TIps

“You Manage Tenants Like a Girl!”

by Brandon · 8 comments

Today I am honored to have my favorite real estate investor and property manager in the entire world write for me… my wife! Heather has been my constant companion on my journey through real estate investing and the reason for my success so far. She is not only the best property manager I have ever known, but she knows the business of real estate investing inside and out and has a heart to help others as well.

 

As someone who entered the world of landlording at the ripe young age of 23, I have had my fair share of dealing with tenants who take one look at me, and use that as ammunition they tuck away for later use when they need someone to walk all over.  Sometimes, it’s written all over their face:

  • Inexperienced
  • Soft
  • Easy
  • Pushover

Great first impression, isn’t it? This is why over the last few years, I have developed a system that not only works for the fresh-faced beginner-landlord, but should be implemented by any and all landlords wishing to have a successful business relationship with their tenants.

 

It Starts with Being Knowledgeable.

 

The best ways to do this? Read. A lot. There are so many wonderful books out there on landlording that offer great ideas, strategies, and tools you can use in all sorts of situations you might suddenly find yourself in. I have three favorite books that I believe every landlord should read, highlighter in hand, at least at some point in their career:

“Landlording on AutoPilot” by Mike Butler

“The Unofficial Guide to Managing Rental Property” by Melissa Prandi

“How to Manage Residential Property for Maximum Cash Flow and Resale Value” by John T. Reed

Become familiar with your state’s landlord/tenant laws. I have my Landlord Tenant Act printed and tucked away nicely in a file for quick reference.

Also, the internet has a plethora of information from landlords of all shapes and sizes. The information and perspectives from BiggerPockets.com alone is enough to satisfy anyone looking for landlording advice.

Get together with other landlords. If there is one thing I’ve learned, landlords love talking about their experiences. Listen and learn!

The point is, don’t go through landlording blindfolded. Know what you’re getting yourself into, and have a solid foundation on which to build upon.

Have a Written Policy.

 

All that knowledge you learned? Personalize it to fit your business model and write it down. Cover everything. When a tenant has a question, instead of the answer coming from you, the landlord, it comes from the policy. Example: “My boyfriend got me a puppy for my birthday, can I keep it?” Answer: “I’m really sorry, but our policy states that no pets are allowed at that property.” Having the policy written down helps protect you from succumbing to your sensitive side that thinks on the spur of the moment, “Maybe just ONE puppy wouldn’t be so bad.”

Nope, it’s bad.

Your policy is there to protect you from yourself 🙂 Also, be sure to:

  • Be Up Front. Once you have your policy in place, don’t be coy, make sure your tenants know what those policies are. They should be in your Rental Agreement or Lease, which your tenants should have a copy of.
  • Be Consistent. The Rental Agreement I use with my tenants states that rent is due on the first and considered late after the fifth. On the sixth, if rent hasn’t been received, the tenant gets a $50.00 late fee and a 3-Day Pay or Vacate Notice per our policy and the terms in their Rental Agreement . The tenant is made aware of this when they move in, so it comes as no surprise when on the sixth they receive a late notice. When you are consistent, you are training your tenants to do things on your terms, which if you ask me, is a much wiser decision than doing things on theirs.

Follow Through.

 

This includes everything from completing tenant requested maintenance to enforcing your policies.

We once had a tenant in one of our 2-bedroom apartments that decided to get a young lab. Their Rental Agreement and our policy both stated that no pets were allowed on the premises. As soon as I was made aware of dog in the apartment (it’s difficult to hide a 60-pound dog in a 24-unit apartment complex!), I contacted the tenant by phone and reminded them of the strict “no-pet” policy and gave them a date by which the dog would have to be gone. When that date rolled around and the dog was still residing in the apartment, the tenant was given a 10-Day Notice to Comply with their Rental Agreement or immediately vacate the premises. On the tenth day, we did a thorough walk-thru of the home and confirmed the dog had been re-located.

Now, I wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t followed through? I can tell you: that apartment would still have one fluffy, yellow, 60-pound tenant.

Be Professional.

