Do you have a real estate goal for the coming year? Perhaps you want to move into a nicer apartment, or transition into a new house. Maybe you would like to start investing in rentals, or undertake a renovation that you’ve been waiting on for years. Whatever the case, you need a solid plan!
So, whether you’re in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, or another part of Michigan, here are 5 crucial steps to help you reach your real estate goals.
1. Decide What You Will Achieve
This is the crucial first step. What do you want? Be as specific as possible. What will you achieve, and when do you want to accomplish it? What are you willing to give in return?
Choose a single goal. If you split your attention between multiple objectives, it is easy to lose focus; you may end up falling short on all of them. Reaching what you want is hard work, and if you are able to have a laser-like focus on your end game, you are much more likely to achieve it.
The Latin root of the word decide is decidere, which meant “to cut off all other options.” Choose a goal that is important to you, and DO NOT STOP working for it, no matter what.
There is great power in this type of decision!
2. Create An Action Plan
If you’re dreaming big, you have probably chosen a difficult goal. This is a good thing, and will make it much more satisfying once you achieve it.
However, know that when you’re shooting for the moon, it will take time, focus, and discipline to get there. Having a detailed plan is extremely helpful… so make an action plan!
If your goal is ‘Buy a House in Grand Rapids in 6 Months,’ then you’ll need to take several steps first. You will need to review your financial situation, assess your credit, analyze loan types, search for homes, set up viewings, work with realtors, schedule inspections, and more. Write down your key steps, and put them in order. What will you do first? Second? When will you accomplish each action item?
It’s okay if you don’t know all of the steps necessary to achieve your real estate goal. Just think through the first few, and get moving – you will learn as you go. Write this list down, and refer to it consistently. This way, you’ll never find yourself at a loss for what to do next.
3. Choose the Next Step, and Do It.
This is simultaneously the simplest step, and the hardest. Creating goals is fun, and you can make a plan without a ton of effort. But the real test comes with your day-to-day action.
What is the next step in your action plan? Do it now. If that is impossible, decide when you will do it, then follow through.
This is the step that will test your toughness. It is very difficult to follow through with consistent action, day after day, week after week. Often, you will feel tired, fed up, busy, etcetera, and you won’t want to even look at your to-do list. If you’re able to push through these feelings, you should congratulate yourself – it is no small feat!
When you force yourself to work, and accomplish your action for the day, you feel a natural pride. Each day that you make progress, you are moving closer to your goal, and building habits that will serve you for a lifetime. Stick with it, and you will establish the habit of excellence.
4. Commit to the Process
Big goals take time to achieve. In fact, they often take much longer than you predict! This is equally true in Michigan, Morocco, and Madagascar. In most cases, you’ll have to dig in for a long time before you begin to see positive results.
This can be emotionally exhausting. If you’ve set your goals, made an action plan, and are working on it consistently, it’s discouraging to feel like you’re going nowhere.
At these times, remember that you are already succeeding! My favorite definition of success is “the progressive realization of a worthy goal.” That means, if you are working toward something worthwhile to the best of your abilities, you are as successful as anyone on earth.
Rome was not built in a day. Commit to the process, and you will slowly but surely begin to see great results. These will snowball, and you will reach your real estate goals. Just don’t quit when things get tough. It will all be worth it in the end.
So get out there, and make it happen!