[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

each and every month. In it, give information on helpful homeowner tips.
You can get your raw information out of any number of books on the
subject at your library local bookstore. Rewrite the content in your own
words so you don t violate any copyrights. For example, you might have
one on how to fix a roof leak, or how to select a contractor. The articles
should be valuable to her clients. Tell her that she can copy these and
distribute them to her clients. (Leave the top blank so that there is space
for her to insert her name with a word processor). Get one to her each
and every month. It will keep your name front and center. Topics you can
use include:
How to unclog plumbing leaks without a plumber.
Replacing broken windowpanes.
How to find good sub-contractors.
How to avoid being ripped off by subcontractors.
Why you should always keep gutters clean.
How to select the right plants for your house.
How to replace a cracked tile.
How to paint a room.
Why Realtors are critical when it s time to sell your home.
New loan programs and refinancing ideas (from your trusty mortgage
broker!) Basic yard maintenance.
Question and answer format is great, i.e.:
Q:  My house recently had a new roof put on. Unfortunately there are
some old water stains on the ceiling left over from the old leaky days. I
tried to paint over them, but they keep coming back. What would you
suggest?
A: Use a quality primer made to cover water stains, like Kilz. The oil or
shellac based primer is the product that you will need to use, as opposed to
a water based primer. Either of these products may be covered with oil or
latex paint. (Check the packaging.) The odors on these primers are
extremely strong, so be sure to open as many windows as you can and
ventilate the area. You will want to make sure that any loose paint is
removed before painting, and that the surface is totally dry. If the stains
are especially bad, 2 coats of primer may be required. Because it can take
up to 24 hours for old water stains to bleed through the primer, it is a good
idea to wait before applying your finish coat.
(There is a good magazine called Family Handyman that contains some
great articles you can use for inspiration and accurate content. It should
be available at larger bookstores, and is available at Home Depot. Also
see This Old House Magazine).
d) If you buy or sell a property, let the agent know with a letter. Note to
her that you are still very interested in finding more properties in area x.
This will demonstrate that you are a serious investor, move you up in the
pecking order.
e) If you list the property, and don t have a particular reason to list with
another agent, list with the agent you are cultivating. This will bind you to
them. I ve personally listed properties with an agent to establish a
relationship even when I think I could have sold the house  by owner. If
that agent brings me 4 deals with $30,000 of profit each, the extra $7,000 I
spent on a commission for one deal was well worth it!
f) If you have good subs that you really like, make a list and give it to the
agent. Explain that you have used these folks in the past, and that their
names might be helpful to her clients. Such lists are super-valuable to the
agent because they help her to sell houses. For example, a house may be
perfect for a buyer, but it needs repainting. The agent can tell the buyer
that he knows a great painter who can handle the job, and potentially close
the sale. This will also make your subs loyal to you. If your job or
another client s job must be delayed, yours won t be if you are keeping a
steady stream of referral business going to the sub. These subs will see
you as so important to their business that they will also give you a great
rate for your work.
I would use this technique with the top few agents in your target area. I
now work with only a select handful of agents. All are totally committed to
the success of my business.
End Of Article
Listed Properties With Ethical Agents
We have picked up some great deals on properties that were listed with
real estate agents. Usually listed properties are not the best deals in the world.
As I stated before, the usual process that a seller goes through is to call several
agents when they are considering selling. The agents come out and look at the
house, and make statements to the seller as to the market price they think the
property can bring. Many agents are honest, and try to give the most accurate
information they can. Others try to quote a high price, and hope that the
property can bring that, or plan to get the seller to adjust the price downward if
the house doesn t have much activity. Sometimes, the seller may be willing or
satisfied with a lower price, but the agent fills his or her head with images of a
huge price. The seller then adjusts their expectations upward, and will not
presently accept an offer that they would have jumped at a week before.
Note: This is why I teach students who take my course how to actively
prospect for deals instead of relying upon listed deals, or houses advertised in
the paper. This is a competitive business, so why play where there are the
most competitors, and the thinnest margin deals? The process is step-by-step
to do this (each of these receives detailed treatment in the course so that even
the newest investor can implement the ideas like a pro): target a
neighborhood, learn it, target particular properties and types of owners, make
contact and offers according to our plan, and lock up the deal using our
proven negotiation strategies.
We were called on a deal in a neighborhood that we owned a rental
property in. I was extremely familiar with the pricing in that area, and knew
that the price was a total steal when I heard the details. They were asking
$77,000 for a house worth $135-140,000. The house was potentially more
valuable than that because it was a 1920 s era  craftsman style home.
These sell for a premium in our market.
I went with the agent to see the house, and made an offer for $1,000 over [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]