Author Archive
Ugly is the New Pretty
Posted on May 29, 2015 by
Warm weather is finally upon us! Time to get ready for those Summer vacations – trips to the beach, cookouts, swimming, boating, golf, tennis, and everything else that we love to do outside when the weather is warm.
Of course, if you live in the South, Southern California, or a place like Phoenix, you’re used to having nice weather all year ’round. And I hate you. :)
But if you’re like me, and live in a place where you get all four seasons (yay), you can appreciate how the change in weather can also trigger a change in perspective.
Long intro aside, there’s something that I’ve been noticing over the past few years when it comes to marketing…
Ugly is the New Pretty!
What does that mean? It means that a lot of the usual, conventional, traditional marketing pieces or campaigns that USED to work for many years… simply don’t work much any more these days. Read More→
Wholesaling vs. Lease Options (aka Ugly vs. Pretty) – Part 3
Posted on April 30, 2015 byWelcome back…again! Quick refresher: We’ve been discussing two classic & powerful, tried & true real estate investing strategies:
Wholesaling and Lease Options, aka “Ugly” vs. “Pretty”.
Part One of this series was devoted to Wholesaling, and Part Two was focused on Lease Options. Examples were given. Terms discussed. Money put on the table. Moving on…
Whenever a ‘newby’ investor asks me where they should start, I usually tell them that wholesaling is a great way to earn some great money while learning the business, so they should consider starting there. After a while, and when their marketing starts generating leads from pretty house sellers, I tell them that it’s a great idea to learn that part of the business so that they can start to make money from those leads as well.
It’s a beautiful thing when a deal fits easily into a ‘type’ of transaction we know how to do, and it’s even more beautiful when all the stars are in alignment & a deal closes smoothly. But we live in the real world here, right? Besides, we’re problem solvers, and that’s why we get paid the big bucks! :) Read More→
Wholesaling vs. Lease Options (aka Ugly vs. Pretty) – Part 2
Posted on April 3, 2015 byWelcome back! In our last article, we talked about how trends come & go in all things, but we specifically discussed the fact that there are two tried & true strategies that have seemed to stand the test of time in Real Estate Investing. Those strategies are: Wholesaling and Lease Options.
Wholesaling was discussed last time – it’s mainly done in the “Ugly” house business (houses that need a lot of work). And Lease Options are typically understood to be done in the “Pretty” house business (houses that don’t need much work).
Thanks for hanging in with me so far, veteran investors. Keep reading. It gets better.
Lease Options have been around for a good, long time. Certainly as long as any of the well-known, current ‘Gurus’ have been teaching. The way they work is basically like this:
A homeowner/seller wants to sell their house, but a typical wholesale-style deal (usually with a lowball price offer) doesn’t work, or they just don’t like the offer… or the offer doesn’t make sense. I mean, why would any sane seller sell their house that doesn’t need much work that they have a ton of equity in for a deeply-discounted price? Read More→
Wholesaling vs. Lease Options (aka Ugly vs. Pretty) – Part 1
Posted on February 27, 2015 byThey say that the only thing that stays the same is change. I’d like to smack whoever said that, but I have to admit that he’s right. When it comes to the things that matter to us, my loyal reader, this is definitely the case. Things like real estate investing, marketing, and the market itself, etc. These are things that are constantly changing.
So if THOSE things change, WE need to change, too… if we want to keep up. For example, when I first went full-time as a real estate investor, short sales were still in their early days. So I did a TON of them & made some serious coin. Since then, laws have been passed, banks have caught on, and I’d rather get poked in the eye by a sharp stick than do a short sale now.
Not only that, but the main market where I live & operate (the Washington, D.C. area) has gone from cold to hot, then back to cold in the crash and is now hot again. Investors come & go like transient people around a campfire.
The older I get, the wiser I get (or so I like to believe). Therefore, it has become apparent that if we want to stay alive in this business, we need to be able to not only read the trends of where things are NOW, but also where they’re going. And be able to keep up by developing & using the right techniques & strategies that are appropriate for what’s going on. Read More→
The Real Estate “Dance” – Part 2
Posted on January 30, 2015 byDancing… and Real Estate? What gives?
