Melissa's Success Journal

WOW! finished day 1 of the AM training here in Phoenix with Dean and Matt. Would have love to have had this amazing information months ago but now that we are getting it we will be streamlining our process, weeding out the B players and bringing in some new A players. We are 100% responsible for our businesses. NO excuses

Some of the knowledge today was a refresher but here were still new tips to be learned to fine tune the processes we have already been doing.

Re connected with some EDGE folks too so that was nice. looking forward to tomorrows information and more innovative ways to improve business functionality.

AMAZING! Some hard core meat and potatoes kinda training. Just what I wanted and what is needed to meet the standard for offering properties to our Elite investors.

Even if you have not had this level of training the one thing I will share with you is that you have to have a system in place to make sure that your business is a fine oiled operating machine. Without a system you can make it work but there can be a greater chance for chaos, misdirection and lost revenues.

I am so blessed right now to have been given the opportunity to attend this training. I am here solo as Jeff had a family emergency but I am glad I was able to still attend.

Left the dinner gathering early to come back to the hotel and plug in some of the stuff learned so I can be running full speed on Monday when I get back home.

Thanks Dean and Matt for taking the time to put this together and offer it. I know there is and will be big benefits for our company because you offered this and we seized the opportunity.

AMAZING Weekend! The knowledge gained from this mini-training is priceless. Deans programs are pretty easy to follow but this upper level training is really the icing on the cake. The systems they have created to move cheaper, faster better are invaluable.

After learning just what is required to submit properties for consideration we submitted 2 properties that meet Deans Hold requirements and will be working with his team to move forward as the area managers in NW Indiana.

What I learned from tis training:
1-Our business is 100% our responsibility- It's success is our responsibility
2-"A" Players ONLY. If we have to ask for something 2x they are not an A player. Our business can not survive on B or less payers.
3-Communication is KEY- direct communication helps move things along
4- Follow the directions we are given by Dean ad Matt and follow the system as it was designed.

Bu following these and many other wonderful tidbits this weekend we can operate cheaper, faster, better!

Thanks Dean and Matt for taking the time to help us succeed once again!

Wonderful momentum, Melissa and Jeff. You are rocking it. I'm inspired. That's how you deserve success.

Abundance and appreciation
Patrick

I wish you great success let us know how it goes... I wanted to go so bad but it just wasn't in the cards.

There are times in life when it just hits you how blessed you are to be given opportunities and implement them to make your life and the lives of other better. This past weekend in AZ doing the Area Manager training was one of those times. I am sitting in Denver on layover and going thru my notes from this past weekend. Reflecting on Key points that keep resonating with me:

~Real estate is more than just finding good deals.
~I am 100% responsible for the success of my business- this also includes my personal life.
~My team is only as strong as its weakest link
~Teach my team how to work with ME and my expectations
~Stop carrying buckets- build the pipeline so that the system just flows
~"A" Players ONLY
~"A" players are born- they cannot be created and more $$$ does not make one an "A" player.
~Focus on my Unique Abilities
~Watch out for and anticipate bottlenecks
~Faster, Better, Cheaper

These are just few of the nuggets from the past few days but WOW so powerful and certainly applicable to my life and the lives of other. These will be posted up on our office wall for sure.

I know that Dean, Matt and every other member of the Dean A-Team don't always see these journals but IF by some chance they do they need to know that the opportunities the offer are always inspiring, educational & beneficial to personal and business growth. The only thank you I will be able to muster will be to show you how thankful I am thru my success. so WATCH OUT- Grin.

Boarding time - looking forward to hitting the home front running.

First Business day back AFTER the AM training and it was VERY productive. Communicating with the "team" to make sure we have all our information in and where it needs to go so we can start moving more properties using the approaches we learned from this last weekend.

Got my To Do list Matt! Its already full for tomorrow.

Spoke with another lending Rep who will be following up with me again tomorrow to get me the numbers needed for adding them to my Cash out Refi list hopefully. I loved that she said most of what they did was determined by the relationship and volume they have with each client!

