Mentor Your Way to 'Expert Status'

All of us were new at our chosen professions at one time; we were the 'new kid on the block'. Over time, that changed as we gained experience and built a name for ourselves in our industry. But there are also things that you can do that will help set you apart from the other real estate investors.

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Think back to when you were brand new. Do you remember just how confusing all of this 'real estate stuff' was? I know I can. As a matter of fact, I didn't know quite where to begin.

When I attended my first few REIA meetings, I almost felt like I had been dropped into a foreign country where I didn't know the language. Those folks talked about double closings, escrows, cap rates and a whole bunch of other things I had no knowledge about. What I can remember most about this period of time, is one particular person that took me under her wing and helped me to learn.

This woman became a good friend of mine over the years. She was a licensed real estate agent that didn't invest in real estate herself, but she worked with a lot of investors in our REIA group. She introduced me to people that were seasoned investors; people who helped me learn the 'ins and outs' of how to invest in real estate.

Over time, I networked with these experienced investors, and they were quite willing to mentor me and other 'newbies'. They were always giving back; they were also known as 'the experts' in the group.

Help Others and Mentor Your Way to 'Expert Status'

One of the best ways to become known as an expert in your field is to mentor other real estate investors that are just starting out. Be generous with your time and share your knowledge.

If you see someone at your local REIA meeting standing by themselves they are most likely brand new and don't know anyone. Go over and introduce yourself. Ask them if they would like to sit with you. They will be so grateful. It makes it a lot easier for them to come back a second time if someone went out of their way to make them feel welcome at their first meeting. Introduce them to a few people and offer 'show them the ropes'. The new member will really appreciate these tips.

For instance, at our monthly meeting we have a table set up for members to leave fliers for anything from a property they have to sell, to information about their plumbing business. For those members that sell flooring and other related items, they can also leave information on that table. You can explain to the guest or new member that this is one of the benefits of membership. This is also a good way to meet the other members those first few months. Just introduce yourself to them and inquire about their services.

Over time you will build relationships, and eventually have opportunities to give back and mentor others.

What Else Can I Do?

There are so many other things you can do to increase your 'expert status' in your field.

One of the best ways is to participate in online forums for real estate investors like BiggerPockets. You can ask questions about any facet of real estate investing, and someone will know the answer. As you gain experience, you will find that you are the one offering answers to questions.

Real Estate Blogs are another great place to learn and network with like-minded folks. A lot of blogs like mine have 'Getting Started' sections that are geared for those real estate investors that are just starting out, and the writers of those blogs love to interact with the people that stop by and leave comments.

Writing articles for online sites like this one is a great way to share information and be seen as a knowledgeable real estate professional. And, don't under estimate the power of facebook. Facebook has a wealth of real estate investors that share their knowledge on their own pages as well as in organized groups. Jump in and get involved, and you will get your name out there. I have built many lasting business relationships that began online at these types of sites.

No matter how you choose to get involved, just do it. Mentoring other folks doesn't have to take a lot of time, but it will absolutely set you apart from other people and build your expert status at the same time.