Rob Swanson’s Real Estate Investing Blog

1. As soon as you close, secure the house, change the locks and cover all windows. Now, don’t COVER the windows with painting paper, that just increases the house as a target – use dark paper or black plastic bags
2. Get to know a couple of the kids in the neighborhood, they know it’s vacant, they know who the trouble makers are (maybe it’s even them). You can usually BRIBE them to keep your place safe for just a few dollars, a pizza, etc. Trouble makers protecting their new ‘territory’ are a great way to keep your place safer when your not there.
3. Don’t advertise by placing materials and equipment in the front yard. Keep a clean work area and “hide” your efforts as much as possible. MANAGE your delivery of windows only when you plan to install them, same goes for other materials.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn my simple 17 step approach to rehabbing houses, go grab my 90 minute Rehab Profits Audio Training, it’s under $20 right now!

Follow the link below to watch my complete 17 step system for rehabbing houses unfold before your eyes. See junkers transform to beautiful homes that you would be happy to call your own.

http://www.RehabWatch.com

Below you will find the links to our “Closing to Completion” Rehab Video Diary Series. In this series, we have been following the anticipated 30 day progress of our rehab on a 3 bedroom, 1 bath, 1000+ sf single family home and it’s conversion to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with an open inviting presence.

If you like what you are seeing in this series, let us know. Post a comment.

Day of Closing: Outside Overview, click here

Day of Closing: Inside Overview, click here

Day 2: Start of Demolition, click here

Day 10: Start of Construction, click here

Day 13: Construction Underway, click here

Day 15: Construction Underway, click here

Day 21: Major Progress Being Made, click here

It seems that I run into real estate investors almost daily that are shocked at the approach our investment company takes when it comes to fixing up distressed real estate. Let me tell you what I mean. I had a conversation with a gentleman late last week regarding a property that he was going to fix up and sell.

As we were discussing the property, it became apparent that my plans for the property and his were very different. He took the stance that he was going to do as little to the property as he could, clean it up, spend less than $18,000 and sell it. I suggested that given the ‘competition’, i.e. the large number of other homes for sale, he would be better off putting a little extra money into the fix-up in order to create unique value for future prospective buyers. I suggested a budget around $25,000.

His approach was to put as little up front as possible. Mine was to maximize the speed potential for selling.

Our conversation continued and I asked him how his approach has worked in the past. Here’s what he said: “Well, I’ve held onto many of my properties for over 9 months, a couple for nearly a year. I’m now under-contract to sell three and I’m only holding two so I’m ready to buy again.” His answer was really helping my point.

If you want to sell properties quicker, make your fix-up the nicest house for the lowest price in the neighborhood. When buyers are ready to buy, you’ll give yourself a huge edge over the non-fixed up properties and other investors that are taking the cheaper road up front.

The difference: You’ll sell your properties and they’ll become landlords.

To help people better understand what I mean by this, we are creating a ‘Rehab Video Diary’ educational series so that you can follow a real life rehab project from start to finish, see what we do to properties and get real life ‘on-the-job-training’ right from your computer. Watch the videos and enjoy!

–>> Click here to go to Video #1 (Exterior Property Rehab Overview)

–>> Click here to go to Video #2 (Interior Property Rehab Overview)

–>> Click here to go to Video #3 (The Start of Demolition, Day 2)

Check back again as there is more to come as we follow this project from start to finish.