Informative Interview with Real Estate Wholesaler

Q1. I know that you’re a Business Management and Marketing major.  How much of an influence did it have on your interest in Real Estate, if any, and can you please explain?

Mr. Harris: A lot. Initially, I didn’t want to keep the major, so it forced me to explore and find my own niche.

Q2. Since you are still currently in college, can you please explain how you manage to focus on both wholesaling and your academics simultaneously?
Mr. Harris: I prioritize my tasks. I try to complete my school work before I even leave the school's campus, that way I can focus on my craft when I get home. I also try to stick to a certain schedule, which helps, and which sometimes fluctuates. I dedicate Saturday mornings to real estate related tasks, but sometimes throughout the week, like I mentioned, when I come in from school, I can't help but do some of the the things that pertain to real estate if my school work is finished. That's what happens when you're excited and passionate about something. You can't help but work on it.

Q3. I see that you are very passionate about your work. What intrigued you, and made you become so passionate? When did this all occur?
Mr. Harris: No, I have not always been this passionate about this type of work. It wasn't until I read Rich Dad Poor Dad. Once the book was introduced to me, it opened up a whole new insight and blueprint to follow and live by so that I did not have to work unhappily and unnecessarily hard in life. That book really gave me a better perspective of what working and living financially happy as an adult could be like.

Q4. So, do you think that this is the best career for you? If so, why? If not, what do you think is more fitting for you and why?
Mr. Harris: Yes, because it allows me to utilize my skills that I learned from college in order to run my own business. Also, it allows me to have the liberty to work when I desire, and not when I'm obligated. I don't have to work the conventional 9-5 job. All in all, it allows me to do what I want to do, when I feel like doing it.

Q5. I see that on your website it looks like you were considerate of the message that you were sending to viewers. Was it difficult to reach that point in writing, or did it it come naturally? If it was difficult, please explain what made it that way and how you improved?

Mr. Harris: Writing those different messages on my website came naturally to me. Everything that is said on my website, or anywhere that I leave my words, are all very honest and genuine sentiments. If it's from a true place, then the message will manifest in the way that it was meant to. Wholesaling is not only about what I can gain, but how I can also help others, and I just wanted my message to convey that. 

Q6. (Follow-up): I know that you said it was easy to write the messages on your website, but can you explain the ways that your business major was influential in preparing you for the writing that you now do, pertaining to real estate?
Mr. Harris: Most definitely. The business writing courses showed me how to, and allowed me to be more comfortable with writing concisely. They taught me that it's not inappropriate or rude to remain concise while getting your point across. I've noticed that millennials are less lengthy pertaining to business because of social media, but that was something that I had to get acclimated to in the business world.

Q7.  What is more of the focus of your job on a daily basis (i.e., do you communicate with people more frequently than you do work online work and/or riding for dollars)?
Mr. Harris: Good question. All of the things you just mentioned are all so interconnected and so equally important, which all help me to wholesaling a house. I communicate, or at least attempt to communicate with people so frequently. I constantly try to gain contact with people whose houses are distressed, so that means I can call around 50-60 people on the days that I do my calling. Before I make those calls though, I have to find their information online first. Finally, even before I do the online searching, I ride around looking for distressed houses. So you can see how they're all equally important, right?

Q8. (Follow-up): Yes, and I know that you mentioned that you do online work by searching for people, but do you ever communicate online for other things, such as with people that you look to do a joint venture with?
Mr. Harris: Although I have not done joint ventures, if or when I do, I will most likely not communicate with them online. I'm more of a person that likes to talk in-person, that way you can get a better feel of the person's aura and their actual thoughts. With something as serious as a joint venture, I'd rather the discussion be in person. I reserve emails for smaller things such as meetings. Other than that, I like in-person communication.

Q11. So, do you find it difficult to discern people’s voices through written communication, and how do you personally discern them?
Mr. Harris: Sometimes you do have to think a little harder when reading written responses.

That’s why I prefer meeting in person so that it’s easier to detect sentiments. Otherwise, things can get lost in translation, because you may think that you've understood how they feel, but you could totally have it misconstrued. My advice, it just to call or arrange a meeting, so that you don't face those issues. 

Follow-up. What about other writing on a daily basis, like are there certain documents that you have to obtain or sign? Please elaborate.
Mr. Harris: Yes, there are documents such as contracts that have to be signed when doing a deal with a sellers, and then again when we are getting an investor buyer. It's all pretty simple. Not too much writing in this business. It's more-so about making connections.

Q10. So since everything seems pretty simple, if you had to chose the most difficult to write in your daily occupation wha would it be?
Mr. Harris: Well, although none of the writing that I do is heavily straining, the I guess the thing most frustrating part can maybe be scheduling conflicts. Everyone is on their own agenda, which I can respect, but image being so excited and anxious to dive into the work, but then having to wait a little while because of scheduling conflicts. It's not difficult just requires a little more patience, maybe even waiting for responses.

(Follow-up) What about calculations? Are they difficult?
Mr. Harris: No, not at all. I would say the calculations that I do are pretty straightforward, almost like basic math.

Q: Okay, to conclude, what is a piece of advice that you would offer about communicating with other people in the real estate business?
Mr. Harris: Well, the main principle to remember is to not be too reserved. As I mentioned a little earlier, you have to, HAVE TO, make connections and network with people. Even if they aren't benefit to you now, you never know what you all can do together in the future, or the people that you all can connect one another to. That's one of the main ways to be successful as a wholesaler.