You lose because there are many other suckers out there falling for the same line and sharing the same low-quality leads that don't translate into sales.Do the math.

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

Those qualities can be the difference between closing a deal and walking away empty-handed.What about you?

Contractors, unless you have a working relationship with them, normally do not want you bouncing ideas off them.Understand what their hourly rate is, have a discussion with them that you are okay with paying them an hourly rate if they walk the property with you and provide you a scope of work along with an explanation of what you can/can't get away with in regards to improvements.ask them if you go with them, if they can credit you the amount that you paid.Once you develop a working relationship with a few contractors, you can bounce ideas off them and expect quality responses.I do not invest in New York.Best of luck. 

@Christopher HeidrichRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

DOM can be minimized by a number of different factors including the quality of marketing, rent price, availability to show. 

If you understand how to screen very well, communicate with them respectfully and can somehow understand the dynamics of the community, you will be ok.

The mailers I receive for my properties are not of a high enough quality, to make me believe the sender understands what gets a recipient to even open or read the mailer, let alone respond. 

Do everything right: To include but not limited to pro photos, professional quality design, durable furnishings.  

@Amir PortalRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?