Let's Talk Real Estate Investing with Sharon Vornholt

If there is one skill that will change your business faster than anything, it's learning how to build rapport with sellers when you meet face to face at the property. Honing this skill is how you will stand out from all the investors you're competing within your market.

Show Notes

Here are 6 surefire tips for building rapport with motivated sellers that you'll learn about in this show:

1. Be prepared. Do your research before you get to the property.
2. The importance of properly introducing yourself, and the one thing you may think you don't need (but you do).
3. How to become an engaged listener.
4. The art of the conversation. How to become memorable, get more signed contracts, and ultimately put more dollars in your pocket.
5. It's all about the seller.
6. How and when to transition to the discussion about the property.

One Final Tip…

The way you end the conversation is important. Motivated sellers will remember you when this is done correctly. Thank them for the time they spent with you and be sure to use their name. Let them know what the next steps are and don't forget to remind them once again what your name is.

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog for more great content.

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Today I want to talk about how to set goals that stick, and how to set yourself up for success using the principles in the book, The 12 Week Year. But first, let's talk about goal setting in the broader sense.

Setting and Achieving Goals that Stick (Year After Year)

Most people I know set annual goals. It's a well-known fact that if you write your goals down, you'll get drastically better results than if you don't. According to Inc.com, you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. That number goes up even higher if you spend a few minutes each day focusing on your goals and visualizing them.

However, goals without a plan for implementing them are useless. For most people, it is the implementation piece that has always been missing. That's why the framework in the book the "12 Week Year" is so powerful. It gives you a roadmap for implementing your goals that is easy to follow, it gets you out of overwhelm, and most of all it shows you that those big annual goals entrepreneurs set are 100% achievable if you follow the framework.

How to Set Goals that Stick. Where Do You Start?

1. Step #1 is to do a quick review of last year. What went wrong? Better yet, what went right?
2. Get clear on your vision and your dream. In a perfect world, you would take a day (or two) and go off by yourself for this process. An alternative to doing this is to take a couple of hours and sit down and do a brain dump to begin the process. What do you want your life to look like? Don't be afraid to dream big.
3. You should look at every area of your life. Your: health, family, business/career, relationships, personal growth, faith, finances, and fun. (Don't forget about fun.) When you are doing this look at the "season" you are in. People with small children will be in a different season than empty nesters. In other words, you will have different priorities.
4. What's your why? It's critical that you get clear on this, because when the going gets tough, this is what will keep you moving forward.

Next… Do a Brain Dump

When you're doing this brain dump, don't put any limits on what you want your life to look like.

Wayne Dyer wrote a book called, "You'll See it When You Believe It". In other words, thoughts become things. You must believe it's possible before you can ever attain your goals or manifest any dream into your life.

Here are some tips when doing your brain dump:

1. Let go of your limiting beliefs. Anything is possible once you get rid of your limiting beliefs. If you need help doing this, check out the podcast I did with mindset expert, Nina Cook a few weeks ago on imposter syndrome and getting rid of your limiting beliefs. I'll put a link to it in the show notes.
2. You can't change the past, so stop looking in the rearview mirror. Don't let what happened in the past influence what you want your future life to look like. Focus on what you can change and move forward.
3. Remember…thoughts become things. You may as well set your sights high.

Learning how to set goals that stick is not an easy thing. It's a process. If there is one thing I've learned about goal setting, it's that we tend to think too small. Your goals should stretch you. They should put you in the "uncomfortable zone".

Choosing a Word or a Theme for the Year is Extremely Helpful

Before we dive into the framework of the 12 week year, I want to mention one thing. I have found it enormously helpful to have a word for the year or a theme for the year. Last year mine was "self-care". I need to be honest here. Once Covid-19 came along, I totally failed at that. Most of my goals including my health goals changed because of the "circumstances". Looking back on 2020, I realized I needed a big mindset shift for 2021. I needed to remind myself of these things...

"You can't change the past, focus on what you can change and move forward, and never forget that your thoughts become things".

Goal Setting the 12 Week Year Way - The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington

I have to tell you; I love this book!

I purchased it at the beginning of the year in 2015, and I have used it since that time as a framework for building my business. The basic idea of this book is that you can get more done in 12 weeks than others do in 12 months when you implement the concepts outlined in the 12 Week Year.

