Property Management Growth with DoorGrow

Do you ever change your home’s air filter? Do you know when or how often you need to change it? Do you just forget about it, or are you just lazy? Do you know what size filter you need? Thanks to FilterEasy, there’s no excuse to not change it. Today, I am talking with Mark Brandt from FilterEasy, which was created to meet a simple need - help homeowners remember to change their home’s air filter and what size of filter to use. Mark helps initiate and grow the property management side of the business. You'll Learn... [04:10] Property management side of FilterEasy is based on a simple concept in service: Starts with a need. [04:50] Tenants are even more less likely to change the air filters because they do not have a vested interest in the property; FilterEasy makes it easier for them. [05:33] This service helps property managers and their team during inspections and walkthroughs to hold the tenant accountable and provides a burden of proof. [06:28] FilterEasy listens to property managers about the need and awareness to motivate tenants. [07:55] Many companies do not understand the industry and create a product before conducting research. [09:30] After implementing FilterEasy, the property managers, owners, and tenants appreciate the convenience, saving money, and other benefits. [11:45] Not changing the air filter can cause serious and costly damage to repair. [13:30] Can you guarantee that 100% of tenants will change the air filter? No, but FilterEasy sets you up for success by increasing the number of tenants who will. [18:00] Such programs and companies are becoming necessary to provide more operating capital to grow and competitive advantages. [18:35] When owners compare companies, what is the differentiator? What sets you apart from others? Why should they choose your company? [19:15] Property managers can use reminders to let tenants know they are giving them a gift and taking care of them; generates a positive perception and produces results. [25:00] Grow with the times and culture to provide awesome service to people; compete on value. Tweetables Grow with the times and culture to provide awesome service to people. These programs provide operating capital and competitive advantages. What is the differentiator? Why should they choose your company? Resources Mark Brandt Mark Brandt’s phone number: 864-770-3909 Mark Brandt’s email FilterEasy Cutco NARPM DoorGrowClub Facebook Group

Make your own decisions rather than dealing with unnecessary pain and doing what the world dictates. Find a way to hit the inspiration point, rather than the desperation point by focusing on four cores! Today, I am talking with Preston Brown, who started in real estate as a home flipper. Now, he has seven divisions of property management: Roofing, real estate, brokerage, home flipping, hard money lending, title company, and home warranty insurance. He invests in business, but also in his body and mind. You'll Learn... [03:28] Preston found DoorGrow online when looking for franchise property management opportunities. [04:20] Cycles, models, and understanding the dynamics of various industries. [04:50] Impact of embezzlement on Preston’s businesses. [06:00] Low cost of DoorGrow services that offered so much value and showed how to avoid the Cycle of Suck. [07:55] Preston did a study to show clients their options and costs with his companies vs. other companies; shows differences between price and value. [10:11] Preston increased pricing, got rid of bad doors, and lowered operational and staffing costs. [11:30] Launch a business at the right size; bigger is not better, profitable is better. [13:30] Psychology is linked to success; you don’t buy a product, but you buy a feeling of certainty and comfort that you could achieve success with the product. [14:50] Four cores people think about to create a natural alignment: Spirituality, physical fitness, family and love, and money and wealth. [16:30] Happiness: Life condition equals blueprint; progress makes you happy. [19:55] Preston systematized all of his businesses using DoorGrow processes. [23:45] Don’t focus on getting rich quick; to have the best business in the world, deliver more value than any competitor. [27:20] Your body is a direct reflection of your business. [30:00] What’s your identity in each of the four cores? Notice, appreciate, and believe. [32:10] Try this tactic: Use one hour each morning to program your body and mind to attract everything you want. [34:45] Positive vs. negative emotions in business. [36:37] Secret to Success: You cannot revolutionize, you have to evolutionize. [38:35] Do 80% psychology and 20% strategy for all parts of your life and business. [40:05] Be proactive, rather than reacting and putting out fires. [42:45] Life hits everyone; you will face problems and challenges in life and business. [46:45] State value and build rapport; out pace strategy problems using psychology. [52:25] Focus on the four primary needs and two divine needs. Tweetables Launch a business at the right size; bigger is not better, profitable is better. Lose your ego to gain a profit. You buy a feeling of certainty and comfort that you could achieve success. Resources Preston Brown email Mike Michalowicz Tony Robbins DoorGrowClub Facebook Group

