Searching for Properties on Foot
I usually spend my days walking around residential neighborhoods, mainly in Asagaya, Suginami Ward, where my office is located.
My main purpose is to distribute flyers while looking for properties that might be suitable for management, as well as vacant homes with potential issues.
At the same time, walking through the area myself and experiencing the neighborhood firsthand is an important part of running a real estate business.
On days like this, I often walk close to 20,000 steps. By the time I realize it, I’m completely exhausted, but while I’m walking, I’m so focused on observing the streets and buildings that I don’t notice the fatigue.
Today, I had already exceeded 19,000 steps by 1:00 PM.
If I keep this up for about a month, I start to feel my stamina improving. That usually motivates me to push a little harder—but somehow, that’s when I end up getting sick or injured, and I’m back to square one again.
Visiting Today’s Target
Today, I walked to Nakano Ward to visit a property owner using a method I learned from someone at the real estate association.
Along the way, I came across many apartments and houses—it was genuinely enjoyable just to see them.
The idea is simple:
Look for older properties that large real estate companies are unlikely to handle, especially those that appear to be poorly managed. Then approach them one by one.
For today—my first attempt—the goal was modest:
to meet the owner, introduce myself, and, if possible, ask about vacancies or management conditions.
I set out feeling both nervous and excited, hoping that this first step would go well.
An Unexpected Turn
After about 30 minutes of walking, I finally arrived.
I rang the intercom, but no one answered. Since this was just an introductory visit, I hadn’t made an appointment.
Thinking the owner might be nearby, perhaps taking care of the property, I walked over to check the apartment building on the same premises.
And then—shock.
What I saw there was a management company sign.
Not just any sign, but a brand-new one.
It seemed that the property had been self-managed until recently, and only just entrusted to a management company.
When I had checked about ten days ago, there had been no such sign.
In other words, my goal for the day was no longer achievable.
Just a Little Too Late
If I had come one month earlier—or even just a few days earlier—I might have had a chance to secure that management contract.
It was frustrating to think about.
That said, I only received my real estate license in mid-February, so I couldn’t have started this kind of activity any earlier.
Even so, I couldn’t help but think that if I had secured this opportunity, I would have been incredibly lucky for someone who just started in this industry with no prior experience.
Not a Bad Defeat
As I left the property, I reflected on what had happened.
It’s true that I missed the opportunity due to timing.
But when I looked at the bigger picture, I didn’t feel overly discouraged.
Today’s attempt ended in failure.
However, for the first time, I felt that I had done meaningful work—work that I could truly accept and be satisfied with.
The method I was taught by someone in the industry is straightforward:
keep walking, keep looking, and keep approaching.
Eventually, when the timing aligns, opportunities will come.
After all, another management company successfully approached and secured this property—so the possibility is clearly not zero.
I’ve heard many things from experienced professionals—how flyer responses can improve with better wording, how consistent effort leads to results—but much of it has felt almost like “miracles” so far.
What happened today was different.
For the first time, something that once felt like a “miracle” became a real, tangible event right in front of me.
A Small Light in Defeat
Today ended in defeat, but it wasn’t a bad one.
Until yesterday, finding properties like this felt almost impossible.
Now, I can see a small but real possibility ahead.
And with that realization, walking through residential neighborhoods has become even more enjoyable.
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