Defined the Scope of Work that will be expected with our contractors today and no one batted an eye. They were all on board and our one guy can handle the volume we are projecting and that was GREAT. He was talking like he had been to the Rehab portion of the AM training too.

submitted another 47 offers off MLS and about 5 FSBO will be going out tomorrow. 25:1 ratio 25:1 25:1....

We are so happy and enjoying this process. We look forward to building something that will help us reach our Personal and Business goals.

Have a GREAT Monday Evening

It feels so good to be plugged in to an amazing SYSTEM. I know you are going to have A GREAT DAY and I wanted to wish you luck with all of your meetings!!!! I'm so excited for you as your business grows. You are going to go to the top!! Just LOOK at all the progress you've made since the EDGE! Your journal documents it all.. It's so very inspiring. Keep it coming, please ))))))

Thank you for being such an amazing support to me!!! I love that we talked 4 times yesterday and are both riding the energy high!!

Kristin

Today I am aware that this journal is more than just an account of Jeff & My daily activity in business but it is a documentation of our personal accomplishments as well. We post here together to share the opportunities for success that can be achieved in all aspects of life when you align things in your life to be better, free of negativity and with an abundance mindset. We are happy to share the building blocks and road blocks we encounter to help others navigate the trail better, faster and cheaper than we have-those that have gone before us have done the same for us so we return the favor.

SO If you find yourself reading our journal please know that Jeff and I hope you find inspiration to move your life forward in a fashion that makes you a better person, a better business manager and setting yourself up for a happy and successful future.

Blessings & Success to you ALL!

We have been working on our global business plan for about a week and are almost done. But after the AM training I have been able to create a specific Action Plan for the expectations now on our horizon(thanks to Kristin for inspiring me to do this!). It feels GREAT to have something concrete to refer to and implement into our daily practices. It will make things far easier for our Power Team to understand our goals/visions and their responsibilities moving forward. This will be part of our working model with any new PT Member.

-Today we submitted 14 more offers thru our Realtor.
-Spoke to our new Bird Dog from our REI group who is looking for deals for us.
-Connected with Home Depot Rep regarding the investors AP to help speed up the process for rehabs.
-Got a counter offer that we rejected as the numbers did not fit any criteria we use.
-Previewed 2 properties- 1 from Bandit sign and one from our MLS
-Made another offer on that MLS property-making our offer total for the day 15.
-Spoke to another bank rep today and continued the coordination with the first for pre-qualification measures.
-Participated in the Live Chat with Joe this evening and now its time for us to close the day with quality time. Gotta Love it when we can set time aside to get everything done we need.

Nite All!

Round 2 of offers submitted got 4 counters and an accepted offer on a previously secured property that the seller changed their mind on for LESS than we had it located up for. Whooo Almost finished with our Action Plan and have spoken to our Power Team members about expectations and they are all on board. Added another lending institution to our portfolio so we have more cash at our disposal. Going thru the prequalification now..

Reached out to some other folks at the AM training and got their criteria in the Chicago area since we have a wholesaler/bird there sending us properties that we can pass along.

Had lunch with some local NEW BUYERS! they are ready to get going and we can use our new action plan to help them as well.

Connected with a seller in Indy and will be assessing the properties to see if they are a fit for anything we need.

Another wonderful day- feels great to be moving our business forward.

I was reading your journal and saw that you submitted 47 offers (a few posts up). How do you do that so quickly? I have trouble deciding what house to make an offer on, and then I wonder if I need to go see the house or just make an offer? I have a realtor and she's been pushing me to make offers. I just can't seem to get going. Since I've gotten a realtor, I've made one offer that we countered back & forth on and then the seller rejected it. Then I made 3 offers (all at once) and ended up pulling them because I realized my numbers weren't right.

Any advice would be appreciated!

We know how you feel we were feeling like we didn't know what to do or how to do it for a while BUT we learned very quickly that there is a method to the madness of the 25:1 offer strategy Dean & Matt Larsen talk about.

We have very specific criteria for our realtors regarding the types of properties that work in our area and that fit the needs of our buyers.

Typical criteria
 3beds, 1+ bath
 Vacant
 As-Is, Handyman special, Fixer….
 Price Reductions
 Starter type homes –price point $$$$ whatever buyer is looking for

We give specific zip codes, cities or counties we want properties in and the system automatically send us properties...