Providing proof of funds is a problem that most property management companies face with tenants. Every property manager and landlord can benefit from better data faster. Technology can change the game of verifying tenants. Today, I am talking with Robert Hsu, of FinRET, about how you can use the latest technology to digitally verify your applicants’ income, account balances, and cash flow. He is someone who has combined his two passions and areas of expertise, real estate and technology, into an entrepreneurial business. You'll Learn... [06:20] Issues property managers deal with regularly. [06:45] How FinRET works with banks to prevent fraud. [07:10] FinRET instantly provides better and more data. [07:35] How FinRET gathers financial data from smaller or international banks. [09:04] FinRET is able to get expense and cash flow data that was previously inaccessible or difficult to obtain. [10:07] It allows you to make informed decisions about whether to accept an applicant. [10:14] FinRET will eventually let you score applicants to make decision-making quick. [10:58] Benefits for renters: A seamless process. [11:35] FinRET saves property managers time because financial verification was the slowest part of the process; went from being a 5-day process to only 15 minutes. [12:33] FinRET plans to create integration partnerships in the future. [13:34] Property management software leaders in the residential space. [14:34] How to contact FinRET. [15:00] FinRET’s pricing structure is per use/application basis. Tweetables Every property manager and landlord can benefit from better data faster. Technology can change the game of verifying tenants. FinRET instantly provides better and more data. Resources FinRET Robert Hsu’s email Zillow Yardi AppFolio Propertyware Buildium Rent Manager DoorGrowClub Facebook Group DoorGrowClub Mastermind Group

Do you come from humble beginnings? Only have a high school diploma? Want to own and operate your own apartment buildings and real estate firm? Anything is possible. Just ask Bryan Chavis! Today, I am talking to Bryan, who is a best-selling author and founder of The Landlord Property Management Academy. He is the author and creator of one of the top online property management designation certifications. Also, Bryan has a blog for real estate professionals and is a property management coach for Keller Williams. He coaches real estate professionals and consults for large housing authorities. You'll Learn... [02:35] Bryan’s background in multifamily real estate leading to a school and speaking. [05:40] From being a poor student to transitioning to be an entrepreneur. [07:37] Writing a manual while working on a job to figure out how things work in property management. [09:53] Building a brand, partnerships, and relationships to manage and own properties. [10:34] Absorbing, learning, and teaching property management. [12:08] Turning the manual into a book and more books. [16:13] Fundamentals was the focus of the first book: Buy It, Rent It, Profit! [17:04] Second Book: The Landlord Entrepreneur is a follow-up with additional details. [17:38] What Bryan is working on these days; buying, renting, profiting - practicing what he preaches. [18:18] 5 phases to become an owner and make money: acquisition, implementation, stabilization, growth, and exit strategy. [22:42] Acquisition: Understanding how to evaluate a property from an income approach, cash basis, and how to evaluate from an income approach. [22:57] Implementation: Hard and soft systems needed to operate properties; What systems am I using? How am I going to operate? [23:38] Stabilization: Maximizing income and minimizing expenses. [24:00] Growth: Growing the asset’s value. [24:06] Exit Strategy: Determine what you will do with a property. [24:47] Be an owner, not a steward. [25:94] Where to start to learn more - DoorGrow. [26:54] Advice for struggling entrepreneurs: restart and reboot. [27:19] How Bryan restarted and rebooted after medical issues; opportunities that help you grow as an entrepreneur. [28:58] Being passionate and making a difference. [32:50] Resilience, spirituality, and faith. [34:34] Is your business blessed to go where it needs to go? [35:55] Spending too much time on your