 

Landlording is a business, and as with any successful business, it’s important to always be on your best behavior. This includes the way you interact with your tenants, your appearance, written correspondence, returning phone calls promptly, etc. If you’ve been in the landlord role for any time at all, I’m sure you found out quickly that tenants can be the exact opposite. You can’t control them though, you can only control you. Set the precedent for your tenants that you are a professional business.

When my husband and I started out we essentially started our own property management company for our own rentals. We have a professional name, separate phone-line, operating hours (10-4 Monday thru Friday, with an emergency number for after-hours maintenance issues that can’t wait), logo, letterhead, standard forms, policies, maintenance crew, signs, etc. We answer the telephone with, “Thank you for calling (Company Name).” By doing this, it gave us the professional face we were looking for, and bonus, instantly gave us a higher authority to refer to.

Obviously not everyone needs to go so far as creating a company to run their business through, but the point is that you control how you appear to your tenants, and that appearance sets the precedent. If you want to be taken seriously, be professional in all situations, even when they’re not.

Offer a Quality Product.

 

Don’t be a slumlord. This doesn’t mean your rental has to look like it came straight out of Better Homes and Gardens, but give your tenants a clean home, something they can feel good in and show off to their friends. Also, generally the better product you offer, the better quality tenants you attract, and the better they will care of it while it’s in their possession.

Be Above Reproach.

 

Act with integrity. Don’t give your tenants a valid reason to complain.

Notice I said valid. Tenants complain, because unfortunately, in the tenants mind the landlord is the big, bad, rich guy taking advantage of everyone and their grandmother. But that doesn’t mean you have to be the stereotypical landlord. Do what you say you are going to do, when you say you’re going to do it. If your tenants have something to hold over you, trust me they will. So, why give them the opportunity? Doing this won’t stop the complaining or the stereotype, but you will always be one step ahead.

Final Thoughts

 

Obviously, these steps aren’t the magic formula for creating and maintaining a successful landlording career; however, they do set you up to have a tough time avoiding it. Simply know what you’re about, have a plan, and follow that plan. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned, young or…wise (wink!), set yourself up to not only succeed, but exceed in this business.

P.S. looking for hard money loans in California? Be sure to check out my friends over at northcoastfinancialinc.com. They have very competitive rates, can fund within a week and specialize in fix and flip loans and other hard money loans.

Ten Ways to Fail as a Real Estate Investor

by Brandon · 2 comments

 

This list might look familiar for those who have downloaded my free e-book, “7 Years to 7 Figure Wealth,” but I thought I’d share it here for everyone else and dive in a little deeper explaining each item more fully.

Also, I’ve got big news about my newest property acquisition coming out later this week!  Be sure to get automatic updates by entering your email in the bar at the top of this page and sign up for my newsletter by entering your email on the right (I know, there is a lot of signing up around here! I promise I don’t use your email for bad purposes!)

So without further ado, here is:

Ten Ways to Fail as a Real Estate Investor:

  1. Don’t Read- If you really want to stop moving forward, stop reading about investing. Don’t learn new strategies, because you will be left in the dust when the market changes. Don’t read quality real estate blogs or download a free e-book. (shameless plug, I know!)
  2. Don’t Connect with Other Investors – Associating with other investors will give you confidence and knowledge, as well as help navigate muddy waters. Therefore, be sure to steer clear from other investors. Especially don’t join websites like BiggerPockets.com or your local real estate investment club.
  3. Don’t Have A Plan – Knowing the direction you want to go will only get you there faster. Instead, simply aimlessly “invest” in whatever floats your boat at the moment.
  4. Only Listen To Gurus – Pay lots of money to attend seminars full of up-sells and “hidden secrets.” Make sure you only listen to them and don’t ever question their dated information or underhanded sales techniques.
  5. Do Everything Yourself – By stretching yourself thin, you will lose both interest and money – so be sure to never ask for help or hire a professional.
  6. Run Your Business On Emotion – Don’t be rational when making business decisions. Instead, rely on how it feels at the moment. Feel bad for tenants who spend their money on drugs instead of rent and give them another break.  Be sure to take everything personal as well and take our your frustrations on your family at home.
  7. Get Fancy and complicated – Investing is fairly straightforward and simple, so if you want to fail – be sure to get real fancy and complicated. Using seventeen layers of LLC protection, cross-collateralize everything you own, and take huge risks to help speed up the process of failure.
  8. Spend your money frivolously – There are many ups and downs when investing in real estate, so be sure you don’t save enough money to cover you in the down times. Be sure to leverage yourself out as thin as possible, buying the best new cars and toys so you look as rich as you want others to think you are.
  9. Don’t stick to your standards– following a recipe is for those who want the food to turn out tasting delicious. Instead, deviate as much as possible, buying property that doesn’t meet your standards and rent to tenants who would never qualify. Combine this with number six above for even faster failure.
  10. Wait Until Tomorrow –You will never succeed if you don’t start, so make sure you sit back and watch one more episode of Desperate Housewives. You can always invest when you have more time, more energy, and more desire. Besides, the government will take care of you when you retire.

