Chris's - Rhode Island Real Estate Journal

OK, there is so much I want to do! I need to get organized. Some thoughts: Need to find a software (that runs on my BlackBerry?) to organize my business tasks from my work tasks (I need lists to stay focused). Does anyone know of some good BlackBerry aps that they have uses?

I am thinking that I focus my tasks by days, for example, on Mondays search on-line resouces for possible homes. Tuesdays, expand my buyer list, Wednesdays, expand my training on a area I am working on, Thursdays, expand my web presense (write a blog, create new links to my web site), Fridays post new classified ads. Weekends....get out there...post flyers....yard signs....business cards...drive thru new neigborhoods looking at homes.

Sundays spend some time Dream Building!!! Your Why, the things that will keep you going, when the going gets tough! I am working on my list of dreams and putting dollar values on them. Some of them may be small, that I can use as a reward for completing a goal or selling a new property. I need to spend some time on the BIG GOALS, touching, feeling, visualizing, defining. These are the things that keep me excited!!!

Started off the day going thru the classified and legal notices. I was amazed at how few adds there were. I did find a few prospects to pursue as well as a few real estate agents, and some bank auctions in the local area. Need to see if I can attend one. I also saw an opportunity for a free add in the newspaper that I need to look into.

Tasks for today:
- Call to inquire about academy
- Install ap on blackberry to manage to-do list
- Buy paper & business card stock
- Print flyers & businsess cards
- Post flyers in my targeted area
- Set goal to hand out a minimum of 3 business cards a day (doesn't seem like much, but that amounts to about 100 / month or 1200 per year)
- Send out e-mails or faxes to realtors that are on my list so far
- Send our e-mail or faxes to prospective mortgage brokers

OK that may be a bit much, but it gives me something to shoot for!

OK, I got thru everything on my list except for the business cards. I bought some supplies from Staples and printed out some cards, but I didn't like the way they came out. I am going to try another option or go thru Vistaprint.

OK, I started sending out e-mails to realtor based on the script that Matt Larson came up with (Thanks Matt!). I was up pretty late doing them, I got a response back from a friend who seem pretty interested!!! I am going to continue to talk with them and see how it pans out.

Other than keeping up with my journal and replying to the realtor today is the day I work on my dream, my why!!! I got a list that I continue to add to, some small, some BIG!! I am going to use the small dreams as rewards as I go along but always keeping my eye on the big prize.

So I am going to share some of my big dreams here. My number one dream is to build a Deck House (google it) in New Hampshire on a lake over looking the mountains. This will be a place to escape for the weekend and a home base for family fun! Skiing, snowboarding, snow mobiling, ice skating, and in the warmer months, hiking, swimming, jet skiing, atv'ing...etc.

The number 2 dream is to have a coach, you know one of those big buses that all the rock stars have! I want to be able to travel the country in this coach. It will help me to achieve 2 of my other dreams, to go to the highest point in every state in the US, plus see every National Park in the US (I've been to 4 so far, wait 5 if you count the Smokey Mountains when I was 5).

OK, that's it for now. Off to return the e-mail, then start focusing on some of those big dreams, defining them a little more. Tomorrow I have the day off from work, so I have all day to work on building my business. I am also expecting to get a call about starting the academy!!!!

Oh, I almost forgot. Some more inspiration for me. I have a neice who is handicapped. She is living in a group home, which has been great for her. The only problem is once she turns 18 the state will no longer pay for her to stay there, which is in about 4 year. My wife Lori and I want to be able to pay for her to stay there! I know we can do it!

You are moving right along and getting things done. Thanks for sharing your journey in REI as well as your dreams. It will be a time to celebrate when you & your wife can help your neice.

I wish you the best in REI and all that you do.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Hey I live in CT maybe we could get together and discuss rei. Let me know by private messaging me or call me at 860 949 3513
Thanks,
Damion Davidson

Thank you Lea!

I plan to keep posting daily. Feel free to kick me in the butt when needed!