business and becoming ineffective. [37:00] Client-centric vs. self-centric business; a life of purpose and meaning. Tweetables When you’re an entrepreneur...it’s something that’s in your DNA. I always wanted to own the apartment building, what did it take? The key to any business is the franchise mindset. Resources The Landlord Property Management Academy The Landlord Property Management Academy on YouTube The Landlord Property Management Academy on Facebook Landlord Academy Blog Buy It, Rent It, Profit! Make Money as a Landlord in ANY Real Estate Market The Landlord Entrepreneur: Double Your Profits with Real Estate Property Management Keller Williams Realty National Apartment Association Mark Willis Inside Power by Gary Sheffield 

Many elements of the leasing process are very painful for property managers. Today, I am talking to James Barrett and Calvin Davis of Tenant Turner, a property management tool and resource that helps property managers manage their tenant leads, schedule showings, and put the leasing process on auto-pilot. Tenant Turner removes burdens for property managers in a way that’s elegant and simple. This allows them to focus on higher value-added activities, such as growing their business and adding doors. You'll Learn... [02:44] Tenant Turner was created out of necessity to put properties on the market. [03:12] Simplify and improve leasing process to get feedback, reliable tenants. [04:43] Tenant Turner focuses on people and simplicity backed up by support. [06:02] Client-centric vision puts you in alignment with what customers want and need. [06:53] Success was difficult initially, but became easier - it was a big, but good challenge. [07:55] Look to experts and customers in the industry for advice and guidance. [08:29] Determining if someone is a fit with Tenant Turner. [11:00] There are no shortcuts to success, including bringing on the right clients. [12:21] Biggest questions and concerns regarding Tenant Turner. [12:43] Property managers are hesitant to give up control of tenant leads. [13:35] Software, such as Tenant Turner, is becoming a necessity; it’s not if, but when to plug it in to focus on growing doors and giving owners the attention they need. [14:00] Tenant Turner size is based on a company’s growth goals. [15:42] Building technology into processes for improvement. [16:25] Old school vs. new thinking and possible solutions; change is challenging. [18:47] Time, savings, and other benefits of being onboard with Tenant Turner. [20:00] Unaccompanied showings trend in various markets. [23:05] Future of Tenant Turner: New technology and integration partnerships. Tweetables Many elements of the leasing process are very painful for property managers. Tenant Turner focuses on people and simplicity backed up by support. There are no shortcuts to success, including bringing on the right clients. Resources Tenant Turner Calvin’s Email Brad Larsen Rentwerx DoorGrowClub Facebook Group

There’s a lot of stress that comes with moving. Push tenants toward the finish line by getting utilities turned on quickly. Today, I am talking to Wes Owens of Citizen Home Solutions, a free concierge service that facilitates utility services for new residents moving into a property. Property management companies experience pain points and challenges with tenants setting up utilities. They struggle with getting utilities quickly set up in a tenant’s name and placing necessary equipment. So, Citizen Home Solutions engages directly with tenants and takes the stress out of the process. You'll Learn... [03:48] Before and after results of using Wes’ company to save time and money. [04:52] Tenants’ appreciate the company’s facilitation help and process. [06:22] Growth Goals: Reach nationwide - outreach everybody. [06:49] Citizen works with major cable, satellite, Internet, phone, and security providers. [07:10] Property managers’ biggest questions and concerns about Citizen’s services. [08:15] Onboarding process for property managers. [09:00] Citizen only needs W-9 and logo to create a portal for property managers. [09:20] Property management company provides Citizen with tenant information. [09:35] Citizen contacts tenant about setting up utilities. [09:45] Working with Citizen is a value-add piece that sets companies apart. [10:07] Citizen pays a percentage of what it earns to property management company. [10:30] How Citizen makes money from the utility companies. [11:30] No agreements or contracts, only outstanding work required. [12:13] Percentage of payout for clients. [12:44] Citizen’s focus on growth. [13:00] Property management mentors. [13:24] Citizen doesn’t offer some services, but offers tools and does what it can to help. [15:15] Citizen follows up with and educates clients on services. [15:55] Updates and check-ups provided by Citizen. Tweetables Moving and making sure everything is set up is stressful. Growth Goals: Reach nationwide - outreach everybody. Zero cost to implement, zero cost to the tenant. Resources Wes Owens phone is 214-493-2010 or wowens@citizenhomesolutions.com Citizen Home Solutions Citizen Home Solutions’ Dashboard and Onboarding (password:letmein) Brad Larsen Podcast with Wes Owens Tenant Liability Insurance for Property Management with Brad Larsen Steve Rozenberg and Pete Neubig of Empire IndustriesKevin Knight of Liberty Management DoorGrowClub Facebook Group

