I have a house flipping team that roughly consists of the following professionals:
Contractors
Insurance Agents
Accountants
Attorneys
Wholesalers
Real Estate Agents
Depending on the job, there may be even more than just those six listed above; in some cases, it may number ten or even twelve people all working together — and all managed by yours truly.
It’s a lot to manage, no doubt. And it’s a lot of personalities to manage as well — all different and all unique.
So what’s the best way to manage a big team like this when you’re flipping houses?
The Meddling Method vs. the Hands Off Method
Every person on this list specializes in an area of expertise that I know a little bit about, but unlike when I first started flipping houses, I don’t try to do it myself.
Related: The Five Fundamental House Flipping Team Members
What I don’t do is meddle.
Manage and oversee, yes…meddle, no.
I let them do what they do so I can do what I do. If I tried to do their jobs, not only would it not make me any money and run my business into the ground, but they would probably hate me for stepping on their toes and never work with me ever again.
Plus, it would be ridiculous for me to try to do their jobs for them because even though I may know a little about a lot, what would take me hours or even days to figure out can easily be solved by my team members in perhaps a few minutes or less.
What I don’t do is take a totally hands off approach. That would spell disaster.
What I try to do is find the middle ground where I’m overseeing, but not meddling — an approach to team building and leadership I learned using the Dale Carnegie method.
However, I didn’t start that way.
Team Building Mistakes a New House Flipper Makes
When I first started I didn’t quite understand the concept of team building and what it meant.
It was a little overwhelming to me because when you really start thinking about all the members of your team — real estate attorneys, real estate brokers, CPAs, insurance agents, contractors — it can be a little overwhelming as to how many people are involved in what on the surface seems like a very simple transaction.
The problem was when I first started, I interfered, I meddled, I micro-managed.
It’s a common trap many new house flippers fall into. Primarily because it’s really scary to do your first house flip — and if you don’t attend to all the little details, you could end up losing your shirt if you’re not careful.
But sometimes, making sure you’re taking care of the details means stepping on other people’s toes and interfering. And you don’t want that.
Build Your Power Team One Step at a Time
You can start planning out your house flipping team (we refer to it as a “power team” because there is a lot of power behind it) when you start to see the players that are involved in helping you with your business.
One of the things you don’t want to do is pick up a phone book and start picking just anybody to do business with.
You have to be selective. Whether it’s a referral from your networking group, or whether you are going on CraigsList, or even simply looking up individuals using Google, you still want to do your due diligence.
A referral is a better place to start because if someone is giving you a referral, the first thing I would ask is, “Have you done business with that person yourself? Would you tell me the experience? And who else do you know who did business with them?”
So always do your due diligence, and run your checks and balances of people you might be doing some business with.
Related: The #1 Most Important Lesson in House Flipping
Maybe you have a phone conversation with the person, and if the conversation goes well, you then set up an appointment and meet them for coffee or lunch.
That way, you can start making some educated decisions as to who you want on your team based on the information you gather.
Then, as soon as you build that house flip team, start managing it and curating it using the Dale Carnegie method of leadership.
The Best Way to Lead a House Flipping Team
But how do you attract good, competent people on your house flipping team?
It’s kind of simple…but I find the easiest way to build a house flipping team is by winning them as friends first.
When you can win them as friends, you’ll have influence — and when called upon, they will go the extra mile for you when you need them to.
Not good at making friends?
No worries, you’re not alone.
There are a few things that you can do to instantly make friends and consequently build a house flipping team — all of which I learned from the great book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, a book written nearly on hundred years ago.
Yep, it’s an old book, but even though times have changed, human nature has remained the same. And if you can just apply a few of these tactics in managing your house flipping team, you will do well. I guarantee it.
3 Key Concepts to Being an Effective Leader
1. Be a Leader Who’s Easy to Like
Nobody lie a braggart.
Nobody like someone who incessantly talks about themselves.
Nobody likes a show-off.
Nobody likes someone who constantly “pulls rank.”
Yeah — you may be the boss, but there’s no reason to rub it in people’s faces. This just ends up alienating people and making you less likable, and them less loyal.
Boasting about your accomplishments, ordering people around and talking incessantly about yourself are not the qualities of a true leader.
Do what Carnegie suggests to become a …read more