The magic word here is "implementation". If you create your 12-week plan and then implement it, I can promise you that you will succeed. I have always been an aggressive goal setter. So much so that those goals would be practically impossible to achieve because I didn't have formula or a framework for achieving them. That's why I like using this method to set goals.

You might be wondering, "What if I fall short? What if I don't nail everything on my list"? The answer is that you will still be light years ahead of everyone else that doesn't have a plan. If you intend to have a different year this year, you must do things differently. Creating goals that stick will stretch you if you're doing it correctly.

What Differentiates "Great" Performers?

The one thing that differentiates great performers from those that are mediocre is their ability to execute what they know and what they know they need to do.

Most of us know what we should do, however putting together a plan and executing it is a whole different matter. That's where the best-laid plans tend to fall apart. When it comes to achieving our goals, there is often a gap between what we should be doing and what we are willing to do to get there. We often find a way to avoid doing the hard stuff.

Big annual goals are great, and they are necessary for growing your business. But how do you nail the implementation piece when life continually gets in the way?

How Goals Many Goals is Too Many?

Now is the perfect time to point out that you should only have 3 or 4 big goals (or big rocks) for the year. You need to keep your eye on the big picture while creating an executable plan of action but keep your immediate focus on a few big things.

The first step is to look at your big annual goals. Once you've done that, create 12-week blocks of time and decide what you will put your focus on for just that 12 week period. Next, break that 12 week period into months, then into weeks, and finally into daily tasks that will help you accomplish your goals.

Here Is an Example.

Let's say, you want to close 12 off-market deals in the next 12 months. That will involve setting up marketing campaigns. As you know, direct mail and most types of marketing take a while to gain momentum. Looking at this from a purely practical standpoint, it's not realistic to think you will buy one property a month in each of those first few months. It could happen, but it's not likely.

A more realistic scenario would be that as you commit to implementing your marketing plan, you will buy 1 property in the first quarter, 2 in the second quarter as your marketing begins to get some traction, 4 houses in the 3rd quarter, and 5 properties in the last quarter. Now that's just an example. Keeping your marketing the same going forward, it would be perfectly achievable to buy 3 to 5 houses a quarter year after year. Your numbers will vary somewhat due to things like holidays, bad weather, and other unforeseen events. It will also depend on how consistent you are with your marketing. If you increase your marketing, you will then be able to generate more leads and so that you can buy more properties. More leads = more deals. As you can see, your focus for this initial 12-week segment should be on marketing.

If you want help creating a roadmap and a marketing plan for generating more leads, I'll be hosting a workshop in February to help you with this. Be sure to check back weekly for more details. You can also head over to the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog, grab one of the freebies over there and you'll be notified as soon as registration opens.

What Can You Expect if You Implement this Framework?

When you live the 12 week year the authors say you will:

• Regain control of your day
• Increase your income
• Lower your stress
• Accomplish your goals in record time
• Balance the priorities in your life

I believe this is true. Implementing the framework of 12 week year will force you to create priorities. It will also determine how you spend your time and ultimately how you will accomplish your 12-week goals (in record time). Can you see how this all works together?

I want to be clear that this is not about working more. This is about working more efficiently so that you can accomplish your goals.

Working Your Plan One Day at a Time

Long term results are created by consistent actions you take every day.

While it's important to plan for the future, that future is actually created by the actions we take every day. The one thing we have control over is those daily, weekly, and monthly actions that ultimately create our results.

To recap: once you have your plan for the next 12 weeks, you then put those into buckets which are the 3 individual months. Next, create a weekly plan which you will implement through your daily actions. It sounds simple, doesn't it? It's simple but it's not always easy like a lot of other things in your real estate investing business.

The Three Principles

The 12 Week Year builds on 3 key principles:

• Accountability
• Commitment
• Greatness in the moment

Let's look at each one of these three principles.

1. The first one is accountability. Accountability happens when you take ownership of the implementation of your plan regardless of what life throws your way. Accountability is part of a person's character; it is when a person is willing to own the actions and the results. Now let's be clear, life does get in the way. However, this will allow you to get back on track easier and faster.
2. Next is commitment. Commitment is a promise you make to yourself. The book says, "Keeping your promises to others builds strong relationships, and keeping promises to yourself builds character, esteem and success".
3. The third principle is greatness. The book points out that greatness in the moment is all about making the choice now to do what is necessary to become great. Your ultimate results are only the confirmation of your greatness. Greatness is achieved long before you see the results.