Chris

Yesterday I spent some time building my Dream List, ranging from small goals to BIG goals. The list is constantly expanded, I will be putting target dates as well as estimated costs for each item. I spent most of the time looking into the BIG GOALS.

One dream that I have had for a long time is to build a Deck House in New Hampshire. I went to the Deck House Web site and spent some time exploring it and looking at the pictures. Boy it sure is GREAT to unbury those old dreams. When your on your job you think you can never achieve them, but with REI suddenly it seems possible. This can be the vehicle for all your dreams!

OK, back to the dream. I signed up to get a brochure and a complimentary home visit. The also offer factory tours and visits to homes. I will have to keep on eye on that. I also spent some time exploring possible locations for my home. One area that I am looking into is Mt. Sunapee, I think it has everything that I am looking for, a lake, a ski mountain and easy access. I signed up for the e-mail list for the Mt. Sunapee ski resort and for a local community newsletter.

I also spent some time on-line looking at American Eagle coaches. WOW what a beauty!!! I can see myself behind the wheel traveling across this beautiful county of ours. And to have one actually name Eagle!! That is the name of my company Eagle Investments, for a few reasons: it the the name of our local sports team, Eagle Mountain House is where my wife and I were engaged (we try to return there every year, this is where I saw Dean's TV show), and an Eagle represent Freedom and Strength. There are so many places that I want to see and this business will give me the time and money to do it.

More on this next week....

For goals today, I have the day off from work so I can spend some extra time on this (I have a couple of small chores to do around the house):

- Sign up for the Academy!!!
- Search on-line resources for possible homes
- Check on the Free Newspaper in the local newspaper
- Research items I found in the classified and legal sections of the newspaper this weekend
- Expand & e-mail additional realtors

PS I haven't heard back from the realtor that I thought was interested, so I am going to keep looking.

We all have had that feeling at one time of wishing we might have started earlier, but as they say, better late then never. Welcome to the DG website it is packed with information and inspiration. Keep your action plan, your drive and dtermination going. Congratulations for starting your journal. Your journal is a great idea to hold yourself accountable to yoru action plan and goals each day. You can track your progress and share some of your new found knowledge and experience with other DG Members. Good luck with real estate investing and with all your future deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Thank you Indiana Joe!!!

I know this is early, but I couldn't wait till tomorrow!!!!

We got accepted into the Real Estate Academy today!!!!!!!!! Lessions start on Wednesday, I can't wait. If you want to kick start your REI business you need to enroll in the Academy!!!!

I have a realtor lined up and ready to go (I have two others that contacted me who are also interested). I am close to having a mortgage broker lined up.

I got thru my list of tasks today, but the Academy is the BIGGEST!!

Oh, as recommended by the Academy, I picked up a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and I am already on page 55. If you don't have this book you need it!! Does it open your eyes.

Can you tell I am a little excited !!!!!

Hi Chris,

I also got accepted to the academy today and I am very excited to start tomorrow. It is nice knowing that somebody else is learning at the same pace as yourself.

I didn't get that book recommended to me but I have listened to it already as an Audio book. I will also start my journal tomorrow also, just like you! Congratulations on getting accepted to the academy again!

--Joe

Had my first call today to set up my training!!!

Looking into incorporating my business.

Ordered a cell phone (can't use the company issued cell phone for personal business).

Established written goals for 6 month, 12 month and 3 - 5 years.

Working on my buyers list.

Called into some business training today, lots of things to consider.

Need to researh type of corporation.

Working on buyers list, need to look into additional sources.

Continue to look into options for setting up my business.

Found out part of my benefits at work are free legal consultations!!!

Continue to work on buyers list.

Look into setting up extension for the voice mail system.

Got a lot done last night!!
- posted a "looking for investors" add on Craigslist
- Looked up REI clubs in Rhode Island, found 2, e-mailed both to ask about attending meetings.
- Checked out both REI's websites, found some member sites with contact information, contacted all of them via e-mail to let them know I had potential properties.
- Looked into setting up multiple extension for my voice mail system.
- Re-read the sections in Dean's Book on building your buyers list.
- Left a message with my potential mortgage broker on the minimum requirements for obtaining a mortgage.

