Written by People Who’ve Actually Done It
There’s no shortage of property advice online. Most of it is written by people who’ve never bought a house, never picked up a hammer, or never had to explain to a client why their dream kitchen isn’t structurally possible.
My Property Guides is different. We’re three people who’ve spent our careers in and around property — not writing about it from the sidelines, but doing the deals, doing the renovations, and doing the design work ourselves.
Richard Whitfield — Property & Finance
Richard has spent over 20 years advising on residential and commercial property transactions — buying, selling, letting and financing everything from first-time-buyer flats to commercial units and small portfolios. He’s sat on both sides of the table: as an advisor structuring deals for clients, and as an investor building his own portfolio. If it involves a mortgage, a lease, a valuation or a negotiation, Richard’s handled it more times than he can count — and he writes our buying, selling, and investment guides with that experience behind every word.
20+ Years Structuring Property Deals, Residential and Commercial
Richard’s career started in property finance, advising clients on mortgages and commercial lending, before expanding into the full transaction process — buying, selling and letting across both residential and commercial markets.
Over two decades, he’s worked on everything from first-time-buyer purchases to commercial unit acquisitions and small investment portfolios, sitting on both sides of the table as an advisor to clients and as an investor in his own right.
Areas of expertise:
Residential and commercial buying, selling and letting
Mortgage structuring and property finance
Buy-to-let and portfolio investment strategy
Lease negotiations and commercial property transactions
Property tax and stamp duty considerations
What Richard writes about:
Buying and selling guides, mortgage and finance explainers, and investment strategy — always grounded in deals he’s actually worked on, not textbook theory.
Tom Sharpe — Building & Renovation
Tom is a time-served builder who’s spent the better part of three decades on site — restoring period homes, managing full renovations, and turning near-derelict properties into places people actually want to live. He’s worked on his own projects as well as for clients up and down the country, which means he’s made (and fixed) most of the mistakes a renovation can throw at you. When Tom writes about extensions, structural work, or what a “quick job” actually costs, it comes from having done it, not researched it.
Three Decades on the Tools, Restoring and Renovating Properties Across the UK
Tom trained as a builder and has spent close to 30 years on site — running renovation projects, restoring period properties, and managing everything from single-room refurbishments to full structural extensions.
He’s renovated properties for himself as an investment, as well as managing projects for clients — which means he’s seen renovations succeed, and he’s seen them go wrong, often for the same avoidable reasons.
Areas of expertise:
- Structural renovations and extensions
- Period property restoration
- Project management and realistic budgeting
- Building regulations and planning permission
- Spotting renovation red flags before they become expensive problems
What Tom writes about:
Renovation and building guides, cost breakdowns, and practical advice on what’s actually worth doing to a property — and what isn’t.
Isabelle Marchetti — Interior Design
Isabelle is an interior designer with a client list that spans Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, London and Edinburgh — working across everything from high-end residential projects to full commercial fit-outs. That range has given her a sharp eye for what actually works across very different markets, budgets and tastes, and a healthy scepticism for design trends that look good in a magazine but fall apart in real homes. Her interiors and exteriors guides are built on that global experience, translated into advice that works for a normal UK home and budget.
Global Design Experience, From Dubai to Edinburgh
Isabelle has built her interior design career working with clients across some of the world’s most demanding property markets — Dubai, New York, Los Angeles, London and Edinburgh — covering everything from luxury residential projects to full commercial fit-outs.
That breadth of experience across very different climates, budgets and buyer expectations has given her a sharp, practical eye for design that actually works in the real world, not just in a portfolio shoot.
Areas of expertise:
- Residential and commercial interior design
- Space planning for properties of every size
- Materials, finishes and what genuinely lasts
- Balancing design trends with long-term livability
- Exterior and kerb appeal styling
What Isabelle writes about:
Interiors and exteriors guides — room-by-room advice, materials comparisons, and design choices translated from global projects into practical guidance for a normal UK home and budget.
Between the three of us, we’ve bought, sold, renovated, financed and designed more properties than we can easily count. My Property Guides exists to pass that experience on — straight-talking, practical, and free of the fluff that fills most property websites.
Got a question we haven’t covered? Get in touch — we’re always happy to hear from readers.