My Real Estate Tips

A bird dog is a hunter’s best friend.  I had a friend in my youth, Jerry Don, whose daddy owned a squirrel dog, Boots.  Jerry Don with his .22 and I with an old .410 would often visit the woods across the road from our family’s weekend farm house to hunt. 

One day the preacher’s wife from the local church offered to make squirrel gumbo the next weekend if we two boys would provide the squirrels.  We were both concerned about being good enough hunters to provide squirrels for a gumbo that would feed a whole church congregation, but Jerry Don’s dad said “take old Boots and you’ll do fine.”  Well, we need not have worried, as soon as we entered the woods Boots set to work.

Round and round the old trees he ran, dodging in and out of sight, as we hurried along trying to keep up.  All a sudden, he began to bark and circle a single tree.  High up in the branches Jerry Don spotted the swish of a tail just as our prey moved to the backside of the tree trunk.  Well, that scene played out over and over that day and it wasn’t long at all before we had a bag full to take to the preacher’s house. 

With old Boots along, we were able to do in several hours what would have taken us several days to accomplish.  We were good weekend hunters, but were no match for Boots, who spent his life in those woods, learning and understanding all the secrets within.

If you want to save a lot of time and expense when looking for great real estate properties to invest in, you’ve got to get yourself a good bird dog.  In real estate that would be, and no disrespect intended, an experienced, licensed real estate agent or broker.  

These people are trained professionals who spend all day, every day, looking at and thinking about real estate properties.  They have tools in their offices that allow them to complete market comparable property studies in minutes, that would take you days to accomplish, and many have software programs that will help you analyze investment income properties.  They often can help you make contact with craftsmen for building repairs, improvements and inspections.

You will also find them knowledgable on financial issues, and they often know of resources you might not be exposed to.  Their knowledge, training and expertise, if used just once, can save you from making mistakes that could cost you thousands of dollars.  Their service to you is often free, as they make a living from commissions, which means they have strong incentives to help you become a successful investor.  

However, even old Boots got a treat now and then for helping us that day long ago.  Be sure and reward your “Bird Dogs” for their help and loyalty to you by making your investment purchases through them.  Then they know that if they can help you make money by finding you good investments, you will be back and maybe even tell your friends that they helped you. 

Well, that’s my tip of the day, use it and you will save both time and money investing in real estate.

Tweet This Post