Chris's - Rhode Island Real Estate Journal

There is a storm headed this way....the winds will be blowing!!!

I got two "Set For Life" web pages set up last night! Check them out below.

Going to catch up on the training session I missed today and learn how to market the site.

WOW...the set for life system is awesome! I was fortunate to make this year's EDGE, but did not go to the VIP session. I started watching (listening) to the session over the last couple of days and WOW...what great information. I can't tell you how may AH-HA moments I have had.

Looks like the hurricane has been down graded and it will pass to the east of us...whew. Although I love a good storm!

I got my first lead from the SFL system!!!! Turns out it is a women looking for a house in Minnesota. I am hooking up with a fellow DGer to try to get them in a house. Awesome!!!

Also, I watched the video for "Traffic Geyser" that was included as part of the system! WOW does this look awesome, I am going to order the recommend camera and mic and get working on some videos...what a better time to do this!

For those of you who do not have the SFL system, you can get the same deal for $1 (yes $1!) here: http://www.trafficgeyser.com/

My boys had a day off from school today and my youngest decided he wanted to spend some extra time with dad and go to work with me! It was nice to have him with me, but I think he was bored after a few hours! He helped himself to the bagels and juice in the kitchen! LOL

I have a busy day ahead of me, the focus will be on buyers!

I have been training on and using the Set For Life system and I must say I am very impressed. The leads are already coming in and I haven't fully marketed it yet! I am currently marketing one of my properties on Sellpoint, plus I am able to blast it out to other matched users on the system! Awesome!!!

OK, goals for the day:

1. Call new buyers to verify their criteria.
2. Add all buyers into my SLF database
3. Post "Handyman Special" ghost signs
4. Follow up on the list of expired listing that I received from my realtor.
5. Order video equipment as recommended by Traffic Geyser http://www.trafficgeyser.com/tgblog/how-to-get-your-own-hd-studio-for-ar...
6. Modify Letters for follow up on and marketing to sellers, cash buyers, probate, etc.

That should keep me busy!

Well, it's Labor Day weekend and the weather after the storm has been awesome!

I had a busy day on Saturday, we almost forgot about the family cookout...LOL Sunday was equally busy, my son had an out of town football game...which them won! Saturday I ordered the video equipment so I can start using the Traffic Geyser system. There are a few things I didn't get done that I wanted to, but I did knock off quite a few things. As my friend Joe Jurek says, don't get upset about what you didn't do, be happy for the things that you did do!

I see that the Set For Life System is going to get me to the next level. Automation is the key plus the built in system will help me stay organized no matter how big my business gets!

Today I want to finish up the items that I have left from Saturday. In addition I am going down to check out the progress on one of my properties (the contract thinks I will be pleased), and then take him over to my other property to put together an estimate. My plan on that one is to renovate it, and pull whatever cash I can out of it, then rent it out.

I have been getting lots of responses to all the ads I put on Craigslist! Both phone calls and e-mails. My buyers list continues to grow.

Tuesdays I spend time training, I am going through the empowering conversations DVD..tonight is Jan & Jeremy.

I just wanted to stop by and say hi. I think I seen you in some of the Edge DVD footage. When people go to the mic to ask questions I think it is you sitting at one of the tables close to the mic area. If it was not you sorry.
I still want to say hi and we think you are doing a great job at REI.

Steve

Tonight I worked on a scope of work for Deal #3. I am going to renovate this property and put it up for rent or lease to own.

I got a list of cash buyers from my realtor today, I need to do a little research to get contact info.

Progress on renovations for deal #2 is going well! It may be finished next week!!

Well, didn't make it home as early as I wanted to tonight. I had to go with a player to a late weigh-in for football, was supposed to be quick but ended up taking an hour and 1/2.

My video production kit is starting to show up! Can't wait to start making some videos and posting them.

Still working on my buyers list, I want to get some out of state buyers on my list like Matt Larson! I also want to get some "lease to own" or as Greg Murphy calls them "tenant buyers"! Once this machine is cranked up there is no stopping it.

