What I’d Do Differently If I Were Starting Over in Real Estate 

[Jeremy Beland]

People ask me all the time:
“Jeremy, if you had to start over in real estate investing today, what would you do differently?”

It’s a fair question because I made a lot of the same mistakes new investors are making right now. I wasted money on the wrong marketing. I overanalyzed every decision. And I thought working harder was the answer instead of working smarter.

If I had to start from scratch today, here’s exactly what I’d change:

I’d go all-in on off-market acquisitions. Forget chasing MLS scraps. The best deals — and the biggest spreads — come from talking directly to sellers. That's where real control and profit are built.

I’d learn sales before I learn software. Everyone wants to automate, but if you can’t build rapport, uncover motivation, and negotiate — no system will save you. Sales is the real foundation.

I’d start smaller and simpler. Pick one marketing channel — texting, mail, PPC, whatever — and master it. Don’t jump from shiny object to shiny object. Consistency wins.

I’d stop trying to do everything myself. It took me too long to realize that "solo hustling" keeps you broke and burned out. Even a part-time VA can free you up to focus on closing deals.

I’d measure everything. KPIs changed my business. Once I started tracking contacts, appointments, contracts, and revenue — I could actually fix what wasn’t working.

The truth? Success in real estate doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing the right things — every single day — even when it’s boring or uncomfortable.

If you’re early in your journey, don’t overthink it. Just focus on talking to motivated sellers, improving your sales skills, and building relationships. The rest follows.

What’s something you wish you knew before your first deal? I'd love to know in the comments