Asking Current Landlord to Lunch

[Chirag Parikh]

Hi Folks!

So this may or may not seem somewhat odd but often times the advice I hear on the BP podcasts is that when seeking information from people, ask them if you can buy them a cup of coffee/lunch or something along those lines and then get to know them and pick their brains. 

My current landlord is the owner of the building I live in and its is a fairly old building that he is renovating and modernizing. It's also pretty big and in an amazing location. The tenants received a letter from him detailing his plan on the building and I thought it was great that he was communicating with his tenants. I did a little research on him and he (or his family) has been in the game for over 50 years now. 

I want to take him out to lunch. Or coffee. Or something!! I really just want to pick his brain because I am fascinated by multifamily investing and hope to get there at some point in my life. I can get in touch with his secretary who could hopefully pass along a message for me.

What's the best way to ask someone who is probably so busy and accomplished such as this man, to grab coffee/lunch with a small time investor such as myself? Is it even possible to convince someone like that? I'm going to try because the worst that could happen is he says no... Please let me know what you think!