Just make sure whoever you invest with they are credible and has a solid track record 

Remember, they can always refer themselves😊Use one of the ideas below to trigger who they know that they could connect you with:Just inherited a homeHad a loved one pass awayIs behind on their mortgage or tax paymentsHas a relative that can’t take care of their house anymoreHas a house they’re having trouble sellingIs facing bankruptcyKnows a probate attorneyKnows a bankruptcy attorneyetcPutting this in OVERDRIVECreate a spreadsheet (Excel or Google Sheet) listing everyone you can think of that would recognize your name or face.

Over time, as you document more deals with solid numbers and good financial organization, you’ll find that doors open more easily with both private and hard money lenders.Keeping clean, well organized books for each property goes a long way toward building that credibility.

There’s a lot of talk about using private funding for real estate, but not enough discussion on vetting those lenders.For the experienced investors — what’s your process for verifying credibility and protecting yourself before closing a deal?

I’ve been working on a simple underwriting tool for small investors who don’t want to spend an hour in Excel every time they look at a property.Here’s how it works:Drop in the basics (price, rent, expenses, loan terms)In 30 seconds, it spits out NOI, Cap Rate, DSCR, Cash-on-Cash, and a simple traffic-light recommendation (Green / Yellow / Red)You get a clean one-page summary you can actually use to make a quick “go/no-go” callI’m testing it out with real investors now.

Raise private money the credibility‑first way: a one‑page story, sample numbers, clear protections, and consistent weekly updates.

Does anyone have a good excel or table for structuring?

I easily keep everything organized in excel without having to pay over $1000 per year for QuickBooks.I have one business bank account (for Non-IRA owned properties) but everything is categorized per property in Excel.My CPA says every year I am one of his most organized clients.

orOperational excellence demonstrated once or twice?

Hard money works, but it’s pricey for new investors, so I led with credibility: a simple one‑page deal story, conservative numbers, my skin in the game, clear exit, and consistent updates.