All Forum Posts by: Brandon Krieg

Hi Jason,

For me, it would depend what I am looking for, and where I am in the process. If I'm looking at comps for a rehab, I would talk to an investor first. They're most likely to look at hard numbers, give conservative estimates, and put me more where I need to be.

I like to talk to Realtors a little later in the process, once I have a pretty solid idea of a ballpark - this serves as both a 'secondary check' and a good time to discuss the level of finishes that are appropriate for the neighborhood.

I also would bring the same realtor BACK in at the end, so they can give an accurate pricing point at the end of the day.

If I knew a good appraiser, I would bring them in after I was already about 80% sure I was going to be involved the project (likely in the due diligence period). Then, I could get a nice check of 'as is' value, and a good one could accurately estimate ARV as well. However, I am happy to be misinformed, and if others have had great success with appraiser comps earlier in the process, chime in!

Kind of a long answer for a short question... sorry for that!

Welcome Heather! I'm a little jealous of your choice at the moment... the snow is coming down today.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll do well. Enjoy the sun!

Hi Adam,

Try talking to @Marc Faulkner about this... he works in Kalamazoo and does a lot with mobile homes - he should be able to point you in the right direction with your MH questions.

Hi @Joseph K. ! I work in that area, and would be happy to help. I'll send you a private message for easier chatting...

Welcome @Scott McMahan ! I have family in Big Rapids... very cool. I understand the drawbacks of driving. I would say I drive between 45 minutes and an hour to see most homes that I look at - one of the downsides of living in a smaller area!

There is definitely a lot of possibility in Grand Rapids and the areas north of there... Muskegon, Holland, Zeeland, and GR itself if you can make the drive. I'll give a shout out to @Scott VandenBerg as well, because I know that he does work north of GR too.

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in the TC area that works in real estate. However, I do feel strongly that it can work in your area!

Congratulations on making the jump, and keep up the awesome work.

Hi @Josiah Swartz ! Welcome! There are definitely good groups here in West Michigan... I will send you some through private messaging. Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids are great areas, and I am happy to meet up for lunch or coffee whenever.

And congratulations on just getting married!

Learn to think like your customers - in this case, other investors. What kind of return do they want on a flip? What are they looking for in a rental? Would this particular deal be appealing to the investors I work with?

Find free (or almost free) things. Read books and articles on how to flip and how to hold. BiggerPockets has these available, and there are many other resources. Also, go to all the networking meetings you can. You need to meet other investors in order to be a successful wholesaler.

Once you have a good grasp of what it takes to flip a house or rent it out, then spend your money on marketing. Choose methods that you can sustain for a while, that you think will work in your area (internet, bandit signs, direct mail, etc) and then adjust based on your results. Get as many quality leads of motivated sellers that you can. Go and see these houses, and make offers on them. Get ready to struggle for a bit, because it is not an easy game.

Set your marketing budget so you can successfully market for several months whether or not you have any successful deals. Then, keep at it, even though the odds are decent you will feel like quitting. Keep learning, and keep trying. Good luck!

@Marshall Downs Welcome!

As Joe said, there are some very good groups around here if you're looking to network with other investors. It would also be great to grab a cup of coffee sometime soon, and figure out if we can help one another grow. It's great to have you!

@Scott McMahan , I agree with what you've said here. This is a tough one, and probably a no go without cash to bring to the table.

I keep my messages short and sweet. Something like ' Hi, you've reached Wesam with XYZ Properties. I am sorry to have missed your call. Please leave your name, phone number, and a detailed message, and I will respond as quickly as possible. Have a great day.'

That is, of course, very standard, but I would say 85%+ leave a message. Otherwise, make sure you have a service that records their numbers so you can call back even if they don't leave a message.

When your marketing is compelling, they typically leave a message anyway. No need to overthink it!