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TRIED AND TRUE Platinum Investment Properties Group Prides Itself on Transparency and Performance
by James Hart
I n the scheme of things, 12 years might not seem like a major milestone. But in the realm of turnkey real estate, where so many operators rarely make it past six years, it’s worth noting. Twelve years just happens to be how long Platinum Investment Properties Group has been helping investors global- ly to source, purchase and manage their investments. To date, founder Charles Sells and his team have managed more than $180 million for a client base that exceeds 700 investors. And they don’t show any signs of slowing down. “We’ve been around a long time, and we’ve managed to stay consistent with our services to our clients and our per- formance for our clients,” Sells said. The company, based in Hilton Head, S.C., made its mark by helping clients invest in tax liens and tax deeds, but has
grown its operations to include a range of distressed real estate, including fix- and-flips. (For the past three years, their clients’ typical net profit on a fix-and- flip was at least 18 percent.) “We are a true turnkey service pro- vider, the emphasis being on ‘true’,” said Sells, who founded Platinum in 2004. Platinum’s team consists of 14 people at its South Carolina headquarters, plus approximately 40 or so who work on field crews. They handle all the nitty-grit- ty details, from due diligence to manag- ing the lien to overseeing the fix-and-flip to getting money back to the client. Each investor holds 100 percent ownership of his or her properties—the investor is not buying into a fund or a REIT. “It makes a complex investment very simple for our investors,” Sells said. “They really do kind of get to treat it like a stock.”
The company focuses on states that it knows particularly well: Georgia, Illinois and North and South Carolina, especially in college towns and popular vacation spots like Savannah, Georgia. It targets properties priced at $50,000 to $100,000 with the expectation of selling them for $75,000 to $150,000. If the market is strong and investors want to sell, that’s great. But if the economy takes a hit, there’s also the option to offer owner financing or rent out the property. “We end up getting multiple exit strategies by investing in these types of properties,” Sells said. He’s passionate about providing realistic outlooks and solid, reliable in- formation to clients. Too many turnkey operations and gurus leave new inves- tors with the wrong impression, he said. “The biggest misconception is this is
a get-rich-quick opportunity and that it’s easy,” Sells said. Can you make a healthy return with turnkey investments? Absolutely, Sells said. “But it’s not going to happen overnight.” CONSISTENCY AND TRANSPARENCY There are several ways that Platinum creates value for its clients. One of the most recent additions happens to be the company’s online platform, which allows investors to check on their properties at any time of the day and see their progress. “You can see exactly how the invest- ment is performing,” Sells said. The platform streamlines commu- nication with Platinum, which makes clients happier. “We’re available literally almost 24 hours a day,” Sells said. The company also has produced a range of free educational content for its website. That includes a soon-to-debut series of videos—a sort of “behind the THE PIP GROUP 20 TOWNE DRIVE, SUITE 129 BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29910 877-335-2529 WWW.PIPGROUPTAXLIENS.COM
scenes” look that walks viewers through the process of a typical deal. “All of our information is free,” Sells said. “If we give a webinar or an educational series, we don’t charge a dollar for it.” One of his biggest challenges is re- training people who might have shelled out thousands of dollars for a “mas- ter-level” coaching program that’s given them a lot of ideas—not all of which conform to how real estate investment really works. Sells’ commitment to transparency and consistency is one reason why Platinum has endured as long as it has. Clients aren’t given any wild, unreason- able promises. “That’s how you stay in business longer than most have in this industry,” he said. WHAT’S NEXT FOR PLATINUM? Right now, Platinum is launching a new service that should help buyers with less-than-stellar credit purchase
good homes. The Home Ownership Preparation Experience (HOPE) provides owner financing to custom- ers, who then participate in Platinum’s credit education and optimization programs. That way, in three years or sooner, those buyers could qualify for a mortgage from a traditional lender. HOPE also helps struggling neigh- borhoods by revitalizing formerly distressed properties and putting them under the care of families that are now financially stable. Sells and his team are starting HOPE in Savannah, Georgia, but would like to expand it to other markets. “This is a very simple thing that we can do here,” Sells said. “We are helping all sides of the spectrum.” HOPE is a great example of what he likes about working in real estate. Every day is a chance to dive into a new problem—and deliver a better outcome for clients. “Every day,” Sells said, “is something new.” •
4 | Platinum Investment Properties Group, LLC
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