In this episode, I am talking to Todd Breen of Virtually Incredible about how to spend less time leasing to make more money and grow your business. Todd manages a property management company and opened an outsourcing solution called Virtually Incredible. It was designed to help property managers spend less time leasing and spend money on a good marketing campaign, business development manager (BDM), and call center to begin the customer journey on the right foot. You'll Learn... [02:27] Business owners devote too much time and resources to leasing properties. [02:47] Putting less effort into leasing and more into listing can free up energy to grow your company. [03:54] Analyze and monetize your leasing process. [04:33] What would a customer’s experience be with your company and what do you need to do to improve? [05:00] Using the traditional model, business owners tend to charge an owner a tenant placement fee and share some of that with a commissioned leasing agent. [05:51] The traditional model is inefficient and expensive. [06:41] If answering a call isn’t your top priority, and booking/showing isn’t something you enjoy doing, then learn how to efficiently monetize leasing calls or inquiries. [07:17] Utilize mystery shopping to gain data about your customer’s journey. [09:05] Companies do not grow because they’re not answering their phones, or they’re preoccupied when they do. [09:19] Specialize your outsourcings and upgrade your technology for your showing process to devote more energy to answering new owner calls. [10:33] Employees who answer your leasing lines should be Fair Housing trained and certified to properly respond to questions. [11:45] The most significant benefits to offloading leasing calls include a quiet office. [13:26] Be good at hiring, training, supervising, managing, and motivating staff. [14:33] Look at how much it costs you to lease a house. Add up commissions, staff hours to answer phones, mileage expenses, and hours spent showing houses. [15:05] Do the same analysis on your customer acquisition cost in getting a new customer to manage their house. [15:38] Are you doing your best job leasing? Can you improve that to free up time and resources to grow your business? [17:42] Cut the number of days to market to rent faster, do a great job renting, and have higher client retention. [18:35] Staff that complies with Fair Housing lowers legal liability and provides a greater peace of mind as a business owner. [19:23] Don’t be afraid to outsource tasks to an outside team. [20:32] Answer after-hours calls to increase your efficiency and reduce days on the market. [22:10] Whatever you’re spending in money on leasing, spent that on marketing for new owners and hiring a BDM. Reallocate funds toward growing your business. [22:52] You should have software to facilitate calls and showings, such as Tenant Turner, Rently, ShowMojo, or Mock Rentals. [23:55] Make sure the call center you select is as good as you hoped. Get a dedicated leasing hotline. [25:22] Publish your rental standards in each rental listing. Describe what is needed to rent from you. [27:24] Have leasing agents who have the listings, but also a leasing director that serves as the leader. [29:00] People who are 35 and younger don’t call. They book their showing online. If you don’t have an online showing option, get one. [29:45] There’s got to be a way to reach out to the people who want customer service and a way to reach out to people who want technology. [30:21] Shift your focus, time, energy, resources, and staff toward growing your business. [30:58] Utilize videos to accelerate your marketing process, reduce your days on market, reduce phone calls, and reduce your showings. Tweetables Don’t be afraid to outsource tasks to an outside team. That’s the real benefit, spend less time leasing and more time listing. Reach out to people who want customer service and who want technology. Resources Virtually Incredible Website Virtually Incredible email Virtually Incredible phone number: (561) 693-2648 Tenant Turner Rently ShowMojo Buildium DoorGrow Club