What? You still want to know what else dancing & real estate investing have in common?
Ok, lest ye forget what we had talked about in our last article, I’ll give you a quick reminder. After all, it’s been a month already, right? And let’s get all the new kids caught up to speed, too…
When I upgraded my profession from a Ballroom Dance Instructor to a Real Estate Investor many years ago, I noticed that these seemingly different businesses had some things in common, namely:
1. You have to LEAD;
2. You have to deal with OBSTACLES;
3. You’ve gotta have RHYTHM;
4. You need BALANCE; and…
5. You’ve gotta have the right PARTNER!
Remember all those? If not, just go get last month’s issue of this publication… it’s all there!
But guess what? We’re not done yet! Yes, just when you thought it was safe to get back on the dance floor, I have 5 more things to share with you. Ready? Read More→
The Real Estate “Dance” – Part 1
Posted on January 1, 2015 byDancing… and Real Estate? What gives?
Good question! Let me explain…
I don’t know if you knew this, but before I started investing in real estate, I was a professional Ballroom & Latin Dance Instructor/Competitor of 14 years!
Although it might not seem like these two careers have much in common, I actually began to realize just how similar these apparently different disciplines really are during my early days as an investor.
For example, I remember this one time when I was talking with a seller of an ugly house and trying to get her bottom price.
I asked her the notorious question, “Janice, if I paid you all cash & closed quickly, what’s the least you could accept for your house?”
“Well, what could you offer me?” She replied.
“That all depends. What’s the least you could take?” I shot back.
“I really don’t know. Why don’t you just make me an offer?”
Do you recognize that dance? It’s the “Scared Swing!” The “Cheap Chicken Cha-Cha!” Read More→
Why We Do What We Do
Posted on November 28, 2014 byThis month, I’m going to take a break from the normal subject matter that I write about (marketing, real estate, technology, etc.) to focus on something a bit more… important. If you’re not ready for a little introspection, go ahead & stop reading now. I won’t judge.
However, if you’re open for some insight that just might help you grow not only your business but yourself as well, I humbly invite you to keep an open mind & keep reading. Please know that I’m usually a very private person, so a lot of the subject matter I’ll be writing about here is challenging for me to open up about.
There’s nothing like a challenge or personal tragedy in your life that will almost compel you to stop or at least slow down to re-evaluate the things you’re doing and the direction you’re heading. For me personally, I had such a tragedy occur recently when my father passed away from a combination of Alzheimer’s, old age & a heart condition just one month shy of his 96th birthday. Three months later, his older sister (my aunt) joined him. She was mere weeks away from turning 100.
My father was a full colonel (retired) in the U.S. Air Force. He served his country honorably, and, as I recently discovered, contributed to many (Classified) projects during the time he served that set the framework for things that are still in place today. By the time this article is published, he will have been laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. I have no doubt that this will be an experience that will be cherished by all who attend. Read More→
“Dude… You Need Help!” (Part 2)
Posted on October 31, 2014 byWelcome back! In Part One of this article, we talked about how you have issues & need some serious help. No, I’m not getting personal with you. I say this because if you’re the one doing everything in your business, you probably won’t be in business for long because you’re most likely going to get burnt out or work yourself to death. Not good. So that’s what the last article was all about, remember?
Then I left you with a cliffhanger: HOW to solve this massive problem. Well, I said I was going to come through with the goods, and I aim to deliver, so here we go…
How to Get the Help You Need in Order to Be Successful & Keep Your Sanity (or what’s left of it)
The answer is…
Technology and Teamwork! (or T & T for short)
Do you like that title? No? I stayed up all night thinking of that! :)
Ok, the concept is simple… Write this down:
- Use existing TECHNOLOGY to AUTOMATE as many of the tasks you need done, then…
- HIRE someone to do as much of the rest of the stuff FOR you.
Depending on what you need done, you might have to hire a FEW ‘someones.’
Don’t let that bother you.
Let’s Start With the Technology.