We have more than 1 portal going at a time and from more than 1 realtor. They enter that data into the Portal or system that shoots us emails with properties. Since we already know that the properties coming to us meet our general criteria we quickly look thru the listings to verify the info(keep in mind the info entered in the MLS is only reflective of what the listing agent entered in so there may be a random home that does not match). If it meets our general needs we make the offer. We will go thru the whole portal update and submit several one time. We only send the MLS and the offer price to the Realtor. She has all our information on file and submits the offers for us.

Wondering how much we offer??? This varies depending on that areas market. The goal is for every 25 offers you make 1 will get accepted. So if you are following the 25:1 offer formula on the site(there is a video on the DG site about this) and you are getting more than 1 in 25 you need to offer less in that area. IF you are not getting any responses in that area you need to offer more. Its fine tuning your numbers to meet your area.

We DO NOT go look at properties unless we have an accepted offer. We simply don't have time or need to look at properties that the seller cannot or will not sell to us at our price points. There are far better things to do to build business. Once its accepted we have 14 days inspection period to run numbers, preview the home, get rehab bids, offer it to end buyers.... IF the numbers don't work or you preview it and determine the rehab is far more than the market will allow even at your offer price simply pull the offer. As long as you do it in that inspection period its fine.

The exception to this is our FSBO/Bandit Sign call sellers. We take the call, gather the info on the property and tell the seller we will do some research and drive by-. We only drive by properties on certain days as part of our weekly schedule. So say we look at FSBO on Tuesday and Thursdays from 3-5...We let the seller know this and that if it meets our criteria we will setup a time to view the inside. Then we research it, run comps, look at tax records.... Then we drive by. By this time we have a pretty good idea of what we can offer. If we do meet with the seller we are prepared to make an offer on the spot-after we preview the home of course and it looks like it may fit our need. We still ask for the 14 day inspection and everything else goes as normal.

I hope that helps. PLEASE let me know if you have any other questions.

So out of the 60 offers we have submitted on MLS this week got 8 counter offers back so far-WAY TOO MANY we are offering too much with the new formula we are using and will have make modifications. However it is good for us to learn this right away and learn how to assess the properties using the AM methods. Not all the properties fit the needed criteria for Area Manager properties BUT we have 3 that fit for SURE and that hits the 25-1 ratio(ok we are 1/2 of property over-lol).

We were able to reacquire a property we let go about a month ago from Bandit Sign as well for less than we got it previously. NICE and it fits our AM criteria and needs zero Rehab.

We anticipate that by Monday we will have these properties ready to go for the Area Manager Program..its a bit overwhelming but a bit satisfying to know that we really do understand all that Dean's programs teach us and because we are actually implementing them we are getting results. Can I get an AMEN!

Banks are communication with Team members and negotiations are progressing.

Completed our Action Plan and am working on Specific Power Team Outlines for each member. Decide not to share the entire Action Plan as this is proprietary system information, in essence that it is really for area managers. Maybe being a little guarded but???

Overall it feels great to have a system to tell us YES or NO and we can keep moving forward. We kind of feel like we are a marble pulled back in a slingshot ready to be catapulted out at high speed. Once we get bank approvals BAM- we are released. Go faster Do more! WHOOO

That was very helpful...thank you!

You know that Moment when you realize that what you are doing in life and your business is all coming together.... Yeah We are there!

Loving the last 5 days- We are SUCCESS Driven!

WOW I mean WOW! what a week. Its been crazy, fast, unpredictable, educational...you name it.

We did over 60 offers this week and have 5 that meet our criteria. We are taking our Power Team out for 24 hour assessments and I'm sure we will weed it back and meet the 25:1 ratio that is our goal. We got back over 10 Responses/counters. soooo what did we learn by this... We are offering too much for our area. Going thru this the first week back is a GREAT opportunity for us to begin implementation of our system while we wait for banks clearances to come thru(which we hope is Monday).

Connected with our local Box Store Provider regarding the products we will be using and getting access to a real time inventory program so we can make our rehab determination, set up and delivery streamlined and can be prepared once we close on a property and begin the rehab with in 24 hours.

