One of the best ways to get your feet wet if you are a beginning investor or wholesaler is to get out and start networking with other like-minded individuals in your market.
When I was first getting started in my wholesaling career, I was a networking Ninja. My first year I made it my mission to get out and meet as many players in my market as I possibly could, and to introduce myself and let everyone know who I was and what I was trying to do. Some weeks I was going to real estate investor meetings five days out of seven. I was there like clockwork, handing out my business cards and getting to know who the movers and shakers were.
Even though I was scared to death at first, I forced myself to get out of my comfort zone and start plugging myself into the investor pipeline. I took somewhat of a “fake it ’til you make it” approach, and even though I didn’t really have a lot of experience under my belt, I decided that I was going to jump in and rub elbows with the big boys anyway. I read in a book somewhere that you become who you hang around, and so I made the decision that I was going to start hanging around like-minded, successful individuals.
Looking back, I am very thankful that I forced myself to take action. Many of those investors who I met when I was just starting out are still friends and colleagues of mine who I am now doing business with as a result.
If you’re a new investor and still sitting on the fence, I’d like to encourage you to take a step (even if it’s a small one) out of your comfort zone, and get on out there and start networking.
Find out when the next REIA meeting is in your neck of the woods and make it a goal to attend and make contact with a few investors. I know that it is intimidating at first, but once you decide to take that first step, I promise you that the next one will be much easier.
Related posts:
- Utilizing a network of real estate agents to invest in a down market
- Learn To Network The “Right” Way, Or Your Business Card Will End Up In The Trash!
- BiggerPockets Solidifies its Position as the Go To Real Estate Social Network
- BiggerPockets Adds Sophisticated Targeting to Real Estate Network
- Some New Publicity for the New BiggerPockets Real Estate Social Network
Article Author: Stephani DavisStephani has written 47 articles for us.
Visit Stephani's Website: http://www.flipthiswholesaler.net/
Formerly a bartender, Steph Davis is now a full time wholesaler in Tampa, FL. If you'd like to get an idea of what it's really like out there in the trenches, head on over to her blog: FlipThisWholesaler.net!
Joshua Dorkin
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How do you determine which people at a REIA are legit and which are full of it? My BS-O-Meter isn’t very good and I’d hate to waste my time networking with a bunch of scammers.
There’s not really any reason to think that someone would be scamming you if you are just looking for buyers.
If they are trying to sell you something, that might be a different story..
The best way to find out if they are for real is to bring them a deal that fits their criteria, and see if they bite.
Steph
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with idle chit chat to get things going.
You probably don’t want to go to your first investor meeting and start asking people how their standing is with the BBB.
At least that’s not how I did it.
Steph
Networking is a great way to start but You have to dig deeper rather than just idle chit chat.
Ask for references, check out BBB,
look for any information from any source that
might solidify your thinking. After all were
not buying or selling baby shoes here,
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