This week I showed a really nice, large apartment to prospective tenants.

I was thinking of writing down a guideline with a series of checklists to have to help make the decision to purchase or not, what to do after the purchase, plans for marketing for rental or sale, etc...Here is my brief list:Pre purchase-Finding a property-Evaluating repairs-Evaluating market value-Evaluating prospective profit-Evaluate best way to financePost purchase-Immediate repairs (needed for habitation)-Long term repairs/upgradesWhat else???

It is a quick answer, and I do get the idea, but I was wondering if any of the experienced people here could give an example of the kind of conversation they might have with someone in a particular situation.In my line of work I have to qualify people and I have a few questions I ask that will tell me whether or not I should be spending time talking to a prospect.

This is really about you (as both homeowners and real estate investors), your freedom and in a macro-prospective, your constitutional rights...

The basis of it being that a cattle rancher set on finding diamonds in the Middle East sells his ranch to go prospecting across the globe.

I find that many times prospects seem to think not showing up at the agreed time is fine as you have nothing better to do with your time.You are in a cold and snowy area when winter strikes.

Someone who promptly returns phone calls - prospective tenants, existing tenants, and myself.

Or you set up a joint venture (JV) where you take the point initially as the prospect called you.

Let your prospects do the talking and you'll be way ahead of the people who do "presentations" and use long-winded scripts without finding out what the people they're "selling to" really want.

The message is the prospect should avoid the vendor.John Corey