Holding costs are CRITICAL when calculating the total cost of a potential deal. These numbers have to be considered from the day you acquire the property until the day you sell it.
The traveling gurus and flashy seminars that crow about their students’ big checks in the tens of thousands never tell you about how much of that was actually eaten away by holding costs while they held it. Here are a few of the holding costs you need to consider:
Today Larry walks us through the ten essentials to creating a winning real estate deal. The key points he covers are:
A deal isn’t a deal until the repair costs of the property are taken into account. No matter what kind of investing you do, you need to have a quality team of contractors and tradesmen on speed dial before you purchase any asset. You also need to be taking a turn around the property yourself and comparing it to the neighbors, in terms of aesthetics, amenities, and overall condition.
Before you even go inside the house to speak with the owner, take a look at the outside. How does the roof compare to the neighborhood? Is the siding in good condition? Are there any visible foundation weaknesses? Do the windows need to be replaced? Take inventory of this before you step a single step inside that door.
Once you’re inside the house, start taking stock of the interior: What is the condition of the walls? What materials are they constructed from? Is there mold or mildew, indicating a moisture problem coming from the roof? Is the wiring out of date and needs updating? This is only a small sampling of the many possible repairs and issues that can come up in any home in any area. Make sure you properly vet all the costs to repair and update the house or property to ensure you get top dollar either in rent or when you resell the property down the road.
Where can you find reputable contractors and tradesmen? Ask at your local REIA, your mentor, or other fellow investors. Those in your local market should know who does the best quality work that will bring you the best return on your investment.
Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Real Estate Investor Associations (REIAs) seem like the ideal place for beginning investors to learn the fundamentals. However, these associations function more as a networking space where most of the attendees are significantly less successful than they appear. These members are desperately trying to find a deal and not concerned with educating themselves or you. That’s why you’re better off attending quality, specialized training and finding yourself a knowledgeable mentor.
Finding good quality education and mentors is a challenge in itself, however. There are plenty of “drive-through” gurus who come into town like the circus and are just as flamboyant. They promise the pie in the sky and expect you to pay with the stars. Many of these gurus aren’t really training investors; they’re training worker ants to go out and find deals for them to continue to fill their pockets.
Should you pay a mentor? Absolutely; an educator who has been in the field and is giving their time to help you has earned that right to be compensated for that time. However, it certainly shouldn’t cost a small fortune. These mentors, like Larry, are happy to share their time as a way to give back to the investing community. They will teach you by walking you through the process, and you will learn by actually doing. This is your key to success in our industry and our business.