NEWBIES need to STOP doing this.

[Bob Stevens]

I see post after post after post, hey can I get a list of your contractors, PM'S and hey how about a call so I can learn. We all worked hard for years; we are not just going to give it away. Have a read

A good friend shared this story recently; a nice story about effort vs. skill – a good reminder that in many areas of work/life time and outcome aren’t always aligned; especially in the space…

A giant ship’s engine failed. The ship’s owners tried one ‘professional’ after another but none of them could figure out how to fix the broken engine.

Then they brought in a man who had been fixing ships since he was young.
He carried a large bag of tools with him and when he arrived immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship’s owners were there watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away and the engine was fixed!!!

A week later, the owners received an invoice from the old man for $10,000.

What?! the owners exclaimed. “He hardly did anything..!!!”.

So they wrote to the man; “Please send us an itemised invoice.”

The man sent an invoice that read:

Tapping with a hammer………………….. $2.00

Knowing where to tap…………………….. $9,998.00

Effort is important but experience and knowing where to direct that effort makes all the difference.

[Alecia Loveless]

@Bob Stevens Agreed. While I’m happy to share lots of information with folks it’s very rare that I will give out information like my primary contractor’s name or the names of any of his subs because I keep them busy full time and am not willing to lose my own time with them to someone else.

It’s nothing personal it’s just a fact of life. Often if you’re getting names from someone else it’s likely not their #1 pick because they save them for their own projects.

[Bob Stevens]

Quote from @Alecia Loveless:

@Bob Stevens Agreed. While I’m happy to share lots of information with folks it’s very rare that I will give out information like my primary contractor’s name or the names of any of his subs because I keep them busy full time and am not willing to lose my own time with them to someone else.

It’s nothing personal it’s just a fact of life. Often if you’re getting names from someone else it’s likely not their #1 pick because they save them for their own projects.

I get requests all the time, hey bob can you send me a list of your PM's contractors, realtors, handyman etc, Oh so you do not want to do any work, I will just hand over my rolodex. 

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Bob Stevens:

I've seen this story before and love it. 

[Chris Seveney]

@Bob Stevens

“Investor friendly” (insert type of contractor you need) - everytime I hear that I think - they want the cheapest price available.

Saw a post recently on here someone complaining that tenant was complaining hvac was not working and they were doing trial and error to fix it. I would be ticked off too.

[Bob Stevens]

Quote from @Nathan Gesner:

Quote from @Bob Stevens:

I've seen this story before and love it. 

 LOVE IT!!!! 

[Bob Stevens]

Quote from @Chris Seveney:

@Bob Stevens

“Investor friendly” (insert type of contractor you need) - everytime I hear that I think - they want the cheapest price available.

Saw a post recently on here someone complaining that tenant was complaining hvac was not working and they were doing trial and error to fix it. I would be ticked off too.

 100% 

[Calvin Thomas]

You are mostly correct.  People see on the TV shows how easy it looks to jump into real estate. It's not easy, it's quite hard.  Ask any property manager who's taken over a building or two from a self-service landlord.

There are two things one needs to get into real estate investing.  One, capital, and a lot of it.  Two, common sense.  Sadly, most go into real estate without either.

The best teacher is experience. I always recommend to anyone start with a duplex, manage it from there and then grow.  Hands on experience is what's needed.  Mistakes are your best teachers in life.