What exactly is a digital photography course and how can I get involved in one? With the newly popular hobby of digital photography, people are always looking for ways to improve their overall skills in taking photos. One of the best ways to do this is to take purchase an online DIY digital photography course. Alternatively you could enroll in an offline course and spend a lot more money.So where can I find these digital photography Courses?The best place to find a digital photography course is to go to any search engine and search for ‘digital photography’. Alternatively you can narrow down your search a little by searching for ‘digital photography courses’. This should bring up some good results. The first thing someone should do before they decide to buy one of these courses is to check up on them to find out which one is the best to buy.This means that you will have to go to an independent site which reviews all the top photography courses and get their point of view. But don’t just get one opinion, go to a few sites and check to see if they also agree on the best course for you.So what’s involved in a digital photography course?Most digital photography courses will teach you firstly the basics of becoming a great photographer and secondly some advanced tips that can help you to create expert photos just by changing the lighting or some other changes that are necessary. The point is, if you are new to digital photography then you are going to have to learn a few things first before you start taking great photos.Are there any free digital photography courses?Most course you have to pay for, however there are some out there that are free. These are usually independent courses that don’t really offer a great deal of helpful information, however if you are just starting out, it’s a good idea to subscribe to one of these courses.How do these free courses work?Basically there are many photography sites on the internet that offer free courses, where they get you to sign up for email course. You will usually get an email with a helpful hint every couple of days. There are lots out there and many of them don’t offer very useful information, however they are free so you’ve got no reason not to join!
How to Find a Great Realtor to Run Your Property “Comparables” (Comps)
Establishing value on your property is critical. Skill number one above all other skills to master.
The most important aspects of being a real estate investor is the ability to establish value on houses or properties you are considering buying, wholesaling, or flipping. Irregardless of location, be it California, New York, Houston, or Dallas its a must know skill to learn in time.
But how do you master comping property if you do not have Multiple Listing Service (MLS) access? How can you practice and practice running comps (like I have until you breeze through it), looking at land, comparing variables like year built, location, lot square feet, bed and baths, subdivision and lastly what is the property next too? Is it next to a commercial center, stinky ranch or pig farm or a nice area with a creek or lake? These factors are important to know in learning to master running comps on property.
Before you can become proficient with running comps you need MLS access from a realtor if you are not one already. And this is how you do it. You want to find a realtor you know on a personal level, maybe a friend, friend of the family, or relative. If you don’t have a realtor on hand you need to make friends with one.
This is how you go about making friends and getting MLS access. Drive for dollars and find a vacant, boarded up house ones you want to consider buying or wholesaling. Find two or three, then call a few Realtors up tell them you are real estate buyer or investor and need a good realtor to buy through and run comps.
Start off only giving them a few addresses to comp then a week later give them a few more, meanwhile take them out to coffee get to know them, their likes dislikes, hobbies, etc. Form a relationship with them. A week later give them a few more comps to run, be sure the houses are in your actual buying areas of interest. In other words make sure its real comps of real houses. Its one way to get to know your platinum areas.
Phone your realtor talk to him or her about the houses he or she comped. Make the chat a casual conversation. Ask them if they would like you to refer them (realtor) to the sellers who want to list. Of course the realtor will say yes! Let them know not all sellers you meet are desperate or motivated sellers and some simply need a good realtor to list with.
Then when a seller does not want to sell ask them if they would like to talk to your realtor to see if listing is right for them. Call the Realtor and give them the seller’s name, phone, address, and the condition of the house. This will show the realtor you are serious. No one works for free. Keep track of those referrals maybe the realtor will give you a small finders fee once listed and sold, just don’t ask for one at this point. Your sole goal is MLS access! The gold standard of running comps.
Somewhere in the discussions you are giving them the comps to run, they start to get a bit overwhelmed at the extra work load of running the comps for you. This is what you want. They need to realize in the back of their minds without you mentioning it, they should just give you MLS access.
However, when you feel its a good time tell them you can “save them time buy getting MLS access as an “real estate assistant” or such, just whatever is easier for them” which they can ethically do. This is why, they have real estate assistants who run comps for them, look up properties on the MLS and help out in the office for them.
If you are giving them leads they are going to be more than happy to give you the access you need once you establish trust with them. It is wise to be working about 2-3 Realtors at once to see who is actually a big picture or forward thinker. Do this until they get you the MLS access. Do this until you can speak their language. Do this until you get your MLS access. But stay in touch with the other Realtors, because you never know when you will need them too.
Let this soak in a bit and see if it helps you to get the MLS access you need. Zillow or no other comp service is worth a darn, hey its hard enough to establish value with the MLS as it is. Some Realtors will say they can run the comps but a realtor see’s comps through a different light than the investor. Here is one major difference, WE write the $200,000 check to BUY the house, Realtors only list the house. We better be right-on with our comps! Get it!?! So they see running comps through a different pair of glasses, and this is one of many reasons why you need the actual MLS access yourself.