For today, got a long list of tasks to accomplish:
- Have a few small house tasks to do, have some excess material that I need to get rid of, the local newspaper lets you advetise for free!
- MY SON'S FOOTBALL TEAM IN IN THE SUPERBOWL FOR THE DIVISION 1 TODAY AT NOON (so I will certainly be taking a break for that)
- I finished reading Rich Dad Poor Dad today! This is a MUST READ!!! Going to look into buying his games.
- Call my coach to ask a few questions that I have
- Continue to work on finding potential buyers
- Add an extension to my 800 voice mail system for screening buyers
- Look into options for debt reduction, found a program I can run to analyize it
- Listen to my first Success Academy Lession
- Listen to my 2nd Business Basics Phone session
- Contact Tax Club & Company Help Line for Free Legal consultation on setting up a corporation

Hey Chris,

You're going great! You're doing a great job of planning your days activities and working hard to accomplishing them. Keep it up.

One thing that I did to get buyers was to Google 'We Buy Houses (your town)'. I called them and told them that I was doing bird dog work and they responded quite well.

For your information, I used Legalzoom to set up my LLC. They have a package deal that includes everything.

I also read Rich Dad Poor Dad. It is great! I am now reading Think and Grow Rich. It's a little tougher to read and understand but I'll get thru it. I intend to read RDPD again.

2 things that I need to do are checking out the 800 number voice mail system and getting some business coaching. That's on the agenda for next week.

Rick

Follow my progress:
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/35914/...

Thanks Rick!

I am working hard at this!

I found out the Intuit (the makers of turbo tax) have their own corporation set up site and they are offering a special (Free) through the end of the month. All you pay is the state setup fee.

Thanks for the tip on finding buyers!

I have my 800# set up and am going thru coaching. If you are serious about this it is the way to go!

Yeah I found my first investor, actually I have 2 now. Have a number of leads to follow up on too!

Yesterday I worked on a number of things, reconfigured my 800# voice mail with extension for Foreclosure, Investors and Buyers (for now). I couldn't find an investors script so I made my own up. I will post it at the end of this message.

My wife and I went thru our first lession for the success academy, have a number of action items to follow up on. Our first phone in session is tomorrow night.

Talked to my coach yesterday, they answered all my questions and refocused me on working on my buyers list.

OH, before I forget, my son's football team WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! What a game!! My voice is a little scratchy from yelling so much.

I e-mailed my mortgage broker to get the minimum requirements for a loan, so I could include it in my voice mail message.

OK, here's the script I came up with, let me know what you think:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi my name is . If you are an investor looking for "Better than Great Deals", no one finds better deals than what we have. NO ONE!

If you would like the chance to buy homes at up to 40% off FMV then look no further, call right now, before you miss out on a deal that you could flip in the market and still make a profit, or rent for massive cash flow and a ton of equity.

I am always looking, but can't close on all the the properties myself and I hate to see a good deal go to waste. I would be willing to offer them to you. I don't want to waste your time or mine. If I find a phenominal deal I could contact you with additional information. If this interests you please leave name and contact information.

This is , Thank you for calling and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are there any investors out there looking for someone to bird dog or property assignments in Rhode Island or Southeastern, MA?

Congrats on all you're accomplishing! And congrats on your son's STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! Proud moment for a dad.
That's awesome that you're already getting buyers lined up and diving right into the Success Academy (I love that you and your wife are doing it together). Keep us posted on what response you get from your script and your 800 number.
Wishing you all the best in your REI and MUCH success!

Rina

WOW! I post from Rina, I am truely honored!!!

Thank you for all your kinds words and encouragement. Looking forward to meeting the DG team some day!

Continuing to work on the buyers list. I had someone contact my on DG.com that is looking for help Bird Doging. From the tip posted yesterday I went to the HUD site any looked up the history of all the bidding and found about 30 potential buyers!!! Also in the local papers there is a listing of real estate transactions, I look for Company name, I found about 12 more names there.

I have not heard back from the local real estate club yet, I will have to follow up with them.

