These story lines are hard to keep up with – they move so fast.

This morning it was announced on People.com that the star of Flip or Flop has filed for divorce.

A few days ago, we all read “The couple has no imminent plans for divorce.”

Isn’t life like that sometimes?  Changes from one moment to the next?

But for the reality tv couple, Tarek and Christina El Moussa, their many obstacles over the last few years has finally taken a toll on their marriage.

A friend of mine is always reminding me “You never know what is going on behind the closed doors of your friends and neighbors.”

By all accounts, it would appear that the stars of one of HGTV’s top shows were leading a happy successful life.  As we have learned, it’s not quite the case.

We see it all the time when dealing with distressed real estate.  Sometimes the distress is very evident with the condition of the home.  On other occasions the distress is more wrapped up in a personal situation that isn’t evident from the curb.

I have always been skeptical about these “reality” tv flipping shows. However, a few lines in the recent issue of People stood out to me:

Plotlines?

Special brand of acting?

A few people are still surprised to find out that these shows are in fact staged productions.

It’s entertainment.

People watch a lot of this type of Reality TV to escape their own reality.

Sure, some people watch it for the “educational” value that you might find.

Personally, I did not find a lot of educational value in “Nicole and Jionni’s Shore Flip”.

I only caught a short few minutes over the last few weeks.  That was all I needed. Obviously, the focus was on the entertainment factor – not the flipping factor.

I watched a few different shows over the winter break while I was prepping for WREIA this Monday night.  When I hit this Shore Flip show, I had to draw the line.  Luckily, a few minutes into the show I got a call about one of my own properties and it was time to get back to my own “reality.”

Divorce is never easy and I think we should be aware that Tarek and Christina are likely going through a really rough spot in their lives.  As much as possible, we should respect that and certainly not celebrate their struggles.

That said – All the time we spend watching some of these flip shows doesn’t need to be entirely futile.

At WREIA next Monday evening I want to share a few things I noticed about these shows, and point out some key points that will actually help you in your business.

Monday at WREIA will be an entertaining way to start off the new year.

Let’s get this 2017 Renovation Party started!

First up – Happy New Year!

Did you take a few days or weeks to unwind a bit?  Are you ready to tackle the new year?

Personally, I could use a few more days of unwinding – but the calendar (and the bank account) says it’s time to get back to work.

Thank you to all the WREIA members who joined us for the “Members Only” event in December.  We had a good time together, and I really enjoyed the feedback.

Now – it’s time for all of us to start executing the 2017 game plan.

Top of the TO-DO LIST – Plan to join us on Jan. 16th for the WREIA 2017 Kickoff meeting.  We are going to have a little fun bouncing ideas based off the top HGTV shows.

Like some of you, I spent a “little” time over the break binge watching some of my favorite renovation shows.

Some of these shows just made me laugh with their drama and lack of details.  But a few actually had some key points I want to share with you.

More on that over the next few days.

For now, dust off that winter coat and break out the winter boots.   We have a few weeks of cold ahead of us – but it’s no reason to curb your enthusiasm for the year ahead.

What do you say we get together on the 16th and start executing the 2017 plan together?

I am convinced we have the best group of WREIA members in the DC area.

Let’s get this 2017 Renovation Party started!

On Thursday, December 8th at the Pike & Rose La Madeleine Restaurant, we will have a special room set aside for our WREIA members.

As I scroll down through the list of our current WREIA members, I consider it an honor just how many of these people I count as my friends.

For some of our members the friends they have met at our monthly meetings and other WREIA members have played a huge role in their success.

There was an article a couple years ago in Entrepreneur magazine titled “Why the Five People Around You Are Crucial to Your Success”

One of the standout lines in the article jumps off the page just a few paragraphs in:

“It all proves that the company that a businessperson keeps can have a profound effect on him or her and subsequently the success of a business. ”

If you spend the estimated 4 minutes to read the article you will probably pick up a few more “nuggets” that will leave a positive impression on your day.

The bottom line is – Your friends matter.  Make sure they are motivating you.  Make sure they are bringing out the best in you.

Do you want to surround yourself with the right people in 2017?

Do you want to expand your network with the right people in 2017?

Do you need that slight edge that might nudge you ahead of your competition?

As it says in the article above – you could be one epiphany away from a renewed excitement in your business.

I invite you to join us for some top tier networking tomorrow at our WREIA “Members Only” event.

I’ve noticed two very similar responses to the outcome of our election.

“I can’t believe Trump is going to be President.”  This is followed by shock, disappointment and some shaking of the head.

vs.

“I can’t believe Trump is going to be President!” Usually a little reserved excitement but also with some shock embedded in the comment.

We were told for weeks and months that we would have Ms. Clinton as our sure thing next President. Quite simply – I am as surprised as you are.

But it’s not keeping me awake at night.

My response whether your are disappointed or excited is something like this:

“You know, I have been an investor for over 20 years.   You know the one thing I have noticed that people need whether there is a republican or a democrat in the White House?”

“A place to live.”

