Return to the objective

Income today, longer-term growth and a future capital release can point to different property choices. Write down what the portfolio needs to do for you, over what period, and how involved you want to be.

Give each asset a job

Ask why you own each property and what would have to be true to buy it again today. Consider its income, costs, management demands, condition and prospects alongside its role in the wider portfolio.

Set the criteria before searching

Location, asset type, condition, lot size and funding requirements should follow the strategy. Clear criteria help distinguish a genuine opportunity from a deal that is simply available. They also make an off-market search more purposeful.

Make space for the downside

Test what happens if income falls, expenditure arrives earlier or an exit takes longer. The aim is to understand the resilience of the plan and avoid relying on every assumption working in your favour.

Review the reason to hold

A disposal is not necessarily a failure. It may release capital for a better fit with your current objectives. Review the portfolio deliberately, with appropriate tax, legal and finance advice for the decisions involved.