My competitive advantage and why I still live with my parents.

I am ultra competitive at most things, so writing about my competitive advantage will be fun for me. Living with my parents...not so much. One of those times where you just have to say "You gotta do, what you gotta do".

7 am on a Saturday morning after a 50 hour work week and 25 hours of remodel work on your newly purchased home the bedroom door opens. No it is not your significant other bringing you a nice hot cup of coffee lightly creamed with the scent of french vanilla in the air. It is your mom, telling you to pick up your clothes off the floor and make your bed, your room disgust her and she doesn't understand how anyone could possibly live like this.

Competitive advantage 1: Tolerant to living with people with obsessive compulsive disorder.

Yes I am 30 years old and live with my parents, yes it is really terrible sometimes, yes it makes me feel like I am 12 again, yes I want to move out, yes it has been worth it.

Competitive advantage 2: No rent due

I decided to move back in with my parents after transitioning back in town from a job position laterally. I had the funds to live on my own but it was a decision I made knowing the sacrifice would pay off, and something I would recommend anyone do if they can and/are wanting to save money. Trust me I know it sucks, it sucks to not be able to just have your own space, it sucks to not be able to have people over, it sucks to take s*** all the time, I get it; as much as anyone. You know what doesn't suck, being completely and utterly free one day. I hope. I actually am typing this from the bed my grandma sleeps in when she comes in town, so who knows, maybe it isn't any better. Only time will tell right?

No, but really, grind it out for 6 months to a year, this I can speak on. I have been able to live for free, that saves easily $800/mo, eat for free anytime I want (always food in the fridge) or go out to eat with them and typically they'll pay. All in all, I would say on an average month by staying with my parents I am able to save 1k compared to living in an apt. This is precisely how I was able to buy my first rental property, live with the rents for 5 months, saved up 5k kept my reserves and used it for money down on my first duplex. I would venture to say, it is the simplest, easiest, most convenient way to save money if the option is available to you.

No, I have not always lived with my parents. I have been in and out since I was 18, in between cities and jobs, never staying really longer than 6 months or so. I will spare you my life details for another day, but give you the short end of the last year. 

I took a job about an hour away in a podunk town in Indiana where which I leased an apartment. I immediately knew it was going to be short term and less than a year for me, so I purposely rented a 2 bedroom with hopes of renting out one of the rooms for partial rent. It worked out about as good as you could ask for as one of the first applicants was a VP of a large local plant that owned homes in Miami and Vegas who just wanted to rent locally until he could buy. Paid cash up front, month in advance, hired a cleaning lady, and I literally saw him like 5 times in 6 months. He eventually took over my lease when I left after 8 months and allowed me to exit contract without penalty and receive my full deposit.

Competitive advantage 3: Willing to think and live outside the box and norm. 

Some would say I was lucky to get that type of room mate. I would say my preparation met opportunity. I put myself in an uncomfortable situation and in my vulnerability I succeeded, I sometimes find I am most comfortable being uncomfortable, priding myself in living in those situations, because I know successful people are constantly exposing themselves to uncomfortable situations to learn and grow, constantly moving, traveling, never sitting still.

Part of the reason I took that job about an hour away was to move up in the hierarchy of my company. I work for...hold on, wait...

Competitive advantage 4: A paint store is my employer. The largest coatings manufacturer in the US, and I believe the world after our recent acquisition. 

Quick Tip: If you ever need any work, a paint store or hardware store is a great place to hang out. It might be creepy, but I am telling you, there is hella networking opportunities in a paint store. On a day to day basis I see obviously a lot of painters, but 2-3 rental property owners, countless maintenance men, and a few home flippers. If you were to go into a paint store and take donuts, or just hang out for an hour, I would be willing to wager there is someone you could network with if not multiples in that hour, or a hardware store I assume would be the same. 

Back to the advantage, the quick tip explains it, I have been able to build a pretty nice network by being in the store for 45 hours a week. I have gained contact with some of the largest investors in my area, looked and analyzed properties to purchase from them (haven't bought one of theirs yet), gained some remodel guys that sub for home flippers, and even found my newest lender. This leads me to my final competitive advantage, which may be able to be argued. 

Competitive advantage 5: My network allows me to be more aggressive on price in purchasing than most.

I have been able to establish my network of contractors and figure out dollar wise what I am looking at hourly, and believe I am below market. This combined with my real estate license allows me to go into deals and "overpay" for the property. Knowing that I have an electrician that does work for $20/ hr is a huge advantage to me, combined with my commissions means I can be aggressive. Doesn't mean I am planning to grossly overpay, but I am able to be 2-3% better than where I should be based on this advantage. Again, not that I am looking to be, but if it ever comes a time and I need to be, I will be prepared and understand I have that cushion.  

These are what I feel are my advantages, all different but working in unison. If someone is reading this and I can give a word of advice to take from this, it isn't to try and copy others competitive advantages; it isn't that I wrote this to try and brag about mine. I want you to be able to look at your current situation and realize the network you have around you. We all have the same opportunity, we all walk this earth with the same people next to us. Ask people questions, speak up, think outside the box, and ask yourself how can you find your competitive advantage. There is something, or someone you meet daily that can help you while you help them, that is an advantage everyone has, you just have to exercise it.