What a Week in Dallas Taught Me About Relationships and Real Estate


I recently got back from the Limitless Real Estate Conference in Dallas.

This conference wasn’t about sitting in a room taking notes all day.

For me, it was about shaking hands, having real conversations, and getting more “touch points” with people in 48 hours than I’d normally get in a year.

This was my first time sponsoring an event and going in I wasn't so sure about it. And while I was exhausted by the time I was on the plane back to Michigan, I knew we made the right decision to invest it.

Today I want to share a few takeaways from my experience at Limitless that might be beneficial to you in your business.

1. Nothing replaces face to face

You can send all the emails you want, but meeting someone in person speeds up trust. That’s true in my world and it’s true when you’re working with brokers, lenders, or partners. A good relationship can get you better terms, first look at deals, and honest answers you might not get over email.

2. More touchpoints = stronger relationships

I probably crossed paths with certain people 5–8 times in a couple days — at lunch, at the booth, at a party, in the hallway. Those touchpoints add up. Same goes for your lender, CPA, or property manager. The more you stay on their radar, the easier it is to get things done when you need them.

3. A good conversation start goes a long way

We had an arm wrestling table at our booth. Sounds silly, but it turned quick chats into 30-minute conversations. Sometimes you need a hook to get people to slow down and talk, whether you’re raising money, trying to get a bid, or explaining a tax strategy.

We even had Brandon Turner come arm wrestle my partner Jordan! The arm wrestling was fun, but it turned into a fun conversation about real estate, business, and our families as well.

4. Partnerships multiple your reach

There were dozens of companies at the event that offer complementary services to my ideal client. These folks are great potential partners for cross-promotions. That works in investing too. Partner with people who serve the same audience you do (e.g. property managers, contractors, CPAs) and you can reach more opportunities without spending a dime on ads.

By the time I got home, I was wiped out.
But looking back, it was worth every bit of the energy we put into it.

I came away with new relationships, fresh ideas, and a better sense of what’s happening in the market right now. And I was reminded that the real value in these events isn’t the swag bags or the speaker slides — it’s the people you meet and the conversations you have.

Those connections don’t pay off overnight, but they stick with you. And if you keep showing up, they can change the way you do business.


Thank you for reading. Please reach out and let me know what resonated with you. I read every email!

Cheers,

Sean

CPA | Founder of Maven Cost Seg

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Hi, I'm Sean!

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