Your Car Kit! What's In It?
I saw a house today while I was sitting in the drive-thru at McDonald's (getting a SALAD, for all those no-carbers out there), and I wanted to go up and knock on the door and ask the questions...
But I don't have my "car kit" with me, and I feel insecure. I've been stocking up on forms - warranty deeds, contracts, etc. - and I didn't have them. I should have gotten past that.
Do you guys carry "car kits", and if so, what's in them? Have you ever used it on the fly, or has it just been there for your scheduled appointments?
- Mandi
Mandi,
Glad to meet you.
I am surprised you did not use the BigMacKarKit for creative investors located at every McDonalds I have been in.
I have not been to one in St. Augustine, but they have one at every Mikey D's in Tampa. I can assure you I am very serious and they do have them.
John $Cash$ Locke
[addsig]
Mandi,
Concentrate more on your "feeling insecure" rather than what you have in your car kit. Mr. Locke summed it up for you, not in his response, but in his tag line. It doesn't matter what you have in your "car kit" if you do not have the confidense to establish trust and repor with the seller without having to carry a stack of papers/books to the door with you and then sounding like a telemarketer in your conversation. Confidense comes with knowledge and practice. Just continue to build on that and you will be just fine. Yes, I always have contracts with me ready to buy or sell a property. But I promise you that if you just act like a real person and gain their trust, they will allow you the time to retrieve your necesary documents.
Good Luck
Larry
I carry 5 blank deed packets in my car. Each deed packet is in a letter sized envelope and has all the paper work needed. I also carry a file folder in my car of landlord papers, copies of other forms like purchase & sale, and the completed deed packets that I am working on.
Also have small step ladder for looking at roofs and attics, large weapon (I mean flash light), key tags, white and clear chalk, I BUY HOUSES signs, duct tape, masking tape, tool box, drill, 10 in 1 boy scout type device, lock boxes, spray can of binz, box of rags, empty bucket, and extra dead bolts.
But with all that stuff, you still have make yourself knock on the door.
Brenda
Sheesh - see what happens when a girl asks an innocent question! It never would have occurred to me to have a flashlight in my car kit, much less a step ladder - but now I know I can probably order those things from the BigMacCarKit menu! :-D (Nice to meet you, too, John.)
It wasn't just the lack of a car kit that caused me not to knock; it was the fact that I had to be back in the office in 5 minutes, and had a consultant in my passenger seat. I was trying to create an ambient effect for my question and you guys had to get all philosophical on me...although, bottom line, I still haven't called on that particular house. I do know that an investment company purchased it 4 years ago for $13K, and that comps in the neighborhood are in the $80K range now.
I really DO want to know what kinds of information people carry with them. I'm a PM; I can't help it if I have a compulsion for organization!
- Mandi
Mandi,
I carry a coaches clipboard (the kind that open up and store paper in them). I keep several copies of a checklist I go over when evaluating properties just to maker sure I cover all of the bases, I carry several business checks and sheet to write down any property address I see that I might want to follow up on.
HTH,
Robert
Mandi,
One of the best things that I can think of putting in a car kit is a Digital Camera. With one you can take several pictures of the possible investment / flip property. If you see a problem (needs roof, paint, windows) you can take pics of those areas for later use. Sometimes the flyers do not have a good pic of the back yard or show possible curb appeal problems. I drive many neighborhoods looking for FSBO or stale and non-occupied Realtor listings. I have never understood why some Realtors do not stock or even have a flyer box on their metal yard signs. I have seen a see thru tube that can be fastened to any yard sign with a cap on both ends which would be less than a $10 investment for a Realtor. In a hot market one of those 40 cent flyers might leed to a closing for that house. There is no reason not to have a flyer,, but when I come across any properties without a flyer, I take pics and then download them to my computer and keep a little file about that property. It sounds like you did your homework on that property and that are ready to make an offer. Good luck on your future RE transactions, Rob[ Edited by robertb4455 on Date 09/30/2004 ]