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Real Estate Investors: Time Is Our Most Valuable Asset – Use the Lock Box!

Jason Hanson
3 min read

supra pushbuttonThe reason most of us invest in real estate is because we’re ultimately looking to buy time to have money, which will allow us to spend our time however we wish. Now that I am comfortable money wise, I am very fickle about my time and anyone who wastes it. In the past, I have decided not to partner with investors who showed up 10 minutes late to a meeting (Once late, always late and unreliable. Trust me). I’ve turned down people who wanted to join my coaching program because they were five minutes late for a call, without explanation. And recently, I killed a dating opportunity over someone not respecting my time. Let me explain: I met this nice girl when I was out one night. She was sweet and we got along so I got her number. I called her and we set up a date for Wednesday night at 6:30. She said she might have to work a little late, so she said she was going to call me at 6:00 that night and we would figure out where we wanted to go.

Well, 6:00 rolled around and no call, then finally at 8:30 she called me. She talked as if everything was normal and made no comment at all about our supposed date. So, I couldn’t take it anymore and I interrupted her. I said listen, you were supposed to call me at 6, it’s now 8:30 and I think it’s extremely rude, because I could have made other plans. Only after I said this does she proceed to begin apologizing and telling me she is sorry. Then I told her that my time is valuable and that if she is the type of person who flakes out, then we need to part ways now (yes, those were my exact words). Again, she apologized and said she had a tough day at work. We got off the phone and she called me a few days later, but I’m not sure I’m going to call her back. I understand that people can be late and that no one is perfect. However, if someone doesn’t have the courtesy to call you and tell you they are going to be late or call you and cancel, then I would avoid them. You can’t trust people who aren’t punctual and don’t respect others time.

Now of course, when I told my friends this story they thought I was an A-Hole, but then again many of them have a cubicle job and don’t value their time like I do.

Here’s the whole reason why I’m on this time rant:
A friend of a friend got in contact with me and told me about a house she was trying to sell. Then she proceeded to tell me about how the house is 3.5 hours away and she hated driving there to show the house. As soon as I heard her say this, I quickly informed her about the lock box method and how she should not be driving 3.5 hours to show the house.

For those of you who are not familiar with the lock box method here’s how it works: First, you need a lock box form. Then, you need to go to Home Depot and spend $30 on a contractors lock box. Put a key in it and put it on the house. Then when people call you and want to see the house, you email them the lock box form. Tell them to sign it and to fax it back along with a copy of their driver’s license. Once you get the signed form, release the four digit code to them. It’s that simple.

I just filled a vacancy and did not go to the house until I met the woman to collect a deposit. I never showed it and I didn’t do a single thing. Actually, my assistant Lisa took the calls, she sent all of the forms, and she processed the applications. You see, I’m not going to the house until I have a new tenant approved and I’m going to collect a check. I don’t want to do most things unless I’m going to collect a check out of it. Everything else should be left to your assistant.

Note From Admin: Buy Lockboxes in Bulk From BiggerPockets here and here.

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.