Long term results are created by consistent actions you take every day.

The Real Treasure in this Book

I think the real treasures in this book are these 3 concepts. It will teach you:

1. Shift your thinking
2. Minimize distractions
3. Create a realistic plan for your 12 week year so that you will be able to achieve your goals (in record time).

It also addresses some of the common pitfalls everyone is likely to face, and it has a whole list of success tips to help you along the way. Finally, there is a whole chapter devoted to your first 12 weeks so that you start off on the right foot.

Implementing YOUR Plan

Whether you decide to follow the plan word for word or implement your own version of the 12 Week Year, I can promise you that you will see dramatic results if adopt the principles of this book. Following this framework will help you set goals that stick (and achieve them) year after year.

If you don't have a copy of "The 12 Week Year" today, you can take the 1st step and write down the things you want to accomplish in the next 12 weeks. Make it an ambitious list. Then you can get your book and get all the details right for your own 12-week plan.

One Final Tip for Achieving Goals that Stick

Get an accountability partner to help you stay on track. I have several accountability partners myself for different areas of my business. One word of advice; pick someone that will hold your feet to the fire.

Resources

Want to Know How to Choose the Perfect Accountability Partner?

Here's a link to a blog post I wrote on this topic. How to Change the Course of Your Business with an Accountability Partner.

Check out this podcast with Nina Cook on Conquering Imposter Syndrome where she also talks about getting rid of limiting beliefs

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog for more great content.

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Using creative real estate financing to fund your deals will change your business. Specifically, it will change how many deals you can do when you no longer need to depend on banks to fund your deals. Doing more deals in a shorter period of time allows you to scale your business faster. If your investing strategy happens to include building a portfolio of rentals, that means you'll have more passive income sooner. Using creative financing also allows someone to buy property that doesn't have perfect credit or the typical 20% down payment required by traditional lenders. It opens up a whole world of possibility for real estate investors.

When is the Best Time to Use Creative Real Estate Financing?

You probably know that great deals are plentiful in a down market. Sellers can jump on board quickly when it comes to creative real estate financing during those periods of time. However, what about when it's a seller's market? Is this still a viable strategy? You bet it is, and my guest today is going to show you his favorite creative real estate financing strategies when he's buying property as well as when he's selling property. (Yes, they're different).

Why is There a Hierarchy?

Now you're probably wondering, why is the hierarchy of these creative financing strategies different when you're buying than when your selling? The reason is because it benefits you, and you will learn why in this show.

My guest today is Tennessee investor, Bill Walston. Bill is a sought after business and tax strategist in the real estate investing community. He has an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance and a graduate degree in Tax Law. His passion is teaching and creating strategies that help real estate investors do more deals, make more money, and live a tax-deductible lifestyle.

Listen in and learn why Bill uses this hierarchy of creative real estate financing and exactly how it benefits you as a real estate investor. You'll also find out how you can get a printable copy of his creative financing hierarchy and learn a little about each one of these strategies in the process.

Show Notes

• Bill's aha moment when he figured out the real estate investors he was doing taxes for were making more money than him
• Diving into real estate full time
• Why he never wants to go to a bank for financing
• Exactly what is creative financing and how do you use it to buy property with no money down?
• Bill's favorite creative finance strategies and how to use them
• The hierarchy of real estate creative funding strategies when you're buying and when you're selling
• Why the hierarchy is different
• Being a cash buyer doesn't mean using your cash
• What effect does Dodd Frank have on creative real estate financing strategies?
• How do trusts fit into creative strategies?
• What are the benefits of using creative financing strategies for buyers? For sellers?

Private Money Workshop and Hierarchy of Creative Finance Handout

Be sure to pick up Bill's handout so that you will be the first to learn about his brand new private money workshop. "First Steps to Private Money" coming up later this month.

You can get your freebie by clicking here: Hierarchy

Final Thoughts

Remember that once you learn these creative financing strategies, you will be able to buy property in any market regardless of your credit score or your ability to make a down payment (typically 20%) required by traditional lenders.

What creating financing tools are currently in your toolbox?

What's Coming Up?

I have a brand new marketing workshop coming your way in about a month, so stay tuned.

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog for more great content.

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When someone brings up the subject of content marketing for real estate investors, folks generally fall into one of two groups; those that are currently creating content to build their business and their brand and those that say, "what the heck is content marketing"?

