Elix's 'Anti-Journal' Journal

So I keep in contact with a bunch of the DGer's on here, discussing deals, methods, etc, etc. on a regular

Some need very little guidance, moderate amount of guidance, lots of guidance and a scant want to have their hands held. One or two expect you to do everything for them. That's a no-no. Just had a very blunt, honest, not sure if he's built for this biz and let him know so conversation.

Him: Elix, i've done everything you said and the minute I have to talk to them it falls through

Me: What happened??? Where exactly did it fall through???

I don't know. Can you speak w him for me???

No.

Why not??? If you can just close him, i'll be more comfortable

No. If I close him for you, you wouldn't have learned anything. I spoke with two other clients you had and all you had to do was call them back. I spoke with them and they both told me you didn't ever return their calls so they moved on. I pushed for you to get a check for $3k and $2500 for both and you bailed.

I know I know. I really need this money and.....

Sorry to cut you off, but you had over $5k in your pocket if you called them back. My time is valuable and you wasted it. You're on your this time. Like I said do what I told you, stop half-assing and you'll get a check. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll continue to have lint in your pockets.

I didn't think it was going to be this hard

Look man, you better decide on what you want to do and fast. This money don't wait around

(He hung up)

DON'T ASK WHO IT WAS. NOT TELLING

Loved the journal, it is very in dept and practical. Like they say, knowledge is power and you surely have that on your side. I have been away from the site a few days, son was using the computer, end of semester finals. It was really inspiring reading your journal and I will continue to follow your entries. God Bless.

Sandra

That was some conversation Elix. Nice of you to try and help people here, with your knowledge in RE it can give them a big boost. But like you said, you cant do the deal for them.
good luck
Richie.

last night and he apologized for everything and said he just needs to stop being scared and get the motivation to do something

I said "you're broke. What more motivation do you need??? Look i'm not that 'ra ra sis boom ba' type of dude. I just get up and do it. I suggest you do the same because at the end of the day, only you have to look at you in the mirror and you don't want to say what if."

He said he would do it. Hope so.

Thats a good thing, sometimes people react defensively because they are mad at themselves,not you. I hope he doesnt give up on himself.
No one is going to hand you anything for free.
But You can have anything you want in life, as long as your willing to work for it.

Richie.

Made a promise to not do anything RE related this weekend starting thursday at 11:30pm; no phone calls, emails, etc

Felt like a crackhead in rehab(think Tyrone Biggums from 'The Dave Chappelle Show')

Woke up this morning at 4am to 334 e-mails, 70 RE related

Have two closings today which my broker is taking care of, and one on thursday and friday which i'll be at so its going to be a great and financially fruitful week

June 24, 2010
Madison Cigar Lounge
1825 Madison Ave
Harlem, NY

$25 entrance fee includes complimentary wine, cognac and light finger foods

If you attended the first one you'll know that this is a real estate event you do not want to miss out on

Like the last one, bring your business cards, friendly disposition and hunger and enjoy the moment

I was at neither

One went less than an hour. The other took over four.

Gotta love this wacky, never the same profession we all want to be a part of

So i'm headed home and have to stop off at the bodega to pick up some dish detergent

Go inside and there is an older gentleman complaining that his son is going to cause him to lose their home because he's not paying on time his part of the mortgage

!!!!!!!!!

I approach him with dish detergent in hand and say "excuse me sir I overheard you talking about your situation with your home. Would it be ok if I spoke with you outside???"

He then replied "why you an agent or investor trying to get my house for next to nothing??? No thank you"

"Thats not my intention sir. Two minutes, you're not interested I go my way"

"Ok young man you got two minutes"

So we go outside I introduce myself, give him my business card, and two minutes turns into 40. He explained his situation and I asked him if I could bring my broker over to discuss options to keep him in his house or if he wanted to sell to get him what he wants.

He said ok and home I went.

Sharp as a tack Elix! Way to go with the smooth talking!

You just never know where the deals will be. I'm curious, What did you say to him?

"Hello my name is Elix and i'm a licensed agent and I was wondering if you can further explain your situation???"

He told me and then I kept it light asked about the weather, Lebron coming to the Knicks(which was over half the time we spoke) and about real estate in general

In ending he told me to call him, which I will do on friday I plan on locking that property up as my listing

So one of my firs ttime clients whom I have been showing properties to for the past three months(a record) has finally lost patience with me even though when she constantly changed what she is looking for snapped on me. And it took so so so so so sooooooooo much restraint on my part not to tear her a new one.

"Why is finding me a house so hard??? Carlos(mortgage broker who referred me and I found 7 other of his clients houses for) told me about all the houses you found for his other clients. Why is this taking so &^%$#@ long???"

Me: "Carol first things first please don't ever curse at me. Like yourself I am an adult and I will not allow myself to be disrespected by anyone. The reason I believe things are taking so long is because you're constantly changing the parameters of what you're looking for. First it was a 1 family frame, then a 1 family brick, then it was a 1 family one story, then a 1 family two story. When you didn't find anything in the range you qualified for, you wanted a 2 family.

You actually saw two houses that you loved but didn't like the tiles of one of the bathrooms and the layout of the basement in one of the other homes I showed you. I will continue to work with you as long as you want, but I need you to be more sure in what exactly you want...."