Our Realtor is on top of her game. We asked her to set up an offer tracking system and she provided it this evening with the weeks activity. So helpful. I was doing this for our tracking but am too busy to update it so she is taking on that task. I appreciate that!

Our Property Manager is offering to take on extra responsibilities(which we would have transitioned to at some point but she proactively is asking to do it) to help open up our time frames to assess properties and work our business.

Our contractor is eager to get going and has connected with his crews to let them know to be ready beginning of next month. He is ready to learn and be a part of the initial walk thru for assessing the property and following the deal thru the end at a quality level we require.

A-Players all around- sigh of relief- feels great.

We got connected with a guy that has 14 properties in Indy and one of our investors has 7 in PA. So we are running numbers to see what we can help them with. HMMM I am seeing an assistant in my future!? We had a new investor contact Jeff recently who is wanting to Bird dog for us and is doing Great so far-looking for positive things from her. woooo

Ok enough over the top excitement- BUUUUT We are so excited and knew that we would be at this level in 2013. Looking forward to continued growth in our business, our personal lives and moving all this forward together. Ok back at it- last minute things to do before 24 hour previews in the AM! nighty-nite

We went out yesterday morning with some of our power team members to do the initial walk thru and scope of work for some properties we have gotten counters back on that initially fit the criteria. We weeded out 2 for sure one is a maybe and one we is a GO! They even lowered the price more before we were about so sign the counter and send it back. how nice is that.

Spoke with our realtor about fine tuning her spread sheet for tracking and gave her some other answers on properties we got counters on that don't work at this time.

Going to spend some time today preparing for the orientation call tomorrow and putting together a binder for power team members that is specific to their duties.

Have a Great Sunday everyone

AHHH NEW question of our daily lives-lol.

Submitted 12 offers last night and quite sure we will find some that will fit our FLIP model. We have to keep an even balance between hold and flips and since we have no problem getting those holds we are bringing a heavier focus on those flips.

Wrapping up rehab on a project that has drug on for several factors and we are happy to be putting an end to it.

Met with one of our Bird dogs/wholesaler who has been getting great responses from his bandit signs. We went over the property details of all the call he has received and 4 looked initially decent so we will follow up on those. Went to a new REI club in our area and spoke to a few new folks. We are still working on Banks and other daily operations.

Looking for another GREAT DAY!

WHOOOO we Just got our First FLIP with Dean & Matt approved- We close this FRIDAY! grin! We are on our way-

WE DESERVE SUCCESS!

LOL its almost time to think about really getting one I think. The last few days have been CRAZY busy and WE can tell it is going to be busier. We got 2 more properties that fit the flip criteria so we will be getting our bids and assessments tomorrow to verify and secure properties.

Got more stuff set up with Corporate to do deals and we are closing on our First Flip tomorrow afternoon and starting Rehab Monday! WHOOOOO!

We have been doing more things to gear up for more flips and our contractors is bringing on more guys to help cover the extra need. Planning ahead and being optimistic!

Looking forward to a good next week.

Today was a combination of everything. We started off the day looking at accepted offer properties and then closing on our Flip Deal with Dean and Matt. Then went to let one of our contractors go-yeah not an easy task but was needed- A players only. Got the job covered by another contractor who is ready to go and meet the timelines and guidelines we have in place.

Went and looked at a bandit sign call house this afternoon that broke our hearts. The house is not a deal that fits any of our criteria but we hope it can be a successful project for someone else.

Spoke to 2 potential buyers from out of state and will be sending them options to consider.

Ended the day with a movie-What another wonderful and exciting week- Monday starts REHAB!!!!!!

Got everything ready to start rehab on the house we just closed for Dean- Got 3 more qualifiers this weekend just waiting on the numbers from contractor. We have honed the offer process to target houses that meet the FLIP criteria. We anticipate a closing every week at this point starting the week after the holiday. DEAL FLOW!

Went thru the product list and got it ready for material ordering for rehabs and got docs ready for contractor for rehab process.

Took some time today to do some work on another house we have- yes I know I'm not supposed to be doing the work my self but since we fired our contractor I wanted to go review and get a few things done. Got all the Trim painted and ready for install.