A few examples of things you should get and start using immediately include: Read More→
“Dude… You Need Help!” (Part 1)
Posted on October 1, 2014 bySo there you are – a proud real estate investor or business owner! You’re doing some marketing, talking to sellers, driving out to meet them, making offers, following up, raising private money, selling your houses, and a million other things.
Meanwhile, you’re (maybe) still working a job, being a husband, a father, a friend, a family member, a neighbor, and a member of your community! You don’t even know the meaning of the word “sleep!”
You’ve got a lot of balls… In the air, and everything is going great with your juggling act.UNTIL… IT happens. What is it? “It” could be anything, like… you could get sick. Or someone in your family gets sick & needs you to take care of them. Or a deal goes sideways & winds up taking way more time than you had budgeted (inconceivable!). Or a vehicle breaks down. Or some technology doesn’t work the way it should (what? that never happens!). Or… shoot, just fill in the blank. IT doesn’t really matter what “it” is.
Suddenly, your whole world gets turned upside down, and all your balls fall to the floor. The next few weeks find you frantically trying to put the pieces of the puzzle back in place again, only to find that the picture will never quite look the same no matter how hard you try to shove the pieces back together to where you had them. Read More→
Unplugging… To Recharge
Posted on September 2, 2014 byAs I write these words, the summer is almost over. School has already begun in many places throughout our country, and will soon start in the rest. Vacations have (hopefully) been taken, and before you know it, it’s back to the ol’ grind again. Yay!
So, have YOU taken a vacation? Did you have the chance to get away and do something fun, relaxing, or otherwise fulfilling this summer? If not, why not? There have been countless studies done and research conducted that prove that people who take the time to take vacations live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Google that if you don’t believe me.
It wasn’t too long ago (when I was -gasp- working a full-time job) that I started to get burned out from it. I began hating the thought of going there and facing certain people again, and even the activity of what I was doing started to get on my nerves. The funny part is that my job at the time was the best ‘job’ I’d ever had: I was a Ballroom Dance Instructor!
I remember asking myself, “Why am I feeling this way about what I’m doing?” Then the thought hit me: I realized that I hadn’t had a vacation in 6 years! Like a lot of people, I was simply working too hard to think about it. I immediately set one up – a week at the beach – then planned it out & went. Read More→
The Secret Weapon in Real Estate Marketing is Now… (Part 3)
Posted on July 1, 2014 byWelcome back to part 3 of this exciting article series about Video Marketing!
Quick refresher of what was in parts 1 & 2: Everyone is online watching videos these days. They’re using their computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. When they’re looking for the information they want, you’ll stand out and get the business if you can effectively attract and engage them with your videos. If you can’t, good luck!
You got an example of how to use video marketing to sell houses (in part 1).
In part 2, we discussed how to create videos, different types of videos, and what to say in your videos. Shoot, I even gave you a couple of great script outlines & examples for you to use!
So if we’re now on the same page, let’s move on…
In this article, I’m going to cover the last main steps of what you need to do with your videos:
Optimize, Upload, and Promote them. Then I’ll set you free upon the world to have fun! Read More→
The Secret Weapon in Real Estate Marketing is Now… (Part 2)
Posted on May 31, 2014 byWelcome back! So if you read last month’s issue, you know by now that there’s a “New Sheriff in town,” when it comes to marketing your real estate business. This somewhat-new solution is quickly proving to be just as, and in some cases, more effective than the old, familiar forms of marketing we’re used to using. This new method is: Video Marketing!
We had also discussed how nearly everyone is not only online these days, but they’re also watching more and more videos all the time. Even on their smartphones. And the more YOUR sales messages can get to these people, the more effective you’ll be. And the more money you’ll make. Simple.
Finally, I’d given you an example of one way you can use video marketing to sell houses: By taking some video of a house you want to sell and talking about it as you go. Remember?
All caught up? Good! Let’s continue…
In this article, I’ll go over a few other ways you can create videos that you can use to sell anything you want, any time you want, to whomever you want to sell! So strap in and get ready. Read More→
