Investing in Real Estate is like building a patio

Recently, we decided to build a patio in our backyard to have a place to entertain family and friends. Being a hands-on guy I wanted to build it myself. In doing so, I realized that there are a lot of similarities in building a patio and investing in real estate.

Learn from a professional
As soon as I decided I wanted to build the patio myself I headed over to the source of all knowledge, Google. I was soon watching videos of experts explaining how they build patios, what to do and what not to do. 
Similarly in real estate you have a choice, do you try it on my own without guidance and learn every mistake first hand or do you learn from a professional? The choice may seem very easy but many people tend not to do so, both in real estate and in building a patio.

Do it quick or do it right?
There always seems to be two ways to do any building project, the quick way or the right way. The quick way is always the most enticing. Doing it the quick, I would soon be having fun enjoying a new patio with friends and family. Unfortunately, building things in that manner will result in a quick destruction as well. The patio will soon start to crack and break apart. The right choice typically takes a little more planning, hard work and a practice in delayed gratification. This extra work is always worth it as you will have a patio that is done right and can be enjoyed for many years to come.

This same lesson can be applied directly to real estate. There are many get rich quick schemes promising they are better than the previous and you cannot go wrong. The truth is, sustainable wealth is only created when it's based on a solid foundation with handwork and a proven system. Get rich quick typically results in 15 minutes of glory followed by a big crash. Getting wealthy based on a proven system means getting there in a controlled and systematic fashion and maintaining it for years and generations to come.

Hire a professional
Just like building your own patio, hiring a professional may be the better option for most people. There is a lot of work involved in investing in real estate. Your time may be better suited to what you are good at. I am building this patio for fun and if I were to do it on a regular basis I would hire a professional. A patio builder will build a patio much faster and better than I can. I can then spend my time doing something I am better at and enjoy more. 

Similarly you may want to enjoy the benefits of investing in real estate. Unless its your passion and you want to devote serious attention to it, it may be better to hire a professionals and enjoy the benefits of real estate without the hard work.




Until next time,

Rasam Hafezi