Do you know your credit score? What about your pet? Does it have a score? Today, I am talking to John Bradford, the “Pet Guy.” John came up with the idea for PetScreening.com by combining his skillsets of being a property manager and pet lover. There’s two “Ps” that cause property damage - people and pets. Property managers need to know how to handle pet diligence and the increasing population of “assistance” animals - sometimes involving pet owners who try to circumvent policies of property management firms. You'll Learn... [05:00] Service animals is a topic that sparks property managers’ interest. [07:00] Experience Share: Tell your experiences and don’t hold back any punches. It makes for authentic and real conversations. [07:16] John started PetScreening to develop a service that reduced the liability for property managers and clients. [08:12] John did not want the service to cost any money. [08:21] John loves money, so he wanted a product that generated substantial revenue around pets. [09:05] John worked with software developers, lawyers, veterinarian consultants, lawmakers, and others to develop the PetScreening product. [10:09] Hundreds of firms have registered with PetScreening. [10:55] PetScreening generates revenue through an application fee paid by the pet owner. The cost is $20 for the first pet, and $15 for each additional pet. However, there is no application fee for service animals. [11:40] PetScreening does a revenue share with the property management firm. The tool is free, and they get a rebate besides. [12:17] The property management firm is given a unique link to share with customers who have a pet or service animal for PetScreening to track applications. [13:09] The customer is taken to PetScreening to complete the application, which includes questions about the pet: Name, breed, type, photos, vaccination records,etc. [13:47] The application includes an Affidavit section, which features questions that protect the property manager and owners. Applicants attest and certify their answers are accurate. [15:12] PetScreening developed an algorithm that takes data points from the application to create a “Pet Score” that goes to the housing provider. [15:33] The score can indicate risk factors for that pet. Use that score to create a pricing matrix that correlates to the score and identify how much revenue you will generate. [16:17] Applicants basically know their answers will impact whether a property manager will allow their pet, but they don’t know the pet is being scored. [17:00] Property managers are building better relationships with pet owners because they tell them what they need for the pet owner to pay less. [17:52] The best rating - a 5-paw score - is difficult to achieve. Only about 11% of applicants reach this status. [18:09] It’s up to the property manager how they treat the scoring. If you have an animal with a 1-paw score, you may not allow them or charge more. [18:59] About 10% of PetScreening’s applications are for assistance animals, either as a service or companion animal. [19:53] PetScreening collects data and asks HUD questions, then its legal team reviews each assistance animal application, but no score is given. They are either recommended or not. [20:39] About 32% of applicants who say they have an assistance animal have a status of “waiting for animal owner.” When asked for clarifying information, they disappear. [21:40] PetScreening is disrupting the industry because it is weeding out people who do not truly have an assistance animal. [21:57] Test of Reasonableness: Is the documentation reasonable? When was the document issued? Who is the provider? [22:38] If applicants lie, there is no real legal recourse. There are not a lot of statues on fair housing, so people are taking advantage of this problem. [23:55] PetScreening is a timesaver - and time costs money. John’s firm has saved time and minimized liability risks. [25:09] Every question asked in PetScreening’s application is designed to protect property manager and owners. [25:20] PetScreening developed the first nationwide database where property managers can report incident reports of pet damage and pet biting that follow that animal forever. [26:58] For one, specific pet, the owner only has to submit an application and pay once. Then they can share that information with other businesses. [28:37] However, pet owners need to renew the application every year, which costs $10. [29:29] Property managers should re-evaluate data because a lot can change with pets. [30:10] HIPAA protects sensitive medical documentation. Property managers can ask for such documentation about assistance animals. [30:42] PetScreening has HIPAA-compliant servers to protect the documentation. Tweetables PetScreening - a win for property managers, pet owners, and property owners. PetScreening’s database offers incident reports of pet damage and pet biting. It’s up to the property manager how they treat the pet scoring. Resources PetScreening PetScreening Email PetScreening Discount for DoorGrowShow Users ADA NARPA Bryan Greene of HUD HIPAA DoorGrow Club

