All Forum Posts by: Jedd Braunwarth

Are you sure you don't have a leak? A leaking toilet could easily skyrocket water usage. The city should be able to show you the monthly totals for usage and water the water meter read each month. Of course they could make a mistake but with how automated the meter reading, software and billing is they are pretty fool proof.

Can you tell us some more info? Have background checks been done on both possible tenants? Why the difference in rent price? Can one only afford $900. What is the comparable rent for the area? Finally, have you or your parents tried looking elsewhere for your own tenants like Craigslist?

Just wanted to bring this thread back to life. @Michael Wagner would you mind elaborating on your experiences? Primarily how did you get into your first storage facility and was is the most difficult parts about this area of real estate? I feel that this area is very "hands on" still? By this I mean having to meet people to get them in and out of the units, sign contracts, etc. Is this something you can do remotely or even higher property managers for? I feel this would be a much higher cost due to the high level of labor needed.

Thoughts?

@Andrew Dietz send me a pm. We could meet for coffee sometime in Des Moines. Connections are always good even if you move.

Nathan Joens send me a pm. I have a realtor that I use in Des Moines. She is fantastic and her husband is the Keller Williams broker. They together own 6 properties. I'll get you her info.

Love this, just full of ambition! That is a good thing. I like your goals, in fact, I think owning properties in those areas would be a dream.

Do you have friends and family in Florida already or why are you moving down so quickly? I ask because having a network already established would help you get going and making money faster with whatever you are going to do.

If not, could you stay in Iowa longer and get your start up biz going here and start investing down there with plans to move later? What kind of biz are you thinking about starting? Could it be done remotely and work from anywhere or does it require a brick and mortar and establish yourself in a community?

I am really interested in your plan as you have big goals, which is an excellent thing. Always think big!

I have to agree with @Andre Key in that it is all about how many people you touch. I am in sales by trade, not real estate, but industrial instruments and I had a close friend and previous boss tell me when I was first getting into sales that "sales is a contact sport." I think this applies to selling anything. The more people you know, meet, talk to, etc., basically the bigger your network the better you will do.

I'd actually like to hear answers to this as well. I only have two rental properties now and have been using Quickbooks effectively. However I want to buy more properties and if I should make a change in QB or to another software completely now is the time for me.

Yes, buy now! I am 29 and have two rental properties and only wish I would have started 10 years ago.

You mentioned you have been talking to some local investors, can you keep the conversations going with them? Meet them for coffee and stay on their radar. I think they will be the biggest help to getting started early. Maybe partnering up or even just helping them with their projects via labor if you do not currently have any money to add to the deal.

When I first was getting started I got to know, now a mentor, owned 75 rental properties. I was asking him how he managed to buy so many. I told him I would love to do that but lack one MAJOR thing... Money!!! The first thing he told me was "you don't need money as long as you have ambition. The money will come later." He was right.

@Account Closed I completely understand what you are saying. I am 29 now and still run into that issue professional from time to time. It was worse when I was your age. My suggestion is twofold:

1. Study and learn as much as you can about sales. Read some sales strategy books. Some non-technical sales type books would be Dale Carnegie's "How to win friends and influence people", Keith Ferrazzi "Never eat alone" and finally anything by Stephen Covey.

2. The more you learn the more confidence you have and this will be the finishing touch. Have confidence even when you are not! I don't mean be fake or insincere but be confident in yourself and it will show. If you understand sales, can communicate and make people feel important they will like you no matter what age you or they are or how much experience you have.

These suggestions may sound dumb but these are the two biggest things I have learned so far. I am, by trade, in outside sales covering states in the Midwest. I deal with the low income operators up to the CEO's of companies.