Her: Well excuse the ^%$#@ out of me because I want to be sure i'm getting the most for my money. This is my &^%$ oney in case you've forgotten....."

Me: Carol i'm not going to ask you again to not curse at me or I will have to move on. You're not my only client and even if you were, its not worth your actions towards me

Her: Who do you think you are to make demands of me??? You &^%$ work for me, not the other way around

Me: Carol, sorry but I think its best you find another agent. Just to let you know, if you go back to any home I showed you, I get the commission on those homes and your new agent did all my work for free. Just want to forewarn you

(Dial tone)

Oh well. Onto the next one

good for you. i won't work with anyone who talks to me like that either. she sounds like a very unhappy person.

PMSing, for sure. Well handled again!

Well I am staying in my corner and not messing with you Elix. Well done. God Bless.

Sandra

nothing RE related other than picking up my commission check from the monday closings. If you've never watched The Middle or Modern Family do so; those shows are hilarious.

Today through sunday is going to to be rough; closing today, two property showings, one rental

Friday have another closing, one showing and meeting a new client and researching properties for a DGer who i'm working a deal for

Saturday morning(6am) doing some property canvassing, P90X workout, promised to take wife to craft store(AAAARRGGGHHHH!!!!), possible afternoon lunch meeting with new investors, down time with family, Celts-Magic Game 3 at my favorite cigar bar

Sunday is church, brunch with family, two open houses, downtime(sleep and whatever house chores my wife has planned for me,...AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!) and then Kobe adds to eventual sweep of Suns in game 3

Such is life

Wrong names and numbers didn't match up soooooooo got to wait until everything is correct at this closing

So annoying, may have to postpone a very important meeting

Amazing

After the paperwork was all settled, from the first document signed, to the keys being slid across the table, the whole thing took exactly 41 minutes

Did my rental showing, seemed interested, have my home showings tonight @ 7pm. Until then relaxing here on DG until 4pm when 'Law & Order' comes on

it's going okay. just got my business cards so i will start handing those out. have to pick up my signs tomorrow or Monday. working on my attitude and trying to see things from all sides. i appreciate what you PM'd me. thanks!

Elix and Sandra, you two are a hoot!

doing all my work at a nice outdoor cafe with my corona and chicken wrap

Have all my appts scheduled in a two hour span in my shorts, tank top and Air Jordans.

Going to make this an early day any way I can

What I thought was going to be a great ending of a week with three closings came to screeching halt when reality set in; finding renters.

As much as I love RE, I absolutely hate doing rentals. Hate is a strong word. Detest comes closest to mind.

Its one thing to have something everyone wants, but for clients to ask you

1. For a rental reduction

2. For a brokers reduction

3. Waive my fee altogether

# 3 is the most insulting as you can imagine.

But I have to find a total of 12 tenants; one house has 3 openings, another has 2, and the third has 7.

I am not smiling anymore

you know it will all work out.

pdqservicesinc wrote:

you know it will all work out.

"Um, $1600 for a 2BR seems like alot. Are you willing to go down???"
No
----
"Wow, $1800 for a 3BR is not bad at all. Can you go down on the brokers fee???"
My reply: Sir, if a total stranger asked you to take a salary reduction would you???So you understand why I won't even entertain that request right???
----
"Do you allow pets???"
No pets
"oh because all I have is a pit bull and he doesn't bite..."
No pets
----

"Love the pics and I know the area well. When can I see the place???"
(me grinning from ear to ear)

Elix,
I find that the best way to find serious tenants is to spell it all out up front. Serious inquiries only, terms non negotiable. I do put padding in my prices for long term lease incentives for my out of state property, only because its more beneficial for me to have a long term tenant in place. The key is to get a good tenant, though! I can weed out a lot of those negative calls just with a voicemail with all the facts and information, and by telling them I do thorough background checks and credit checks, but that does not mean that a foreclosure or bad credit will bar them from renting. It does prompt them to be forthcoming and reveal most things to you; and when you do run the credit or background, and they're are hidden things, I say NEXT!

But, the key is, set up a voicemail with ALL the info, and say that the price is not negotiable; these are the incentives (if any), and that only serious renters should leave a message and YOU call them back, prescreened for you!

You may want to have really detailed ads. here's a free site I've had mine at for years: http://www.house.info/home.php . Here's one of my very successful listings: http://hampstead.nc.house.info/11497-house-rent-sale Then I put that link in all my other ads. This works with apartments too! Chin up, I'd look at it as a great opportunity to find people who may not realize that they can actually buy a place instead of rent. Outside the box.

But, my last vacancy, I had 5 very good applicants.

great info. i copied it and emailed it to myself.

So I had two small or so I thought open houses last night from 6-7pm and 8-9pm because I had two interested parties booked to view the three and seven unit homes.

16 in total came to view both spots. Everyone loved the details and appliances and location. A few just didn't want to pay the brokers fee, but thankfully no one asked me for a reduction.

Two couples wrote me a check on the spot to hold the apartments, and the other three filled out applications and want to come back today to put down a deposit.

Another open house. Hopefully positive again.

Monday was the 'Law & Order' marathon sendoff on TNT before the series finale. Sad, but the best possible sendoff you could ask for a show.

Good for you! That was extremely quick! Hope they all check out in the credit and background department so you can move on! Open houses for tenants always bring in a lot of prospects!