Tomorrow will be filled with paperwork and submitting things for rehab readiness.

Jeff spoke to a local gentleman that contacted us off Zillow who is looking to partner on a deal. Meeting his next week to discuss details.

We have acquired about 4 new buyers since the AM training so we certainly have opportunity to keep our business rolling.

Feels good to be moving forward.

Today was a packed day and we are still running. Started off the day getting the final touches on the rehab we are all but done with and will be putting it up for sale this weekend! This was a JV with another investor so the profit won't be as great but hey any profit is better than none.

Got the SKU sheets all finished and submitted for the Rehab starting Friday. Got the SKU back from the Store and they are pulling the product tomorrow and it will be ready for delivery on Friday afternoon. Very surreal. We almost feel like we are standing by watching ourselves as all this unfolds. Tomorrow is another busy day arranging for the dumpster and finalizing details for Rehab.

We will be submitting 2 of the 3 I mentioned earlier tomorrow at least by Friday once we get final info collected and submitted. We are excited to get the DEAL FLOW working.

Helped another investor today as well on a Lease Option she is setting up- part of our giving back philosophy. So many have helped us get where we are that helping others is our way of paying it forward. She is excited and will be doing paperwork on her deal next week.

I feel like I am forgetting some key points to our day but it went by so fast. We are going to have dinner and go listed to music at the park for a few hours then wrap up the evening and hit the ground running again tomorrow!

We just want to thank EVERYONE who has contributed to our lives and our success this far. Every encounter, trial, challenge, triumph and success is because our paths crossed with yours and you made us better people. For that we are thankful.

Have a wonderful evening!

Keep it up! I know you will have a fantastic day today as well!!
Thanks for all the support and encouragement you share with all of us

You can make money or you can make excuses - but you can't make both!

Great Quote! Love it...

Rehab FLIP #1 as Area Managers under way.

Dumpster delivered at 9am crew on hand doing demo- Rehab supplies delivered shortly and T-minus 7 days to rent ready baby!

#2 submitted yesterday- deal flow is starting to take shape and that pipeline is lookin' goooood!

WHOO

I've been tending to family matters the past few days but still extending out to the business' forward motion. Rehab is under way on our 1st rehab for Dean and Matt and we have more lined up in the pipeline. Feels to have such an amazing partner to rely on and trust in keeping things afloat no matter what. Jeff- I appreciate you!

Back into the swing of thing full time Tuesday afternoon and ready for the action.

Have a GREAT week everyone

BUSY Day!

Created a sheet for tracking rehab items needed for contractor
printed off counter offers to sign
Finished and submitted 2 Quit Claims that have been looming for the last month waiting for the county to record
Previewed a new property- May be a Flip if we can get it at a lower price after our inspection
Made 4 new offers, resubmitted on 1 & following up on 4 others
Created ToDo list for tomorrow

Whooo busy day! Great Day!

Some days are not as wonderful as others. Been a rough few days but as always communication, support and working together make everything fall into place.

Our rehab is about 2/3 done- yes taking longer than the 7 days originally planned but will still be done in 14 days. still under the time line-yea.

Spent some time today looking for new properties and connecting with our realtor regarding offers and previews.

Keeping up the momentum as best we can and we WILL have success!

Spending some time today looking for more banks! The ones we had set up cannot handle the load we have to bring to them. LOL UGH! So back to the drawing board. Not one of my favorite tasks but I will add it to my list of- NOT unique abilities and get someone else to make these calls in the near future.

Also spent some time connecting with other buyers on properties avail and getting them what they need to move forward and build their portfolios here in NWI!

Also found 4 more properties to make offers on!

Have a GREAT Day!

Whirlwind week so far. We are making offers, counteroffers, running numbers and selecting properties for Dean and our other investors! We have almost finished our 1st Dean rehab and will be doing final walk thru tomorrow and submitting it for the summit(we hope) very exciting!

We had breakfast with some fellow investors in our area and are looking forward to working with them.

We will be closing on some new projects soon and keeping things rolling. We have been connecting with other service providers as well to keep building that pipeline.

The faster we go the more we do!