Are you stuck? The best way to get unstuck and grow your business is to talk to clients and customers. Today, I am talking to Chuck Hattemer, co-founder and CMO of Onerent, about systems and processes used to scale to 2,000 doors. While in college, Chuck had a horrible housing experience as a renter. An aspect that drew Chuck into real estate was that he could impact some of the most sensitive parts of people’s lives as renters. You'll Learn... [03:06] Chuck describes his company’s first platform, which was student housing with a few extra bells and whistles. [03:26] Onerent took that as a model to investors to raise seed capital. [04:14] Onerent pivoted to a full-service property management. Eventually, it scaled to managing 2,000 doors. [04:54] Having come from the renter’s perspective and a lack of experience, Chuck is still naive about some things. But that naivate lets him think out of the box for solutions. [05:20] Onerent identified problems people were facing, how to make the experience consistent, and how value translates to the investor. [07:33] The current trend is putting money into other things instead of buying a property. So, people, especially millennials, are renting. [07:50] Chuck expects a big move eventually by first-time investors that is fueled by technology. [08:25] Onerent hired staff new to the industry and with a different perspective to drive the company’s culture and mission regarding how to interact with renters and owners. [09:48] At Onerent, it is ok to fail and apply what you learned in the next initiative. It’s a sign that you are making progress toward being successful. [10:49] Create a culture where staff feels safe and comfortable to express problems. Support your team, and they will support you as an entrepreneur. [12:33] At Onerent, each part of the rental process is managed by its own team. This helps handle tasks and keeps tenants informed. This collaboration drives motivation, happiness, competition,and success. [14:59] Onerent follows a workflow business model where staff members specialize in one area. [15:55] Make changes. Onerent would not be where it is today and able to scale its business without having pivoted from software to full-service property management. [17:00] Onerent figured out how to grow its business - talk to customers and clients to identify its next move. [17:48] Companies often try to sell what they can sell instead of what their customers actually need. [18:15] Don’t change everything at the same time. Make iterative changes over time. [19:27] To grow your business, determine the scale. What’s the purpose of your property management business? What is your key output metric? What is the closest tie to revenue and customer satisfaction? [21:20] What are the inputs that go into that output? Consider the customer lifecycle. Determine where you will have the greatest impact to improve efficiency and operations. [22:40] Unlock growth by having a sales team and defined sales process. Develop credibility by aligning and partnering with large real estate brokerages. [24:15] Onerent’s key performance indicator is its time to lease. Chuck has to deal with various constraints, including listing exposure; qualified applications; and signed leases. [25:24] Utilize on-demand scheduling for showings. Onerent then dispatches a mobile manager who shows a property. [25:45] People usually have to pay application and documentation fees. However, Onerent offers a free application process. [27:10] How do you start a property at the right price? Educate property owners that if they list the property too high initially, their listing stays on the market too long. [28:35] In property management, how can you look at things with fresh eyes? Get out of your office and talk to customers. Make sure to have an open mind about all problems. [29:30] Think about your own problems as a property owner. The best way to start a new business is to solve your own problems. [30:30] Entrepreneurs love to solve problems. If you could solve a problem, what would it look like? Unpack a problem into small components. Don’t try to solve it all at once. Tweetables If you could solve a problem, what would it look like? Be open to feedback. Companies sell what they can instead of what their customers actually need. Create a culture where the staff feels safe to express when they are stuck. Resources Onerent Chuck Hattemer on LinkedIn Chuck Hattemer on Quora Jason Fried Slack National Association of Residential Property Managers DGS Episode 40 Level Up Your Property Management Business By Hiring a Great Assistant with Tim Francis DoorGrow Club 

