Investing in the right computers, software, phones, and fax machines, if done right, can save you a lot of time and money.

Over the years, I have purchased and paid to have computers, faxes, and software applications installed. Only to find out that I had bought the wrong things, paid too much or didn’t need half of what I bought. These were very frustrating and costly mistakes and you can avoid them.

You see, we as investors are a community of niche small businesses. And unlike real estate agents, appraisers, and mortgage brokers, we don’t have blueprints or guides to follow to show us how to set up shop.

In this article, I will discuss the things you need and the things you don’t need, including some $30,000 investment advice for you.

First things first, a computer is a must. I have always bought Hewlett Packard better known as HP and have been very successful with them. They cost more, but the savings in computer technicians fixing the cheap ones, and the longevity of the computer, are well worth it.

I recommend purchasing the small office version of the mircosoft small business suite. The package that has Word, Outlook (not just Outlook Express), Publisher, and Excel. If you plan to be a real, honest, long-term investor, then I recommend that you start right the first time with these products. Let me explain why.

In Word you can write all your documents, letters, articles, letterheads and set up simple files. Your virtual assistant (va) can help you with that, in case you have as little knowledge about software as I did at first.

Outlook, this is my all time favourite. All my website addresses, passwords, bird dog contact information, personal and business Christmas card lists are easily stored there. I have an “easy access” investor list, one for Las Vegas, Texas, and my VIP investor club. It can be logically separated for easy to reach and use applications. All the houses I have purchased are listed in Outlook by seller name or address, including contact information.

For Publisher, I don’t know how to run this program at all! So my virtual assistant (VA) logs into my computer from Wisconsin and can create a flyer for the house, letterhead for the company, and other graphics for me in a matter of minutes.

The fax from your office, here is the invaluable advice. I win thirty thousand dollars in cash on a single wholesale draft when I received a fax containing only these words in small print on a large blank 8.5×11 sheet of paper:

I need to sell my house, my number is xxx-xxx-xxxx.

I’m serious like a heart attack, that’s all he said. And yes, I did exactly that amount.

The Lord works funny sometimes, as I was able to pay my daughter’s $10,000 medical bill in one payment.

Maybe just because I had a fax and it worked.