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Posted over 8 years ago

Make Yourself Useful

     Almost every day I see posts here on Bigger Pockets from people who express an interest in learning some phase of real estate from an experienced investor but don’t know how to find one and don’t have anything to offer. A common strategy offered for connecting to an experienced investor is to take them to lunch or to buy them coffee. I’ve got news for you. If you have found an experienced investor they can afford to buy their own lunch. If you are looking for advice from someone who needs you to pay for their coffee…do you really want to take their advice?

       The “I don’t have anything to offer” line will often be perceived as a signal that you are lazy, that you want everything delivered to you and you are not willing to make much of an effort. (If you really have absolutely nothing to offer and are not willing to change that you have little chance of convincing someone to spend much time with you.) If you want to attract the attention of someone with more experience make yourself useful.

       What can you do? Do you have computer skills? You might be able to help someone with their website. Artistic skills? Maybe you could help someone design a mailing or a logo. Are you a good writer? Maybe you could write some copy or proofread a piece. Do you know how to edit video or audio? Maybe you could help someone with their video blog or podcast. Maybe you could convince someone to start a podcast with your help. How much might you be able to learn if you made it easy for someone with experience to talk about everything you want to know in a podcast?

       Are your skills less specialized? Can you write? Many investors send out hundreds or thousands of cards designed to look handwritten. Do you think you might learn something if you offered to actually write them out? (It would be hard not to learn the contents of a letter if you wrote it out a couple hundred times.) Maybe you could just write out the addresses on the envelopes, stuff the envelopes, and mail them.

       Do you have a camera or a phone? Your offer to visit properties an investor is interested in and taking thorough videos and still photos might provide all the information they need to evaluate the properties and might save them a lot of time. This type of service is often needed by landlords also when they post their properties for rent. It could be useful to a landlord who needs to make a routine inspection. (Maybe they would like to check if the lawn was mowed). Taking a video of a repair in progress might keep an owner of a property or a lender on a rehab project informed of the status while saving them a site visit.

       Still haven’t thought of something you can offer? Can you take out the trash? When properties are prepped for rental after a vacancy they must be cleaned. That generates trash. Find out when trash day is and offer to set the cans out on the curb. Of course, after the trash is picked up the cans have to be retrieved. This seemingly simple service of offering to retrieve trash cans may be more valuable than you may think. The rental property may be half an hour, an hour, maybe further away from a landlord’s home. You may live just down the road.

       Do you read the blog or visit the web page of someone you wish to connect with? Did you let them know? Did you leave a comment or like the page? The author of the page has, at least, some desire to increase their audience. Why else would they be posting on a public platform? Your support of that effort may be noticed and appreciated.

       Make yourself useful, save an experienced investor some time, and they may be happy to spend some of it with you. You may find that you have made a lasting connection with someone who may lead you toward the place you wish to go. They may become your first partner or introduce you to a partner. Find a way to make yourself useful.



Comments (6)

  1. You're articles have been great, I have been reading through them  and it has helped my approach to others. I introduce myself and offer my help with anything they may need. 


    1. @Abner Coelho, I am thrilled that you have found them helpful. Thanks for letting me now. I am happy to answer questions if they arise.


  2. Good advice. Everyone has something to offer, even if they think what they bring to the table is trivial. You can do something!


    1. @J. Flores, absolutely. Thanks for stopping by.


  3. Good advice! And another good listen on #StoryTimeWithJeff


    1. I am glad that you are finding value in my podcast.