 

Do you have other ways to fail you want to add to the list?  Comment below and let me know! (That rhymed. I’m a poet and I didn’t know it!)

Also, if you enjoyed this article, share it by using the buttons below!

 

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

P.S. looking for hard money loans in California? Be sure to check out my friends over at northcoastfinancialinc.com. They have very competitive rates, can fund within a week and specialize in fix and flip loans and other hard money loans.

eBook Now Available!

by Brandon · 12 comments

Hey everyone!

After many days of writing and editing, my first eBook has arrived and I’m giving it away for free! Yep, just as a gift for hanging out at Real Estate In Your Twenties.

And yes, you can still get the eBook free if you are thirty, forty, or a hundred years old!

Simply add your name and email to the box below!

Also, let me know your thoughts about the book!

P.S. looking for hard money loans in California? Be sure to check out my friends over at northcoastfinancialinc.com. They have very competitive rates, can fund within a week and specialize in fix and flip loans and other hard money loans.

The 80/20 Principle in Real Estate Investing

by Brandon · 6 comments

What does the name “Pareto” mean to you?

Probably very little. However, the principle made famous by an Italian economist over 100 years ago has a huge impact on your investing techniques and wealth building ambitions.

“Pareto’s Principle,” also known as “the 80/20 Principle,” states that for many areas of life, 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. For example, Pareto noticed that 80% of the land was owned by 20% of the population and 80% of the peas in his garden were produced from 20% of the plants. You can see examples like this throughout nearly every field of study in our world, especially in business.  Often times, the ratio is even more staggering.

So what does this mean for a real estate investor?

Pareto’s Principle is useful in encouraging focus on productivity and results-driven business. As a real estate investor, this principle helps to find what areas of our business are really earning income and which areas are simply wasting time. Many of the activities that an investor performs on a daily basis are probably wasted time. By focusing on the 20% of the actions that are providing the most results, we can free up significant amounts of time to do the kind of things we want to do. This is key is beginning to “hack” real estate.

Several years ago I realized that most of my efforts were spent doing small maintenance jobs that seemed to take all day. By hiring a resident manager to take over the maintenance, I was able to gain 80% more time in my life – time that I now spend looking for deals, spending time with my wife, and blogging at RealEstateInYourTwenties.com.

Let’s look at a few more specific examples.

  • If you are trying to find leads for motivated homeowners looking to sell, what sort of action is getting you the most results? Are you spending most of your time putting up bandit signs when a simple Craigslist ad is driving most of your business?
  • If you are remodeling a home, what upgrades are actually contributing the most to the future value of that home?
  • If you are managing a small apartment building, what advertising methods are getting you the most calls?
  • Is 80% of your wealth being built by simple investing? Why are you wasting time with wholesaling deals?

What to do with Pareto?

Now that you have begun to think in these terms, its time to begin focusing on improving those areas of your business. If Craigslist is driving most of your leads – then focus your efforts on making your Craigslist ads even better. If new carpet will cause the most significant increase in value or speed of sale -get great looking carpet! Improve the things that matter and watch your investments take off.

I am not suggesting you quit all your other activities if they are not bringing you the most leads or income.   Often times, things that don’t seem to produce much income actually help in other ways. The important thing is to know what your efforts are producing – and prioritize based on that. Don’t waste time if you don’t need to.  The key is being aware of how you are spending your time.

It’s all about finding what works and maximizing those causes to explode your results. Your time is precious, and by looking for ways to increase your efficiency you can free up your time to do the kind of things you want to do. Only then are you truly living life on your terms, the goal of any real estate hacker.

