Stay off the Highway!

[Lisa Miller]

I've sold a few, built a few, purchased a bunch, rented a few, flipped a few and lived in many homes. There was a period when we would be moving before dust bunnies developed. My children were master packers and I could have my 3300 square foot household wrapped, boxed moved and unpacked in less than 2 weeks. I kept every box, broken down ready for the next move.

My children were running joist by age six. My son hung out in the trusses while my daughter balanced the plank from dirt to full basement foundation wall. They have painted, used power tools, measured and cut siding, placed trim, dug ditches, cut sheetrock, pulled carpet, filled dumpsters, swept roofs, raked yards, cleaned driveways and gutters, built walls, hung new cabinets, hung notices, sat in court, and so much more; if they knew it or not learned more hands-on Real Estate than any book could teach them.

All that said, my 23 year old daughter wants to get into the business. Her question to me... What's the first thing I do? I thought I already taught her everything I knew. When in reality she was having fun while I was working.

So the advice I gave her...

Stay Off The Highway!

Ok she didn't get it either. Highway's are for point A to point B. Real Estate is everything in between. Take a different route to work every day. Leave earlier in the morning and get home a little later at night. Drive down roads you never new existed. Make note of the areas, write down addresses of homes that need to be rescued, FSBO, for rent, vacant. Get familiar with road names, towns, little stores. Stop and talk to store owners; ask directions to that house that's for sale, even if there is no house. They will lead you somewhere. Tell them you are looking for a home to purchase. Ask if they know anyone who needs/wants to sell. Post your business card from your day time job; write across the front in black sharpie, LOOKING FOR A HOME TO BUY. The seller sees your card and that you have a real job making you a viable buyer.

I've always told my children to be the Driver of their life not the passenger. Now I'm telling my daughter to literally drive. Turn off your GPS and drive down every road and when your done, do it again. You will meet people and when talking with them you will know where they live just by the street name. When sellers want meet you at their property, you will know where to go.

Real Estate is not easy but I've always felt time spent getting to know my area's neighborhoods is an investment towards owning a property within them.

[Cal C.]

@Lisa Miller

Lisa,

Excellent post. I suggest you split this into two parts and make them blog posts. One part being about getting family involved and the other part about taking new routes home to find properties.

[Edward Hamill]

@Lisa Miller

Awesome! A parent being a parent and teaching their kids how to be successful in life! That is one common thread I am finding on BP!!

I recently went to a container auction and bought 2 4'x4'x4' cardboard boxes full of amazon return goods...cost me around $250 total by the time I got it home. The last few weeks, my 8yr old daughter and 10yr old son have inventoried, tested and photographed every item in those boxes and starting on March 1 will be opening their eBay store...why? because they watched me work hard to make my own money and want to do the same! My in-laws (and my wife) think I am crazy and that they wont make any money...my thought? Who cares! They are working towards a positive goal (new iPads) and have pride in what they are doing! And, if they fail, what better way to learn that they need to dust themselves off and get back in the game (that and I already took some items and sold them at the pawn shop...made back my $250 investment)!

Proudest moment as a dad?Last month, my son was teaching his sister how to make paracord bracelets to sell (he has a deal with a few local sport shops that buy and resell his bracelets). My father asked "if you teach her how to make them, wont you have to share more of the profit?"... The look in my sons eyes when he replied with my favorite line was priceless... "Sure, but like dad always says, we can't reach success until we teach success!" And that is something that @Lisa Miller is definitely doing!

[Gary Parker]

Great post @Lisa Miller . I 100% guarantee one can find deals driving around and talking to people.