All Forum Posts by: Kai Van Leuven

@Landrin Lewien

I love it! When you are young, no kids, and 22 throw caution to the wind. I used to be a real “gun slinger” at that age but I wish I would have “poured gas on it”.

To be that young... I remember going to work at 330am, working until 9 M-F and working from 3:30 am- midnight on Saturday. You do that for 10 years and you will be ready to die but have a few war stories to share! Keep it up, just make sure they are all good deals.

@Deniqua Antoine

1st thing- Don’t over demo.

It was my 3rd property that I went down to studs and replaced everything... but I was 22. I would not have tore it all up. I would have probably just don’t a more cosmetic remodel and let it be. Sometimes it’s easy to get overzealous on the demo. Good luck!

@Christopher Smith

I by no means feel like I have made it but I know the real estate game. I think you do have to have some swagger and confidence to make big moves. I will tell you my approach with a story.

My dad is a real estate guy. He was doing the BRRR strategy before Brandon Turner was in middle school.... *** News Flash Brandon Turner didn't come up with that strategy, he just named it***

Anyways, I grew up swinging a hammer on his projects. He would have me fill dumpsters and do some demo. Maybe he would put a paintbrush in my hand but he always told me, “Kai, I am never going to let you do finish work. It’s way too hard”. It actually got underneath my skin.

The first house I bought almost all of it was done with wainscoting, super high end finishes, and looks pretty sweet. My dad walked into the house and said “this is the best I have seen”.

My point is that when folks say to me, “you can’t” it pisses me off. I am a competitor, I feel like if anyone can do anything it is me. THIS GUY.

With that being said. My dad has never invested (financially) in me or my projects. He has told me multiple times “the bank is your business partner”. I guess that is the approach. Do it on your own.

@Frank Chin

Would not consider myself a super salesman. I mostly see myself as a negotiator. The key to negotiating is aligning goals/outcomes.

Most folks who have a person living in the house that is not paying rent or keeping it up might also want them out of the house and to get paid.

Fake Scenario:

Grandma was the owner (deceased)

“Kids” inherited property

“Grandkids” living in property

If the “grandkids” are living in the property without rent and “kids” are freeloading, at some point wouldn’t the “kids” want to be paid out? Why would they continue to support someone who is not paying? The “kids” may also not want to list the house for sale. Think about all the drama associated with listing, selling, fixup, ect. Grandkids may say “you are putting us on the street”, while choking down tears. That is a lot of weight that is put on the “kids”. You come in and say, “I am going to make this easy on you Mr. Kid. I will go in one time to inspect the property we will give the “grandkids” 45 days to find a new place and this will be the easiest sale.”

The “Grandkids” are not your customer. They are just a holdout on the property. Your customer is the owner. Period. The owner/kid is probably annoyed that they have a property that they are keeping up that has equity. That is your in.

@Isaac El

I don’t knock in the ghetto because I don’t buy there. I like buying in nicer ‘burbs. I was assaulted by one of my tenants a few years ago but that was a rare scenario. I don’t really buy a lot of deals and am pretty “anti-scale”. The shotgun/funnel approach that is heralded by most folks on here just seems like you want a sales job in real estate. I have been in sales. It’s just an “eating what you kill” grind.

Oddly enough I convert well over 50% of the people I talk to into a purchase. I have been evaluating property since I was 16 and spend 2 years knocking on doors and talking to folks about more uncomfortable topics (religion), lol!

Learn what works for you man. I really like people and real estate and this style suits me well.

@Isaac El

You came to the right place. I am the KING of Driving for Dollars! The key is the doorstep. You have to be calm, nice, know their name, and a slow talker. My approach goes something like this.

1. Find the house, ex 123 Maple

2. Look up who owns it, ex Johnathan Smith

3. Show up on their doorstep and say;

You: High is Jon home?

Owner: (looks at you like you are a criminal) uh yeah what can I help you with?

You: I was walking down Maple and 123 Maple. I saw that you own it and was wondering if you wanted to sell.

Owner: it’s grandmas old house, I don’t know if we want to sell at this time.

You: (back way way way off, BS about anything else and BRT) I usually say “I am a local guy, wrestled at Lake Stevens...” something fairly personal but not heavy.

You: ending, ask for any way to move forward. That could be stoping by next week, looking at the property again “in the windows”, if they are really cold it could be next year.

This is the thing. There is a reason why it has not been sold. It is usually because there is a situation that goes beyond money. Something sentimental, something nasty (divorce, death, bad partnership, ect.), the house could be nasty, really you have to find out why. It is a human interaction. Don’t mail them stuff that will just get thrown out. Make a human connection with them. If it were financial they would have sold the house a long time ago!

Just recently I went under contract on a place that neighbors my biggest competitor. This dude has the wrapped car with his “We buy houses” stuff and does direct mailer stuff all day long. While I was talking over the sale the seller said, “ I looked at all these pieces of mail and noticed they are coming from my neighbor for years”. This dude is someone that I respect as an investor, why did I go under contract and he didn’t? He has a lot more vested than I did? There was no human connection, just another business sending you crap.

Be lose, have fun. The doorstep is your friend, embrace that friend, lol!

@Casey Roman

Why don’t you just pay taxes?

@Peter Johnson

A few of my cop buddies love Fortney. I am not quite sure yet. He definitely speaks his mind and I can respect that!

@Gary L Wallman

I like your style. I am the same way. The last few deals I have done my wife has been saying “we don’t need more, just hang it up.” The problem is, I love making deals and working on houses. Frames a vaulted ceiling yesterday and it looks amazing.

I used to have a goal of 100m net. I think I will fall way short of that but I have things (marriage, kids, coaching wrestling) that have come up in life that have made me redirect my focus. I could not tell you my net worth or my monthly net income because I don’t really keep track. My only goal is market rents and being 100% full.

How I invest is “see the deal, but the deal”.

@Robert C.

Heavy hitter=Kai Van Leuven