Do you need someone to help you build your dream? Someone who can handle your scheduling, email, and other tasks while you focus on the big stuff? Someone with the same native language and same culture? The only thing worse than not having an assistant is having the wrong assistant. Today, I am talking to Tim Francis, founder of the Great Assistant Program. During downtime as a touring drummer and after overcoming an illness, Tim had an interest in property management. He realized a brute-force method was not a sustainable long-term strategy. He needed help. He tried assistants from all over the world, only to have disastrous results. So, he created the Great Assistant Program. You'll Learn... [08:02] Tim had the common problems of letting go of control, not trusting others, not wanting to take time to train or manage, not knowing where to find assistants, and not knowing what to delegate. [08:35] After about four years, Tim was willing to offer higher pay to find an assistant in the United States or Canada and make a long-term commitment to them. [09:02] Tim learned that paying the lowest dollar amount and making the smallest commitment to someone, always resulted in them being here today and gone tomorrow. [09:47] Tim started using various tools, such as the Kolbe Index, that focus on different personalities and management styles. [09:56] Tim has had negative experiences using Upwork, a Website for freelancers to connect with business owners and entrepreneurs about jobs. [11:15] Tim discovered which marketing and operations tasks he could delegate to his assistant. [11:29] By having the right assistant, you can go from working 80 hours a week to getting so much done quickly in half the time. [11:48] Tim started helping others get an assistant, and over time he realized that there was a business need to help clients and friends find great assistants. [12:05] Tim created a management team and hired a corporate trainer to train assistants to make sure they are ready. [12:30] The Great Assistant Program has an 85 percent stick rate. For the remaining 15 percent of assistants that don’t fit, there is a 90-day rematch guarantee. [14:10] What’s the dollar-per-hour cost in real terms? You can pay someone in the Philippines $4 or someone in the United States or Canada for $16-20. The Philippines is less expensive, but it takes hours to explain things repeatedly and fix mistakes later. How much have your really spent? [16:21] If you have an assistant from North America that is high-caliber, they will produce at least 2-3X the work and results. You can feel safe that they understand you and trust that they will treat your customers well. [18:28] Finding a great assistant can be an issue for entrepreneurs starting out to multi-millionaires. It doesn’t matter how big or small you are. [19:14] Time is your scarcest and most valuable resource. Give people money to get more time. [19:48] The Great Assistant Program takes care of what you need to find the right assistant. It takes everything off your plate - from posting jobs, figuring out what you need, to finding matches. [21:15] You are probably willing to pay thousands of dollars to undo what previous assistants had done. You don’t want to play Russian Roulette anymore. [22:40] Go to DoorGrow.com/greatassistant and fill out the form that determines if you need a great assistant. Plus you get a video gift! [24:01] What is your #1 frustration or challenge in getting a great assistant? The #1 response was control and trust. [24:33] Anytime in business, including property management, if you feel like you are taking a blind risk, that is a horrible feeling. Use the process provided by the Great Assistant Program to reduce the risk. It involves expanding your pool of talent, using the Kolbe Index, and trying work and cognitive tests. [26:23] How do you determine what you will have an assistant do? In property management, there is a lot of work to do. Have your assistant work on preparatory documents, lease renewals, pulling records, scheduling interviews, research, setting up events, posting rental ads, contract signing, scheduling move-in appointments, and tenant screening. [29:15] Just like with surgery, the surgeon does not prepare the patient and tools. The surgeon only does what is appropriate. This is not a form of superiority, it is about appropriateness, and everything done regarding the surgery is vital. [31:09] Critical decisions when it comes to anything that is strategy and high-level skill or high-level access is yours to handle and keep as the property manager. [33:28] Unpacking is the secret to delegating work. Categorize your email