Trust is the scarcest resource there is. The flip side of that is that with scarcity comes value.
I think scarcity in our (property) world can be encapsulated in one simple phrase. “Ethical trading”.
With the news every week of another property “club” or “scheme” going bust (the latest one being Challenor Properties who are being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office - click here -), you want to know who you can trust in this business.
When looking to engage with a company, one of the most important things you can look for is consistency of their message.
But if that message is constantly preaching “get rich quick”, “no money required”, “takes no effort”, then the question you must ask yourself, especially in the current market conditions, is “why are you selling the six numbers to the lottery?”.
If you genuinely had the answer to a get rich quick scheme, would you tell anybody else, and more importantly, why would you need to?
Therefore, it’s not hard to conclude that the message you should trust is that property is not a get rich quick scheme, that it does require capital input, it’s a long term investment, and that effort and management are required. Especially when that message has been consistent over several years. It might not be what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. You have the choice of buying into marketing hype or reality. Ironically, being sucked in by marketing hype will end up costing you a lot more than the reality, and not just in terms of money.
Unfortunately, in the property arena, reality is the scarcity.
In our opinion, when you buy into marketing hype and promises of easy riches, you will .... pay large fees upfront, be persuaded to join some kind of club for access to “exclusive” deals (more upfront payments), promised some kind of “secret” that never materialises, pay for information that can easily be found on the internet, pay to be sold to.
However, when you seek out the truth and work with ethical people you trust, you get real value and real and tangible results.
Example: Apple. For years they have traded on one consistent message, that design and function were part of the primary core of aesethics – not fluff and fancy. Although they had their fair share of hard core followers, they were by no means a market leader through the ‘90’s. However, due to their on-going consistent message of function over fashion, they now have a world-wide and growing band of followers. Marketeers soon come unstuck when people realise that their “fluff and fancy” does not deliver tangible results. You don’t need to market form and function, because it just works.
Our message at 4Walls for the past five years has been very consistent. Cash flow is king – always has been and always will be. Property is not a get rich quick scheme. It is not something that takes no effort on your behalf. And yes, you do need significant liquidity to invest in property legitimately without the use of “smoke and mirrors” in a NMD format. On our website, you won’t find dreamy pictures of yachts, fast cars, and couples walking hand in hand down a beach. You won’t find any “emotional” hooks to appeal to your greed and make you think you’ll be retiring in three years. You won’t find any promises that you don’t need to lift a finger. Far from it.
What you will find are facts and property intelligence that you can actually use. You will find out why we are successful as Landlords. You will find out why and how we have built a portfolio based on cash-flow. You will find out how we have diversified our portfolio to spread risk. You will find out how we run our business and portfolio in the most efficient manner possible. You will find out why it is so important to review your portfolio on a consistent basis. You will find out why there is more opportunity in property now, than in recent history. You will discover how you can get involved in property safely and profitably.
If you want us help you build a cash flow rich portfolio, we will do. But we won’t charge you any fees upfront, as we believe we should only be paid on the actual results we achieve for our clients. We won’t try and wholesale you property, because it can’t be done, unless you’re a blue chip builder like Barratts or Persimmon. Property is not a case of “one size fits all”, it’s extremely personal to you and your financial situation. Accordingly, our service is personal and bespoke too.
We have been consistently operating in an ethical manner for the past five years. 2008 ended on a high note for us. We completed on three clients’ purchases on the 19th December. All three clients got a genuine 28% discount (using actual comparables). All three clients had tenants move into their properties before Christmas, with positive cash flow from the rent.
Because we have been consistently involved in purchasing cash-flow positive properties for the past five years for ourselves, and we live and breathe property 24/7/365, you can leverage our knowledge and time. We sift through masses of information on a daily basis, and distil it down to the bits that matter. The result is the 4 Walls website and video channel, which is why you should consistently tune in.
If you’d like to find out how we purchase property, or find out more about what we do, then join our next property networking event, scheduled for Sunday the 8th of February in Guildford. At our events we have consistently offered investors massive value. There’s no hard sell, and no presentations that are thinly-veiled sales pitches. There’s no hype and “ra-ra”, only hardcore property intelligence and information that could make a very real difference to your investment strategy. You’ll meet other like-minded investors, who will share their knowledge and experience with you, and take pleasure in doing so.
Some things you might like to note:
We are not a property club – we aim to provide free resources to investors and foster positive change within property investment. Our website is part of a greater movement within property and the way people interact on-line. 4Walls exists to spread specific ideas and ethical and transparent investing practices. The more people we can spread these ideas to, the more success we achieve.
We are not building a list of subscribers to sell to – we are building a cult of supporters, each of whom will further support the cause and bring further success to all of us through the momentum of the group.
Ball bearing v's beachball ...
4Walls wishes to remain a ball bearing – small, hard to find and continually in the state of being polished. Our goal is to provide our clients with massive value at every interaction, and with a deep impression when they get hit with it. Conversely, we do not aim to be a beach ball – big, seen all over the place, colourful and yet leaving very little impression when it hits. A beach ball is very fragile indeed and must avoid challenging environments, because it requires so much air to keep it afloat. A weighty ball bearing can withstand both challenging environments along with the pin pricks of adversity. So can a well-constructed, cash-flow rich property portfolio.
So, as 2009 kicks off, you have the choice to engage with marketing hype, or real investors delivering real results. We look forward to meeting you are our event on Sunday 8th February and supporting you in achieving your property ambitions – in whatever format YOU choose.
Register your seat at our event by emailing registration@4wallsandaceiling.com.
Flickr: badgerproductions
LinkedIn: nick tadd
Pownce: nick tadd
Skype: badgerproductions
