Fixer Jay’s Mom & Pop Millionaire Blog

If you can teach yourself to think like your tenants, you can stay a step ahead of them most of the time. Believe me; a step ahead is very important. It’s always better to act now rather than to act later. A friend of mine who’s been a cop for thirty years told me the best detectives in his department are the guys who could have easily been the best crooks. The reason, he claims, is because these officers naturally think just like crooks. It’s like they’re able to anticipate a crook’s next move before he ever makes it.

This same kind of uncanny ability can be a tremendous advantage for landlords who can develop it with their tenants. Just like the cops, landlords can benefit by knowing “tenant moves” ahead of time. With practice anyone can do it.

Good landlords always act, they don’t re­act. Don’t fight and argue with tenants any more than your boss would fight and argue with you about work requirements on your job. Obviously discussions are all right and I fairness should always prevail. Landlords are the boss of houses. They make the rules for tenants who live there. Never compromise the issue of who’s in charge. When tenants have the upper hand living in your rental properly, you’ve got big problems.

Tags: Landlording Success by FixerJay
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Many people like the idea of investing in real estate but can’t seem to decide how or where to start.  Part-time investors or those just starting out need training and experience in about equal proportions.  Stated another way;  they don’t need more education than they can use. They need enough education and “know-how” to begin; and then on a continuing basis as they gain experience from doing it.

Real estate investing requires many skills other than simply buying properties. Obviously classrooms and books are impor­tant and necessary in order to learn technical information. However, there is no faster or better method to learn the practical side than doing it yourself. It’s called “on the job training.” This learning experience is best.  Accomplished with properties that require some personal attention.

Rundown houses that need work are ideal candidates because they’re inexpensive to acquire and because perfection is not so important. Most any work you do is likely to improve the property even if it lacks profes­sional quality. We all get better with experience.

Tags: Getting Started Ranks First by FixerJay
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Fixing for looks is every bit as important as fixing the toilet or the roof!

It’s important to understand that rent and buy decisions are often made in a matter of seconds by folks whizzing by the property in automobiles at 30 miles an hour. The first look and the first impression count for everything. If your property doesn’t generate positive vibrations on that first peek, you can forget the brand new carpets you installed inside.

Tenants and buyers alike will judge your house exactly the same way they judge a book, by it’s cover! Knowing this fact about our customers can be worth thousands of dollars to you if you’ll apply it to your own fix-up strategy. It’s for this reason that I constantly instruct my readers to concentrate their main efforts on fixing what shows. Create good looks before anything else you do because that’s where the fix-up battle is won or lost.

Folks are always fascinated by my “foo-foo” beautification techniques. “Foo-foo” is my term for cosmetic fix-up or gingerbread. The primary goal is to upgrade the looks. Webster’s Dictionary defines cosmetic as correcting defects or to make beautiful. In some cases my techniques might stretch Webster’s definition a bit, but on balance, most folks agree: foo-foo techniques really do make ugly houses more pleasing to look at.

Tags: Success Secrets by FixerJay
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The most difficult part of buying property right has nothing to do with contracts, paperwork, escrow instructions and pre­senting offers, but rather finding sellers who

Really and truly desire to sell their properties. We are always looking for sellers who have compelling reasons to sell. Sometimes the fear of losing their property in foreclosure creates pressure but many reasons are hidden and are not so visible.

You must never forget that a real need situation must exist for the seller; otherwise you’ll have great difficulty buying a property with the kind of terms you need to make the trans-action a profitable one for you. You must locate sellers who, for whatever reason, have a real need or a strong desire to sell.

Don’t pursue sellers who don’t have some kind of urgency. You’ll be wasting your time. In the long run you’ll discover your time is more valuable than money.

Tags: The Right Ingredients by FixerJay
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