I saw something totally stupid at a closing the other day. A new investor turned into a jackass in the closing attorney’s office right in front of my eyes. Imagine big ears pop out of his head and a long tail shoot out. Really, he just turned into a living breathing jackass.

Apparently, this investor did not let his attorney know in advance that he wanted to assign a contract on a deal he was closing. The folks at the office thought he was going to simply buy the property. Everything was set up for that, and then the attorney had to go back and change all the documents, which for a title attorney is double working. Well, if you know the details of that kind of transaction, you can understand why the attorney was not really happy.

When the attorney tried to charge the guy for redoing the work, the guy went absolutely berserk. He talked about all the money the attorney makes for such easy work, pointed out that he was the customer and that he had brought the attorney plenty of business, and so on. So he thought he should not have to pay for a little mistake like that

What a jackass! The attorney had to double work and it was definitely an investor’s fault. And the attorney let it slide… but can you imagine the office talk about that investor after he left? Talk about a reputation killer!

Listen, if you are wholesaling a deal and making 10k for an hours’ worth of work, don’t you think you deserve the pay you are getting because you have the knowledge to put the deal together? Just like the attorneys should be highly paid for the education that they have to go through to become what they are. I certainly would be pissed if I had to double work on something, even if it only took me an hour to do a deal.

Two points I want you to get out of the situation I witnessed that day.

1. Make sure you take care of your attorney: let them know the details of what you are trying to do right up front – and on every deal – so they don’t have to do double work. It saves time, but it also shows respect for the attorney. If you treat them right, the attorney will become one of your best friends in the business.

Besides, you never know, your attorney may become a private money lender to you. I know, as I have borrowed money from an attorney that I used before. Remember, a lot of attorneys have money and they can be a great source of private funds or refer you to other people with money they know. So the first point is: DO NOT PISS OFF THE TITLE ATTORNEY – YOU NEED THEM!

2. When you are wholesaling real estate, you are one of the highest paid people per hour around. I mean more than doctors and lawyers. Yes, most of the attorneys I use make a lot of money, but on a per hour basis I blow them away. When you do your first deal for 5k and it only takes you an hour’s worth of your time, you will know what I am talking about. If you are an experienced investor, then you know the feeling.

So being yourself highly paid, BE SURE TO RESPECT EVERYONE ELSE’S TIME! Overall point: Don’t be a jackass! Be bold, but NICE.