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What is Possible in 2015?

Best Wishes for 2015!

One of the main things that sets you aside as a landlord, real estate investor and entrepreneur, is that you have vision.  You create new futures, new goals, new, renewed and improved properties, beautiful environments and other happy living circumstances.  You are a leader.

Most people only see what’s in front of them.  Most people find it difficult to envision a future that is not already there.

Entrepreneurs see things that are not there yet and then make them come into being.

Here’s a couple of examples from my own family:

My Dad was always considered a “wild man” because (among other things) he believed in his visions of the future and took big risks to make them happen.

Dad never waited for permission, agreement or approval.

He used to drive through Kanab, Utah on his way to boat at Lake Powell or vacation in Phoenix.  Dad just loved the Kanab town and red sand.

So he bought 500+ acres of it.

Our family all thought he was out of his mind.  My Mom actually went on strike for a couple of years.

The people in Kanab thought that the sage brush and red sand was only good for grazing cattle.

But Dad envisioned a bridge across the river, a beautiful subdivision of acre-plus ranchettes and his very own “No Bull Ranch” with three canyons backed up to BLM land that goes forever.

And that’s what exists there now.

Before that, Dad had a landscaping business and a nursery on a few acres in West Valley City, Utah.  So naturally, he decided to bulldoze it and build 90 apartment units.

One day Dad was out on his tractor grading the land in preparation for building, when a black limo pulled up out front and a man inside asked one of Dad’s workmen where the owner was.  The workman pointed to Dad on the tractor, and the man from Aetna said “give him the loan.”  (This actually happened in the real world!)

Entrepreneurs have vision, and the leadership to make that vision come into existence.

My inspiration for this New Year 2015 post was a podcast I just listened to by Eben Pagan.  Eben says:

“As an entrepreneurial leader you are the keeper of a very special flame — the vision of a better future….  As the leader, your ability to envision a better future and then translate that vision to others is priceless.”

Eben also points out that it’s key to keep believing in yourself and the future you envision:

“Even.  When.  Other.  People.  Don’t.”

[By the way, if you haven’t subscribed to Eben’s podcasts you are missing out on some wonderful entrepreneurial leadership that will inspire you to grow your business to the next level in 2015.  I highly recommend it.]

Remember this quote from Steve Jobs?

“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Could there be any better example of leadership and entrepreneurial vision than Steve Jobs?

So let’s make this personal.  What can we envision in 2015:

  • That would enhance the lives of our tenants?
  • That would enlarge our cash flows?
  • That would improve the value of our property?
  • That would contribute positively to the neighborhood?
  • That would build our business and our estate?
  • That would “put a dent in the universe?”  (Steve Jobs)

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of work to do!

So here’s to you and me having some wonderful visions of a better future in 2015.  Let’s get out there and bring them into existence.

Photo credit: colemama via photopin cc

Post

“No Vacancies” A Landlord’s Favorite Words

No Vacancies sign

One thing you can count on in business (and in life) is change…so I thought I better show off real quick before something changes.

To start off this new year, we have 87 apartments with No Vacancies!!

I can’t even remember the last time that happened.

We do have one vacant house…but houses are a different business in our world so I can brag about the apartments separately.  (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

We had huge turnover last summer.  We decided it was a perfect time to sell a few houses, so we asked a few long term month-to-month tenants to leave for that purpose.  Then suddenly we had some other long term tenants give us notices.   Gulp.

At one point last summer we had 8 vacant houses.  Eight.

Plus normal spring and summer apartment turnover.

So I was one stressed out lady when the cash/bills graphs got crossed (bills up, cash down).  Filling vacancies is always my absolute top priority, so I had little time to blog.  I’ll try to get in a little pontificating now.

Josh and I would like to add a new apartment complex this year, so I probably won’t be basking in the No Vacancies glow for long 🙂

Articles

Pride of Ownership

Playing FootballThis morning I rented a house to a cute trio of roommates in a popular area.

This evening, on my way to pick up my dog at doggie-day-care, I happened to drive by the house again.  The new tenants were out in the front yard playing football.

I wanted to cry.  It was the cutest darn thing I ever saw.

We took the house back a couple of weeks ago, when the last tenancy ended.

My great handyman prepped and painted the interior, power washed the exterior (hey it’s white!), painted the front deck, repaired the fence, pulled the basement carpet, repaired the swamp cooler, changed the locks, plus a few other odds and ends.

My great landscape contractors cleaned up the yard and upgraded the entry landscaping to give the house better curb appeal.  When they finished, the landscape contractor texted me “now this house will sell itself.”  He was right. More…