It’s really pretty simple.  You can get all worked up.

You can get disappointed or excited, and lose your focus over one person.

Or you can get out there and start working.

You can help supply a basic human need no matter where you are in the world.

Find a neighborhood where people want to live.

Look for a house that needs to be fixed up.

Make a sensible offer.

Fix up the house and sell it for a profit.

That is very oversimplified – but you get the idea.

This next statement might come as a shock to you if you are really worked up with disappointment or excitement.  I don’t want to be rude, but someone needs to point this out to you.

The person who sits in the house on Pennsylvania Ave. will likely never know about you and your single family home or condo flip.

That person has never been the reason I have spent a career finding, fixing and selling homes.

I have done it for my family.

Helping other families live in a safe home as a result of my renovations has been extremely rewarding.  Teaching and leading our DC WREIA group and mentoring other investors has given me a great deal of satisfaction as well.

Speaking of WREIA….

Our last WREIA meeting of the year is this Monday – Nov. 14th.

It’s a year end wrap-up meeting and will include a few actionable items to help you focus.

Wrap up 2016 and launch yourself down the right path in 2017 with our 60 day action guide.

A few people that I am working with are so close. They are just at the edge of a good deal.

I realized yesterday that each of them has asked a very similar question along the way.

In every industry there is a famous question that everyone seems to ask – especially when we are learning something new:

“If you had to pick just one thing to have the greatest effect, what would it be?”

As mentors we refer to it as the “magic bullet question”.

Deep down, we all know that there is never “one thing” that will bring us success in our business. If there was, we would all do it.

As proof of this “never one thing” I am going to share some of the inner workings of my business Monday night at our WREIA meeting.

You will have a chance at our October WREIA meeting to peek at 1/2 a dozen or so leads that are working their way through my pipeline.

Most of these are not closed deals. I haven’t renovated them. There are no before and after photos. This is what those properties look like before all of that.

These are what profitable closed properties look like when they are just an introductory phone call.

I am going to share why the people called, emailed or texted me about the property.

I think you are going to be surprised at the variety of ways a lead can originate.

If you listen carefully on Monday night – you will pick up a strategy that you could implement and focus on over the next 90 days that would have a dramatic impact on your business.

We will talk about and focus on a variety of properties:

• Townhouse in Laurel
• Single Family Home in Takoma Park
• 2 Houses in PG County
• House in VA
• ….. and a few more.

If you want to understand the process of generating leads that ultimately ends with closed transactions – this is the night for you.

I enjoy all of our WREIA meetings and especially look forward to this Monday night.

If you want to dive deep on this topic of “Generating Leads”, join us at WREIA this Monday.

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 Joining us at WREIA in October?

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early.

 Reserve your seat for the Oct. 17th, 2016 WREIA meeting here.

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Join us for the food, the network, the learning and expand your belief that other people are out with me right here in the DC area making money in Real Estate.

Make this year a great year for your business!

Let me know how I can help you,

John Peterson
301-881-5541
Washington REIA Network, President
Profitable Property, Founder

Setting Yourself Apart in Real Estate

Never underestimate the power of marketing. Whether you are selling sno-cones on the beach or homes in the most affluent area of Washington, DC, you need to realize that there are others competing for your business.

Marketing yourself is essential to draw others to you and away from your competitors. Being smart about how you market yourself is key. Here are 3 ways to market your real estate services that will set you apart from others.

The Importance of Listing Descriptions

As I browse the listings here in the DC area, I notice that many realtors do not put much thought into their listing descriptions. This  is a big mistake.

This is what your prospective buyers read to learn more about a property and if it doesn’t jump off the page, it may not capture their attention. It could be the perfect property, but it was not described completely, which caused them to completely overlook it.

While there may not be a lot of room in the MLS to write a description, it is essential to highlight the best features and amenities of a home. Make your words draw a picture for the reader.

Consider Viral Real Estate Videos

Using technology is essential in any market these days, but most especially in real estate. Video is a great way to show off features of a property – if it is done correctly. For a video to go viral, it must be one of these things: funny, memorable, creative, short, or provocative.

While you may think this is impossible with a real estate video, if you go on YouTube or Vimeo you will see that this can be done. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, you can hire someone to make a video for one of your properties that you are having a hard time marketing.

Distinguish Yourself from the Competition

To distinguish yourself from the competition, you have to pay attention to the details. One old school technique that still seems to get results is handwritten notes.

Receiving a handwritten thank you or note of appreciation is something very special and it can set you apart from others.

Another detail you want to consider is sending food over on move-in day or even going over to help. While they have already made their purchase, many homeowners buy more than one home or they could be asked to recommend you to others, so cap off a great sale with a special touch.

Showing your clients that they are appreciated is essential. Be honest, treat people professionally, and market yourself in the most ethical way to ensure that you are set apart from competitors in the market.

Make this year a great year for your business!

Do you have a success story to tell?

But….. Why?

You have likely heard of Bill Gates. One of the wealthiest people on the planet.  He has pledged the bulk of his net worth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.