All Forum Posts by: Moshe Wolfe

@Moshe Wolfe I'm interested, when are you looking to schedule your meetings?

@Moshe Wolfe right inline with @Trevor Ewen... it's not the software that defines the process, but the process that defines the software. Software platforms can be huge rabbit holes, gobbling up years of time in the process. I have been fortunate to be able to structure, organize and automate several large REI businesses. I can tell you with full transparency that not a single development that we have done has ever been the same. Why? Established companies have process. I would recommend taking a look at your process first, growth objectives second, and see what software platform you can use now to stay lean and efficient, while giving you the ability to scale when you need. In my case, this is Podio + ActiveCampaign 90% of the time.

As a developer I have set up / modified / built / rebuilt / unbuilt countless CRMs.  For the most part, they are all the same.  Well, provided the crm allows for custom fields that is....  What was once a "Company"  object in a CRM can be turned into a complete property history and contact information for current owner as well as tenants with some creative custom field-ing....   For the most part, all CRM core functionality should be the same, simple association of objects, people to properties, contacts to companies, dogs to groomers... whatever. 

Its the integration that matters and of course the price....  For example... hubspot marketing automation integrates well with their CRM... duh.   But watch those costs keep rising.... easy setup ehhh.. kinda..any way you cut it you are going to go through a learning curve on the software, as well as in the ways which you use the CRM.   Which brings me to my question... what will you be using the CRM for?

if your using it to keep track of your regular customers.. great!   that is what a crm is for!  If you are using it to keep track of contacts to potential property sellers....  you are using the wrong type of software.. that is unless you intend on buying more than one property from the people you buy from.  

If you using a CRM FOR the integrations aspects... IE loading data into the CRM so you can email, facebook, and whatever other means of contacting one-offs you prefer... you can cut out some steps, and go directly to marketing automation software.  All the documentation of phone calls, and emails sent and conversations... blah. useless... property investment is a numbers game.... not an analytics game, nor a relationships game. so market like crazy, treat everyone the same, and use software that doesn't slow you down by encouraging you to give in the OCD voice that says "every field must be filled!...every one!"  (use matic if this is this case... its opensource... just like hubspot marketing automation...)  

If you do need a very configurable CRM   X2 is opensource and pretty bad ***...

So anyway  what type of  contacts will be housing in your crm?

@Moshe Wolfe

I would take a different direction with this. I wouldn't get too lost in the weeds of a CRM. Find a system that works and get out there. As a technologist, I am definitely interested in this stuff, but I do think it distracts a ton of would-be investors from actually getting out there and doing the work. I have yet to hear an interview with a seasoned investor that got things up and running with the right platform. Usually it's a 'good enough' option, and we'll deal with that later.

Not trying to scold, I think this stuff is eventually important. I am not sure it's the most important thing at the moment.