Bill Cook
Editor
Bill and Kim Cook are a husband and wife real estate investing team.
Their core belief is that real estate investing is not about buying, selling or renting property. It’s about helping folks solve their real estate problems.
Recently, I had an interesting conversation with a realtor. She walks both sides of the real estate fence –she’s both an investor and a realtor.
We were talking about the HUGE problem investors and realtors have when trying to communicate. She jokingly said, “Bill, it’s sort of like the problem men and women have when they’re trying to talk. You should write a column that will help both sides better understand each other –sort of like the Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus book.”
Obviously, the realtor was thinking with the smart, creative, investor portion of her brain. And this is where the problem begins!
Investors see realtors as nothing but a bunch of they-won’t-present-my-offer, deal-killing, I-want-my-full-commission-no-matter-what sales weasels. On the other hand, realtors think investors are nothing but a bunch of low-ball-offering, commission-cutting, money-grubbing, scum-sucking-bottom-dwellers.
Ah, a match made in heaven! (Sigh)
Here’s the main problem Plutonians and Uranusites have: It’s a Plutonian’s job to sell real estate. It’s a Uranusite’s job to buy (and hopefully keep as rental property) real estate. You see, right from the start they see themselves on opposite sides of the buy-sell fence.
To take up for Plutonians – and this is hard for me to do after having been called a “scum sucker from Uranus” by a good number of them – their job is critical to the real estate industry. I hate selling real estate – that’s a realtor’s job. All the calls, showings and buyer’s questions – it drives me nuts! Let me do what I do best – go out and creatively structure win-win deals with sellers.
Now, to take up for Uranusites – the wisest and best-looking species in the solar system – they can make deals work that no one else can. It’s sad seeing such a huge number of homes going into foreclosure each month. Even sadder, most homeowners – or realtors representing homeowners – never call a Uranusite to ask whether the foreclosure can be stopped.
Why not call? This is exactly what Uranusites do best! Upside down? No problem, let’s do a Short Sale. Need a fast closing? No problem, let’s do a Subject-To deal. House in terrible condition? No problem, let’s get it rehabbed and flipped. Can’t find a lender? No problem, let’s get a private-money lender.
Truth is, we’re NOT on opposite sides of the fence. Plutonians and Uranusites are both working toward the same goal – solving the seller’s real estate problem. The sooner both species understand this, the sooner we can all get busy cleaning up this real estate mess!
One last thing: Hey, Plutonians, can we switch planets for awhile? When I hear the word “Uranusite,” I think of something terrible that can be caught by swimming naked in the Nile River!
Seeking real-world real estate investing information? Check out the other articles and videos on BillandKimCook.com. They’re packed with free creative deal structuring techniques and strategies.
Bill and Kim Cook have been investing in real estate since 1995. Their portfolio consists of single-family rentals, a small mobile home park, plus notes and options. If you have questions, give Bill a call at 770-815-8727.