All Forum Posts by: Will Barnard

As far as you answering the question to begin with Dan, it was my opinion you did not. You made referrence to a GPS or map, which really has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
I was looking for others to comment on the fact that it is or is not (in their opinion), worthwhile to spend $ on professional services when getting started inorder to prevent costly mistakes, be them legal, financial, or other.

There is no question that you need to know how some professional service providers get paid. The FP you refered to was obviously paid a broker's commision by selling the stocks and funds he was "pushing" you on.

There are good and bad professionals in each profession. Obviously, you need to choose your team carefully. The point I make to others who ask me this question is this: if you have no experience writing contracts (or negotiating them), it would be more cost effective in the long run, by footing the bill for an attorney upfront rather than go at it yourself and hope for the best. a mistake could cost more than the fees you "should" have paid out in the beginning.

Matty,
I can't get down to Burbank from my house due to the fire. This sucks. All freeways and roads leading from my home in Santa Clarita to Sylmar and through are shut down.

Let Tim know the situation as to why I can not get down, unless things change in the next few hours.
Feel free to call me while you are there.
Will B

I own many rentals in multiple locations and I do not know what my tenants even look like, nor do they even know about me. I use PM companies to manage and collect the rents.
I only have to manage my PMs.

And we didn't get anything for you James! Now we feel guilty.

Keep up the effort. At least there are a few who are able and willing to.

If you are looking to market the services to people, try a local real estaet investors group in the Palm Springs area. That would be a good place to start.
Direct marketing to homeowners in any specific location is also a common method.

Thanks for your input guys, but neither of you answered the question, which was not a "trick" question Dan.

I often am asked by new investors if they should use the services of attorneys, CPAs, etc. or go at it alone until they make enough $ to afford them.
That is the common question, not how much financial planners make. the FP was just one of many professional which a person can utilize, I was not specifically referring to them.

Any real thoughts on how YOU would answer this question if asked of you by a new investor?

What is everyone's thought on the initial expendature of funds on propfessional services such as financial planners, attorneys, CPAs, etc. Do you foot the bill upfront, or go at it alone and hope you don't make a mistake?

Do you actually have a question or are you just soliciting your realty company?
If the later, you will be removed.
If the former, you should introduce yourself in the introduction thread first and tell us all about you and your RE goals/desires/etc.

At least in CA, I do not think they were/are attempting for special or extra rights. I also think that their approach to "equality" was poor.
If I were to write a proposition for the gay community, it would not reference marriage. It would simply state that ANY civil union between two "people" (any combonation of man-woman, man-man, woman-woman), would constite ALL legal rights of a heterosexual marriage. Further, it would state that religious choice take precedence to omit any potential frivolous lawsuites which have been going on, which, IMO, was the biggest problem with this prop. in CA