Dean's video today offered some additional tips.

Wow, you have accomplished so much in such a small amount of time. The REI clubs you looked into are they the ones held in Warwick? They are held when I'm working so can you post how they are, if you attend? Well, once again congrats on your success so far.

Jean

Hi Jean,

Yes there are two RI meetings in Warwick. I am trying to find out when they meet. Do you have any information on them? Thanks for your compliments!

Chris

Last night I added some potential contacts to my buyers list, I have about 120 names from various sources, most of them I don't have contact information for.

I e-mailed the local RE Investors clubs to get next meeting time & date. Need to check their website again and see if there is any info there.

Tonight I had my second lesson on building a Fast Cash Buyers List, Lot's of great information and some new action items to tackle!!!

Working on finding contact information for the potential names on my buyers list. Plan on getting as many names as possible any making calls on Saturday.

Based on a tip from Jeff last night I am working on putting together a list of home inspectors for possible leads on investors (AKA buyers!!!).

On another note, one of Dean's recommendaitons is that you go on a news diet. I have Sirus satelite radio in my car, so I have been thinking about what I can listen to on my commute back & forth to work (~45 min each way). So I have been listening to the Catholic Channel on my ride. It is certainly postive and not at all what you might think. Check it out if you haven't heard it before.

Oh, we got hit with a nasty snow storm this morning, made for an interesting ride in this morning.

One other thing, I have several routes that I can take to work, some all highway and some back roads. I am going to start switching it up and taking back roads more often so I can keep an eye out for any "changes" or possible real estate deals or "we buy homes" signs.

and all the action you are taking! It is awesome!!!

Can't wait to see where everything leads, and I've bookmarked your journal to keep up with your action steps. There is so much to learn from anyone who lays out their action as you have done!

Congrats on getting started! So much awaits you and I'm thrilled you have embarked on this journey.

Cheers!
Louisa

Thank you Louisa! I am glad you are enjoying it. I am doing it for a few reasons. One to keep myself accountable, two, to share with other, three to provide a trial that hopefully others can follow and that I can look back on someday and see how it all started!!!

Getting to things late tonight, but can't let the day end without doing something.

I am continuing to research possible buyers.

I have been communicating with my realtor and going to have them help me find 10 initial homes, I e-mailed them criteria.

Going to finalize my list of home inspectors.

Post some ads for buyers.

See if I can get this all in before I go to bed!!!!

ACTION...ACTION...ACTION!!!

Chris,

Great to see you are going great. You mentioned a few days ago about getting the bidding history off of the HUD website. Others have mentioned this as well. I have tried it but not been successful. Can you give me some tips on how to get to this on the HUD website?

Keep it up man!!!!

Rick

Follow my progress at:
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/35914/...

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5&6

Got most of the things done on my list. I got a list of local Home Inspectors & a list of questions to ask them. Will be making calls tomorrow. I also put together a list of local appraisers to contact also (TIP: These real estate professional may be a good source of investors).

I didn't get to post my "ghost ads" will do that tonight, once I figure out the criteria to include.

I got a response from a local investor from one of my Craig's List ad, I will be adding them to my buyers list.

Heard back from one of the local Real Estate Investors groups, I just missed their December meeting, but I have the date for next month. They have a free on-line sign up that I did get to. The other club has a meeting next week that I be attending. I think these will be a great source of investors, plus a place to share ideas with other local investors as well as continual learning opportunities with the speaker that they bring in monthly.

Drove yet another route into work today, will keep my eye out for any changes.

OK, off to post some ads!

JUST DO IT!

Rick:

I will do my best to try walk you thru the steps for the HUD Site:

1. Go to http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/homes_for_sale
(there are several government agencies you can check out also)
2. Click on HUD
3. Pick your state, it will load a link to another site, click that link.
4. On the right side of the screen "Real Estate Agent's Corner", click "Search by City" under "Bid Statistics".
5. A window will come up with a list of Cities, pick the areas you are intersted in.
6. A list will come up of all the properties along with all the bidders for that property.

Hope this help!

Chris