The real estate market in the greater Atlanta area is a lucrative place to invest. Forecasts for the future indicate that the strong market should continue. In our last blog, we looked at some proven methods to ensure that your real estate portfolio is headed in the right direction.
By way of recap, the first method was to “get in the game,” meaning to buy your first property and get the ball rolling. The second was to utilize the concept of leverage by rolling proceeds from one property into multiple other properties. Thirdly, the utilization of technology and apps helps an investor work smarter instead of harder. Finally, we covered how networking with property managers can help you find properties that become available before they are listed on the MLS. In this blog we are going to cover four more proven methods to ensure your portfolio keeps moving in the direction you want it to move.
1 – The tried and true method of cold calling
Cold calling is rarely the first choice a person is excited to make when it comes to finding new properties. It is time consuming and can feel like it isn’t very efficient. It also takes people out of their comfort zones. These are exactly the reasons you SHOULD be cold calling to seek out motivated sellers! Other investors are not doing it, and they are missing out on a lot of potential properties. Make a script and pick up the phone. Feel free to tweak your script as time goes on. When it comes to cold calling, the more you do it, the more comfortable you will become with the process. You shouldn’t spend all of your prospecting hours cold calling, but do make sure to block off some time for it every week. You will be glad you did when you reap the benefits of your dedication and the calls you made. The early bird gets the worm, and the investor who is willing to pick up the phone often gets the undervalued property.
2 – Rental properties equal cash flow
The monthly rent payments that you collect become a steady stream of residual income. This cash flow can be used to make improvements on the rental property itself or set aside to be used to make improvements on other properties. Having one or more renters can also be a good way to find potential future buyers. Many tenants will eventually inquire about purchasing the property they are occupying. This opens up a lot of possibilities for you as far as rent to own or seller financing type arrangements. It also gives you added leverage and more options on how you might move your portfolio in a positive direction.
3 – Recognize and protect your most valuable asset
The most valuable asset in any real estate portfolio is the INVESTOR! It was you who found the properties, nurtured the deals and uncovered the profits and cash flow. The better your portfolio does, the more valuable your time becomes. A smart investor will find ways to delegate tasks that take their time and attention away from finding new investments. One proven way to do this is to hire one of the property management companies in Atlanta. Aside from simply managing your properties, they can also do research, network and assist in bringing additional opportunities to the table.
4 – Know when to walk away and have the courage to do so
Very few investors have a flawless track record. If a certain property starts to eat up too much capital or takes up too much of your time, it is best just to find a way to unload that asset and move on. Often times, human nature is to hold onto a bad property just to save face. The sooner you learn to cut your losses and move on, the sooner you will free up your time, energy and financial resources to find a property that generates a profit.
Be sure to watch for a future blog post where we will discuss some ways to evaluate where your portfolio stands today.