Whew...another busy week. Been doing a lot of training, especially on the new "Set For Life" System.

I made some phone calls today, some to "for rent ads", I found someone who wants to sell another investor who is looking to buy. In addition, I called my hard money lender for one of my properties and he has a property that he would consider a "lease to own", and I have a few buyers looking to lease to own. I also had a call on one of the ads I posted for a Contractor looking for a house that he can move into and renovate, then sell later, he is always looking for homes. Plus some else responded to a Craigslist ad that may want to bird dog for me, so over all a great day!

I just got caught up on you journal. You make me tired just reading all that you do each day. I am getting better and maybe I can get closer to your pace soon. Keep on with the energy. You are doing great. You have got momentum now.

Tim

I appreciate your comments! Sometimes I wonder if I am doing enough. When get comments like yours it motivates me to keep going.

Well....it is bound to happen once in a while. My car was making some strange noise and I didn't think I should be making the 45 minute commute back & forth to work, so I dropped it off at the shop on my way home. After dinner I had my son drive me to work to pick up some paperwork so I could work at home tomorrow.

So needless to say, not much time to work on business tonight, was going to get caught up on some of this things I didn't get done this weekend.

So tonight I have some e-mails to answer and then do some work on my cash buyers list. I need to find mailing addresses for them.

Dean's conference call tonight...don't miss it!

Looking forward to it.

Boy what great information on the conference call last night!

I am hard at work on expanding my buyers list. I have a list of cash buyers, all I need is their contact info, I have a few already! Unfortunately the SFL cash buyers list does not work in my area yet! It should be up soon!

OK, this is taking longer than I thought, need to see if the SFL system is working yet for the buyers list. I have a list of cash buyers from my Realtor, but I need to research mailing addresses and some of them I can't find.

I am torn between sending a postcard, a letter, or a letter in an invitation sized envelope. What has everyone has success with?

I met my Contractor on-site yesterday, the inside is almost done and they have started working on the outside (I will have to figure out how to post before and after pictures). We also had an REI meeting, I got their late and missed the first speaker, the second speaker was a tenant lawyer who explained how to evict a tenant. Hopefully I never need his services. One thing he did say was it was cheaper to keep a bad tenant out, rather then try to get them out!

I didn't hang around, since I hadn't been home all day and wanted to see my kids before they went to bed.

Spent tonight posting my Craigslist ads, which I do every week.

You sure are consistent. Your motivation to make something happen every day is amazing. Those days that keep you distracted are going to happen. You seem to find a way to get even the smallest progress most every day. You can be proud of your consistent efforts to make this happen as fast as possible.

Tim

Tim, Thanks for you continued kind words...it's the most consistent and persistent person who wins!

Have not been keeping up my journal as I had hoped. Had to go to Maine for business yesterday and with the early start and long travel it was late by the time I got home, so I didn't make it on the computer.

I got through all the SLF training, I may have to go back for a refresher on some of them, but I get the concept of everything.

I found a great on-line postcard site (http://www.postcardbuilder.com/), you can upload your text and mailing list and they take care of the rest. There are no minimums, the cost is $0.63 per postcard including postage. For an nominal added fee ($25-50) they will design a postcard for you. I was very impressed with their service.

I have a few e-mail to send out and I have to redo the estimate on the next house I am working on (going to try the estimator in SFL).

The renovations on my 2nd deal are coming along well, inside is almost done and they have been working on the outside. They got both boilers up and running...whew. Ready to tackle the next one.

WOW...what a great weekend! My family and I went camping for the weekend, our last camping trip of the year. It was just for the weekend, but it was great to get away an relax a little. I also got to do a little "dream building". One of my dreams is to have a "Coach" and travel the country. I saw plenty of nice "Coaches" and it got me thinking about my real goal and spending time with my family traveling the country. This business can do this for me, not only give me the time, but the money to do it also!