P.S. If you want to learn more about the 80/20 Principle – check out Tim Ferriss’ book “The Four Hour Workweek”. While not a real estate book, the principles taught are invaluable to a real estate investor looking for more time to live to the fullest.

P.S. looking for hard money loans in California? Be sure to check out my friends over at northcoastfinancialinc.com. They have very competitive rates, can fund within a week and specialize in fix and flip loans and other hard money loans.

Using Facebook to Super-Charge Your Real Estate Investing

by Brandon · 5 comments

Do you use Facebook to market your rentals? How about to attract private money for your investments? If not, check out the post I’ve written over at BiggerPockets.com! I was their featured blogger today! This was the first of many to come!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last five years, you know Facebook. You probably can’t go two hours without checking your wall, “liking” your friend’s comment, and laughing at a video of a golden retriever playing the piano … (continue reading on BiggerPockets.com)

P.S. looking for hard money loans in California? Be sure to check out my friends over at northcoastfinancialinc.com. They have very competitive rates, can fund within a week and specialize in fix and flip loans and other hard money loans.

How To Qualify For A Mortgage: Three Key Numbers

by Brandon · 0 comments

So you want to buy a house.

Unless you have all cash, you are going to need to obtain a loan – called a mortgage.

So how do you get a mortgage?

Whether it is for an investment, a personal home, or any other reason – mortgages in today’s market can be tricky and difficult to obtain. However, mortgages are not a mystery and the rules are fairly straightforward when trying to obtain a mortgage. This post is going to look at the top three different areas that a lender is going to analyze before saying “yes!” to your mortgage request.

  1. Your Credit –  This is most widely known and the easiest of the bunch to understand. Your credit score is a number given by one-of-three private scoring companies. Your score is determined using computer-driven algorithms that take into consideration the amount of debt you have, the amount of late payments you have had, the length you have had that debt for, and several other factors.   A credit score can range between 300-850.  Lender’s want to know they are making a safe investment lending you money, so before applying for a mortgage, make sure your credit is at least 640. The higher your credit score, the lower you will pay on your loan.
  2.  Your Debt-To-Income:  This number is a ratio that looks at the amount of monthly debt you have compared to the amount of income you make. In other words, a lender looks at all the loans you have (credit card minimum monthly payments, auto loan monthly payments, other mortgages minimum monthly payments, etc) plus the monthly payment on the new loan and divides it by the total gross income you make per month.  For example, if I have a $300 car payment, $100 in credit card payments, and I am looking to pay $800 per month on my new mortgage, my total debt would be $1200 per month ($300+$100+$800).   If my total gross (before taxes are taken out) income for the month is $3800, my debt-to-income ratio is $1200/$3800 or roughly 32%.   In order to qualify for a mortgage, make sure your total debt-to-income percentage is below 50%, but ideally below 40%.
  3. Loan-to-Value: The loan-to-value (also called LTV) is another ratio that looks at the amount of the loan you are trying to get compared to the total value of the property. Generally speaking, the difference between the loan amount and the value is going to be your down payment. For example, if a property is worth $100,000 and you put down 20% and obtain a loan for $20,000 – the “loan-to-value” would be 80%.  This number is also important when you try to “refinance” a home.   What is an acceptable LTV? It differs widely between lenders and programs, but for a normal loan lenders do not like to loan at higher than 80%.  However, if you use an FHA loan (a loan guaranteed by the US Government), you can get up to 96.5% loan to value.

If you fall within the guidelines of the three areas above, there are still several other features that a bank will looks at before giving you money. For one, they like to see consistency at your job. If you recently (within two years) changed jobs, getting a loan can be much more difficult. Also, if you have never used any “credit” before, obtaining a loan can be difficult as well. Finally, remember that each lender has different programs and even within the same programs some mortgage professionals are simply much more competent and can help you get the loan you want.  If you are interested in buying a home for yourself, your first step is to talk with a mortgage professional. The meeting is always free and you will learn exactly what you will qualify for.

 

P.S. looking for hard money loans in California? Be sure to check out my friends over at northcoastfinancialinc.com. They have very competitive rates, can fund within a week and specialize in fix and flip loans and other hard money loans.

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