The Dragon has been busy buying up exclusive property around the capital for knockdown prices. Across the UK, property prices are up to 30 per cent cheaper than last year. And for some tough negotiators, the savings are even greater. “I got a call from an estate agency recently asking if I was interested in a property,” recalls Caan. “I said, ‘Are you dumb? Or do you just not read the papers?’ You have 11 seconds to pitch.” The agent was selling a property in a prime real estate location: London’s Mayfair. A stone’s throw away from the tiny office Caan leased when he first started out in business. He’s come a long way from those penny-pinching days. Caan was offered this property at £3,000 per square foot. Conducting this negotiation on the move from his chauffered car in London – Caan is a huge fan of his BlackBerry – he took a slight detour to look at the property and decided to make a play. “Property usually goes for around £5,000 per square foot in Mayfair,” says Caan. “But there was no way that I was going higher than £1,500.” In the end, Caan got his hands on the place for a song: £850 per square foot. That’s 80 per cent off the asking price. The millionaire attributes the deal to his knack for mobile working: “I was in the right place at the right time. If I had hesitated, or set up a meeting for a week’s time, the property would have already gone,” he says. “It was a no brainer.” Related Articles“What’s in Great Britain’s shop window?” asks DragonHard slog ahead for Dragons’ Den alumniEntrepreneur stars of the stage
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.