All Forum Posts by: Joe Norman

I second Dev's comments that Marketing and Cost of Money are my biggest expenses. Unfortunately you can't "school" yourself out of these, but you can learn to be smarter about the costs and track and improve your ROI. I also spend a lot of money paying good real estate agents, but again they are well worth their money (the bad ones are a different story).

Great suggestions, all thank you! I total agree with not having a single "canned pitch" - that would come off as way too phony/sales-like. Using other private investor's successes as an example and opening the door to allow others to ask follow up questions is a great approach - its always better when its their idea.

Thanks again for the great discussion!

Hello BP Community! I am looking to change up my "Elevator Speech" that I use to give people a quick overview of what I do (buy distressed properties to rehab and resell them). I want to modify it so that I excite, and invite, folks who may have money to lend as a private lenders but without being too forward/pushy.

Do you have canned pitches or points you like to hit when catching up with old acquaintances (which I will be doing a lot of this weekend) or meeting new people? I'd love to hear any advice, or just a read you're all's self marketing elevator pitches if you don't mind sharing!

Welcome aboard Ben, good luck investing! Are focusing on flipping or wholesaling or are you a buy and hold investor?

I have head similar frustrations with Click2Mail, I was spending way too much time formatting postcards (using the template that they provided!) only be be told that my file wasn't the correct size. I jumped ship and went with a local printer and have been thrilled. I think you'll find that the "discount" you get with C2M over going with a local provider is outweighed by the service that a locally owned and operating print house will provide. My advice is to call a few print shops from your yellow pages and ask if they do direct mail.

We are all small business owners and I am a proponent of spending my money with other local companies!

Wayne - what do you do with your tax liens if they fall into foreclsore? Do you take the property back or sell the non-performing lein to a 3rd party?

Justin - I am focused on the Baltimore Metro area for now, but if the deal is right I will work in Montogomery or PG counties too.

Hello BiggerPockets community! I am a real estate investor operating in and around Baltimore, Maryland. My goal is to generate streams of passive income by acquiring rental units, but I have been focusing in the short term on building capital through retail flips. I love real estate because it touches everyone's lives and provides so many ways to make money. I love being creative, handling sellers, buying houses, and of course - making money!

Outside of real estate I have a wife and 2 great boys (third one is on the way!), a passion for being out in the woods or on the Bay, and a 9-5 job as an engineer for Johns Hopkins that I can't wait to say goodbye to.

I'm looking forward to participating in the BP community as a giver and a taker!