What makes a good speaker for the property circuit...? (Hint: It's probably not what you think)
To be a good property speaker, you need to share strategies, right? And if they're 'no money down' you'll draw an especially eager crowd of newbies.
Strategies, deal analysis, and yet more strategies. The same old model has been doing the rounds for well over a decade now (and that includes the training arena). But people are waking up to the idea that if something sounds too good to be true, it generally is.
The same goes for 'shiny developer' syndrome, where social media creates the kind of buzz that makes even more experienced investors forget the first principles of due diligence.
So what do people want in the post-Covid era? #Honesty, that's what.
And not just standard honesty, I'm talking radical honesty - Ray Dalio “Principles” style 🙌🏽
The old ways have seen people lose their life savings and more. People need (and want) to know the reality of the business - how to avoid the sharks, how to conduct DD like the pros, how to assess the developer and not just the deal, how 'no money down' is a dream that few can afford.
I've delivered talks at more events in the last few years than I care to remember, and the overriding response has been gratitude, not just for an informative presentation, but for a warts-and-all reality check.
Because I'm not selling courses or looking for investment, I'm in a unique position to share the realities with aspiring and more experienced investors alike. I've backed projects that have delivered outstanding returns and been a joy to be part of. And I've seen the very worst in developer behaviour and investor relations.
I started out with the simple aim of sharing my experiences to help others. But my message has clearly hit a nerve. People are no longer willing to be duped by hollow strategies and wildly optimistic 'opportunities'. They want to educate themselves in reality. And being a Northerner, that's one of my specialities!