Why Should Real Estate Investors Care About Content Marketing?

Real estate investors should care about content marketing because when done correctly, it makes all your marketing work better. To put it another way, every dollar you spend on marketing yields greater results because of it. The bottom line is if you aren't actively creating content today you're getting left behind. It's as simple as that. It's no longer optional for your business.

Understand that you don't need a blog or a podcast. Today you'll discover how you can easily create content that works to create visibility, brand awareness, and credibility that will ultimately get you more deals and better deals. After all, that's what we want, isn't it?

Today's Show

My guest today is Josh Culler. Josh is the owner of Culler Media and REI.VIDEO. He's been in the real estate investing industry since 2013. Josh focuses his services on active real estate investors and real estate influencers providing content marketing, primarily video content and podcasting. Josh has 2 podcasts himself, but today we're going to focus on how to create video content easily, without a lot of stress, and without any fancy equipment. This is a content marketing strategy that anyone can implement.

Show Notes

Here is some of what you will learn today:

• How Josh got started in real estate at 20 years old
• Figuring out he wasn't in love with real estate itself, rather the life it could create for him
• The top 3 reasons real estate investors don't do content marketing
• Why you must be creating some type of content to stand out in this business
• Josh's tough love for people that shy away from creating video…ouch!
• Ideas for creating content that gets results
• Why you have everything you need to get started
• The best types of video investors should make to get more deals and better deals
• The video that is more important to have on your website than an about me video

Quote Mentioned in this Show

"People don't buy the best products and services; they buy the products and services they understand the fastest". Donald Miller of Story Brand

Resources Mentioned in the Show

• Rev
• Temi
• Descript
• Book: The Visual Sale by Marcus Sheridan

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog for more great content.

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As we find ourselves in this last week of the year, I want to talk about 20 things that I learned in 2020 and how to use that to make 2021 better than ever. As we close out what has been an incredibly challenging year, people are walking away from it feeling a lot of emotions. There has been a lot of heartache and a lot of hardship not to mention a lot of worry and anxiety.

Today I wanted to look at things at some of the things that affected me and my business. And in that process try to put a positive spin on some of those things. I wanted to find the benefit and look for the lessons that I could take away from this year so that I entered 2021 on a positive note. So, if you're ready, let's dive into 20 things I learned in 2020.

Show Notes - 20 Things I Learned in 2020

Here's a recap of what you'll find in this show:

1. Things don't always work out as planned. On January 1, 2020, no one could have predicted that we would be facing a pandemic.
2. I needed to look at my original goals and figure out what I could keep, what I could tweak, and what was off the table at least for now and that's what I did.
3. Many things in my business were built around my signature course, Probate Investing Simplified. I knew there were going to be challenges marketing my course in the face of Covid-19. What changes would I need to make?
4. Dealing with uncertainty. You must take action so that you keep moving ahead even if it's imperfect action.
5. The importance of patience and being kind to yourself during challenging times. My big discovery: I had a mindset issue.
6. There is only one person that can fix your mindset, and that is you. When you put your focus on the solution and not the problem, you have an immediate shift in your mindset.
7. Pivoting your plans. What you had planned previously is almost certainly going to need changes or even a complete overhaul.
8. Hope isn't a strategy. You're going to need a plan.
9. I realized I needed to come up with a new plan or maybe even new or improved goals. This is probably true for most real estate investors.
10. It was clear that I would most likely need to learn new ways of doing things. I quickly realized something.
11. I could either do things the hard way, or I could invest in myself and my education. One thing I have learned over time is that you will go faster and make more money (sooner) if you learn from someone that already has the skills and knowledge you need.
12. Learning new ways to lead. Virtual events became the new norm.
13. The big question: would people invest their money in virtual events? And if they would, how could you make these interesting and keep people engaged?
14. Stepping outside your comfort zone will be necessary. If you're living inside your comfort zone you're not growing, and your goals are too small. You need to get uncomfortable.
15. You're going to need your "tribe" more than ever when things are tough. Do you have a tribe?
16. After a year where everything just seemed so heavy; so hard, I began looking for simpler, easier ways of doing things, and I found that.
17. In this year of discovery, you will learn what you are capable of.
18. Finding out what you are capable of no matter how hard things are makes you more fearless and less afraid by what life throws at you. Making lemonade from lemons becomes the norm!
19. Here's a big one. Your setback just might end up being responsible for your future success.
20. Deciding what 2021 will look like. It's up to you!