inbox for your assistant to tackle specific areas, then you do not need to worry about them accessing sensitive information. [34:53] As a business owner, you need to shift your focus away from tactical work and shift it toward strategic work that moves your business forward. [35:05] Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) to teach your assistant how to do specific tasks and perform processes. If you can do it once, someone else can do it forever. [40:12] For example, if your assistant handles tasks related to an event, it gives you time to connect with people rather than running around performing tactical tasks. [41:41] Some fear having a virtual assistant rather than an in-office assistant. However, having a virtual assistant can be a competitive advantage. You are not bombarded with constant interruptions through questions and offerings to help, plus you cut your staffing costs. [44:05] For example, you are in a fender-bender and what to fix your car. You face a myriad of factors and a decision to make. If you want to fix your car good and fast, it’s not going to be cheap. If you want it to be fast and cheap, it’s not going to be very good. If you want it to be cheap and good, your going to have to call your uncle to work on it. So, it is not going to be done fast. Good, fast, cheap - usually, you can only pick two of the three. You can’t have it all! [45:08] In property management, the three pieces involved with hiring an assistant are talent, compensation, and working conditions. For a 9-to-5 traditional position that meets all three, you have to pay a ton. If you are more flexible on the work conditions, you can get someone at your preferred pay rate who is exceptionally talented. [46:45] What is more important than salary to these qualified applicants is being able to see their family more often and be a part of precious, once-in-a-lifetime moments. [47:41] What percentage of Americans want to work from home? About 67-68 Americans wish they could work full-time from home. [48:39] Various technology and tools, including videos and online project management software, allow more people to work from home. [51:08] You don’t need to feel like you are exploiting someone by paying them $16-20 per hour. The reality is that if you let someone work from home, they truly appreciate and value the time it gives them with their family, the ability to work in the comfort of their own home, and the money they save on not having to commute or on child care. Working conditions are part of the compensation. [53:40] When your relationship with an assistant does not work out, figure out why. Did you get an assistant too early? Don’t know what the high- and low-level tasks are yet? [57:00] If you are an entrepreneur who sees your team as some sort of servitude or slave to you, then you are not a good fit for the Great Assistant Program. You can’t treat someone terribly because you are the problem. Instead, how can you support your team? [59:00] As an entrepreneur, see the possibilities that come with getting the right person to support you and embracing the role of being a coach. [01:01:00] What is the order of what you are delegating? As an entrepreneur, rather than going off and doing something else once you hire an assistant, instead show them how to take over stuff that you are already doing. Also, pick the right tasks in the right order. [01:02:39] Record yourself performing a non-critical task that is easy to learn and teach, let your assistant watch it, then watch them perform the task. The training cycle is complete, and you are getting a pay off just a few days later. [01:03:48] Trough of Sorrow: The thought that once you hire an assistant, everything is going to be sunshine and rainbows. The reality is the opposite because you need to train, onboard, and manage them. The negative investment becomes less and turns into a positive ROI. [01:04:45] Investor Mindset: The assistant keeps getting better as you invest in them over time. [01:06:25] View every team member as an investment. The longer you have them, the better they get. Look for a relationship that will make a massive difference to your company. [01:07:45] Energy Management vs. Time Management: The biggest wins to when you onboard an assistant is to figure out what’s taking you time and what’s taking you time that you hate doing? The things you hate, are the things your assistant loves to do. Tweetables There is compound interest in the people you hire. Your very first hire should be an assistant. It’s a problem and a challenge knowing how to get an assistant. Resources Great Assistant; DoorGrow.com/greatassistant The E-Myth Work the System Kolbe Index Upwork Jason Fried The 4-Hour Workweek Loom Scaling Up DoorGrowClub DoorGrow on iTunes