This has been a great day! I got a bunch of calls, one of my buyers called to see what was going on, we ended up playing phone tag, hope to catch him tomorrow. I also got a call from a fellow investor who is selling a bunch of their properties....great possibilities there!!! Another person call who saw one of my Craigslist ads that has a house to sell..another possible deal. And yet another call from a fellow investor who is interested in possibly working together on a deal. I still have to go through my e-mails and there are messages on my SFL system too! Woooo Hoooo...it is starting to click!

Chris,

I've been gone for while. Back in April, I took a job out of town that brought my RE work to almost a complete standstill. I kind of lost momentum and enthusiasm.

But I'm back now and have done 3 deals since the 1st part of August. I bought a 2 family flat on a short sale with a partner for $5000. It needs a complete rehab so I'm looking to wholesale it.

Then I bought a house out of my self-directed IRA and am in the process of rehabbing it. Will be selling it when the work is done.

Then, last Friday, I got a contract approved on the purchase of a foreclosure. Will be closing later in Oct. Using hard money for the purchase and my HELOC for the rehab. Gonna do this one up really nice to get top dollar out of it. Getting bids for the rehab work this week.

I also am wanting to get more involved in wholesaling. Struggling a bit with the idea of what if I lock up a house on contract and then don't find a buyer. I don't have the resources to handle that scenario. I know that it depends a lot on having a great buyers list, so I just have to work harder at that, I guess.

I have read some of your recent posts, but not a lot. I wanted to ask you, what is this 'Set for Life' system that you are talking about?

Well I hope you are doing well. Let me know how things are going for you.

Rick Brockmeier

Thanks for stopping by, wow your are one busy dude!

The "set for life" system is a system that Dean worked on with another investor. It is an automated system that includes all kinds of features, there should be some posts on it. Do a search, let me know if you can't find it.

c

Stopped by to check out the progress on deal #2...WOW it is looking awesome. A little paint goes a long way. The hardwood floors were refinished and they look great! Hoping to be done by Friday!!!

Just got the estimate for Deal #3, moving at a snails pace. It a little more than I was planning but we found some unexpected items,like no heat or electrical on the second floor!! The numbers still work though!

Chris,

Thanks for the info on SFL. I looked it up on the site and found that it is sold out, there were only a limited number of packages available. I signed a screen to put me on the waiting list if it is offered again.

Glad to see your second deal is going well. Hope you can get it sold fast.

Rick

I got your e-mail, I will put your deal up in the system and see if there are any potential buyers.

Chris

Been having a hard time finding blank yellow signs that Matt Larson talks about. I did find a local distributor that wholesales them, I am working to find out if they will sell to me. I did find some on-line resources, but wanted to find them locally.

Got a few calls today from cash buyers that I am adding to my list. I am also getting ready to launch a press release. Then I am going to focus on the video program that is part of the SFL system!!! Will get my name out there for sure!

Anyone in the Orlando/Ocala area working the DG method? I am just getting started and would love to network with other students. I am a serious investor.
God bless. Joe Henry

Not much on the business tonight, just got home from an open house at my son's school.

I have an estimate to review and need to get some signs ready to post tomorrow.

Using advise from a combination of Greg Murphy and Matt Larson I picked up 20 poster boards from Walmart, total cost less then $7. I am going to post them in vicinity of Walmart and McDonalds in that areas I am seeking houses it (who knows would know better streets to be on??). I hand wrote them all (Matt Larson claims the hand written signs work best) with the following:

I BUY HOUSES
ANY CONDITION
PHONE #

How's that for simple?

Also going to run all my Craigslist ads.

Last night ended up being a washout, only got 4 signs up before the downpours started!!! Ughhhh....

Lots of things on the list today...

1. Walking through Deal #2 and making a punchlist of incomplete items.
2. Looking into "renovation refinancing" for deal #3, now that I have a repair estimate.
3. Watch the SFL Q&A sessions that I missed.
4. Look into posting some press releases on PR Web
5. Start training for the video program that is part of SFL

That should keep me busy today....off to the races!!!!