Networking your way to deals

When I first started out doing deals, I was kind of shy. I didn’t really like talking to sellers and I certainly did not like having to deal with realtors, lawyer, brokers, etc. When I went to my first real estate investor’s club, I hid in a corner on the breaks and didn’t talk to anyone. Deals came VERY slowly for me when I was first starting out. Not only that, but I had to quickly shop around at the last minute for a lawyer to help close my deals, or a realtor to pull comps for me, etc.

Just recently, I had a meeting with 2 financial planners. One had seen my advertising that I buy mortgages and wanted to see if there was some way we could do deals together. I wasn’t entirely sure, but have learned over the years the vital importance of NETWORKING. I knew this was a person who dealt with mortgages and investments on a daily basis. There was a good chance I would be able to figure out something that we could do.

After an hour long meeting, I found that there were 4 new ways of doing business that opened up to me just because I sat there with these 2 gentlemen and talked business. Not only that, but they had investors that were willing to look at different types of deals that I could bring to them that didn’t fit into my own deal criteria! It was an extremely productive meeting.

When I went to this meeting, I rode my motorcycle out to meet them. I came into their office wearing my leather jacket, riding boots and jeans. I have decided to just relax and enjoy this business. When I go on a meeting, I am there to just sit and have a conversation with someone, and if business or a deal happens, great! This is a big reason I have so much success doing deals these days. I am not nervous or pushy. I am just there to sit, relax, and have a conversation. (And if someone offers me a coffee (or a beer!) while I’m there, even better!)

I am often asked how people should go about finding a lawyer, mortgage broker, realtor, or some other professional contact. Honestly, I only go looking for these if I am working with a student and have only a week that I am spending with them to find these people. Otherwise, all my professional contacts come about through NETWORKING.

I talk to other investors, professionals I happen to come into contact with as I do business, or just about anyone else who wants to talk business with me. You can’t be shy in this business. It pays big time to get out there, have fun, and make new friends!