Welcome to Busk Properties newsletter 3 - June 2026
A key theme: resilience 🧭
A key topic for the past few weeks has been resilience. Not the motivational quote kind, but the real life version. The kind that is needed when plans change, people get ill, travel goes wrong, equipment fails, business still needs to move forward, and family responsibilities continue in the background.
This has applied in different ways to both Aidan and myself, but has been a key connection between the personal and professional.
🏗️ For Busk Properties Ltd, the past few weeks have brought a clear reminder that property development is not just about finding a good opportunity. It is also about having the right structure, the right people and the right mindset to keep moving when things become difficult.
🏠 Aidan at home, Avril on the trail
While I was away completing a long planned 280km trek across Costa Rica, from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific coast, Aidan had to manage a very demanding period at home and within the business.
| Aidan | Avril |
|---|---|
| Sickness and diarrhoea for 8 days | Child care for 3 days in London |
| Sole Director available for 16 days | Costa Rica 280km trek over 11 days, Caribbean to Pacific coast, planned for 2 years |
| Commenced legals and title split actions on latest deal | Trek day 0: tube strike, flight delayed by bad weather, missed connecting flight |
| Managed finances | Trek day 1: luggage failed to arrive, 3 hours sleep before pick up |
| Took over Social Media posts and visibility for 16 days | Trek day 2: diabetes equipment failed, questioned whether I could continue trek |
| Limited contact with Co-Director due to time differences and WiFi | Trek day 3: replaced equipment locally, decided to continue |
| Networking and follow up meetings | Trek days 4–11: completed the trek. Oldest and slowest of the group. Learned to pace and do it her way |
| Took over childcare for 1 day | 30 hour journey home, then 4 days catching up on business, then a weekend of childcare |
💛 There were days when I had real highs, and other parts of days when I had to keep telling myself to keep going, throughout.
🌿 Caribbean to Pacific, 280km on foot
I never failed to appreciate the amazing wildlife I was seeing, the culture I was being allowed an intimate glance at, and the benefit of learning from other people's knowledge: practical, ecological, medical and leadership abilities, personalised to each member of the group.
🦥 Sloths and toucans along the trail
🐛 🦎 🌾 Incredible wildlife and flora along the way
🎉 Day 11 — reaching the Pacific coast, trek complete
💡 Two lessons to bring back and build on
It was indeed a very special once in a lifetime trip, which left me with two clear learning points.
"No matter what the difficulty before you, if you want it enough, you'll find a way to overcome it." I'd heard something along this theme before, but this was a time I feel I truly lived it.
You need the right people around you to support you in the right way. I was fortunate to have this on two levels: the group leader, wider organisation and other group members, and Aidan, my husband and Co-Director.
So I feel very focused about my business and personal goals for the next month, and will elaborate further in the next newsletter, week commencing 13 July 2026.
🏗️ Resilience as a business discipline
A property project rarely moves in a perfectly straight line. Legal work can take longer than expected. Finance needs to be managed carefully. Title issues need to be understood. Refurbishments can uncover surprises. Exit routes need to be tested properly. People need to communicate clearly, especially when pressure increases.
🔑 That is why we believe resilience is not just a personal quality. It is a business discipline.
For us, resilience means continuing to review opportunities carefully. It means not forcing a deal that does not stack up. It means taking advice where needed. It means making sure there is more than one way to think about a project. It means having people around us who can step in, challenge, support and help move things forward.
📋 Free Download
The Busk Properties Deal Resilience Checklist — the key questions we ask before taking a property opportunity forward, including the numbers, the risks, the exit routes, the team and what could go wrong.
Download the ChecklistLet's start a conversation 💬
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Until next time,
Avril Magee
Busk Properties Ltd
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