Shack Baker – Changing Lives One Roof At A Time!

The U.K.’s housing crisis will only worsen, but an aspirational property developer, creative entrepreneur, mentor, public speaker & host Shack Baker is putting his skills to the test, hoping to ease the nation’s burden. Here we speak with the mogul-minded entrepreneur to find out about the airspace development niche, balancing his personal time, how the public can invest in property and more.

• Can you tell us about your company, The Property Shack?

My company, The Property Shack, is a property development company that sources and develops land and airspace opportunities. We specialise in modern methods of construction and offsite manufacturing. 

We build zero-carbon sustainable homes created to a PassivHaus standard, providing the best thermal performance and energy efficiency for people who want a better living standard for themselves and their families. 

Alongside this, we have created a social enterprise called H.O.P.E. that provides self-development and training in offsite construction to young adults at risk and ex-offenders. We aim to provide them with employment opportunities with ourselves and other development companies. 

Was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to be an entrepreneur? 

I actually knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur as a child. I read the classified ads in the back of newspapers and trade magazines and cut out listings for marketing and business opportunities. I would always get mail sent to my house (this was in the dark ages, pre-internet days), and my mum never understood where it was all coming from. At 13, my school business studies teacher once referred to the word ‘entrepreneur’ in class. Once he explained what it meant, I knew from that point on that’s what I wanted to be in any form or capacity!

I was always a highly driven person from a young age, so I knew I’d get there. It was just trusting the process and never being put off or fearing failure. 

Can you share three tips for aspiring developers/investors who wish to follow in your footsteps?

I would say get yourself educated or find a mentor that’s achieved the very thing you would like to do. Someone that’s broken the cycle or understands the game can give you actionable steps and clarity on what it truly takes. Self-development will always be your greatest investment, and we never stop learning and growing. 

Change or adapt your network to one that’s consistent with your goals. We are a product of the environment and company we keep. The sooner that’s aligned with your goals, the easier it will be for you to start hitting your targets and getting to where you want to be. True accountability from other investors and developers is worth its weight in gold. 

We need to feed our minds with knowledge and information to motivate us daily. We need to adopt it as if it were food for our minds and take it as literally as we do food for our bodies. Anything the mind can perceive, we can achieve. Simply put, we are a product of our daily habits. Make them consistent with your goals. 

I will give you an extra one for free – Take action! Just make a decision and execute it. The main difference between most successful and non-successful people comes down to a series of actions and the execution of said actions. We have to make a start without comparing ourselves to others. 

• Is “Airspace Development’ an untapped niche in the property market, or is this the obvious way forward to combat the housing problem in the U.K.?

It’s both, to be honest. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to create homes to help alleviate the housing crisis in the U.K. Regarding availability, there’s a huge amount of potential rooftops that are suitable for Airspace Development, so the stock is already there. An untapped niche for nearly all built-up urban areas. 

How can individuals get involved in Property Shack?

There are various ways. I host a monthly physical meeting for property investors, which is excellent for anyone looking to get into property. We have them all across the U.K. Come for free on your first visit by using ‘Shack’ in the voucher code section. You can find details at www.pinmeeting.co.uk. 

I also have free webinars that I do on offsite construction and Airspace Development. 

I do keynotes on offsite construction and property development across the country. Depending on where you’re based, you’ll be able to find something relatively close, hopefully. 

Lastly, I have created a mentorship program called the Airspace Development Accelerator. This will be specifically for committed people looking to get into development in a serious way, using a disruptive and innovative approach to the market to create new homes. 

• How do you balance managing your work life with your time?

I’m the worst person when it comes to time. I work all the time, then think about work in my sleep; I’m bad! The good thing is that I love what I do, not many people can say that, but I now know that time for reflection and family is very important and always needs to be factored in and given priority. 

At the very least, people should integrate something they do as a hobby or something which allows them to switch off into their routines. Burnout is very real and can be detrimental to your business. 

• Can you describe yourself in three words?

Creative, Ambitious, Hustler.

What is the hardest thing about being an entrepreneur?

Being the boss of everything and spinning plates constantly can be a nightmare. Most of your friends and family won’t be able to relate to the hustle and will often undermine your work or not see it as a real job. You have to stay motivated and focused constantly. No one will save you! 

Not always easy, but the sooner you can build a team of some sort, the better your growth will be. It is almost impossible to create and sustain success without systems and a team. 

• Can you share two books that have helped you on your entrepreneurial journey?

There are loads. I’m an advocate of reading even though I’m not a great reader, so I predominantly use Audible with a monthly subscription. Leaders are readers. 

Book 1: The Art Of Exceptional Living – Jim Rohn. One of my favourite books provides an overall insight into changing your mindset and belief system to one aligned with your future goals and successes. 

Book 2: The 12 Week Year – Brian P Moran & Michael Lennington. A great introduction to developing best practices and helping investors utilise their time in the most impactful and strategic way. 

Bonus Book: Go For No – Richard Fenton, Andrea Waltz. Property requires much resilience, and to a certain degree, it’s a numbers game, speaking specifically on the acquisition side. This book perfectly exemplifies best practices for property investors looking to get deals. 

• Looking back, what is the most important lesson you learned about life?

A key lesson I learned is that our comfort zones are constantly growing and shrinking. We must always push ourselves out of our comfort zones, as that’s where true success is. Our most outstanding achievements lay just outside of our comfort zones. It’s life-changing. 

• Where can we find you online?

Shack Baker on every platform. Hit me up to see what’s cooking.