Quote

"Resilience is a muscle that you have to exercise to keep it in shape, and this year it got a good workout". Sharon Vornholt

Final Thoughts…. My question to you is, "What have you learned from 2020, and how will 2021 be different for you"? Let me know in the comments.

Marketing Roadmap Workshop for 2021

I wanted to let you know that I'm planning a marketing workshop for late January so be on the lookout for more details after the first of the year. If you want help getting your marketing back on track, be sure to join me in this brand new workshop where I will show you the step by step process for creating and implementing a "Marketing Roadmap for 2021".

If you're not already on my list, stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog and pick up one of my freebies to ensure that you'll be notified about the workshop.

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My guest today is investor Stephanie Betters, and we are going to talk about how to juggle your real estate investing business with a demanding career and a family. I'm excited to learn how she manages to do it all.

Stephanie has 3 businesses. She is the co-founder of Better Path Homes, a single-family residential wholesaling and new build company in Charlotte, NC. Stephanie is also the founder of SocialMediaREI, a Facebook Marketing company specializing in finding motivated sellers, and the founder of Left Main, a CRM for Real Estate Investors via a partnership with Salesforce. As if that weren't enough, Stephanie has customized Salesforce so that the software can be used in your real estate investing business.

She is a wife and the mother of 3 children, and she continues to work part-time as a Cardiothoracic Surgery Nurse Practitioner. Stephanie believes that her background in Medicine has been the key to her success in the business arena.

Show Notes

Learning how to juggle your real estate investing business with a demanding career is something a lot of investors struggle with. For the majority investors, real estate investing is a side gig in the beginning. After listening to the show today you will realize that there really is a way to get it all done, but you're going to need help.

• Why these newlyweds bought a moldy foreclosure as their first property
• The challenges of living in their first house while renovating it
• How Stephanie and her husband have combined medicine and real estate investing
• Working insanely long hours: why those first few years were really hard
• Realizing they had to make a change
• Deciding what to get help with first
• How they have pivoted and changed investing strategies over time
• The decision to wholesale some properties when they had too many rehabs going at one time, and how that has helped grow their business
• How building an online presence has gotten them leads
• Using Facebook Ads to generate leads
• Their eye-opening $100K payday
• What made Stephanie to customize Salesforce as the CRM to use in her business
• Partnering with Salesforce so other investors would have access to the CRM
• Girl power in real estate: the part women play in real estate investing today
• Why having a strong support system if vital for men and women
• How to juggle your real estate investing business and a demanding career
• Why getting help in your business is the key to getting it all done
• Charting your path in real estate investing: why you need to narrow your focus, and exactly how to do that

Quote

"Start with what you love. What is it about the business that you love?

Is it the deal analytics? Is it the step-by-step process? Is it talking to the homeowners? Is it organizing? What is it? We all have our thing that we love. Start there".

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog and pick up your freebies!

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My guest today is mindset expert, Nina Cooke. I am excited to have Nina on the show because it gives us a chance to dive into the topic of imposter syndrome. I don't know a single person that hasn't experienced it, and it holds us back not only in business but in our personal lives.

Imposter syndrome isn't something that you only feel when you're just starting out. It plagues entrepreneurs no matter what their level of success is. When I say no one is immune from this feeling it's true. How many times have you second-guessed yourself or wondered when you will be "found out"? Or maybe this sounds like you. Do you constantly downplay your expertise? Imposter syndrome prevents you from living your best life, and today you'll learn what to do about that.

Nina Cooke is a Business Mindset Coach helping entrepreneurs to release their deep inner blocks so they can hit that sweet spot of continually growing their impact, income, and downtime. In today's show, you'll get some actionable tips on how to leave imposter syndrome behind once and for all so that you can step into your expertise and share it with the world with confidence.

Show Notes

I find the topic fascinating because this problem affects every entrepreneur at some point. If you ever struggle with feeling like you're "not enough", you're going to love this show.

• How real-life experiences led Nina to study mindset
• What exactly is impostor syndrome?
• What causes entrepreneurs to be filled with self-doubt or to feel like they're not good enough?
• The reason successful people are still plagued with this disempowering mindset
• Letting go of the stories we carried from our childhood into adulthood
• The stories we create about ourselves today that hold us back, and how to stop doing that
• The 3 A's for changing your story
• Actionable tips for overcoming imposter syndrome

Nina has a great freebie for you called the Millionaire Mindset Scorecard. I'll put a link below so you're sure to get that.

