You can come up with all sorts of excuses not to invest in real estate. Maybe you feel that you don't have enough time or the knowledge and expertise. Or you couldn't recognize a good investment opportunity if it bit you. Or you're afraid of getting stuck with a money pit. Or you don't have enough money to pay your bills, let alone invest in something.

Whatever reason you have for not investing in real estate, you can find at least one solution, but perhaps the best solution for all of these excuses is to team up with someone you trust -- your spouse, your significant other, a relative or co-worker, or someone else you trust as much as yourself -- to share equally in the work and profits. When you have someone by your side to share the burden, you spread out the risk, and everything begins to seem a little easier.

A visitor to GetFlipping.com recently contacted me and said that she was interested in flipping houses but just didn't know how to get started. Of course, I first suggested that she read my book, Flipping Houses For Dummies. Next, I asked whether she knew of anyone who was pretty handy -- someone who could handle basic home maintenance and repair. She thought for awhile and said, "Yes … yes, I do. A close friend of mine is very good at that sort of thing, and we really get along well. He'd be fun to work with, too!"

That's the kind of person you want to find -- someone who has skills you don't have, can take on some of the burden, and would be a blast to work with, someone who could make the work feel not so much like work.

The secret to success in any field is to do what you're best at and find others to fill in the gaps. Partnering with someone to flip houses is one way to do just that, but you don't have to stop there.

Remember, the world is full of talented individuals who are ready, willing, and able to lend a hand. If you don't have money, a loan officer or mortgage broker can connect you with someone who loans money. Don't know how to spot a good deal? Find a great Realtor in the area who specializes in working with investors. If you know absolutely nothing about electricity, hire an electrician. In Flipping Houses For Dummies, I devote an entire chapter on how to assemble a team of professionals to successfully flip properties.

Sure, all of these people charge money, but all you have to do is calculate their costs into the equation. If you calculate all the costs and realize that you can't make a profit on the property, you pass up the deal. If you calculate all the costs and realize that you can probably earn a 20-percent or better profit, then you're ready to make your move. On GetFlipping.com, I provide a Purchase Price Estimator that can help you determine whether you're likely to profit from a given investment property. As you become more experienced, you may be more qualified and feel more confident in taking on more of the work yourself.

Flipping houses isn't for everyone, but if you've been dreaming about flipping houses and you keep talking yourself out of it, reconsider flipping as a team sport.

Published: July 6, 2007

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Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI is an award-winning and internationally recognized real estate agent, author, coach, and speaker. Throughout his career, Ralph has proven his commitment to helping other real estate and sales professionals build upon their past and present success, grow and expand their businesses, and provide a rich and rewarding future for themselves, their customers, their employees, and their families. As president and CEO of Ralph Roberts Realty, Ralph has personally helped thousands of consumers realize their dream of homeownership. While selling over 10,000 homes (and buying and selling over 3,000 investment properties) throughout his 30-year career, Ralph has made the time to mentor and coach hundreds of professionals in real estate, sales, and a host of other fields. Ralph is a recognized authority on Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud; Residential Real Estate; Personal Salesmanship; Sales Force and Office Management, Motivation, Design, and Team Building; and Foreclosure Self-Defense and Loan Modification, fields in which he has demonstrated his commitment to preserving the American Dream of Homeownership. Ralph's numerous websites, blogs, seminars, and speaking engagements engage, entertain, and educate both consumers and professionals. Ralph is also an accomplished author with several successful titles to his credit, including: Power Teams: The Complete Guide to Building and Managing a Winning Real Estate Agent Team Financing Real Estate Investments For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets That Will Save You Thousands on Home Financing (John Wiley & Sons) Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership (Kaplan) Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Foreclosure Myths: 77 Secrets to Saving Thousands on Distressed Properties (John Wiley & Sons) Advanced Selling For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) Flipping Houses For Dummies 52 Weeks of Sales Success (John Wiley & Sons) Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman (John Wiley & Sons) Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons) To learn more about Ralph, visit AboutRalph.com, check out his daily insights on real estate and mortgage fraud prevention at FlippingFrenzy.com, or visit his latest blog dedicated to helping distressed homeowners fight foreclosure, KeepMyHouse.com. You can reach Ralph at or by calling (586) 751-0000.