All Forum Posts by: Cody Lewis

IMO, it will depend on when and what is your exit strategy. If buying for appreciation, when/if you go to sell the market could be up or down and it's hard to time. With cashflow, it does not depend on the time you sell because you're still cash flowing the asset. I prefer cash flow as it's easier to mitigate risk where as appreciation is a timing situation. 

@Monte Riding Honestly I would use Excel until you start to feel any "pain" from not having a full CRM. It will help you understand what you need vs perceive you need. I've also found most email marketing companies have added/built on CRMs as an afterthought to their main platform. After some time in excel for the basics, I would find something like the Hubspot free plan to experiment with something more robust before paying any $ towards a platform. 

My recommendation would be to continue to use Excel, a note taking app, and a reminder app. I've looked into several real estate CRM tools and most of them are lacking in features. CRM's are typically "add-ons" for real estate software making them half baked. 

If you're looking for something like Excel that's more cloud based, I would look at AirTable. One column I added to mine that was helpful was a "Last Call Date". It turns red if the date is more than 2 weeks old reminding me (in case I forgot to add a reminder) to call the person.

"Online Security" is a big topic. However, the "easiest" way to start is ensuring that you have unique passwords for each site and use multistep authentication when available. Similar to the lock on your door and security system in your house; the goal is not to prevent the hack but make it less enticing to attack you versus someone else. There are tons of password managers out there that can help you manage that. 

What other type of "security" are you wanting to achieve?

After researching many of the "REI CRM" tools we landed on ActiveCampaign. Personally I do not like the task functionality of the software. TBH, I would start with something like Excel or some other free web based software while you get started. Jumping into paying for software before you truly know your needs, likes, and dislikes for software is challenging. Something like AirTable online is a great easy place to start and they have templates you can pull from other users so you don't have to build it from scratch. Otherwise, I would use Excel and a task manager of your choosing to manage everything.

What do you need to do from your mobile/tablet? Also, what OS will you be using on the mobile devices? 

We use ActiveCampaign for CRM and it's mobile app is actually better than the task management online. Technically, using a task manager from your contacts app is a great start. Only after we had 50 active people to manage did we switch to a CRM.

We use SEO and see benefits from searches and people finding us on the web.

Power to cost, the best bang for your $ is the M1 MacBook Air. I have no problem recording my podcast on it, editing the show, editing video for the show, all while using MA Office products for communication.

You can even catch them on sale $50-$150 off on Amazon.

Hey Matthew! Welcome to BP! Currently the family and I live in Charleston but I was raised in Columbia. Always happy to connect!

@Nic Farley, don't undersell the fact that you live close to two of the hottest markets in the southeast (Charlotte and Raleigh). Being boots on the ground and having intimate knowledge of these and other surrounding markets may be more beneficial than your background in Graphic Design. Though, I think most people underestimate the value of a recognizable brand/logo.