to that last like this is probably like 95 5 96% completes this. Now that last 4% most people just do 1% of it and forget the rest of it.

[00:23:23]But that last little couple% is what makes the property and project come together. You spend all that money, all them months and time and energy grafts getting it to where it needs to be. Then that last couple of percent people just leave because there's no money in the job. The customers doing the eding.

[00:23:37]They're doing the customers eding. The lads are doing the eding. They're already starting new projects. Half the team's there. They've got skeleton staff on the job trying to finish it. no cash flow and then you just get to a point whereby they're happy, customers happy and then by that point the bridge is burnt and you just like you just they're happy to get you out the house and you're happy to get out the house and then you just come to basically a mutual agreement in your mind and in their mind that that'll be it and that's the job done. But we don't have it. That again, we spend all this money, time, and effort. It's got to be right. And obviously, yet the tenants move in these houses and once them keys get handed over, they're never the same. But for them first couple of days, months or weeks when you've got it and you get your photos and you can look and step back and we've done a great job here.

[00:24:26]That's the difference. And and doing little things like that should never happen. But all these little bits that we're doing at the end cost money, thousands of pounds extra. that's not been allowed for in any job cuz you you expect people to go and do it properly or not miss things and because we're all busy cuz we have so many other jobs on.

[00:24:45]Things just get slipped, things go through, things get broke, things get damaged. For example, nah.

[00:24:53]Now, anyone who's watching, why has that happened?

[00:24:58]>> There's no door stops. So, now we go around this property and there's additional amount of work now of patching, sand, and painting. And you're going to see that patch now as well. You never you're going to always see it when the light shines on it because the floor should have went down. Doors on, door stops in straight away. But it hasn't happened. Ideally should be protecting floors, but doesn't happen. So what I was say, the painters are going to have to go back through all of this now and paint it, most of it, and touch in. You do get knocks off furniture. You do get things that happen, but there is things that are avoidable. But as I say, when this we're so busy on jobs, it's hard. One good thing though is how good are these going to be once this headboard in fully done, fully formed, these are going to be amazing. And I tell you into a reason why we started doing it. So originally on the other houses, we'd have just headboards in and a tenant to put all their fates around the rooms. So then we thought, let's just start doing ourselves. We got big headboards made oversized and we back lit it with LED. But on this type of property now, we've got Jamie who does all the furniture for us to build it into the frame. So, it's nice big oversized. We're going to put fabric inside again and then they can change whatever color they want. So, now hopefully tents, if you're watching, you don't need to put LED lights around the rooms, ruining our paint after all this graph we're doing, trying to make it look right, fixing it. You can stick to your lights in there now. Change them whatever color you want or don't even have them on. Have them on. So either way now we've got everything covered.

[00:26:33]You can see from this room this is the maze room. This is the proper one. Again that down across the same again. I check check. Yeah I checked the dash.

[00:26:44]>> So see see the the difference we've got here is this is obviously just a small LVT floor built up whereas that's been built up even further because the under floor heating's in there. We put on the floor in these two bathrooms because we didn't have space on the walls for the radiator, a tile radiator. So, we opted to do that a little bit more highend for the buildup's obviously higher. So, we either need to get a different threshold strip or we need to put another type of strip behind to make it look more uniform going through. Again, the walls in the in them bathrooms are bad.

[00:27:18]So, hopefully by the time they've been done, it'll be sound. So, hopefully you can see the pressure we're under now. by the end of this week hopefully this man >> by Friday >> will have it done exactly the way we want it exactly the way I want it in my mind and as I say we've done so many of these projects now and Christian is probably the best place person to know where it needs to be and then kung photo day >> done >> good is it swapping look no so no more access no more >> that's another thing we do change the key on the door so no one can go in.

[00:27:55]They have to speak to him to get in cuz you start limiting access now into here because lads come in, they use the toilets.

[00:28:01]>> Yeah. Just being cleaned.

[00:28:04]>> They do whatever they do in there everywhere. Don't know how but it happens. You know what I mean?

[00:28:10]>> Leave the barcode there.

[00:28:12]>> Yeah. The barcode >> barcode in the toilet. Yeah.

[00:28:14]>> So now we have to limit access now going through. And I know for a fact all the stuff that I'm talking about now, everyone who owns a building constructing company or does any internal design work or anything that piece me in there as well?

[00:28:28]>> Yeah. Fielder. Yeah. Longer >> knows when you get to the end of the job now and I know people are watching.

[00:28:35]There's a few people I'm thinking in me mind watch who do big stuff and I can imagine what their clients like cuz they're doing multi-million pound deals, projects, new build stuff. and it gets to the end of this job and there's these things that are costing you money because you want to get it right for the customer but you think my has that happened shouldn't have happened we face it on all our jobs too but you've got to get it right and you got to get your teeth get it done cuz once it's finished your photos onto the next one make sure you get that done you >> top one isn't >> he picked it >> yeah Yeah, there. There. Matt.

[00:29:17]There's also no paint on the back of them, does there?

[00:29:24]>> Mhm.

[00:29:25]>> Yeah. You need to You're going to cut them out then as well. Them packers.

[00:29:29]>> Yes. That's come off the packers when we fit the carpet. The >> See, look. There's glue everywhere.

[00:29:35]That's what the floor fit.

[00:29:38]>> Glue everywhere. See >> that's glue that that's off the floor there.

[00:29:44]>> Yeah, it's something no one else has had glue here.

[00:29:47]>> It's there again. Look. See, >> you're going to have to get a scraper on them. So, yeah. Hopefully, stay tuned. We're going to get it done.

[00:30:03]Right. So, there you go. Another episode of trade. Um, hope you've enjoyed it.

[00:30:07]We've sort of tried to show you something a bit different. Matt has edited this one. So Matt's our Liverpool based videographer. He normally does the preferred episodes on all social media across all our channels. Good guy, Matt.

[00:30:18]So yeah, thanks very much for Matt for stepping in there because I thought I could do it. I've been editing the last few weeks, but literally it was unrealistic. And uh there's no way I could have got that done in time because actually doing these episodes has dominated my life the last few weeks.

[00:30:32]And uh as I say, Hollywood, people think we've binned him off. He's not. still involved, but we're just I want to step in for a bit. I want to get to know what it's like, what kind of story I want to tell because I kind of fell out of love with doing YouTube for a little bit and I don't because I do really love getting to know you guys and putting stuff out and seeing our progress and stuff like that. So, yeah, there you can see our progress on our property side and what what is involved in trying to get things done. Also, good to see Asheville back.

[00:30:59]I think YouTube's a better place in the construction YouTube content sector when Asheville's about. And uh he's trying something different. He's out of aggregates. He's out of trucks. And part of me thinks I can't blame him. But yeah, hope he's happy. I hope he's healthy cuz really that's all that matters. And he's on something new.

[00:31:20]He's doing property. But I stand by what I say. Alex the same. You need a cash flowing business to fund property because in property you don't get paid week to week whereas in construction and other bits and pieces that we do most of the time we get paid every single week.

[00:31:38]Have a great weekend. Thanks for watching. Back in the office on Monday heavy week because all of our big summer work starts next week. So we're on with the 20 student HMOs while we're starting the first one. So yeah, this is where our busy squeaky bum time actually starts. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it. And yeah, put in the comments if you know where I am.

[00:32:06]Give you a clue. It's windy. See you next week.