Are you looking for a business idea that could potentially net you a small (or a large) fortune? There are all kinds of avenues you could take, but as discovered by many, one of the biggest ways to vastly increase your finances is to invest in real-estate.
There are various options open to you; two of them being the most common. For example, you could buy properties with an eye to selling them for a profit down the line. This is usually referred to as property flipping. You buy a house, make the necessary improvements to add value, and then advertise the property on your own business website and through the various property websites online. On the other hand, you might want to consider another popular route, and this is by becoming a landlord. Rather than selling the property you have invested in, you might rent it out to tenants instead. You won’t become rich quickly following this avenue, but over time, you will eventually make a profit on your investment.
Both options are viable business ideas and can be taken on full-time, or as means of a secondary income if you already have a day job. For these and other options, you can explore real-estate business ideas here.
Still, despite the promise of great profits, becoming a real-estate entrepreneur isn’t a walk in the park. It involves a lot of work on your part, both in finding the right properties for your portfolio and in finding sellers and tenants to give you your income. Then there are maintenance expenses to consider, which might only be short term if you’re planning to sell later on, but which will be long-term if you’re planning to become a landlord.
Needless to say then, becoming a real-estate entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart, no matter how easy it looks when viewing property shows on the television or reading articles on people who have made it big in the business.
If you are wanting to step into this line of work, however, we do have some tips to help you. We can’t guarantee you success, but by adhering to the suggestions below, you will greatly improve your chances.
Educate yourself on real-estate
It’s a no-brainer, we know, but if you were thinking of jumping into the business without doing your homework, then you are going to run into trouble. You should read books on real-estate investing, speak to experienced realtors, brokers, and landlords in the business, and consider taking any classes that might help you within your business. Such classes might be directly connected to the world of real-estate, but taking courses on running a business, marketing, and financial management might also stand you in good stead. You might also consider working for a real-estate firm, be that as an intern or as a paid member of staff, as this way, you will get an up close and personal view of what it takes to work in the business.
Don’t give up your day job
There will be a day when you will (hopefully) make enough money to give up working for ‘the man’ and concentrate solely on real-estate. However, when you are starting out, it is a good idea to have another source of income coming in. This way, if you struggle to sell the property you bought, or if the income your tenants provide isn’t enough for your way of living, then you will still have a regular income coming in each month to help you pay the bills and any other expenses that need to be covered.
Use technology within your business
As we have suggested before on our site, technology can improve your business, especially in the areas of marketing and productivity. It can alleviate some of the stresses you will be faced with in the day to day running of your business and can make light work of some of your everyday tasks. Therefore, research the apps and software tools that could help you within the real-estate world. We particularly recommend the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system offered by Liondesk which is designed to help you engage with potential house buyers and generate more leads, and apps such as RPR Mobile which can assist you with your property search. It’s worth spending time looking for any other software apps and programs to assist you within your real-estate business, especially if you are working alone.
Be mindful of potential money pits
Even if you’re considering renovating a fixer-upper to make a large profit on your purchase, you should still avoid any property that might eventually cost you more down the line. Not only will you be faced with the short-term costs in putting the property in order, but especially when renting out a property, you might also be faced with ongoing maintenance costs, as well as legal expenses if your property causes illness or injury to your tenant. These are some of the warning signs you need to look out for, so be mindful, especially when you are considering a property that appears to be going for a bargain price. Our advice: hire a property inspector before purchase, and if it looks as if you are going to face a massive dent in your finances, think twice before signing any contract of sale.
Become a neighborhood expert
You aren’t only selling or renting the property you have bought. To incentivize your potential house buyers or renters, you should also sell the locality to them as well. This means finding as much about the location as you can, looking for anything that will add value to your clients, such as schools, career opportunities, amenities, and places of local beauty. The more you can do to sway the client, the better your chances of convincing them to buy or rent. Keep this in mind when you’re scouting for locations too; avoid anywhere that has little to offer buyers or renters, as you might struggle to find people to move into any properties you may have bought.
Finally
When looking for a business idea, going for something involved in the world of real-estate is definitely something to consider. As many have before you, you may well make your fortune in doing so. However, to give you a greater chance of success, follow our suggestions, and then put in further research into this potentially profitable venture.
Thanks for reading.
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