Meet Sam Carter
Sam Carter is the co-founder and director of SJC Property Developments, based in Cambridge. Over the years, Sam has established an impressive reputation as a property developer with a focus on the “buy, refurbish, refinance” (BRR) strategy. Utilising his sister company, SJC Building, Sam and his team add value to properties and then rent them out to create recurring income.
Sam's achievements are well-recognised across the industry. He has won multiple awards, including being a top performer in Simon Zutshi’s Property Mastermind Programme and winning the Ultimate Property Investor Award. His expertise has also garnered media attention, with SJC Property Developments being featured on the popular BBC show Homes Under the Hammer. Additionally, Sam’s company won the Commercial Development of the Year award at the prestigious Property Investor Awards, highlighting his dedication to delivering high-quality developments.
With the support of Property Filter, Sam has significantly streamlined his operations, allowing him to acquire multiple properties and dramatically improving the speed and efficiency of his deal-sourcing efforts.
Before Property Filter
Before adopting Property Filter, Sam’s primary method for finding deals involved manually searching platforms like Rightmove and Zoopla. This was not only time-consuming but also inefficient, as many deals slipped through the cracks due to missed opportunities or delayed follow-up. Additionally, Sam found it challenging to track properties effectively, especially when they went off the market and reappeared without proper notification.
Initially, Sam had reservations about using the software. He questioned whether the platform would justify the cost and if it would save him enough time to make it worthwhile. He also wondered if the platform would integrate smoothly with his existing operations without adding unnecessary complexity.
"Before Property Filter, we were spending endless hours on Rightmove and Zoopla. Now, we can quickly stack deals, track properties, and follow up. It’s saved us countless hours."
Deal Case Study
One of Sam’s recent successful projects, sourced through Property Filter, is a spacious, semi-detached 1970s house located in Sawston. The property spans 1,400 square feet across two floors. Previously a four-bedroom family home, it had served its last owner, a woman downsizing in 2021, for over 15 years. Once purchased, Sam’s team identified this as an ideal candidate for conversion into a high-quality, six-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), aimed at Cambridge’s growing population of professionals in tech, medical, and science industries.
Renovation Scope
The property required a full refurbishment down to the brickwork. After completing all initial inspections, Sam's team, working under his sister company, SJC Building, created a renovation plan. The transformation included modernized interiors, additional rooms, and a high-end co-living design tailored to white-collar tenants seeking a premium experience. The project was financed via a Joint Venture with an investor, structured as a 50/50 SPV ownership.
Before
After
Today, this project stands as a top example of Sam’s approach to maximizing a property’s value by adding modern amenities and appealing finishes that attract Cambridge’s white-collar renters.
Purchase Price
£375,000
£120,000
Total Costings
£495,000
New RICS Value
£535,000
£401,250
£93,750
ROCI
32.80%
HMO Income
£58,200
Annually (100% occ.)
Scaling Success with Property Filter
Since implementing Property Filter, Sam has seen remarkable growth in his acquisition speed and deal volume. In 2023, he successfully secured four properties, attributing at least two directly to Property Filter’s capabilities. The platform has allowed him to fine-tune his BRR strategy, accelerating the typically lengthy stages of deal stacking, due diligence, and follow-ups. Beyond time savings, Sam finds that Property Filter has been instrumental in maintaining a steady deal pipeline—even on deals that initially fall through, giving him a competitive edge in Cambridge's fast-paced property market. By leveraging the platform, Sam has effectively scaled SJC Property Developments with consistent results and an ever-growing portfolio.
Favourite Features
Several features of Property Filter have become integral to Sam’s workflow:
“Property Filter isn’t just software; it’s a vital part of our team, continuously working to ensure we’re always ahead of the game.”
Future Vision & Ambitions
Sam Carter's future plans for SJC Property Developments are centred around expanding and diversifying his property portfolio while continuing to refine his existing processes. He aims to build on the success of his BRR strategy by exploring larger and more complex development projects, including commercial-to-residential conversions and multi-unit developments. Additionally, Sam plans to leverage the efficiency gained through Property Filter to scale his operations further, with ambitions to acquire more properties both in Cambridge and beyond. He is also keen to share his knowledge and expertise by mentoring up-and-coming property investors, helping them navigate the property development landscape.
"Thanks to Property Filter, we’re not just doing deals, we’re building a sustainable, scalable business that allows us to focus on bigger, more profitable projects."
Contact SJC Property Developments to learn more about their services.
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