Quote from this Show

"Stay in your own business." – Nina Cooke

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog and pick up your freebies!

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I want to talk about something that's on a lot of people's minds and that is this feeling that they are on the verge of burnout. It's often something that you just can't put into words.

There's no doubt that we're all feeling Covid fatigue not only from all the restrictions but from the worry that comes along with this illness itself. Most of us know someone that has suffered from Covid-19. As a result, most of our lives have been changed. We have a new normal. Many people are working from home that has never done that before. Parents now find themselves homeschooling their children at the same time. There's little time for self-care, and a lot of people feel like they are in survival mode. This puts together a pretty dangerous situation for millions of people.

If you feel like you are on the verge of burnout or even stressed out to the degree it's affecting your ability to get through everyday life, this show is for you.

Show Notes

• How to know if you're on the verge of burnout
• Why resting and taking care of yourself is not a luxury
• Learning to say no
• Deciding what you need to stop doing
• The consequences of ignoring the warning signs
• Tips for making time for yourself
• Knowing when to let go and how to do that

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog for the full article.

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The two biggest problems real estate investors have no matter where they are located are finding deals and funding their deals. Today, we are going to talk about funding your deals. In this show, you're going to learn the secret to raising capital without rejection.

One of the biggest roadblocks to raising private money is our own mindset around this process. The other is problem is that people just don't understand that this opportunity to grow their money exists. They have come to accept low-interest rates in the bank and the uncertainty of the stock market.

Once you change your thinking from asking people for money to providing potential private money partners with an outstanding opportunity to partner with you and grow their money, everything changes. You can then move on to learning the process of raising private capital without rejection.

My guest is Canadian investor, Dave Dubeau. Dave has a wealth of experience having invested in single-family homes, rent to own deals, and multifamily properties. Dave is a best-selling author, speaker, and "Investor Attraction Expert". Dave specializes in helping mom-n-pop real estate investors find money partners and raise capital using his proprietary 5 Step Money Partner Formula™, and that's what I'm excited to talk about today.

Show Notes

Here is some of what we covered in raising private capital without rejection. I can promise that you will have some actionable steps to follow after listening to the show.

• How Dave did 18 deals in 18 months
• Pivoting his business model over time
• Rent to own as a business model
• Why he focuses on multi-family properties today
• Raising capital for your business
• Niching down by serving with mom and pop companies
• How to create your first group of potential private money partners
• Tips for transitioning the conversation to how people can work with you
• Dave's 5 Step Money Partner Formula system
• Why you need a formal presentation when looking for private money partners
• How long it takes most people to decide to loan you money (this might surprise you)

Quote

When it comes to rent to own deals…

"Your tenant is basically a homebuyer in training." – Dave Dubeau

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal's Real Estate Blog and pick up your freebies!

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Today I have some seasonal fire safety tips for landlords and tenants. If you are a buy and hold investor, these would be great to pass on to your tenants. You could put these tips in a newsletter or just send them a quick email.

Covid-19 and the Holidays

Everyone needs a little cheering up as we deal with Covid-19. This is our new reality at least for this holiday season. Since many of the traditional holiday events, parties, and large family gatherings will be scaled back or canceled altogether, families are getting their decorations up early to get in the holiday spirit. I hope these tips help make everyone's holiday a little safer.

This is valuable information is helpful for anyone, but it's especially important for investors that have tenants. It's the perfect time of the year to pass these reminders on to your tenants so they can help keep YOUR property and their home safe during the holidays.

Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 8700 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts, and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations, and Christmas trees.

Show Notes

• 6 tips for Christmas tree safety
• Safety tips for those lights on your Christmas tree
• Exactly how many years you should keep your lights before replacing them
• Warning signs you need to throw your lights away
• Keeping your tenants and your rental property safe
• Managing your liability
• Fireplace safety tips for the tenants in your rental property
• Avoiding flash fires and chimney fires

Final Thoughts

Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gals Real Estate Blog for the complete article and to see the video mentioned in the show.

**Portions of this list of Christmas safety tips for homeowners and tenants was provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Reprinted from December 8. 2011