Last Updated on Apr 8, 2020 by James W
Property has long been one of the most popular forms of investment. It is viewed as one of the less risky propositions, providing people with a steady monthly income until they decide to sell. However, this is only going to be the case if you approach this investment with care. So, let’s take a look at some of the common mistakes you need to avoid.
- Self-managing your property because you think it is cheaper – A lot of first-time investors decide to self-manage their property because they see it as a good way to save money. Nevertheless, this isn’t always the case. There are many turnkey properties that offer property management as part of the deal, ensuring you pay a set amount every month and have complete peace of mind. If you try to self-manage your property, you need to be available to deal with all issues immediately, and you will need to fund all damage immediately, irrespective of how significant it may be.
- Failing to manage your money effectively – Successful financial management is a necessity if you are to invest in property. There are many different costs you are going to have to contend with, including repairs, taxes, maintenance and mortgage payments. Equally, you are going to have a rental income, however, this isn’t guaranteed to be fully consistent throughout. You need to have an effective financial plan in place so you can meet all payments effectively and deal with any unexpected repairs that crop up.
- Not carrying out the required due diligence – A lot of people do not carry out enough due diligence, whereas others do not carry it out correctly. Due diligence does not mean buying something at what seems a bargain price. It means buying something that is going to return a good profit both now and in the future. This means conducting effective market research. Is the area a thriving rental market? Is there enough demand? Are prices likely to continue to rise, or have they already reached their peak?
- Allowing your emotions to overrule investment logic – Your emotions are bound to kick in when you buy a home. But, you are not buying a home, you are buying an investment property, and this is why investment logic should be the overriding determining factor. If you let your emotions get in the way, you are guaranteed to lose money.
- Not knowing your objectives before you invest – Last but not least, investing without a clear plan or objective is a big mistake. You need to know why you are investing before you go ahead and do so. For example, do you want to build a portfolio of property so that you can sustain your lifestyle once you retire?
If you can avoid the mistakes that have been mentioned above, you can give yourself the best chance of investing in property successfully. You may make a few errors along the way, but if you learn from them and move on quickly, you will be well on your way to making your property investment a huge success.
