My Investing New Years Resolution starts in December!

…and I mean it! For the past couple of years I have taken December as my play time. The word on the street is that December is generally the “slow time” for real estate, and I have happily jumped on that bandwagon and have sat around eating bon bon’s and drinking Martini’s all month! Ahhhh… good times. Well, while this still sounds enticing (doesn’t it to everyone?), I have decided that this year – I’m going to work through the holiday season -and wait to lounge around when this market is over!

So, for the rest of this month I am going to get my real estate investing business in order and organized! Next year is an important year to make big deals in this business – and I for one, am not going to blow it!

“As God as my witness, as God as my witness, they’re not going to lick me! I’m going to live through this, and when it’s all over – I will never be hungry again…” - Scarlette O’Hara

We are in one of the most important markets of our real estate investing careers. A market that I’ve only heard about from ‘ol time real estate investors spinning out their folklore of markets past and how they made millions from them… sigh. Oh how I wish to be an ‘ol time real estate investor!

So what are my plans this month? Fine tune my marketing campaigns, organize my lead and follow up systems so that I am hitting the ground running on January 1.

I admit that I have been disorganized for the past 6 months. My overworked schedule has gotten the better of me and since starting my real estate club, my investing seems to be on the back burner and I don’t like it! How am I going to make a gazillion dollars next year with an inconsistent marketing plan and only 5-10 leads a month? Nope. It just ain’t fittin’. (Another Gone with The Wind quote. I must be feeling Southern today.)

My To Do List for December:

1. Finish organizing my address list that I received from my Title Rep 3 weeks ago(!) and get my letter/post card campaign mail merge all set to go! I decided that I wanted to start farming an area again- rather than only send out to specific lists.

2. I just spoke to my Title Rep and she informed me that I can easily get a renters list from them too! WoW! I did not know that. What a great way to start creating a buyers list eh? Get this marketing campaign up and running. A flyer will do.

3. Set my date for raising private money meeting to teach potential lenders what it means to be a private money lender. I have started a marketing campaign for it already, however have not had a specific meeting yet. My first postcard already went out this week.

4. Bring in a marketing assistant. I very successful investor friend of mine finally drilled it in my head that I need to get an assistant! I was reminded of something that I always preach to the members of my club – hire someone to help with the marketing. Better yet, maybe I will get a intern! Without a consistent marketing campaign – I might as well get out the bon bons and put my feet up.

So basically – what I am saying here is that I intend to use the “slow time” wisely this season. I don’t want to wake up on January 1st – without my business plan and systems operating full steam ahead. My mantra for next year: Must capitalize on this down market. Don’t blow it Cookie!

Note From The Editor: We hope you read Rosie’s post and look at your own real estate business. Get organized, get it together, and get ready for a big, successful 2009!

Photo Credit: fiskfisk